Friday, January 23, 2009

Wow! Snow at the Beach!

Okay, I know we're from Missouri where it snows every winter. I know we're all familiar with snow days, sledding, building snowmen, and below freezing temperatures. But it's not everyday that it snows on the North Carolina coast. In fact, the last time it snowed here was over six years ago. So, I think this was maybe the most excited Tim and I have ever been to see snow. This was only the second time the boys have seen snow, so they were pretty excited too. And what did Tim and I decide to do in the snow? Go to the beach, of course! Seriously, how often do you get to see snow at the beach? We thought it was pretty cool.

Yes, we temporarily tortured the boys just to get a couple pictures of them on the beach. It's okay, they'll never remember it!





Poor Seth! It was 25 degrees and the wind was blowing like crazy. Don't worry, mom, the boys were outside less than a minute.




Snow on the sand dunes.



The snow obviously didn't stick to the sand very well, but it looked really neat blowing across the beach.




Seth having fun playing in the snow. He had just gotten up from his nap and I took him to the window and his face lit up and he said, "Wow! Snow!"





Ethan playing in the backyard. Notice his hands in his pockets. We could only find one of his gloves and he kept saying, "My hands freezing!"






This picture was taken when the snow was just first starting to come down. The boys were napping, so Tim and I ran outside to take pictures. You'd think we'd never seen snow before! I think the majority of the Jacksonville, NC population really had never seen snow before. When we were driving to the beach, Tim passed almost every car on the road because they were driving 15 mph. And that was with no snow on the roads yet.




For those of you who have never seen it, here's our house-in the snow. Everything was shut down the next day, including the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. Yes, the Marines got a snow day! Pretty funny.







The snow melted very quickly the next day, but the boys got to play in it for a little bit in the morning. Seth was really enjoying eating it.








Ethan thought the snow was pretty tasty too.










Thursday, January 8, 2009

Merry Christmas 2008

These pictures of Ethan and Seth were all taken at our house a few days before we left for all of our Christmas travels. I love the first two pictures of both of them together.


I wish I remember what I was doing to make them both laugh. I would do it every time I try to take their picture.


Seth Nathaniel on his second Christmas. I can't believe he will be 2 in February.


Ethan Joshua on his third Christmas, but only his second with us. He will turn 3 in February.



Christmas in Missouri

From December 13-25, we were at my mom and dad's house in Missouri for Christmas. These pictures were all taken on December 20, which was when we all opened presents together.


Here is the entire Steinmetz/Kessler/Bea fam together.





The drum set was one of Seth's favorite gifts. He is really into marching bands right now, so he loves drums.





Ethan proudly displaying a new book.



Tim opening presents with the boys. He likes playing with the toys as much as they do.




My mom and dad with the boys.




Seth with rocket from "The Little Einsteins". They both love that show, so this was another one of their favorite gifts.




The boys got a music set that included a tamborine, a triangle, and some cymbals, which Ethan was using as ear muffs in this picture.



Mom with the coffee mug we got her. I love to get people personalized gifts, especially things with pictures of the boys on them.





Mom showing Seth how to play the guitar he got. They got lots of musical instruments! No wonder it seems louder than usual in our house lately.






Zach and Ethan opening presents on the couch.






Dad with the coffee mug we got him.






Here are the three girls together. Emily was already pretty big, as you can see! She gave birth to Nate on January 4. Nate was over 2 months premature and weighed 2 lbs. 15 oz. at birth. He is doing really great, but will most likely have to stay in the hospital until Emily's original due date, which was at the end of March. The boys and I plan on going back to Missouri at that time to meet baby Nate!






Mom and dad playing the drums with Seth. They said he was quite the little drummer boy!






Ethan showing off his new backpack. He can't wait to go to school. Mom told him he has to wait until he's five to ride the bus and go to school, so now he's already talking about being five.







Emily and Jon with the boys. Poor Em was on bed rest, so she didn't get to play with the boys as much as she usually does. We all had a great Christmas and received many nice gifts, but the best gift was getting to be together for the holidays.














Round Two of Presents

On Christmas Eve, the boys had even more gifts to unwrap at my mom and dad's house.

Here are the boys opening their twilight turtles. They light up and project the moon and stars on the ceiling and walls. The boys now use them as their new night lights.



I don't think you can tell, but I had to bribe the boys with M & M's to sit still and smile for pictures before we opened presents, so their mouths are both full of chocolate.


More M & M's in this picture too. You can tell Seth is chomping on his and Ethan has his silly fake smile on.



My dad and Seth looking at the Quiet Book.



Ethan reading his new Curious George book. I think their collection of Curious George books is almost complete now. They both love them.



Seth was trying hard to turn that box just right so that he could open it himself.




A rare smile on Zach's face. He got an X-Box. I think he now has every video game ever made.




A big smile from Seth when he saw his new Curious George book. How cute!





Ethan was very curious about what was inside that box.





My mom showing Seth how to snap on the shapes in his Quiet Book.




Everyone assembled on the couch. I figured out Tim and I are never in too many pictures because I'm always the one taking the pictures and Tim is usually in control of the video camera.










Spending Time with Mimi & Mambo

As always, the boys were in heaven with Mimi and Mambo (and Mimi and Mambo were in heaven too!). Below are a few pictures I took while we were staying at their house during our Christmas vacation.
























I realize my mom and dad aren't in this picture, but this one just cracks me up. Ethan's feelings about taking pictures are completely summed up in this picture. I imagine he's thinking something like, "Seriously, mom. ANOTHER picture! I'm bored out of my mind here." And then there's Seth with his big smile






Primping with Mimi & Mambo

The boys still love putting on make-up with mom every morning. Seth seems to favor lipstick and Ethan is partial to blush.


This is where the "three musketeers" sat every morning while mom got ready for work. When it was actually time for her to leave for work, there were always lots of tears.


Ethan likes to do everything Mambo is doing. I guess he decided it was about time he started shaving.


Here he is showing off his pink "Lady Bic" razor. Too funny! As you can see, he took his shaving very seriously.