11-14-2014

It just felt like the right thing to do today!  I love to bake!  When the weather turns gloomy and cold something whispers to me that it's time to break out the recipes and go to town.  Thank you Pinterest!  Right?  Although, sometimes Pinterest overwhelms me with SO many great recipes to try.  Which one should I start with?  Today, after seeing my mound of Costco Honeycrisp apples, I decided to start here...  And since Jett has been home all week coughing his lungs out, I decided one of his favorites might help him feel better, spirit wise anyway...

Apple Crisp!

My house already smells amazing.  Hope it tastes just as great!

11-13-2014

Potty training... not my favorite thing in the world.  I've been avoiding it (kinda) and secretly hoping he'd just train himself.  I think I'm going to have to put SOME effort into this.  With the weather gloomy (not wanting to go outside anyway), I might as well stay in and advance the process a little.  He's been telling me when he goes in his diaper, we've gone several times in the toilet so it's basically time to tie it all together.  The main reason for avoiding this is the fact that he hasn't wanted to put on "big boy underpants."  Today, after changing him, I just slipped them on.  Yes, there was a fight and he got mad, but with a little distraction and convincing him to wear them for "just 5 more minutes," we've gone hours with them on and we've already made one successful trip to the bathroom.  I think this calls for a picture.

11-12-2014

Three out of four got strep last weekend.  As a result of strep, the ends of Radds fingers began to peel.  He noticed and did not like it.  He didn't like using his hands.  Every time he looked at them, he would exclaim, "my fingers are falling off."

10-31-2014

This years October/Halloween was on the low end of effort for me.  We didn't make it to a pumpkin patch, dress up and go to Gardner Village like in years past, nor did I do anything special with Halloween costume pictures.  The kids picked their own costumes and even those required very little effort on my part.  I was hoping to get Radd in his Race Car driver hat, racing around in his car, but even that didn't happen in the way that I had hoped.  Sometimes, it's about just getting through the month and not over doing it.  As for the evening of Trick or Treating, we went to Darin and Jill's and because the weather was unseasonably warm we were able to trick or treat for hours!  The kids had a great time!  That's all that really matters in the end.  That THEY enjoyed it!

 

10-25-2014

Murray Max U9 Boys Orange Team takes first place in their division!!!  It was quite the season!  It being Jett's first year of club soccer, the expectation was low.  So with each win after win, it was incredibly exciting.  As the season got closer to the end, we realized there was a chance to take first or second place, meaning we would move up a division.  That suddenly became the goal and it was within reach.  It came down to a few nail biters.  We pulled it off and the last game of the season was against the #2 team.  If we won or tied, we kept our first place position.  If we lost, we took 2nd place.  It started out looking like we were bound for 2nd place.  They came out intense and scored two goals right away.  Then a third and I quietly told myself to not show any sense of sadness, cause this was still amazing to be a brand new team and make it to the #2 spot.  Then with a bit of luck, on a corner kick, the other team, scrambling to avoid us scoring, kicked it in for us.  It was then 3-1.  I felt like maybe that would rattle them a little and we could play off of that.  The kids kept their heads up and played hard.  Their team, or should I say #99 was starting to walk, and looked tired.  I could see he put all his energy into the first 10 minutes but now was dead.  Hope started creeping back into my head.  And suddenly we scored!  It was now within reach... a tie kept us in first place!  One goal, it's all we needed.  Jett had an amazing kick at the goal and it hit the post.  Dang it.  A couple other close ones and then BAM, we did it... we scored and tied the game.  Then it was a matter of holding on for a few long minutes and that was it!  FIRST PLACE!

I being the party girl that I am, put together some "Sweet Success" treat bags, Orange Crush and ORANGE donuts!

  

9-14-2014

Radd is THREE!  Without any planning, I decided I needed to take some pictures of him now that he's THREE!  I asked Neils if he'd go with me to help me get a few.  We threw on some clothes and ran around the corner to Home Again near Gardner Village.  Dad posed him and told him what to do.  Picture perfect!

9-2-2014

The boys are a year older!  It was Jett's birthday yesterday and it's Radd's birthday today. 

After school and before running out the door for soccer practice, I insisted Jett go throw on a different shirt and meet me out back so I could take a few pictures of the boys together.  It makes for one crazy busy weekend, Labor Day and both their birthdays, but crazy is fun for me!  These boys really do LOVE each other!  It's sweet!

4-19-2013

My guy sure likes shoes these days!  Yesterday on Instagram I posted his little feet trying to put a pair of shoes on from the book I read to him.  He is obsessed with putting shoes on.  If he finds anyone's shoes lying around, you can be sure to find him sticking his feet in and trying to walk in them.  It's the best!  I love watching him try and balance as he sticks his feet into the big shoe and them dragging them across the floor to walk.

Today, rather than taking a picture using my Iphone, like I normally would in this case, I happened to be sitting at my computer which is where my Nikon sits.  I quickly grabbed it and in the moment was able to grab a couple of his obsession...  shoes!  This morning they are on his hands, tonight I guarantee he will be trying to put them on his feet!

