The Magney Family

Coleson's 3rd Birthday

2012-01-26T19:50:00.001-08:00

Our sweet little Coleson celebrated his third birthday today. We are so very blessed to have him as a part of our family. He is a sweet, loving boy who regularly gives me huge hugs and kisses. He loves to pretend that he is an animal, and he is fascinated with dinosaurs and dragons. He asked for a baby panda for his birthday, a REAL one, but settled for a stuffed one and some panda toys instead. He is starting to show his defiant side and has a bit of a temper, but overall he is still the good-natured boy he has always been. He loves to snuggle and he watches everything his big brother does so closely. He has brought so much joy to us. Happy Birthday, Coleson, we love you so much!

If you're interested, here he was the day he was born, and here is his birth story.

November 30, 2011

2011-11-30T21:29:00.001-08:00

NaBloPoMo has come to an end. I didn't post every day this month, but I decided about half way through that I was ok with that. Considering I have posted maybe once a month in the last year or so, I figured missing a few days here or there this month was still a vast improvement.

As a conclusion to this month of thanksgiving, I thought I would list, as I have seen on many blogs lately, a few of the things for which I am thankful.

::My wonderful family, of course, and the new baby we are about to welcome.

::The amazing group of women that I get to call my friends.

::My friends' children that are growing into great people too, and who bless my children with their friendship.

::The home we settle into more every year and the traditions that we are starting to develop here as a family.

::The opportunity to be able to stay at home to raise my boys and create a loving and warm home for them and my husband.

::Knitting and other crafty pursuits that offer me a chance to be creative and productive.

:: Finally finding a church that we feel is right for us and our family.

::And so many more things - more than I can even name and list here. I am so blessed.

November 29, 2011

2011-11-29T19:55:00.001-08:00

Over Thanksgiving weekend my step-brother and his wife were in town with their four month old baby. We spent most of Thanksgiving Day with them, and got a glimpse into how they boys will act with a small baby around. I knew they liked babies, and overall they acted very much how I thought they would.

Landon was a huge help, and wanted to hold the baby a lot. He understood a lot about how he needed to support the baby's head and hold onto him so he couldn't slip away.

Coleson had mixed feelings about the whole thing, and would ask to hold the baby only to push him out of his lap about 20 seconds later. Coleson was very concerned every time the baby cried though, and spent a lot of time taking him various toys.

It was sweet to see them with the baby and watch them give him kisses and gentle pats.

This pretty much sums up how I really expect it to be though, with both of them right there in the middle of the action. I have no doubt that our baby will be very loved and showered with attention from his big brothers.

November 27, 2011

2011-11-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

I should have posted earlier, before I spent an hour browsing on Amazon for various Christmas presents. I found some good things, though, and a few things that I will get a little closer to Christmas and have them shipped directly to the recipients. But, since I spent so long playing on the internet it's time for bed now and not time to piece together a nice post. So, maybe I will get those pictures from the weekend uploaded tomorrow and put together a real post. Goodnight!

November 26, 2011

2011-11-26T22:32:00.000-08:00

Right now, I am...

:: enjoying a quiet house because Tyson is out with some friends and the boys are sleeping.

:: feeling like I should probably get ready for bed, but also feeling like it sure would be nice to spend some time reading.

:: holding off on starting a new knitting project until I get a few other projects out of the way.

:: thinking about what I need to do in order to celebrate Christmas in less than a month (!!!).

:: grateful for time spent with old friends this afternoon, seeing their children and catching up on their lives these days.

:: anticipating going to church in the morning and then decorating the Christmas tree with the boys.

:: itching to do some holiday baking.

:: wishing I could be out having a few beers with my husband.

:: wondering which craft project I should tackle next.

:: hoping to enjoy the last day of our long, lovely holiday weekend tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! There is so much to be thankful for, but I am especially thankful for my family, wonderful friends, our home, and the life we are living. We have it so amazingly good, and for that I am thankful everyday. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

November 23, 2011

2011-11-23T19:40:00.000-08:00

I find some days that my patience is gone before the day even gets going. The worst part is that I usually don't know exactly why. Sure, the kids are bickering, the dog is begging for a walk, there is a pile of dishes in the sink, and I need more coffee, but none of those things is usually what is really bugging me. I try to take my vitamins, get enough sleep, spend time with good friends, and do things I enjoy, all of which help so much. But sometimes it just doesn't help enough. The last couple days have been like that for me. I feel quiet and withdrawn. I always come out of this funk after a few days, and feel normal again, but for those few days I generally spend a lot of time contemplating things I want and need to change in my life. Sometimes the changes take place, most often they don't. I always wonder what I should be doing so that I don't feel like this. But then again, maybe it's what I need sometimes. Time to look inward and withdraw a bit.

Largely, I hate the way I feel so low on patience with these little guys during those few days.

Because they really are sweet and they really are just little boys. They are trying to feel their way around in the world so much more than I am, and they actually handle it with a lot more grace than I do. I suppose I have a lot to learn from them, and the foremost lesson is, most often, patience. More, and more, and more patience. Patience for their strong emotions, patience for their slow steps, patience for their constant questions, and patience when they need to snuggle and I need to make dinner/wash the dishes/fold laundry/be somewhere on time for once.

But goodness, it's hard to see that most of the time. Maybe that's what these days are about when I feel so off. Maybe they are about my struggle to let go of me and be even more for them when they need it. Interesting thought. Perhaps I will put it to the test tomorrow and see if my patience returns a bit, because it would be nice to have it back for the long holiday weekend.

November 21, 2011

2011-11-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

"Don't complain." Those are the words I read today when I really needed them. They were on another blog, talking about the same thing I had been complaining about far too much lately - being pregnant.

With my other two boys, I loved being pregnant. I felt good, I loved everything about it. People would ask me how I felt and I always thought it was such a silly question - of course I felt great! I was pregnant! But with this baby, I don't always feel so great. I was sick for almost the whole first half. Since then I have been tired constantly and generally don't feel well most of the time. So it's been easy to complain because it's been easy to focus on the things that aren't so great - they are on my mind much of the time.

But today as I was feeling really bad for myself and starting to wish away this pregnancy, I read those words. "Don't complain." And they are so right. There may be much to complain about, but there is far more to be thankful about. Inside me is growing new life, a new human. He is already his own little person in there and he is such a miracle. All babies are. I am so blessed to be joining in this creation and this state is so, so temporary. This is likely the last time I will be pregnant, and I need to make sure I am not wishing it away and complaining about it. Because really, it's a wonderful place to be!

November 20, 2011

2011-11-20T19:48:00.000-08:00

Last December, we started thinking about getting a dog. We had family in town for the holidays that brought their dogs, and our boys loved them. They liked to chase them, pet them, be chased by them, and have them lick their hands and faces.

Maybe, we thought, our boys needed their own dog. So I began pouring over the animal shelter websites and Craigslist for the perfect family dog. I made a few calls, but nothing seemed quite right.

Then one evening, I happened across a Craigslist posting for Jasper. The post even said he would be a perfect dog for a family with a stay-at-home mom and little kids. I called, chatted to the owner to see if the dog met our criteria, and we made plans to go meet him and see if he would fit in well with our family.

We spent maybe 15 minutes with him before we knew he would be perfect. We told the other family we would think about it and call them, but when we climbed in the car and looked at each other we knew we had to have him. I ran back up to the house and told them we would be there to get him in the morning.

And he really has been the perfect dog for us. We marvel all the time that we got so lucky to find a wonderful dog like Jasper. I can't believe another family willingly gave him up, but I suppose they had their reasons.

He is lovingly loyal to us, and has everlasting patience with the boys. He is so well-behaved I can't believe it sometimes. And he is young, so we will enjoy him for many more years to come.

My boys definitely got a great dog to grow up with. Every boy needs a dog, right?

Happy Fifth Birthday, Landon!

2011-11-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

Landon turned five today. It was a day filled with family, friends, and cake.

Oh, and of course, new toys.

My sweet boy is five. It's been five great years of getting to know this amazing boy who is quickly growing into such a fantastic person. He is smart, funny, and so curious. He can be wildly intense, and it's been fascinating to watch him learn to harness that intensity into his passions. He loves video games and super heros, cars and airplanes, and all things physical. He enjoys preschool and can't wait to be in kindergarten next year. He is my first baby, and I am so lucky to get to be his mama. Happy Birthday, Landon!

November 18, 2011

2011-11-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

I took some cute pictures today of the boys playing in the snow, but now I can't find the cable to download them from the camera so that will have to be another post.

Tomorrow is Landon's birthday, and he is so excited. He is turning five, which seems like such a big deal. He is no longer a toddler, or a preschooler. He is a kid. He will start kindergarten next fall, and I feel a little silly calling him my baby these days. He is just getting so big. I am excited for him, and for us, but it's a little bittersweet too.

All evening I've been watching the clock, like I do every year, thinking about the events that took place this night five years ago. Right now we would be at the grocery store picking up Thanksgiving food that my mom ended up cooking us because our baby was four days old and there was no way I was doing it. When we got home from the store my water broke, two weeks early, and I went into labor less that thirty minutes after that. It doesn't seem like it was five years ago. I think I will always remember those hours of labor and birth my whole life.

So, happy birthday-eve, Landon. We have quite the weekend of celebration planned!

November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T22:32:00.001-08:00

Tonight had many of the things I love about wintry evenings.

