Florida trip!

What fun we had in Florida

with Lydia, Luke, Aunt Michelle and Uncle Eric!!! 

(July 26 - July 31)

Click here to view this photo book larger

Thank you so much for having us to visit!!!!

Cousinsanity!

Cousinsanity at the Boggio house!

I think you started something....

7 days later my boys were swimming unassisted in pools and ocean alike!  Hurray!!!

Thanks so much for the hospitality Aunt Vicki, Tara & Chris! 

MI Renaissance Festival 2011

 

 

Finally put up the tree...

Well the Nord's North Carolina house has been brimming with Christmas Spirit today! Less than two weeks after all of our belongings arrived from Michigan, we managed to find the Christmas boxes (well, enough of them) to start decorating.

Kyle and Jeremy were both pretty excited to work on the tree so with the sounds of Christmas Carols floating through the house, they helped assemble it. (their first time ever helping with that aspect of the job). They loved adding each branch to the tree "trunk" and more-so they enjoyed the color coding game that went along with it... "Jeremy can you find a branch that is brown?" "Kyle, I'll need two white branches next." "Who put a green one in this row? We're working on Black." While we assembled the tree it occurred to me: "We've had this tree since we lived in the Apartment in Lake Orion (after we first married.). Wow, that's 11 years now! Time flies.... "

We promised the boys that the "Lights Fairy" would come during nap time to put the lights on the tree. They pointed out that the lights fairy is really Mom & Dad because they've watched us light the tree before. Hmmm, observant. I'll remember that! So Alex and I switched the music from traditional Christmas Carols to a Jimmy Buffet Christmas CD and set to work. Now, what the lights fairies didn't know, was the the box of Christmas decor with the LIGHTS in it, is missing. I'm sure it's here somewhere, but finding them? So, this year we have a blue-light tree. (Wow, just made the connection. Sorry Family Dollar, I feel a little like a traitor) I've had these blue Christmas lights for years, but multi-colored was our traditional look. Apparently, we're starting a new tradition this year; seems fitting. So, by 4:30 pm the tree was lit and ready for the evening project of hanging ornaments.

But first, the boys had to do their Christmas shopping!

With only 6 shopping days left (one of which is C-R-A-Z-Y if you want my 2 cents), we decided it was a good night to let Kyle and Jeremy each go to Kmart to pick out a gift for their brother. So, off we went, all four of us, to dinner at Steak & Shake and to Kmart for some toy shopping. Both boys, with their $10 bills in hand, enjoyed finding a toy for the other. Jeremy struggled with the concept only a little (he wanted to shop for his upcoming birthday - can't blame him.) and Kyle struggled with making a decision. (So many great choices!) Eventually, both settled on something and they proceeded (hiding from each other, of course) to the checkout to pay for their selection. All in all they got a big kick out of holding onto the money, figuring out what was in their budget, choosing the gift, paying the cashier and hiding the bag from their brother. Now, any bets on how long they can keep the gift contents a secret?

After returning home, the guys immediately took to hanging ornaments on the tree and playing with the decorative gift boxes under it. Kyle pretended to be Santa, asking each of us if we'd been good. (Answers varied). :)

By 10:30 (after a couple books were read and a few pictures were taken) the boys were exhausted & ready for bed. I'm happy to report that there's a good chance that Sugar-Plums may be dancing through their heads right now (even if it is a little early).

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Happy Halloween!

Spiderman and Optimus Prime had a great time this Halloween! Especially Trick-or-Treating with their friends the Lion, the Monkey, the Zebra, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

At their daycare Halloween Party Jeremy had his own little "MJ" (that was actually dressed as Dorothy from Oz). This little girl was SO excited to see Spiderman that she didn't believe Jeremy was inside the costume. She wouldn't take her eyes off of him nor would she leave his side.

Kyle spent the first half of the party announcing "I am Optimus Prime" using the voice changer helmet he got from the Jozwiak family. Come to think of it, he pretty much does that all day long until we (Mom & Dad) "borrow" the helmet for a while. He's not old enough to figure out how to put batteries into things by himself, is he? :)

Tonight I also saw a picture of the cutest Ewok EVER! If you haven't checked out bootseg lately.....

Lastly, if you're looking for something to do with those cute little decorative pumpkins and squash you'll have out until Thanksgiving, let the kids enjoy some Gourd Bowling.... the boys played it at the party and loved it! Fun for the adults too!!!

"Everybody's Crazy 'bout a Sharp Dressed Man"

Congratulations to my wonderful sister Kathy and her new Husband Mike!

While they are off honeymooning, I am taking this opportunity to post a few pictures of their big day and the events that led up to it. I'll embedded a web album to share lots of photos, but first, here is my favorite one of Kyle from the whole week. You can rest assured I will be enlarging it and hanging it on a wall.

Kyle loved trying on his tuxedo. He knew he looked great and was smiling from ear to ear. The minute he looked at himself in the mirror, he immediately gave himself this big Thumbs Up! There was no prompting from us what-so-ever. Priceless!

Kyle's first poop joke...

Yes, a new milestone is upon us; Kyle's first poop joke.


