The Hegele family

January Happenings

2012-02-01T10:32:00.000-05:00

Caroline got an easel for Christmas. She loves to paint!

Waiting for the snow. Owen noticed the camera(and me) so he's on the move.

Owen stands everywhere! He holds on with one hand now, moves from chairs to couches to tables etc. He also stands alone for several seconds.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese lunch. I dipped Owen's grilled cheese pieces in the tomato soup and he LOVED it!

Caroline loved that she was having the exact same thing as Owen. Of course Chuck E Cheese and baby doll had to be at the table too.

This is what I've been waiting for! Playing together! Caroline is learning (slowly) how to share her toys with Owen. Owen loves when Caroline is in the room with him playing.

Owen loves playing with both of Caroline's dollhouses.

We say a lot of "no's" to Owen especially when he's in the living room and we have a fire going.

This is one way to keep him from going up the stairs.

Paul turned 34 on January 26th. Caroline made him a card and a picture and was excited to celebrate.

Showing daddy the card while Owen looks on having his dinner.

Helping daddy open his presents.

Paul is not a big cake person, but loves my apple pie so I made him a birthday apple pie with candles and all!

Crab cake dinner. Caroline loved the crab cakes. She even tried both sauces, liked the red pepper one best. We're finding out she loves seafood (shrimp, salmon, crab cakes).

Playing outside in January!

Owen's first time in the car, it might not look like it, but he had fun!

Caroline loves to ride her scooter, so any chance we can get out we take it!

First time having ice cream, he squealed after this bite.

Tim likes helping out with Owen and he's really good. Giving him his bottle before bed.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T14:20:00.004-05:00

We spent the weekend before Christmas in Springfield. We went to a family wedding reception and exchanged gifts with the Hegeles.

Lauren and Caroline riding around Grandma's house.

Owen getting a turn with Caroline.

Paul took Caroline to see Santa at Eric's bank with Grandma, Grandpa, Eric, Kelly and the girls. I stayed back while Owen napped.

Grandma trying to convince Caroline to sit on Santa's lap. Once again, she's not having it!

But, she will have a cookie!

This was the first time Paul and I have taken the kids (even Caroline) to a wedding or any type of party in the evening. It was exhausting!!

Caroline loves all of her uncles, but lately her #1 has been Uncle Matt (Paul's youngest brother) . This is mainly because he gives her rides on his 4 Wheeler. She pulled him onto the dance floor!

She also loves Grandma Klista's sister Brenda. Aunt Brenda visited Texas a couple times while we lived there and Caroline loved all the attention Brenda gave her. Brenda twirling Caroline with Ellie Wrage (Paul's cousin Elizabeth's daughter) joining in.

Owen saying "Hi" to Paul's great Aunt Aurelia with Grandpa Hubert looking on. Paul's cousins Katheryne (baby Logan) and Amy (baby Addison).

There were 5 babies born in 2011 among Paul and his cousins. Owen was the first then Morgan (right of Owen) Addison (next to Morgan) and Logan (left of Owen). The last baby of 2011, Angelo, was born the day after this wedding!

Caroline had so much sugar, we were happy there was a big dance floor for her to run around on!

The Hegele cousins. Caroline, Lauren, Owen, Alison and Madalyn.

Opening gifts at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We figured Owen would be happier sleeping than opening gifts, so he was in bed.
All the girls piled on Uncle Alan's lap.

BACK HOME

We made a lot of Christmas cookies!

Amy giving Owen a taste of the frosting. He LOVED it!!

Caroline liked decorating the cookies, but liked eating them a lot more!

Doing a good job with the frosting.

Christmas Eve

Pouring the milk for Santa.
Caroline said she wanted to leave cookies and chocolate milk for Santa. Since we don't buy chocolate milk, I had to make sure I got some at the grocery store just for Santa.

Picking out the cookies to leave for Santa.

Telling mom what to write in the note to Santa.

Christmas Day

Santa left the presents near the fireplace

and filled the stockings with lots of goodies.

Ready to see what Santa brought.

Owen was more interested in exploring than opening presents.

Dora doll

Fire truck

Helping daddy open a present.

