January, January!

I've never really been a big January fan, I usually consider it the armpit of my year. Stuffed between Christmas and our birthdays, it's short, cold and snowy days and wet slushy dirt lines that ring around my pants seem to be just a little bit of a downer to me thus, it drags on forever. Not that I don't want to cherish each day and all of that, but winter seems be a titch depressing at times and sometimes January is just hard to get through. This year though, I am trying to recount where January even went. It seems to have disappeared without a trace. Maybe when you have these two lovely lads to keep you busy nothing drags on too long, they simply don't let anything get them (or me) down!

My "BIG BOY" being asked to "smile"...it went well:)!

My Beanie Boy smugly smiling, he KNOWS how adorable I think he is:)!

This January has been so fun with the boys amidst the long nights Beanie has been putting in awake and the long hours Ryan has been putting in at the office.

Griffin had his first preschool program and it was so precious, although I am pretty sure he sang only a few words to one of the songs. The rest of the night was spent watching the other kids sing, thus our video has a better "buns" than face view. Still a highlight of my month for sure!!

Here are some shots of us before the curtain call! He looked so cute in his "Mr. Rodgers" vest, I can't get enough of it!

We also got in some play with my "best friends", as Griffin would call them and their moms, pictured above! Marybeth, Erin & Jenni are my saving grace as I journey through motherhood and I would be LOST without them! Thankfully God has put these precious ladies and their boys...there are literally 9 in total (yes ALL BOYS) when we are all together...in our life and as we navigate through potty training and preschool and pureeing baby food I am thankful for good friends and Godly advice!

And then there was family night....which got canceled due to illness (another thing that I dislike about this time of year by the way) and so we had a family afternoon on

BEARS

vs.

PACKERS

Sunday,

which is a point of contention at our house. I was raised Bear and for some unknown reason my hubby is a Packers fan (I had to overlook this when deciding to date him...haha!) BUT it has become a fun family rivalry and many a phone call are exchanged between the men in our family after a match up between these two! I will give props to the Packers this time and hold my breath for a "Super Bowl Shuffle" outbreak next year! While watching the game Ry made us some super delicious taco bowls and Griff and I prepared the side dish....

Snowmen...another January staple, I am finding redeeming qualities right and left:)!

And we also got our craft on to make this delightful thumb print family portrait, which seriously cracks me up...the making of it was mostly me with the gluing but the boys all (sort of) willingly enjoyed their thumb stamping!

And now I am laying on my bed recalling and typing out another month that has almost gone by. Griff is in the tub splashing away with "Jackie" his jet skier and Ry (God bless him) was finally able to be at home at a decent hour tonight and volunteered to change a stinky cloth diaper! So all my boys are accounted for and January this year at our house accounted for time to learn how to sit up with confidence, to build many a tower in the play room, to learn how to run a snow blower for the only girl in this house, and time to snuggle and make snow angels and drink hot coco....hummmm, all the sudden January seems pretty sweet...as long as it comes with marshmallows:)!

3 Day Weekend Winter Wonder

We LOVE Michigan...

My family has been vacationing in Michigan since I was a little girl, spending gloriously warm summer nights running around sugar dusted with sand, in every crevasse, and loving each second. We spend lots of time up at the lake when the weather is nice, but I have always thought that the 3 other seasons besides the obvious super star, Summer, have lots to offer! This MLK day weekend we checked out some of Michigan's winter wonder and fell in love again.

First we visited our friends the Ferwerda's and had an amazing time sledding and catching up with them! Allison and I went to High School together and have known each other since Jr. High. We had our first babes within 3 weeks of each other....

These June babes, Griff & Paige, love each other and hitting the hills:)

This was Griffin's first trip out sledding and Ryan's first time hitting the slopes as a dad...he said it felt crazy to be on this side of it, as he has lots of memories sledding as a kid with his family!

Ry, Griff, Ben, Will, and Paige

A shot of Griff as he arrived at the bottom of the hill for the first time, he wasn't so sure after he wiped out! But Ry and Ben got him down a few more times!

Ben & Griff

Sweet Beanie looks on...wondering when he can join in the fun??!!

Momma's and their boys!

A family shot...

...and the one right before where Griff accidentally swiped Bean in the face...this truly captures the moment!

Moms

& Dads!

Then we headed to New Buffalo to spend some time in front of the fire place at the lake house, and it is no doubt one of our favorite places on earth to be in ANY season! We hit up our favorite restaurant, The Stray Dog, and got in some time just us!

In other highlights, Beanie started to use a "sippy" and I say the word "use" very loosely but we are working on getting him to be more independent!

and he is loving the big boy bath, graciously supplied by Allison after we had a major diaper malfunction:)

On our way home we stopped in the city to celebrate Aunt Ali's big 25th! We went out to eat and sampled some delicious beignets!

...and now I am already counting down the days until our next getaway!

Happy half Beanie Man

Happy half birthday dear beanie...happy half b-day to you!

Now I am not usually one to go crazy over half birthdays...but, I can't help but celebrate this kid!! Oh sweet boy, 6 months ago today I held you for the first time. It seems like forever ago in the way that I can barely remember a day before there was a you and also seems like it was yesterday that I was snuggling you as a teenie tiny new born. Now you are not so teenie but you are still tiny and oh so snugly and you have the most delicious rolls all down your arms and thighs and tummy. Your smile is absolutely to die for and you only laugh a half little snicker that we think is so funny and are waiting on pins and needles to hear the rest of it. You weighed in at the doctor at 18.4 pounds and 26 inches (both in the 75 %) and your head circumference was in the 95%. You have 3 tiny teeth, 2 you got before Christmas and 1 you got after the new year and with these teeth has come many a sleepless night. You are really testing both your parents with your sleeping patterns as of late kiddo, but you are worth it and after a cup or two or three of coffee....I forget all together what happened the night before. You started eating fruits and veggies thus I have been steaming and baking up and blending up many an apple, pear and sweet potato and filling our freezer with these delicious baby treats and you in turn are gobbling them up! You're sitting almost all by yourself and holding your body up on your front arms. Your affection for all things "griffy" continues to grow and before I know it, you will be quite a dynamic duo of trouble for me. Last night, the night you turned 6 months old I sat on my bed and held you for a long time thanking God for you and praying over your life. You and Griffin fill up my heart like none other!

The last 6 months have truly been a dream for me little boy, you are just the addition I prayed for all those months. Love you Beanie.

I had to get just one more pic with the "brothers" shirts on before you grow out of the sweet onsie...

Here is the first one (Griffin: just 3 Beanie: 2 weeks)...

And here is probably the last set (Griffin: 3 1/2 Beanie: 6 months)

We started out pretty happy...

...and down we go...

did you guess that the truck Griff was holding got dropped on his head and is peaking out from hehind now??!!? It's never a dull moment...

but don't worry, they made up at bath time:)!

and we called it a day!

here is my sweet sleepy 6 month old babe, looks like such a peaceful little lamb...

God Speed little man, we love you!

boys & their cars

I walked into my office the other day to find this, and had to take a picture. This is why I love them both...when asked what they were lining up all the cars for, they responded that the cars were all seeing a "drive in" movie (see screen in back). See...LOVE them!