Apple Picking

We went apple picking at our favorite farm on Saturday. It was a quick trip (see last photo). We filled our bag with crisp, crunchy apples, paid, and spent the ride home thinking of how we are going to use up all the apples we picked! I've already made a batch of apple sauce, and I think I might just see an apple cake in our future...

I wasn't sure I was ready to say good-bye to summer. It went so quickly, as the summers in the Pacific Northwest tend to do. But we had our last heat wave the first few days of September, and then we woke up one morning last week and the air felt fresh and brisk and it smelled like autumn. And just like that, I welcomed fall back with open arms. Yay! I love this time of year.

Summer Adventures

Jace had not one, but two chin incidents while we were in Denver! Poor babe. And he still hates bandaids, turns out.

The first week of August, we were able to fly to Colorado to spend a week at Grammy and Grampy's house! All of Colt's sisters and their families were able to be there, and we had so much fun spending time with cousins. Luke and Corbin met each other for the first time, and Jace had such fun with his cousin Bentley. They dug in the dirt together, played next to each other in the play room, and chased each other around Grammy's house giggling like madmen. 

Our little niece, Bailey, was so sweet with both babies. She wanted to hold Luke, give him his binkie, and play peek-a-boo. When I needed to go help in the kitchen, she would sit right next to Lukey in his bouncer and talk to him, sing him songs, tickle his toes...she was such a mama, and a huge helper! It was really sweet to watch. She left with her parents and brother the night before we flew out, and she was sobbing that she had to leave her baby cousins. It was heartbreaking. 

We love our family, and we don't get to see them nearly enough! So it was nice to be able to spend some time catching up, visiting, and watching our kids play together. There's never a shortage of fun and excitement when cousins are involved!

The Big 3-0

This is the only picture I have from Colt's 30th birthday party. Ha! I have a couple of videos, but clearly, taking pictures was not high on the list of priorities that day. 

I had a tough time deciding what to do for my babe on this milestone birthday. I spent a lot of time thinking about it, because he's such a great dad and husband; he deserved something different and special this year. On our anniversary in June, we had a family birthday party, and Jace had a blast. Colt kept mentioning how much he enjoyed that day, and how happy it made him to see JJ having so much fun...and thus, my idea was born. I decided to throw another birthday party, complete with decorations, a cake, and piñata! I even chose a theme: Construction Zone! Colt and I aren't typically "party people," but I thought 30 would be a good time to stir up some childhood nostalgia and take him back one last time to the birthday parties of yesteryear, before he had to dive headfirst into middle-age. And I knew Jace would love to have another birthday party.

I made all the boys a special breakfast of Mickey Mouse sprinkle pancakes, and Colt opened a couple of his gifts. We took Jace to get a haircut, picked up some lunch at our favorite burger joint (Nicks' Jr), and took our food to Payne Airfield to watch the airplanes take off and land. When we returned home, we ate a special birthday dinner and dessert (Colt's favorite custard trifle), and then busted out the main event: the construction truck pinata! Jace had been eying that pinata all day, but when it came time to whack it with the baseball bat, he was a bit hesitant. After we showed him what to do, he was more enthusiastic and took a few solid swings before we gave up and pulled the tassels to release the candy.

This year, I had Colt's closest friends and family all write him a personal letter, then I bound them all in a book and gave it to him on his birthday. He also got some money, and he's thinking he'd like to spend it on a few wood-working tools so he can learn how to build awesome things like a kitchen table for his wife. ;)

Happy Birthday, Colt! You are the peaches to my cream, the honey to my bee, and the cheese to my macaroni. Yum. I'm hungry.

4th of July

I really let blogging get away from me! I'll keep these entries short and sweet, but I wanted to make sure I recorded our summer adventures, even if it isn't as detailed as it could have been if I had managed to write more regularly. Both our boys have grown and changed so much over the last couple of months, it's crazy! Jace is talking more than ever, and Luke is almost crawling...he's got a big brother to chase, after all.

Our 4th of July was really low-key. We went to a barbecue at our neighbor's house in the afternoon/early evening. When we came home, we lit sparklers and threw poppers in our driveway. I think by next year, the boys (or at least JJ) will be able to stay up late enough to see the show, which will be so much fun. But this year, we decided we'd rather have sweet little boys than cranky bears the next morning.

Around 11:30 pm, one of our neighbors decided to start setting off HUGE fireworks, the kind that sound like a bomb and rattle the windows. It woke Colt and I out of a dead sleep, haha! Scared me to death. Ah, well. 'Tis the 4th!