A snowy, dark walk with the dog. Take-out Thai food with Tyson after the boys are asleep. Snuggling up to watch three episodes of our latest TV show on Netflix. Checking to make sure the boys are tucked in under their down comforters. Finishing a knitting project and starting another.

These long, dark evenings make me want to curl up under a blanket, drink hot tea, and have more evenings just like this one.

November 15, 2011

2011-11-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

I left for Seattle for the weekend and totally got out of the blogging habit. Oops. But I am back now, and I plan to remember to post from now on.

My friends and I had a lovely weekend away, even though we did have a bit of an adventure with the pass getting closed on us. There was lots of driving, but there was also lots of fun shopping, good conversation, giggling, and knitting.

The boys didn't miss me too much, and Tyson assures me they had a great time. All-in-all,

I think it was a success!

November 10, 2011

2011-11-10T20:16:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, my friends and I head to Seattle for the weekend. I am looking forward to conversations not interrupted by one of our collective ten children, a long car ride full of good snacks and music, sleeping without anyone trying to crawl in bed to snuggle, sharing good food, and taking the time to browse stores only available in a big city. I think it will be wonderful, and I'm also starting to think a weekend won't be long enough!

November 9, 2011

2011-11-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

Today I . . .

. . . dyed yarn with Kool-Aid.

. . . ate the last chocolate chip cookie.

. . . tried a new recipe for dinner, and it turned out well.

. . . spent a lot of time with friends.

. . . snuggled my boys as they fell asleep.

. . . knit a lot.

. . . had a very nice day.

November 8, 2011

2011-11-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

When you've been up since 4 a.m. for the third day in a row, "healthy" chocolate chip cookies (made with almond flour and honey) are completely acceptable as a mid-morning snack.

November 7, 2011

2011-11-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Lately we have enjoyed going to the Finch Arboretum. I had never been there until a few months ago, and I didn't realize what I was missing!

The first time we ever went, I think the boys would have stayed all day. They love that there is a creek that runs through the park and trees they can climb.

We never make it farther than a few hundred yards from the parking lot, and with 65 acres to explore, I know we haven't seen but a fraction of it. I think it will be a favorite place for our family for many years to come.

November 6, 2011

2011-11-06T13:43:00.001-08:00

Tyson has been gone the last few days visiting a family friend and every time he is out of town, even just for one night, I wonder how single mothers do it. We all miss him when he is gone and our family rhythm gets disrupted. I have come to realize that he helps me restore my patience at the end of the day by breathing fresh perspective onto things. I find it very hard to recharge without him here. I have also come to realize that my boys need some rough-and-tumble play with their daddy that I am just not capable of duplicating, no matter how I try. I think we are all itching to have him back this evening and get back to our normal routines.

November 5, 2011

2011-11-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Today we were driving home from spending the night at my mom's house. The boys had watched the Disney movie Aristocats, and we were talking about why the butler wanted to get rid of the cats. I told them it was because he thought that getting the money from the old lady was so important. Landon said, "But money isn't the most important thing, is it, Mom?" I told him no, that other things were much more important. I asked what he thought some of those things might be. He answered without hesitation, "Kids. Kids are more important than money." I added that all our friends and family were more important than money. I'm so glad that they know these things.

November 3, 2011

2011-11-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

Today, Tyson left at 5 a.m. to go out of town until Sunday.

This morning I watched Gretchen's sweet baby James for a couple hours because her usual babysitter was sick. The boys were fantastic with him.

After he was gone, the boys and I walked the dog in the middle of the day. I usually walk him alone, after dinner.

The walk caused me to miss my midwife appointment and we had to reschedule it for after dinner. We rarely schedule things for after dinner because they boys usually go to bed right after dinner.

On the walk, Coleson fell asleep in the stroller and napped for the first time in weeks and weeks.

When he woke up, I did yard work, which is usually Tyson's responsibility. My pregnant body resented it a bit.

After dinner, and the subsequent rescheduled midwife appointment, I was responsible for putting the boys to bed. That's something else Tyson usually does. I fell asleep with them for a while.

Everything about today was a little off.

Not all of it was bad, but it made for a strange day.

November 2, 2011

2011-11-02T12:57:00.001-07:00

One of the boys' favorite things to do is go four wheeling. Luckily, we have two sets of grandparents with four wheelers who don't mind sharing with us. And one of those sets also has a lovely lake cabin at which to enjoy them. A few weeks ago, we spent a wonderful weekend at the lake and the boys got in lots of four wheeling time. I got in a lot of knitting, but that can be it's own post. My dad and step-mom took the boys out quite a bit on those four wheelers, and they had a fantastic time!

And when returning from a morning ride, what's better than hot chocolate with marshmallows?

Not much. Not much, at all.

November 1, 2011 - NaBloPoMo

2011-11-01T07:47:00.001-07:00

I have decided to do NaBloPoMo again this year, as I seem to enjoy it every year and it sure is fun to look back on my old entries. Courtney encouraged me to do it, so here we are!

Yesterday was Halloween, although the celebration started for us on Friday when Tyson's company hosted a trick-or-treat party in their office. The boys love visiting daddy's work, and the fact that they got candy this time too was a big hit.

Each of the boys also got to have pajama day at school to celebrate Halloween. They both wanted to wear their costumes instead, but were easily convinced to wear their pajamas in order to get to go to the party at school with their friends.

Last night we went trick-or-treating with our friends, followed with a little more in our own neighborhood. Captain America and the dinosaur (sweet costume made by my mom!) had a great time!

After all the festivities were over last night, they boys dumped their candy out on the table, chose their seven favorite pieces (one piece a day for a week), and packaged the rest up to leave out for the candy fairy. She visits our house every year on Halloween and exchanges candy for a toy or game. The boys love it, and they are always excited to see what she brings!

They fell asleep almost instantly after a late, fun night and this morning they awoke to surprises from the candy fairy. Landon got a new Wii game and Coleson got a construction trucks set. Everyone was happy, and now instead of a huge bag of candy to fight over every hour for a month, we have one very small bowl and a piece of candy to eat every day at quiet time for a week. Much nicer.

All-in-all, a successful Halloween! And now the holidays are upon us. Oh my.

October 22, 2011

2011-10-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

After spending a good chunk of yesterday evening backing up all our pictures onto our external hard drive, and deleting them off my laptop to make room for more, I have a completely irrational fear that they are gone forever. I have no reason to believe they are not all safe on the hard drive, waiting for me to access them whenever I choose, especially since I triple checked that they all survived the move. But, moving things like that from one electronic home to another kind of make me nervous. I mean, what if I lost ALL OUR PICTURES from the time Landon was a baby until now? Nerve wracking, I tell you. Luckily, when I do go to access them, I find sweet gems like these from just a couple months ago that are sitting there waiting for me. Thank goodness.

October 21, 2011

2011-10-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hello, blog. It's been a long time. I have been thinking a lot lately about blogging and how to be "good" at it. I want to have one of those lovely blogs where there are great pictures and moving prose (that possibly eventually earns me a book contract, you know), but I just don't know if I can pull that off and the expectation stops me from writing anything at all. But, I have decided to do NaBloPoMo again this year, and I really would like, at least for the next month or so, to have this be a neat space with decent pictures and maybe something vaguely intelligent to say. So, here we go. I am spending the evening making room on my hard drive to upload a couple hundred pictures from the last few months and browsing some of my favorite blogs for inspiration. Maybe this time I will stick with it for more than a month or so. A book contract would be nice, after all.

Lake time!

2011-08-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

We are headed to the lake today - the first time we have ever all gone to the lake together! Landon is looking forward to using his snorkel, and Coleson loves to play in the sand. Plus, there are guaranteed to be shave ice treats there! The temp is supposed to be near 90 (finally!) and I think it will be a beautiful day.

Today

2011-07-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today, we finally had a really good day, after several really rough days around here.

Today, I realized that my attitude really does set the tone for the whole household, and I decided to be more loving, patient, caring, and nurturing. It was in stark contrast to the cranky, tired, short-on-patience, yelling mama I had been lately.

Today, I swallowed my frustration and hugged those two sweet boys instead.

Today, instead of yelling when they bickered with each other the second I stepped out of the room, I went back in, pulled them into my lap and played with them some more.

Today, instead of sending them to their rooms for every small infraction, I used distraction and told just one more story full of spies and race cars.

Today, we actually enjoyed each other instead of crying out of frustration.

It was a wonderful day, and one I hope to repeat more often. But it did make me tired, and I am off to bed at 8 p.m. At least am going to bed happy with today instead of wishing for a do-over.

Pool Season

2011-06-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

Pool season is finally upon us, and my boys have been swimming like crazy. Thank goodness Grammy and Papa have a pool! We have spent the last four afternoons over there swimming and they love it so much. Plus, there is the added bonus of tiring them out like nothing else, and ensuring that they eat a great dinner that night. Coleson is constantly on bug patrol, and Landon always jumps straight in even if the water is freezing. I think this summer will consist of lots of time at the pool for these boys.

Hiking at Gram's

2011-06-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

The boys love to go to my mom's house because there is always something for them to do. My mom and step-dad live on quite a bit of acreage, so there is always work to be done, animals to tend to, and exploring to undertake. We always take Jasper too, because he loves to play "farm dog" for the day. We spent a day up there this week, and it was a perfect glimpse into what will happen there for my boys this summer.

Swinging by the creek.

Hiking across the creek.

Exploring the trails.

