cheers.

Life has been so busy for our little family the past few months.  I have said for months + months (ok, more like years) that I want to be better at documenting our daily life.  Ya know, the little things that happen on a daily basis.  The things you want to remember about your kids. The funny things they say.  The funny things they do. The good days.  The bad days.  And everything in-between.  So here I am again.  Promising to blog more.  Not for anyone else, but for me + my husband.  For our kids.  

So we can look back and see the growth our family has made.  Or the obstacles we have overcome.  So we can laugh.  So we can cry.  So we can remember.  So our kids can remember.  So here goes nothin'.  

We moved.  Down the street.  Maybe 2 blocks.  We aren't quite ready to build a house just yet.  You see, finding a great lot seems to be quite the task.  B U T, we also needed more space really badly.  Our friends, Jess + Steph just built a beautiful new home and suggested that maybe we would want to rent their old house from them.  So we jumped on that as fast as we could.  I thought October was going to kill me dead. Having never done much painting, I was really excited to dive right in, head first.  I didn't understand why Nic was dragging his feet on that, until the end of the first day. I hate painting.  I'm such a perfectionist.  Every little thing drives me crazy.  Why can't you just slap the dang stuff on the wall and call it good?  I also talked Nic (and my father-in-law) into doing a few projects in the house for my birthday.  Birthdays come in so handy for roping people into doing stuff they never really wanted to do.  Perfect timing I guess.  In the end, we both love how everything has turned out.  

 I offered to host Thanksgiving this year at my house.  I was so excited that we actually have enough room for a decent dining table + for people to move around.  In the past, we basically had to sit on each other's laps during family functions held at our house.   

I love to host.  I love to party plan.  I don't know why.  I'm not cooking though.  My mother-in-law is, thank goodness.  I have never been much of a cook.  It's on my to-do list.  I mean, do I really want to be THAT GOOD at one more thing? Jokes, guys.  I will get around to that one of these.  In the mean time, can we admire these beautiful place cards?  I envy people who have beautiful handwriting.  It took me about 30 minutes to write "give thanks" on that friggin' pumpkin. 

My home decor is clearly confused right now.  I tried holding out on getting out my Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving.  That didn't last long.  Truth be told, I love it.  I love Christmas, it's my favorite holiday.   It always passes by way too fast, so I'm going to enjoy it a little longer this year.  And my kids love it.  So yeah.  Christmas it is.   Oh, and I have gone crazy this year on painting my ornaments.  It's so addictive.  I just got done telling one girl how good my boys were with leaving the tree + ornaments alone, to walk downstairs and see that Grey had gotten ahold of them.  There was green paint all over my rug + couch.  My poor couch.  Its had just about everything you can imagine spilled on it.  Moral of the story, let the paint dry before putting the tops back on.  Oh, and super glue those babies.  Kicking myself for that one.  

I had another birthday.  The big 29.  It feels weird to be almost 30.  I guess because as a kid, I always thought that was "so old"  Now I feel grateful for every year that passes.  Some people don't get that.  I'm happy + healthy, and I love my little family.  Age is only a number.  Plus, if you write your age on your face with lipstick, it will keep you feeling young.  Just because you turn 29, doesn't mean you have to act that way.  Right?!

  Some random pictures over the last couple of months.  Love these little stinkers.  

Nixon Update: 

This kid is constantly cracking us up.  I have loved this age so much.  People warned me about  3's being harder then 2's.  I haven't found that to be true.  Knock on wood.  This kid is as sweet as pie, most days.  Nic always says that Heavenly Father knew he needed this little boy in his life.  He loves his dad more than anything.  But, I'm his best mom, or so he tells me everyday.  He started preschool in August.  His teacher is Ms. Andie + we absolutely love her.  He goes twice a week, for two hours each day.  If you know Nixon, you know he is very literal.  The first week he started I kept asking if he had made any friends.  His answer was always no, and I felt so bad.  He finally explained to me that he didn't make any friends, but he saw friends.  Duh mom.  You can't make your friends.  Duh. 

A few funnies I want to remember:

As we were driving to run errands, Nixon says while looking out the window at the mountains, "Holy munchies, that's a lot of snow!" 

Ms. Andie informed me that Nixon told her he is getting a baby sister.  Oh boy.  That was funny.  I promise buddy, if that was true, I would be drinking all that water + jumping on the crazy train again.

We learned he doesn't like to share because it makes him ornery.  At least he is honest. 

He notified me that the bugs in his bug catcher were so hungry and drinky.  Hilarious.  Drinky.  Makes perfect sense to me.  

He absolutely hates to be dirty or messy.  Hmm.  I wonder where he got that from.  Grandpa Harry, I'm blaming you!  If he even gets a drop of water on any of his clothes, he has to change them immediately and insists that I wash them.  

Captain America is by far his favorite.  And playing xbox with dad.  Or maybe I should say, hogging the xbox.

The best compliment he can give you is that you are his best son.  Probably because we tell him that too.  So he will say, "You my best mom.  I love you.  You my best son!"  It makes me smile like no other.  Nic and I tell each other that, too.  You my best son. 

Grey Update:

Where to start with this kid.  He is such a momma's boy.  He is naughty, and wild, and crazy, and sweet all at once.  He definitely didn't get any of the nervous or timid traits that I gave to Nixon.  

He calls each of his brothers, "Haydie" .. but note that he can say "ninnie" and "nix" 

Quinn makes a game of it and will say back to him, "What did you call me?"  To which Grey answers, "Haydie".  We all laugh hysterically!

He loves to wipe everything.  Walls, the floor, cabinets, you name it.  Pop says he gets that from me, but I will throw that back on Grandpa Harry again.  He will whine and whine "wipe" until I give him his wipe of choice.  Usually either a dish towel, a wash cloth, paper towel or a clorox wipe.  Then he goes to town wiping everything.  My little minion.  

He loves helping with laundry and taking the milk jug out to the cooler.  He refers to both of them as "load" .. like load the milk in the cooler, or load the laundry into the washer + dryer.  I love that he loves to help me.  Nixon has always been that way too.  

Cheers to being better at blogging!