Just Because…

Anxious to see what the day holds…

Happy Thursday.

Be blessed!

Sawin’ Z’s

Last night, as I was making my way to bed, I heard “S, quick come in here…you have to see this!”

This is what C discovered as he was checking on B before heading to sleep himself…

 

Yes, B is asleep with his Ella dog on top of his head!

A few minutes later, B moved his Ella from on top of his head to next to him. He also moved his foot to a lower position, apparently sleeping with one foot in between crib rails isn’t all that comfortable!?

There is something about watching your precious little one sleep…I am so grateful for B’s sleep and can’t help but wonder what he might be dreaming about as his little body is gearing up for another big day.

Sweet Sweet Dreams!

Happy Thursday.

Poor Pup

Let me explain…

I sort of feel like our month of September could be like a Morton Salt advertisement…remembering the phrase “When it rains, it pours”!  It has felt like every time we have turned around this month something has needed our attention of been in need of repair.

I need to remember to keep things in perspective, we have each other, our health, a roof over our heads, families that loves us, and most importantly JESUS!  But the month has proven to be quite adventurous (and expensive) and has left us hopeful that October might be a little less eventful!

Our most recent “adventure” pertained directly to our precious Ella dog.

Last weekend, we were feeling sorry for Ella…realizing that we hadn’t  taken her to the park to play ball in awhile.  In effort to make our hearts feel less guilty and to give Ella some exercise, we packed up the stroller and headed for the park.

The grassy area that Ella usually runs in was being used by a group playing soccer. We didn’t want to leave on account of the lack of grassy space so we chose a fenced parking lot as our plan B.

  

C threw the ball…Ella ran after it…B clapped and cheered he on…really it seemed perfect…

Until C realized that Ella’s paws were bleeding! Apparently running after a ball on asphalt and skidding to a stop to retrieve  is hard on little puppy’s paws?!

Ella didn’t want to stop, you never would have known that all four of her paws were wounded…to the point that C had to carry our fully grown golden retriever all the way home!

After walking home, we called the vet and were encouraged to cover her paws until we could get our pitiful pup in to be seen. B’s socks seemed to do the trick (at least at first…it only took her about 15 minutes to figure out how to pull them off).

The vet ended up bandaging all four paws…(Doesn’t she look pitiful!?)

We have now been to the vet more than once to have the bandages rewrapped as Ella seems to have become and escape artist and will be going again later in the week to have them checked and re-bandaged again.

Until then, she is sporting two actual bandages and two of B’s socks taped around her legs…really, she is quite a sight to be seen!

We are hoping that the vet will give her a clean bill of health later on in the week…all of us are ready to close the bandage chapter of this month and praying against infection!!!!

I guess our dog was just trying to keep us on our toes (no pun intended)!

Here’s to rolling with it!!!!

Happy September!

Be blessed.

For Real!

B actually got to wear a sweater to school this week!!!!!!

Happy Fall!

Apple Sauce Update…

Last night, we enjoyed tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches in honor of the cooler weather.

C had the idea of spreading some of the apple sauce on one side of the grilled cheese sandwiches before grilling…we tried it and it was absolutely FANTASTIC!!!! Really, the cinnamon, apple and cheese flavors together were delicious.

Just thought I would share the idea, in case anyone makes apple sauce of their own.

Happy Fall!!!!

Be blessed.

Finally!?!

We couldn’t have been more excited to wake up this morning to discover the cool crisp fall weather outside!

Has fall finally arrived in our neck of the wood?

B and I chose to celebrate by taking am morning walk.  It was cool enough for B to wear a sweatshirt…I even covered his little legs with a blanket (FOR REAL!!!!)

After our walk, we played outside. B found a snail and rolly polly bugs that he found to be quite fascinating.

Later, we made our way inside to make apple sauce…there’s just something about sixty degree weather that makes one giddy and ready for the smell of sweet apples and cinnamon.