Feeding wild turkeys using the dump-the-food method.

Feeding the wild turkeys using the, slightly more coordinated, scatter-the-food-by-hand method.

Getting help over the mushy areas by the creek.

The "farm dog."

Catching a nap between hiking adventures.

It's magical to watch my boys explore nature. They love it so much, and they are just so happy when they are out in the fresh air covered in mud and creek water. I can't wait to spend the summer doing this.

tree climbing

2011-05-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

Landon has discovered a love for climbing trees lately. I knew it was coming - he has always loved to climb outdoors.

He's good, too. I just wish we had some more challenging trees around our house for him.

I look at these pictures and I can't help but see my baby fading away quickly and being replaced rapidly by such a little BOY. His limbs are starting to lengthen out, and he even has knobby knees. I think the tree climbing is just the first of many exciting, and increasingly independent, adventures to come for this guy.

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T14:11:00.001-07:00

We decided to celebrate a day early and it turns out that I have the most awesome husband ever! For Mother's Day this year he got me a Nikon D5100 camera. I had been wanting a nicer camera, since I have a really basic little camera that is quite old, but he went above and beyond with this one. I am currently waiting for the battery to charge so I can try it out. I am really going to have to work on improving my photography skills to feel like I deserve to have a camera like this!

My boys have been really sweet too. Landon told me he is so glad I'm his mommy and that he gets to be with me all the time. Coleson gave me about a million kisses and told me how much he loves me. I am just so blessed to have these little people in my life. We have our rough days, but ultimately they bring me so much joy and love! How amazing it is to be a mother.

So, to all the mamas out there - Happy Mother's Day!

My Own Shop?

2011-03-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of starting an Etsy shop for knit and crochet items and paper crafts. I have loved browsing and shopping on Etsy for a long time, and I have toyed with the idea of starting my own shop for a while but I could never figure out what I would make. I finally came up with some ideas for products, and I think I might just go for it. I have a few friends who have them, and I am planning on picking their brains for what works and what doesn't. I am mostly worried about failing big-time at it, but I think even if I sold a few things here and there that it would be worth it. Then I could have a bit of my own spending money, and actually start contributing to my own retirement fund again. It's kind of a big idea, but I've always wanted to be in business for myself, so why not, right?

Spring

2011-03-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've been here in my blog space, and we have just been living life with all it's ups and downs around here. Spring is definitely here, and we are starting to transition our activities in that direction. The days are longer, and our outside time is increasing in response. It's been quite lovely.

Today we have plans to work on the garden (expanding it to accommodate the huge number of seeds I bought this week!), re-organize the cluttered garage, take the boys to a dinosaur movie at the IMAX, and do a few more little chores around the house. Tomorrow will involve going to church, brewing some beer, and probably working in the yard again.

We are raising 30 meat chickens, gathering eggs from our five laying hens, and loving our new-ish dog. One of our kitties has had to transition to living in the garage because she was having territory issues with the dog. My kids are growing and changing so fast it's unbelievable some days.

So, are we all caught up then? Good.

Happy Birthday, Coleson!

2011-01-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday was Coleson's second birthday! He has been really sick all week, so we actually haven't even celebrated yet. We are planning a nice dinner tonight, though, and we will probably give him his gifts, finally. A party was planned for tomorrow, but now Landon is really sick so we might end up canceling that too. Poor guys.

I know parents say it all the time, but it's true. Where has the time gone? I can't believe my baby boy is two years old. Since birth he has been full of joy, and he has brought us so much happiness. He is sweet, caring, goofy, loves his big brother, and takes such delight in the world. He always has a smile ready for everyone, and he gives the sweetest hugs. We love him so much. Happy Birthday, Coleson!

About an hour after birth.

At his first birthday party.

A couple months ago, at Thanksgiving.

An Early Evening

2011-01-05T18:01:00.000-08:00

My boys woke up pretty early this morning, and then Coleson didn't nap. So, he just went down for the night at about 5:45 p.m. and I have a whole evening looming in front of me. I am planning some knitting and then Tyson and I are going to watch a movie after he gets Landon down for the night. I love it when evenings like this happen to come together for us.

A New Year

2011-01-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

Well, Happy New Year! A few important things have happened over the last few days around here.

My dear friend Gretchen had a baby boy, James, the afternoon of New Year's Eve. He had to spend a couple days in the NICU, so I haven't met him yet but I cannot wait to snuggle the little guy! Welcome to the world, baby James, and congratulations to Gretchen and her family!

We found a sweet dog on Craigslist, met him, and decided he definitely needed to live with us. On New Year's Day we picked up Jasper from his old owners and spent most of the day getting used to having him in our family. We were told he was a golden retriever and lab mix, but he definitely has a few more breeds in him than that. He has fit right in with us, and we feel so lucky to have found him.

I didn't really make any huge New Year's resolutions this year. Now that we have Jasper, I will have to start walking every day again and that will be a good thing. I suppose I would like to read more books. I would like to lose a few pounds. But mostly I would like things to just keep going the way they have been going. I think I have it pretty good.

Guest Blogging!

2010-12-30T19:36:00.001-08:00

My dear friend Chelsea recently asked me, along with a few other friends, to write a guest post on her beautiful blog. Mine is up today, so go check it out! And while you're there, take some time to browse around on her amazing blog. She is a wonderful, creative mama to two adorable little boys. Thanks for the opportunity, Chelsea!

Christmas Re-cap

2010-12-30T19:24:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely, busy Christmas this year. This time of year is so magical for me, and I hope that my boys catch onto that spirit as well. There are, of course, a few things I will do differently in the future, but not many. I think that instead of trying to talk about everything I will just share a few pictures.

Dressed in their adorable Christmas outfits from Gram.

All of us dressed up for celebrating.

The lovely glow of the tree on Christmas Eve, after all the presents are in their places.

This photo is actually from today, but we did indeed have a beautiful white Christmas this year.

Merry Christmas!

One Week to Go!

2010-12-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

One week until Christmas Day. We have been counting down the days around here with the boys' advent calendars, but I am still a little surprised that it has come up so fast. I have all my gifts bought and I am generally ready to go. Except for all the wrapping I still have to do, but that will happen. Still, I feel like it can't quite be Christmas yet. I have enjoyed the anticipation of it this year. Plus, I still want to spend a few more nights knitting in front of the tree. But I know Christmas will be here before we know it.

It will be so fun, though. They boys really get the whole concept, and they are so excited. We have lots of fun family activities planned (three sets of grandparents to visit, aunts and uncles in town, and our own family celebration as well) and I can't wait to watch the boys enjoy the festivities. Our next few days will be pretty mellow, but on the 23rd things start revving up here and we will be in full go-mode until the 27th. So, if I don't make it back here before then, have a lovely Christmas!

Saint Nicholas

2010-12-08T21:40:00.001-08:00

Saint Nicholas made a visit to our house Monday. I have been wanting to start the tradition of celebrating Saint Nicholas day since Landon was a baby, but every year it didn't work out for some reason. This year I was determined to make it work, and had gifts ready to go a few weeks ahead of time. The boys set our their shoes Sunday night, and woke in the morning to find a few chocolate gold coins inside and a wrapped package on top. The packages contained books, and we set about reading them right away.

They were excited to have something small to celebrate before Christmas, and I had fun starting a new tradition. Although, next year I do think Saint Nicholas will have to bring some winter or Christmas books. I just think it will add to the feeling of the season a bit more. Also, I would like to do something like Chelsea and maybe make some handknit socks for them too. But that's the fun in starting a new tradition - you can change it a little bit to make it work for your family.

We have also been doing small Advent calendars (the ones made of paper where you open a little window every day), and it's been fun to talk every morning about which day it is and how many more days until Christmas. I have tried in the past to do much more elaborate Advent calendars, and they just didn't work out for us. Too much work for me and the kids didn't really care about them. I think this year we are doing it just right for their ages. It is so fun to see them getting caught up in the wonder and magic of this time of year!

Breakfast with Santa

2010-12-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday morning my mother-in-law and I took the boys to breakfast with Santa. It was held at a very nice hotel in town, so we got all dressed up. The boys got served hot cocoa as soon as we sat down and they got to add their own marshmallows, sprinkles, and whipped cream. That was followed by a nice pancake breakfast. During the meal Santa came out and waved at the kids from a balcony. Landon was enthralled. The Spokane Childrens' Choir sang Christmas Carols throughout the meal, and I think that was Coleson's favorite part. After we were done eating we got in line to sit with Santa and have pictures done. Landon was in awe of being able to sit with Santa. The magic of the whole season was written all over his face when he got to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. Coleson was not interested at all in sitting with Santa, but he did admire him from a distance. Landon was worried that Coleson didn't get to tell Santa what he wanted, but I assured him that Santa would know anyway. The experience was great, and I hope we can make it a yearly tradition. What a special morning!

Playing Together

2010-12-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

Just in the last week or so my boys have really started playing together. Not just playing in the same space or with the same toys, but actually engaging in games together. Coleson has long adored his big brother, and probably would have loved to play with Landon long ago. But Landon has just recently realized that Coleson can play with him, not just get in the way. Yesterday and today they have chased each other around the house pushing large trucks, "radioing" each other, and occasionally smashing into each other and then laughing wildly. Landon "read" Coleson some of his favorite books yesterday, after graciously letting Coleson pick which ones to read. Today, Landon decided that they should play some of their favorite games that Tyson plays with them. He took Tyson's role, chasing Coleson around the house and tickling him if he caught him.

