The Thomas Family

2011 Family Beach Trip

2011-06-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

We met the whole extended family for a beach trip again this year. It was so much fun to hang out with cousins, grandparents and enjoy the beach and pools!

Wheels UP!

2011-06-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

This summer we are tackling all bike riding fears. It all started when I ran over one of Ian's training wheels with the mini van. No turning back! He isn't in love with it yet and still very nervous about falling, but hopefully it will be smooth sailing soon. Natalie got a big girl bike for her 3rd birthday and has not looked back. She takes curbs and corners and handles it like a pro!

Kindergarden Graduation

2011-06-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

Ian's school had a ceremony for all Kindergarden kiddos. It was sweet to see how proud all those little kids felt to get through their first year of big kid school. Dad took time away from work to be there as well as Nana and Papa. We ended the day with a cookie cake too :o)

Natalie Turns Three

2011-06-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Natalie had a great third birthday. Family came to visit from out of town, with gifts of princess bicycle and a fun charm bracelet among other very girlie things. We topped it all off with a YUMMY hello kitty cake. What more does a girl need???? Happy Birthday Natalie!

Easter Sunday

2011-04-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

We chose to attend church services this Easter weekend on Saturday and have family over for brunch on Sunday. Good food, good crowd, lots of laughs including a bunch of plastic eggs filled with fortune cookie sayings (hey, why not!). The kids followed a trail of candy to find their baskets to start off the day. Later on, Natalie got to ride her new scooter. Our little girl turns three next week and she got to try out the wheels a little early. Look Ma, no hands!

Little Poses

2011-02-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

Bitty Basketball

2011-02-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Ian started playing basketball at a local church league. They practice and then have a game immediately after, smart planning. There are many coaches on the court during games guiding the kids along and a lot of traveling going on. Its fun. Ian is on the green team, the dragonflies. Go Green Team!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T18:11:00.000-08:00

Here is our latest attempt at a family picture....and we leave the auto focus off. Man are we good or what?? Merry and blurry Christmas from the Thomas family. We had a great holiday - surrounded by family, good food and lots of laughs. Dad was on call for his practice this year, but was able to be around for all the key times. No emergencies - yay!!!

So, like many families, I grew up with a Christmas tradition of new PJs every year. They did not always match, but Nana got the kiddos these cute matching pajamas. The other tradition was my Dad making us wait at the top of the stairs briefly before going down to see what Santa left us. I have decided to torture my kids with this as well. Here you see the tolerant before, and happy after!

Letters From Santa

2010-12-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

The mailman brought a couple of very special letters from the North Pole today. Santa took time out of his busy schedule to write to Ian and Natalie. He wanted to let them both know they were on the good list and that the elves were working hard on a fun Christmas. (ha ha) Both of the kids were very excited to read every detail in the letter! Thanks to Aunt Caba for 'arranging' the letters :o)

First Snow

2010-12-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

We got our first snow in Louisville. It was a couple of inches or so...just enough to bundle up for. Ian was out in it a bit longer playing with the guys on the street. Natalie, well, it took longer to get her dressed than the time she actually stayed out in it. Somehow, Mom didn't mind the short play time outdoors. It was cold. Hot chocolate all around!!

Thanksgiving Rounds

2010-11-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

We made the rounds this Thanksgiving. That meant we started out with a couple fun filled days in Nashville where the kids were in cousin heaven. Nana, Papa, and Uncle Joe met up with us and Aunt Beth's house. Eat, eat, eat - Play, play play - Laugh, laugh, laugh. Then, part two of our holiday fun......

We load up and head down the interstate a little bit towards Birmingham to visit with Nonnie and Poppy. It was a great weekend full of painting crafts, adventure hikes, and Star Wars pancakes. What more can the Thomas family ask for??? Not a thing!

Our Little Indian

2010-11-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

There was a Thanksgiving program at Ian's school this morning. All of the kindergarden kids had their choice to dress up as either an indian or a pilgrim. It was a precious event with lots of fun songs about the holiday and being thankful. We were so proud of Ian and all the other kids! Below, Ian is pictured with some of his buddies from his class - Rafe, McKade and Gunnar.

Natalie was so glad to get to go to Ian's school and watch the program. She would count to 3 and say 'GO' in between songs...another little director on my hands! There was a short reception in Ian's classroom after the program....Natalie got caught red handed. She was acting so casual with her hand on her hip as she was going for her second cookie! Busted!

So Big

2010-11-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

Our little girl got her first haircut tonight. She was excited about it. Mom had a surprisingly hard time watching the baby curls fall away. We came home after, got bubbly clean and in PJs for the night. Here are some shots of the kids playing and Natalie posing with her new look!

Halloween - Part II

2010-11-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of the crew on the actual day of Halloween. Ian added some flying poses to his collection of moves and Natalie loved being the cupcake all over again! Until next year....

Boo At The Zoo

2010-10-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

We went to the Louisville zoo's annual Halloween festivities "Boo At The Zoo". Its always fun to get more than one wear out of those costumes and practice our 'trick or treats' and 'thank yous'. They had a path around the zoo with themed stops along the way. It was a fun night and the kids had so much fun. Natalie was mesmerized by the princesses and Superman (random). Look closely at Ian's funny face when standing next to Davy Jones. Stay tuned for more Captain America and the Cupcake....coming soon.

