Perfection?

Perfection?  Appearing to do it all?  Not me.  Not ever.  

Did I mention we embarked on the homeschooling journey?  Well, we did.  And maybe this is premature, but it is wonderful!  People tell me I am doing it all, and while that may be meant as a compliment, I'm not.  Because I feel that those people who appear to be doing it all, aren't really.  No one is.  No one can.  And I'm not, and never will.   

For example my bathroom is two really ugly colors right now.  I have white paint to fix the problem, but that is not really how I want to spend an hour plus of downtime.  And then once I paint it I have to make the decision of what color I want it to be for the next couple of years, and I am REALLY bad at that sort of thing.  

So, when people think other people are doing it all, I hope they are, and knit a sweater to tell about it.  I like to think we are doing the best we can with the circumstances we are given, and the results are what is best for our family.  Which probably is not what is best for other families.

Back to the homeschooling thing.  Never would I have imagined myself to be a mother who homeschools her children.  I mean who does that?  What about socializing?  Friends?  Will my child be an outcast?  Heck will they learn anything from me, and we both live to tell about it?   

I sure hope so, but hey I'm not perfect. 

Napping

Napping makes me happy.  Not necessarily me taking a nap, although I do enjoy a nice snooze, but my little one napping independently.  Having a baby sleep on you is a beautiful thing, it is sweet, endearing, peaceful, comforting.  I feel complete peace, and contentment when I look down and this little busy being is in a state of complete rest.  Having a baby nap in his cozy bed with the cyclone fan whirring in the background is also a beautiful thing.  I am grateful for the opportunity to embrace the snoozes on mama, and the ability to be able to recharge and refocus while my littlest takes a nap in his own bed.

Amen.

First Haircut

Julia is 2 1/2 years old now, and her hair which has changed so much over this time, was looking a little scraggly at the ends.  It was time for her first ever haircut.  Not one hair on this spunky little ones head had been cut until now. 

I have been asked if I gave her, her side bang.  Sorry can't take credit, it is au naturale.

It took a little bit of coaxing, a 6 month old candy cane Lindsey found, and promises for ice cream afterward to get her to sit still for the job.

Do candy canes ever expire?

 But in the end her hair looks so much better.  Thank you Linds!

This Moment.

We are alive.  Loving, laughing, and trying to maintain our sanity. :)  

Air Zoo

Last week my kids, plus two of my friends kids ventured to Kalamazoo to visit my sister, and the Air Zoo.

This was the cutest place, and ages four and under were free.  My kind of place.  

First we entered the clouded walkway,

then looked at a few  dozen planes,

stopped by the hands on toddler section,

rode on the hot air balloon ride,  warning if spinning in  fast circles over and over again isn't your thing, avoid this ride.

Then rode on the planes,  

next up was the ferris wheel,

Stopped for a quick picture while Mara and Alana rode a ride, and looking oh so thrilled about it,

a quick one of Julia with Aunt Lolo,

the space center was next, 

Cole and Mara our future astronants.

Then we watched a really cute 3D movie, featuring three flies who go to the moon.  After all of that we repeated the process.  The kids could ride the rides as many times as they wanted.  We stayed until closing, stopping for a picture on the way out.

We will definitely go back someday before Cole turns five :)

2 Hours 15 Minutes

Is how long it took me to complete my first half marathon.

13.1 miles.

The weather was perfect.

Mile 11 was terrible.

Crossing the finish line was awesome.

(Derek and I after the race.)

Derek finished in 1 hour and 56 minutes.

Busy Busy

Have you heard of busy bags?  If you google "busy bags" there is a whole bunch of ideas.  I especially like this site  for ideas.   They are super cheap, and most can be made with items from your home, or a quick trip to the store.

Everyone tells me how busy Julia is.  I get comments like, "Wow, she sure is busy."  or "She just does not stop does she?"  I get these comments all of the time.  So, I made a whole slue of different busy bags for her and Cole.

One of her favorites is the fuzzies (or pom poms) into a container.  Whoever thought of this, thank you! SIMPLE.  It literally took me a minute to make, and has provided endless entertainment for her.

What you need:

1.) A willing toddler.  Check!

2.) an old container with a hole cut in the middle (I have also heard of people melting a hole into it). Check!

(for the record we do not eat margarine, no idea where this container came from.)

3.) fuzzies (really cheap in the craft aisle) Check, Check!

Instructions: 

Dump out the fuzzies.  Then have your little one put them back in the container through the hole you so expertly made.  Kind of like fifty two card pick up for toddlers.

Convince her not to put the fuzzies in her mouth.

Oh the concentration...

Fun right?

We think so.

We store this in a large Ziploc bag, hence it being a busy bag.

P.S. The cutie above picked out her bow.

Randomness

We are back to wearing coats, and hats.  Not quite our winter coats, but still.  