So, with all this playing going on around me I have been free to sit and knit, or to finish my coffee, or to browse through the magazine pile that grows steadily in my kitchen. It's nice really. I feel like they are really growing into neat little boys, and I feel like I am doing something right if they will play together like this. It's so fun to see them become brothers.

Advent

2010-12-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

Here it is, the first day of December, and the fourth day of Advent. This morning I gave the boys their own little Advent calendars where you open the little windows each day to reveal a little chocolate inside. They were pretty thrilled. But at that moment I realized that in addition to those cute little calendars, I really should have also gotten out the nativity scene and the Advent wreath too. I want my boys to know that there is more to this season for us than little chocolates every morning (although I wouldn't complain about that either) and Santa with his band of reindeer (although they are currently quite fascinated with the reindeer aspect of Christmas).

So, while I was waiting to start the Christmas decorating until we could all do it together on a weekend, I think that while Landon is at school tomorrow Coleson and I will get out a few of our decorations. And when Landon comes home from school we will talk about them, and talk about our beliefs about Christmas and what it means to us. I love that they are so excited about Christmas and Santa and presents and reindeer but I want them to have the knowledge, too, that Advent and Christmas are a special time for other reasons.

I have struggled since Landon was born to piece together traditions for our little family from the traditions that Tyson and I each brought from our own families. Things that I thought would be fun or meaningful often didn't sit right with us (or completely failed). So, this year I want to keep it simple and let the kids and their excitement and awe about everything guide us. But I also want to start showing them and talking to them about how this season is more than getting gifts and looking at pretty lights. I don't know that much of what I say will stick this year, or even next year, but I feel like I at least need to do what I can to make this time of year magical and meaningful for our family. And I think this year I may finally get some things right with this whole Advent season.

The End of NaBloPoMo

2010-11-30T19:04:00.000-08:00

NaBloPoMo has come to an end. I think I only missed a day or two all month! It definitely made me realize that I make blogging out to be much more time consuming than it actually is. I suppose if I added pictures and such it might take more time, but this format is working for me for now. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with regular posting, even if it isn't every day.

Today was another snowy, snowy day. At this point in the winter, I still love the snow and how it makes everything so beautiful. We got studded snow tires on our new van yesterday, so now I feel a bit more comfortable venturing out in all the whiteness as well. Because of all the snow, we stayed inside all day. Landon went to school while Coleson and I ran some errands, but then we played in the house all afternoon. The boys played together so well today. It was a nice glimpse into the future when they will hopefully be great playmates. I will say, though, thank goodness for playdough and lots of playing in the sink. Those two things alone saved my whole day today. I did promise the boys some time outside tomorrow, though.

And now I am going to work on a new knitting project. I have been waiting to cast on for this one for a long time and today I decided to take the plunge. I can't wait!

The Night Out

2010-11-29T20:34:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon, Tyson and I packed up the boys and braved the snowy roads to take them to my mom's for the night. Now, this was the first time that Coleson had ever been away from us all night. Really, it was the only time he had ever been away from me for more than about five or six hours. I was nervous about it, but everyone else was quite excited. Mixed in with being nervous, I was excited too. It would be the first time I had spent more than a few hours alone with Tyson since Landon was born over four years ago.

After dropping the boys off at Gram's house, we headed back into town. We stopped for coffee, we went shopping, we checked into our hotel. Then we did more shopping, had drinks and appetizers at a couple different restaurants, and had dinner at an hour when our kids have usually been in bed for a while. We had a nightcap and then slept all night with no nursing babies, no children crawling into bed in the wee hours of the morning, nothing but sleep. It was lovely. Then in the morning we treated ourselves to brunch (If you live in Spokane and haven't had brunch at the Davenport, go. Yes, it's expensive. Go anyway.)

So, it was about 24 hours without the kids and we can't wait to do it again. Of course, I was excited to see my kids the next afternoon, but we will be having some more nights with them at Grandma's house. We just might skip the hotel and stay in our own bed next time.

(Oh, and for the record, Coleson did GREAT at my mom's for the night. He didn't cry for me all night or any of the other things I had been worried about. Thank goodness!)

To Bed

2010-11-28T21:48:00.001-08:00

I was going to blog about our nice night out on the town last night. But I feel like I am coming down with a cold so I am going to try Chelsea's suggestion of warming socks and go to bed on the early side. I DO NOT want to be sick.

Wonderland!

2010-11-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

It is such a winter wonderland outside! We probably got almost a foot of new snow just last night alone. And we are about to head out into it to drop the boys off with my mom and then spend a night away from the kids at a nice hotel having drinks and sushi. Yippee! Hopefully we won't get stuck in the snow first!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T13:03:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I am most thankful for my loving family, especially my husband and boys, and my lovely friends. I hope everyone out there has a lovely holiday, and gets to eat some amazing food!

Lazy Day

2010-11-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

This morning the boys asked if they could stay in their pajamas all day. I couldn't help but say yes. What else do you do when the high for the day is forecast at 13 degrees? So, in pajamas they stayed, all day. It made getting ready for bed quite easy, actually. We spent the day watching movies, making paper airplanes (thanks for the book, Ivory!), popping popcorn, and generally being silly. Honestly, it was one of the best days I have spent holed up at home in quite a while. I finished the day by picking Tyson up at work, going out for beers while the kiddos visited Grammy, and then making Thai food for dinner. What a wonderful Thanksgiving Eve!

It's cold out there!

2010-11-23T19:02:00.000-08:00

It sure is cold outside today. Apparently the high was supposed to be 13, but at our house it managed to make it up to 23. Tonight it's supposed to get down to -1, before hitting another high of 13 tomorrow. Brrrr!

Despite the chilly temps, I did let the boys play outside for a little while. They wore about four layers and they still got chilly. I shoveled snow so we could stand a chance of staying on top of it when we get more snow in the next couple of days. I love being outside, and my kids do too, so I'm glad we made it out for a little while today.

Coleson skipped his nap today and went to sleep immediately upon laying down this evening. I am looking forward to a long evening of knitting and wine drinking. First I have to go let the cats in, though, so they don't freeze!

SNOW!

2010-11-22T19:48:00.000-08:00

I have always loved the first snow of the year, and often I love the snow even after the 10th snow of the year. It makes everything look so magical and beautiful. I think I get just about as excited as the kids do when it snows. Luckily, we are experiencing quite a bit of it in the last few days.

Tonight, though, it is supposed to get pretty cold and stay that way for a few days. A few minutes ago I went out to make sure the chickens were warm enough under their heat lamp and the outside thermometer said 18 degrees. Brrrr! Plus, the wind is blowing pretty good tonight too. I hope my cats make it inside!

I'm off to curl up under the electric blanket, knit, and watch some Bizarre Foods. I love that show and they just added it to Netflix watch instantly!

Kid Humor

2010-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

Landon is at an age where he is finally starting to get some jokes and word-plays. Sometimes he will tell me a joke, that he has obviously made up, that makes no sense at all and he will still laugh and laugh. Today, though, he had a good one.

Me, looking at what he had put on to go to church: "Landon, you can't wear those pants to church."

Him: "Why not?"

Me: "Well, they're sweats and they have a hole in the knee and you just can't wear them to church. Sweats are too casual, and we don't wear holey clothes to church."

Him, smiling slightly: "But, Mom, you just said they are holy!"

We looked at each other for a second and both burst out laughing. I love it when these facets of his personality come out.

Not to leave Coleson out, he has been really adorable lately about watching TV. He loves to watch train shows, especially ones that also feature construction vehicles. So, asks often to watch TV.

Coleson: "Mama, watch TV-D."

Me: "Do you mean watch TV?"

Coleson: "No, TV-D. A show." (Show is said very long and drawn out, like I'm pretty dumb and need all the help I can get.)

Me (I can't usually help myself because his little voice saying TV-D is just too cute): "Wait, you want to watch a DVD?"

Coleson: "TV-D, please?"

Then I usually give in because he is just too cute.

Happy 4th Birthday, Landon!

2010-11-19T21:01:00.000-08:00

My boy turned four today. It is so cliche to say, but the time has gone so fast. Landon has turned into such a dynamic little person. Among other things, he is sweet, tenacious, funny, a fantastic big brother, persistent, smart, a mama's boy, generous, loving, and so strongly him. At four, Landon loves trains and running around, he is starting to get jokes, and he makes me laugh at least once a day. He constantly wants to spend time with his friends, but he sure does love his family too. I have loved being his mama for the last four years, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead of us! Happy Birthday, sweet Landon, we love you so much!

Landon at three weeks.

Landon at 14 months.

Landon at two.

Landon just before turning three.

Landon two months ago at the fair.

Loved This

2010-11-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

I really loved this guest post over on Kyrie's blog today. It summed up so wonderfully many of the thoughts I have on the importance of being a mother and a housewife. Thoughts I have been struggling to express to others lately, mostly because I feel so strongly about it. Somedays I get frustrated with my kids or annoyed that the floor won't stay clean, but there is still nothing in the world I would rather being doing with my days at this stage in my life.

Gearing Up

2010-11-17T19:48:00.000-08:00

Landon's birthday is in just a couple of days and with his birthday comes "the holidays" for me. I am gearing up for a busy three months or so ahead of us. All of our birthdays fall between now and the end of February, sprinkle in Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Valentine's Day and it gets a little crazy. I am looking forward to all the festivities this year with kids who will actually be really excited about it all.