Also, I recently discovered that my phone makes these awesome little memory movies out of the pictures and videos on my device! I love them. And I think they  will come in handy for quick recaps here on the blog!

Enjoy the Little Things In Life, For One Day You Will Look Back and Realize They Were the Big Things

Just a couple of Mouseketeers!

Please note JJ's hand placement and his concerned expression. He's such a sweet brother.

We've been able to do some fun things lately! Both my sisters and their families were in town, so we packed up the boys, my dad drove up to get us, and Jace, Luke, and I spent a week with my family in Oregon! Colt had to work, so he joined us later in the week. It was hard to be apart, but it was nice to have a good chunk of time to spend with my family. With two brothers-in-law going through the medical school process across the country, this may not happen again for awhile. Jace and Luke were  able to meet their new cousin Millie for the first time, spend time with their Aunties, and play, play, play! Luke was passed around like a hot potato, and he just soaked up all the attention. We also threw my littlest sister a baby shower. She's due in December with her very first babe! I'm so excited for her and her husband, Jefferson, and I'm loving this growing pack of nieces and nephews!

Then last weekend, we ventured out to Remlinger Farms for berry picking and some fun rides! When we took JJ to Disneyland in September, he wasn't particularly interested in most of the rides (except for Jungle Cruise and It's a Small World) and DEFINITELY wouldn't have been up for getting on them alone. But this time, he was completely fine riding by himself, and he did great waiting for his turn in line (granted,  the lines were incredibly short and he didn't have to wait long, due to the fact that we ended up getting there about an hour before the park closed). But I was so proud of him! And it was very sweet watching him enjoy himself. It's funny how I experience so much joy and excitement myself just watching him have fun. He's getting to be such a big boy. Luke was a champ the whole time; he napped in his stroller, ate his meals, and just chilled like the sweetheart he is. 

We've had a fun couple of weeks! From here on out, our summer is pretty open-ended. We don't have a lot of big plans or any major vacations on the docket. But that's completely fine! I'm loving these mellow days and enjoying the fun summer activities and events all around us. I love creating sweet memories with my boys, even (and perhaps especially) when they aren't anything big. I'm working on looking for the positive and trying to find joy in any circumstance, and I'm realizing just how much joy there is to be found in the little things, in the everyday.

Jace Snapshot (2 years, 5 months)

...This kid is so spirited, silly, and social (with a shy streak, when he is around unfamiliar folks)

...He loves to FaceTime with his grandparents ("a talk a Mimi?" "A talk a Gammy?")

...Jace is loving his books lately. He can finish all the sentences in his favorite books, and sometimes flips through the pages while reciting the phrases he's memorized on each page ("Boom boom, bear tromp!")

 ...Current literary favorites include: "Quick as a Cricket," "King Jack and the Dragons," "The Little Mouse, A Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear," "The Napping House," "Duffy Time," "I Hear a Pickle," and all of the books I got him at the library about different kinds of trucks and cars and how they work. He could read those over and over again...and he definitely tries to get me to do so. I always told myself I'd never say no when my child asked me to read them a book...but after our fifth go-round of "I Hear a Pickle" while trying to eat lunch, I had to tell him we'd read it again later.  He often brings me books to read while I'm on the bike or trying to eat, the little goob.

...Whenever he greets another person, he says "Hi, Jace!" Haha!

...He started waking up in the middle of the night again, and all of a sudden he could count to three, tell me when something is "weh-woh" (yellow), and has been using much longer utterances, more verbs, and his articulation is becoming increasingly more precise. It's exciting! Helps put those night-wakings in perspective ;)

...Jace calls rice and orzo noodles "cheese." I'm not complaining, because since he thinks it's shredded cheese, he'll eat it!

...He's been such a snuggly, kissy little guy lately. He asks to "snug a mama?" and then curls up in my lap and leans into me. And he's been kissing us on the lips! Haha! It's so funny.

...Grammy sent him these cute little Winnie the Pooh figurines that are meant to be displayed in a garden, and Jace was SO excited when we opened them up. He's been playing with them for three days straight, and he cannot get enough. So, on Sunday, I filled a flower pot up with soil and created a little "Pooh Garden" ("A Pooh dard?") for him, complete with a stone pathway, a little log for Tigger to bounce on, and a house of sticks for Eeyore. Jace was captivated, and spent Sunday afternoon digging in the dirt and playing with Pooh and his friends. However...toddlers aren't especially gentle in their play (at least mine isn't). By the end of the first day, only Tigger and Eeyore were left intact. As of today, due to over-affection and a terrible case of the dropsies, everyone but Pooh Bear and Eeyore has lost their noggins, turning a whimsical Pooh Garden into Pooh's Corner of Horrors.  It looks very sinister.

