Hard to believe February is right around the corner, as this winter has been so mild. Only one or two snows worth true shoveling and just  few days of sub 10 degree weather.  But the one part of winter that hasn’t missed us is the constant cold/ cough that has settled in.  Hard to know where one virus ends and the next begins.  But overall we are all well- Jude is running and climbing and trying to fugure out how to jump.  He’s adding new words every day,  some more intelligible than others.  He’s got some funny “Jude words” going, though.  For a few months now, he says “da-dee-da” for “bye-bye”.  It has the perfect intonation one would use when saying goodbye, but sounds nothing like it.   Not sure why, as he can make the “b” sound.  But it’s cute, and will be gone before we know it, for sure.  Jude also often calls Matt and I both “mama”.  I think it’s very sweet, but this too seems to be coming to an end, as I hear him saying “bapa” or “papa” more and more.   Levi’s busy mind has been occupied with dinosaurs and Legos this winter and eats up every minute of time that he’s read to. Well, speaking of Levi, he’s awake and Jude will be too, soon, so I leave you with a few photos from the past month+.

Well,  Christmas cards are not happening this year. I can’t figure out a time to sit long enough to address dozens of letters, as we’ve been awfully occupied with life (by which I mean trying to keep Jude from eating too much cat food or get himself into other kinds of trouble) so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all!  We’ve enjoyed this past year with our two growing boys and are very much looking forward to the excitement and change 2012 will bring, as Levi starts kindergarten and Jude acquires language and learns to run- should be interesting!  Here are some photos from the past few months in our lives. We hope for you a bright and joyful holiday season!

Love, the Nissley Eberly’s

great day to be batman

fitting costume for the boy who loves to say "duckling"

Hans and Jude

sunny visit to Shady Side

Jude and Zoe, reunited and it feels so good

holiday trains at Olbrich

Got to watch a 100 year old house move to our friend's farm.

Christmas tree hunting

post-turkey daze

thanksgiving cooks

Mostly posting to try out the wordpress iPhone app… Thought this was a cute photo.

Well, it’s said too often, but time flies. Jude turned one over a week ago and is well on his way to toddler-hood. At one, Jude loves climbing the stairs and the ladder to Levi’s bunk bed, turning light switches on and off, playing drums (especially the giant one at the children’s museum), any type of ball, being outdoors, and any kind of animal. Jude lets us know when he wants something, often with screeching until we figure it out, and is starting to say a few words-”hi”, “no”, “mama”, “kitty” and “doggy” are the ones we think we hear. Doggy has become his word for any animal with four legs, except kitties. Jude is growing well, but isn’t a big kid. He’s about average height and bit under average weight at 12 months. Jude is very active, a skilled crawler, and every day a bit more adventurous with taking steps. He is always interested in what Levi is doing and in general a very happy and social kid. Happy Birthday, Jude!!

And a few photos from the past 2 months

popcicle!!

stowawys to pittsburgh

July 4th sparklers

last playdate with H for quite a while

Levi getting a push

Breakfast with Grandparents at Lazy Janes

Jude, wearing the vintage "Dr. Graber really delivers" shirt

Birthday bike, second time around

June was a busy travel month for the Nissley/ Eberly’s.  We enjoyed the long-anticipated train trip with the Eberly clan out to Flagstaff, AZ for TC (Matt’s cousin) and Carrie’s wedding.  Beautiful wedding, great city, and pretty awesome sight-seeing adventures as well.  We had a two day layover in Madison followed by the every-other-year Nissley destination reunion.  This year we were in a big house near lake Michigan with an indoor pool between South Haven and Saugatuk, MI.  Fun times with family and lots and lots of good food.   And also a few pics of some Madison happenings in the mix.

boys in their "locally grown" t-shirts (thanks, Kristen!)

Memorial Day swim at Tuttle Lake (cold, but not too chilly for Levi).

lovin' the baby swing

seeing double

Rocket launching project at Henry's b-day party

Dinnertime on the train (pretty good food, too).

Fun on the train

View from our rental house in Flagstaff, AZ

Slide rock state park

Bram at Slide Rock

Hike at Sunset Crater

Sunset Crater Volcano

all dressed up and ready for TC and Carrie's wedding

Levi and Elise

hat amost at big as the canyon

not as scary as it looks...

photo to prove to jude that he was at the grand canyon when he was a baby

pool fun with papa

Levi helping grandma with a braided rug

conversations around the fire pit

at the women's lunch out in Saugatuk

beach bums

cousins table. Levi can mix it up with his cousins, dispite the 6 year gap to the next youngest cousin.

Matt, Levi and some cousins are aboard this1800's sailing vessel (replica)

Jude and Amos

We’ve been especially poor at taking photos the past couple of months… not a whole lot going on other than makin’ it through the late winter/ early spring Wiscsonsin weather. And boy, has it been lovely. On this snowy 30 something degree day in Mid-April, we’re very much looking forward to some nicer weather!! Okay enough complaining about the weather. Here are a few photos:

Jude is starting to enjoy some foods- avocado, sweet potato and pear are the favorites so far.

So close to crawling... but not quite

First brotherly bath. I don't think we'll be able to go back to solo baths- they both loved it!

At our house, February brought several colds, a couple of snowstorms, and a little political activity:

Happy Jude at 5 months- loves to smile and work any crowd these days

Levi and Jude ready to get out on the ice at Teney Park

drooly and rosy-cheeked, but no teeth yet...

February blizzard

Mountains of snow

Out for a stroll

Inside the state Capitol to register opposition to Walker's budget bill, a proposal which gives WAY too much power to a couple of rich white who say that unions (which represent thousands and thousands of working people) have too much power. AND there is the fact that this bill allows this Governor to slash up Medicaid without further public input. Medicaid provides health insurance and support programs to seniors, children and adults with disabilities, and working families in Wisconsin. (okay, stepping down from soapbox, now)

lots of people out to show their support for teachers and other important issues at stake

Firefighters showing Solidarity

It’s been quite a month here (and isn’t over yet)… Wonder what March will bring.