October Fun in the Sun...

October brought fun in the sun for the Beckmans... Fun in the Palm Beach, Florida sun! We enjoyed a fantastic beach vacation with Grandma Carol, Grandpa Dan et al...it was great! Shortly after our return, we enjoyed all Indiana has to offer in October. Pumpkin fun with John, Kiley, Jack and Family Barron. For Halloween we had a pirate and a train... of course. Not sure we'll ever have a Halloween without a train.

 

Cousins on the Beach

 

The Crew

 

Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma!

 

Pumpkin Fest!

 

Trouble on the Farm

 

Again, we have a climber....

 

So, pumpkin carving went over well...with the grown-ups.

 

Baby Paxton... happiest baby EVER

 

The Moskoberts!

 

???

 

Who doesn't carry his baby in his backpack?

 

My train and my pirate.  xoxo

September - Sammy turns 3!

We celebrated Sammy's 3rd birthday with 3 parties and loads of fun. For party #1 we had an eventful (think 24 hour stomach bug and carseats) drive South to Spring Mill State Park with Bob and Papa. We spent the weekend in a rustic inn and celebrated #3 with hikes, ice cream and adventure. For party #2, a few close friends gathered in our backyard for a fire engine-themed blowout. For party #3, Grandma Carol and Grandpa Dan joined us for a fun-filled afternoon of play. What a way to ring in year #3!

Fire Engine Party

 

Annual Labor Day Pic at the Lake...Goodbye Summer 2012

 

 

Hot Tub Time!

 

And, we have a climber...

 

Sammy and Cooper:  M&M Birthday Cookies

 

Hiking with the Boys...

Super Summer: School! (Part 1 of 3)

One word: KINDERGARTEN! Henry started kindergarten, and he is doing great. He rides the bus every morning, and seems to love every minute of school. He gives a pretty full report at dinner each night and we are so excited to hear the details. Henry begins this year still loving (to put it lightly) trains. He is particularly taken by his imaginary friend/hero Polar Express, who is magic, all-knowing and invincible. A new passion has been born though, too: Legos. Henry builds and builds and builds. It is a passion we support fully... Sammy started the 3's class, and feels like pretty big stuff as well. He goes M-W-F, all day and reports to us, bashfully, when he "makes new friends." Sammy loves pretty much anything Henry loves, including trains and legos. He has his own unique passions though too, including balls, balls and balls. He can throw 'em, shoot 'em, kick 'em, catch 'em and hit 'em much like his Uncle John. This fall Sammy has asked to play soccer, while Henry has asked to attend robotic camp (we settled on piano lessons). We love it. This is going to be a great year for sure...bring it on!

Super Summer: August! (Part 2 of 3)

And August was more of the same...water, water, water. The boys developed more independence in the water as the summer progressed. By August Henry was completely on his own and comfortable in the pool, which was great for all of us. And despite being completely comfortable in the pool, Sammy was not quite ready to be on his own. He would leap, dive and sommersault into any depth, anytime, ready or not. The trick was to be near when he emerged to provide assistance to the side, where he would hoist himself up and leap, dive or sommersault again. By the end of the summer, he could comfortably jump in the deep end and make his way to the side and back out again "all by himself." Phew!

o

Super Summer: July! (Part 3 of 3)

It was the summer of all summers...spent almost exclusively in the water. We spent June learning to swim at our local Zionsville swimming pool taking breaks only to share picnic lunches and dinners with good friends before showering nightly in the locker rooms, leaving the pool in pajamas, heading home for a good night's sleep before doing it all again the next day. The highlight of the swimming pool (as if the pool filled with friends isn't highlight enough) was Henry passing the deep water test so he could jump off the diving board. Sammy is not far behind. During a visit to Grandpa Jack's (where Sam was delighted to learn there was no deep water test to pass before jumping off the diving board) Sam started diving, spinning and cannonballing himself from the board with great determination. If Henry can do it... The only days we couldn't be found in the pool, we were splashing in the lake with Grandma and Grandpa Beckman. Needless to say we have some brown little boys who love the hot sun and cool water - just like their mama.