18

Colin is 18 months now.

1 1/2 years old.

Half way to two.

Too big.



He had a growth spurt these last few months and is now in the 80th percentile for his height (up from around 45%) and moved into the 20th percentile for weight. Again, I have no idea how they judge these kids, cause my little Cols is not short on chub. His belly is pretty awesome. His thighs are still pretty awesome. Probably because he loves to eat. All day long.

Colin loves to play with his brother's Thomas the Trains. All of them, all the time. No sharing.

He plays so contently, lining them all up, than chugging them right along. Cutest.

He also loves to do everything his brother does. Everything. Regardless of any of the consequences.

He is talking so much more now. His favorite words are : momma, daddy, Ack(Jack), brother, kitty, doggie, apple juice, trains, bye-bye, teeth and most importantly...MINE.

Favorite phrases: I don't know. (all while holding his hands out and shrugging his shoulders)

Hiiiii Kiiiitttty!!!!! More apple juice, pwease. Eat, eat, EAT!



He likes to do everything by himself.

Everything.

He is either super happy or super mad.

If he is not happy, you have 2.5 seconds to fix it.

He is also super loving. Loads of kisses and hugs from him.

He has his little doggie that goes to bed with him and he ALWAYS shares his bottle with doggie. Doggie gets tucked in as well.

Seriously.

I ADORE this kid.

He lights up my world.

Even when he is covered in soy yogurt.

So This Is Love...

Wishing

 My Handsome Husband

A Very Happy Birthday!

Thanks for showing me what Love really is.

I love you.

Awkward and Awesome Thursday: Welcome to 2012

It's the first Awkward and Awesome post of the new year. Thursdays are kind of a crazy day for me most of the month. We are life group leaders at our church, and we are hosting this year, so that means crazy Thursday cleanings for me. And way too much television watching for the boys. There will be no parent of the year awards coming my way on Thursdays. Hand scrubbing pale wood floors, yes. Parental awards of diligence, no.

So you can read this while I vacuum my house.

~Awkward~

~ Opening my pots and pan drawer to find a large stuffed Tigger...staring at me.

~ Colin's need to to scream bursts of anger when something doesn't go his way. Like not getting dinner fast enough...cause it is still cooking. Or not getting a drink to him fast enough...cause I don't speak 17 month old jibber.

~ Jack using the word "Splendid" all the time. It is just so awkward to have my 3 year old tell me that he has a splendid idea. I need to remind him he is 3, not 35.

~ My husband's new books about quantum space theory...that he asked me to get him for Christmas...cause he likes to read about the projected path of a neutron when it is observed theoretically. Who did I marry?!?!

~ Colin taking to wiping his own nose...on his blanket, and his doggie, and my couch...

~ Picking up the house on Saturday and Jack asks me if life groups are coming. He thinks I only clean when people come over...even though I clean something everyday...

~ Lighting multiple candles when Hubby came home from a work event. Apparently people were smoking cigars and I could not go within 3 feet of Ryan. It was horrible. Why do people smoke that stuff?

~Awesome~

~ Colin giving kissed with sound effects.

~ Having reservations at a fancy restaurant for Ryan's birthday next week! I am forcing him to dress up, so that I can dress up in some new fancy clothes.

~ Jack telling me that he loves me randomly through out the day.

~ Jack attempting to sing every word of any song...even if he has never heard it before. He may be a few beats behind at all times, but he get an A for effort.

~ Brothers giving each other hugs WITHOUT being told to!

~ Baby boys that line up every single train and animal in the house to watch a "show" with them. Cute.

They have the ability to be both awkward AND awesome at the same time.

It's a gift.

A gift that came from their dad. ;)

The  boys just dumped out an entire basket of little mismatched toys and started throwing them at each other.
Not awesome.

Does anyone else feel the need to have an immaculate house when people come over? Is immaculate even possible with two little boys?!

Tomato Basil Soup

With the weather finally cooling down and winter starting to show up just the tiniest bit, I thought it would be a good time to share this soup recipe with you. We like soup in this household. A lot. My husband could eat soup almost every day. In the winter, I have to remember to make something else besides soup.

This recipe is super easy and so good. It claims it is just as good as Nordstom Cafe's Tomato Basil soup. I have never had their soup, but I can vouch for this recipe. One of my favorite tomato soups ever.

 The secret is in the carrots. Yep. Carrots in tomato basil soup. Just sweat them down with some onions.

Blend it up till it is smooth.

Add some cream (or half and half) at the very end and cook till heated all the way through.

And there it is. One of the best tomato basil soup I have had. It makes a large quantity, so I am able to eat a few meals off of it and than freeze the rest for later.

