2016 videos

Crying on the carousel

Popping

Fun with the Jump-o-lene

Walter 18 Months

Walter has an easy smile and strong opinions.  He has a great laugh and enjoys following his sister's lead. He loves to use his eyebrows to make a point.

We were so happy when Walter got tubes in his ears.  We think he pretty consistently had some type of infection (doctor indicated Walter has "ear glue" which results in infection after infection).  Prior to the tubes, he didn't have much for words and its starting to pick them up now.  When he wants to, he can repeat a word near perfectly (said "Hannah" once) but enjoys just smiling at you instead of repeating a word when asked.  Surprisingly, he doesn't really say "No!" but certainly gets his point across vocally anyway.

More about Walter:

• Very much likes books and is very insistent when he wants one read to him (often over and over again), favorites include: I'm a Little Teapot, Brown Bear, Moo Baa La La La, Blue Hat Green Hat.
• Get really upset when the TV is off, climbs up on things to get the remote, points and yells "Pe-a" at the TV (Peppa Pig) until you at least turn on the TV with some music.
• Loves to laugh at his sister as well as make his sister laugh, Walter usually throws food and starts a shrieking match at dinner time to make Johanna laugh uncontrollably.
• Has an "I am going to help you OR ELSE" attitude, very much enjoys helping with vacuuming and putting dishes away and does a really good job for this age.
• Favorite toys include anything he can throw, anything that resembles a remote or phone, and the play kitchen.
• Will not take no for an answer when he wants you to do something; if you are sitting down and he wants you to get up, he will pull on your arms to get you up as well as put his hand under your bottom to pull you up (and in Mommy's case, pull off her blanket and push down the recliner foot stool). 
• Likes to play pee-a-boo and say "Hello!", enjoys putting his blanket over his head and walking around, of course, often walking into things.
• Has his special blankets that he especially needs for sleeping, he had one blanket and so we got a second one as a backup but now he insists on having BOTH blankets (total backfire).
• Is very interested in Guster the cat, likes to know where the cat is and tries to pet him (which often turns into unintentionally smacking the cat).
• Has started using more words like "Mo peez" with actions (more please), "Gu" with a gurgling G (Guster), "Mine!", "Anta" (Santa) and "Ho, Ho", "Melmo" (Elmo).
• Refers to any loving adult as "Mama", when Daddy leaves Walter yells "Mama, Mama!" - he is still very much a Daddy's boy but also refers to Mom and teachers as "Mama".
• Enjoys consistency and routine, when he sees Daddy or Grandma Karen at the hospital (while his class is out for a walk) he just stares at them, probably because they are "out of place", Grandma Karen once got Walter's entire class - except starring Walter - to smile and wave at her.
• Pacifier, pacifier, pacifier - he is definitely a  pacifier guy, they broke him of the habit at school but Mom and Dad aren't ready to take it away at home yet.

  

 

Christmas 2016

We started out the Christmas seasons with some cookie making.  At the Arnold Thanksgiving, we decorated cookies just like last year - love the aprons!

We also made some cookies of our own.  Tony specializes in cookie baking while Michelle specializing in decorating.  And we both had to specialize in Walter distraction this year - hopefully he can participate more next year.  And Johanna has really upped her game in the cookie decorating department - great Rudolph!

 

 

We were also able to get out in our new backyard to build a snowman and go sledding.  The hill beyond our house ends on the driveway of a neighbor's house and Johanna successfully rammed (hard) into that house but recovered quickly - probably because all the "big kids" were watching.  They all stopped when she got hurt and watched to make sure she was OK.  The hill does seem to be the gathering spot for the local kids who are very nice and invited Johanna to join their sledding train as well as invited her out the next day.

 

We went out to the Peosta Community Center again this year to visit Santa.  Johanna was shy, willing to go near Santa but not sit on his lap.  Walter wouldn't get near.  Johanna asked for a yo-yo.

The kids made letters for Santa that were picked up by an elf who left them new pajamas in return.

 

 

For Christmas, the big present for the kids (literally and figuratively) was a jump-o-lene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Trips 2016

 

Our vacation in July was taken over by house prep.  We worked every day, all day of our 5 day vacation plus the entire weekend.  On the bright side, I lost a few pounds and the end result of our new home was worth it!  In August we made it out to the Great Taste of the Midwest once again.  It was great to see old Madison friends especially Nick and Milena.  Also in August we made it up to Milwaukee for the first time in a long time to visit both Alyssa and Melissa.

 

In September, Michelle had a Denver work trip with a great group of folks and was able to make it out to Golden, CO once again.  We took a little hike and ended the night at a great taco place.  Poor Tony managing the kids alone, but Michelle took advantage of the quite time.

We also had a Hinderman reunion this year!  Unfortunately, Mark's family couldn't make it but it was great to see all the rest.  We enjoyed seeing Maggie's new awesome house as well as taking a trip out to the farm.  The adults and the kids went on a hay ride, we got to see the spot where we had written our names in the cement as kids (my nickname was Mikey), and the little ones enjoyed playing around the farm.

 

 

 

 

Halloween 2016

 Johanna dressed as chicken and Walter was a bumble bee.  Halloween was actually closing day on our new house but we were still able to see the parade at Mercy (even Grandpa Wayne made it).  And that evening, the kids went Trick-or-Treating with Alicia and Ben at Grandma and Grandpa Kluesners. 

 

Earlier in the month, we went to a pumpkin patch with Grandma and Grandpa Arnold.