Checking out the stocking.

The Christmas party was at our house this year!

Kyle and Owen having lunch.

Relaxing with Aunt Amy while Will watches Grandma open a present.

She never does this with me. She is so attached to Aunt Amy and I LOVE it!

Winding down the day watching "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas".

Owen is so relaxed getting his bottle before bed.

Caroline LOVED Christmas this year!

Getting into the Christmas spirit

2011-12-17T10:59:00.005-05:00

Caroline is really into Christmas this year so we have been doing a lot of fun things to celebrate the season.

Paul and I took Caroline, Owen and Tim to the GRAM (Grand Rapids Art Museum) to see Santa. They also had hot chocolate and cookies for the kids and an art activity (making Christmas cards).

This was Tim's second time seeing Santa, but they still had a lot to talk about.
Caroline did not want to sit on Santa's lap. Here is Mrs. Claus trying to make her happy with a reindeer. Caroline was not impressed.
Owen liked Santa, especially his beard.
Since it's nearly impossible to make Caroline do something she doesn't want to do, this is our 2011 picture with Santa! Notice Paul is trying to inch her closer and she is not having it!

Now this she really liked! Cookies, hot chocolate and candy!

Tim helping Caroline with her Hershey kiss.
Enjoying the goodies.

She might have liked this even more, Johnny B's! Caroline went with the boys (and Paul and Chris) one night after the Christmas tree lighting downtown and hasn't stopped talking about it. I think she really liked that she was out with the boys when it was dark, she loves the dark!

She likes the same toppings as Tim (of course!) ketchup and shredded cheese.

We had our first real snow of the season in early December. Tim was over to play before school so he and Caroline played in the snow.

All bundled up and ready to go.

Tim teaching Caroline how to make snow angels.
Owen stayed inside and learned how to crawl into the toy basket!

Paul and I took the kids to Meijer Gardens Sculpture Park to see the Christmas trees and trains.

Caroline and Owen liked the sleigh.

Looking and waiting for the train.

Checking out the goodies under one of the trees.

Coming through the tunnel in the greenhouse.
The education center in the Children's Garden had activities going on also. Caroline made a Chinese lantern, played with the train and read books.

This volunteer was so nice, he did a great job reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to Caroline. She loved it! Owen drank his bottle while listening to the story.

All things November...

2011-11-30T20:16:00.005-05:00

November has been a big month for Owen. His first tooth came in, he is eating protein (chicken and lentils right now) in addition to his fruits and veggies. He is also getting better at his finger foods. So far he likes puffs, cheerios and peas the best. The biggest change is how active he is. He has been army crawling since 6 months (before he was really sitting up!) so we're used to him moving around. But now he is crawling on all fours and pulling up on everything. Today at Amy's he went from her couch to the coffee table! All he wants to do is stand!

He loves being in the kitchen especially when I'm in there.
He likes crawling under and over things. Here he is under his jumperoo. He is starting to get mad if we put him in the jumperoo because he's contained and can't practice all his new tricks.
Pulling up on the shoe basket, one of his favorite spots.
Through the coffee table. Caroline did the same thing at his age!
2nd generation ball pit!

Other things November...

Caroline still takes a nap every day but sometimes she doesn't sleep and just reads and/or plays in her room. This was after a run with Paul on a day she didn't nap.
Hanging with daddy on a Saturday morning.
Caroline LOVES playing games and looking at pictures on the ipad.
Paul and Chris took the kids to the Ford Museum to see the tree lighting. It was cold that night!
Caroline made a tea party one day. She hasn't done that before and thought of it on her own, even turned a toy bin over to make a table. Now she does them a lot and invites Owen to attend in addition to her dolls/stuffed animals.
THANKSGIVING

We spent Thanksgiving in Springfield this year. Caroline loved playing with her cousins and was very attached to grandma Klista the whole time. Owen liked exploring a new place!

The tradition continues, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
So excited for the turkeys Aunt Brenda made.
Owen getting to know great grandpa Hubie.
Heading into the Festival of Trees with grandma, Lauren and Ali. Caroline was so excited to be holding Lauren's hand she's practically prancing!
Owen and Paul on the train. Caroline was in the train car with the girls.
We got back from Springfield Saturday night so on Sunday we got our tree and decorated for Christmas.