...Loves to shriek at the top of his lungs. We address it when it's an angry, tantrummy shriek, but have been ignoring it when it's a scream of joy. But it can kind of drive us crazy (Luke included). Any tips for curbing this age-appropriate yet ear-shattering habit?

Luke Snapshot (13.5 weeks)

...Luke is so sweet, smiley, and sensitive.

...He continues to grow like a weed. He's got such long legs, and I'm loving his little round tummy.

...Luke laughed for the first time at 12 weeks old while we were in Oregon, at his Papa Todd. I heard it, but I was in the kitchen when it happened, so I didn't get to see it. Right now, it's more like a short chuckle rather than a full-out belly laugh. I love it! 

...He's ticklish on his sides, neck, and thighs (that's how I produce the chuckles).

...Luke had a scary fall a few weeks ago and hit his head. He had to go to Urgent Care, then the ER, where he had to have a CT scan (luckily he was just fine).

...He loves to be sung to, especially Old McDonald Had a Farm. And we discovered the album "Sleep Baby Sleep" by Nicolette Larson. It's a game-changer, folks. She is God's gift to mamas, and I told Colt if we ever have a girl, we are naming her Nicolette, because I owe her my sanity. Out running errands and forgot the binkie? Turn on Nicolette. Baby's upset for a reason you can't identify? Nicolette. Little one fighting a nap? Fussy? Expressing extreme displeasure about being strapped into his carseat? Girl, get on that Youtube channel or Spotify playlist and play yourself some Nicolette. 

...Luke is scared of sneezes (except for his own). They startle him and make him cry. In fact, most sudden, loud noises upset him. Makes things a little dicey, as he's sharing a house with a rambunctious big brother.

...I love when I look over and Luke will be staring at me, waiting for me to make eye contact. As soon as we lock eyes, he smiles with his entire body. His little legs stiffen up, he squeezes his elbows into his ribs, his tiny hands ball up into fists and he tucks them under his chin, his eyes light up and he smiles his huge, gummy smile. I hope he's always this happy to have my attention ;)

Four Years Later

Today, we celebrate four years of you eating everything I make, even if it's not to your liking (soy sauce, anyone?). Four years of corny jokes, cross-country moves, graduations, work, church callings, and Parks and Recreation marathons on Netflix. Four years of early bedtimes and waking up with the sun, you sleeping with the fan on as I pull on wool socks and bury myself under extra blankets, and dinners at 4:00 pm. Four years of you taking out the trash and doing almost all of the laundry, me making your lunch and cleaning the kitchen, of reading good books and learning how to be parents, of fun trips, hard trials, emotional experiences, mundane routines, life-changing milestones, and exciting events. Four years of you and me, babe, and there's nobody I'd rather do life with than you. You are perfect for me, and I'll keep trying to be perfect for you. Four years and two kids later, and I still can't believe how lucky I got.

We celebrated tonight by throwing our family a birthday party, complete with roasted hot dogs on the fire-pit, the Oldies station on Pandora, and chocolate cake with birthday candles. I love being your wife, and I love being our boys' mom. It feels like everything meaningful and substantial in my life began the day I met you. You've given me everything and it's exciting to think we're only just getting started. Happy Anniversary, C.

Also, you still look exactly the same. ;)

Life Lately

Why we call him "The Professor."

Wearing Colt's cowboy boots from when he was a little guy. Jace loves to try them on, but isn't fond of the heel, so as soon as they are on his feet he wants to take them off.

Time is going by so fast lately! It's been a little bit since the last update, so I figured I'd try to capture a little of what we've been up to the last few weeks before this sweet time of life fades from my memory. The days and weeks just seem to fly.
We had some beautiful, sunny weather last week so we did the best we could to make the most of it! I kept the back door open most of the afternoon so Jace could drift in and out of the house and enjoy as much outside time as possible. I filled up the little plastic kiddie pool, and Luke and I spent a couple of mornings watching Jace splash in the water and give his tractors and cars a bath. We went out to breakfast at a delicious local bakery last weekend, and were able to go to go for a short hike as a family. Both boys did great! They're little outdoorsman. The lawn got mowed, we had a picnic dinner at the park one night, the sprinkler was ran through and popsicles consumed.  On Saturday afternoon, we were able to hit up a "fancy park," complete with a sandbox and a splash-pad. Later that evening, we attended a barbecue at the neighbors house, where it was discovered that Jace loves hotdogs! Who knew? Memorial Day morning was spent at home relaxing. After they boys' naps, we packed up a picnic and headed out to a local lake to spend some time in the water and play on the playground next to the beach. Afterwards, we stopped in town for frozen yogurt and a few groceries, then headed home to watch a movie snuggled together on our bed. We're back to cloudy days and cooler weather this week, but hopefully it warms up again soon!

