Family pictures

We went last Wednesday and had family pictures taken for our Christmas cards. We only planned on getting just our family pictures taken, but Levi was hamming it up for the man taking the pictures, so we decided to get a few by himself as well!

2 year check-up!

We took Levi for his 2 year check-up today! He did great this time! The last time we took him in for a check-up, he started bawling his eyes out when the nurse put the tape measure around his head. This time, he only shed a few tears when he got his shots! He refused to say any words to Dr. Taylor though...she probably thinks we stretching the truth when we tell her how Levi never stops talking at home! He is 95% in weight and 97% in height and 96% for his head.....at least he is proportional!

Aunt Jo, Uncle Caleb and Peyton got Levi's all kinds of Lightening McQueen stuff for his birthday, including this bath robe. He loves it!!!

I don't have any pictures to go with this blog, but I thought I would share this funny story anyway. It's funny now....not at the time though.

Last week we decided to take Levi to the mall to see Santa. We had some shopping we wanted to do as well, and since we never make it to the mall, we thought we'd conquer both in the same day. Levi was just getting over a cold, so he was a little congested, but not too bad. However, 15 minutes of running in All Sports would make any kid tired I would think. I was looking for a Kentucky jersey for Levi for Christmas and Anthony decided to let Levi run around the store while I shopped. Bad idea. By the time I was done, Levi's face was blood red and he was coughing his lungs out.

We exited the store and instantly put him in his stroller trying to get him to calm down. Anyone who knows Levi's history knows that when he gets stuffed up in the slightest, he pukes. So yes, you can guess what came next. In the middle of the food court, Levi puked and puked and puke some more. He got it all over his pants and his Santa shirt he was wearing. It came out of his nose. Thank goodness we were able to catch most of the rest of it in the tray on the stroller. It took us a while but we did manage to get him cleaned up the best we could.

At that point we were ready to call it a day (I think we had been at the mall for all of 20 minutes.) But we wanted Levi to see Santa. So we walked all the way back to the end of the mall where Santa was and he wasn't there. He was at the Chick-fila ordering a pop. So we waited for him, and when he came back we asked Levi if he was going to go sit on his lap. He said NO. I thought for sure we were getting ready to create another scene.

By the time he got up front, Levi was actually willing and wanting to go see Santa. He asked what his name was..we had to tell him..and Levi just stared and stared at him! Santa asked what he wanted and Levi responded with "monster trucks" :) I couldn't beleive it..he actually answered him and didn't cry!!! But after that, Levi had enough of Santa. He did let Santa put an elf hat on his head and then he got a coloring book. When we were all done, Levi strutted his stuff all through the mall like he was some big hot shot. It ended up being a good day....

...until we went back to the food court for lunch. We ordered some chinese food. Levi isn't normally a picky eater, but when he has a cold, he doesnt eat. So lunch was stressful. We were "those" parents who have no control of their 2 year old. He was climbing all over the seats, throwing his food and whining the whole entire time. That was the fastest lunch I think Anthony and I ever ate.

After that, we called it a day at the mall. We got in the truck, turned on the Polar Express...gave Levi his blankie, his bunny, his puppy and he was happy again.

It's amazing just how a simple trip to the mall can take years off your life...I'm kidding of course, but he did push our limits. It was worth it in the end since he got to see Santa....but I don't know if we'll be taking any mall trips again anytime soon! :)

Thanksgiving in Piqua and Levi's birthday party!

We drove up to Piqua on the Monday before Thanksgiving..it was cold out but we still managed to make the best of it!

It was perfect timing because my Uncle Doug and cousin Joe combined the corn field while we were up there...Levi was mesmorized!

He even got to climb up into the combine!

You can imagine the time we had getting him down from there!

On Thanksgiving morning, my brothers family arrived. My grandma and Uncle Denny joined us for a Thanksgiving meal. That night and the next night, my pyrotechnician brother put on a fireworks show for us! A great way to celebrate Levi's birthday AND my parents anniversary!