First fire, we're excited to have a wood burning fireplace.
Decorating the tree.
Owen really likes the tree, especially the bells.
Checking out the ornaments. They like to play by the tree every day.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-02T14:29:00.004-04:00

We had a great Halloween this year. It was Caroline's first time trick or treating and she really understood it and had a blast!

First time in costume for story time. There was a short story time and then trick or treating around the library and city offices. I carried Owen while Caroline walked in line with the other kids.
I took Caroline and Owen to Boo at the Zoo Saturday morning while Paul was on his way home from Chicago after celebrating the Cardinals World Series win. Caroline walked around the zoo in her costume, did a little trick or treating, went through a maze and got her face painted for the first time.

Carving pumpkins with daddy.

And finally Owen! Caroline wore this costume her first Halloween also.

Amy's pre trick or treating Halloween dinner. She made skeletons out of vegetables
Eyeballs in the spaghetti
and ghosts in the graveyard with initials on the cookies.

Outside Amy's house before Paul took Caroline trick or treating and I took Owen home for bed.
Ready to go with the boys!

Here we go again...

2011-10-24T21:22:00.002-04:00

Owen is 8 months old today and into everything. He is army crawling everywhere! He also recently learned to sit from laying on his stomach and the reverse. He scoots all over the house. If I'm in the kitchen he scoots from the family room to the gate to see me. He is constantly climbing up the step in the family room to the back door area to get the shoes. When we are upstairs I now have to put a gate at the top of the stairs as he scoots out of his room or Caroline's all through the hallway. I'm exhausted at the end of the day!

Found his way into the bathroom off the family room. Time to close that door!
Found the door stoppers(just like his sister did at this age). Time to take these off and put on the plastic ones.

Loves going up this step towards the back door (excuse the spit up on his face).

Owen

2011-10-12T20:39:00.004-04:00

Having fun at the East Grand Rapids homecoming parade.

Can't get enough of this face!

Starting to rotate toys in and out of the playroom. Brought this one out the other day (from Aunt Kelly and Uncle Eric for Caroline's first Christmas) Owen loves it!

Such a big shot!

Sibling bath, Chuck E Cheese and baby food

2011-10-03T20:09:00.003-04:00

Owen and Caroline took their first bath together the other night. We recently moved Owen out of his baby bathtub in the kitchen to his bath seat. He loves it! Usually he takes his bath before Caroline since he goes to bed earlier, but hopefully we can adjust that schedule a bit so they can continue to take baths together, much easier (until it's time to get out!)
Caroline (and Owen in the bjorn of course) went to Chuck E Cheese for the first time with Amy and Tim last week. She was a bit overwhelmed at first but liked this ride, it's really all she did. She did NOT like Chuck E at all. Amy was holding her hand when he came out and Caroline started shaking and crying, she was very scared of him. When we left she said "bye Chuck E" and ran out. However, she has been talking a lot about Chuck E Cheese since our visit, so I'm sure we'll be back.
Owen loves his baby food. He started on just rice cereal once a day. I added in one baby food around 5.5 months and now he is eating breakfast, lunch and dinner with Caroline. She really likes eating with him at the table. Owen gets very mad (not like him at all) when he has to wait for me to get the food ready. If I put him in his highchair too soon, he screams at me until I'm putting it in his mouth! I'm making his baby food and so far he likes it all especially pears and sweet potatoes. He's also had bananas, butternut and acorn squash, apples, peas and blueberries.

Blocks, Scooting and Painting

2011-09-14T20:04:00.008-04:00

Caroline is REALLY into playing with these blocks lately. She loves to build "towers", as she calls them. She won't let anyone else help her, of course. The blocks were a present from my Aunt Cathy for my baby shower, they are handmade right here in Grand Rapids.
Owen is all over the place now! He's done playing on his mat and staying on the blanket. He scoots all over the family room to get to toys. I remember when Caroline started doing this and it made me think how old she seemed, I feel the same way now! He's such a big shot!Owen @ 6.5 mos.

