The boys winter attire

but the funny thing is...the grass is sooooo green! It is greener than it is in Summer. This picture was also shot before Matthew biffed and landed smack dab in the middle of the basketball course

on his face. I'm proud to say, this was in daddy's care. Daddy still is convinced he has no idea how Matthew now looks like Rodolph.

It's been a while...

Man oh man...where has all the time gone? We've been busy around here, but I'm not sure with what exactly. The weather has been a little unpredictable, and our days have been a little altered. Some days we have the heat on, others we have the air on. I never knew that I would say it is cold when the temps dropped to 60. I'm doing my best to keep our blood thick down here, but it is hard. It's been cooooollllllddddd these past few weeks. Off and on cold, hot, cold hot, overcast and grey. Some days we have shorts on, other days we have scarfs, hats and mittens. It's just so hard to predict. Needless to say, we're keeping busy. We still brave the elements, whatever they may present. 2 days ago they had hats on, yesterday they had shorts on. Crazy isn't it?

Onto Prince Matthew. Oh yes, he turned 18 months. You know what that means...a well trip to the doctor. My fantastic event that I long for every time we leave that place. This trip, is well worth documenting. Don't look for stats on this appointment, because I have no clue. I'm just happy I didn't come out of the office covered in vomit. Let me begin....first I'll paint a nice picture of little Innocent Matthew....

Isn't he cute? So...the darling Husband met me in the parking lot so he could take Sam and I could run Matthew in for his appointment. Matthew and I walked in. He was dancing and running around the quiet empty waiting room, until the words, "Matthew Teplin" echoed from the scary lady's mouth who just opened up the door to the ever so scary exam room. That empty quiet waiting room wasn't so quiet anymore....Matthew looked at me, screamed like a alligator was chewing his left eyeball. He was terrified I was going to take him in there with that scary lady who said his name. By the time I went to life him up, he had alligator size tears rolling down his little cheeks.

I'm so over this...as I whip him up and away we go. The nurse walked us into the room and the door closed....still screaming bloody murder. After 10 attempts for him to step on the scale (yes, with all his clothes on) the nurse kindly said, never mind. After 5 failed attempts to MEASURE HIS HEAD, the nurse kindly said, "I'll get it later". After 20 attempts to keep his legs still while she got his measurement and not kick her in the stomach, the nurse kindly said, "we'll recheck before you leave". After 2 attempts to get his temperature (not sure why...after all this was a well visit) the nurse said, "I'll get the doctor".

Those 6 minutes we had to wait for the doc to enter seemed like 6 hours. Matthew, kid you not, screamed horrible terrors in that room. Not even a sucker would shut him up. I even opened the window that specifically says in big RED letters, "DO NOT OPEN UP, ONLY IN EMERGENCY". I felt this was an emergency situation and if I could have, I would have crawled out.

The doc came in, looked at me and said, "what is wrong with him". My response, "he doesn't like you". Matthew is now looking at me, clawing my neck and just totally got sucker all over my shirt saying, " MaMa, OUT, OUT, Yam (sam), Car, out, daddy, out, out out yam.". The doctor did her exam, well not really, but did whatever she did and then asked me, "does he talk?". I kindly said, with a rather calm voice, "Ah, yea, are you listening to what he is saying?" Doctor, "does he put 2 words together?". me, "ARE YOU LISTENING?".

We belted out of there with his shot and we RAN towards the door. Poor daddy was so concerned when we met him back in the parking lot. Sam kindly asked Matthew when we got into the car, "what happened to you Matthew?"...my response, "Sam, next time it's daddy's turn to take Matthew in."
Matthew, 18 months. Around 25 pounds, no idea the rest

Onto Prince Sam. Sam is bursting at the seems with energy. We find it very hard to keep him busy. We can't wait for pre-school this year. He talks almost every day about school and how he will miss me and Matthew, but he knows we shouldn't be sad. I guess this conversation stems from our neighbor Jon who is 10 and loves Sam. Jon always tells Sam about school and the bus! Sam has been busy requesting to play with friends, but is quite concerned when we can't go outside because it is raining or just plain out cold. Trains is kind of fading away. He is now head over heals in love with cars and trucks and crashing and making holes in the wall. When people ask him how old he is, his reply, "6, like Jon". His favorite word is, "because" and his favorite movie is, wait, I forgot, he doesn't like watching movies or TV anymore......

Here is our little grown up man at 3 yrs....going on 20.

Sam at his favorite tree house park! Oh how we love the parks!

That's about all I have to report from here today. Sorry for my lack of efforts on posting as I know I've gotten some emails with concerns. We're looking forward to Valentines Day around here because Santa doesn't come every week like little buddy Sam thinks!

Big Boy Bed: part 2

Matthew is loving his new bed. He is doing fantastic in it. The first night he visited us once dancing and singing at 12:00 a.m. I patiently walked him back to his room, while he was laughing at this whole new experience! Last night, perfect. He slept from 7:30 until 6 without needing us once. He did so well. Sam is also in on the new situation. He loves it that he can snuggle in his brothers bed. And it's official...the crib has been sold. No more babies in this house!

Hello Big Boy Bed!

The start of a new adventure for little baby Matthew. Today was the day it was time to take apart the crib and welcome in the new queen size bed! Matthew was sooo excited as Sam gave him a tour of the new device. Sam demonstrated how to suck your nene (pacifier) and hold your blankee. He also demonstrated where the water cup goes! Priceless brothers. We're happy to report that Matthew is snoozing away very peacefully in his new bed! Daddy had a brilliant idea to not purchase side rails and see if we can keep him in there with just the help of a pillow....well, that wasn't going to be an option in my mind, so I send him out to purchase side rails.