Expressions

2010-10-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

So anybody who has spent anytime with Natalie knows that her bottom lip is a key part of how she communicates. This photo shows the lip in fine form as she shoots me a look. She is a full fledged two year old these days, which often makes no sense and involves a lot of pouting.

Just had to throw in a picture of Ian too. He is our young man, so original and so handsome.

Kindergarten Goes To The Farm

2010-10-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

All the kindergarteners at Ian's school went on a field trip to a local farm. Activities included a corn maze, hay ride and picking out the perfect pumpkin. He was very excited about the outing. Here is a picture of Ian's class and teacher, Mrs Parrish.

Not to be left out of the fall themed blog posting....Natalie sported a little Halloween gear to go to her school on Tuesday. It was a very spin-worthy skirt!

Mexico...We Love It!

2010-10-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

OK.....we are having a fantastic time in Mexico. I am sorry this blog posting is not about our kids this time....but they are having a heck of a time with their wonderful Aunts while Brad and I wonder around south of the border. We'll check back in soon with cute kid updates.

Team Extreme

2010-09-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

Ian had his first soccer game this morning. He is a proud member of Team Extreme. Fun Morning for everybody!

Aunt Caba and Natalie were Ian's cheerleaders :o)

Little Bit of Everything

2010-09-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

I went a little collage crazy here but there were a couple good groups of photos. I bought and ridulously large container of animal cookies at Sam's the other day. Of course everyone had to try them out when we got home. Here are the snackers in action with cheesey smiles, toothless smiles and a whole lot of sibling love.

Natalie is a poser....here is the proof. The gritty teeth pose below is her best attempt to flex her muscles. You should have heard the growl that went with it. Priceless!

Go Vols

2010-09-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

We spent Labor Day weekend this year in Nashville with some family...or as my kids like to say with 'The Cousins'. We speak of my sisters' kids as some sort of famous rock band. My kids get giddy with excitement over seeing them and hang on their every word. It was a fun restful weekend which also happened to be the season opener for Tennessee football! We did not make it to Neyland Stadium but we were in the great state wearing our orange!! (Cousins Rachel and Cohen pictured here)

Fun At Sunset

2010-08-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

We got the kiddos dressed up and took them to the some open fields in our neighborhood for a little photo shoot (Thanks Chiara and your new cool camera!). We have been really bad about getting professional photos made and this is our attempt to catch up. Watch out family....you are gonna get some copies of these pictures soon!

Kindergarten Begins

2010-08-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

We took Ian to his first day of Kindergarten this morning. Dad took part of the morning off and we walked our big guy into his class. In true Ian fashion he walked in confident and ready to go. There were no tears, although I (Mom) had a weepy period when walking out of school. It was a happy cry because our boy is right where he is supposed to be and we are thankful!

Natalie probably would have stayed at school too, if we'd made arrangements. She really misses Ian when he is not around. They have their moments of tormenting and fighting but big brother being gone all day will be a big adjustment for her too. The first three days of school are only half days. We picked Ian up after lunch and below you'll see a picture of them snuggling for a cartoon.

Our Michigan Friends

2010-07-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

We made last weekend a three day event and traveled to visit our friends The Blasko's up in Grand Rapids Michigan. Their oldest Kole was born just 5 weeks before Ian and we've had lots of adventures together over the last several years. We had an awesome time hanging out and enjoying the weather and good company. On the way back home, we drove to St Joe Michigan and hit the beach. I have two words for you BIG LAKE. The kids love playing in the water together!

Dressed For Camp

2010-06-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

My kids love their back packs and getting geared up to go on an adventure, most of them imaginary. One day, they were pretending to get ready for camp. Ian got his new swim goggles on, back pack all loaded...t-shirt optional I guess. Next, I heard him telling Natalie that he will get her stuff for her. Its 90 degrees out and she comes to me wearing a winter jacket with her back pack. I should have asked if they were going to the same camp! ha-ha

Grab Your Blanket, Let's GO!

2010-06-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Natalie and Ian play very well together despite gender difference and almost 4 years between them. Everyday, they will disappear into his room to play something while I'm just in the next room with my Mom ear finely tuned. I heard footsteps going between rooms and was vaguely aware of the blankets/stuffed animal friends from Natalie's room traveling next door to Ian's room. Imagine my chuckle when I find them all wrapped up camping out. I overheard Ian making big plans for Natalie actually sleeping in his room...including snacks they would have. They were both taking it seriously.

This was take two at the slumber party...moved up from the floor onto Ian's bottom bunk. The more pillows and stuffed animals...the better!

My Baby in Pigtails

2010-05-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

Out of the blue, Natalie let me put in some pigtails. I have a soft spot for this little girl hairstyle going back to when my sweet niece Rachel was a wee one. Ian was under the weather and laying on his bed....Natalie and I were hanging out in the floor in his room just to stay close. I asked her if I could play with her hair and she said YES. She was ok with that for a while so I asked her if I could put in pigtails and she said yes again! Because I am a psycho, I had bought the tiny hair ties weeks ago just waiting for this moment. Ta-da!!! Ian was telling her how pretty she looked and she enjoyed the attention. She wore them the rest of the day. Sigh....