We made our first batch of sweet treats today, to be Landon's birthday snack at school tomorrow. I also found a couple other recipes I want to try for the holidays this year. But with me and Tyson eating no grains, and our whole family eating very little sugar I am debating whether or not to even make anything sweet this year. Maybe I will just rely on other people's treats. Although, I love to cook and bake so I don't know if I can forgo it completely.

I used to have all my Christmas shopping done before November, but this year I have only bought stuff for the kids and knit a few things. I have no idea what I am getting most of the people on my list or how in the world I am going to find time to buy it. I may do a lot of internet shopping, which can be fun.

Mostly, I am just looking forward to everything. Sure, I get a bit overwhelmed at times, but this is one of my favorite times of year and I know I will enjoy it. So, taking cupcakes to Landon's school tomorrow starts another round of the holidays. Here we go!

The Most Important Person on Earth

2010-11-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

A few years ago my mom gave me a little holy card with a beautiful picture of Mary holding baby Jesus on the front. On the back is a lovely quote about being a mother. I usually use it as a bookmark, and I thought I had lost it a few months ago. I found it the other day and was encouraged again by the quote on the back. It reads:

"The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral - a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.

"The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. . . What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?"

-Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

Somedays I just need to hear that I am doing something really worthwhile, even when it doesn't feel like it. I'm glad I found that little card.

Parenting

2010-11-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been feeling out of sorts as a parent. I was snapping at my kids, yelling, and generally just feeling frustrated with everything. After some soul searching, I realized that there was a disconnect among the parent I wanted to be, the parent my children need, and the parent other people think I should be.

There are so many great ideas out there on how to be a "good" parent and it is easy for me to try to integrate all of them into my life, despite what my children actually need or what really works for my family. Plus, the things that come naturally to me as a person aren't necessarily what my children need from me. I've had to work on focusing on their needs and stepping out of my comfort zone. I've also had to give up on some things that just weren't working for us, despite how wonderful they sounded in a book or on a blog.

But I still feel like I could be doing so much better. I would love to be a calm, super-confident mother who never yells and whose children always do as she asks. But I guess that's not realistic, and when I think it should be is when I get into trouble. Still, there is so much room for improvement. For now, I am planning on doing my best to see the positives in my children and the way that I mother them. I am hoping to be patient with myself, but also hold myself to certain standards in my interactions with my children. Because I think they deserve a mom who is patient and kind and loving, and does her very best to teach them about this great big world and their place in it. Because they really are wonderful little people. And I'm a "good" mama.

"New" Van

2010-11-14T21:13:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we will be getting our new-to-us van. We didn't really plan on getting another vehicle this soon, but my mother-in-law's friend was selling a van and we couldn't pass up the deal she was willing to give us. So, as of tomorrow, we will be proud mini-van owners. The boys are excited to have a van of our own (they love riding in Grammy's), and I must admit that I am looking forward to having more space. We need to have a few things done to the van, so I think we will spend a good chunk of the day tomorrow driving around town getting that stuff done before Tyson has to start his new job on Tuesday. Yep, I'm going to be that mom. You know, the sexy one shuttling her kids around in a van.

First Snow

2010-11-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Today it snowed, just a little bit, for the first time this season. They boys were excited, but none of it really stuck around. Coleson even said "snow" and "snowman" for the first time today, too. Hopefully we will get some real snowfall soon. They boys are so excited to play in it, and I love how beautiful it makes everything look. Although, I would like to get a bit more winter preparation done on the yard and flower beds first. But I hope to get that done tomorrow, so then the snow can come whenever it wants!

This afternoon we also had a visit from our friends Kyle and Ellen, with their sweet baby Linnea. It was fun to see them, and we are actually meeting them this evening (minus children) for drinks and a casual celebration of Kyle's birthday. Speaking of which, I need to get going because my in-laws will be here soon and I should be a little more ready than I am!

Lunch Date

2010-11-12T19:47:00.000-08:00

Today I took Landon out for a lunch date. His behavior hasn't been great lately, and I realized that I hadn't been spending much time alone with him. So today we made a lunch date. I took him to Red Robin, where he got to have pop with lunch and they gave him a balloon. After lunch, we went to Toys-R-Us at his request, where he played with the train table for as long as he wanted and then wandered around the store for a while. I didn't hurry him along and let him really enjoy being there. Then we ran a few other errands while I told him made-up train stories every single time he asked for them (which is really hard, by the way - my imagination isn't up to par!). I think it was pretty successful. It reminded me what a sweet boy he is and how much I enjoy the little person he is becoming.

Five Things

2010-11-11T19:48:00.000-08:00

I'm not feeling very positive this evening, and I'm not sure why. So I decided to do a "five great things about today" post to get my thoughts going in the right direction again.

1. I got to take a long, very hot shower this morning. I even shaved my legs.

2. I was able to go to Mindful Mamas and be surrounded by my friends for a while. Sometimes that is exactly what I need.

3. Coleson went down easy for his nap and Landon spent that time over at his grandma's house.

4. I got to make a fantastic dinner while Tyson took the boys out for a while.

5. I got a lot of knitting done today, and more planned for this evening.

Ok, so lots of good things did happen today. I was just having a hard time seeing it.

Now, on to the knitting . . .

New Job

2010-11-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

Tyson has the next five days off from work, and on Tuesday he starts a new job here! He is excited about it, and I am excited about him having a new challenge. The only problems are that he will no longer be working from home two days a week, and he will go back to working 8 to 5 instead of 7 to 4. But it was time for a change, and we are both looking forward to it. I know a few of you readers out there either work there or have a spouse that works there, so say hi to Tyson on Tuesday!

"I Baby"

2010-11-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

Coleson frequently reminds us that he is still our baby. Sometimes he adds that he is big, but still insists on being called a baby. Mostly, he uses it to call dibs on sitting on my lap. "Nee?" he will ask, his word for nursing. "Nee, mama, nee. I baby!" Today, though, he was a bit out of sorts and being very whiny (I think he is still feeling a bit off from being sick last week). Every question I asked him was responded to with, "I baby."

Me: "Coleson, are you tired?"

Him: "No, I baby."

Me: "Coleson, are you hungry?"

Him: "No, I baby."

Me: "Are you sick?"

Him: "No, I baby."

I think that was the only straight answer I got out of him all day. I can't tell if it's his way of telling me he needs to be babied, or if he is just taking me way too literally. Either way, it's pretty cute!

Finished!

2010-11-08T20:01:00.000-08:00

I finally finished Coleson's Christmas stocking!

I started it in September 2009, and it has been haunting me ever since. Last year at Christmas time I had it about halfway done. On Christmas Eve I finally gave up on trying to finish it, pinned the back on it, and hung it by the fireplace for Santa. This year I vowed it would be done with plenty of time to spare, and I did it! Landon has a stocking that is from a similar kit. They are, by far, not my favorite crafting project but they do turn out nice. They are just a bit tedious. I am really pleased with how it turned out, and very relieved to be done. *happy dance*

The Really Late Halloween Post

2010-11-07T19:11:00.001-08:00

I never did the necessary Halloween post, so bear with me while I do it over a week after the fact. My boys both had a few costume options to choose from, thanks to their mama and their grandmothers.

Coleson chose to be a chicken, but he hated wearing the cute little hat that went with his costume. He was adorable anyway.

Landon chose to be Iron Man. He slept in his costume for about three nights leading up to Halloween. It ended up being the perfect choice because it was easy to dress him warm under it and sleek enough that he could run around easily while trick-or-treating.

I tried getting a really cute picture of them together in their costumes, and this was the best I could do. Yes, that is a wad of chocolate in Coleson's mouth. I don't think Landon was pleased that I was holding him back from running ahead with his friends.

They got a decent amount of candy, but not too much. They traded the bulk of it for toys from the Candy Fairy, and seem to have forgotten about the few pieces I let them keep. Coleson keeps asking, "Tee-Teet 'gain?" so I think he liked the whole experience. Overall it was a very successful Halloween.

Date Night

2010-11-06T21:30:00.001-07:00

Even though we had to cancel our overnight get-away this weekend, Landon still wanted to spend the night with my mom. So we sent him off with her this afternoon. Then for dinner we made plans to drop Coleson off with Tyson's parents, and we were able to go have hamburgers and beer at a local pub while we watched some football and actually finished conversations with each other. It was really nice. After picking up Coleson we rented a movie and came home thinking we would put him straight to bed and have a nice quiet evening.

Well, that was about two hours ago and Coleson just fell asleep. So much for a quick bedtime and long evening together. Good thing I'm not opposed to being up until midnight watching a movie. After all, there will be drinks made and Tyson even offered me a foot massage. Date night resumes!

Budding Photographer

2010-11-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

Landon is really interested in taking pictures lately. So much so that we are thinking of getting him his own camera. If I leave my camera laying around he is sure to snap a few shots with it. Usually they are blurry or close-ups of the furniture, but every once in a while he gets a good one. And it's always interesting to see things from his perspective. Especially when you realize all the shots are taken at hip-height, and you never realized that was really what that segment of your body looks like. And then you vow to go running more. Ahem. Anyway, here are a few of his more recent photos.

Coleson playing before bed.

A slightly blurry family portrait. The only one where my head wasn't cut off.

And, of course, the requisite hold-it-out-and-take-your-own-picture picture.

