Walker knows how to pick up babes

This is Walker's newest skill to attract the ladies.

For Matt &Stef

There is no denying that Walker is active. I am constantly chasing him and telling him no to things. But with three or more kids here on a regular basis he may get away with a few things. This photo is definitely proof of that. 

On this day I was taking one baby up to bed, and another was using the bathroom. Although he is potty trained he isn't quite big enough to close our old doors, so the bathroom door got left open. When I came downstairs I asked where Walker had gone, but I couldn't see him and even worse I couldn't hear him. So I started searching for him and I quickly heard him laughing in the bathroom, I knew it was going to be something. When I first walked in he was sitting on the seat of the toilet pulling tissues out of the box and throwing them, but as soon as he saw me he stood up and as proud as could be yelled "ta da." I am just glad that I remembered to take a photo before cleaning him up and freaking out about him possibly drinking out of the toilet! 

Bob the Builder ... look out

Kelsey and I were working on hanging a photo in our dining room when I looked down and saw Walker playing with the tape measure. I didn't think much of it until he started copying what we were doing. Now, if we can only get him to watch me mow the grass ...

Elli and Walker

These two are the best of friends. They both keep me laughing everyday.

I missed the opportunity on the video and got the camera out late, but they are still pretty cute. Walker was pretending to feed Elli. 

Emo baby?

Here's what happens when you don't closely monitor your little guy ...

You'll find this hard to believe, but Walker likes to get into things. 

Today, he found a bunch of markers.

In particular, he found a BLACK marker.

And to be more specifc, he got the top of the black marker off and put in his mouth -- as babies are often known to do.

Here, ladies and gentlemen, is the aftermath:

Really, I wasn't supposed to that? Really? 

Pondering what he's done, no doubt.

Big day for an awesome kid

Liza turns 10 years old today. She got her name on the marquee at the gas station near her school. That's heady stuff for a little girl. Happy birthday, sweet girl!

Walker see, Walker do

Our boy is pretty good at mimicking things that he sees ...

Galatians 6:7

Mike's parents love to tell great stories about him as a little boy.

When they would go to visit people at their homes, Mike was notorious for going into the kitchen and pulling out all the pots and pans from the cupboards and playing with them. Many times, the adults would be in the living room talking and, the next thing they knew, Mike was in the kitchen and in the pots and pan.

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Galatians 6:7 as it applies to Mike Throne:

Went to visit Grammy Litter for her 90th birthday. Don't worry ... I found stuff to play with.

BUSTED!!

Don't worry, Daddy. I can get over those pesky items that we were in my way.

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN!

This is one happy girl

A quick post on how Liza was very pleasantly surprised 

that Santa brought her a kitchen playset for Christmas.

Walker's birthday part, Pt. 2

The great thing about being a kid is that you can have a birthday party -- not exactly on the day of your birth -- and then celebrate your birthday on YOUR BIRTHDAY!

Mommy made Walker birthday pancakes (sprinkles, chocolate chips and topped with whipped cream) and we all ate together. I took a big, long birthday nap ... and then I took Mom and Dad to Chipotlé for dinner.

Mommy needs help feeding herself.

Yay! Birthday pancakes!

Eatin' breakfast with my main dudes.

Walker's birthday party ...

Even though it was a week early, Walker had his 1st birthday party. Grandma and Papa came up from South Carolina and all my good friends -- and their parents -- came over for the party. Kelsey did a great job with the "Winter ONEderland" theme.

Opening our gifts ...

Getting a little help from my cousins on my cake ...

Santa hat from Grandma Throne just adds to the festivities.

Happy birthday banner!

Thanks, Aunt Erin, for the awesome cakes!

The first of many years of memories.

Papa and Grandma showed up to help us celebrate!

Pastor Jon had his hands full with all the family that came up
for the dedication of Walker Edward Throne -- a year in the making.

This tree needs something ....

Our boy is a bit, well, active ...

When we put the tree up, we didn't put any ornaments within Walker reach. He didn't like that and decided to do a little decorating of his own. We think you'll find he has both creativity and taste. 

A happy boy ...

Busted! 

Block ... check.
Stuffed dolphin ... check.
Stuffed bunny ... check.
This thing is coming together!

Silence: Genius at work

The finished product ...

The tree is up ...

One thing we do -- usually the weekend after Thanksgiving -- is put up the Christmas tree. Luckily for us, we have one more set of hands to help us this year.

And Walker's more than willing to help.

 If there's one thing Walker knows how to do ... it's help. (Well, it's his idea of helping.)

 Mommy and Walker taking a break.

 Grace flashes that big smile of hers.

 Liza got into the spirit with the Santa hat.

Liza adds the final touch to the tree.

Where has the time gone?

Okay so I am really not sure how it is almost Thanksgiving. We had so much stuff to blog about and now it is all old news, but we will have a recap of the last month or so to get everyone caught back up. 

Halloween was awesome. For Walker's first halloween he was a sock monkey, Grace was a farmer, and Liza was a bride. 

We thought we were going to have to send Walker out as Rocky or some other boxer for Halloween because he got a bug bite that caused his eye to swell shut. But we go that taken care, and he is just fine.

Grace has become the master of putting Walker to sleep. He really enjoys crawling up in her lap and letting him fall asleep on her. I must say it is pretty cute too. Liza continues to big a big help in taking care of Walker too. She loves to give him a bath and is pretty good at it. 

Walker has gone from crawling to full out running in a matter of weeks. He is pretty funny now and we definitely have our hands full. At least once or twice a day one of us will leave the room only to return and Walker will be standing on the couch, more specifically on the arm of the couch trying to reach the lamp. 

More to come on what has been happening in the Throne home, soon...really, we won't wait a month this time.

Walker and the lemon

It's sooooooooo sour, yet I can't stop eating it!

Parenting 101

If it's one thing we've learned as parents, it's how to corral the boy. Watch and learn, young parents … watch and learn.

Walker and the Apple Slush

We finally find out if Walker likes the Apple Slush ...

Apple Open House

The family and our big bag'o'apples.

Last weekend was the annual open house at Hirsch's Fruit Farm, a big annual event in Ross County. They have games and horse rides for the kids, as well as tours of the orchard and you can pick your own apples. So, on Sunday, we loaded up the kids and took them out for the fun. It was a great family day!

Walker seems to love picking apples.

Kelsey got into the act.

Liza carried the peck'o'apples that probably weighed as much as she does.

Dad had to get the ones up high in the tree.

More fun with Walker and Daddy

If you have to eat stuff that has the consistency of wallpaper paste and taste sorta like whatever it's supposed to be, you'd better be having fun while you do it.

And we do ...