The Belt Family: November 2010

Baby Lane

After we made sure that all the kids were good and healthy, doctors appointments were taken care of and finally that Travis was at least up and moving (from his late round of the flu sickness) the kids and I were finally able to travel to IL to see Baby Lane, Kale and Gina.

We left around 8:30 that morning and made it there in about 3 1/2 hours- not too bad for a preggo and 3 kids! We loved spending time with them and hopefully didn't terrorize the boys too bad...

It was neat to see my kids interact with Baby Lane. I knew that they were excited to see him but I like I said several times that day...I only hope that they love their baby #4 that much!

Shortly after we arrived Cooper was the first one to see Lane. He was in love immediately I think! He kept bending down to "talk" to him in his high pitched "aww a baby" voice and gave him several kisses.

Andi of course was in love and wanted to hold him constantly. Looking back I am surprised that we got to eat before she snatched him up...Of course after she held him once she didn't want to give him up and she didn't want anyone else to hold him!

Andi and Lane again- "look how tiny he is!"

TJ finally got to hold Lane. He too was in love and started nuzzling him and kissing on him. Awww, it was too sweet for sure.

more kisses for Baby Lane...

awww! Think they will always get along this well? :)

Surprise! Andi has him again. She was pretty good at distracting TJ into thinking that something else was more fun at the moment and then she would offer to hold Lane again.

I did get to hold him for awhile and Andi started to whine that I "had been holding him for hours!" I asked her if she thought it would be okay if our baby was a boy since she obviously liked Lane so much. She said "yeah I guess, but then when he got older and ornery I would pass him off to Gina." Where does she get this stuff?!

Halloween 2010

This year's Halloween was even more fun that last years! Travis and I both commented on how much more "relaxed" it was this time...that was right before we stopped for our 2nd to last stop and found that Cooper had puked all over his costume! What the heck? We had already had our sickness the week (and it had started on Sunday morning with Cooper at church in Columbia) so I was a little nervous when he all of a sudden puked randomly again! Lucky for us we had some jammies and extra clothes to change him into and it must have just been the random molars that he is getting these days!

Halloween 2010

TJ (a real cowboy) Cooper (a pirate) and Andi (Princess Cinderella)

Costume Parade at Leonard

Emme (Little Mermaid), Aliza (Tiana from the Princess and the Frog) & Andi

Coop the pirate

(He loved his hat before we got to the party and of course wanted nothing to do with it while we were there.)

TJ the cowboy- trick or treating was serious stuff!

They loved it!

The beginning- trick or treating to Gena Peoples' house.

and at the end of the night at Grandma Mari's.

Pumpkins and More

Thankfully we all (finally) got over our sickness just as Travis got home from Indy on Friday night and were able to carve our pumpkins before our busy Halloween weekend began...

TJ looking inside...

and not too excited.

Andi definitely not a fan of cleaning out the "guts"

This is why we only have 2 pumpkins carved and 2 painted!

Cooper being brave...

but not for long!

He was TERRIFIED of the pumpkin! It didn't matter whether it was the actual insides of the pumpkin or even just showing him it, he made this horrible face and started shaking in fear! Of course we got the flip and had to record it! It was hilarious! Poor guy :(

Andi concentrating on her pumpkin

(Thanks to Papa Jim who grew and delivered these pumpkins to us!)

TJ creating his own masterpiece.

The kids and the finished pumpkins! Aren't they beautiful?!

fun times in our "spooky jammies."

Cooper hammin' it up for us.

and getting all wound up before bedtime!

Mizzou Homecoming (Parade and more fun)

After Game Day we had some time to find a spot for the parade and to visit with "old friends" that's what Homecoming is all about right?!

Waiting for the parade to start.

Waiting and hoping for Truman to come to our side of the street. He made it over to our side right after he passed us but lucky for us we got to hang out with Truman for awhile later!

After the parade we scarfed down some McDonalds and had the best time just hanging out before we headed to the tailgates and Tiger Walk.

Andi posing again

Belt Boys playing football with Uncle Kyle...I can already tell we are going to go through several pairs of jeans/pants in the future...its a wonder they didn't rip these jeans as much tackling as they were doing!

Uncle Kyle playing with Andi and TJ. It was so nice to let the kids run!

TJ being "scary"

Cooper being a nerd!

After hanging out we headed over to the tailgates and (finally) made it to Tiger Walk. We went over with Kris and Connie and they hooked us up getting to meet and hang out with all of the cheerleaders and Truman (who recognized me as an "Eckler" lol) later came down to say hi to us. (Its nice to know people that know people :) Thanks Connie, Kris and Dad!)

Um, can you tell that they were excited to see him?!

Truman playing around with TJ (who had just woke up and was not in the best mood!)

warming up a little and giving some high 5's

more high 5's

and a group picture (with TJ totally not agreeing to do so...)

After this Truman had to head back to get ready for Tiger Walk and we manned our positions to hopefully get a glance at TJ Moe (our TJ's "best friend" don't you know?!)

Tiger Walk ended up being packed but Andi and TJ did get to high 5 and touch most of the players as they walked by. TJ even got to see TJ Moe as he stopped right in front of them. It was then he took his chance to high 5 him and tell him that his name was TJ too!

I wish that I could have got have gotten pictures but of course it was way crowded plus Cooper was crashing hard which meant fighting every move we tired to make!

After Tiger Walk we headed to Connie's tailgate and then to Field House to the CAFNR Alumni Tailgate- both of which were filled with friends we don't always get to see and lots of good food!

We were able to see an AWESOME game that was totally worth it.

Our kids were exhausted and it was definitely evident...Cooper slept some of the first half and TJ zonked the 2nd half (of course he wanted his mom- so I got to hold him most of the 2nd half) and poor Andi fought it so hard but finally fell asleep on our seats with only a few minutes left! (It was good the seats were useful for something, as you can imagine we didn't sit down the whole game!)

Mizzou Homecoming (House Decs & Game Day)

We were very excited for this year's Homecoming espcially since we were selected as Game Day! We decided to be brave and experience Homecoming in all of its glory as a family! First we headed down Friday night for the House Decs.

I don't remember house decs ever getting the kids so involved but my kids LOVED it! They watched in awe at the plays and were excited to help at almost all of the stops we made including helping make a wish in the wishing fountain, playing skeet ball and sliding down the slide. We closed down House Decs and didnt leave campus until almost 11. Luckily we were able to get a hotel room in CoMo for the night.

Bright and early the next morning we left the hotel a little before 9 and headed to campus to see some of Game Day and then hang out for the rest of the day until the game...

everyone was watching intently!