UK Visitor

We were lucky this week to have a visitor from the UK... Ruth, one of my good friends from working in Memphis decided to take a "holiday" with us in the states. She flew into Dayton lat Tuesday, spent the day with us on Wednesday, even going to Frank's Little Gym classes! Thursday she came to school with me and was my -guest speaker- for the day talking to the kids about careers in science and of course answering a million questions about London/England/UK/Europe. Thursday evening we headed to Columbus so she could see where I grew up and meet my parents. We went to dinner at the Japanese Steakhouse {something she has NEVER heard of... and really loved} and packed up for our big weekend trip. Due to the wild/crazy fast-paced I did not take a ton of pictures like I would have liked... however I did get a picture of Ruth and Frank5 before we left for the airport Friday morning.

Frank was thinking... it is too early for this picture thing mommy

good picture of Ruth with a tired baby Frank

While We Were Away

While we were away being baby-free for the wedding weekend... Frank split his time between the Hayes and Hartge grandparents in Columbus. It was awesome of them to be able to watch out little man so we could attend Heather and Pm's wedding. Here are some pictures of Frank's visit at the Hayes Grandparents courtesy of Grandma Hayes.

Frank playing with Gus!

Frank making a mess with all they toys at the Hayes Grandparents...

Somersaults on the couch!

Walks in the rain... he apparently loved the umbrella.

Heather and Tom's Wedding

On Saturday we helped celebrate the Wedding of Heather and Tom Mooney! Heather and I are great friends from college {and she is a Blog follower}. It was such a blessing to be able to share their special day with them. Daddy Frank and I had an excellent -baby-free- evening hanging out with friends. We were unable to stay super late/get wild because daddy Frank was on-call Sunday morning... but we still had a great time. These pictures are proof that I do exist and not ALL pictures/post have to include baby Frank... haha! Congrats to Heather and Tom!!

The Beautiful wedding Party

Me with Lisa and Vanessa... College Friends!

Frank and I

Me and the bride!

Little Gym Class: Bring a Friend!

Wednesday was Bring a friend day to Frank's Little Gym class. Naturally we asked Wyatt and Elliott to join us. I think it is safe to say all the boys had an excellent time!

Gym class with Elliott

Climbing through the tunnel

Frank loves to hang... but when they try to get him to touch his toes... he goes stiff as a board... I feel like in his mind he is doing this perfectly... Wyatt is giving moral support

Playing with the balls

Yeah balls!

He loves to put the balls away... well in class at least... not at home!

Waiting patiently on the edge of the mat for "soap"

"Thank You" miss Kassandra

What a good little man with his classmates.

Weekend Visitors

Uncle TJ and Aunt April came to visit. Grandma Hayes took some pictures of Frank5 over the weekend and of course I had to post.

TJ, Frank5 and Aril at breakfast

Frank is ready for pancakes

Frank in the Farmer's field by my parents house

My grandma really wanted to take his picture in the corn field

What a big boy

Shop Till You Drop

While running errands with mommy and Grandma Hayes this weekend Frank just couldn't take it anymore! He passes out about an hour before his usual naptime... for a little boy who hates to sleep... this was the cutest thing ever!

Potty Training 101

So I was finally convinced to start potty training Frank5... After grandparents/ husband/ pediatrician/ neighbors and friends have told me it is time to start... I gave in and thought today was a good day to start trying especially with the help of Grandma Hayes. This afternoon we found Frank a little potty, some underwear {it was insanely hard to find any that would fit him... the smallest we could find are still a little big} and some M&M's as a reward and we were ready to go. My mom had my brother potty trained at 18 months... so I clearly looked to her for help and advice... she showed him his new potty and let him get comfortable with it and then we put him in some underpants and let the training begin. I was a nervous wreck... I thought he was going to pee/poo all over everything... but every 15 minutes we would sit him on the potty and then reward him with an M&M for his efforts... All and all I would say it was a good first attempt... A lot harder and nerve wrecking then I could ever imagine... for a mommy who prides herself in trying to go with the flow... this was a little hard for me... It is a good thing Frank is loving ONLY wearing underwear and my mom has the confidence of a professional potty trainer...  we will continue to stay the course... but I am not expecting to declare success anytime soon...