B helped me peel and core the apples by turning the crank on our apple peeler corer slicer (thank you mom, this made our job much easier!)

 

B was even willing to try some of the peeled apples…this was a huge feat as B' s palate still isn’t real keen on non-pureed fruits.

After slicing the peeled apples, I placed them on the stove to simmer…B pretended to mash imaginary apples as he watched me mash the real thing…

We added sugar and cinnamon and placed the sauce in the refrigerator to cool.  After lunch, I offered a spoonful of the cool sauce to B…I wasn’t surprised by his lack of interest.  I guess that means more homemade apple sauce for this momma…surely he will come around at some point!

Happy COOL Monday!

Be blessed.

The recipe we used:

4 medium apples

1/2 cup water

1.4 cup sugar

cinnamon

Peel, core and slice apples. Cute the slices into small pieces. Put the apples in a sauce pan with 1/2 cup water and simmer for 15 minutes. Mash apples with a potato masher. Stir in 1/4 cup sugar and sprinkle to taste with cinnamon. Enjoy

Evidence…

I think anyone could say that this hair is evidence of a fantastic afternoon nap!

Happy Saturday!

Be blessed.

Fall?!?

Fall is one of my favorite times of year…No other time of year does Starbucks sells their famous “Pumpkin Spice Lattes”, grocery stores stock shelves with candy and HONEY CRISP APPLES ARE FINALLY IN SEASON!

One of my favorite aspects of Minnesota is the fall. I am the first to admit that I romanticize my memories of Minnesota in the fall…but even still I miss the air getting cool, the leaves changing, t-shirts and shorts being  replaced with sweaters and long pants, drinking hot chocolate at football games, etc. eat.

One especially fond fall memory that really sticks out in my mind is going to the apple orchard to pick apples. I can remember riding the tractor out to what seemed like the depths of the orchard to pick a basket full of apples.  After the picking, we would anxiously await a taste of cider as my mom and dad purchased the apples that we had so carefully chosen.

The return of honey crisp apples (my absolute favorite) has graciously reminded me of my sweet fall memories. Just biting into one seems to taste like fall to me, truly.

Here’s to memories, hopefully the start of fall in Cowtown (weather-wise) and apples!!!!

p.s. honey crisp apples make fantastic homemade applesauce!!!

I came across this photo earlier today…this was B on his first trip to an apple orchard in Maine last fall.

Be blessed.

Little Helper

B’s curiosity in the kitchen continues to amaze me. He loves to stand on his stool and just watch what is happening.

Today, I decided to put his curiosity to work. He mimicked me as I mixed cookie dough by mixing his own batch of “blue cookie dough” with a bowl, play-doh and a spatula…

   

I truly can’t get enough of  times like this. It is such a gift to watch him experience the world around him…before I know it, he will be baking his very own chocolate chip cookies!

Happy Tuesday.

Be blessed.

Go Frogs!

Seeing double as we cheer the frogs on!

Swim Lessons

B is still getting the hang of being in a chilly pool…but really seems to enjoy hanging out in the water…

Here’s to our little fish!

Be blessed.

Oh Happy Day!

In the past week and a half we have had service repairmen out to fix our air conditioner, washing machine and dryer…needless to say it has been quite a few days in our neck of the wood!

The air conditioner and dryer were able to be repaired (thank goodness). We learned on the third service visit that the washer was well past its prime and ready to be replaced (unless we were okay with not having a spin cycle).

C and B worked to pull dripping wet clothes out from the old machine…

And then worked hard to get the new machine ready to rewash the same load of clothes!

 

I found myself wincing and biting my lips as I watched C and the delivery man “maneuver” (really push and prod) the new machine into its tight little home (the two had less than a quarter of an inch to work with).

All in all, this momma couldn’t be more excited. Our old machine sounded like it was about to take off each time it ran, which I guess was part of the problem. The delivery man assured us that this one would be much quieter…and to all of our amazement…it actually is!

