Easter

Our Easter morning started out less than joyous as we quickly found out that Cole did not give a damn about hunting for Easter baskets.

"I told you I DON'T care!"

 After Nick points out one of Cole's baskets, Cole bursts into tears and tries to escape the playroom

 We finally decide to bring all his presents into the playroom; after Cole spots his favorite snack, yogurt melts, things start to look up...as long as he is allowed to eat freely from the bag.

Happier! Trying out his new bike seat and modeling his tool belt.

Later in the day we went to visit my Grandma, Cole's Great Grandma (GG) and then to Nick's parent's house for lunch with the siblings and cousins. It was the craziness of our Florida trip all over again!!

Hugs for GG

 Monkey pile on Grandpa

Reading with baby Ellie and his other GG

The weather was nice when we got home so we went for a quick walk and Nick seeded some bald patches in our backyard. Bella got the dumbest dog award.

She jumped in but then barked because she apparently forgot how to jump back out

 A cookie our Italian neighbors dropped off for Cole. Apparently a Sicilian Easter tradition, a licorice flavored cookie with a hard boiled egg in the middle. We had high hopes for it's deliciousness factor because the neighbors are amazing cooks but it wasn't that good (Hopefully they never stumble onto this blog).

As always we went to bed early on Sunday. Not sure how we are going to hack it when Boy#2 arrives - Boy#1 exhausts us!

Wild Weekend

This weekend was quite busy for us - Uncle Ben was home for a visit to play in a hockey tournament and to see Cole. We kept Cole up past his bedtime on Thursday so we could go surprise Ben at the airport. Somehow lines were crossed (we are blaming Grandma Debbie or Ben) and Ben's plane landed a good 45 minutes later than expected. Luckily Cole was in a good mood and was happy to wander the airport, making friends. It helped that Grandpa Gregg was there - he also loves to wander around, talking to strangers and making new friends. Nick and I were happy to blend into the background...

 Footie jammies and tennis shoes - super stylin' at the airport

 He thought the automated walkway was pretty cool

 His first bunch of age-appropriate airport friends. He left his other buddies in the bar.

Uncle Ben was VERY happy to see Cole - Cole immediately demonstrated some of his new walking/running skills and was equally as happy to see Ben

On Saturday we went to watch Ben's hockey game. Cole actually sat for about 15 minutes and watched the action. After the game my parent's hosted an early dinner for the "team" and some other people who wanted to see Ben while he was home. Cole had a blast with everyone. When it was time to go he waved and gave hugs and said, "Bye!" to all his new friends.

Watching the Stanley Cup playoffs and eating a banana with the big kids

We also squeezed in a trip to Chicago on Sunday to meet some new baby friends; Maelin Hood and Charlie Hamilton. Saturday and Sunday we also visited a few furniture stores looking for a rocking-recliner for Boy #2's room. Cole thought this car stroller was pretty awesome.

Sunday night Ben stopped by for a quick visit full of hugs and kisses for Cole before he headed back to Philly. Then we all went to bed early, it was quite a packed weekend.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Cole's walking has really improved lately and he is starting to experiment with running. He walks into everything and is always falling down...probably because he loves watching his feet and not where he's going. I'm proud to say he typically acts pretty tough about it, but his forehead is beginning to look like a giant mess. If there was any chance he was going to be a genius it is certainly gone. No one can hit their head this often without any consequences. On Friday he fell and hit a leg of a chair. He had a nice cut and his forehead swelled up so much that Kristin called me at work and made me come home an hour early because she thought he needed to go to the hospital...so I guess I have her over-reactions to look forward to for the next 18 years or so. Once Cole calmed down he was up to his old antics in no time; running, tripping and bumping into walls, although nothing a few Goldfish crackers couldn't fix.

Hospital? Really Kristin.

On Sunday we sold Kristin's Grandma's car and because we met the buyer in Pleasant Prairie we decided to to go to the new Mars Cheese Castle for lunch and continue our Sunday bloody mary tradition.

Suspicions confirmed - we pretty much only hang out with our parents. And both sets at the same time.

Mars Cheese Castle had really nice, clean highchairs. As always, Cole was a charmer, saying "HI" to every weirdo that walked by...

We have also been hard at work, continuing our efforts to get ready for Boy #2's arrival. My Dad and I painted the trim in the nursery and Kristin and I put the crib together. I really didn't want to paint the nursery trim as I don't care if white furniture abuts cream colored trim. I only conceded because Kristin agreed not to make me repaint the walls. I used to keep all my clothes in the closet in the soon-to-be nursery but now I have to move everything into our bedroom. To make enough room for both our clothes we had to do a major closet clean out...MAJOR.

You're welcome Goodwill

Weekend Bloodies

This Sunday we took a trip to Horny Goat Hideaway for Bloody Marys and lunch. I don't say this often, but Gregg actually had a good idea to take Sunday adventures to different restaurants and bars that are rumored to have good Bloody Marys. We made a list and are slowly checking them off; up this Sunday is Comet Cafe, in addition to Bloody Marys they also offer baskets of bacon (a.k.a. "BOBs").  Can't wait.

Places we have been to so far and garnish highlights...
Sobelman's: Shrimp 
Honeypie: Bacon flavored vodka
Mar's Cheese Castle The BEST!
Trocadero  : A pickled green bean
Wicked Hop : Mozarella rope piled on top
Hooligans

In addition to Bloodies, I also like trying Reuben sandwiches at places, so let me know if you have any suggestions for those as well. Just a warning, Horny Goat has a crap Reuben (McBob's and Stenys by far the best) so stay away from that menu choice.

Anyways, after everyone (but Kristin) threw back 2-4 Bloodies we were ready to move our lunch party to the heated outdoor bar for continued Sunday drinking. Cole had a blast at the Hideaway once he discovered the cornhole set. Unfortunately I was just about to finish beating Gregg when Cole interrupted (Gregg, I’m sure, will give some excuse about his “bad” bags). Cole was running back and forth from one set to the other slamming the bags in the holes. It was wet, so he had to stomp through some puddles as he traveled from box to box, which I think added some fun. He only took one spill, but of course it was right in a puddle. After he put a bag in the hole he would look at his audience and smile and clap.

He was soaked up to his knees by the time we left

Waiting for Aunt Jess, Dan and Grandma Debbie to cheer for him

Future Looking Bleak

Cole’s future employment is looking a little more bleak since the days of hoping he would be a punter. Cole has been on a kick of saying, "Hi!" to everyone he sees. It seems undoubtedly obvious that he will someday work at Wal-Mart as a greeter. I think everyone who has spent anytime with Cole lately will concur that he says “Hi” about every ten seconds. Kristin and I are getting pretty tired of having to constantly talk to strangers because Cole says hi to them. He will literally shout it at someone from across a store - if he doesn't get a response? No worries...he keeps trying and each time his greeting gets a little louder. A few weekends ago we were in an elevator at Mayfair and Cole's friendliness caused Kristin and me to have an awkward conversation with a lady, who did acknowledge that Kristin is obviously pregnant, but still wanted to discuss the fact that we "really do look like brother and sister." Gross.

If not a greeter, my second prediction is plumber. Check out the little crack already showing. Nostradamus eat your heart out!