New obession

Forget "Toy Story" and "Cars"-Cale's latest obsession-TRAINS! He can't get enough of them. It's crazy. He has to take one in the car wherever we go and usually holds onto one until we put him down at night. He has a wooden train track at our house and mom and dad's and of course has lots of trains to play with and he is loving it! He always says "chugga chugga chugga" for the train noises and makes the trains, cars, and caboose talk to each other. It's the cutest thing! What else is Cale up to-hide and seek-he has 2 spots where he goes and hides each time at our house and it's hilarious. He loves when we chase him around and then try to find him. Some favorite phrases of his right now "Oh silly mommy", "the little engine that could"-when referring to one of his trains, "Oh girly, girlies"-when talking to Bailey and Addison, "Ride the boat"-one of the fun things that he and daddy do together, basically Jeff lays on the floor and Cale gets in between his legs and sits and pretends it's a boat, "Where'd Cale go", and so much more. Absolutely A-D-O-R-E this kiddo!

My husband

I don't think I say it enough, but I have been truly blessed with an amazing man and husband with Jeff. Of course our marriage is not perfect, but we continue to just learn so much about each other and continue to grow and work on life together. I by nature am a selfish person, and want things my way or for myself, but man it so does not work that way in a marriage! Although I fail quite regularly, as time goes on in our marriage, I think more and more about setting myself aside and loving my husband even in times when I don't want to. For example-I know that I am the type of person who just bottles things inside if they are bothering me and do not talk about them until one day things just explode. I have realized lately though that by doing that-I shut Jeff out, and I don't want to do that or hurt him by doing that. So it's just been on my heart lately to talk to him more if something is up or bothering me. It's not easy, but man, when we let each other into our hearts and minds, our marriage just seems to blossom. Marriage is not about each putting in 50%, it's about putting yourself aside and giving it 100% or more. Now-do I fail at this-you better believe it, but through the over 5 years we've been married, I am learning more just to slow down and love my husband better-can't say well-but hopefully someday I will get there. To Jeff-thanks for your love, patience, thoughtfulness, honesty, willingness to share your heart, sincerity, caring for me and our son, your love for God and desire to grow more in Him, and for just being you. I love you so much!

The three of us

I forgot to post some pictures from our house around the holidays. Cale loved helping daddy put up the Christmas tree and putting the ornaments on the tree. We only had 1 broken ornament the whole holiday. Cale was actually really good with the tree. We taught him "look with eyes" and he would go up to the Christmas tree and not touch it but say that-it was so cute!


Picture posing for the Christmas card

This facial expression is priceless!

Cale helping Daddy with the tree

Christmas celebrations

We got to see a lot of family this Christmas which was great! The Caubles were here to help celebrate Mal and Stef's graduation so we celebrate Christmas too. Then a few days before Christmas Grandma Benz came up and it was great seeing here. We spent Christmas eve with my family and then chilled with just the 3 of us Christmas morning and had dinner with the Koziatek family. Kristi, Jason, and Judah came into town too. It was so wonderful to get to spend some time with them after Christmas day! Here are some photos from the week.


Opening presents with the Caubles

Cale got a battery powered Percy train and loves it!

Hanging with Grandma Benz

We all got something special of grandpa's, mom and dad got his Bible with all his notes-so cool. Cale got a drum grandpa made, Jeff got some tools, and I got his pocket watch!

Chilling with "Gigi" as Cale calls her

Mr. Potato head from gaga and papa

And of course Rex too

Mom set up this adorable pretend grocery store for Cale in their basement, he had a blast shopping for food

Christmas day diner with all of the Koziateks

Celebrating Kristi's birthday on the 27th with cupcakes and candles

I do think we have the cutest nephew ever! Sweet Judah.

Judah opening his stocking at mom and dads with Jason and Kristi

Where to begin

Stefani graduating



Mallori holding her degree after walking across the stage

I love this shot of Mal and Cale walking on Mizzou's campus!



