Okay, since I have been bad about updating the blog I am going to give a quick recap of our February! 

This is Colton helping Grandma Kliegl make brownies.  Him and Austin both had to try all of the ingredients and after the flour Austin says, "Grandma, I like suga better than flour!"  And he says suga with this drawl so it was actually pretty funny and now he likes to remind me every once in awhile that he likes sugar and not flour!  Colton was smiling on cue . . . I'm pretty sure he got this cheese ball smile from watching his brother smile for the camera over the years!  And the brownies were phenomenal!

 The boys received a trampoline from Annie and Papa for Valentine's Day!  This is used every day now at our house.  We realized quickly that only one person should be on it at a time so we have to use the timer or Brian and I have to be in the room while the jumping is happening.  They love the trampoline and they are usually really good about taking turns.  Austin and Colton both like to do all their dance moves on the trampoline and put on shows for Brian and I.

 We visited Nick and Courtney and the boys went in to wake up Nick and Courtney on Saturday morning.  Austin is enjoying the view out the window, while it appears Colton is checking out Aunt Courtney.  The boys loved sprawling out on the big king size bed that they have at their house!

 We went to Carol and Al's house in Granger and Colton and Austin got to 'drive' one of Al's Mustangs around.  Colton said he was going to visit Papa several times, then he would wave out the window and say, "bye bye mama".  After a very quick trip, he would tell us he was back!  He loved being in charge of the steering wheel and Austin didn't mind either.  The boys also got to play with the balls on the pool table in the basement with Carol.  Austin made up a game called "Smash Ball", which was played a lot like the title sounds . . . just smash the balls together and various pockets were good ones to have your ball go into and other pockets were bad ones to put the ball into.  We had lunch and then Carol loaded us all up with candy and sweets to head back to Nick's house!

It was very cold outside so Nick and Courtney set up a little Smores maker in their entry way!  The boys were patiently waiting for the marshmallows to be cooked.  Nick was helping Austin and Courtney helped Colton hold the marshmallow for a while too.  Colton was more interested in eating the chocolate candy bar than he was in roasting a marshmallow!

Colton had his very last day at Bri's house on March 1st.  It was a sad day since Bri is moving to Davenport and will no longer be able to watch Colton.  March 4th through March 8th, Annie came and spent the week with the boys!  It was a great week at our house as Annie had the boys helping make delicious meals, which Brian and I greatly enjoyed in the evenings.  They played, did art projects and even went on a walk during one of the warmer afternoons.  This last week the boys have been going to our friend Jana's house and playing with her kids.  It has been a great fit, as her kids are the same ages as our two boys!

We are heading to Emmetsburg this weekend for the big St. Pat's celebration!  We are looking forward to a fun time.  The boys will get to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Kliegl all of next week.  They are very excited for their 5 day trip! 

I love this huge smile on Colton's face so I thought I would share!!

 

Last night we went to play with Zoey and Charlee!  Colton and Charlee were very excited to be together to play again.  They both seem to talk about eachother all week, so our get togethers are always a really great time.  Colton's favorite word this week is 'no'.  It seems to be his answer before he even really knows what the question is.  Austin has been testing him . . .

Austin:  Colton do you want to go to the beach?
Colton:  No
Austin:  Mommy, Colton doesn't want to go to the beach?  Colton we could wear our beach clothes.
Colton:  Oh . . . (thinking, pondering)
Austin:  So, do you want to go to the beach?
Colton:  mmmmm . . . no
And then both boys break out into laughter, since Colton has now just said the funniest thing ever. 

These little conversations are happening all the time and I love being able to listen to them.

Austin has also been very inquisitive around bed time.  I'm sure it is just a new stalling tactic but he sure does come up with some good questions.