Moving Up

2010-05-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Ian took another belt test last weekend....this time to graduate to a blue belt at his Tae Kwon Do studio. He has done a good job this year and is proud to be a part of it. Doing anything like this for a whole year when you are 4 to 5 years old is a big deal. We will probably take the summer off and wait until he gets a little older to pick it up again and pursue that ultimate goal - black belt. Here are some action shots from the morning of the test. Go Ian!

The Wrong Stroller

2010-05-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

So I've been catching Natalie settling into her baby doll stroller. I come into her room where she is quietly playing and there she is all squished into a stroller clearly not meant to bear her weight or size. She'll say, 'Mom, I in baby strower. Push me!'. Now if it were her actual stroller and we were on an outing, she probably wouldn't stay in it. Kids are just goofy. I talked to her about how she is too big to do that and how she needs to get out and put the baby or stuffed animals in....but not before I got plenty of pictures!

By the way - notice poor baby doll got stashed in the under carriage :o)

This Year At The Beach

2010-05-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

We made our annual trip to the beaches of Destin FL again this April. It was cousin and Daddy heaven for my kids....meaning that they were enjoying plenty of time with both. There was sand castle building, big hole digging and wading in water that only the kids thought wasn't cold. The week of vacation was topped off with Miss Natalie's 2nd birthday. After a morning of fun in the sun, she had a lunch that mostly consisted of cake and icing. It really seemed like to me that she grew a couple inches and suddenly started speaking in full sentences, in that week alone. We are all very thankful for our big goofy family and time together in the sand!

First Game

2010-04-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ian had his first T-Ball game today. He is a proud member of the Rays, named after the professional team Tampa Bay Rays. Ian (and everyone) got a chance to hit and run bases and both teams 'won'. His coach is Coach Brad (not Dad) and there are friends on the team from our neighborhood and from his class at school. We are proud of our big guy today! Funny side story - Ian asked if his game was gonna be on ESPN. Good ole Ian.

Thomas' Bed Head

2010-04-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Natalie woke up with a pretty fabulous bed head style today. So much so that I was holding her and couldn't quit giggling...which made her laugh too. It was sweet. Her hair has grown a lot lately and you never know what post naptime look she's gonna have!

Ian didn't escape the curse of the bed head either!!

The Zoo Crew

2010-04-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

One of Ian's best buds from school is Karsten. We met up with him and his family for a zoo day today. The weather was nice and we packed a lunch. Natalie enjoyed having some other girls to roam with, sisters Caitlyn and Mauren. We hope to make the zoo a regular outing as summer approaches. Ian was most excited about seeing some reptiles and Natalie was really into giraffes.

The blanket was just big enough for all of us to squeeze on and enjoy our PB&Js. It was a big community grub other than that...sharing goldfish, chips and gummies. Towards the end the older three kids were running around the playground while the two little girls got cozy in their strollers with some snacks. Its a good life!

Our Easter

2010-04-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

We are thankful for many things this Easter. This holiday is a good time to pause and think about our blessings, as spring opens up around us. Here are some images from our front yard this afternoon....as we took some time for silly things. We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!!

Sunday Stuff

2010-03-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

After church, we headed home so the boys could sport some KY gear and watch the Cats play their last regular season game. You'll notice Brad and his ever changing mini-me Ian are dressed almost exactly alike. This afternoon the sun was out, the kids napped well and we headed outside to get some energy out. We missed you sunshine. Natalie has a growing collection of beach and pool gear. We tried out her sunglasses and beach hat today...you know, just to get her used to the idea before our April trip to Destin. I think its a glamorous look!

Our Little Bowlers

2010-03-07T17:27:00.000-08:00

We went to Uncle Mark's surprise birthday party at a bowling alley this weekend. We knew Ian like to take out pins, but the surprise what how much Natalie got into it. That girl was all about carrying her ball and giving it her all. She couldn't wait for her turn and cheered like she just won the lottery as it slowly made its way down the lane. Its good to experience simple things with the fresh perspective that kids have. Good silly fun!

Ian was quite handsome in his bowling footwear and was busy being a social butterfly with fellow party goers. The birthday cake was decorated with a toy motorcycle per Mark's love of Harleys. Ian got to keep it AND the icing on the tires. Whoo hoo!

Chef Natalie

2010-02-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

Natalie got this super cute chef set from her Aunt Caba for Valentine's day. She was wearing it about the house today and we were lucky enough to catch a cheesy smile. She makes a point to put on the oven mitt to get things out of her play oven, but only covers one hand! Ouch! Needless to say, Mom is proud of her little chef.

Ian's Valentine Party

2010-02-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

My Ian has always been a huge fan of Valentine's Day...he is enthusiastic about this minor holiday and its sweet. Natalie and I attended his school party this morning. They decorated cookies, made fruit loop necklaces and cards, then wrapped up with a valentine themed bingo game. Before leaving Natalie blended in with the big kids, sitting next to Ian for a little story time. You'll notice all the kids looking down and/or gnawing on something - fruit loop necklaces.

Snow Again

2010-02-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

We got about 6 inches of snow and two days off from school this week. Ian and Natalie really enjoyed hanging out with our neighbors Pablo and Eric. The snow was better for building our snowman than it was for sledding. You'll notice Natalie gave up on the sled and started to scoot her way down the hill....it was not fast but she giggled the whole time.

