Camera Clean-up

The time came for me to finally clean out my camera. There were several pictures I had forgotten about. I guess this is my version of spring cleaning, my house will have to wait!

A couple weeks ago we had a bad 2-3 days where me, Ryan, Patrick, and yes even Gizmo were sick. The 2 legged ones just had colds, but poor Moey must've consumed some grass while in the yard. She puffed up something awful. You may or may not be able to tell in the picture, but her face is twice as wide as normal.

Patrick isn't as a huge fan of the Exersaucer. We have since put it in the basement and replaced it with the Jumparoo (more on that later). You wouldn't know if from this picture though as he seems content in it. I loved the cheeky grin he was giving me here.

No, Al Sharpton, I wasn't eating the blueberries.

I promise you he likes this toy. However one morning while Ryan was at school, I put Patrick in this while I was throwing in a load of laundry, I came out of the laundry room to find Patrick asleep on his feet.

Another cheeky smile I couldn't resist. His eyes are brought out by the color of his shirt.

Uhhh, does dad know I'm wearing this?

I'm Popeye the Sailorman. Or is it just me that thinks this is what he looks like here?

From time to time Ryan will ask to ride his trike and is getting better about wearing the helmet. It all has to be his idea though. And after about 3 trips down the driveway, in which gravity does most of the work, he's done.

One Saturday, we took the 12 minute train ride to nearby Libertyville. From the trainstation we walked to a restaurant for lunch, then to a park. After that we hit the candy store before heading back home. Ryan loved it, he asks everyday to go on a trainride again. I braved it with the boys alone a few days later, but here are some pictures from our trip. I love how Patrick looks at Dean adoringly.

Well now that the camera is cleaned off, I guess it's time to tackle the basement closets.

More Brotherly Comparisons

Hello again from the Stoeber Household where we're counting down the days until Spring.

Not much new to report on. Ryan is still doing well at school. Potty training is proving to be a struggle. I fear we started this process too early, but now there's no turning back. Patrick is really drooly, so more teeth must be on the way. He's really happy, and like his big brother, has turned into a fairly easy going child (though he's got a set of lungs on him!).

Other than sledding, we haven't gone many places or done many exciting things. So for this post, I decided to post some comp. pictures. Patrick is now 8 months old, he's 6-8 months in these pictures, as was Ryan.

1. Ryan or Patrick?

2. Ryan or Patrick?

Answers: 1 - Ryan, 2- Patrick. Though I used to think they looked alike, I now see a vast difference. Something about their bright eyes and pointy chins though has me sometimes seeing similarities. Patrick also uses the Bumbo chair to eat in (that Ryan is using in photo #1). Perhaps the fact that Ryan is in shorts and tee shirt tipped you off. Don't know when we'll be able to dress Patrick like that!

3. Same outfit comparison -Ryan or Patrick?

#4. Ryan or Patrick?

Answers: 3- Patrick, 4-Ryan Because of when they were born, the seasons of their clothes never really matched up. I have few pictures of them wearing the same outfit, this happens to be one of them. It was from Uncle Chris and Aunt Christy. I remember always thinking Ryan has good coloring, so I don't know if it's being on a white blanket or what, but here he looks pale and Patrick has the better skin tone. Ryan also, ahem, favor's Dean's hairline. On a side note, gotta love how we tucked Patrick's socks into his pants so he couldn't kick them off.

5. Tough guy look, Ryan or Patrick?

6. Ryan or Patrick?

Answer: 5-Ryan, 6-Patrick Yep, no similarities here. I realize it's tough to tell since it's an extreme close up of Paddy Daulton.

#7-Who's in the Jumparoo? Ryan or Patrick?

#8 Ryan or Patrick

Answer - 7-Patrick, 8-Ryan If you were reading above, the clue that may have tipped you off was the Patrick kicks off his socks (did you notice he was only wearing 1). Or maybe it was the fact that they Really don't look alike! Or again with the shorts/t-shirt combo. We recently pulled out the Jumparoo. It was something a neighbor who was moving had as a giveaway in front of her house. Ryan was at the older age of the usage chart in this photo (probably 9-10months). He prefered using the exersaucer, whereas Patrick might be our basketball player/highjumper as he prefers the Jumparoo. To this day, Ryan still likes the lights and music of both toys. Ahh the issues of Ryan Kennedy. That is a posting for another day.

Snow Day!

