What Really Happened

So, my assumptions about what happened yesterday morning were mostly correct. However, the details of what really went down make the whole thing so much more entertaining.

Jon did take both boys to Target for some last minute birthday surprises ... in their PAJAMAS! (and Tanner's were most definitely of the summer variety)

Tanner was allowed to walk on his own inside the store. "He had to touch EVERYTHING! And he was at least 20 steps behind me the whole time. That kid doesn't listen one bit!"

Here's the best part. When they got to the car, Tanner didn't want to sit down in his carseat. "No, Daddy! I got poopies!" (This recognition of having messy pants and not wanting to sit in them is new, BTW) Jon said "too bad" and wrestled him into his seat. Disaster struck. Poop was everywhere. Think 2.5 year-old blowout. Of course they didn't think to bring the diaper bag. Luckily, I keep some wipes in the car. Jon had Tanner in the parking lot, completely naked, trying to clean him off. (yeah ... it was about 19 degrees outside) Tanner was freaking out. Landon was in his seat screaming. There was poop on the car, the carseat, Jon even had poop inside his coat. My little boy rode home naked, in his yucky carseat in the cold car.

Can I just say I'm so glad I was asleep in bed, oblivious to the whole thing? That was like 10 times worse than when I lost my keys in Target and had to wait around there for 90 minutes AFTER I had finished shopping with both boys.

I do feel a little bit bad that this happened to Jon, when his intentions for the whole outing were so good. But I have to be honest and say that it was somewhat comforting to know that he had a rough time of it. It makes me feel like so much less of a failure for all the times I have a rough time of it (um ... more often than not). And I think that was the best "birthday surprise" he could've given me.

Birthday Smiles

This morning I got to sleep in.

I mean - it IS my birthday weekend after all.

I awoke about 20 minutes ago to hear a bathtub running and kids squealing/screaming. By the time I got out of bed, everyone was downstairs again. I walked in amongst Target bags being quickly stashed and instructions from Jon that I was not to buy Tanner any more pull-ups. It seems there is now a big yucky mess in my mini-van. Jon also reminded me that Tanner does not obey. Then I was sent back upstairs.

Here's what I think went down:

Jon took both boys with him to Target to get some last minute birthday surprises.
He allowed Tanner to "walk" instead of ride. I'm pretty sure this is where the "Tanner doesn't obey" came in. They got in the car and Jon didn't realize that Tanner also pooped while he was on the store. (Remember those two minutes when he actually stood STILL so you could shop?) He pulled in the garage to find a stinky mess all over Tanner, his clothes, and his new carseat. At this point, he's wondering how in the heck he's going to get both kids inside, get one in the bathtub, and get everything cleaned up all without waking me. I'm totally laughing right now because just imagining it all is so hilarious to me. We'll see what actually happened.

Landon is now napping and I'm waiting in my room for the okay to come downstairs. I hear lots of little boy yelling about birthdays and balloons and Jon saying "Shhhhh!" I can''t wait to see what its all about! Hope your morning is off to a good start!

*Okay, I just heard the real story, and it's SO MUCH more hilarious. I'll fill you in later!"

Milestones

Four years ago, I started writing this blog. I was just turning 26. Jon was in Iraq. We had no children. Our life was so very different.

Today I turned 30.

And celebrated 7 years of being married to my sweetheart, who still wants to make out with me, despite the yummy mixture of dried goldfish-chunk-spit-up and snot all over my shirt (thank you, boys).

I loved my 20's, and can't believe all the huge life changes I experienced in the last decade. But, I'm excited to see what my 30's have in store for me. Hopefully, it will be filled with sweet memories of watching my little family grow together. It can't get much better than that, can it?

Jon and I are officially celebrating my birthday this weekend with sushi and a movie. (My first sushi experience ... I'm so excited!) By normal standards, today would have been a little rotten ... an EARLY morning wake-up, cranky kids, the beginning of getting sick ... But I had birthday wishes flowing in all day, which made the day seem so much more special! And made me reflect on how very blessed I am to have such thoughtful friends. Thank you for all the well wishes!