Day at the Circus

2010-02-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

For those of you that are skittish about clowns...not the blog entry for you! ha ha. Ian and Natalie went to their first circus today with their very special Aunt Caba. They had a great time and stayed entertained for well over two hours, which was a shock to hear about. Face painting, elephant rides, slushies and all kinds of animals. Natalie wasn't cooperating for the pictures but Ian was eager to show off his new look for the camera. The best part was I (Mom/Becky) got to have some rare free time for some shopping and lunching without the kiddos. Anybody want to take them again next weekend???

Nana & Papa Time

2010-01-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

Nana and Papa came to town for one of Papa's meetings...a thinly veiled excuse to get some snuggles in with Ian and Natalie. It was great having them around and the kids really enjoyed the extra love and attention. COME BACK PLEASE!

Natalie In The Snow

2010-01-10T17:30:00.000-08:00

Aunt Caba came over for snow play again and this time we had a suit for Natalie. She fussed like crazy when we dressed her up, but loved wading through the snow when she was out there. Her snow suit was SO puffy that it literally doubled her girth. We decided to call her 'Coco Puff'. Look closely and you'll see a vanilla wafer she clutched in her hand the whole time she was out there - strange but cute.

Ian helped push the girls downhill and they made it a whole 3 feet before tipping over!

Ian In Action

2010-01-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

While our Natalie was inside sleeping, Ian and I snuck outside to get some sledding action. He really enjoyed the new sleds he got for Christmas from Aunt Caba. We played until we were chilled to the bone....which didn't take long.

Off he goes.....

Christmas 2009

2009-12-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas at the Thomas house. Both of the kiddos really enjoyed the presents they received. Natalie had a very girlie morning with a kitchen set, new baby doll and a pink princess coupe car. Ian got a few Star Wars items and the whole family is enjoying a Wii video game system. Its really nice to have this holiday back in Louisville in our new home.

Gingerbread Project

2009-12-13T17:22:00.000-08:00

Ian and I tackled a gingerbread house project this Sunday evening. He was a really into getting all the pieces ready and anxiously awaiting any 'leftover' candy pieces. He helped me pipe on the icing 'glue' and had a big hand in picking out which color candies go where. What you see here is not a finished product but it was all we could get done before bedtime.

Natalie was hanging out with Dad during construction....roaming around us while we were busy building. We particularly enjoyed her cowgirl superhero costume combination.

Lazy Morning

2009-12-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

On a normal Thursday morning, we'd be up early and boots on the ground. First a quick breakfast, throw on clothes at out at a certain time to avoid traffic at Ian's school. This morning Ian stayed close to home because of a little asthma problem and we all lounged in our PJs. Let me set the scene - beautiful snow falling outside, fireplace going and two snuggly kids. It was awesome.

One of our morning activites was working on puzzles, which we've done a lot lately. They have both gotten quite good at them and Ian sometimes helps sister with her pieces. Natalie's puzzle has fish on it and you have to match up colors to complete. She knows the color, will intentionally put it in the wrong spot while smiling at you saying 'noooo'. After a couple no's she puts it in the proper spot. A litte game within the puzzle that she likes to play.

Visiting St Louis

2009-11-15T17:48:00.000-08:00

We visited our friends in St Louis this weekend. It was good to see everybody, including a new baby in the bunch. Saturday started off with a bang at The Magic House. Its a huge childrens fun house where the kids (Ian, Natalie, Justin & Jocelyn Jim) had a great time. There were lots of hands on activities like the water and sand play centers and slides of all kinds. The girls really enjoyed playing with the dollhouse. We got to enjoy a visiting Curious George exhibit, meeting George himself! Ian was all about holding hands and chatting up the monkey. Natalie stayed away from the big guy and decided to check out a smaller statue instead. Thanks to all our friends for a fun weekend!!!!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

We had a blast on Halloween this year. We had a new neighborhood full of friends and the weather turned out cold, but clear. Despite Ian's love of Star Wars, he was pretty firm about being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Raphael). Natalie was our resident ladybug. The biggest surprise of the night....Natalie actually got into it. She would see the light on at a house and get excited, walk up with her bag and mumble a trick or treat and thank you. Her little fat fingers would pick out some candy and put it in the bag....on to the next house. It was pretty funny.

We made the rounds with our neighbors (Pablo & Eric, standing) and our old friends the Weilages (Marshall & Jacob, Dragon & little storm trooper respectively). You'll notice the big storm trooper in the middle. That would be my father-in-law who surprised Ian by dressing up and coming to the front door. Grandpa was a huge hit in the neighborhood...everyone wanted to get a picture made with him!!

Sunday Fun

2009-10-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

We had quite a full day on Sunday. We hosted a family soup cook-off at our house. The kids and I went out for fresh bread that morning. Natalie showed interest for the first time ever in sitting in the car shopping cart. So we squeezed Ian and Natalie in the cart with cookies from the bakery. Luckily, everyone kept their hands on their own cookies.

Ian has showed a much bigger interest in coloring lately. He was never that interested, but recently will sit and finish a whole page and take pride in it. Natalie wanted to do what he was doing and sat in the chair with him for a long time....not coloring in the lines or even on the same page...but with him none the less.

Winners of the soup cook-off. Amy Meredith (right) won first place with her tomato basil tortellini masterpiece, followed closely by by Chiara Fletcher (left) with her potato soup. So yummy.

