8 & 2

Lachlan turned 8 yesterday...yes 8. I really can hardly believe that 8 years ago today I was holding my 1 day old first baby boy. I had no idea about being a mother-I only knew it was what I wanted so badly for so long. Now, he is not quite so cuddly and I have learned so much. Sometimes I think back to the special time when it was just him and wish I could go back and enjoy it some more. Now I have awesome conversations with him and am amazed at what a respectful, wonderful boy he is! 2 boys have been born since then one 2 years ago today...

I can hardly believe that McKenon is 2! 2 precious years ago my labor was just beginning and went very quickly! My beautiful boy was born here at home and it is such a special memory for me! He's also not quite so cuddly anymore but I can still rock him before bed and he lays his head on my shoulder and we sing. It's precious time that I know will pass quickly, which almost brings tears to my eyes. Soon he'll be 8, Cohen will be 11 and Lachlan will be 14!

So all in all I am so very thankful for my 3 boys. They have taught me to be a mommy and I wouldn't take one moment away that I've had staying home and raising them.

Happy Birthday boys!

I'm MOM

This is a Mack latest and greatest. He now calls me "MOM", only Mama when he is crying for me or hurt. MOM....okay is it just boys? Or maybe it's me? All my boys have never really called me "Mommy", it's "Mom". It seems only when they are really needing me am I "Mommy". So about a month ago I start hearing this "MOM" from the backseat. I think to myself, that cannot be my 23 month old calling me "Mom"...but alas it is! Now I often hear "Um, Mom"...unbelievable! He also calls Daddy "Drew" copying me, but I think "Drew" is endearing compared to "Mom"...I don't want "Mommy" to already be gone! Maybe it will come back? My sister's 2 daughters who are 11 & almost 15 still call her Mommy! NOT fair I say! I'm putting my foot down! "Boys, you have to call me Mommy for a few more years PLEASE!"

Beside the above it's been a wild month so far. Have I mentioned December is NOT my favorite month? 3 birthdays (including mine), countless Christmas things to do, baking that never ends (I'm a crazy baker and actually enjoy it), Christmas programs etc. So it's been a little crazy! I really want to enjoy it all but sometimes I get caught up in having everything perfect and don't enjoy it. We did get some snow the other day so that made up for all there is to do!

I do wish everyone a happy holiday and a HAPPY 2010!

Here's some pictures to make you smile :)

Bedroom/bathroom remodel

I am just really thrilled with how the bathroom/bedroom is turning out. When we bought the house there was a room off the master that was meant to be a bathroom but the previous owners did nothing with it. Drew and I really wanted to have a bathroom of our own but the roof and many other "things" for the house got in the way. Now we have it and we are absolutely delighted! Next Monday we should have a glass door on the shower so we can finally use it. We had new carpet installed on Sunday and now our bedroom is like a new room too...boy what a difference! We have a few little things left in the bathroom to do like the trim but everything else is up and working! Here are some pictures:

Before
Progress
We removed the door and extended the wall to have a more open bathroom
Looks a little different!
Shower finished just waiting on glass
up close of the tile
New carpet feels like a new bedroom
Vanity

Aside from the excitement of the bathroom, life is moving along very quickly as usual. Lachlan's has had too many 1/2 days to count, which drive me crazy, and the holiday season is drawing very near. I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week and although business is still dreary there is so much to be thankful for! The weather has been really cold this week so I wonder if we will have snow again this year? We are hoping to go skiing next week too!


Market Day at Lach's school. He made and sold candles this time...and sold out!

The boys playing in the box that held our new toilet :). Unfortunately, it didn't last long!

Mack has been chatting up a storm. My new favorite is "Yah"...love it! He is always so tickled by everything new. He's a load of fun. He wakes up so happy. He is very busy though and I've forgotten how annoying it is to have toys ALL over my kitchen when they should be in the playroom.

HALLOWEEN!

The boys had a ball this year dressing up, going to the schools fall festival and trick-or-treating. We had fun enjoying it all with them. I don't mean to brag but they are just super fun kids to do stuff with. Cohen was a little under the weather last week so we took it fairly easy. On Friday night we went to Lachlan's Fall Festival. He was so into it...going from game to game collecting all the candy he could. I didn't see him most of the time. I love that he is becoming so confident and sure of himself. Cohen still stayed close and Mack was all over the place. Our little school did a great job!

