Spring!

Well hello there. Yes...it's been awhile...I know. Life has been wonderful...crazy..but wonderful! I can't say that I am going to win photographer of the year with these pictures..but at least I posted some:) Nico and Lulu are just the spice of life. Nico is talking now and using sentences, expressive words (mom..I am mad at sissy; mom, are you happy I'm happy) and miss Lulu says exactly what's on her mind! So, there is A LOT of communication in our house! I love to watch the kids talk to each other....they play little games together and most of the time make each other either laugh or cry.

As for me..well I am addicted to Pinterest and have found that all I want to do is cook or do a craft project for the home or the kids! I stay up late at night on my phone browsing boards and make a list of things I want to do the next day that never seem to get done! Whew!

My cousin recently left for Russia to play professional women's soccer. I am so proud of her and wonder what it must feel like to be so courageous to follow your passion and your dreams...even when they take you across the world! She is so worldly and completely amazing. I miss her.

If you should have any fire safety questions..Nico is a great resource and would be happy to answer any of them. Thanks to all of the fire truck books, our trip to my cousins firehouse, Elmo's fire safety movie...papa showing Nico his badge and all of his fire fighter collections...well..he is available most days before and after nap:)

Life is beautiful. I thank God everyday for delivering me to the moment I am in. I am grateful for the love and friendships that enrich my life and help make me a better person and mom.

Little buddies

Great outfit...boots really class it up a bit

drinking some tea and shooting the breeze

Rabbit season

Yes, the Stivers are still around

Okay, okay, I know.....it's not like I've been sitting around watching daytime tv or anything(not that there is a thing wrong with that...I actually miss it:) I just haven't had a second to post or get my act together! Yes..summer has been long gone and fall is just about over too...but the good news is we have been having a great time.

Nico's speech therapist has been really working with him to use phrases...and he is doing a great job! Just this past saturday (I was sick in bed with a bug)...he came into my room and just started chatting away! He asked me "Are you okay mamma?" and later in the day, "all better mamma?" bless his little heart! Miss Lulu is a tough little cookie...she is 16 months and is really interested in trying to climb up to things....what you surprised?! She has taken some bad falls and of course scared the life right out of me but one would think I would be used to that by now. She's a little chatter bug and loves to sing and dance. Nico will grab her hand and just twirl her around...very sweet.

Charlie measured Nico the other night and almost fell over...since July 4th...he has grown 2 inches! Wow! I guess he is eating...althought he could live on popsicles....but obviously they don't stunt his growth. Lulu is cutting her bottom molars and two more teeth on the bottom...let's just say there are times when I have to remind myself how painful this process is...because sweet girl will be playing and then all of a sudden, she let's out a blood curdling scream...I look around..and not even Nico is close to her and I am like "what the heck?" then when i look into her mouth as she is crying and see the big swollen lumps in her gums...awww...I get it.

Thanksgiving is in 2 days and because we have all not been feeling well our plans have changed...so we will be by ourselves this year. I think it's all going to be fine...having a 2 1/2 and 16 month old running around doesn't make for the most relaxing environment! It will be fun...they love to gobble and walk like turkeys so we will have great entertainment! We are so thankful and grateful for the friendships and family we have been blessed with. We are thankful to have 2 healthy kids and to have Nico doing so well in his therapies. Thank you Lord for the life you have chosen for us and for the light you guide us with.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Summer Days

What to do on hot days?......put popcorn bowls on your

head!
Helping daddy in the garden..Nico found some worms
and was in total boy heaven

What...don't you trust this face?

Really Lulu.....don't get used to this jail look

it's not good......:)

Love being with family and so thankful for every moment! I really enjoy seeing

these pics because sometimes in our house all you can hear are two kids crying, 3 dogs barking

and Barney singing in the background!

Nico has become very afraid of the dark lately and talks about monsters...now

we haven't mentioned anything about monsters..so where did this come from?

Lulu has been growling lately like a dinosaur...or the dogs...such a sweet girl :)

Two little Munchkins

Why do we buy toys? This basket that Holds their

toys kept these two occupied for quite sometime.

Lulu Loves climbing into baskets, cupboards, shelves,

boxes so brother decided to see if it was as much fun

as lulu makes it out to be!

REALLY? Where did she learn this from?
I am not sure how I feel about having 2 monkeys as
children!

