Monday, April 29, 2013

miscellany monday

So this is what blogging boils down to lately. A series of miscellaneous posts about this and that. It's okay with me though, that's a bit of what our life is these days anyway!

one..I think I am still recovering from our fabulous 4H trip last week. While I enjoyed my students, I am in much need of sleep!
two... My dear friends Katharine and Andy, and now Emma-Kate came to visit this weekend. It was so fun for the kids to meet! It melted my heart to see them roll around together on Friday night!

 three...Laurelei has a love/ hate relationship with t-ball at the moment. She loves the uniform, and accessories, and hates to actually play. Hmmm. It's a conundrum for us. While we dont want to start at the young age of 4 letting her quit something she is commited too, I also remind myself daily that she is only 4. What would you do? I am stuck on this one.
 four...There has been a whole lot of this recently. Abbott, sleeping, on my chest, and not in his bed. How do you break those habits? He is my little cuddler!
five...I am so ready for summer. I can't quite put into words what makes me long for school to be out so much this year! I thinik it is a multitude of things. All I know is that I am dreaming of those lazy days with two precious babies this summer!

miscellany monday at lowercase letters

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Easter 2013

Happy Spring! While I might have been crazy enough to believe that time would slow down this spring, I was sorely wrong. It has been full of lots of fun things, but also lots of not-so-fun-things. In the interest of reader enjoyment, as well as my sanity, I'll stick to the fun things.

So, Easter. We had a lovely Easter, even considering Matt's gall stones. I hate to make this short and sweet, but I desperately want to share some Easter-related pictures, even with just a tiny bit of time to type tonight! So here we go...

We hunted eggs,


decorated eggs,

found treats left by the Easter bunny,

and celebrated together as a family. Oh how I love them so!

Happy Spring!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Recent sweet things...

Awhile back we traveled to Michigan to meet one of my new favorite people, Emma-Kate, and see two of my other favorite people...
 Cuddling with my own growing-too-fast-not-so-little ones...

Playing school, reading, dancing, and generally just trying to keep up with this tiny fashionista...

Taking pictures for a great friend and stealing kisses from a brand new baby...

Saying yes to some exciting news from one of the best people I know...

And because life just wasn't crazy enough, meet Harriet Potter...

Life is full, happy Monday!

miscellany monday at lowercase letters

Saturday, March 9, 2013

snow days and siblings

Laurelei and Abbott have really taken to each other lately. They are at the age finally where Abbott can play along with one of Laurelei's schemes, which makes them both very happy! There is a lot of chasing, giggling, fighting over toys, long bath time, and a whole lot of mischief around our house these days, and I love it.

Today we had a much needed snow day, and the kids played their little hearts out. It was great to see them interacting with and loving on one another. It warms my heart!
I love them both so very much.

Friday, March 1, 2013

five for friday

Whew, it's been a while to say the least! I don't know what happened, but somewhere between winter illnesses, careers, grad school, side jobs, and crazy kids, we have lost all track of time. That doesn't mean that we aren't painfully aware of time flying by, and the kids growing up too fast as always. I keep wanting to come back and post, and then feeling so overwhelmed by how far behind I am! I'm going to take a little tip from Tiffany today and steal her five for friday, it feels like the best way to catch up on the most important (or maybe just my favorite) things from the past couple of months. Thanks for the inspiration today, Tiffany!

{one}
Many holidays have come and gone since my last post. I always love Valentine's day, spoiling my kids and ordering in food. We sent these little pictures out to our family, and I loved the way they turned out! What's not to love about these two little cuties on Valentine's Day?

{two}
We have been battling illness, after illness, after illness around here. That has made for lots of indoor playing and lounging around. Not to mention, I may or may not have severed a little one's finger in the door back in January, yikes! Poor Laurelei, she had her very first emergency trip to the hospital, and it was a scene! Luckily, we are all in a state of recupperating and very, very happy to be there. Fingers crossed (poor choice of words, maybe?), we'll stay there!

{three}
I did it again. I redid another room... Laurelei's! I can't take all the credit though, as I rarely can, because Matt came up with and built the most exciting part of the room. I will have to come back and share more details of this sweet space soon, but for now, here is a quick iphone picture of the space! Did I mention that I want to live in this room now? It's way cooler than mine!

{four}
Our babies are changing. As Laurelei continues down the path of 4 years old, she has mellowed out just a tad. She spends more time engaged in one activity. Whether it is drawing, coloring, or playing with her LeapPad, she gets engrossed in an activity like never before.
Abbott on the other hand, has developed a little attitude to go along with his 16 months! He loves food. He can't get enough of it! He has mastered a few words now, but by far I think 'MORE!' is the clearest. He plays his little heart out all day everyday. Lucky, this has come with some good solid sleeping through the night too, so yay for that!
Oh how I love these little ones so!

{five}
On a completely unrelated, or somewhat related I guess, note...I have a new favorite thing. Laurelei and Abbott is always saying or doing new things and I think, "I will rememeber this forever!" Um, wrong. I tell a few people, maybe write it down in some obscure place, and then forget about it eventually. Well, not anymore!! I finally got myself a 'One Line a Day' journal, and I am so excited to use it. You can use it for five years, and just keep adding too it. I think it will be a great memory keeper if I can remember to use it. I am really excited about it! It doesn't hurt that it's one of my favorite shades of blue, tiny, and leather bound. Win, win, win!

Happy Friday all!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Monday, December 31, 2012

Christmas

If I had one picture to sum up our Christmas this year, it would be this...
 Each year we begin our Christmas season nailing down plans. With two very close families and lots of extended relatives, we have so many loved ones we want to see and celebrate the season with. Often times it ends of being a compromise for Matt, me, or both of us, and we don't always get to see everyone. This year, for many reasons, we decided we would try and do it all! That meant 4 Christmases on Christmas Eve, and 3 Christmases on Christmas day. I know, right? I think that as much as we knew it was going to be too much for us all, the universe did too. And what was about to be our busiest Christmas ever just ended up being our sickiest Christmas to date.
Between Laurelei, Abbott, and myself, we spent 7 days with at least one high fever in the house. Both Laurelei and I were out of it on Christmas day. It has been a long time since I have had a fever of 103, and it knocked me out! I think the saddest part of the experience was when Laurelei decided she felt to poorly to open presents.
Despite all the yuck, we still had a great time. We cut back on our travels, and got to nap at home on Christmas day for the first time in years. I didn't even have to change out of my pj's all day, which was a total win!
The kids were so grateful and loved everything they opened. Laurelei is particularly fond of her new 'ipad' as she calls it. Really, it's just a Leap Pad, but having her very own tablet is like the coolest thing ever to her! It was money well spent.
 Abbott mostly enjoyed the food and chocolate. He was a sticky mess all day!
Matt and I are so blessed to have such wonderful families. We got to celebrate with all of our immediate family, and they were so helpful and understanding through all of the sickness! We are spoiled to say the least! Here is a peak at the fun we had with each of our families!
While we will certainly remember this Christmas for many not so great reasons, I am so thankful for another wonderful year with our families. And most importantly, another beautiful winter day to remember God's love for us!

Happy Christmas!