Halloween started off with a visit to Terry and Donna's. Terry was dressed as a Knight and when we walked up to the front door he was still as could be. The boys later said "We thought he was a statue" :). Mack was absolutely freaked out about his mask but as soon as he took it off all was well. We did a little trick or treating around their neighborhood with some of the kids from Lachlan's school. After that we headed to Great Grandma's house and saw Grandma and Grandpa too (Drew's mom and stepdad). They loved seeing the boys. Then we went trick-or-treating in our old neighborhood and it was a hoot to see some neighbors we hadn't seen for a while. A lot of them couldn't believe the boys were so big and that we had another baby! Time flies!

Mack is 22 months now! He's getting so big and doing such fun things. He's a little ham and loves attention.

The bathroom remodel is almost done. The tile will be done this week and then I'll get some pictures posted.

I've been making lots of soups and new recipes lately. It's been fun to try some new things. The soups have been a big hit! Soup always tastes yummy in the cold weather. Our favorites have been Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chunky potatoe swiss chowder and potatoe and leek.

Enjoy November! We have so much to be thankful for!

The cowboy, the surgeon and the lion

The lion is escaping!
Can you tell Terry's a big hit?
All these kids go to school with Lachlan

Suncadia

Thanks to Mom and Dad taking the kids for 2 nights we got away just the 2 of us. It's the first time in over two years since we went somewhere overnight by ourselves and we've never left Mack.

I dropped the kids off with Mom and Lachlan takes me aside and says "Two nights seems really long now Mommy". Lach tends to be the one who likes us around the most :). Mom said he got a little sad but did great. Mack and Cohen did too.

We had a really nice time. They upgraded us to a Penthouse one bedroom Lodge room for the same price. It was over 1,000 sq feet with a full kitchen and gorgeous view. We left on Wed afternoon, had dinner in Bellevue and then headed to the resort. What an awesome place! We biked around the resort where there are tons of paved trails and just lazed around. It was nice to have a chance to really talk and have fun!

It was good for us and good for the boys to have some time with Ma and Papa. Here are some pictures. Not too many because it is kind of boring to just take pictures of us :).

The view from our room

The Lodge

Fall stuff

We've been busy with the remodel of the bathroom (I'll post pictures soon). It should be done in 1-2 weeks and then we will move everything out of our bedroom for new carpet. It will be so nice to have our own bathroom. On a difficult day I think Drew will know where he can find me...with the door locked :). I'm super excited for the boys to have their own space too...sometimes "Mom, open up I gotta pee" gets old when I am trying to shower, do my hair etc.

5 little pumpkins


Lach had his first Reader's Theatre of the year. It was great. He did so well. He's really reading
well!



Cohen is doing great at preschool...he absolutely loves it. I get the question "Mom, do I have school today" everyday. Makes me happy that he has no problem being away from me.

McKenon will be 22 months this week...almost 2! He's super most of the time. Last night, when I put him to bed I was in the kitchen making my weekly grocery list when I heard a thump then a cry. I went in and he had climbed out of his bed! Lach and Cohen never did this so this is new for me. He was sobbing and I hugged him and told him he couldn't climb out of his bed anymore. I don't think he will until he learns he can put his feet on the bottom of the crib...or maybe he just won't try again. Have I ever mentioned he still tastes everything...he's by far my most oral child (see picture below). This last week it was MORTAR from the remodel! I didn't know that he could get to it in the garage...but yep he ate some. I was freaking out because obviously it's not good to eat. Cohen happened to be in the garage with him when it happened so he promptly told me but still I wasn't sure how much he got. He was fine though. Then it was sand from the boys' sandbox in their room...he came out with a blue face...at least I know that is nontoxic. I can't figure out why he eats everything he comes in contact with but I keep hoping he will outgrow it (SOON PLEASE)! Otherwise, he's doing great.
Morning smoothie!

So far we haven't got the H1N1 flu but it is sure going around the schools and Drew's work. Yuck...I for sure don't want this stuff and worry about Drew getting it with his heart condition. I won't fret til there's something to fret about though.
The boys flying kites in the fall wind!

So everything is good...we even got away just the 2 of us. See the next post!

I LOVE THIS LITTLE FACE....and yes that is dirt he's been eating!

Mack at almost 22 months