Sicky

2010-11-04T18:59:00.001-07:00

All of a sudden, Coleson is sick. He's had a runny nose for a few days, but he's also been teething pretty hard-core (four incisors at once). Then this afternoon he woke up from his nap with a fever and a nasty cough. Poor baby. He spent all afternoon napping in my lap. He rallied a bit to eat dinner and play a little, but I know he will pretty much pass out again any second. I think tonight may be a rough one.

I hate it when my babies are sick, but this time it has another downside. Tyson and I had been planning a night away from the kids at the Davenport Hotel this weekend, and now we are going to cancel it. Luckily, we are going to reschedule for another night in a couple weeks but we were both really looking forward to it. Oh, well. Landon is still going to spend Saturday night with my mom, so maybe we will have a few drinks and have a nice night in.

Coleson is asking to nurse, again. Hopefully he falls asleep fast and gets some good rest. Poor baby.

Not the Greatest

2010-11-03T21:06:00.001-07:00

Today wasn't the best. And I knew it would be a long one from pretty much the second I woke up. Landon and Coleson woke up about the same time and were being so cute giggling and being silly together. I was laying there thinking that I just wanted them to be quiet. Not a good start. That was pretty much my attitude all day. Although, I will say it turned around a bit right before Tyson got home. I finally got both the kids outside and playing in the leaves and then it was nice. Thank goodness tomorrow is another day. Hopefully my attitude will improve because I think my kids might like to have a nice mommy for a day.

Sunshine

2010-11-02T21:02:00.001-07:00

Oh, sunshine, how we needed to see you today. I was in a funky mood yesterday, and seeing the sun come out today made it all just disappear. Landon went to school this morning and Coleson and I spent almost the whole two and a half hours he was gone enjoying the autumn sun. I went for a long run/walk (partly to take our ballots to the library drop box) and then Coleson played with his outdoor toys for quite a while. We spent some more time outside after Coleson's nap, and Tyson even joined us at the park before dinner. Lovely. Just lovely.

NaBloPoMo

2010-11-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

So, Ivory's blog reminded me that it is once again time for NaBloPoMo. I have done it before, and actually blogged almost every day for a month. Since I would like to get back in the habit of blogging (was I every really in the habit, though?) I guess I will give it a shot again this year.

Oh, and how the heck did it get to be November already?

Our Very Own Candy Fairy

2010-10-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

I read this yesterday and was inspired! We are totally having our very own candy fairy come visit after Halloween. She is going to leave the boys small gifts in exchange for the bulk of their Halloween candy. They will, of course, be allowed to eat some candy during and after trick-or-treating. But after a visit from the candy fairy I won't have to fight with them on an hourly basis over whether or not they get to eat the rest of the candy. Brilliant!

The Orchard

2010-10-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Recently, with Landon's preschool class, we went to a local orchard for some apple picking, pumpkin selecting, and a tour of the orchard. We had a really good time, and ended up spending most of the day there.

The boys each got to pick an apple. I got one too, and they were so good! We learned how to pick them properly so that we don't negatively impact the crop for next year.

Coleson showing me his apple. He was pretty excited to hanging out with all the "big" kids in Landon's class.

They also each got to pick out a pumpkin. I loved that the pumpkins were all little enough for them to carry out of the field. They currently reside on our dining room table, and are frequently colored with markers. You know, to decorate them for Halloween.

Landon grabbed one right away, but Coleson took his time choosing one that was just right. It actually says quite a bit about their personalities.

Landon ate all of his apple, and helped carry his pumpkin to the car. After we left, he held the pumpkin in his lap the whole way home (about 45 minutes) and talked to it. A few times I asked him if he was asking me something, to which he would reply in all seriousness, "No, mom, I'm talking to my pumpkin."

Before we left we had to play in the pea pit. It's like a huge sandbox, but filled with dried peas. My boys were in heaven because they had all kinds of digging trucks and stuff like that. I think they played for almost an hour before I finally convinced them to get out and go home.

We definitely have to go back again soon and get some more apples. I'm just hoping they still have some. I have yet to make my yearly applesauce. Considering that Landon ate four bowls of my mom's batch at her house yesterday, I think I'd better get right on that!

this month

2010-09-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

This month we have . . .

. . . spent a long weekend at the lake.

. . . had Tyson home on vacation for a week.

. . . sent Landon to his first day of preschool.

. . . gone to the fair.

. . . picked up milk at the local dairy.

. . . played trains. A lot.

. . . preserved fruits and veggies for winter.

. . . put up bunk beds for the boys.

. . . gone swimming for the last time this summer.

. . . started planning for the holidays.

. . . said goodbye to summer and hello to autumn.

(I keep hoping to make it into this space more often to post, but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe with the cooler weather keeping us inside more?)

today

2010-07-17T13:34:00.001-07:00

Today we are . . .

. . . running errands.

. . . starting new knitting projects.

. . . sitting on the patio.

. . . having leftovers for dinner.

. . . going to play with friends.

. . . picking flowers, daisies to be exact.

. . . wearing a white sundress, fully expecting it to be dirty at the end of the day.

. . . loving summer weekends.

summer

2010-07-15T13:00:00.001-07:00

It's been so long since I posted. The last post says the beginning of April. Where did that time go? I suppose we have been busy with summer stuff, but I don't feel overly busy. Ah, well. We celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary, took a trip to Olympia and Seattle, went berry picking, worked in the garden, worked a lot in the yard, rode bikes, took walks, played at the park, and many other fun things over the past three months. And now I am hoping to get back into this space to post more often.

Let's start with this.

Outside my window... sunny and 80 degrees. Perfect for summer.

I am thinking... that I don't know how I want to spend Coleson's nap time with Landon gone too. So many choices.

I am thankful for... my sweet boys, even though they drive me crazy sometimes.

From the kitchen... wondering what to grill tonight and if we should have it with salad from the garden or greens from the garden.

I am wearing... denim shorts, a new girly blouse (with polka dots even!) and a white tank top.

I am creating... a lovely Christmas present for a family member.

I am going... to have to run to the store when Coleson gets up from his nap.

I am reading... The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.

I am hoping... that we can have a relaxed afternoon.

I am hearing... Coleson's even breathing over the baby monitor.

Around the house... still trying to get things in order from our trip last week.

One of my favorite things... preparing good, healthy food for my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week: a trip up to my mom's, friends in town for the weekend, and a tie-dye party!

Welcome Sweet Baby Girl!

2010-04-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

My wonderful friend just had her third little girl. Welcome to the world, baby Rebecca! We are so excited to get to meet her. She is the newest baby in my sweet group of mama-friends, and I know she will be welcomed with open and loving arms. Congratulations, Ivory and family!

Sweaters!

2010-03-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

I have been knitting, and crocheting too, a lot over the last year or so, and not really posting any of my finished projects. I have been working on many things (socks, shawls, hats, baby things for friends, toys, mittens, etc.) but I got on a bit of a sweater kick, and knit about four of them. All for me. One was done at the end of last winter, but in the past two months I have completed the other three. So I finally decided to take some pictures and get them put up!

This is my February Lady Sweater, that I actually finished at the end of February last year. I made it as a knit-along at my local yarn shop. I really like how it turned out, but I wish I would have made the sleeves a bit longer. The sweater is actually a nice green color - these pictures don't really do it justice.

This is a more up-close shot of the lace stitches.

This is the sweater I finished this week, the Heather Hoodie Vest. I think it is one of my very favorite finished products ever. It knit up really quickly and it looks great. The first picture is the more accurate color.

Here is a more detailed shot of the great cable panel.

This next sweater, Sedum, didn't turn out quite how I wanted but I really like it anyway. The yarn I used has been pilling too much for my taste, and makes the sweater look more worn than it is. The picture isn't great, either (me and my sideways stuff), but it is a nice, everyday sweater. Hannah is the one who inspired me to make one, and hers is way more gorgeous than mine but that's ok. I will just continue to envy hers even while wearing mine.

This last sweater, the Tangled Yoke Cardigan, is probably the most time-consuming thing I have ever knit but I learned so much in the process. If I was doing it over again (which I won't) I would have made the next size up, as this is very fitted on me. I get a ton of compliments on it, and I know it will last forever, and I am so pleased with the way it turned out.

The cable panel intimidated the pants off me, but it all turned out nicely in the end. That is, despite a desperate phone call on a Saturday morning to a knitting guru friend about my cables being off a stitch for half a row three rows back and how to fix them.

So, there are all my sweaters from the last year or so. I am quite proud of myself, considering I learned to knit three years ago solely to make baby hats and wool soakers.

baby chicks

2010-03-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

Tyson and I decided to get ourselves some chickens this year and raise them for the eggs. So, last week the boys and I ventured out to Big R and bought ourselves some baby chicks.

We will have four and we are raising two for my mom and step-dad until they get big enough to go live at their place. We got a Rhode Island Red, a Black Australorp, a Barred Rock, and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. They are growing like crazy and Tyson is planning to build us a coop for them soon. They are currently living in a large cardboard box in our garage until feathers replace their soft down, but then they will be moved out to the back of our yard near the garden.

The boys are so excited about them. Coleson loves to watch them and pet them gently with a finger. Landon is big enough to hold them himself (after I place them in his cupped hands), and proudly shows them off to his friends.

This will be a fun adventure, and I am beyond excited about having our own eggs. Nothing beats eggs fresh from chickens that are well tended. Yum!

