Signs of summer around the Belt house...

Andi is definitely an outdoors kid...and I am not complaining about that. The last couple of days we have been outside the majority of the time and that seems to coincide with shorter naps and waking up earlier/ going to be later which in the ends wears Andi out! We were getting ready to go outside in the morning but TJ needed to eat first. The 2nd half of his bottle was just too much because Andi fell asleep sitting up in her chair. While I was carrying her upstairs to lay her down she kept saying "momma, side" As you can tell she was all ready to go boots and everything!

During out big shopping excursion with Debbie and Cole we got some cool new summer items..including some new sun glasses for Andi. When we got home Andi was excited to show her dad her new glasses and kept trying them on different ways including on top of her head, around her neck, and backwards. This was all going on as we were getting supper ready and Andi was running around in the kitchen with us. I peaked into the living room to check on TJ and this is what I found...

I couldn't help but laugh and grab the camera. I tried to reprimand her but through the laughing I figured that wasnt going to work...so instead I thanked her for sharing with TJ and told her next time to have mommy help her put the glasses on him!

Fun with Debbie & Cole!

I LOVE the time that I get to spend with Debbie and today was yet another great day with Debbie and Cole. We met at a park in Columbia where Andi and Cole got to play and burn off some energy. Cole had lots of fun playing and Andi, well she had lots of fun watching all the "big kids" play :)

After the park we headed to the mall for some lunch and some much needed down time and shopping. Before we knew it the day was over and it has left Andi and I (TJ too no doubt) anxiously waiting for our next fun day!

Cole is so nice to Andi and definitely takes on the "big brother" role. Could there be a better big brother?! It was so funny because it was like as long as they had each other they didn't need me or Debbie. One time after they were in the swings, Cole and Andi held hands and Cole told Debbie "right back" as they marched off to the big slides not looking back at us once!

This is one of the big slides that looked like it would be lots of fun and semi-fast. I think that the kids thought it was fun but it was not fast at all. Andi with her little skirt on took at least 15 minutes to get down. She didn't slide at all but she had to wiggle down the entire slide. Of course they both wanted to keep going down them. The last time they went down Debbie actually slid down with Andi....too bad I didn't get a picture of that!

finally at the end!

Cole could maneuver the slide a little faster.

Cole had fun playing on the tires while we were still waiting for Andi to make it down the slide.

Cole and Andi enjoyed the park but of course we couldn't get them both to look and smile at the camera at the same time.

stopping to smell the roses (or daffodils!)

Turkey Season!

We have been waiting all year for turkey season (by we I mean Travis) Travis got up bright and early at 4:30 this morning and was lucky/good enough to have a turkey before 7 am today! That however did not mean that he was home early of course he had lots of other things to do. While we were waiting for him we were lucky enough to spend the ENTIRE afternoon outside starting at 12:30. When he did finally get home I had 2 kiddos ready and waiting to see the turkey. As you can imagine Andi was particularly excited :)

The happy hunter and future hunters!

Andi had to take time to pet the turkey :)

and again....somehow this is the only thing that she will pet by herself

Andi and her baby playing patty cake

A few cute pictures from last night when we decided to make cookies and let the kiddos hang out.

TJ is so happy when he is just in his diaper and it's easier to tickle him too. He got pretty wound up last night and this is a picture of him between giggles.

Andi is also happy when she is just in her undies...give her a beater of cookie dough and let her watch tv and she is heaven!

MU Black and Gold game

Saturday we headed out early to attend our first MU spring game. The weather was supposed to be beautiful and we were planning on being there with plenty of time to play all of the games. We got to Columbia early but spent the extra time shopping waiting for the rain/mist to stop before we headed out into the breezy day. We met up with the Hancocks and headed to the stadium for some fun…..It started out a little slow but after we got some lunch and tailgated (inside the field house) everyone was a little warmer/happier and ready for the game.

We had lots of fun and got to see and hang out with lots of friends. Funny how many fellow bloggers were there :) Andi loved being outside the whole day, seeing “tigers” everywhere and spending time with Uncle Kyle, Madison and the Eckler boys! TJ had quite the day too with all the commotion and girls to flirt with he didn’t want to take a nap. For some reason I don’t think this will be our last MU game this year!

Loaded up and ready to walk!

Andi was really excited to see Truman and wanted a picture with him....until he put his paw on her and then she got scared and wanted nothing to do with him or the picture.