Now I am faced with the task of conquering a week and a half’s worth of laundry…typically I would be less than thrilled, but I am actually happy to do it!

Happy Saturday!

All Aboard!

Our friend, M, and her son C, were able to make a quick visit to Cowtown last weekend.

We had just enough time to meet for a quick lunch and take the boys on a train ride…this was one of M & C’s favorite things to do when they lived in Cowtown…and this was B’s inaugural ride.

Both boys waited patiently to board the miniature train…

 

A little family photo as the conductor shouted “All aboard!”

The train takes riders along the Trinity river. There is a half way stop where you can get off, stretch your legs and get soda and popcorn.

B enjoyed stretching his legs…

Exploring the train car…

And trying tiny pieces of popcorn!

Little C made sure that B was sitting right behind him the entire ride.

I love this photo of the boys…watching the world pass by from the miniature train car.

All in all it was a fun adventure…and a great way to spend an afternoon with friends.

M & C…we can’t wait for our next ride.

Happy Tuesday.

Be blessed.

It’s True…

All three of us in our neck of the wood will be “purpled-out” tomorrow!

I promise, I don’t typically lay our clothes out each night…I just saw C’s shirt hanging in our room ready for work in the morning and couldn’t resist…

Here’s to our FROGS!!!

Go Frogs!

Back to School

It’s true, fall is upon us…though the thermometer hasn’t let onto its formal arrival just yet.

The official arrival of fall typically means the start of a new school year, which is very much the case in our neck of the wood. 

It is so hard to believe how much B has changed since last fall’s first day of school…

This is the photo I snapped before we headed out the door into the monsoon-like rain storm outside…

We exchanged his diaper bag for a “big kid” backpack (it still has the same essentials as the diaper bag, but seems more appropriate now that B will be walking into his classroom on his own). B isn’t real crazy about wearing the pack, each time I have put it on his back he has taken it off to play with the zippers…hopefully he will get the idea at some point.

 

I think the day was a success because B and his teachers, Ms. L & Ms. S, were still smiling…

When we got home from school, we were welcomed by this fun bouquet of balloons to commemorate B’s big day. B was quite fascinated by the noises the balloons made as they clanked against each other.

All in all it was a good day. I was amazed to hear that B’s teachers were able to get him to sit at the miniature sized table to eat lunch with his classmates and even more stunned to learn that they were able to get him to fall asleep on his mat for rest time…really, our little B???? I couldn’t hardly believe it.

We couldn’t be more excited for B to experience school this year…especially with the sweet teachers that he has. 

Here’s to the fall (or lack thereof) and the start of a new school year!

Happy Thursday.

Gram and Grandpa, thanks for the balloons…what a sweet tradition for B to look forward to each year (I know that I always did!)

All Boy X 2

A friend encouraged us to try this playground…

We were grateful for the tip…it was FANTASTIC!

Both B and C enjoyed climbing, sliding and exploring while I stood back and played photographer…

 

B started climbing on his own initiative…

 

 

(the playground equipment made B’s new do a little CRAZY!)

 

These two are truly two peas in a pod…I beginning to think the saying “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree” is absolutely true in regard to C and B. 

I can just imagine the thoughts (dreams really) of camping trips, climbing trips, father/son bonding time etc. that flashed through C’s mind as he watched B explore the playground set with relatively no fear.

I can honestly say that I like my place on the sideline, ready to snap a photo, give a band-aid, cheer the two on…it’s kind of nice to be able to sit back and watch these two enjoy some of life’s simple joys.

Happy Tuesday.

Be blessed.

B’s Booboo

B seems to be experiencing a perpetual “boo boo” on his left knee.

He tripped and feel on it about two weeks ago.  As soon as we notice that the skin is healing, B seems to trip, fall and re-open his little wound so as to start the healing process all over again!

 

He doesn’t seem to mind…he thinks that band-aids are pretty cool to take off and play with (they typically only last for a few minutes)!

Oh, the joys of being a little boy.

Enjoy the week.

Be blessed.