Theo turns ONE!

2010-03-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple days we celebrated the birthday of "Baby Cousin" Theo, my brother's little boy. Hasn't he grown into a cutie?

We hosted a rather large party at our house for him on Sunday and then spent the day with their family yesterday. They are in town visiting from San Diego and we are planning on seeing them one more time before they head back home. The boys have had a blast playing together, and we hope someday they will move back to Spokane so the boys can really get to know each other.

Happy First Birthday, Theo!

Happy Birthday to me

2010-02-28T19:31:00.001-08:00

Today I turned 29 years old. It was a lovely weekend-long celebration, orchestrated largely by my sweet husband. Events kicked off with lunch with my mom and step-dad on Friday, followed by a surprise massage appointment in the afternoon. Yesterday I had a manicure and pedicure (also a surprise) followed by two hours of child-free knitting time at the yarn store. Today I got to sleep in, then my fabulous friends took me out for breakfast (along with another friend - it's her birthday tomorrow!) . Tonight brought a family party at my in-laws house, complete with some of my favorite foods, delicious Red Velvet cake, and "Happy Birthday" being sung by everyone but most loudly by Landon in his sweet little voice. I love birthdays, and I think that this one ranks right up there in my favorites of all time. I just felt so thought-about and cared-for all weekend. It sure is nice to feel so special.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T21:28:00.000-08:00

We had a nice Valentine's Day weekend. Chocolate, flowers, sweet cards, good food, and a little bit of furniture rearranging. I got to sleep in twice and Tyson got to stay home from work for President's Day. Nice, nice. Hope yours was full of love too!

Under Construction

2010-02-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

We've been remodeling our front bathroom for the past few weeks, and it's an amazing process. My step-dad has been here almost every day working so hard on it. We are so blessed that he is willing to do the work for us, and do such a nice job. Walls came down, floors were torn up, cabinets were removed, and then it was all put back together. Now it is almost finished except for a few finishing touches and some tile work on the backsplash, and it looks amazing! I don't have any pictures of the finished product yet, though. It's a bit addictive, however, and we are now thinking about what else in the house needs a bit of work.

The boys have also really enjoyed the process. Mostly, they love seeing Papa Dan everyday and helping him with his fun tools. Landon, especially, has had so much fun helping and learning.

Tearing out the walls.

Learning how to use tools.

This was one day when everything was completely torn up. It all went uphill from here.

The boys watching Papa work.

I'm so excited to have a really nice bathroom. Now, if we can just get him to do the master bathroom too . . .

firefighters

2010-02-13T08:55:00.001-08:00

Landon has been so creative lately in his play. I love watching his imagination come alive. He takes many of my household items and turns them into what he wants them to be. I mentioned the other day how he uses my salad spinner as headgear. Shortly after that, he pulled out my air popper for popcorn and one of my belts and asked me to strap his "fire extinguisher" to his back. Of course, the cord

made a perfect hose for spraying. So, he was running around for hours with a salad spinner on his head and a popcorn popper on his back playing fire fighter. He even got his friend in on the whole thing:

Some days I wonder why we keep any toys in the house at all.

Then again, his toy fire trucks have gotten a lot of action lately. This kid is all about responding to emergencies. If Coleson cries, Landon comes running, usually yelling about emergencies and how the ambulance is on the way. Coleson has started running along behind him pushing his favorite truck, too. They are too cute together! I can't wait to see the games they will play when Coleson is just a bit older.

February

2010-02-01T22:29:00.000-08:00

I am glad it is February. The month of Valentine's Day and my birthday. There are fun things being planned for this month and I am so looking forward to them.

I have some great pictures to share tomorrow (ok, maybe in a few days, we all know how I am) of Landon and his newest game involving kitchen gadgets. He cracks me up everyday, that one. Also, frustrates me to no end but that is a whole other topic.

Speaking of Landon, I just heard a huge thud but no crying. I went into his room, found him laying on the floor still asleep, put him back in bed and left. It's the second time he has completely slept through falling out of bed. How does one do that?

To bed with me, I just had to share a bit of randomness.

weekend adventures

2010-01-30T11:12:00.000-08:00

We are off to the water park today! We went last year for Tyson's birthday and had so much fun we decided to make it an annual winter event. What's more fun than swimming suits and water slides in the middle of winter? Plus, the price is really reasonable. I think we will stop in Coeur d'Alene for a while to hit a few stores there and then head to the water park for some bowling, mini golf, arcade play, and of course some water slides. Happy weekending!

imagination

2010-01-27T20:32:00.000-08:00

Today I spent about two hours listening to and watching Landon play while Coleson napped. I love to watch his imagination come out in his play. He uses different voices for the various characters, comes up with dialogue, and often quotes movies, TV shows, and me with amazing accuracy. When he is so deeply engrossed in his play I try not to disturb him. Which is largely why my morning errands did not get run and he got to stay in his pajamas until almost noon. I just love what he comes up with and chooses to do with his toys. And my household items, for that matter. Today his favorite props were the pieces of my salad spinner, which served mostly as a race car driver helmet, but also as a fireman's air mask and a bike helmet. We even took it with us when we did finally go run errands and visit with friends. I feel like watching him play this deeply gives me a bit of insight into the way his brain works and the things he finds important. And, it makes me realize that I really need to be super-aware of what I say around him.

Happy Birthday, Coleson!

2010-01-26T19:00:00.000-08:00

A year ago today we welcomed our sweet Coleson into the world, and he has blessed us every day since then. He is such a happy little person and so full of joy. Over the last year he has grown so much, and learned so many new things. It's amazing to look at the transformation.

(Coleson, about 10 hours old.)

(Coleson at his birthday party.)

He has gone from a sweet, sleeping baby to a walking, almost-talking toddler. He loves his older brother and gives him a hug every morning as soon as he sees him. He smiles at EVERYONE and people comment all the time on what a happy boy he is. He is mellow and loving and we are so thankful he came to be part of our family.

We didn't do anything really special today, just loved on him a bit more than usual and gave him a cookie after dinner while we sang "Happy Birthday." But over the weekend we threw a birthday party for our families to attend, and we have another small, casual party planned with some friends tomorrow. At his party on Saturday, Coleson was way more into working the crowd and smiling at everyone than opening gifts, but he did have fun playing with some of the wrapping.

He actually slept through a little more than half the party (that's what we get for scheduling it during nap time) but he woke up in a great mood, ready to play.

Here's to another great year to come. Happy 1st Birthday, Coleson!

New Year

2010-01-06T20:18:00.001-08:00

So glad to have the holidays behind us. We are settling back in to a routine and I am thankful. In the new year I want to exercise more and keep from getting overwhelmed with keeping house. Nothing big.

low batteries

2009-12-21T19:17:00.000-08:00

Today I felt like I needed a battery recharge, and was just never able to get myself out of the little red area that shows the battery is about to die. Ivory put forth a good effort to help me kick the funk, and it did help for a while (thanks, Ivory!) but a frustrating drive across town sent me right back into the low battery zone. I feel like I spent all day yelling, I had NO patience for Landon's usual million questions, and poor Coleson pretty much got ignored all day because I was so focused on not losing it completely.

I have been reading a good book called Raising Your Spirited Child, which I am very much enjoying by the way. Part of the book has you assess yourself to help you determine how you will relate to your child. The little assessment reminded me that I am an extravert. Essentially, I gather my energy from interacting with other people (um, other adult people I have come to realize). I have been taking time to knit in the evenings or read a book, but that doesn't quite do it for me the way a good talking session would. In the last week, with Tyson being really sick and me caring almost 24/7 for the kids and him I have had almost no social interaction. Most days I usually at least get to interact with Tyson when he gets home but last week he has been too sick to even get out of bed let alone have a real conversation. And that has really taken a huge toll on me.

I have arranged to have playdates and such for the next few days, so we can get out of the house and not kill each other and I am hoping it will help my mood. I guess now I know that I can't just hole up in the house. I need to get out and spend time with friends. It's been a hard lesson today, though, because I feel like the biggest mommy-failure for yelling all day and slamming a few doors. Oh, well. Thank goodness there is a tomorrow.

one of those days (a venting post)

2009-12-16T22:14:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days where nothing went quite as planned.

Tyson woke up this morning really sick and spent all day in bed. Therefore, I spent all day trying to keep the kids quiet and happy.

I did get some holiday baking done with Landon while Coleson napped, but then Coleson never took an afternoon nap and spent most of the rest of the day overly tired because of it.

We went to playgroup, but then had a hard time with Landon's behavior and instead of feeling relaxed and refreshed from time with good friends, I left feeling stressed about disciplining my three year old and how I could have handled it all better.

Came home from playgroup to a husband still in bed, dinner to be handled (called the in-laws to bring over food - bless them!), and tired kids to put to bed. Since Tyson was completely non-functional, I had to do bedtime alone, which I hate. The overtired little ones stayed up until around nine, even though their usual bedtime is between six-thirty and seven, and now that everyone is sleeping but me I just can't wind down and get myself to bed.

Ugh, days like this go against all the hard work I put into establishing a good rhythm in our house. And I really think I notice the deviations more than anyone else. It's amazing how one or two little things that are outside our norm and really just mess it all up. Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Hopefully one where things go as planned!

so much to do . . .