Caroline painted for the first time the other day. She really liked it. Owen liked watching her and playing in his seat. He loves sitting on the table where all the action is.
I made the wall behind our kitchen table an art wall to hang the kids' drawings.

Vacation Up North

2011-09-13T13:48:00.005-04:00

Every year we rent a house in northern Michigan on the Leelanau Peninsula. Our family of four, my mom, Kevin, Anna and Kyle and Amy, Chris and the boys all stayed in a house at Crystal Mountain resort this year. It was a lot of fun especially since last year on this vacation I was so sick being that I was a few months pregnant with Owen. Caroline had a blast! She loves being at the beach and swimming and of course loved playing with the boys and Kyle.

Our first night, dinner in Frankfort.
Owen and Kyle playing. Owen would just laugh at Kyle and they loved playing together.

Caroline went up Sleeping Bear Dunes in the backpack on Paul's back and she came down on her own. Mom and Owen at Point Betsie Lighthouse. This is our favorite lighthouse and where we spread my dad's ashes. We visit it every year.
Paul and Caroline walking out to see the waves.Collecting rocks.

All the grandkids. Caroline is the only girl!Shopping in Glen Arbor.
Taking a break from shopping.
She loved wearing her sunglasses and of course in normal 2 year old fashion had to wear them while eating breakfast.
Picnic on the Platte River. Amy, Chris, Kevin and the boys tubed down the river so waited for them at the end where it runs into Lake Michigan. We had a picnic, played with sand toys and swam in the river/lake.

Owen in the water baby bjorn. Owen is always happy, but when he does get fussy Paul and I say it's time to "bjorn it up" and it's just magic he loves it!
Caroline loved walking through the river and of course kept saying "Caroline walk" and wouldn't hold Paul's hand. I swear he is right by her!
The river as it runs into Lake Michigan.
Body surfing.

Where the lake and river meet. One of my favorite spots.
Playing with sand toys. Caroline did this for an hour. I have never seen her do any one thing for 15 minutes, certainly not an hour!Owen and Will after the tubing trip.

Owen's baptism weekend

2011-09-01T22:22:00.003-04:00

Owen was baptised with his cousin Kyle on August 21st. Most of Paul's family came in, Eric, Kelly, Lauren, Alison, Madalyn as well as Alan and Grandma and Grandpa. We had a full house and it was a lot of fun seeing all the cousins playing together.

Owen opening his present from Aunt Kelly, Uncle Eric and the girls.
Caroline opening her birthday gift and Lauren and Alison about to open their birthday gifts.
All the girls walked to Reeds Lake with the guys to look at the ducks.
Eating lunch.
On Friday night, we had a barbecue and the Knapes came over. Caroline was in heaven playing with all of her cousins in her backyard. Owen, of course, was sleeping.
Attempt at a family photo before the baptism.

Paul and I are Kyle's godparents. Here we are with Kevin, Anna and Kyle (9 mos).

Eric and Kelly are Owen's godparents.

Morning play and picnic on the lake

2011-08-11T16:25:00.003-04:00

Owen playing in his pj's. He is 5.5 mos. now and the happiest baby ever. He is a great sleeper/napper and loves to play on his playmat in between especially if his sister is nearby entertaining him.

Pictures are out of order, but this is outside the library after story time. We had a picnic lunch looking over Reeds Lake. Caroline loved watching the sailboats and trying to figure out which one Will was on since he was taking his sailing lessons at this time.
Puzzles in the morning
Owen during our picnic lunch.

Talking

2011-08-09T19:23:00.002-04:00

Amy watched Caroline today while I ran some errands with Owen. This was our conversation on the short drive home.

Me: We're going back to Caroline's house to have dinner.

C: Go to grandma bernie's house

Me: No we're going to Caroline's house

C: Maybe go to grandma bernie's tomorrow

Me: yeah maybe

C: Maybe ask Owen

Me: Ask Owen if he wants to go to grandma bernie's tomorrow?

C: Yeah

Me: Okay

C: Hey Owen wanna go to grandma bernie's?

