More Kole Pics and of Course Jersey Too

Seriously, that dog cannot stay away from Kole if they are in the same room together. She is like a hound, always wanting to play or be nosey with Kole. I suppose Kole is the same way; if Jersey is relaxing or napping, it's like an invitation to pull her tail or mess with her paws. Once he smacked her right in the face while she was napping. Poor Jersey.
Nothing much new on our homefront, just getting ready for Kole's first birthday and first birthday party. Oh boy, it's almost here and I can't believe how fast the year has gone. Just think, a year ago I was laying in our extra bedroom, miserable, swollen, about 60 lbs heavier, having false alarms, and just waiting for that "baby" to arrive. Sigh. Now he's a big boy. Sigh.....

Buds. Looking out the front door. Jersey is teaching Kole how to be nosey!














Spaghetti dinner!!














"If Daddy sees you two doing this....."














Kole climbs on the register and pulls himself up to look out the window, while Jersey's paw are up on the ledge. Both a "no no". Gee, I wonder where Kole learned that one?

I wonder what he's telling the dog to do?



















Jersey can't get a break. Kole is pulling on her tail.














Whoa! I just let go and I'm standing by myself!














Being good kids and NOT climbing at the window.



















Another toy of Kole's Jersey is obsessed with.















I think he looks like a little prisoner in these jammies!



















This should be a living room moving violation.

Tomato and Ricotta Insalata Bruschetta

I made a yummy (and quick) dinner tonight. The BEST part about this dinner was that Seth said the magic words I've been longing to hear. Before I tell you those words I need to let some of you know about Seth's "mature palate". Everything Seth eats is always just "okay". In my case, when I make food for him, I strive for an "okay" to make that dish again. A "good" makes my day but I need to be realistic; I'll never get an "I love it". I don't think he's ever "loved" any food regardless of who made it or what it is. I could be Julia Child and I'd still get and "okay" on dinner. WHICH reminds me....two reasons I made this Bruschetta: 1. I had a load of tomatoes from my father-in-law's tomato garden including a yellow tomato and 2. I saw the movie Julie and Julia and was a bit inspired by some bruschetta looking dish the Julie character made and her husband gushed over (only in my dreams that would happen). So, on to those magic words (between mouthfuls I might add): "it's good, really good". AHHHH!!!! I did it!!!!
My life is now complete (well, half complete. there is one other thing I need to complete my life but that's another entry and it includes polish pottery).
Of course I'll include the recipe but I only wish there was a pic to go with it. Maybe next time.

But, I made some modifications to the recipe:
I used red and yellow tomatos (it looked so pretty!)
I used feta
I did not use the clove of garlic (didn't have any and forgot to buy at the store). I had some of that refridgerated garlic in a jar and put it in a bowl with oil and then brushed it on the bread when it came out of the oven.
This is more of an appetizer though and not a main dish. I served it with a salad too.

We Have a Little Action

Check out some of the action we have going on in our house recently.



Here are a few more pics of Kole playing. He received a new toy from Nanny and Papa's (ex) playroom last week. He's so excited about it. He likes to look and see where the balls are coming from. And so does Jersey. Kole can't play this toy when Jersey is nearby or she'll nab the stray balls and chew them.

Kole is so interested in books lately. This one is one of his favorites. It plays music and recites nursery rhymes.

Jersey has been pretty attached to Kole lately. Always following him around and trying to give him kisses. What good siblings!

Over a Long Weekend.

We had a nice weekend (plus a couple of extra days) in Bay City. Seth, Kole, Jersey and I drove over to Freeland for a birthday party. Our friends Brad and Lisa have a one year old, Bryson, who just had a birthday this month. This was Kole's first birthday party and he had a BLAST! He liked watching the big kids play and it was fun for him to play with Bryson's toys. He had some FUN toys too! Jersey had fun playing with a couple of other dogs that were there and played and endless game of fetch. After the party, Kole and I drove to Bay City for a visit over a few days and Seth headed home with Jersey. Seth had big plans to meet someone who wanted to buy his motorcycle on Sunday. He ended up being a no-show. Anyone looking to buy a Harley Davidson???? We did some birthday shopping for Kole as well as some birthday party shopping for Kole's big day that's coming up (sniff sniff). We went to church with Grandpa and a walk along the river later that day. Kole played and played and was spoiled by Nana and Papa (and so was I, really. I think I may have changed one diaper the whole time?). We came home on Tuesday afternoon. Here are some pics of our visit with Nana and Papa.





















