So I kind of want to start blogging agin. Is there a happy balance of blogging where it isn't a chore and an added stress, but simply a nice place to put words, thoughts, feelings, memories and pictures? I doubt it, but I hope so.

Since I last blogged we have moved to Colorado, and truly love it (even though it is snowing as I type this, sigh). Jackson is a nonstop 3 year old. I love his imagination. Bennett is a temper tantrum throwing toddler...who is also SUPER snuggly still and loves to read. Really, multiple times a day I find him in a pile of books, just reading (and occasionally ripping- I think his favorite book 'Train Man' has more tape in it than paper at this point).

Hope you all are well. We have lots of changes coming in our lives and this seems as good a time as any to start back up and try to capture a few precious moments..

 

 

See ya!

Just notes.

Sorry this isn't a proper blog post, I just had a few 'I want to remember this' moments lately and needed somewhere to 'put it on paper'.

I love when Bennett is nursing in bed at night and reaches his hand out and grabs Andy's hand and holds his finger. Its so nice to have these moments with him. Jackson, Andy and I used to spend mornings in bed frequently and it was one of my favorite times of the day. Now by the time B is up we're already up and moving. Oh how times change.

Toddler vocabulary. Jackson has certain things that he insists have a name that is not what I call them. I don't know if I explained that right. For example. Dandelions he INSISTS they are 'Honey' and every time we see one he says, "Ohhhh! Honey!"

He also likes to drink directly from the sink faucet or any water fountain he sees. He's sure it's 'flow' as in "I want FLOW!"

That's all I've got. The weather has been fantastic. We spent Spring Break in Colorado house hunting- that was a very trying trip- but we did find a house. This past weekend was what I call our 'true initiation into parenthood' with our first stomach bug for Jackson and a cranky, feverish baby.

Hope you all are doing well!

Because I need to post something. . .

Eat your' heart' out pinterest.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Of course I have quite a few 'pins' of cute ideas for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, cards, decorations, and more. I'd actually even started a couple of projects and had a couple planned but the big day came and I had nada.

Once I realized it was actually V Day (sometime after my hubs left for work!). I pulled out the bag of store bought stuff and proceeded to make a card-box drop thing where I took a cute dollar bin heart box, cut a hole in the top, and then cut out 20 or so cardboard hearts from an old cereal box.

Of course, my two year old did not disappoint and was pretty entertained with it- thinking it was pretty cool. . .until we opened valentines from Yaya and Chloe who had kindly added X O and <3 glitter pieces to their card. . .which quickly ended up all over the carpet. Once I had every.little.piece. picked up I threw them in an empty bottle with corn syrup, soap, and water and made a new sensory bottle. Again Jackson was impressed (after he ripped up Benny's valentine- it was Mickey and I think he was just excited. Nothing a little tape can't fix.)

Moving onto lunch I glance at my cute heart cookie cutters (that I HAD to have) as I 'cook' up some delicious (not) chicken nuggets and apple slices. Jackson asks for more ketchup and feeling inspired, I make a heart out of ketchup dots- on a paper plate no less. We both genuinely admire my work. Naptime actually coincides for both boys for once. So what do I do? Take both of their artwork and attempt to make Valentine's cards out of it. Nothing pin-worthy but I'm really starting to buy into the whole, "It's the thought that counts."

Naptime ends and as I go in to wake Jackson up we cuddle a bit and I say, "Happy Valentine's Day, Jackson. I love you." wondering if he even has a clue as to what I'm talking about. Then he proclaims, "Mama you make ka-put (ketchup) heart." And I"m reminded why I do it. All of it. Why I pin all of these fantastic ideas, and why I fake it if everything doesn't go as planned. I haven't got everything together. Not even close.

Our day was rounded out with some store bought candy and cards and it was just. . .perfect.

And as for those heart shaped cookie cutters? There is always today. . . .

For Carrie

Happy Birthday and a little Santa

So yesterday was my birthday. I'm kinda the keep it quiet type. It isn't listed on facebook and I'm not likely to go around announcing it. I love that it's my own little secret, if you will. Anyway I turned 28 (I'm pretty sure) and I was thinking back to three years ago on my birthday. Andy and I had been 'trying' for a baby for over 6 months (which can feel like an eternity) and I had no idea what my future held. If you had told me on that day that three years from now I would have a beautiful family with two georgous blond haired, blue eyed little boys, I don't know if I would have believed you. And now I can't help but wonder what the next three years will bring.

My handsome little man was the first to tell me "Happy Birthday, Mama" this morning. I had a fantastic birthday doughnut- complete with a candle and rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" sand by my sweet husband. My mom and sister even came up to celebrate with us and stayed the night. But the highlight of my day came in the afternoon. I was trying on my bridesmaid dress for my best friend's wedding in April and as I came out of the bedroom Jackson looked at me with huge eyes and asked, "You a princess, Mama?", and, of course, it melted my heart. Later when I was taking it off he said I was taking off the 'princess' so I guess princess just equals dress, but still. . .

Here is a picture of my handsome little guys (from November though- these were pictures we took just before going to see Santa, so I'm totally going to put that random never-before-seen picture in this post too, ha!)

**Why yes, I am editing in Lightroom now! I have a long long way to go, and that's cool, but I REALLY feel like I need 'Lightroom for Dummies' or something equivilent. Got any tips?

What do you think...

...about this picture?

I kind of love it but my husband doesn't? Yes it's got some crazy blown out weird lighting. But I think that's part of what I love about it. Let me know. I need some yays or nays.