Passing time between potty breaks playing cars with grandpa

WEEEEEEEE! Frank loves matchbox cars.

Placing cars on the track

No better way to pass the time then cars

So handsome in his underwear.

Remote control cars in underpants

Looking like such a big boy

Happy Birthday Uncle Joe

Today is Uncle Joe's 16th Birthday!!! Here are 5 things you may not know about him... that you didn't learn last year.

1. Joe is pretty good at Wii sports... he is not video game crazy... but he can beat his brother practically every time.

2. He is playing football this year at St. Charles! We have been fortunate enough to go watch a few of his games and are excited to see more this season.

3. Being the only Hartge sibling born is Ohio... Joe is an OSU fan {even though Frank3 went to Michigan!} and has even entertained the idea of attending there for college (Though I am definitely trying to talk him into attending the BEST university in Ohio... Ohio University!)

4. When he was younger, Joe knocked out his front teeth on the Bishop Hartley bleachers at one of Aunt Molly's soccer games.

5. Joe is an excellent Uncle and brother. Both Frank's enjoy hanging out with him weather it is just hanging out around the house, white water rafting or playing golf. We would like to wish Joe a very Happy 16th Birthday!!!

****In other Birthday News... We would like to congratulate our friends Meghan and Ben Anderson {and their little boys Luke and Drew} on the arrival of Keira Therese Anderson on Friday September 18th! I am so excited for them and so very happy that it's a girl and I can buy PINK!!! So happy BIRTH-day to little Keira as well!

Football Friday Night

Friday night we drove to Columbus because Uncle TJ and Aunt April were in town for a wedding. Since they live in Texas we never get to see them and Frank was very excited to hang out with Uncle "Tee" and Aunt "A-poe". Since it is Friday night... that means High School football night! As we went to the Westerville Central {Grandma Hayes' High School} vs. Westerville South game. Frank had a great time playing with Uncle Tee, making new friends, and watching all he big kids play football. He enjoyed playing with Kenzie and Langley... I fund this picture from last year and cannot believe how much they have grown. We are hoping for a little football player some day!

Frank and Uncle TJ... matching thanks to Grandma

Frank and friends Langley and Kenzie Bishop

Frank with Kyleigh and Me holding Langley... If you cannot tell from this picture... Frank is quite the boob man

No better way to pass the time then CARS!

Frank loves his matchbox cars

Boys and their cars

All it takes to entertain kiddos is a box...

Of course... He LOVED this box which was supposed to be for collecting coats...

Frank in a Box

He was such a good boy! Yeah for Football Friday night!

Frank's Robe

Grammy Casey gave Frank this robe last year after christmas... and lately daddy has been putting it on him after bath time so he does not get -chilled-... Frank loves this robe... the pocket lights up... and he just seems to strut around like he is a cool dude... almost with the confidence and swagger of Hugh Heffner... It is amazing what a cozy fleece robe can do!

Our little cutie!

Walking around

I make this robe look good!

Didn't your mother ever tell you not to stand so close to the TV??? And of course he is watching Elmo's World... I cannot wait for this phase to pass...

A Weekend with Grandma and Molly

This past weekend Aunt Molly canme to hang out with us... and on Saturday Grandma Hartge joined us in Dayton as well. Saturday we went to uncle Joe's football game that was -luckily- in Dayton { but I of course forgot my camera} after nap time we went to the Greene to walk around with our little man and let him play in the fountain. As usual Frank was a perfect angel and we had a great time with our weekend visitors.

What a handsome little man

Checking out the water with Grandma Hartge

Making sure it is safe

Well this does look like fun!

What a handsome dude

Having so much fun

SPLASH!

Someone -barely- fell while running in the water... and since mommy, grandma and aunt Molly were there... he thought he would make a production out of it

But he was quickly all better!

So happy daddy could join us for ice cream!

My two Franks!