Our Family

New Game!

Natali has recently discovered that she can move her rocking chair anywhere she wants to. Then she likes to climb up and stand on it. I know it's not the safest thing in the world but she stays very entertained by it. Usually I am in the kitchen so I can see her in her room doing this. So I will say, "Natali sit down." And she will, but then when I am not looking again she stands up until I tell her to sit down. This will go on for at least a half an hour. Or until Dad gets home because then he puts the rocker up on the table where she can't reach it to stand on. And I added a back of the head shot to show that she still has her curls. They sure make doing her hair easy for me.

Coloring
Awhile ago Natali got a coloring book and some markers. She was more interested then on just sucking on the tip of the markers and tearing the pages in the book. About a week ago I thought I would get it out and try it again and see how she responded. She liked it! We are still working on coloring technique (as you can see from one of the pictures). But it's fun to watch her get excited (although in the last picture she looks very somber) and try coloring!

"Brushing" Teeth

I think the term brushing could be used very loosely in this case. We have been trying to do better at getting Natali to brush her teeth. Usually she will open her mouth and let me do a little, but then it immediately becomes a battle over who has control of the tooth brush. Despite my stubborness, she always ends up winning. Pick your battles, right? I keep thinking that if she chews and plays with it long enough that it's the same as if I brushed them. I guess we do the best we can.

Our lil' Pumpkin

Here is our own little pumpkin adorning her Halloween costume. Our ward had their fall party/trunk-or-treating Friday night. Natali had fun walking around but was clueless to the whole candy aspect of the night. But as parents, we made sure she got some candy...for Natali of course! She couldn't say trick-or-treat but she was saying "yum yummies." Maybe she did understand the candy part. A little Iowa fact: at least her in Des Moines you don't go trick-or-treating on Halloween, you go the night before and they call it Beggar's Night. I guess they do it for safety reasons.

Howell's Pumpkin Patch

Over the weekend Natali and I went to a pumpkin patch with some friends. Ben was at his second home, (DMU), studying for another test. Natali and I had a lot of fun though. We didn't end up picking any pumpkins but we played. This place had a huge play area for kids with all sorts of fun things to do, a corn kernnel sand box, bunnies to pet, mini tractor trikes to ride, slides, hay maze, and of course pumpkins. Natali could do some of it, but most of all whe loved being with kids and running around. Here are a few pictures to enjoy.

Bath Time!

Bath time has become a ritual that Natali looks forward to. During the day she even goes over to the tub and tries to get it. She has the whole splashing thing down, and Ben or I usually come out a little wet ourselves. She is starting to take the stacking cups in the bath and either drink out of them or fill them with water and then throw them out of the bath. Either way, it is not ideal, but she sure loves it!!!

Natali and Clayton Lowman

Stacie came over from Iowa City and we took the kids to a near by park. The park is on a lake and there is a beach. This was Natali's first exposure to sand, and she loved it. She didn't eat any, but there was plenty brought home in her shoes. It got a little hairy at the end of the day as both kids missed their afternoon naps so us mom's could talk and catch up. But it was well worth it.





Natali and Clayton hit it off as play buddies. I don't know that any love connection has been made yet, but we have time. I am sure there will be many more playdates to come. We a pair of cuties!!!

Pictures of Natali

I am still trying to get this blogg thing down. The Fluhman's have been doing good. Ben had his white coat ceremony last weekend and that really made things feel offical. Natali and I have been having fun being each others sidekick. We go to Costco a lot and just walk around. The sample ladies have started to recognize Natali (should be embarrassed). Things are good, we are staying busy. Here are just a few random shots of Natali.

Here is some proof that Natali has been walking around lately. She loves her new found freedom. It makes going to the park a lot more fun now that she can walk. It makes it a lot easier on Mom especially.



Natali loves to play with water bottles. She is already trying to shove the whole thing in her mouth. For those of you who have seen my hidden talen, mother like daughter.


Here is Natali after we dropped Dad off at school sitting in her rocking chair. Her new favorite thing is to climb onto the chair, stand up till I ask her sit down, and then get off. As long as she is having fun, right!



Here is a picture of Natali out side our apartment main entrance. She always likes to stop and touch the bricks.

Navuoo Trip

Before Ben started school, we wanted to get as much in as possible (since we were warned that once school started there would only be time for studying). Our first big trip was down to Navuoo with Jon and Amanda Wilson and his family. Here are a few pictures of the temple and us around the town. We even went down to Carthidge and saw the jail. We included a picture of Jon and Amanda with Natali since Natali prefers Jon over her mother or father, and Amanda keeps trying to convince people that Natali is theirs. Enjoy! Hopefully I can get this blogging thing down. The pictures are pretty self explanitory.