I spent most of the morning using my camera to spy on my boys. This one was looking especially cute, after having perked up a bit since starting his antibiotics yesterday. :)

Here's to a new decade filled with sweet smiles and kisses from my boys. The following decade, my kiddos will be teenagers and probably not so willing to show their affection, so I'll take all I can get now! XOXO

Under the Weather

Two Boys

Four Infected Ears

One Sinus Infection

Somebody must be praying for us, because we're hangin' in there!

(Is it you, Grammy?)

Pumpkin Bread

Want the recipe for the delicious pumpkin bread that's been on my mind for days now? (I finally made some today!) I hope you like it as much as my boys and I do!

Pumpkin Bread
3 cups flour (I use 1.5 cups white mixed with 1.5 cups wheat)
1.5 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2/3 cups water
1 can (15oz) pumpkin

1) In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Set aside.
2) In a large bowl, combine sugar and oil. Add in eggs, water, and pumpkin.
3) Gradually add in flour mixture and mix well.
4) Divide between two greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.

I usually put one loaf in the freezer for later. It freezes really well!

*p.s. My littlest love was sick today! Poor thing ... looks like we're headed back to the doctor tomorrow.*

What to do ... what to do ...

One of my old coworkers used to tell his students ... "Only boring people get bored."

And, goodness knows, I don't want to be boring. I'm actually pretty good at keeping myself busy and I've always enjoyed time alone. Some of my recent endeavors:

• Baking (I'm convinced this has something to do with the weather. Winter makes me want to bake -- pumpkin bread, muffins, any type of cookie...)
• Playing around with my 30-day free trial of Adobe Lightroom (it's amazing what you can do with your pics in this program. Wish it wasn't so expensive to buy!)
• Watching the Bachelor, American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, or Private Practice
• Reading

I could go on ... but I won't. After all, this post is not meant to be about me.


Or even about him.






It's really meant to be about him.

Yes, my poor little boy who was just today diagnosed with a double ear infection and a sinus infection. Yuck Yuck Yuck. Needless to say, we won't be venturing out anywhere for the next few days. (Not like we go that many places in the dead of winter anyways, but I digress). This post is really meant to be about ways to keep my little guy busy. This handsome fella loves to be entertained and really doesn't play very well independently, but he does get excited about anything I'm smart enough to call a project.

I am definitely not the authority on this. But, I thought I'd share a bunch of random ideas I've collected in hopes that you might share some of your ideas with me. Lots of them we've already done. Some are on our to-do list. So, here goes:

• Bagel Birdfeeders: Spread bagels with peanut butter, top with birdseed, and hang on a tree outside
• Suncatchers
• Puzzles
• Decorate the windows with window-clings
• Fingerpainting
• Watercolors
• Play-doh
• Body Tracing: Have your child lay down on a large piece of paper, trace them, then have them draw or glue on clothes, hats, facial features, etc
• Counting with Stickers: Divide a piece of paper into several squares with a number in each square. Help your child to put the correct number of stickers in each square.
• Beading: Macaroni noodles on pipe cleaners work great!
• Foam Kits: You can find these little craft kits at most craft stores or Target/Walmart. Make lots of cute little things with self-stick foam. We made a "birthday crown" this weekend. You know ... for his June birthday.
• Paper Plate Smiley Face: Have your child glue googly eyes, and a large mouth onto a paper plate. Cut out several small white squares and have them glue them into the mouth like teeth. Makes a funny looking character! We twisted up orange pipe cleaners and poked them through for hair.
• Baking (of course!)
• Decorating Sugar Cookies: valentine cookies would be fun!
• Making Valentines
• Lots of VERY CUTE craft ideas on this website and this website
• And tons of other great ideas on this website
• Friends and Family Book: Do you still have all those Christmas Cards that everyone sent you? Put them together into a book that you can go through with your child. They will love looking through it all year long. We add birth announcements and any other photo card we get in the mail throughout the year.
• Play a Game: Memory, Candyland, Don't Spill the Beans, Don't Break the Ice, Cootie
• Indoor Picnic: Set out a blanket and eat lunch on your living room floor.
• Make a snack mix and put it in to-go bags: We mixed together cereal, nuts, dried fruit, etc, and put in snack size bags. It was fun to make together and fun to eat, too!

And if all else fails, pop Toy Story into your DVD player, cuddle up on the couch with your little one, and enjoy. :)

How do you keep your little one busy during the winter months?

Whirlwind

Do you ever just look around at your house at the end of the day and think ... What the HECK happened here???

