Christmas 2008

Christmas this year has been hectic but fun!  As you can see in the slideshow above (which I successfully figured out how to do on my own!!!) we had a very eventful Christmas.  We had our annual Christmas party in which we received the wonderful news that two of our dearest friends, Anne and Jason, are tying the knot.  The date has been set and we will be there--we wouldn't miss it for the world!

We also had a great time with the family.  Sarah and Cory came to town and we had a wonderful Christmas celebration with them along with Clare, Josh and mom and dad (and of course all of the kids!) Christmas Day is usually quiet around our house, but we were delightfully surprised to learn that David (Charles' brother) and Kelly, our sister in law, as well as Tyler and Sammy, our niece and nephew, came to town from Illinois.  They had planned on coming in on Christmas Eve but stayed home due to bad weather.  So this year we didn't miss their trip up to Wisconsin!  

I have finally had some down time after all of the celebrating.  I fit in a girls night with girlfriends Heidi, Faith and Andrea and I also managed to celebrate Charles's 32nd birthday in Madison with Anne, Jason, Jer and Stacy--before I finally threw in the towel and decided my head cold was too much for me.  Now after two nights of trying to catch up on the computer and organize my life....I am feeling better and can't believe that the holiday season is almost over!  Enjoy the pics!  I am proud I finally figured out how to post a slideshow (even though Sarah has been promising to help me--but her two boys keep her plenty busy!).  Post a comment if you wish!  Much love and Happy New Year!  The Gassers

what a character!

I thought this was blog worthy:

I had the news on Sunday morning and thier was a broadcaster on that was African American.  Nolan looked at the TV, looked at me and said, "Obama!"

I had to correct him of course but I thought it was pretty funny!  

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  

Made his daddy proud!

Just a little update from earlier this week.  Nolan is talking a ton and repeating about everything we say!   He really made his daddy proud this week when he said Dr. Pepper (for those of you that don't know---Charles is addicted to Dr. Pepper!).  Don't worry, I haven't given him any yet and he won't have any for a very long time!

Halloween

We had a great time trick-or treating with Nolan.  It was quite the crew as we took Nolan over to his Mimi and Ya Ya's and went trick-or-treating with Quinn and Caroline.  Nolan, at first, was wondering what was going on.  By the third house he quickly figured it out.  You could see the lightbulb go off!  "Hey I go up to a door and they give me a treat---COOL!"  And I tell you, the kids was not shy.  He would go up to each house and make sure he picked out his OWN treat.  It was pretty funny.  He also wanted to eat every piece of candy he received but we quickly came up with a solution to that.  We opened a small bag of M & M's and gave him one at a time--which kept him happy and not on a sugar high.  Overall, it was a great night!  I was exhausted by the end--and we only went for about an hour!  Enjoy the pics!  

Halloween is in the air

Well, I don't have very many pics from this weekend (and I am being a little lazy) but we had a great time taking Nolan to the Milwaukee Zoo for their Halloween Spooktacular.  We went up with Clare, Josh, Quinn and Caroline.  It was tons of fun.  The kids got to dress up in their Halloween costumes and trick or treat around the zoo.  We didn't see as many animals as we would have liked but I think the kids had a great time (especially on the carousel and the choo choo train).  We also have celebrated this Halloween by taking not one--but TWO trips to the pumpkin farm (two different farms of course--we had to compare!) and will go trick or treating on Friday night with the kids.  I will add pictures this week.....cross my heart!

Dancing man!

   

Nolan loves the song, Black Velvet.  It plays on the radio every day around lunchtime at daycare and it has become his song.  We videotaped him one evening (we uploaded it from itunes) and here he is.  Don't you love how he throws in a clap every once in awhile (he gets that from his mom).  It is also quite close to bedtime and he is getting sleepy (see the rub of the eyes) but he just has to dance!  

