Worth 1,000 Words

 Jack and Colin would like to introduce:

Baby Fedell #3

Coming September 14th, 2013

Friday Favorites: These Guys

 Little superhero taking a break, watching big brother ride his bike.

Rocking a shiner, courtesy of big bro.

 Jack was suppose to be in time out.

Little brother does not help the situation.

Most time outs turn out like this. Not so successful these days.

I love this little fox, even if he interrupts and initiates most of the time outs.

Happy Friday! What you are some of your favorites today?

That One Time It Snowed

We don't get snow very often, here in VA. If it does snow, it does not accumulate and it does not last beyond a day. The last time is snowed with more than a dusting was when I was pregnant for Colin. So, when they predicted snow, we ignored them.

Than over 3 inches fell in a few hours...right before Friday rush hour traffic...in Hampton Roads where they have like 1 plow for 20,000+ people. So no sand or salt on now slippery roads...with people who DON'T know how to drive in snow.

It took Ryan over 3 hours to get home. He works a little over 9 miles away.

So no birthday party with friends for my husband and no early dinner and playing in the snow with the boys. No fun to be had.

The good news? The snow stayed.

So the next day, we bundled up these little gooses and took them outside to play in the snow. And by "we", I mean Ryan. ;) Jack had rain boots on. We covered Colin's feet with plastic bags and than just shoved them into his shoes. I had bought the boys snow pants for when we go to Michigan next year. They were a few sizes too big, but I adjustable-waistbanded those suckers up to their armpits and they were all set.

Little red wagon held snow balls for a snow ball fight with brother.

Sand buckets made nice cones to slide into. Human snow bowling is much more fun that just regular sliding.

Daddy made the biggest snowman he could. The benefit of having a large backyard was that he could roll that ball ALL around.

Mr. Frosty's middle was a bit harder to manage and Ryan had to jump down on it to get it into place. I think he got a decent work out in.

 Proud Daddy with his snowman. Jack creatively named him Frosty. A nose and arms were eventually added, but cold fingers and toes hindered the last half of the snowman making.

 Mom and the boys smartly watched the final stages of Frosty creation from inside. Nice and toasty warm.

Poor Frosty lasted only 3 days. By Tuesday we had a 70 degree day and the only trace of our snowman was a pile of leaves.

Jack told me not to sad. He would come again next Christmas Day.

Happy Day

 Today is my husband's birthday. My little Spring Chicken is enjoying the start of his last year in his 20s. He is a youngin'.

Our plans tonight were cancelled due to a snow storm that sent the roads into a panic. It took my poor husband almost 3 hours to get home. His normal commute is 20-25 minutes. :( But we still had a nice dinner, cupcakes and presents.

I am thankful for another wonderful year with my man and look forward to many, many more. Thank you, Ryan, for being such an amazing husband, father and friend. I love you!

 

Awesome and Awkward Thursday: It's been awhile

 Take in this awesome and awkward picture. Super hero paraphernalia abounds...especially when one takes a closer look.

I haven't done a good ol' A&A post in awhile, so I thought it would be fun to knock one out before the end of the month. My blogging habits have really been slacking lately, but hopefully I can get back into the groove again....



~Awesome~

~ Fleece-lined leggings.
~The boys have been sleeping in till 8:30a.m...thus I have been sleeping in till 8:30 a.m.
~ Jack and Colin playing "Rocket Star". Their songs include killer lyrics, such as "I love my mommy, mommy, mommy" and " Kissing Your Mom" to the tune of Elmo's world.
~ Husband has a birthday on Friday! Spring Chicken though he is, helping him celebrate getting older is always fun.
~ The birthday gift this year is SO good. I have had it since mid-December and an dying to give it to him.
~ Soup. I love soup. I probably make some sort of soup 2-3 times a week.


~ Awkward~

~ Static cling due to tights that prevent modest walking...even though I actually HAD a slip on...that two inch section that was not covered wreaked havoc to my skirt and walking ability.
~ Wearing my striped pajama pants AND an old pair of Ryan's sweatpants...at the same time. It is cold in our house!
~The amount of dried food I sweep up on a daily basis. It makes me wonder if my children are actually eating ANY of their food.
~ Virginians and snow. There are little white particle scurrying around my window, with no real chance of sticking in the slightest, yet my Facebook feed is being blown up with phrases like "SNOW!" "It is snowing! It is snowing!" and silly things like that.




~Awkward AND Awesome~
~ Watching 3 of my friend's kids (7, 5 and 2) for a few hours in the late afternoon. Having to leave them with Husband because I had a meeting at church. Getting text from Husband saying that someone (who was probably 5 yrs old) went the bathroom and did not flush. The 2 yr old got into the dirty (think worst case scenario) water and was playing in it. 7 year old casually mentions that he does it all the time. So horribly awkward for my kind Husband and so wonderfully awesome that I was not there to clean up!


Anything awkward or awesome happening in your life, lately? Do share...


*awkward and awesome was an original series by the Daybook. Not my original idea.

Goals: 2013

 credit

The beginning of the year has come and gone and we are now into the third week of January already. Resolutions have probably been broken and gym attendance has probably increased...at least for awhile.

I made no New Years resolutions this year. I was sick in bed, so my only resolution was to get more cough medicine.

But I have some goals that I would like to work toward. Resolutions seem so fragile and breakable. Goals seems like an action that needs to be taken, a step forward. Things that I am going to try to maintain, a conscious effort to change.


My goals, in no particular order of importance...

~ Exercise 3-4 days a week, more if possible.

~ Potty train Colin. (He told me he likes to pee on the floor and won't pee in his potty.So yeah, this could be a long year...)

~Keep a cleaner house.

~Shop online less...even if they are really great deals...

~ Pay off debt. We have some, not a lot...but it would be good to take care of it.

~ Get out of my workout clothes before Ryan comes home. Poor guy sees a LOT of yoga pants.

~ Practice more patience. Remember that they are just being little boys...and need to run, wrestle and yell from time to time.

~ Get the boys outside more. Everyday if possible.


Nothing super dramatic or life-changing, but good, solid goals nonetheless.

This verse has been on my heart a lot the last few weeks. I think it is a good Bible verse to start the year out with, don't you think?

Proverbs 3:5-10

( The Message version)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,    your wine vats will brim over.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 Christmas Eve night

Christmas has come and gone, as well as the beginning of the New Year.

We spent 15 days in Michigan, visiting both sides of the family and celebrating everything listed above.

The reality of Christmas Day. Jack was so excited he literally did not go to sleep till well after midnight, got up early and did not nap. He was exhausted by this point. Ryan was starting to get sick. Colin was a hot mess from the moment he woke up and looked like this for most of Christmas day. At least they are handsome?!

Unfortunately, between Ryan and I, we spent 6 solid days knocked out in bed sick and the rest recovering. Not exactly the ideal way to spend your vacation, but we had lots of help with family around. It was so nice.

But through out the fevers and the coughing, wonderful memories were made. It is always so nice to be home.

The only family picture that we got this trip.

 Jack and Great Grandma Andrew. They are buds, coloring away.

 

The boys meeting their cousin Audrey for the first time.

The reality was that she only had eyes for her Uncle Ryan. Really. She adores him and he can calm her better than anyone else besides her mom.  She will probably never date now.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2013!