Jace Snapshot

...Jace is a crack-up lately! He's acquiring new words and phrases everyday. 
...He said "wuh you, mama!"for the first time on Mother's Day Eve, the sweetest Mother's Day gift yet. He's also been really great about using his polite words: thank you, please, and excuse me (when reminded). 
...He's in a mischievous phase...or maybe he's just mischievous. Either way, I've discovered him coloring on his body, playing in the toilet, climbing on the bathroom countertops to stand in the sink, pushing the button on the thermostat and setting the temperature to a wintery 48 degrees, pulling snacks out of the pantry, squeezing his hands into the small gap in the baby-proofed drawers and pulling out the sharpest objects he can find (or our car keys), dumping out a box of toothpicks, eating blue playdough, opening our drawers and using them to try and scale the dresser, turning the lights off and on...oh, and he can officially open the garage door now, so along with the bathroom doors, I have to make sure that door is locked as well. He keeps us on our toes! I've noticed he is much busier and wants his hands in everything on the days we don't get to go outside as much. He is definitely one that needs to burn off his energy, or else he gets very antsy. 
...Jace is loving monster trucks right now. He likes to watch videos of them, read books about them, as well as play with the ones he owns...he can't get enough "monsa tucks!"
...He likes to unload a particular drawer in our kitchen that's filled with odds and ends (like the cookie dough scooper, meat thermometer, cheese grater, etc) and stack everything on the countertop...then abandon ship. Ha! I often stumble upon random, contained little messes like this during the day, like a single tall tower of blocks left stacked in the center of the room, or a couple of overturned jugs of water we keep in the food storage closet. They almost seem intentional, like he wants people to know "Jace was here."
...Jace calls all cereal "Cheerios."
...Tells us when he sees two of something: "Two cars!" "Two cookies!" etc
...He loves to drive his cars over our kneecaps. He makes us straighten out our legs, then he very carefully drives his monster truck over the "bumps." He gets upset when my pants won't roll up above my knee, or if we move; we're working on teaching him that Mommy is the boss of her body, and Jace is only the boss of his body. 
...Jace is in a Mickey Mouse phase right now. He wants to wear his Mickey clothes, and he has been loving Mickey and the Roadster Racers, which I had never even heard of before but is perfect for this automobile obsessed little man. As a byproduct of this Mickey fixation, he's started saying "Hotdog!" when something good happens, and it is the cutest. I've started to include it in my own vocabulary, because I don't want him to ever stop saying it!
...He loves taking the sacrament at church. When they start to pass the bread, he yells over and over again: "Sac-et?! Bread coming?!" It's not the most reverent behavior, but I'm glad he's excited about it!
...When I'm being silly, Jace has started calling me a "funny chicken!" That's what he calls the goofy pet chicken in the movie "Moana,"and I'm not sure how I feel about being compared to that weird little guy. But it definitely makes me laugh!

Luke Snapshot

...Luke loves music, especially country music. It's almost as effective as white noise at putting him to sleep. He also loves when we sing to him.
...He's found his hands, and is constantly kicking and waving his arms and legs with a serious, focused expression on his face. He's all business.
...There are three little "Stages of Use" illustrations on the inside of his swing, and he could stare and coo at those pictures all day long if I let him! 
...He's becoming so interactive and vocal.  He lights up when I look at him and tell him something, and he coos right back, mimicking the shape of my mouth. I love those little baby conversations
...He greatly prefers being held or carried facing out towards the world. The Moby excursions are much more successful when he's forward facing. 
...Luke is a little Houdini and can squirm out of almost all of my swaddles, and even out of the Miracle Blanket sometimes! I've had to start double-swaddling him for naps.
...Luke loves Jace. His serious, contemplative expressions quickly give way to smiles when Jace comes over to give "baby wuvs?" And then, sometimes those smiles become tears when Jace's "wuvs" get a little too smother-y. Haha! I love these little brother friends.