Natalie was loving Chiara's dog Zues...reading books with him, dressing him up as the Easter bunny. Then she got hold of Ian's head light and her toothbrush. Apparently, it was an entertaining combination. Mom will remember that!

Fall Fun

2009-10-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

We visited a farm in Shelbyville today with Aunt Caba and our friends the Hamiltons (Todd, Kara & Chase). It was a gorgeous day and the activities were abundant. The kids enjoyed playing the hay, pony rides, petting zoo, riding a tractor out to the field to hand pick our pumpkins. The boys were wild (in a good way) and Natalie was excited to take in all these new sights. She was particularly fun at the pumpkin patch, petting and hugging pumpkins. Kids are priceless. We love our family and friends!

Lunch With A Buddy

2009-10-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

One of Ian's new friends from preschool is Christopher. We got to pick him up from school the other day and hang out for a while. They listened to some tunes on the head phones in the car, on the way to a oh so nutritious lunch at McDonalds :o). They were on a mission to get their hands on the toy of the week - Bakugans. They gobbled up lunch while I held the toys hostage. Then they just sat there and were engrossed with playing and figuring the new toys out. Next, we hit up the bookstore for a little while until it was time to meet up with Chris' mom. We are thankful for new friends!

Football, Family & Fun

2009-10-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

We went to visit Aunt Nancy and her boys George & Ben this weekend. We also got to attend the UT vs Auburn football and catch up with old college friends. A little back story to some of the pictures you see - We started out the weekend with a trip to campus on Friday BEFORE game day madness. We walked around and checked out some silly items in the bookstore (such as the hat Ian is modeling). The oldest and silliest cousin George decided to try Natalie's car seat on for size, which totally cracked up his brother and Ian. Natalie, true to her girlishness, wanted to put on lip gloss with Aunt Nancy in the car on the way to dinner one night. Despite the fact that our team wasn't able to pull off a victory, it was a beautiful fall weekend and we had a wonderful time in Tennessee! Go Vols!

Ian - The Yellow Belt

2009-09-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

Ian had another big night tonight. He went to his martial arts studio's belt testing ceremony. Grand Master Huang (pictured above) called Ian out in front of a room of about 100 or more people for some questioning. He loudly answered correctly with a 'Sir' attached to the end of all of his answers. This wasn't part of the test...just Ian's lucky day. The testing started with a bow to the judges, then he displayed some movements and broke a board to complete. He finished things off with a signature Ian move - a wink for Master Huang. Its not exactly part of the ceremony but he improvised. Good ole Ian.

Bye-Bye Baby Tooth

2009-09-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe it, but we are in tooth-loosing territory at my house. Ian lost his first baby tooth last night. We discovered it was super loose while brushing teeth at bedtime. We could see where two permanent teeth were trying to poke through, but didn't realize the baby teeth were that close to coming out. The one next to it is soon to follow. Ian was VERY proud of loosing a baby tooth. It made this newly minted 5 yr old walk a little taller!

Natalie Bejeweled

2009-09-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

I was attempting to wrap up some paperwork after lunch today and caught a sweet moment between the kids. Ian was helping Natalie put ALL her jewelry on at once. She was enjoying having his help, which surprises me a bit. She will - no joke - spend hours playing with her precious plastic bling. Apparently, its fun to put on your feet too!

Ian's Birthday - Part 2

2009-09-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

We went to a really fun place called Incredible Daves tonight, per Ian's request. We ate dinner, played in the arcade and wrapped things up with some inflatable slide thrills. He could have gone a million times, Natalie too. Good times for us all. Thanks to Caba, Meemers and Nicole for coming along for the fun.

Ian Turns Five - School Party

2009-09-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

Ian turns the big 5 today!! I gave him a big hug when waking him up, asking him "Do you know anybody who is five today?". He responded with glee, "ME!". The celebrations begin with a donut party with his friends at school. Natalie and I brought in the special treats and got to hang out during snack time. Ian got to pick two special friends to sit with him and his sister for snack time. They sang a special happy birthday song to him during circle time. Everyone in the class pretends to be candles and at the end Ian blew them all out (too cute). Natalie and I really enjoyed our time with Ian and his class. Stay tuned....more birthday fun to come!!!

New Hat For Natalie

2009-09-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Jill Williams made a very sweet hat for Natalie. It has a white flower at the crown and a stem popping out of the top. She LOVES to wear it. In fact, she wore it most of the day yesterday around the house. It would periodically come off and she would bring it to me and duck her head down so I could put it back on. She's showing things off for the camera in these two pictures. Hopefully she will still like to wear it when it gets colder!

All About Ian

2009-08-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

Ian had a project for school....to make a poster that would help the class get to know him. Today was his day to present it to the class. Natalie stayed with a neighbor and Mom got to go see Ian's early presentation skills. He was very excited and went over all the pictures on his board in detail. The coolest part for him was using his teacher's pointing stick during the presentation. He did a very good job and savored some undivided attention from Mom! Way to go Ian!!!

Busy Saturday

2009-08-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

We had a very full day. It all started with a baby gymnastics class for Natalie. She really got the hang of it....grabbing the bar and wanting to flip, even doing well walking on the balance beam (with Mom help). You notice her little pink gymnastics outfit, thanks to Aunt Caba.