Life here is going well.  Below I have also posted pictures from our busy long fall weekend, we went to the pumpkin farm and we plan on going one more time before Halloween.  Nolan's other new thing is wanting to sit in a regular chair at dinner (as seen below).  He thinks he is quite a big boy and won't have much to do with his booster seat, although he will sit on phone books. Oh, and I love my new Mac; it makes uploading pics and video much easier!  I am still getting the hang of things but I love it!  Enjoy our post this week.....

and check out the Sucharda post as well---for those of you who know the Sucharda family!  Talk to you soon....love ali

Party on the Pavement

We enjoyed downtown Racine this weekend at the annual Party on the Pavement.

Nolan especially loved the petting farm area.....I thought he was going to crawl in the pen.  And of course, the music was good too--although we missed getting him and his groovy dancing on tape!   A few other pics from earlier in the week.... Nolan's newest thing is getting out the stool to sit and color (see above).  He also enjoyed taking my seat at the dinner table.  He thought he was quite funny sneaking into my chair and eating my dinner.  His newest saying...."aw man" which he got from Shayla at daycare.  He also has gotten into the habit of calling Tabitha (our dog).  He says, "Come Taba".

I will upload more pics this week (of the above mentioned)....but the blogger is taking forever to upload pics and i am exhausted from a late night last night!  Check back later in the week! 

 

And summer comes to a close....

We spent Labor Day weekend in Oconomowoc at our friends' house on Lower Lake Genessee.  It was a great time and Nolan loved playing in the water. I can't believe summer has officially come to an end. However, we did come home early enough to enjoy a picnic at Mimi and Ya Ya's! Here are Nolan and dad spending time in the hammock--soaking up the last moments of summer sunshine. We are very sad to see summer come to a close!

Funny moments of the week....

Well, although I have no pictures for this week, I do want to share a few funny moments from the week.

Nolan woke up Tuesday morning fairly early...it was pretty overcast and dreary looking outside. The first words out of his mouth for the day were..."rain? thunder? BOOM!" even though it wasn't even raining out. He made me laugh pretty hard.

He is also really into buttons these days. Anything small and round seems to be a "button". I was getting dressed in our bedroom and had yet to put anything up top when he pointed to me and said--button? He also discovered he had a "button" down below in the tub later in the week (and for those of you that are a little slower he was not referring to a belly button may I add). Charles and I were laughing pretty hard at his interesting association. I'll keep you posted on more funny sayings and doings! back to school this week for me!

Summer Adventure

We have just returned home from being up north visiting Nolan's grandma and grandpa (or Ba-pa as Nolan likes to call him). What an adventure we had! Our first day there we went to the Adam-Friendship Flea Market, where there are bargains galore and the same garbage being sold this year as three summers ago. However, sometimes you do find a useful or fun little trinket and Nolan had his eye on CARS--as Matchbox cars or Tonka trunks seemed to be in every booth.

Later that day we went to the Adams-Friendship County Fair, where Grandma spoiled Nolan rotten with treats and fair rides--basically anything he wanted under the sun.

Sunday we headed to the Dells. We stayed in a hotel with a small waterpark for toddlers. Nolan wasn't quite sure what to think about the water flying all over the place and the playground in the middle of the pool. But after awhile he got the hang of it and went down the waterslide at least 30 times!

While searching for something to do with Nolan besides just the water park--we stumbled upon an aquarium---promising 80,000 gallons of water with over 1,000 fish--60 different species. It sounded like a promising adventure. We found it, paid our way too expensive admission and entered the "Shed" aquarium---it was literally a large shed with fish tanks full of cloudy water. The best part of the aquarium was the blue heron we saw outside feasting on the fish in the tanks...and might I add the blue heron was not an actual part of the exhibit--he was just eating his breakfast.

That was the obviously not the highlight of the trip. We also took Nolan to the Deer Park--in which we could actually feed the deer (really cool and Nolan loved it). And we took him on the Wisconsin Ducks--which he also found very cool (and I think his cousin Jack would love!!). Dad and I even got a little time out by ourselves--while Grandpa and Grandma babysat. We spent the last day back at Grandma and Grandpa's--playing outside and eating too much food. Overall, it was a great mini summer vacation!

Bugs and Bites Oh My!

Well, today was a great day! Nolan woke up with a swollen eye that just kept getting more swollen from some insect bite he got yesterday. I am calling him my little Quasimodo. I must say I got a few looks from people while running errands today--no I don't beat my kid but the bugs sure did!