Austin:  Mommy, I need a drink of water.
Me:  Okay.  (I head to his bathroom to get him a drink of water)
Austin:  Mommy, once I drink all of the water from my bathroom how do we get it filled back up?
Me:  Well, we have a pipe that runs from your sink to the water tower and we get water from the water tower. 
Austin:  Well, doesn't the potty water go into a pipe too? 
Me:  Yes, it does.
Austin:  Well, how does the water from the potty know where to go?  Does the potty water come back up the pipe to my sink!?! 
Me:  No, it is two different pipes.  So, the clean water comes to the sink and the potty water goes away from the house.
Austin:  Where is away?  Where does the potty water go?
Me:  To the sewer.
Austin:  And what does it do at the sewer?
Me:  The sewer is just where all of the potty water goes.
Austin:  (Clearly not convinced this is the right answer)  Oh, okay mommy.

We are looking forward to a fun weekend!!

Going to visit Jon and Clare's house!

So Austin has been persistently asking if we can go to Jon's.  I don't know if the cold weather is making him want to head out to Jon's where it is sunny or what.  But, about every other day he will ask me when we are going to Jon's.  Here is how one the conversations rolled out . . .

Austin:  "Mommy, can we go bowling some day?"
Me:  "Yes Austin, that would be a very fun thing to do some day."
Austin:  "Then after bowling can we go to Jon's?"
Me:  "Well, it is a really long drive to Jon's, so we have to plan out a trip.  And then we can go there."
Austin:  "Well, Colton and I will sleep the whole way and you could make pbj's for us to eat in the car for lunch.  That way we won't even have to stop.  We can just sleep and eat sandwiches until we get there!"

This morning on the way to school . . .

Austin:  "Are we doing anything on Thursday?"
Me:  "Nothing special planned."
Austin:  "Well, let's go to Jon's on Thursday!"
Me:  "Well, Austin, Thursday is only two days away and I have to work so that isn't very much time to plan a trip to Jon's house."
Austin:  "Well, two days is a long time mommy.  You can just tell your work that you have to go to Jon's on Thursday."  (He says this with his adorable shoulder shrug, while his hands are in the air)

He has got it all figured out, that's for sure!! 

It is all Super Heroes all the time at our house lately!  The boys are either dressed up in full costume or they are flying around in the new super hero capes that Austin got for his birthday!  Zoey and Charlee were over on Tuesday and all four kiddos ran around the house with capes on, and whatever else they could find to use as props.  The above shot is Colton running around the house and posing as Superman!

On a sad note, Tiger and Cheetah Boy have already died.  I'm not sure what the deal is with the fish but apparently we need to figure it out and invest in some new goldfish.  Austin was slightly concerned yesterday telling me, "Mommy, he is not dead, he is sleeping."  I told him that was unfortunately not how fish sleep.  "Mommy, he is just swimming at the top with his belly up . . . like when I do the back float!"  I had to talk him through this one too, explaining that he was not actually swimming.  He told me he really liked Tiger and didn't want him to be dead.  Then I got that mess all taken care of and Cheetah Boy dies 6 hours later.  The fish saga will continue, I'm sure.   Hopefully Fin can hang on.

Austin is 4!!

Austin had a great birthday and birthday weekend!  Every day he woke up and wanted to know if it was still his birthday . . . so, of course it was!  First his birthday eve, then birthday, then birthday weekend!  We got him a fish tank so, Austin and Brian headed out to the store to buy a few fish and all the fish tank supplies.  Austin picked out three fish and named them;  Fin (which is an excellent fish name), Tiger, and Cheetah Boy.  Austin is so far excited to get to feed them everyday. 

 

On Saturday we went to Comfort Suites, where the grandparents were staying, and swam in the pool.  Austin was in the pool from 3:15 until 7:15.  Four non-stop hours of fun!  A few friends were able to make it too.  Aiden came and so did Charlee.  We also got to meet a distant cousin on the Kliegl side who came as well, his name was Alex and him and Austin were great little buddies right off the bat!

 Colton and Daddy

 Alex and Austin playing under the waterfall

 Colton, taking it easy in the little part of the pool.  This pool is fantastic for kids because it has a zero entry area as well as a waterfall for all the kids to enjoy.  Nate and his friend Cory came swimming as well.  Austin and Colton loved jumping in the deep end where Nate and Cory would catch them and run them back and forth along the length of the pool.  It was a great day and the boys were very worn out when we got home.  They slept hard Saturday night and they slept really well on Sunday night too!