Reading to Kole

Pointing at the light, of course. The light is ON, the LIGHT IS ON.

Playing with Papa Snoop

What a face!

Pointing again. This time, not at the light.

Having fun

Oh, the simple joys of playing in a cardboard box...

Beep Beep!!

Visit with Great Nana

Great Gramps reading a book to Kole

A Few More Random Things

Kole JUST started giving out kisses. Those kisses though are only for Mommy and Mallory the Monkey at this point (he's had a crush on Mallory since he was a newborn. He likes watching her hula skirt shake...). He does the "lean in" for a kiss. Seth claims he doesn't see what Kole is doing, but I think he's just bummed Kole won't give him a kiss. Tonight before bed, Kole squeezed my face with his hands and then did the "lean in" :) NO MORE watching General Hospital for Kole anymore; those soaps are teaching him too much at a young age!!!
We helped my dad and Deb at their moving sale today and Kole was a very good boy. He took a short nap and so did Papa. He played outside for awhile and had fun with Meghan and Maddie who were both over too. Tired baby tonight. I couldn't resist taking a picture of him totally cashed out from the long day.





CRAZY boy!

A beggar for food, just like Jersey!

Random Stuff

Here are some random pics and vids. I have more to post but am too tired tonight.... Kole is moving and moving lately and today decided to "climb". He stood on a toy to reach something out of his toy box and decided to stand on our register in our living room so he could reach something exciting on the ledge. Oh boy, good thing I chose the extra tall baby gate.
I'll post more pics and vids in the next couple of days.


Go Tigers!

Go Lions (football already??)

Reading a really good book. He sat in this chair and read this book for a solid 15 minutes.

He's so involved in this book!

Kole loves opening and closing Jersey's crate door

Decided to check out Jersey's digs.

Learning to brush his tooth with his baby toothbrush

Brush that tooth Kole!

SO big!

Peek-a-boo

peek-a boo again!

Mommy's banana boy

Good reader Kole. I remember my cousin Paul loving books when he was a wee one also; Berenstein Bears if I remember correctly...

Kole's "passion" for reading books hopefully impresses our cousin Melissa who is starting grad school at U of M this Fall and will study Information Science (Librarian) :)

Books must be in our blood...

Kole and Some Dinner Too

Kole stood up to his activity table and it tipped over on him today. It was kind of funny and I knew he wasn't hurt since he fell to his butt then on his back. The table came with him and he sort of thought it was funny too. I brought out his "new box" of toys out (just a batch of toys I'm boxing up and switching with his current toys to make him think they are new ones) and he was in heaven tonight!! He has a couple of choice places to play with his toys as well. They both seem to be "covered" type places. Hmmm....I wonder if he'd like to play fort some rainy day....??? The game he plays is to throw a few of his plastic rings on the laminate floor near the doorway or the kitchen and then pick them up and throw them again. This repeats itself over and over again for quite some time or until it's time for a meal or nap. I think he likes the noise it makes on the floor.
On a quite different note, I made a fabulous looking dinner tonight and I HAD to take a picture of it. It not only looked good but was very tasty as well. My harshest critic gave it a B (which is REALLY GOOD) and my smallest critic ate some too and liked it. It was Orange-Balsamic Chicken with Asparagus, Green Beans and Polenta. It was not difficult to make HOWEVER it was a lot of multi-tasking during the cooking. I am normally NOT good at that but measured everything beforehand and put it in separate bowls and such and arranged them on the counter by pot and pan I needed it for. Yes, lots of dishes to do and more work on the front end, but was not as stressful as I thought it would be. Yay me!! The picture does not do it justice though, it looked fab!!! Here's the link to the recipe; it's a RR dish.


Oops! I fell down!


One of my fun spots

Another fun spot to toss my rings. I think I must be heavy though b/c I'm tipping it part of the way over!

My yummy dinner!