Me: What did he say? Did he say yes?

C: Yeah

Books, bike rides and rice cereal!

2011-08-08T22:27:00.004-04:00

We moved into our new house this weekend. Caroline loves her backyard! She also likes playing in the family room and her bedroom. She loves reading books on her own now. If we try to read her a book, she says "Caroline read it".

Reading to daddy in the morning.

Paul and Caroline used to take bike rides in Dallas all the time, she hasn't been on one since Ferbruary (won't be bike riding in February anymore!).

Ready for the ride wearing her flame helmet (a hand me down from the boys).

Owen started rice cereal! He likes to sit with us at the table when we eat and just stares at our food so we figured it was a good time to get him started. He wore his handmade bib from Grandma Bernie over a St. Louis Cardinal onesie.

Pulling my hand down to get the spoon in.
He liked holding the spoon.

Baby Dolls

2011-07-27T19:45:00.002-04:00

Caroline really loves playing with her baby dolls. She has one named "baby doll" and one named "Myrtle" that she plays with the most. She puts them to bed at night and takes care of them during the day.

She is really using her imagination a lot lately. The other day she said "bye mama i'm gonna take puppy to the park" and she pushed her puppy in the stroller to the other end of the living room.

She finally likes him!

2011-07-20T08:09:00.004-04:00

Caroline has been playing a lot with Owen lately. She is finally used to him and realizes he's sticking around. No more hitting. She likes to show him toys and read books to him and he can't get enough of her! He watches everything she does and tracks her when she is walking around. It's really cute watching them interact.

Traverse City vacation

2011-07-18T08:59:00.007-04:00

We took the kids up to Traverse City the week of Caroline's birthday. Caroline talked about going to the beach for her birthday for weeks before our vacation. We stayed at the Cherry Tree Inn on East Grand Traverse Bay and had a great time!

I'm still learning how to upload pictures correctly so these are all out of order!

Back home after vacation playing with the vacuum Uncle Alan got her for her birthday.

Outside at the Apache Trout Grill on the west bay for her birthday dinner.
Owen started grabbing (and eating) his feet.
Wearing Paul's old T-ball shirt.
Relaxing on the beach.
Playing in the water with daddy.
Practicing the splits she learned in gymnastics.
Loved playing with sand toys. This was right outside our patio door.
Pretty much what Owen did all vacation.
Ready to blow out her #2 candle with Owen watching.
She asked for a cupcake when she woke up the morning of her birthday.
Playing with her choo choo train.
And riding the choo choo train in downtown Traverse.
Playing outside with daddy at sunset.

Downtown Charlevoix. It was COLD that day!

Dinner at North Peak brewery in Traverse.
Watching the boat go under the drawbridge in Charlevoix.

It's impossible to get her to look at the camera!
Well I guess she'll do it with daddy!
Our hotel.

Fourth of July

2011-07-17T15:01:00.005-04:00

Paul was on his way to Dallas to pack up our house on the fourth, so Caroline, Owen and I went to the parade in East Grand Rapids. Caroline loves going to Reeds Lake to see the sailboats too. We had hotdogs at Crazy Charlies in Gaslight Village before the parade (Owen slept through this) and watched a bit of the parade before topping it off with ice cream from Jersey Junction. We can't pass JJ without Caroline asking for ice cream. We ended the day with Caroline playing in her new sprinkler (a birthday gift from Paul and I) in Grandma's front yard while Owen stayed cool inside with Grandma.

Waiting for Grandma to hand over Owen.
Owen looks a bit worried, with good reason!

Enjoying a hot dog lunch before the parade

Almost asleep with his favorite companion Sophie the french giraffe.
Sprinkler fun!

2011-07-17T14:28:00.003-04:00

Owen at 4 mos.

Caroline's 2nd birthday

2011-07-17T09:53:00.004-04:00

Caroline turned two on a Wednesday this year. We were up north in Traverse City for her actual birthday so we celebrated the Friday before with Grandma Bernie and the Knapes at Mahattan Park.

birthday cupcakes with Ben

Dinner with the boys

Riding her new pink scooter she got from the Knapes.