4-13-2013

It's beginning... my little Sky is growing up and having what I would call teenage issues.  Today, while getting her ready, she didn't like anything in her closet.  She complained about there only being Matilda Jane clothes and she doesn't like Matilda Jane clothes.  I then out of frustration said, "Fine, you can start to buy your own clothes.  You can then pick out whatever it is YOU want to wear."  I know, I was being ridiculous!  I just hate thinking that she doesn't have the same taste in clothes and I already struggle with what to put her in.  Do I dress her in the cute little girl stuff or the more grown up stuff?  She's my oldest and so I haven't yet figured this out.  It's uncharted territory for me.  So after picking something out, I felt was pretty dang cute, I told her to put it on and ask dad what he thought.  Of course, dad gave her the thumbs up and tried telling her that she looked cute!  She sobbed while I braided her hair.  "I'm not cute," she said.  I told her when I was done I was going to take a picture of her and show her how cute she was.  This is what she did... out came the camera, and out came the fun, cute Sky I know and love.

4-11-2013

Today, I sat around and watched Radd play.  His hair glistened in the sunlight.  I thought to myself "is it time to cut it?"  I can't bring myself to do it.  I love his little shag.  But how long is too long?  I've seen little boys with shags and it gets so long they start to look like a girl.

I love this little guy to the moon and back!  When I snuggle him, I stare at his long eyelashes and his cute little freckle.  I play with his hair and brush it out of his eyes.  He's my little angel!

3-31-2013

Easter Sunday!  We spent it up at my parents house.  We went to church with them and then did the usual hang out, have an Easter egg hunt with the kids and then have a nice yummy dinner.  It was pretty casual this year.  Just happy to have avoided the stomach bug that everyone seems to be catching and we've had in previous weeks.

I always like to have a good family picture of us.  I always try for the cutest Easter outfits and want to at least get a picture of my hard work.  Right?  My bestie (Suzanne) came over to grab a little dinner with her girls, while the other half of her family sat at home sick with that stomach bug.  She was able to take that picture I insist on for me this year.  Normally, it's the trusted tri-pod.  Then, (pressing my luck cause my kids never want more pictures) I asked Sky to kiss Jett.  Jett squealed with embarrassment and insisted that the rest of the family turn around and not watch.  It was quite hilarious!  I love his reaction!
 

3-29-2013

This kid... he loves Oreo brownies!  That's all.

2-8-2013

Crazy Hair Day... when your youngest doesn't have a whole lot of hair, you cringe like me.  What can I even do to it to make it look crazy?  Well, this is how it turned out...

2-7-2103

Valentines Day is in a week.  I needed a cute picture of Jett to put on the back of his cards.  With the forecast showing snow tomorrow through the weekend, I realized at the last minute that I better hurry and get one.  I had Jett throw on a better shirt and go outside.  It was starting to get dark so we only had a minute or two.  I can't believe how much older he looks in the few pictures I took.  Eeeekkk.  This kid is turning 8 this year and going to be baptized.  I'm not sure I'm ready for this.

2-5-2013

Today was Brooke's first dance class.  I signed her up for a ballet class with her cousin, Macy.  These two could not have been more excited to go.  They practically twirled themselves into class.  Then after it was over, they jumped in the van with glee.  They were so excited to come home and show me what they learned.  I think this is going to be fun!  Before class, I made them freeze for a second and had them run outside for a couple pictures.  I know, I'm mean!

2-2-2013

And basketball has come to an end.  Jett was so much fun to watch.  He is super intense (no suprise) and did an awesome job!  I love going to his games and wish basketball would last all year.  No joke.  I really have fun watching him learn and he's still young enough I feel like I can see his thought process as he picks up on the fundamentals of the game.  Some pictures as it all came to an end.

2-1-2013

He'll be 17 months old tomorrow.  I can hardly believe it.  I have to say that I have spent every possible second and then some snuggling this boy of mine.  He's definitely a mama's boy and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Most mornings while Brooke is at school, I snuggle him as much as he'll let me and then we vacuum.  Hahaaaa... it's true.  Once he's done snuggling and eating a banana on my lap, he gets up and insists on going into the laundry room to get the vacuum.  The weather cleared up, was a little warmer than usual and the sky was clear.  I have to be careful not to mention going outside unless I mean it.  He loves to go outside!  I think we'll be out there non stop the second it hits 55 degrees.  So today as soon as I said, let's go outside, he was off.  I was able to snap a few of him just walking around in the non snowy areas in the back yard.  I love this kid.  I don't want him to get any bigger!!! 

1-29-2013

Unfortunately, the dance class I was signing Brooke up for was cancelled.  She was so excited, ran in from school and up to her room to put on her new dance clothes.  The weather outside is terrible and the director didn't want anyone trying to get to class in the snow.  So, we'll shoot for next week.  Crossing our fingers the sun is shining bright next week.  I don't think I'll bother her.  She loves wearing her new dance stuff!!!