And then today--to top off his eye--he was playing at Clare's house with his cousin Quinn when they both started crying (they were playing in the Little Tikes playhouse outback). Clare and I ran over to see what happened and I picked up Nolan, while Clare made the assumption that Quinn had gotten stung by something. She was right--and it was still happening. The boys had incidentally woken up the wasps or hornets that were living underneath the playhouse. And they were not happy about it. They stung poor Quinn three times, Nolan once and they got me three times. A hornet was even buzzing around in Nolan's overalls--that was a fun, frantic screaming few minutes we had while stripping the kids down (now inside) to make sure all the buzzing insects were gone. I am still icing my arm---what a great way to end a perfectly fine afternoon (I must say the boys were a lot tougher than me--I STILL hurt!)

Oh--and one more thing...Nolan decided tonight that he likes dill pickles (and can even say pickles) but he only eats them until he runs out of room to hold onto and then he puts the rest on his plate and asks for another--funny kid!

August Already!

I can't believe it is August already! Summer goes by so fast and soon it will be back to school. I am trying to make every effort to update my blog each week (apparently my sisters both have this task accomplished each week--somehow I always end up behind!) We have had a really fun summer! The Fourth of July brought the Raths up to Wisconsin--more pictures of my nephews (and niece) coming soon if I can ever get pictures from my sisters (hint hint!). We have had countless moments at Clare and Josh's playing with the kids--gives the moms a little of a break! Nolan is doing all sorts of things these days. He is a huge fan of flags and points them out wherever we are! He says tons of words these days too---turtle, bug, cloud, flag, frog, flower, butterfly--just to name a few. He even said his name the other day (but only once)! He is tons of fun and makes Charles and I laugh every day (and often more than once!). And my favorite expressions are "Whoa" and "Wow"--I'm trying to get those on video!

Kiera comes to town!

My friend Kiera came to town for a quick vist---all the way from Long Island. I know her because my mom and her mom (Julie) went to high school together and have been friends for a long time. Kiera and I are just a week apart! She is fun--we had a good time at the zoo and she even shared gold fish with me!

What's going on in our household....

Well, let me tell you--there's been a lot going on here! Charles is currently working on the next Bascom Hill album in Seattle. They hope to record vocals in the next few weeks and have the album out by September! I've heard the music and it's going to be a great album! He also was offered a new position at M&I which we are very excited about. He will be starting his new job soon!!!

Nolan is walking all over, running I should say. He's also talking lots--car, doggie, kitty cat, flower, cup--just to name a few words and he loves to point at everything. When he hears planes in the sky, he stops whatever he is doing and looks around to see if he can find it. Spotting it throws him into a fit of giggles. We are busy just keeping up with him, and he makes us laugh every day!

Nothing much new on my end. I am looking forward to the end of another school year and I'm ready to say goodbye to the kids for the year. I am teaching this summer and taking one class (just for a week--so don't feel too bad for me!) I am really excited to spend time with my sister--who is moving home from New Jersey today, with her husband and kids. It will be an adventure to have them in the area again! I can't wait for Nolan to meet his cousins! Well, I am signing off for now....more later! ali

Nolan in Seattle

This sping, Nolan and I headed to Seattle to visit my friend Heidi and her fiance, Brandon. We had a great time spending time with them and our friend Faith-who also was with us. Charles even came out too! He began working in a studio out there on the new Bascom Hill album and we got to see him for a bit too!

Good Night!

...sometimes he actually does take a break from running around and sleeps.....

and he looked too cute, so I had to take a picture! It didn't wake him up!!!

I'm one today!

I turned one on February 22!  I had lots of fun on my birthday and got many presents!  don't you love my chocolate cake doo...

Nolan at 10 months!

Add guess who took his first steps last week--(Jan 16th to be exact).  He'll be walking all over before we know it!

Rock On

Nolan loves rockin' out with Jason and Daddy....and when Jason stops playing the guitar he starts crying!!!

Newest member of Bascom Hill

Christmas 2007