Stay tuned....we'll post updates on our night...
He looks so little in this gigantic size bed. Looks like it's onto finding the "perfect" new comforter!

2007....What a year it's been!

Happy New Year to you all. Looking back on 2007 brings tears to our eyes. We can't believe everything that has happened. We kicked off the year with packing our bags and moving south to Orange Park Florida. A few days after moving in and having no idea where the heck this airplane dropped us off, we purchased a beautiful, know it all, GPS. She has provided me (Erin) with pure confidence that she can get me out of any situation! Now I could explore Jacksonville while Brad was at work and find my way home!


A few weeks after unpacking our new home, Brad was packing up his Honda Accord and parking his new VW Jetta in the garage! We visited Friends in Atlanta which challenged us with our first "long" family drive for Easter. A few months later, we traveled back to WI. We were in our 4 wheeled black mini van together for a total of 40 hours, YIKES!

Sam learned how to use the potty, sing the ABC's, chant Feliz Navadid and rides ,with no fault, a big boy bike with training wheels. Matthew took his few few crawls which soon turned into steps. His vocabulary continues to grow and went from "dah" to "Yam, ank u" (translation, Sam, thank you). Along with his persistent ability to be exactly like his brother, his palette also continues to explode. This child will try anything and has a great appetite.


A few more months passed by and Brad decided it was time for Mommy to pack up her old black mini and get a new one! A few days went by, October 31st came and went and in the driveway sat mommy's new Toyota Sienna! I am STILL in love with that purchase.

Brad reasoned with his headaches and decided it was time to get his vision checked. Sure enough, he needed corrective lenses. 45 trips back and forth to the Optometrist , 5 weeks later we "think" his contacts finally fit his precious little eyes. Now he's onto finding the best solution to keep his eyes moist through the day.....

Erin, well, I've just been busy being a mom. At the end of the day, watching my children through their day to day activities is the best gift of all. We have made so many wonderful friends here who treat us like family. Those friends, near and far have made me appreciate being me.

Our house has been full of friends and family this past year. We've had so much fun entertaining all of you and we loved sharing our Florida home with everyone.

We have so much to be thankful for this past year. Our health, happiness and togetherness. Our wish for our boys this coming year is the gift of happiness. May you be happy with everything you do, may your life be filled with fun and excitement and may you please please learn how to sleep past 6 a.m. PLEASE!!!!

Merry Christmas, 2007

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas 2007. We celebrated Christmas this year with family. Erin's parents, along with her great grandma Trudy came down from WI. Brother Darren and wife Ann also flew down from California. We had a great weekend full of fun, laughs and presents. Santa was very very good to us this year! The boys held out and did great. No sickies traveled through our house while we had soooo many guests. I think we can officially say this was the first visit from out of town company where the children were not miserable and sick!!! Yeah for the boys!!!! Sam was in awe of everyone, and Matthew warmed up very nicely to everyone...well except Aunt Ann and Uncle Darren. They tried soooo hard to get a smile from little Matthew and of course, on the last day of their visit, he wanted to go home with them. But isn't that always the case? A huge thank you to ya'll for making the trip down and for making our Christmas so memorable. We miss you all and hope to see you all soon again.

Our Christmas Tree after Santa arrived.

Matthew just couldn't believe how much he loves Santa!!!

....last but not least....the big biG bIG BIG RED Firetruck!!! Sam let out a huge squeel, something I had never heard before. He was soooo excited.
And Matthew now can be just like his brother with his new bike!

Matthew and his papa Tom Mimi and Matthew watching Sam hang up some ornaments on the tree Great Grandma Trudy counting $$ with Sam! Uncle Darren & Aunt Ann

Me, testing out my new Camera!!! Shannon, ignore my subject, but check out my blurry background!!!! No clue what I did :)

it doesn't get much better than this...

riding your bike through the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights that is! How fun and DIFFERENT for the 4 of us. Since the time change the nights have just gotten soooo much longer. We've put these loooooooong nights to good use by taking nightly bike rides around the neighborhood. No scarves, no hats (just a Santa hat), no mittens....nothing but a sweatshirt and pants. We have definitely gotten spoiled this December while still wearing shorts and t-shirts!

Matthew waiting for Santa...

Oh how I just had to post this picture....precious little buns sitting on the chair in front of the Christmas Tree. It was a Kodak moment! For sure a memory!

Sam on Christmas Morning!

Matthew on Christmas Morning!

Gaga, Papa Stan and Sassy

The day finally came where Sam's long awaited visit from Papa Stan, Gaga Judi and Sassy came true! It was a cold weekend here in Jacksonville. The temps topped 60 as the cloudy and wind filled the chilly air. But that didn't stop us from having a great time with all. We took Sassy to the park and went out to eat. It was a great weekend! Where was Gaga when we attempted 50 photos for our holiday card? She comes and look at the precious smiles from everyone!!!!!
Matthew thought he could do the monkey bars...until he realized it would mean being too far away from mommy :)
Sassy loved the park! She performed many stints only a show dog could perform!
Cute Sassy dog!
The boys hanging out at Clarks Fish Camp! Matthew tried calamari for the first time and requested more!