It's a Whistle Train!

With Daddy out of town it was great timing for Cole to receive a care package from his Nana and Pop Pop Leonard for his 3rd birthday.Thank you! He was so excited to see the train and now is quite profeicent at blowing the whistle. He even know to blow it softly. He loves to play with the fire truck and after ella enjoyed her share of wrapping paper and dinosaur and was snug in her bed Cole begged for storytime early. With his new book from the care package, Ten Minutes to Bedtime , He took me by the hand and led me to his room. I read it five times and he was ready for bed. All at 7:30 PM.
Ella is trying to stand on her own. I caught her on film playing with her walker and standing. It also looks like Cole will have green eyes. Ella and Cole both have a check up with their new doctor next wednesday so I will have ella's nine month stats and Cole's 3 year stats. Chad will be home tonight and We all miss him bunches.

Look Who's Standing!

Mister Green Eyes

Oooh Presents!

Yummy Dinosaurs

Watch out Paparazzi!

Wow Wee!
We have been a busy here in good ole Montana!
Debbie has been working 50 to 60 hours a week and Chad will soon be in the work force after some days of training at his new Salon/Spa, Sage.
Cole has made huge progress on the potty taining front. He now poops and pees in the potty on his own will and enjoys quailty "together time" with Daddy as Cole sits on his Potty chair as Daddy sits on his potty "Chair".
Cole rode his tricycle today under his own steam about 50 feet before giving up to the eaiser way to travel ... coasting on the back. Chad did get video of this and we love to share it.
Ella is now a crawling fiend and is working on her way to standing. She tries it on her own by placing her feet firmly on the ground and trying to pick her body up from and half bent over position. We have included pictures of our little rock star.

Did you get my good side?

Ride Your Trike!

Riding my Trike!

Coast is so the Most!

Happy Father's Day

Well today's Father's Day concluded the cycle of stomach flu that has been going around our household. Daddy got it last. Mommy got it first, Tuesday and then Cole (Friday)... in the car of course then he insisted on eating so then again with a couch/toilet combo and a third time into a bucket ... and little baby Ella. She had it in her sleep(Friday Night early Saturday morning). She did not cry or make a sound. In fact she slept through the night. Quite unusual for her.

Cole, Daddy and Ella we to the museum of the Rockies today and had a fun time. Mommy of course had to work. No peace for the wicked.

We are all going to sleep early but just wanted to wish all the daddies out there.... Happy Father's Day.

Hi!

Headstand

oooh sand!

Storms a Brewin'

Slide

Truck

No Clouds and Tons of Rain

Cole and Daddy today got to play at the Children's museum today. Cole calls it Mobius that is the Spokane, WA version. Ella was very patient with them as Cole ran about and explored the area. Mommy had to work today. i have included Cole's recent Jam session , He is working hard at annoying the neighbors. Ella is enjoying her food. She really like the Mighty Kids cereal by kashi. It is shaped in the form of little people. So we joke that she is eating her people. Chad will be working soon as a massage therpist and Cole will certainly miss Daddy time. I will miss Daddy time. We hope to explore tommorow take in a hike if the weather permits. One thing about Montana ... Don't like the weather... wait five minutes. Lots of thunder storms and tons of rain to be followed by high temps and cloudless skies. Weird.

mmm People

Ringo in Training

Gotta Dance!

Double click on picture to see typical Cole in action. Now imagine this all day long starting at 6:30 AM.
Wish I could bottle up this energy, I would be RICH!

Well I have worked three days and all is well. I have not completely lost it. It is hard being the "NEW" guy. Not with the customers but with the team. I am having fun getting to know everyone.

Lying around

More Boxes

Montana Rainbow --- A view from our front door

Well we are almost done unpacking, only about 15 boxes of random stuff to go. We are all tired and can not wait to be able to explore this area. My first day of work is tommorrow and we I am looking forward to getting to know my team and to just get my feet wet and put all my ducks in a row.
Cole was recently taught by his Pop Pop how to make a toast and clink glasses. Pop Pop taught him to say "To good friends" Out of the blue Cole takes a spoon of his ice cream and holds it up and announces " To New Friends" and makes his daddy clink spoons with him. I caught a re-enactment with my camera. What a smart little man.
Ella is enjoying her sippy cup and loves to make messes with it. She is becoming a great little solids eater. She really loves to self feed so we let her with pieces of banana, cooked carrots, cherrios, peas.... anything mushy.

Returning home after checking out the rainbow

Can't see me!

unpacking can be fun!

I like my sippy cup.

To New Friends....clink

Yummy Ice Cream

Cole's eye view of our new place!

Cuddle time with Daddy

Cuddle Time

We Made It!

Well we are here in good ole montana!!! The trucks are unloaded and we are 60 percent settled in.
Tommorow Cole and Ella will spend the day with their new caregiver, Iris. During an intial visit Cole and Ella seemed to mesh quite well.
Cole is going through TV withdraws and is always wanting to put his shoes on so he can go Outside. Lots to explore. Unfortunatly we have so much to do we don't have anytime to "play" right now.
Today I spent a gruling hour in a store with Cole basically chanting that he wanted an Apple. Gotta give it to him he has dedication. And at least he wanted something healthy. I normally would have turned around left everything in the cart and gone home but we had no food for lunch and dinner. He also tested me by popping off his seatbelt as I was exiting off the highway to head home. Now this part of the world there is no place to pull over unless it is the side of the road and you have to make sure you are careful not to get hit by cars speeding down the road at 55 MPH. So I pulled over and reinforced just how important it was for him to stay seated and keep his belt on and he just gave me the most devilish grin. I am so in trouble.
Miss Ella is doing great. Loves her room/laundry room. It really is nice to have her in her own space. She had refried beans for the first time tonight and loved it. She is quite the self feeder. The pictures below ar ethe last few days spent in our Spokane, WA home. Ella will miss the swing. Cole will miss his doggies. We had to find them new homes. Our new place to live does not allow pets. We were lucky to place them both in loving enviorments. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I only cried a little. Who am I kidding I bawled. We will try to keep this up dated at least every other day.

And that is that!

Bath Time Beauties.

Table for Two

Swinging with Ella

NO Chairs just Boxes

Pizza with Nana

Cole, Show me your muscles!

We are moving to Bozeman,Montana!
I know a shocker to most but Debbie has gotten a promotion to run her own store. No mere feat at 31 years old. Chad will continue to pratice massage therapy and to make the Bozeman public beautiful. We will send out a email updating all of our stats.
It has been a really long time since I have Blogged, mostly because this change has to no surprise put our life in a whirl wind. And my camera has been in and out of the "shop" It has gotten closer to visiting family than we have, twice. Once it had returned it has mysteriously disappeared. We have two theories. One, a very selective cat burglar stole the camera and only the camera. Or, Two, Cole played it into a hiding space that Chad swears happened in less than 5 mins of alone time. Who knows are house is so full of boxes we can barley move. Unfortunately the only time we have to pack is the middle of the night and that time has come. Nest time we post most likely will be in another state.
These picture are from Cole and Ella's going away/ Cole's 3rd birthday party.
Party was planned and paid for in advance, a first for us... It was nice for Cole to have one last blow out! Everyone had a BLAST!

Some sort of group photo

Relaxing fun

Everyone must wear a hat!

Ella you must wear a hat!

I did not do it!

oh! Babies!

Upside down fun!

Mama and Ella

finger foods