We rounded out the day with a movie night with our neighbors Pablo and Eric....feature film playing 'Space Buddies'. I went to go put the movie in and the boys had lifted Natalie up on the couch. She was happy as could be to be snuggled up with the guys. You'll notice her clapping!

New School

2009-08-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ian started a new preschool in Louisville last week. He is very proud of it too. Although he is a little whiny when he first gets up, he is usually pretty anxious to get there in the morning. He is going for five half days to get him used to an all week schedule before Kindergarten next year (at same school). This picture was taken just before I took him to his first day. He is responsible for his backpack, the folder in it and his cubby in the preschool room. Maybe some good habits will spill over into our home routine too. A Mom can dream!!

Our Little Girl...Growing

2009-08-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

We got a kick out of these two pictures. She's using/snuggling with her new crayons above and being all sassy while Ian got his haircut below. She is doing really good, trying to say lots of words, loving books, an pretty adventurous about food. Her 15 month checkup revealed that she is at 80% on height and 50% on weight. Her hair is sprouting quickly too. Before you know it....we're gonna have her back in the pink jeep seat for her first trim!

Pool With The Minis

2009-08-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

Our friends from St Louis, Jeff and Jennifer Jim, came to visit this past weekend with their 19 month old twins Justin and Jocelyn. We took them to the neighborhood pool to hang out and have pizza for lunch. The water was a bit chilly but nobody minded since it was so hot out. When it was time to pack up and go, all the little ones got out of their wet clothes and into a fresh diaper....the diaper brigade was formed. They looked like little ducklings waddling behind Jeff. So cute!

Couch Potatoes

2009-08-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

We had some lazy Sunday snuggling on the couch. Mom and Natalie had some girl time just before afternoon nap...it was awesome. The boys cozied up to watch one of their favorite shows 'Mythbusters' just before bed tonight. Could Ian look a little more like his Dad? Probably not!

Sweetwater Adventure

2009-08-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

We all went to Sweetwater TN to visit our family there, Aunt Nancy and her boys George & Ben. Ian had quite the adventurous day, caught his first fish, went wading in a huge creek and roasting marshmallows WAY after bedtime. As for Natalie, she played in the van and snacked on crackers during the fishing portion of the day. I think her favorite was hanging out with the dogs, namely our sweet Zeus. That dog is a saint!

Ian & Tae Kwon Do

2009-07-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

Ian and his Dad started Tae Kwon Do classes last week. Ian seems to really enjoy being a part of the school. On your third class you get to perform this routine with your instructor. Its a little like watching fake stunts in a movie....Ian makes a move and his teacher/opponent reacts as if really struck. So it appeared like Ian was whooping up on a grown man, flipping him over on the mat and standing over him in victory at the end (bottom right). They also have a board breaking event where you name a bad habit that you want to break and punch the board, symbolic of breaking the habit. It sounds kind a deep for a four year old, but Ian was extremely proud to take part in it and earn his first ever trophy. He's started moving the trophy around the house to be in whatever room he's playing in. Who knows what's next!

A Love of Footwear

2009-07-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

We have a girly girl on our hands. She seems to be naturally drawn to anything that resembles jewelry, purses or shoes. It is so much fun. This little personality that is 100% Natalie comes out more everyday. Here, you see her in the process of walking around the kitchen with my slippers on. She will spend several minutes concentrating on putting any type of shoe on her feet, and is SO proud when she gets them both on. I have already warned Brad that the shoes get more pricey as she gets older!

Cincinnati Adventure

2009-07-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

We took a quick trip up to Cincinnati to visit Scott and Amy Byrdwell. They are old friends and former neigbhors and it was so good to get the kids together and laugh. We met at the Newport Aquarium in the morning (so cool) and had a laid back afternoon at their house. Brady and Ian played SO good together, and the little ones did great too. The newest Byrdwell, Casey, was a joy to be around and smiled at Natalie a lot. Until next time...

Reading Together

2009-06-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

We have a toy that combines two fun activities...reading and music. Ian asked Natalie to sit in her lap to check it out (copying what Mom and Dad do). So Natalie backed up and squashed one of his legs to sit in his lap. They laughed, wiggled together and he even tried to help her push some of the buttons. They were really interacting with each other in a sweet way...which was my cue to butt out and get the camera!

Loving Books

2009-06-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

The past few mornings, Natalie wakes up and goes straight to hang out with her books. No breakfast, no routine snuggling to wake up slowly....just give that girl her books. She loves the ones with texture and the more the better. She seems to be in her own little world and loving it. So I leave her to it and sneak around the corner to make breakfast for everyone, peeking in occasionally to check on her or snap a quick picture!

Home At Last

2009-06-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

So the Thomas family survived the move! Everything went well and we are so thankful to be in our new space. The kids seem to like their new rooms, as do Mom and Dad. We're having a good time settling in, and little by little the boxes will go away. Ian and his Dad have big plans for the boxes - a cardboard city is being built in part of the basement. Here are some shots of the kids in front of the house today.

Sweets For The Sweet

2009-06-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

We've been on an ice cream cone kick lately. Natalie was pretty aggressive about getting a taste of mine the other day. Hands out, shrieking, walking towards the cone and staring at it until she had a taste. So funny to see her when she knows what she wants.