 Austin requested a superhero themed birthday party!  He picked out special superhero cups for the punch, Batman plates for lunch, and a HULK cake.  I didn't know how I was going to make it happen but Austin knew what his cake was right away and was very excited to show it off to everyone when they arrived for the weekend. 

 Zoey, Austin, and Charlee!  Annie made four super hero capes for Austin.  They were immediately put on by the four kiddos at the party!  These four then zoomed all over the house chasing the bad guy . . . who was Nick. 

Colton!

 Austin and Courtney

 

By the time everyone cleared out, the boys were exhausted and so were Brian and I. We got the house straightened up and the boys were definitely ready for bed when the time came.  We woke up on Sunday to a pretty terrible ice storm.  The roads were covered in ice and about half of the guests ended up cancelling.  I didn't now how the party was going to turn out but it turned out GREAT!  Austin had a fun time and last night he asked me again, "How many minutes until I am five?"  I would say the entire weekend was a success!

Busy Boys!

Austin is 4 years old today!!!  It is hard to believe that he is already four.  I will get some good pictures tonight and hopefully have more great shots after his birthday party on Sunday!! 

 

 Pictures of the boys enjoying the sled out in the side yard.  Austin was very good about giving Colton rides.  Of course, he did need to "take a rest" everything they made it around the house.  They both had a lot of fun.  Plus, Brian enjoyed the break while Austin was doing the work!

 Colton and Austin love dressing up.  Colton is getting into the Superhero masks but his favorite so far seems to be the cowboy gear.  He especially loves the bandana around his neck.  We have been telling him to say "yehaw" but mostly he just growls at us!  Well, we laugh every time he does it, which of course encourages him to keep growling.  It's pretty cute!!

 Last weekend we went to Remsen, where Rick took us down to the fire station.  The boys got to climb up into all of the firetrucks and pretend they were driving.  Colton loved pushing all the buttons and wanted to be in the cab, driving, all by himself.  Austin posed for me next to Rick's locker.  Austin and I both tried on the helmet.  Austin also tried on the oxygen mask, which was pretty funny looking.  Colton preferred just to watch us, he was not interested in trying anything on.  Pretty cool day for all of us!

 Austin is THOR!  He got this great costume for his birthday from Judy and he has been wearing it around the house this week.  It has a cape and since he already has the hammer . . . he runs around the house saying "Avengers Assemble" and sings the theme song to their cartoon show.  The costume has built in muslces.  Colton has been wearing the Spiderman costume around the house, that also has built in muscles.  We have two little super heroes ready for action at our house.  Another cute phrase from Austin this week is "I am here, have no fear" and then he runs up the stairs!  So cute.

Here is a picture of Mallory and Austin being silly. They were wrestling around on the floor and then made funny faces at me for a picture.

Happy New Year!

The boys received some fun new hats this year for Christmas!!  Austin is above in a reindeer hat from Aaron and Becca, Colton is wearing a penguin hat from Judy!  These hats are both adorable and the boys actually left them on.  I was not sure what they would think but so far, so good!! 
We had an exciting weekend as Colton moved from his crib to his toddler bed.  Brian took one side off of his crib.  So he is adjusting to his new freedom and doing a great job so far of sleeping in his bed.  This morning I went in to check on him and he was sleeping on the floor with one of his pillow pets.  So, I'm not sure when he rolled out of bed but it apparently didn't bother him too much.  We have a line of pillow pets to soften his 12" drop when he does roll out.  We will keep you posted on the progress of tranformation to a big boy bed!!! 
Colton also went potty in the potty chair yesterday!!  We had a tootsie pop to celebrate and hopefully we are heading in the right direction with potty training!  Austin is a great cheerleader for Colton and helps him to know how exciting it is that he can go potty all by himself. 
Our NYE was fairly uneventful.  I was in bed by 10:30 and Brian came to bed shortly after that.  The boys got to stay up until about 9 so they slept in the next morning!  Yesterday was a lot of fun playing and spending the day together.  Seems like it's been awhile since the four of us have had an entire day together.  Happy New Year!!