House Progress!

Josh and I took advantage of our last day off together on Monday to pick out some options for our house.  While it was super exciting to do it, it was also a bit overwhelming for me, the non-decision-making person that I am!  :o) 

 Here is some visual progress on our house that we are happy to share!!  (We've been struggling to get the bank to move with the same sense of urgency that we are moving with...)  Forgive some of the pictures, as they were taken with Josh's phone with a setting sun...  Regardless, here is our cleared lot with the corners and elevation of the house marked with the wooden stakes.

 The footers dug out and covered with plastic.

 The poured footers.  (Can you tell I obviously have no idea what I'm talking about??  :o)  I'm just repeating what other people tell me...)

 Everything leveled off, and they started laying our blocks this weekend!

 That's where our house excitement ends for the moment...  we're just happy to break ground!!  :o)

On Saturday, we took the boys to Killen's Pond to check out their disc golf course.  (I definitely preferred the course we played last weekend!!  Too many trees on this one, and I'm pretty sure my discs were magnetized to the trees...)  Since the boys were so good going around the course with us, we took them to "the water" where Evan shared his love of throwing stones in to hear the "splash!" with Ryan.

 Then tonight we celebrated my birthday at Lina's house.  Evan was so excited and did a wonderful job singing me "Happy Birthday"!  :o)

Post-Christmas

We decided this past week that it was time to turn our little Ry-Guy around in the car.  He quite enjoyed sitting forward (except when he tried to go to sleep...),  happy to look out the window and talk to Evan next to him. 

 Mid-week, we went bowling with Pop-Pop.  Ryan wanted to pick up every bowling ball he could find.

 Evan did a great job bowling, and even scored higher than both Josh and I!!  Beat by a 3 year old...  I think it's going to take a while to live that down!  :o)

 Ryan was a wee bit small for the play place, but he was content to stay on this lower level and climb in and out.

 On Saturday, we headed up to see Jared and Gina's clan, and took advantage of the beautiful weather to play some disc golf.  Isaac was kind enough to let Ryan ride in the stroller while he took the foot rest.

 Everyone in on the action.  Evan is waaaaay back at the other basket.  He quite enjoyed the course full of sticks, stones and water to throw them in.

 Back at home, we busted out the bounce house!  Surprisingly, we had very few injuries, and all four seemed to enjoy it thoroughly.  Success!  :o)

 Morning movie-crew.

 On Sunday, we had our annual Hertzog Christmas party.  Madison resumes her role as baby sitter.  Seriously, can she come live with us??  :o) 

Merry Christmas!!

We started Christmas morning off with opening some presents with the boys.  Ryan thought he could have more leverage if he was actually sitting on the box he was trying to open...

It was a tent for Evan and Ryan - complete with a tunnel!  :o)

 Then we headed over to Mom-Mom and Dad-Dad's house for breakfast.  Mom-Mom helped Evan unwrap his goodies.

 Maybe Ry will grow into those boots...  :o)

 Then we headed over to Halmoni and Pop-Pop's for dinner.  Posing for our annual family photo, Evan opted for the squinty, over-smiley look...  Ryan balances it out with his stone-face.

 Every kid needs a doctor kit!

 Ryan helping Uncle Josh open his gifts.

 Silly Pop-Pop...

 Are any of the kids actually looking at the camera?  Nope!  :o)

 Then the next day, we headed over to Towson for yet some more celebration!  This little mall down the road from Jess and Jenn's house had a pretty elaborate train display.  Both of our boys were impressed, although Evan way more than Ryan!  :o)

 Classic kids table.  Silly Isaac giving the cheese face.

Then, silly parents thinking their kids are ready for bed...  they're all in the jammies, but I'm not quite sure they heard the "bedtime" part...  and this went on for a WHILE!!! 

Pre-Christmas

Since Christmas fell on my usual blogging-Sunday, I took the day off.  Then, time kind of got away from me, so here we are!  :o)  I figured doing this in small chunks was better for me since we have so many pictures and good times to talk about, so tonight will just be a small snippet of what went on before Christmas Day. 

Evan helped me wrap some presents.  He was my tape holder - little perfect-present-wrapping-sized pieces on each of his fingers!



Then Miss Gauri came over to visit and showered the boys with presents.  Evan was thrilled to get this Cars activity pack - complete with stickers, crayons, paints, and activity books.

Using his paints to make this Christmas tree picture extra colorful.

Evan and Ryan chatting it up with Uncle Tim on Christmas Eve after church.

This has nothing to do with Christmas, other than happening during this past week, but Evan was quite taken with these witch fingers.  A tad creepy in my opinion...  :o)

I will try to post more as the weekend approaches, but I can make no promises as we are busy, busy beavers!!  :o) 

We hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas!!!

Almost Christmas...

Evan did a great job helping Mom-Mom and Dad-Dad decorate their Christmas tree!  He got his stool to put the ornaments "up high so Ryan won't get 'em."  Damage control.  Good thinking, Ev!  :o)

 Then Ev helped Mom-Mom decorate Christmas cookies.  This was good therapy for me, as sprinkles were everywhere and all I could hear was the little noise of sprinkles hitting the floor... constantly...

 Then we wised up and went with the dip method.  Evan had such a ball helping!  And he did a great job with consuming only one cookie and one hershey kiss.

 Of course, Ryan would have been a disaster helping with the cookies, so we bundled him up and took him outside.  Silly face.  He kept turning away as I tried to take his picture...

 Mom-Mom helping him with those darn mittens that he kept pulling off.

On Friday, Ryan went for his 15 month check up.  He measured 32 inches long (50-75%) and weighed in at 23 pounds 4 ounces (25-50%).  With 12 teeth and TONS of babbling (including actual words and animal sounds), Mr. Ry-Guy is a healthy, happy boy!  :o)

We love trains!

On Friday, we met the Judy clan at Longwood Gardens to let the kiddos enjoy the lights.  Evan definitely enjoyed smelling all of the flowers and watching the various waterfalls.  I was hoping he and Leah would not take a dive...

It's hard to see them in the dark, but Evan and Ryan are at the bottom of the next photo enjoying the trains that were lit up outside.

 The bigger kiddos playing so nicely. 

 Heidi thinks she's playing "Go Fish" too... :o)

 Then on Saturday we headed to the Brandywine Museum, where Evan got to enjoy yet more trains.  It's definitely one of his new obsessions...

 And a giant bunny lived outside!

 We tried to get all of them in the shot...  the bunny wasn't very conducive to "prop the kids and run"!

 Earlier in the week, Ryan quite enjoyed "being taken for a walk" with this lovely snake.

Here, let's show you!!  :o)

And because I love my boys to match...  :o) 

(I've been told I'm weird, and I've accepted that!) 

Happy December!!

The Hertzog family got together today to try to take a family photograph.  9 of 10 looking is the best I got on my camera...  way to go, Caden!!  :o) 

 And Evan isn't looking in the cousins picture...  Ryan looks like he's getting ready to punch somebody!  (Probably me since I kept putting him back on the blanket...)

 The boys with Pop-Pop and Halmoni.

 On Friday, Evan helped Dad-Dad replace the battery in my car.

"Wrench?  Check!"  Such a good helper!  :o)

Some sandbox time. 

Bouncing boys! 

Helping Dad-Dad fill up the bird feeders.