I can't believe it's been a month since I have posted anything! The holidays have been great, but crazy busy. Mal and Stef graduated on December 18th from college-Mal with a degree in industrial engineering from Mizzou and Stef with a degree in nursing from UMSL. We are so proud of them! That day was crazy as we tried to make it to both graduations-UMSL at 10am and Mizzou at 2pm. Thank God that we made it to both on time. It was so cool to be able to see my sister's graduate! The Caubles came in town for the weekend to celebrate. It was wonderful spending time with them also. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Thanksgiving 2010

All the Koziatek cousins


My mom's side of the family

Thanksgiving was fun this year. We celebrated with my side of the family the Saturday before Thanksgiving because my sister and Baby Judah were in town. Then on Thanksgiving day we went to Jeff's aunts house for a Thanksgiving meal and hanging out. It was great to see family on both sides. I love seeing my cousins every year because we usually only get together for Thanksgiving and it was so fun to watch all of Jeff's cousin's kid's and Cale run around this year. Cale had a blast with them!

The "Paci"

Jeff and I have been talking lately about Cale's beloved "paci" as he calls it or pacifier and how we wanted him not to use it by the time he was 2. So I thought since I had 4 days off over the holiday weekend that we would try to ween him of it then. Let's just say it's not been horribly bad, but has been a long weekend. We told him that he was a big boy and that if he slept without the paci that he would get some m&m's as a prize. The kid loves m&ms. On Thursday we started it with his nap. He did cry quite a bit, I think for like 20 minutes then he fell asleep. Then that night was rough getting him down, I think there was like 1 hour of crying, but then he calmed down and went to sleep. The rest of the weekend was alright-he would cry a little, but it's getting better. Then fast forward to today. For some reason he didn't nap on Saturday or Sunday, but today at my mom's house he took a 2 1/2 hour nap and then tonight I put him to bed and he went down without a fuss and I haven't heard anything since! Yay! I think we are finally getting there. So to the pacifier-thanks for helping my child sleep over the past almost 2 years, but we don't need you anymore. Cale is a big boy and all grown up!

Please stand by for an announcement from Cale :)

We're expecting again! Cale is going to be a big brother. Jeff and I are so excited about this new addition to our family! We are about eight weeks along and had our first doctor's visit on Thursday and got to see the baby. The baby's heart beat is strong and he or she already looks adorable. You could see that the hands and feet are starting to form. God is so amazing I think in how he intricately designs the baby in the mother's womb. The due date is June 26, 2011!

Swim Lessons

Our parents as teachers program had an awesome deal-6 swim lessons for $35. We thought we would try it out with Cale and so far he loves it! This week will be our 4th lesson. Jeff and I have been able to go together with him each time and that has been great for family time! Cale is kicking, floating on his back, learning to blow bubbles (although he still only likes to swallow the water instead of blow bubbles), and go under the water all the way! Here are a few pics from swimming lessons. I think we may just have a little fish on our hands next summer!


After he went under water.

Kicking and splashing mommy.

More splashing

Our awesome family!

Halloween

We had a laid back Halloween this year. Jeff worked and it was a long day, and so Cale and I just ended up hanging at home. I even turned off our porch light because I was just too worn out for trick or treaters! We did get a few pictures of Cale in his costume at my parents and we did go to a harvest party at our church where he sported his cute little giraffe! Here are some pics.

Gatlinburg and the Smokey Mountains

We got back yesterday from a great trip with my parents to the Smokey Mountains. We walked around downtown Gatlinburg, went on a few day trips into the Smokey Mountains, saw some bear and deer, saw beautiful landscape with mountains and waterfalls, went to the Ripley's Aquarium, and experienced Flapjacks Pancakes restaurant-very yummy pancakes. Here are some pictures from the week.


Love this shot of my boys! Cale loves lollipops!

The men taking pictures of each other taking pictures.

A cloudy day in the mountains.

God sure makes amazing creations!

More lollipop please!

Can't get enough!

Watching the ducks downtown Gatlinburg.



Every wooden bear Cale had to kiss and hug!

Playing with his new mountain animals with papa.

Eating Oreo Cakesters for dessert on Jeff's birthday!

More beauty.




An old town in Cade's Cove-they still make corn meal with this mill!

And what does Cale do in the house from the 1800s-he sits in the fireplace and plays in the dirt.

All smiles with daddy.

Playing with the water at Laurel Falls.





Love this shot of mom and dad.

Exploring with Gaga.

Ripley's Aquarium-totally awesome-Cale loved all the fish, sharks, and penguins-he was in heaven. All week long we heard "swimming water" for swimming in water.

Checking out the fish-you should have seen the smile on his face!

Awesome jellyfish display.

The coolest penguin exhibit ever-you could stand up and be right in the penguin exhibit.

Crawling through the penguin exhibit tunnel with dad.

Oh yes-we had to give the penguin a hug too.

Cale and mommy got to pet the sting rays-it was awesome!