I hope I'm not the only one.

This place was sparkling when I went to bed last night. But now, 24 hours later, it looks like a tornado (or two) passed through. Every. Room. Is. A. Disaster.

And I'm off to bed to read James Dobson's Parenting Isn't for Cowards.

It's been a long few days ...

:)

Even Though He's Trouble ...

He's still my main squeeze.

This morning, I visited a potential preschool for next fall.

Where is the time going??

Baby, It's COLD Inside!

I should have known something was wrong during the boys' bathtime last night. The littlest Hall can't seem to stay away from the drain cover, and is constantly letting the water out. When I went to refill the tub, the only water that came out was cold! I couldn't figure out what was going on. I hadn't run the dishwasher yet or even done any laundry. I hurried the boys out of their bath. Poor Landon just wailed when I rinsed his hair with the cold water. I know ... Wicked Mommy of the Midwest. I wasn't about to let him sleep with macaroni and cheese gunk in it, though.

Anyways, after I finally got the boys in bed, I came downstairs for some ice cream and American Idol. I noticed that it was REALLY cold, but still didn't think much of it. After a while, my feet started to feel almost numb and I thought I felt a draft. I checked the thermostat and it read 18 degrees Celsius. (No, I don't know how much that really is, but we can't seem to get it back to Farenheit, so we usually just keep it around 21 degrees Celsius). My first thought was to blame Jon. He had just gotten our gas bill the night before and flipped a lid. I was sure he turned the heat down, not realizing that 3 degrees Celsius is like 12 degrees Farenheit. Just to be sure, though, I checked to make sure all the windows and doors were shut and finally ventured downstairs to the utility room that houses our furnace. I won't name any names, but someone (my oldest, I'm SURE) found his way in there yesterday and flipped the furnace switch to off. I didn't notice that he had also turned the water heater down to LOW until this morning when I tried to take a shower. (Poor Jon had a nice cold one when he woke up!)

We are back to normal now, thank goodness! And there is a new lock on the door to the utility room. What could he possibly get into next?

How Much Longer...

...until Spring gets here??

*Alternately Titled*

Mama Needs to Clean Her Windows

I've Heard It All

Disclaimer: I understand it's probably gross to look at chewed up food in a little boy's mouth. But eating is just about the only time I can get this guy to sit somewhat still. So, please bear with me for all the "see-food" pictures you often find on this blog. :)

Anyways ... Tanner was A-TALKIN' today! Just a bit of what I've heard from him today:


This morning.
Me: Tanner, please take off your jammies so we can get dressed for MOPS.
Tanner: You're BOSSY, Mom!

In the car, as we pull out of church. The boys are looking at each other and laughing.
Tanner: I love you, Landon!

As we pull into the garage after MOPS.
Tanner: Time to take my nap, Mom!
Me (thinking to myself): WHAAAAAAAAT? Who IS this kid?

Up in his room a few minutes later.
Me: Okay, pick out 2 books to read.
Tanner: No, Mom! It's time for my nap! Leave me alone! Go Away!
Me: Well then ...

As I am getting him out of the bathtub ...
Me: Okay, go and pick out some jammies.
Tanner: No, I hafta wash my hands.
Me: You don't need to wash your hands ... we just washed them in the bathtub.
Tanner: NOOOOOOOO!!!!
Me: It makes me very sad when you yell at Mommy. Nice boys don't yell like that.
Tanner: NO! I'm a scary boy!

A little while later at the dinner table. I had just finished my plate.
Tanner: Gonna get a lil' bit more, huh.
Me: Yes, I am going to get a little more.
Tanner: A lot bit more, huh!

And because I know they are reading this ... this was also overheard in the bathtub.
Tanner: I love Lauren.
Me: I know you do, bud.
Tanner: I love Kat, too.
Me: Do you love Mommy, too?
Tanner: Nope.

Redneck Christmas

It started with a fat lip.

(random bee sting ... I know ... wierd, right?)

And ended with a shiner.

(Doesn't it just break your heart? A table jumped out at him when he was running around.)

With some NASCAR pajamas in between.

And a little bit of wrestlin' to top it off.

How's that for a Redneck Christmas?

Christmas Goodies

Tonight I'm headed to a cookie exchange with the ladies from my Bible study.

