Theodore's First Rice Cereal

OK ... so 5 months of 5 hours or less of sleep daily is tough when you are trying to work and keep up with two little boys. Allergies or not, it was time for Theodore to try "real" food, because the poor guy was always hungry.

The new consistency takes some getting used it

At least he didn't mind the spoon

Cousin Reunion and Introduction

We met two of my Meyers Cousins, Lindsay Meyers and Liz Meyers Yoder, at a park near Vanderbilt. We wanted to see each other since we were already in Nashville and before Liz & Patrick packed up and moved back to Texas. Liz's son, Oliver, and Theodore had never met and the gals had not seen Frederic since he was about a month old. It was much too short a visit, but it was great to see them again!



Oliver Yoder - 6 months ... what a cutie!


Liz and Theodore - 5 months


Marc, Theodore, Frederic, Oliver and Lindsay


Marc, Theodore, Frederic, Oliver and Lindsay


Marc, Theodore, Frederic, Oliver and Lindsay ... it only took three attempts

Theodore in his car seat


Oliver in his car seat

Springtime in Denver - 4 Seasons in 4 Days

We packed up the car, picked up the boys from school Wednesday afternoon and set out for Nashville, TN. We decided to drive for 4 or so hours and fly Frontier direct from Nashville to Denver instead of hopping through Charlotte on a small commuter plane and sitting in the airport for several hours. It was a pretty easy drive and we found a decent hotel to spend the night in before our 6 am flight on Thursday morning. We stayed at one of my long-time girlfriend's home. Eden Cohen let us have her apartment for the long weekend - it was a wonderful place to tuck into and we loved being so close to so many things. We didn't spend nearly enough time with all our friends, but we did get some quality time in - we'll just have to go back again soon!

The map showing we landed at DIA

Fred had the window seat

Frederic seeing all his friends at JAPA

Frederic and two of his best buds

Chase, Parker, Liam, Fred and Marc at BW3s

BW3s with the Wolfinger, Willis, Kleve and St-Hilaire Families

Fred visiting the Friendly Fish at JAPA

Fred with Ms Haley

Marc, Theodore and Frederic playing at Chez Eden

Parker, Liam, Fred and Marc at White Fence Farm

This was our very first trip to White Fence Farm in Lakewood

Theodore and Bryn hanging out - they were born 12 days apart

Julie, Liam and Parker enjoying the fritters

Liam and Fred at the table at White Fence Farm

Fred and his cheesy grin

We had to go by St Gregory's - Fred is hiding behind the pillow

It snowed the morning we left Denver - 4 seasons in 4 days!

Z-O-O Knoxville Zoo, Knoxville Zoo

This was the first trip the St-Hilaires made to the Knoxville Zoo and it will not be the last. It has a wonderful children's area - very hands on and lots of animals you can see up close. The Bloomin' Butterfly Gardens opens after the last freeze, so we'll be back soon to see that.

Exciting journey on I-81 ... We saw a TANK!

Black Bear Habitat

Kids Cove

Beaver Habitat in Kids Cove

Frederic has perfected the art of egg collecting

Bronze tortoise

Watching the three white rhinos

Watching the zebras - they look so close

Playing in the Elephant Crate

Easter Eve and Easter Sunday

Frederic's weekend was jam-packed with eggs, candy, Peeps, chocolate and hunting for Easter eggs. On Saturday morning, the family (plus Grandma minus Marc) went to the Bristol City Egg Hunt downtown. There were a good number of families there, but it was not an insane amount of people, another plus for SWVA. From the video you can see Frederic was much more excited about the ducks and I was excited about collecting eggs. After the hunt, we all went across the street to the Fire Station and looked at all the firetrucks, including a beautiful antique one. We made a pit stop at a wonderful place, Blackbird Bakery (they have the BEST doughnuts) and then went to the lunch buffett at the Shang Hai Restaurant on State Street. It was a fun day and Frederic was thrilled to find a Chinese restaurant with a fish tank.


Frederic met the fire safety dog


Frederic wasn't the only fan of the ducks, but definitely the Canes


Bristol City Easter Egg Hunt 2009

For Easter, Frederic found lots of eggs all around the house and opened his Easter basket. We went to church and for Children's church, Frederic announced he needed to use the potty. So the two of us motored from the very front of the church to find the little boys room. For Easter dinner, Grandma prepared a feast.