The best tailgate that day...inside!

We missed out on the bouncy house (it deflated right when we were next in line) but did get to squeeze in just in time to get Andi's face painted. She wasnt sure what to think while the lady was painting her face but when we got home she couldnt stop looking in the mirror.


Andi is in awe of the Eckler boys and for some reason Quin will let her love on him. The second picture is the evidence that Andi was giving him lots of "eskimo kisses"and attention!

Madison & Andi dressed in their MU gear

TJ enjoying his time at the game too

Both kiddos had a big day and lots of fun! TJ was happy to get into some new warm clothes. Andi was wound up and waving to people from the van as we left but she quickly crashed before we even got out of town!

new toys for a rainy day!

Andi and TJ posing for a picture in their "green" outfits. Notice Andi's princess shirt...she is very proud that she has a princess shirt to go with her princess panties :) Its fun that you can make her day by letting her get a princess shirt from Wal-Mart...I have a feeling it wont always be this easy!

Not only does Andi love princess things but she loves tigers! She has been frustrated that she can not find her "Tiger shirt" (which we can literally no longer pull over her head) or her "Tiger pants" (which are size 12 months and I finally got put up while she was sleeping). We were looking for some ideas for her birthday party next month and found these little tiger figurines and she has been playing with them since. Exactly what we needed for our rainy day on Friday!

they even get to sit on the couch with her to watch tv :)

TJ hanging out on his blanket. Andi is even kind of enough to show TJ her baby tigers and she makes sure that he knows what they say!

Outside fun and a new friend

How cute am I? Andi's new pose for the camera :)

I LOVE being outside

and slides of all sizes!

whoops...a not so graceful landing

bubbles...another one of my favorites

Earlier in the day...Andi was trying to play with TJ. She "knows" what he wants to do and is always directing me on how to take care of him whether she thinks he needs to swing, sit in his high chair or "play" (in his exersaucer) When we got outside she said "mama, TJ slide? Nooooo" I told Travis' that we needed to bring a baby doll outside for her to play with. I guess Travis and Andi came up with their own solution....

Andi's new "friend"...is it to late for an imaginary friend instead?!

Ready....set....

GO!!

and again, and again, and again it went :)

Andi and her turkey resting after all of that playing

yuck!

TJ not so excited about the turkey. For some reason every time we are outside for awhile he magically falls to sleep...hmmm wonder how long that will happen?!

funny outtakes

When we were getting all of our pictures off of the camera, we had to laugh about these. **No one was actually harmed in the taking of these pictures (even though it looks like it!)** :)

Ahh....brother/sister love!

Are you ticklish TJ?

Finally a good one of both TJ & Andi in their "birthday party clothes"

Sunday- a day for birthday parties!

We had a super busy Sunday with 2 birthday parties. Birthday cake x 2- is there a better way to spend a Sunday?!

We decided to surprise mom with a birthday lunch and “party”. Her birthday isn’t for another week but with all 3 of us kids being in MO and home we it was okay to do it a little early. We wanted it to be a surprise so she couldn’t stop us or protest! Saturday we went on a marathon shopping trip and some how managed to sneakily buy presents for her that day and we didn’t let her go grocery shopping so we could just take over for lunch the next day. I guess I wasn’t really surprised when Gina called and told me that she had caught mom making potato salad late Saturday night and then 2 pies early Sunday morning! Oh well- we definitely pulled off the surprise and we had plenty of goodies to eat and take home!

What?! Mom was wondering why no one wanted any pie!

Andi and Grandma getting ready to blow out the candles. Notice the red lips on Andi...no that is not the newest shade of MK lipstick she had already started eating the icing!

Andi was helping me "run" the camera. She decided we needed to take pictures of kyle, dad and mom eating cake :)

Andi eating cake off of both of our plates. Can you tell that she liked it?

Andi showing off her messy face and stained hands. Too bad you cant see her now pink tights!

Grandma opening her presents with a little help from Andi

Our 2nd birthday party of the day was for our niece Sydni who turned 13 on Thursday! It was a fun party with lots of kids running around and lots of goodies to eat!!

All of the Belt grandkids (minus Trent) posing for a picture before Syndi got to blow out the candles!

Sydni, Andi and Curtis enjoy licking the icing off of the candles. What great helpers!