Ready for the recipe?

You can find it here.

Enjoy!

 

This guy approved of it. He liked to dip his toast in it.

And blow it all over me.

Good thing he is so cute :)

18 days

We had the privilege of spending 18 days in Michigan during the Christmas season. Both of our families within miles of each other, so it just makes sense to have a nice long vacation when we can see both families.

This year we did something different. We drove. All 16 hours of it.

It went well, considering we harnessed two small boys into seats that did not allow them to move. Ya know, safety regulations and all.

We arrived safely and promptly filled all 18 days with stuff like this...

Taking rides on Great Grandma Andrew's rolling walker.

Most played with "toy" of the trip.

It only snowed one day. ONE. But it was taken full advantage of.

Jack's request to make a "no-man" was granted. They had to use almost all of the snow, but he made a cute one. He was disappointed that we did not have coal for eyes, however.

Colin got to play in snow for the first time as well!

Soy yogurt was fed to the little man via the airplane spoon.

Colin makes airplane noises with all his spoons now.

Stripey Christmas pajamas were donned.

Complete with awesome hat.

Traditional Christmas Eve pj picture was attempted.

Sadly, this was one of the better shots.

Little train stockings were opened by sleepy-eyed babes.

We even had a super hero show up Christmas morning.

Of course, when you have one Super Hero, you need another.

We were well protected that Christmas morning.

Than your brother and your husband can dress a like. Twinsies

(It is easy to do, when you buy your husband and your sister buys your brother the exact same sweater.)

They came up with this idea on their own.

Of course, there was lots of eating, lots of shopping (yay for the Grand Rapids Anthropologie!) and lots of family. We got in some great dates. The boys got in lots of play time.

By the end though, tired boys were ready for the long drive home. Jack told me that his toys missed him and would be so happy when he came back.

We took two days for the trip home. 

Coming home was sweet, but there is always the tinge of sadness, knowing it will be summer till we see our family again.

It was a good 18 days.

For the Mommies~

A friend of mine posted this link on her facebook.

I loved it.

I understood it.

If you are mommy, especially to younger kids, you will enjoy this read.

Momastery: Don't Carpe Diem

(Disclaimer: This is the only post I have read by this blog. I know nothing else about her.)

Great Expectations

google images

2012 is here. 

I have been waiting.

While laying on my parent's couch, willing myself to stay awake to see the ball drop, I contemplated what I wanted 2012 to be. I did not have any great revelations. No light shown from heaven and no audible voice was heard. No deep meaning taken out of a single word. No light bulb moment. Nothing.

I sent out a simple "Happy New Years" tweet and as I typed it out, it came to me.

Expectation.

I have great expectations for this year. I want to see things happen!

I feel like my family has been in limbo for awhile. My parents, my sister and brother in law. My husband. All of us have been in some sort of limbo. A waiting game, if you will.

There are things that need to take place. There are changes that need to come. Good things. Good changes. Needed changes.

And I am ready for those changes. I am anticipating them.

No more idly sitting by.

Active expectation.

I have expectations and I know that God is going to do GREAT things this year.

It is time.

2012.

Great expectations.

Bring it on.

~ What are YOU expecting for this new year?~

2011: In Review

I know that I am late the game in all the New Years hoopla. I just got back from a two week trip to Michigan and bounced right back into the flow of life with a jammed packed week. So let's pretend it is actually Jan 1 and not Jan 4th.

January 2011

 

Last year my goal was to be intentional. I am not sure how successful I was, but I did think about it quite often during the year. Here is how 2011 turned out in my house.

Also, a fun little look back at January 2011. My how those boys have grown...

February 2011

 

We finally got Colin to eat in February and he has not slowed down since.

March 2011

 March was awesome and awkward and I battled Colin. (Story of my life)

We lost Elisha the end of March. Watching his parents and family walk through his life and his death was probably one of the most impacting events of  the year, and will forever change my life.

April 2011

April we had visitors! I love visitors!  I also love my Love.

May 2011

 

 Colin was dedicated in May!

June 2011

 

 June brought summer! Plus another post about my favorite.

July 2011

 July is birthday month! Three! One!

August 2011

I went on vacation...ALONE! And we had our first hurricane. And earthquake, but I didn't feel it and that was awkward.

September 2011

 September we had some good family time.

October 2011

 October was our 5 year anniversary! Oh yeah. and I turned 30.

November 2011

 
So much to be thankful for in November.

December 2011

And LOADS of Christmas celebrating was had in December. (more on that to come later.)


And that was our pretty fantastic year. I am looking forward to seeing what 2012 has in store for us.