Alex: "Winnie the Pooh"

Kyle: "Winnie the what? (snicker)"

Alex: "Winnie the Pooh. (matter of factly)"

Kyle: "(snickering more) Winnie the whhhhaaaaaat?"

Alex: "(now starting to get the joke) Winnie the Poooooh"

Kyle: busts out laughing!


They grow up so fast!

Productive Day!!!

Wow! What a great day in the Nord household.

I spent the morning being reminded how awesome it is to have a relaxing day with my kids! From pancake breakfast to reading books, from Duplos to Jeremy's new Thomas the Tank Engine Remote Controled Trackmaster Train system we had a blast from first thing in the morning until lunch!

Then, when nap-time began I started prepping the hallway upstairs for a new coat of paint. Alex got back to a freezer food packaging project we've been working on.

The boys woke up and it was time to let them try their hand at painting - on the walls. As a kid I remember asking my parents many, many times if I could help paint the house. I was told I could help when I was 12. When the magical age of 12 came along, I was so excited to help. Then, being the almost teenager that I was, after a few minutes I didn't ever want to help again. (it was work - duh!!!) Well, at (almost) 2 and 3 years old, my boys loved it. Of course, they didn't want to help for long either, but they had their fun and we got great photos!


Then it was on to dinner followed by snuggling on the couch to watch Shrek (I almost felt compelled to turn it off due to the swearing, but the boys didn't seem to pick up on it.) and then it was off to bed for the munchkins!

Hope your first Sunday of the New Year was just as great!

Happy Birthday Kyle!!!

Time flies when you're having fun!!!!!

Latest growth stats... for those keeping tabs.... 3' 2" tall & 35 1/2 lbs.

Enjoy this trip down memory lane...

Wow! What a difference 16 months makes!

Most days I'm stunned by how fast Jeremy seems to be catching up to Kyle. Being younger doesn't stop Jeremy from trying everything Kyle does. Heck, when it comes to climbing, jumping and getting into things, Jeremy figures things out that Kyle hasn't even thought of doing yet.

Tonight however, Alex and I had to pause and say "Wow, what a difference 16 months makes."

You see, when we are in the car, as we were this evening, each child has their own way of asking for the window to go up or down. (remember, we don't have A/C in my Jeep so this happens A LOT)

Jeremy: (screaming emphatically) "Wee-doh! Wee-doh! Wee-doh! Wee-doh!"

Kyle: (calmly and politely) "Uh Daddy, I'm cold. Would you please put the window up?"

What a difference 16 months really makes.

Happy Birthday Et Deddy!!!!

It's Aunt Kathy's Birthday! Hurray!!!!!!

This photos is an "oldie" but a favorite none-the-less! That's Kyle (at 7 months old) and Kathy (not quite the 29 years she is today) back in April 2006.

Kickin' It Old School with Mario & Luigi

Yes, my boys watch Star Wars (IV to VI, for the record).... play Super Mario Brothers 3 on the old NES and sit around wearing nothing but diapers on a hot day. It's a good life!

Busted! :)

So, it finally happened. Someone asked (paraphrased) "so what's up with the new blog? No new posts...."

I am guilt as charged and happy to provide an update. It has been a busy month of May!

The boys participated in a charity walk early this month (well, two walks, but we'll get to that another day.) This walk was for the Share-a-Smile foundation... a charitable organization that help with everything from funding school computer labs to helping seniors get wheelchair ramps to emergency medical assistance. I have had a little interaction with it's director through my job at Lighthouse and was happy to join them in their first fundraising walk.

The highlight of the walk for Kyle in particular, was Charlie the Share-a-Smile Bear. Kyle chased Charlie all over the grounds... Charlie gravitated to Kyle & Jeremy whenever other kids weren't calling for him.




When we left the walk Charlie's impact on Kyle was obvious....

"{big inhale} I'll never...see the bear...again {sigh}" Now Kyle is as guilty as the next toddler of crying to get his way, but I had never heard him pour on the drama. It was the funniest thing! (OK, part of my felt bad for the kid cuz he was clearly distraught at the thought of leaving his new friend, but the rest of me just couldn't contain the laughter.)

The good news is that now, Kyle is happy to see his picture on he fridge with this friend Charlie the Share-a-Smile Bear and he is eagerly looking forward to next year's walk!

Meet the 2 1/2 year old - Kyle

Finally, now we blog....

How technology sucks the hours right out of your life (and keeps us willfully and happily coming back for more)

Step 1: Check out free blog website that friend is using. It looks like fun!

Step 2: Set up your own free blog - manipulate page look and feel making everything perfect and user friendly. After all this will be such a great communication mechanism!

Step 3: Daydream about how cool it will be to keep friends and family updated - create grand visions of daily blogging and constant photo uploading.

Step 4: Go to bed for the night - after all it's 2:00 am

Step 5: Don't touch blog again for 2 months. Keep checking friends blog... get jealous because it ROCKS! Realize this is a far superior way to share than old baby website you were using (and haven't updated in over 6 months) Call a do-over!

So here's our first post.... a photo taken at Uncle Eric's wedding in February. All four of us... the kids are more adorable though, so next I'll add more photos of just them. Cool slideshows coming soon! (really this time - I figured it all out!)