Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Fix your eyes

..........on this cutie!


I had so much fun with my camera a beautiful evening last week, and decided to use Weston as my subject.  And let's just say---he definitely delivered the part of being the cutest there was.  Carson is completely anti-pictures these days, so I went to the younger bro to pull through.  And he did just that.



As you know, the Lord has blessed me with two boys.  Two amazing and beautiful boys.  Which means I don't have a girl.  I do know that everything happens for a reason, and I am pretty sure He blessed me with two boys because I wouldn't be able to afford a girl.  Truth.  I get myself in trouble shopping for my niece, let alone a daughter.  I mean, I walk by a cute pair of boots, and instantly think "I have a pair just like that, and that would make for such a cute picture if we matched."  And then I have to be realistic, and remember that said little girl is, in fact, not my own daughter---and we don't take Auntie/Niece pictures on a daily basis.  Ahem.



Anyway.........with that being said, you can only assume and know that I don't get to do the "girly" things with two boys---on a daily basis.  You can bet money on the fact that I will be knocking down doors to do the fun things with my nieces, though!

So without being too "girly" with two little boys in the house, I still live through the fact that I do love me some accessories.  And boy accessories are darn cute.  I can still do their hair (Carson loves it when I do his hair.  I choose a mohawk, because it's so darn cute on him!) dress them in cute little ties, bow ties, bandanas, and leggings.  Ahhhh, baby leggings.  I am so in love!



Daddy doesn't squawk about much if it has anything to do with the Bengals.  So, I paired the leggings with a Cincinatti Bengals jacket, and it's a win-win!



And this picture?  It is so funny to me.  He is such a ham, and I love that about his personality.  W has been classified as our little "funny man."  I didn't really know or think that a 6 month old could be funny, but he seriously is!  Carson always says....."Mom, Wetin is so funny!" and I laugh and nod along, because he is just that.  


This is a busy week for us.  Be prepared for the reveal of the birthday party that has been in the making for quite some time now.  I may have possibly come up with some grand ideas that I am now trying to follow through with, but with the help of my amazing family members, we are going to pull it off!  Stay tuned.  We have a soon-to-be THREE year old little boy to celebrate this weekend, along with our littlest guy turning SIX months...already!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Weston Laughing

......is like sweet music to this Mama's ears!  His giggle is contagious, and it brightens up my day instantly.

I am home today with my little W.  He has a fever, was up for multiple hours last night, has projectile vomited more times than I would like to count, is super stuffed up, and just cut his second tooth yesterday.  I am sure this is all due to teething, but I am embracing the opportunity to cuddle with my littlest man today.

So on this gloomy day, with not the best circumstances, I am posting this video for everyone to enjoy.  This is bound to brighten your day.  Consider it a ray of sunshine, because on day's like today, when the sun is hiding, we have to make our own.  And this is mine.

Without further ado.  (Sorry you have to tilt your head.  I need to remember to video horizontally next time!)


 Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Fall Leaves

One of my most favorite memories I have from when I was a little girl, is playing in the leaves at my Dad's house.  This was one season that we went all out for, and we had so much fun decorating for Halloween.  We would stuff shirts and jeans full of leaves, add some boots, tie the loose ends, at a pumpkin head, and set our scarecrow dummy out front.

We would also bag up the leaves that we found on the yard, and put them into the plastic pumpkin bags.  This would add to our display that we put out front for all to see.

I am working on getting my hands on some pictures from when we were little sitting by our masterpieces.  They were good, trust me.

I found some leaf bags this year, and I just couldn't resist.  I thought it would be fun to start this tradition with Carson, and I can only hope this is a fond experience that he stores in that memory bank of his for many years to come.

Tuesday night was a perfect night, and it begged for everyone to be outside.  Our days are getting shorter, and the sun is setting earlier each day.  With that, the night time delivers all too quickly for my liking.  Carson says "it's black outside, Mom!" and he couldn't be more right.  Dark-black....same thing, right?!  Yeah, I think so too. That also goes along with his latest funny......Carson was outside riding his tractor, and he stopped dead in his tracks.  That was followed with....."Oh, Mom look!  There is a big white ball up there!"  Carl and I couldn't stop laughing.  "Yes, Carson...that is the moon!  MOON, honey--it's a moon!"  Haha.
Getting back on track.  With Tuesday night's weather, we decided it would be a perfect night to get some leaves picked up, and put them into the pumpkin bags.  Carson was thrilled with the activity we had planned for the night.  He was so excited to play in the leaves, and help Daddy fill the bags.


He also thoroughly enjoyed driving his tractor through the leaves before we picked them up.




Prepare yourself for the picture overload!

I will let the pictures do most of the talking.  Carson was loving the project at hand, and Weston was content as can be sitting on the grass.  This was his first ever grass experience, and he had no objections.  He is also sitting up all by himself these days.  OH, and his first little toofer is showing in some of the pics!  Ugh, this little boy is growing up all too quickly!  I am not sure who's agenda he is following, other than his very own.....but it's certainly not mine :)  And, I am not quite sure what the rush is, but that's ok.  I just wish I could freeze time.  But since I can't, and I know that, I will soak it all in, and enjoy every minute.  It doesn't get much better than this!








This little guy of ours is always so happy.  Always.  Seriously.  We were blessed with a true gem.


I spy a cute little white toofer! (Well, and a lot of drool.....hangin' from the chin and all.)





Carson got a leaf in his mouth, and spit for a good 5 minutes.  It was rather comical, actually.  


Sitting up all by himself!  He is such a big boy now. 



This face is what I look forward to all day.  It brightens my mood instantly when I pick him up every afternoon.  





This face is paired with his cute little "mmmmm" noise that he makes.  It is adorable all around. 