Breakfast with Nico....such a delight!

Okay, if anyone has any suggestions as to what to do with

this curly hair I am all ears! Lucia had a bath the night before and this

is her hair the next morning! I couldn't stop laughing...it actually swayed when

she walked around!

Lucia's 1st Birthday!!!

Yes, our little firecracker turned 1 on July 4th! I have to say I am
in disbelief...I thought the time would go slower somehow. We had such a
wonderful day celebrating you and the amazing little girl you have become!
Charlie and I love family get-togethers and we love surrounding our children
with people who love them. Charlie's family and my parents spent
the day with us helping celebrate miss Lulu and all of her glory.

Lulu LOVED her cupcake...she ate the WHOLE thing! Charlie and my
dad asked her if she liked the cupcake and she nodded her head yes! Then we asked
her if she was happy and she nodded her head yes again!
Too cute!

Cousins Ambriah and Grace....Nico had a big bite of
icing in his mouth!

Our little Lucia Angelina, we love you sooo much and are so blessed
to have you as our daughter. Watching you grow in your first year has
been incredible....you're such a happy girl! You really are amazing and
have made our family complete. Thank you for being you...and know
that we adore and love you so very much!

On the Run

Things have been relatively smooth lately...which has me on gaurd a bit! The kids love playing outside with buddy, the water, and anything dangerous:) Nico's vocabulary has increased so much since his speech therapy started and it is amazing how much he has to say about everything. We took the kids to our neice's dance recital and they both LOVED it....Lulu fell asleep but Nico clapped and cheered the whole time! Then we went to a carnival...yes, I am always up for carnival food and entertainment...but we weren't sure what to expect from Mr. Nico. He wanted to go on every ride and didn't have an ounce of fear! There was this one ride that was a fire truck and went in a big circle and then stopped at the top.....Nico started to climb out of his seat and I started to scream! Luckily he sat back down and finished the ride without injury.

Here are some pics of random events etc. I just can't believe how big both of them are getting.

I look at the pictures last summer of Nico and he seemed so little! Lulu has caught the summertime tradition and loves corn on the cobb and watermelon! She is one determined little

girl and fights to the end to get what she wants! A couple of saturdays ago we went down to Castle Rock and bought her first pair of shoes! I really didn't want to get pink shoes but it was the only color they had. She thinks they are fabulous and walks around looking down at them and then runs into things!

Mother's Day was really special this year! We went to the museum with my

parents and Charlie's mom and then when we came home we played outside in

the pool. This is Lulu in her little strawberry outfit begging to go

outside with her dad and brother.

Yes, this is Nico's favorite Monkey hat....he is finally

okay with sharing it.
I couldn't resist....Nico and Charlie watching Barney and
relaxing! I love their little nuggets!

I think this captures Lulu in her Godzilla moment!
We call her Godzilla because she destroys everything
in her path. Block towers, train tracks, books on shelves...watch out..
here she comes!


Nico helping Lulu by showing her all of the buttons on the
fire truck. Now, she pushes Nico around on the fire truck and
giggles the whole time!

Little Buddy

Well, once again I am hoping this will post. For some reason I can't post any of my previous posts.

Lulu is a running machine....most of the time running to get out of Nico's way! :) I really can't believe that Lulu started walking at 9 months and she is talking A LOT! it is so funny to watch the differences between boys and girls. Summer is here and the kids have been enjoying their time outside....which leads me to share the latest news at the Stivers house....we have a new member to our family....no not another baby (are you kidding me!)....a baby duck we named buddy! Nico and Lulu had been going everynight down to the little pond by our house with Charlie to feed the ducks. Well, a male and female duck started following them home to our house and Charlie and I suspected that the female had laid some eggs. Sure enough...the ducklings hatched and everyone was sooooo excited. Charlie had taken the kids down the path to find the ducklings. The mama duck was with her 4 little ducklings....and one of them had a deformed leg that kept him from keeping up with the others. Charlie and his big heart knew that he wouldn't make it through the night with all the foxes and coyotes sooooooo he brought him home.

Yes we are now the proud parents of Buddy the duck. Nico is completely head over heals for this duck and calls out for him in his sleep. It really melts my heart. Yes I know a duck is the last thing we needed at our house....but he really is too cute.