2009-12-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

We had so much to do today, yet most of it got done. Thanks in a huge part to Landon spending most of the day with grandparents, and Coleson taking an almost four hour nap. Both of these things were completely unexpected, but a wonderful treat. I started the day with a huge to-do list and I finish it with a little bit of sewing and other fun crafting to accomplish.

My brother and his best friend were here for dinner. Greg is in town visiting, and it was so nice to see him. I do hope he moves back to town with his family when his four years in the Marines is up. It would be fun to get to know him again as an adult.

I think I might go on a knitting fast for the next week or two in order to get a few other projects done, including that darn stocking for Coleson. I don't know if I can handle it, though. Knitting is such a relaxation thing for me. Maybe if I drink enough coffee and wine I will survive.

Sorry for the randomness of the post. I have been reading through the archives of this great blog and I really love it. I feel like it has inspire the tone of this post. Maybe I would post more often if I only needed a nice picture and a few words.

Thankful

2009-12-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

I know I totally missed posting for Thanksgiving. And I decided that was ok. But I certainly am thankful. Especially for two wonderful little boys that make me laugh at least once a day. Check out this video. The beginning isn't the most entertaining, but the last few seconds are so cute I couldn't resist posting it.

Also, I am feeling way too overwhelmed by the holidays this year. I think part of it is that it seems too early to be December already, so I am having a hard time convincing myself that Christmas is really soon. It still seems like I have so much I want to do to make the holidays just right and I feel like none of it is coming together. I love the idea of an Advent calendar, complete with coupons for meaningful family activities. In reality? Landon has absolutely no interest in it, Coleson doesn't even get it at all, and Tyson could care less. I also want to have Coleson's handmade stocking finished, and perfectly awaiting Santa. Reality? I hate the stupid thing (a kit that involves WAY TOO MUCH embroidery) and don't want to ever work on it, making it nearly impossible to have it finished in less than 22 days (I am on piece number 15 of about 100 and I have already spent about six solid, two hour long stretches on it - UGH!). It will be beautiful when it is done, but for right now I am so sick of it. I guess he won't notice if it's not done by Christmas morning. Right? And, I wanted a beautiful tree and lights up all over the house and all the Christmas decorations to be just so. The reality is that I tell the boys not to take ornaments off the tree about 50 times a day, I spend way too much time putting back up the lights that have fallen down from around the windows, and I still have boxes of Christmas decorations sitting on my dining room table because the places I want to put them will not stay clutter-free for more than about 20 minutes. I guess I need to resign myself to not having the holidays be just so until the boys are a bit older, an age where at least they don't try to eat the glitter off the ornaments. I am just having a hard time realizing that it's ok if it's not all perfect and exactly how I picture it in my head. But that is always a hard thing for me.

Anyway, back to the thankful. Sorry about the long rant in the middle. Maybe I need to go watch that video again.

little man of the house

2009-11-23T22:33:00.000-08:00

Tyson is out of town this week, which always makes me dread bedtime. I hate trying to figure out how to get two kids to go to sleep. Anyway, tonight Coleson was ready for bed long before Landon was. So, I told Landon he needed to play quietly while I nursed Coleson to sleep. He sat down for quite a while next to us with a fun new puzzle book he got for his birthday from Gretchen. Then he put that away, including all the pieces, which is somewhat rare for him as we usually battle over cleaning up, and ran to the kitchen. Pretty soon he ran back to ask me if a few different things could be recycled. Then I heard the water running in the sink. Turns out, he was in the kitchen tidying up (!!!) by putting the recyclables in the bin and rinsing off the dishes. Um, hi, did you just turn three or twenty-three? I was so amazed! I thanked him a couple times over and told him that I was proud of how responsible he is becoming. Now, if I can just get him to do this every night . . .

Landon's 3rd Birthday

2009-11-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

Landon had his third birthday on Thursday. My little guy is already three. He is turning in to such a wonderful little boy.

He is smart and funny, athletic and daring, affectionate and sweet. He cracks me up at least once a day and is constantly asking questions about everything. When he learns a new word he tries to use it in conversation and he listens so closely to everything we talk about, even when we think he isn't paying attention. He is incredibly social, but enjoys spending time at home doing his own thing too.

I am so proud to be his mama and I'm looking forward to many more wonderful birthday celebrations to come.

(Beautiful pictures by Chelsea.)

walking boy!

2009-11-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

I finally got a good video of Coleson walking. It took a few attempts, and it's still sideways (darn camera) but I got one. So, tilt your head to the side and enjoy!

it was gonna be great

2009-11-17T21:41:00.000-08:00

I got on here tonight all excited to do a post about Coleson's new-found walking ability. Then I downloaded the video I took of it the other night and realized that it's not a good video at all. He barely walks in it, Tyson and Landon are chatting away in the background about random stuff, and it's sideways. So, the post was gonna be great. It really was. And I'm saving it for when I have a decent video that actually shows off my little guy. Because that's what mamas do.

dinner

2009-11-10T18:47:00.001-08:00

I love reuben sandwiches, but I have never attempted to make one. It's usually something I order in restaurants, but when I stumbled across a recipe for reubens in one of my crock pot cook books I couldn't resist trying it. I put about five ingredients in the pot just after breakfast, and come dinner time all I do is add cheese, a little 1000 island dressing, and bread? Um, yes please! Ok, so I also added homemade sweet potato fries to round out the meal, but those are super-easy too. Anyway, the sandwiches turned out so good! I was very pleased with myself. I wolfed mine down, and looked over at Tyson across the table with a big, proud grin on my face. I mean, really, these things were better than I've had in many restaurants. I asked, "Did you like the sandwich?" To which he replies over his half-eaten sandwich, "Eh. I don't really like reubens." GASP! Of course I took it as a total insult to my cooking ability, which is not how he meant it at all, but still. At least he came up later and told me how he loves it that I try new things with my cooking. Don't you hate it when someone totally bursts your bubble like that?

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

I know it's a little late, but Happy Halloween! We celebrated by doing a bit of trick-or-treating around our neighborhood and my in-laws' neighborhood, and Landon definitely got more than enough candy. At first he wasn't so sure about the whole wear-a-costume-and-knock-on-doors thing, but then he realized that he got candy when he did it and there was no turning back. It helped that a slightly older friend of his trick-or-treated through our neighborhood with us, and she REALLY understood how the whole thing worked. Coleson had no idea why in the world we had him dressed in an annoying thing with a tight hood and walked around outside in the cold, but it made for cute pictures at least. Overall, it was fun and Landon has yet to gorge himself on candy so it was a success!

A knight and his loyal puppy, heading out to get some candy. (Yes, Coleson can stand on his own and is walking a bit, but that's another post.)

Tuckered out at the end of the night, taking a break on Grammy and Papa's steps.

I hope your Halloween was just as fun!

it was that kind of night

2009-10-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

Last night was one of those nights. You know, the one where one kid wakes up, and as soon as he's settled, the other one is up, and pretty soon they are both up at the same time and neither one of them will go back to sleep? And then you get to repeat it again about an hour after everyone is finally settled back to sleep? Yup, one of those nights. Luckily they don't happen around here too often, which in a way makes them even worse because we're not used to them. Anyway, it wasn't much fun. Luckily they both went down easy for bed tonight and we are hoping they are too tired to wake up much tonight.

Earlier this evening Tyson and I left the boys with my in-laws and went out for a nice dinner. We even had cocktails before dinner and dessert afterward. I got to eat dinner and chat with my husband without anyone trying to sit in my lap, and no one called me "mama" for about two hours. It was wonderful. I'm thinking we need to do that a little more often.

Tomorrow Landon gets the second of three cavities filled at the dentist. He is usually really great at the dentist, but I am worried that all this work on his teeth will lead to him being one of those people who hates going to the dentist, even for a little cleaning. Hopefully after this we will not have to deal with any more cavities, as we are being super-vigilant about brushing and taking really good care of his teeth. Ugh, I think it might stress me out more than it does him.

In hopes of getting to bed early, I am going to go finish a cute knit vest for Coleson and relax. Aaahhh.

it's been a while

2009-10-17T19:50:00.001-07:00

I have been busy knitting lately, too busy knitting to update my blog. It has just seemed like the season for knitting and all my spare time has been used up by that hobby. I also started reading a book, which I haven't done in a long time. So I guess you could say I have been focusing more on my other interests.

However, I read other people's blogs on a daily basis and enjoy it very much so I finally figured that I should pay a bit more attention to my own. And by attention, I mean adding a bunch of pictures from our last few weeks in hopes that my adorable children will make up for my lack of words. The pictures are a bit Coleson-heavy. This is mostly because Landon hates having his picture taken lately and will either not look at the camera or stick his finger in his nose (cute, I know). Plus, Coleson is a huge ham for the camera and starts smiling as soon as we get it out.

Our days over the past six weeks or so have consisted of . . .

. . . riding bikes with neighborhood friends.

. . . crashing the bike (happened last night - poor guy!).

. . . getting new matching outfits made by Gram.

. . . taking baths with Dad.

. . . helping with laundry. He loves to watch the front-load washer through the little window.

. . . learning to play in the big kid toys. This has been coupled with learning to stand and trying to walk. Coleson wants so desperately to be able to play with the big kids!

. . . helping with dishes.

. . . LOTS of eating. Let me tell you, this boy LOVES food. Plus he has two new teeth (one top and one bottom), all the better to chew it with!

So, that's it in a nutshell. A lot has happened over the past six weeks or so since I updated, but it would take forever to type it all out. Let's just go forward from here, shall we?