Those eyes are to die for.  Oh, and the soaking wet shirt.  It begins.....already. 






Daddy is ready to teach all about tackling already.  Oh, who am I kidding.  Daddy has been tackling for years now.  And Carson loves every minute of it---truly! 



I love to add captions to pictures.  I am pretty sure this one would say something along the lines of..."Mom, are you seriously putting me in the back of this thing?  Have you seen my big bro drive this thing around?  He is a maniac!  I am bound to get injured."


Carson loves to help in any way possible.  So Daddy gave him the task of carrying this little black pumpkin bag to the front of the house.  I must add that he drug the bag the whole way, on the cement, and by the time he got to his destination--it pretty much had a hole in it.  But he helped, and he was darn proud of himself!  




Our pumpkins are now sitting in front of our house for all to see.  We have a story and many memories behind these pumpkins, and I love that about this picture.  It may just look like a simple picture to many, but to us---it is so much more than that.  



Monday, October 8, 2012

The Perfect Fall Weekend

My favorite season of the year is here, and we are trying our best to enjoy it to it's fullest.  Because pretty soon the snow will be flying, and we will be forced to stay inside.  I don't want to think of that right now, though.

Fall is absolutely gorgeous, and I love to look at the leaves changing.  The dark red/purplish ones are my favorite, and Carl prefers the bright red ones.  Like the one that we had the joyous opportunity to enjoy for about a week in the comfort of our own home.  This beautiful tree is one of three grown trees that is housed in our own backyard, and delivers much discussion about the changing of seasons.  God's creation is so amazing.




This past weekend, we participated in one of my favorite Fall activities---a trip to Prairie Du Chien, to look at the leaves, and enjoy the Open House that was taking place at the Apple Orchard.  We go up to Prairie numerous times throughout the Summer months, and I enjoy our time up there so much while the sun is shining, and our time is spent on the beaches playing in the sand.  But I also enjoy a brisk day at the Apple Orchard, and a view of the beautiful valleys filled with the different colors of trees.


We went to the Shahata Apple Orchard last year, and I really enjoyed it.  They have activities for the children, a very neat Apple shop, and a Pumpkin Patch.  So, we decided to attend again this year with the kiddos, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.





It was cold, and I did not pack appropriately for my children.  I felt so bad for Carson, as I failed to pack mittens for the poor guy.  He had a hat, and a light jacket, but that's about it.  He enjoyed some outside activities, despite his frozen hands.




Natalie also enjoyed her time spent outside with the animals.



I bundled Weston up, and he enjoyed the Apple Orchard from the comfort of the Baby Bjorn.  I absolutely love that thing, and he never makes a peep while in it.  Even with 35 degree temps, his nose bright red from the cold.....he just hung out and continued to smile at every person that passed by.  He is a true gem---that little Weston of ours.


We enjoyed walking around, and doing some shopping in the neat store that was housed at the Orchard.



Carson really wanted to go on a "trailer" ride, so everyone hopped on, and the tractor took them around the Orchard.  I stayed back with Weston, as I didn't feel he needed to be out in the cold that long.  We picked up some Jonathan apples, and enjoyed some cider while waiting for the crew to return from the hay ride.  Carson took his blanket to keep him warm, and came back with an apple he picked all by himself!



We all had a great time at the orchard, and I see this becoming a tradition that we will continue for many years.  I enjoy looking forward to the different traditions that we have as the seasons change.



After the Orchard, we enjoyed lunch at a restaurant & coffee house called "Simply."  If you are ever in Prairie Du Chien, I highly recommend this little place!  I seriously think it is a hidden gem in this town.  We ate there for the first time a few weeks ago when we were in town, and it is now a 'must-do' on my list any time we go back.  They have delicious sandwiches, coffee of any kind, amazing smoothies, big cookies that are a hit with a toddler, and the atmosphere is just so fun.  Even my hubby, the pickiest eater 'round, enjoyed his sandwich, and said he would go back.  If we head to Prairie this Winter or early Spring, I told my better half that we are going to have a date there, and enjoy a good cup of joe, sitting on the couch, playing a board game of some sort.



I personally highly recommend their chicken salad sandwich.  It is amazing, to say the least!


Saturday afternoon we hung out, and headed home on Saturday night.  Carson enjoyed an evening with Grandpa and Frannie, and came home on Sunday with some treasures!  Frannie and Carson went back to the pumpkin patch on Sunday morning, and Carson picked out a pumpkin for He and Weston all by himself. He was so proud of the two pumpkins that he delivered to my arms.  I love to watch him carry his own pumpkin around, and say..."this is really hebby (heavy)" in such a dramatic way.  He is too funny.  The wheels in his mind are always turning.  I love how he picked two pumpkins out, and they are sized appropriately for he and Weston.  He is such a sweetheart.



I enjoyed a little one-on-one time with my little W on Sunday before big brother came crashing through the doors to sit on him.  Thus is true.  Carson thoroughly enjoys sitting on Weston's back, or legs.  I don't know why, but he finds it to be hilarious.  He is so gentle with him at times, and then turns around and sits on him with a sneaky smile on his face.  He is testing us, no doubt...it's just too bad it comes at the expense of taking Weston's breath away.  Literally.

This is the face I enjoyed on Sunday morning.  He is always so happy, and I absolutely adore this little boy.  He can make a bad day turn great instantly, and I look forward to seeing this smile every day when I pick him up.







This little guy is on a fast track to getting places, and will be crawling before we know it.  And, I am not. ready. for. that. yet!  



I sit here and reflect on this weekend, and love the memories that we are making with our children and family.  This was a perfect fall weekend in my book, and I love that I have the opportunity to experience these kind of things with my loved ones.  Thank you, Lord.