Here's the grandkids waiting to go outside. Tom said 5 minutes....we all know how long we really waited though! ;)

Levi opening presents from Mama and Papa and Uncle Tom and Aunt Sarah and kids.

A Dairy Queen Ice-cream cake! YUM!!

Jump on the bed, jump on the bed, jump on the bed at grandma's house!!!!

Levi and sweet Claire Bear. I think he even called her Claire Bear a few times!

Anthony ended up driving home on Friday morning after we did some black Friday shopping. He put up all the Christmas lights on our house that day (pictures to come). On Saturday the rest of us went to my cousin Beth's wedding. Well, Levi and I only made the reception...

I wanted to take pictures of her, but after this picture my camera battery went dead! Levi and the rest of the kids ran all over the place and Levi even showed off some of his dancing skills!

On Sunday my family ate at Cracker Barrell before parting ways. My mom drove me and Levi home....making a pit stop at IKEA on the way home.

Happy Birthday to Levi!

Today we celebrated Levi's birthday! We didn't do a too much though since Anthony had to work today. We already celebrated his birthday with my side of the family over Thanksgiving (I will post those pics next time). But today Nana came to visit! It ended up being a great day!

A few nights ago he got a Tonka Truck from Grandpa Delimpo in the mail! Thanks Pa-pa!

We actually broke down yesterday and gave him his gifts from us a day early! It was cold and rainy outside and we were all going crazy inside the house, so we thought it would be a good idea!

He was pretty excited! Thanks Ma-ma Gheen for part of his train track!

We were sure glad we gave him our gifts (one of those carpets with the town and roads on it and this wooden race track!) He played with it non-stop all day and night! (If any body needs/wants gift ideas for him...go to IKEA and get some more tracks!!! ;))

This is from today....opening gifts from Aunt Jo, Uncle Caleb and Peyton! He got a cool fire truck from the CARS movie that is remote controlled...it's really cool! And he got lots of Lightning McQueen stuff from them too!!!! THANKS Aunt Jo and Uncle Caleb and Peyt!

Opening more gifts with Nana!

CHEESE!!! Nana got Levi a V-Tech gaming system....it'll be great for those long dark winter nights! Thanks Nana for making my birthday day special!

I will post Levi's birthday pictures with my family and our Thanksgiving trip to Ohio next time!

Till then...I have a 2 YEAR OLD to chase around the house!

Newport Part 2

Touching a bird!

Watching the penquins play!

Getting to pet a shark!

Levi getting weighed on the fish scales....

...it really was like a giant swing!

Levi weighed as much as a Pyjama Catshark!

Then Daddy had to see how much he weighed...I think he was the size of an adult Sandbar Shark.

We got to watch the scuba divers set up Santa's sleigh and the seahorses pulling the sleigh! That was really cool! They came over and waved to us!

The sharks were right beside the divers!

Playing FROGGER with daddy!

He loved the Jellyfish!

But was a little bit more hesitant of the sharks swimming right above his head!

Going through another tunnel!

Outside the aquarium!

It was definitely a fun way to celebrate Levi's birthday which actually is tomorrow, Dec. 4! :)

Newport Aquarium Part 1

About week and a half ago, we took Levi to the Aquarium in Newport as part of his birthday gift! It was the most perfect thing we could do for him....he is obsessed with whales, sharks, fish, seahorses and anything else to do with the ocean! We left early in the morning and made a whole morning and afternoon of it! I will post part 2 of my pictures soon!

This was Levi's face as we were pulling into the parking lot at the aquarium...he was so excited!

He would say "LOOK AT ALL OF THEM!"

Playing on the drums!

Levi loves fish and tunnels....so you can imagine when the two are put together!

Touching a crab!

Levi and Mommy!

Levi and Daddy!

He explored the place like it was all his!

He was a little hesitant to cross over the glass. This was the crocodile exhibit and you could see them through the glass floor. The only way he would cross over is if I held his hand! If I didn't, he would creep around the edges, being very careful not to "fall in"! It was funny!

Climbing up on a frog!

I have lots more pictures of out day, but blogger is taking a long time to load pictures for some reason, so I will post more later!