Fun Night Out

2009-06-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Thomas Family blog can have a posting without kids in it, right? We attended the fellowship dinner for Brad's vascular surgery program. He finishes this last stage of a very long training road at the end of June. I wanted to show the photo of us dressed up as proof that we actually remember how to go out for an evening that does NOT involve a kids menu or highchairs! We are all proud of Brad and the other guys he has had the privilage to train with.

Pictured L-R: Jeff Jim, Andres Fajardo, Jack Oak, BT, Mike Wilderman, and Chris Chambers.

Trying Something New

2009-05-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

We went to Louisville this weekend to do some stuff in our new house (yeah). One night after dinner at our favorite pizza place, we popped in to the local martial arts studio housed above to check out the classes in session. There were a bunch of kids Ian's age and he was in awe. So this impromptu visit turned into Ian AND his Dad being signed up for a two week trial in July together. The teacher was a bit of a drill sargeant and I secretly loved how it got Ian's attention. At one point we had to repeatedly go over how martial arts didn't include any painting...but he eventually got it and was OK with it. :o)

Mark & Sandi Visit St Louis

2009-05-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

Mark and Sandi came to visit St Louis. We started out their first day with a morning at the zoo. Ian got to enjoy the new stingray exhibit, actually touching a stingray! Natalie took everything in from her stroller, but did walk hand in hand with Sandi for a long time. You could tell she felt like BIG stuff. It was a beautiful morning at the zoo.

On the next day of our visit, we went on a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. It was a really cool factory and they had lots of history to tell us about. We got to see the magnificent Clidesdale horses (HUGE) and got to sample some beer at the end of the tour. Don't worry folks, fruit punch for the little guy. Ian wouldn't miss out on a 'cheers' photo shoot with Uncle Mark!

Last Day at Union Preschool

2009-05-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

The last day of preschool was this week. Ian said goodbye to lots of special little friends and teachers at Union Preschool. Here are some of the kids in his homeroom class (Caitlyn, Lucy, Ryan, Goofy Ian, and Jack). What a great group of kiddos!!

Lunch With The Minis

2009-05-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

Our friends Jennifer Jim and the minis (Justin & Jocelyn) came over to hang out and have lunch the other day. We thought the 3 high chair set up was photo worthy!

Its A Girl Thing

2009-05-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Natalie got into some purses today. She managed to get one over her head and carry it hands-free for a while, then added a little black hand bag (her going out with the girls purse!). She just walked in circles around our house carrying two purses for a long time, thought it was the most fun! That's our girl!

Milkshakes For Dinner

2009-05-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

Chiara drove in from Lexington to hang out with us for a few days. We went for a walk in the super nice weather and ended up at an ice cream shop. Ian had a scoop of his favorite strawberry, then moved on to Chiara's milkshake. We're pretty sure he managed to weasel his way into drinking almost half of it!

Mother's Day Celebration

2009-05-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Ian's preschool had a Mother's Day program today. Natalie happily stayed with Aunti Chiara and I got to focus on my boy. They sang special songs, played a mean tambourine and had snacks with his best friend Ryan. Also pictured is Ian's homeroom teacher, Mrs Goehring.

The Littlest Jedi

2009-05-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

We had our good friend Nick over after preschool today. The boys decided that they were gonna play with light sabers. Natalie is old hand at carrying around the weapon of the Jedi, so she joined in. They were super careful around her and she loved being a part of their activity. So proud of the boys!

Our Saturday

2009-05-02T18:08:00.000-07:00

Natalie got a new pink chair from her Nonnie today. She really enjoyed her brother's blue one so we thought a girly version was of the chair was in order. She LOVES climbing in and out of it.

This picture tells a story. Natalie is walking now full steam ahead and fast. One minute she is in the hallway and the next...out of sight. I found her in big brother's toy closet. Its a forbidden spot with choking hazards galore (door that's usually closed was left open). She was so pleased to sit and check it all out. If she could talk, she would have said 'Go away Mom!'.

We got out a wagon full of baby blocks from storage. Ian and Natalie really enjoyed digging in. Of course, Ian was building Star Wars space ships. Natalie was more interested in the wagon and stashing pieces in her room. Gotta love we old toys are new again!

Natalie Turns One!

2009-04-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

Natalie Caroline turns one today. Here is a picture from a little party we had for her while on vacation last week. She is so full of personality, has 3 bottom teeth and likes to dance and give fives. There is also a little song she sings that sounds just a little like 'E-I-E-I-O'. There is a boat load of pictures coming up from our vacation soon - stay tuned. In the meantime, here is a glimpse of her on the beach sporting her favorite expression...the pouty bottom lip!

Natalie Likes Swinging

2009-04-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon so we loaded up and went to the park. Dad and Ian were running around like crazy, but Natalie got her first try at a swing. She was fine when I put her in the swing, but not fine at the first push. Apparently, I needed to ease her into it. After a quick hug and a slower start, she got into it. She stared at her dangling feet for a while, tried hanging on different ways and finally let some giggles out. Such sweet fun!

Party at Ian's House

2009-03-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

We had all of Brad's co-fellows and their families over for dinner. That was a grand total of 9 adults and 6 fabulous kiddos (From left: Ian, Ali Oak, Emily Oak, Jocelyn & Justin Jim). We really enjoyed having everyone around. Ian and Ali are two peas in a pod and it was fun watching the younger kids check each other out. Natalie had a big day - taking her first steps in front of the crowd!