I would love to bring the sweetest thing I've made this year. (Raspberries included!)

But I'm not sure there's enough of him to go around!

So, instead, I'm taking THIS.

Is your mouth watering yet?

I found this recipe and lots of other great ideas over at The Idea Room. Check it out if you haven't already!

Cabin Fever

For a variety of reasons, we've barely left the house this week. Needless to say, I've been working hard to keep my little "big boy" busy. (More on that later, when I'm not so tired!)

Today, we made popcorn chains to hang on a tree in our backyard for birds and squirrels to eat. (Do they even come out when it's this cold?) From the minute I told Tanner we were going to make them, he wouldn't stop talking about them. "Popcorn chains, Mommy! Popcorn chains!!" He was very eager as we got started and did a great job with the threading. My chain turned out to be about 4 feet long. Check out Tanner's.

He got a little sidetracked, what with the big bowl of buttery popcorn and all. There are about 15 kernels on his string, but more like 150 in his little belly. Ha! (Just like Mommy!)

And don't worry ... we cleaned up the mess before this guy could eat any!

He's been rather cranky these days, and we don't serve popcorn to SCROOGES around here. (or babies for that matter!)

For Grammy and Uncle Pat

I thought you might enjoy this. Pay special attention to the mohawk styling at the end.

Happy December!

We're still here! Just having some trouble with our internet.

Thanksgiving was fantastic. We got to meet sweet little McKenna (our niece!) for the very first time.

My parents are slowly healing.


The boys are doing well.

Landon has two teeth. He's pulling himself up to standing now. I'm pretty sure if I measured it out, he would have crawled at least 3 miles each day. He's constantly on the move. Even in the bathtub, he does laps -- and laughs the whole time. It's all pretty entertaining. He's still working on sleeping through the night and has made it all the way from 7pm to 5am about 4 times now. And did I mention that he's the sweetest thing ever? Because he IS.

Tanner is talking up a storm these days. He's very excited about all of the Christmas decorations up everywhere. Each morning he looks down from the top of the stairs and yells "My Christmas, Mommy! My Christmas!" as he points to the tree. I tried to explain to him this morning that we celebrate Christmas because it is Jesus' birthday, but then he got upset because he can't stand to celebrate any birthday but his own. I'm pretty certain he cried tears when we sang "happy birthday" to Poppy last month. We'll have to work on that ... He's also very into locking doors right now. And he reminded me once again last night to NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER leave your child bare-bottomed after his bath. I can't wait until he's house-broken ... errr ... potty-trained.

We ask him everyday whether he's on Santa's naughty or nice list and he always says "naughty." It's a good thing we have this guy to report each day's activity to Santa. This morning he showed up for the first time ever. I wonder where we'll find him tomorrow ??

I'm in Trouble Now!

What I'm Thinking

It's a cold, wet, dreary day here. But we're not letting that ruin our day. I had no problem loading my pajama-clad kids into the car just to drive to Starbucks and back for a latte.

This little love is napping.

His first tooth (bottom left) started peeking through just yesterday. I wanted to cry when I saw it.

This little love is anxiously awaiting a sample of the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that just came out of the oven.

And I'm thinking we may or may not just stay in our jammies all day.

Isn't he SCRUMPTIOUS?

I would happily have a baker's dozen if they were all as sweet as my little Landon.

* Just for the record, he slept ALL THE WAY through the night last night for the first time. (6:30pm - 5:45am). Just when I thought it was never going to happen, it did. It just a took a little while ... 7 mos 2 wks to be exact. Now I know it's possible. Can I get an AMEN?!!

We've Been Inoculated!

Finally.

We've been unable to get the vaccine in our own county, so we took advantage of our weekend in Michigan and found an H1N1 vaccine clinic taking place here today. Jon had already left to go hunting, but thankfully, my grandma agreed to go with me. I don't know what I would've done without her! Two little ones. No stroller. Two hours in line. Enough said.

And God bless Landon ... he was the best little patient. Didn't even make a peep when he got his shot ... just when right on sucking his pacifier. Tanner cried from the time he got the shot until we got home 35 minutes later.

The whole thing was just an energy-sapping experience, but I'm so thankful we've gotten the first round of shots out of the way! Maybe by the time we need the second round, we'll be able to just get them in our pediatrician's office!