The Christmas Season

Matt on Santa's lap at the mall. He screamed and cried at first, but then sat on my lap next to Santa and was distracted long enough to get a good picture

Daddy and Matt playing with Mommy's wrapping paper
Our little monkey being silly

Feeding Carter, Uncle Gary's dog

Catching Up with the Gardner's

It's been a while and I am due for an update. November just got away from me. Between work, Brian's hockey schedule, and Matt this month just flew right by. Things are going great, the holidays are quickly approaching and we are excited because Matt is enjoying every minute of it. He loves the lights and decorations, so much so that he also likes to touch them all. He is growing more each day and becoming more and more verbal, can't wait until he really starts talking. The pictures are just random, so enjoy them.

Brian and I got a chance to head to a Blue's game together, here we are with Louie

Matt helping me with my luggage
Introducing Miss Lainey Marie Bright. I got a chance to sneak away for a weekend and travel to Columbus, Ohio to visit my best friend and their new bundle of joy. It was a great weekend, wish we lived closer.

Me and Heather

She is so cute

Just woke up

Enjoying a snack in the kitchen

This is what I found in the kitchen.... now where is the mess maker?

Found him...

Hi mom, what?

15 Months

Matt had his 15 month check up this week and boy is he growing. He is up to 26 pounds (75th percentile) and 31 inches (87th percentile), he is not a tiny guy anymore. He is also currently getting his molars plus about two more teeth on the bottom and a few on the top, so he is always covered in drool and has been having trouble sleeping lately. Hopefully it all passes soon, mommy and daddy need some sleep.

However teething hasn't stopped our little guy, he is always on the move. He loves being outside and always wants to play "hock" (hockey) in the basement. He is very curious and is such a little ham, he knows how to get us to laugh. About mid October he started daycare, and he loves it. They play outside twice a day and go on buggy rides and Miss Sarah (his teacher) says he is such a happy guy. After a few weeks of going, he now runs right in and goes straight to Miss Sarah.

Helping rake the leaves

Playing in his pile About mid October I went to 6th grade camp with my students for a week, we left Monday morning and got back Friday afternoon. Brian was also out of town, so my parents flew in and stayed with Matt for a week. They loved every minute of it. On Wednesday they came to visit me at camp, it was great to see my little man. (I missed him so much)

At camp they let us put him on a horse, he had a great timeRiding the horse

My new project in Matt's room, I made a family and friends picture wall. He loves it, we talk about the people in the pictures every night and he points them out and then blows them kisses.

A Visit from Aunt Jacki and Uncle Patrick

Last weekend my sister Jacki and her husband Patrick came to visit. The weather was beautiful, most of October has been hot here in St Louis. On Sunday we took a trip to Grant's Farm and then enjoyed movie night in the Byrne basement. Monday we went to Union Station and to lunch downtown. Then Jacki, Brian, and Patrick did a Brewery Tour while I took Matt to his 15 month check-up. Matt loved hanging out with his Aunt and Uncle, thanks for coming to visit us.

Me and my guy

Aunt Jacki, Uncle Patrick, and Matt
Matt and Jacki riding on the carousel

Feeding the goats

Of course we had to make a stop at Ted Drewes

Trip to Eckert's

A few weekends ago we took our annual trip to Eckert's with the Byrne's and the AuBuchon's. Surprisingly it was about 80 degrees when we went, so we picked pumpkins and apples in shorts and t-shirts. We all had a great time despite that later that night we ended up in Urgent Care with Matt who had pink eye in both eyes and an ear infection. He was such a trouper all day, he didn't even act like he wasn't feeling well.

The gang at Eckert's

Riding on his first ride
Enjoying an apple with Aiden

Yummy apples

Me and Brian

Looking at the goats with Chase

On the hayride

Walking with Daddy

He found one

At Urgent Care, poor guy, but still all smiles

Matt's Dedication (Late September)

We had Matt dedicated at the church this past fall. It was a wonderful service and we were truly blessed to have our friends and family there. My parents and Grandma Soeder flew in for the weekend and my Grandma and Grandpa Grooteoged made the 9 hour trip by van to join in the celebration. We all had a very nice weekend, the weather was great and my family loved every minute that they got to spend with Matt.

The Gardner's

Family at the church

Matt's cake made by Gramma (my mother-in-law), she did a great job

Reading with Grandpa before bed

Oh, playing outside (one of his favorite things to do)

Grandma and Matthew

Ahhh, he is such a funny little guy

Always in a good mood

He found himself in the glass and was laughing

Playing hockey ("hock" as he calls it)

Our family at Suson Park

On the swings

Kisses for Daddy

And surely the weekend would not be complete without a family trip to Ted Drewes