With January here and snow making an appearance, it was time to bust out the cute winter hats and gloves from Meemee and Papa Bernie. Ryan wore these to school one day.




When the weekend came, we bundled him up in snow gear and headed to the backyard to do some sledding and snowman building.

I thought I'd be polite and pull him up the hill while he sat in the sled. The hill in our backyard was just big enough to entertain Ryan to go down without scaring him, but it was also just enough to exhaust me after about 5 times making the trip - Ryan had to hike it up after that!

I think I can, I think I can . . .

Ahh, success!

4 seconds later the victory ride is over. So starts the trudge back up the mountain, I mean hill.

Check out our snowboy. Ryan named him Frosty. Gizmo later dined on his carrot nose.

Love Fest

When it comes to parenting, Dean and I are doing our best to make sure our sons become proud, responsible, happy members of society. I'm sure that other adjectives will come into play as they grow older too. I can't predict the future, but based on what I know I can say that Ryan will be a sensitive and loving soul. Patrick, well, you be the judge . . .


Ahh, showing love for Daddy. Don't let that sweet little face fool you!


Brotherly love, holding hands and singing songs.

Ryan sharing his knowledge of the world with Patrick.

And the love fest continues.

Now mom gets some love from her littlest man.

Or does she????

He loves me . . .

He loves me not!!! The little monster has a fistful of my hair, and Gizmo just looks on. So much for being my protector!

Cuddle time with Papa Bernie

Dean and I on our way to see the Sinatra show, " Come Fly With Me" it was fantastic!

More love for daddy

My boys!

Christmas 2011

Oooh, it did it to me again. I don't know what I did differently from my last post where I could type before my picture appeared, but I must not have done it this time. Ugh! For the past several years, Dean and I have gotten together with some of my high school friends on Christmas Eve. This year we all had babies within 2 weeks of each other. Kate (in the green vest) is the wife of my friend, Kevin. Their daughter, Annie, was born on June 23. My friend, Kelly (who has been my friend since I was 4), had Hannah on June 24. Her other daughter, Brittlyn (in the green shirt), was born 5 months before Ryan. Then I had Patrick on July 6. This was the first time all three babies got together. You can see by the way they are holding hands that they like each other!



After opening the first round of gifts on Christmas morning, my mom prepared a scrumptious brunch. Here's Mama Katie holding Patrick.

Daddy couldn't resist either. . .

We spent a good portion of Christmas at Uncle Doug and Aunt Julie's house. Ryan sat still long enough to pose with Mama Pat and Papa Joe.

We drove back to our house on the 26th to see if Santa stopped by while we were gone. We had our doubts, but St. Nick surprised us and left several things for Ryan and even a few for Patrick.

Patrick, happy as always. Doesn't seem bothered by the scratch mommy gave him while trying to wipe his nose.

Santa even brought Daddy a jersey of former Packer great, the late Reggie White.

As promised, here are the pictures from our visit to Santa. Ryan wasn't quite ready to sit with Santa on his own. Patrick, on the other hand, was none the wiser.

And this is the first photo since coming home from the hospital with Patrick of all 4 of us. Bass Pro Shop allows dogs, we should've brought Gizmo to make our family photo complete. Hopefully we can get one of all 5 of us before next Christmas!

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. The Stoeber Family certainly did. Wishing you love and laughter in 2012!

We haven't been up to much, other than spreading and sharing germs amongst ourselves! After Dean's had 2 colds, Ryan a flu and a cold, me a migraine & a little cold, & Patrick a cold/cough I think we're all safe. The only one immune in the family was Gizmo. Maybe we need to eat what she does - yeah right!


So when it came to make a trip to visit Santa, better late than never, right? Again we went to Bass Pro Shop at Gurnee Mills Mall. It was well worth the wait. The Santa there is truly magical and awe inspiring. I will try to scan and post those pictures soon. In the meantime here's Patrick waiting to see the Big Man.
Ryan waiting by the reindeer.

After we made our visit, we passed by the carousel. Ryan's never ridden, but we know how much he loved the merry-go-round at John Dixon Park in Dixon, so we figured we'd give it a go. HE LOVED IT!!!

We had a Groupon to use by the end of the year at the local bounce house place, so we invited our friends, the Bleims to join us. Here are 6 year old twins, Ryan and Ben, going down a slide.

Their big sisters, Beth and Katie went down another slide.

The two Ryans with the Crazy Coupe.

And here is the entire troop!