Natalie's First Class

2009-03-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Natalie met some friends (Justin & Jocelyn) at Gymboree this morning for her first ever baby class. After a short period where she mostly sat and stared at everything, Natalie started to branch out. Jocelyn (pictured) is a regular and showed her the ropes. She loved holding these colorful balls with holes all over them. She went down a slide too but didn't give us a big reaction. The class ended with bubbles and some songs. Overall, we had a great time and look forward to trying it again!

We Recycle

2009-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Natalie has recently developed a fondness for the recycling bin. She'll spot it and make a mad dash over to dig in it. Everything is washed out already and its fine if she pulls out an empty water bottle to check out. She likes to peal off the labels and really concentrates while working on finding a corner to pull. However, there have been a couple uncomfortable moments when she fished out a beer bottle. ha ha! We have since moved the bin into a stairwell, out of reach, and are redirecting her to the toy basket. Parents are no fun.

My Kid's Personalities

2009-03-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

So this picture perfectly captures the kids personalities. Ian always has an animated expression and is about to tell you something new (usually at an unnecessarily high volume). As for Natalie, she is all propped up checking out the world. She still flashes a sweet smiles, but often time you see her studying people or things with this serious look on her face. I plan on pulling this picture out when they are teenagers. It will be funny to look at how much or how little they've changed!

Rain Games

2009-03-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

It was a warm and rainy afternoon and we let Ian play outside. At first we told him just to run around in the (private) backyard in his underwear. He didn't feel right about that, so he grabbed an old pair of swim trunks we found in the garage. The look is made complete by some super cool rainboots we inherited from cousin Cohen. The result is my skinny boy running around having the time of his life!

First Wheels

2009-03-10T17:45:00.001-07:00

We were visiting at our friends house, home of the twins Jocelyn and Justin Jim. They are 14 months old and have lots of fun riding toys. Natalie took a liking to this one and Dad pushed her around. She had big smiles while riding and held on for dear life!

She's Ready!

2009-03-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

I was trying NOT to buy some of the adorable spring clothes that are out now....and failed miserably. Natalie got a new outfit and sunglasses to boot. We had a little fashion show one afternoon while big brother Ian was still snoozing. She tried on bathing suits too - yes suits, as in she has more than one. Come on spring!

Almost 10 Months!

2009-02-25T17:46:00.000-08:00

Our girl is almost 10 months old! Its amazing how quickly time goes and how fast she is changing. She really loves to stand and 'talk' to us. She will hold onto the edges and walk around things, like the container pictured above. I've seen her let go and try to stand on her own a few times, so she is testing it out. The best is when she hears music and moves her shoulders to the beat. It is so entertaining to sit back and watch her play!

The Anniversary Trip

2009-02-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

Nana and Papa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Nashville surrounded by lots of family. We surprised them with a special cake and had their wedding photos put in a new album (old one was broken). It was a great time.

Natalie loved to crawl into Aunt Beth's pantry and touch everything.

Ian and his cousin Cohen....needless to say A LOT of Star Wars games were played!

Where's the Star?

2009-02-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

We've started giving some little cereal puffs to Natalie after meals. She enjoys picking them up and it entertains her pretty well while the rest of the family gets a chance to eat peacefully. We aren't sure exactly how it got stuck on her nose, but it was up there for long time before she got it off. It didn't seem to bother her and we all found it pretty cute!

Waking Up Brother

2009-02-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

Natalie almost always wakes up before Ian in the morning. When its time to go in and get up her brother, he usually asks me to put her down next to him to snuggle. He makes a little spot for her and wants to cover her up with the blanket. They were extra giggly together this morning, so I dashed for the camera. Natalie got his nose and it was entertaining for both of them!

Our Snow Day

2009-01-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

Like many places over the last two days, we got some snow (about 6 inches). Ian was bundled up and sent out to 'help' Dad clear things off. There were a few shovel fulls tossed back and forth - Dad started it! Our little boy was happy to just lay in the snow and enjoy the moment. All this excitement took place during Natalie's morning nap....too cold for her. Anyone for hot chocolate?

Mohawk Man

2009-01-28T12:36:00.000-08:00

Do you see the cool attitude in Ian's eyes? Oh, its there. He asked for spiked hair again today after bath, so I offered a Mohawk (we weren't going out anyway). It didn't stay vertical for very long but it was funny watching him be careful with his hair....foreshadow to the teen years.

First Stand Video

2009-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was taking a short video of her drumming on this box and then....she just pushed herself up and stood. Its pretty cool we have a first like this on video.

Standing Already

2009-01-24T18:28:00.000-08:00

Our girl just started crawling efficiently a week or so ago. Then, she had to be an overachiever and stand up! It wasn't just a once in a while thing. She falls pretty gracefully and always wants to go right back up. Its more of a push up technique rather than a pull up move. The first time she did it was on a big cardboard box. See how her legs are kinda wide in this picture? She ended up almost doing the splits!

The Amazing Ian

2009-01-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

I am a firm believer now that every little boy needs a cape. It sparks the imagination and out comes the personality, which in Ian's case isn't too hard to do. You'll notice the Amazing Ian is still working on NOT having his underwear sticking out of his pants after a potty break (bottom left photo). Priceless!