Looking for eggs around the house

Easter Basket

Children's Church

Mom / Grandma sitting down for dinner

Good Friday ... a school holiday

It's so nice for the boys to have Good Friday off - Frederic even has Monday off. This is one way SWVA is wonderfully different from Denver - you can wish people HAPPY EASTER without all the PC stuff and signs at businesses all over town proclaim, "He is Risen." Grandma Meyers is staying through Easter and we love having her! Frederic is getting so much attention - he'll definitely feel some withdrawal when she leaves next week. I've posted some pictures / video from his Easter party at school. His teachers and the parents at Sullins are amazing!

Mrs Oliver & Mrs Hewett's Pre3 Class in homemade hats

Pre3s and PreKs enjoying the Easter Party

Frederic giving Ainsley his pink jellybean

The pink jellybean

I wanted to post a couple noteworthy events in the past several weeks ... meant to start this sooner, but didn't.

March 5th - 8th: Trip to Denver for Founders Day and for a much needed visit. Theodore and I had an uneventful trip there and back from a travel perspective. We had a wonderful time staying with Parker, Julie, Liam & Bryn, meeting friends for lunch at On the Border, GDO and chats with Eden, Marianne, Jennifer, the Littlehorns, Mariann and Julie's parents. The trip was much too short, but I had a wonderful time ... can't wait to go back for DAP's Awards Luncheon in April!

Bryn and Theodore

Liam

Brina, Theodore, Mike and Aiden

Tuesday, March 17th - St Patrick's Day party at Frederic's school and the big boy chair Theodore loves to sit in.

Frederic at his St Patty's party ... cute Leprechaun cookies

Theodore at Spring Garden

Wednesday, March 18th: Grandma and Uncle Harry arrived from Florida - YEAH! It was Owen's 4th birthday :).

Frederic and Uncle Harry at the TRI airport

Saturday, March 21st: Frederic, Theodore, Mama, Grandma and Uncle Harry met the Mittags (Thomas, Gina, Sam and Emma) at the Hands On Museum in Johnson City TN. We walked down the street 1 1/2 blocks to try a new-ish German restaurant, Freiberg's, and it was very, very good! Gina and I usually take the kiddos to Chick-fil-A after the museum, so it was quite a treat to be able to have a beer with lunch ... and good beer at that.

Thomas, Ben and Frederic en route to Freiberg's

Wednesday, March 25th: Our first Special Treat Wednesday in SWVA / Lebanon VA. I brought Denise Manta's feta dip, a recipe Jennifer Manta gave me, John's wife. Everyone here LOVES John Manta and it was a fitting tribute ... it's darn good dip.

Saturday, March 28th: Drove to Knoxville TN for Founders Day with the Knoxville alumnae, Gamma Alpha-Univ of Tennessee chapter and Beth Searcy, Fraternity President, as the guest of honor. It was very different from Denver - two tables of alums and 20+ tables of collegians. It was a great event and am so glad I went. On the way back, Theodore and I were able to attend Suman Garg's baby shower at THE Indian restaurant in Tri-Cities. The food was fabulous and I had a great time.

Kristine Reed Maedel, Beta Xi-Michigan State, and Elizabeth (Beth) Bell Searcy, Epsilon Gamma-Virginia

Sunday, March 29th: After church (we attend State Street UMC) Frederic went up to the front to see Mr Greene, the church organist (he's also Mrs Greene's husband and Mrs Oliver's Dad ... two of the preschool teachers at Sullins). He enjoys being in the sanctuary after church - he's quite fond of having large spaces to commune in. He went up to the front, got on the stage (big kids did a skit earlier) and said the Pledge of Allegiance loud enough for Grandma to hear in the very back. I turned and started to walk back to Grandma and Theodore and thought Fred was with me ... turns out he was trying to climb up onto the lectern. You see, there's a microphone up there and that's where the pastor speaks, so why shouldn't it be where Fred speaks from too. Before I could get back to him ... and ... well ... help him get down, a woman from church brought him a chair to stand on at the lectern. He jumped right up onto the chair and when he stood up, it looked like he popped right up out of the top of the lectern. Without hesitation, he adjusted the microphone to his level (thankfully it was not on) and again recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Week of March 30th: Frederic's first spring break and he was able to spend it all with Grandma. They went all over town to Eatz on Moore Street, Doodles, Ellis Soda Shoppe & Grill, Sugar Hollow Park and the Bristol Public Library.