Julia is looking super cute in one of the hats I made her back when she was just a wee little one in my belly.  At the time I thought it looked so big.  Now it is just right.

We played outside for a bit today, but the wind was too strong for Julia.  So we headed inside.

When Derek got home I went for a run.  At times it felt like I was just running in place.  The wind was that strong.  

I recently read Sarah's Key.  It was eye opening.  So good. Humbling.  Warning:  Do not read when around others.  You will cry, maybe even blubber.  Just saying.

We are going to Chattanooga this summer.

Julia is the messiest eater ever.

Do not say the word "butt" around Cole.  He will correct you, like he did my mom tonight.  "Don't say that word Nana, it is a bottom."  She apologized.  Funny how kids make you follow your own rules.

Julia loves the word "cow."

We went to the library today.  Then to Lowe's.  We left with mulch, and lost a pacifier.

Nana made the kids blueberry pancakes for dinner.  She rocks.  My kids love her.  Just ask Cole.  

Cole:  Mom?

Me: Yeah?

Cole: I love Nana.

Me: That is great.

I love that my children love.

  

January

In January a lot happened in our busy little lives.  Most will seem mundane and boring to others, but to us memories were created.

In January...

I braided Julia's hair for the first time.

Julia officially took off walking (13 1/4 months), wait that was December.  Oh well.

Cole is thriving in his new preschool.

 (Cole requested this picture was taken while he "choo choo'd")


Derek and I went most of the month without eating, sugar, wheat, dairy, or gluten.  Tough.

The kids are learning to share.
.



 Still learning...

Derek and I both got down to high school weights.  Me the weight I entered high school in :)!!

Julia learned the word "please" and said it close to 1000 times this month.

Cole has a running dialogue with his cars and trains.  He says, "Come here, Thomas said."  It is so funny to listen too.

I actually made it to one of my sisters games.

Proof I was there.  That is what Derek and I are going to look like when we run our first half marathon in June.  We signed up for it last week. 

We celebrated Christmas with the Dreher's.  Here are the cousins at the end of the night. 

Enough said.


Julia no longer uses a bottle, but still loves her pacifier and blankets
.

Julia still loves her naps.

I love those legs.


I started meal planning for the family.

I didn't take nearly enough pictures this month.  I honestly hardly took any.  Hence the selection.

And the month ended with Derek turning 31!

Uncles

A couple weeks ago Uncle Bobby was in town. 

I think it is safe to say Cole had a good time. 

Uncle Bobby on the other hand returned to Chattanooga with a few sore ribs :)

Commits

When my husband does something, he does it one hundred percent.

Derek was singing along with his ipod, and Cole provided a "microphone."

*in case your unfamiliar it's a breast pump part, ha!

Reasons

One of the reasons I started this little ole' blog, was to keep family and friends updated on my kids lives, because lets face it, I have every intention of seeing family more often, but the time really just gets away.  Then Nick, my littlest bro, went to Thailand for 6 months, and it encouraged me to do keep him up to date.

Well Nick made it home from Thailand, has graduated college now, and just left last week to move to California.  Cole is a big fan of his uncles, and is going to miss Nick. 

Have Fun Nick!  We miss you.

Don't look so scared. You'll do great!

Random

This post is totally random. Julia is on the brink of crawling, and will be chasing down her brother before we know it. Insert tear here.

I just read The Help, and it was excellent.  I have been reading a lot in the evenings, instead of watching TV or being on my computer, and it has been really nice to have a bit of a media break.  

Due to the layout of our house Cole and Julia will be sharing a room, and we have been busy trying to take it from a little boy sports theme to a colorful gender neutral friendly room.  We had the carpet guy come out the other day, so as soon as the carpet gets laid we will put it all together.  I am excited.

Cole is a jabbering, question asking, manner using energy machine.  I took some pictures of Julia for her 8 month milestone, and will posting those soon.  I  am better about taking pictures, but it takes me longer to get them of my camera and on to my computer.

Last week I took a few pictures of my cousins.  Taegan is such a funny little thing, full of personality.   Here are some of my favorites:

Mother & Daughter

It was different (in a good way) taking pictures of people other than my own kids. 

Well, I think that is enough randomness for one day. 

Summa time

We have been busy summering, and it has resulted in a little bit of a cyber vacation.  We have been going for bike rides, swimming, splashing, zoo visiting, getting slobbery kisses from the cutest 8 month old, celebrating potty training, loving, eating, reading, snuggling, napping, and enjoying time with one another.  As a result I have a camera full of pictures that need to be downloaded to my computer to share.

Here are a few pictures from last week.   

We had our first bonfire with Cole and made smore's for the first time.

Yeah, he loved them!

On the 4th of July, at my in-laws, we raced down the street with the kids in different cars. They loved it, and my husband was the fastest! Cole is making VROOM sounds here. And Julia is getting some loves from Nana :)

I love summer.