Happy Birthday Ryan!!

Today is my hubby's birthday!! Ryan turns 27 today :). I am SO happy that he was born 27 years ago, and that we met 5 years ago. I know that he won't read this...he isn't into the blog scene...but I wanted to take a day to honor him anyway!

Ryan is SUCH a good dad and husband. We are so lucky.
He is loyal, honest, and a very hard worker. He provides for his family...and for that I am grateful!
At 27 he has already accomplished so much...I look forward to 27 more birthdays and everything that the future has in store for us!
Happy birthday Ryan...love you will all of my heart!!

I cannot believe that it's MARCH 5!

The last month has been a crazy blur. We closed on our new house February 1…and he past month has been full or moving, packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, cleaning, buying, etc. I think that the end is in sight, we are hoping (crossing fingers) to move into our new house after this weekend.

I will feel so much better being in ONE place. Our new house is starting to look like HOME with our stuff (new and old) in it. I just can’t wait to be settled.

Obviously with the move to the new house comes the {freak out} about selling our current house…but I am just going to try to stay positive and hopeful about that.

In the midst of the craziness…this little beautiful girl is growing and changing SO much….and I just LOVE her!

Blake and Papa!

Last Wednesday Blake and Papa had a little outing! Blake was SO excited.



Papa (my dad) was coming to pick Blake up before school and take him to the barber shop and out to breakfast. Blake was WAY overdue for a trim :). He was SO excited for papa to pick him up and for the special outing (just the 2 of them).

Typically Blake is not much a morning person, but this day he sure was! He woke up early, picked out a "special" outfit, and waited by the door in preparation of papa's arrival.

My dad said that Blake was such a big boy. He sat in the barber chair with no issues for his haircut. They went to Tim Horton's for breakfast and Blake was especially excited about the donut that they shared (although I hear that Blake ate more than his fair share).

How special that Blake gets alone time with my dad...I am sure that these are the memories that he will recall when he grows up!!

Hit with the bug…

My sister was home from Colorado this past weekend. We were all SO excited for her to come visit…and it was great to have her home. BUT, we all got hit with the nasty flu bug.

I got the call on Thursday that Liv had gotten sick at school. Poor baby. This is the first time that she has ever thrown up. She wasn’t a spitter-upper as a baby either, so this was very new and scary for her!
Her daycare director said that it was going around…but it wasn’t the norovirus, it was quick. That kids would get it, but it was a 4-6 hour flu. Liv was pretty darn sick for about 3.5 hours, but then really came out of it. I figured that was it. Since my sis was just coming in…we packed up and headed to my mom’s to see her.

Fast forward to the next day…went to lunch, all fine. A couple of hours later, Blake is sick. Oh no. Poor baby. Blake’s lasted a bit longer than Liv’s.

My sis and I went out with friends on Friday night for a bit…all was well. Mary left there to go meet up with my parents and I went home to help Ry with the babies. By the time Mary had gotten home…she was sick. It hit that fast!

By midnight I was sick. My mom was sick.

By the next morning my dad was sick.

UGH…..I felt SO bad!

Luckily is missed Ryan, Lord knows how?!!? He must be strong!

Anywho..it was a rough 24 hours or so….but we are all better now. Knocking on wood that the flu bug is gone for good from our family now!!

Friday Phone Dump

Just a few cell phoen pics this week. We have been busy moving and getting our NEW HOUSE ready to move in to :)

1. iPad fun....they love it!

2. My little moving crew...this is where they have been hanging out at the new house while we clean/move/etc.

3. Little cow-poke. He wore if cowboy halloween costume ALL.DAY.LONG. And he felt awesome :)

4. Is this normal? Blake is smushing Liv....and she LOVES it. I see some injuries in our future. Yikes.

5. Sunset....so pretty. On the way to our new house. Going to have to adjust to the daily commute!

6. Sorty of my life....clean, clean, clean!!

TGIF :)

Oh How Pintererting

Today I am linking up with Michelle for Oh How Pinteresting!!

I am all over the place on this one this week!! Ha...I guess my mind is all over the place as well.

I LOVE this lampshade...and think that this is totally a craft that I could handle. I think that I may make one. I will show you if I do :)

How cute is this Valentine? I think that Blake would just love it. Totally up his alley.

Source: zakkalife.blogspot.com via Annie on Pinterest

And these look great for Valentines day too...what a cute idea!!

Source: pikadillycharm.blogspot.com via Annie on Pinterest

I am currently reading this book. I am about 1/2 way through. It is pretty good so far...but kinda sad, adn I see it getting sadder before it is over :(

Source: jodipicoult.com via Annie on Pinterest

We just did this in our new house under the kitchen sink. I HIGHLY reccomend this....it was cheap, easy, and it makes the space look SO MUCH BETTER!! Tile were between $1 and $2 each!!

Source: familyhandyman.com via Annie on Pinterest

What are you pinning? Follow me here...and link up here!!

Friday Phone Dump #3

I just have to say....I LOVE my iPhone! I didn't get one until December....I had been missing the boat. It is the greatest thing ever.

And because if that...here is another installment of Friday Phone Dump. Still not taking TONS of pics, but getting better...and I LOVE Instagram. So fun to play around with that app!!


1. 2 tired babies on the way home from grandpa and grandma's...took Blake about 2.2 seconds to fall asleep...Liv held on for a little longer to give the camera a smirk!!

2. banana cookies. delish! i have made 2 batches this week. they are SO good!

3. had Tuesday off...it was so nice out. Took the kids for a walk. Blake did more running than walking, and then had to sit down and take a break. This has been the mildest winter ever! Not complaining, but it's kinda strange. Not what we are used to in MI.

4. grilled cheese with provolone, avocado, and tomato. i could eat this every day! I am obsessed with avocado's lately.

5. had a little photo shoot with Blake. usually he HATES getting his pic taken, but he was asking and loving it...so I took advantage of the opportunity. He wasn't his pic with all of his little toys...then he would look at them on my phone and just laugh and laugh....man, I love that kid!!

cheers to the weekend!!

Friday Phone Dump #2

Going the iPhone dump for the second week in a row....it's just pics of the kids, kids, kids....what's new!??


The kids getting ready for a little winter fun!! They both love being outside in the snow!!

My little snow bunny!!!

Blake toleratingthe camera....but obviously not enjoying it...

At the dr's office. Waiting to see Blake's Dr. for his 3 year well visit. Still waiting.....

Livi acting like a big girl....

Cousin fun...Blake and Addy playing at gma and gma S's house.....

They are only 4 months apart...trouble!!

B LOVED Addy's Toy Stroy book w/ action figures....might have to get him one...he sat there for hours!! After about 45 minutes of trying to get Blake dressed and ready for school on Wednesday I gave up and let him choose his outfit. He dug through a box and found these buzz Lightyear pajamas (3 sizes too small) and decided this was the outfit today. He felt pretty awesome walking into school this morning. Pick your battles, right??!!

TGIF!!!

Random Reflections

Here are a few thoughts spinning in my head right now-

-I am still trying to get organized, caught up, rested etc. Time is just going SO fast.

-The weekend was great – no concrete plans – but it still went way too fast.

-Blake and Ryan had fun outside ice fishing. Ryan has caught two big fish in the past two weekends (good for him – although I don’t want to eat them )!

-Livi is SUCH a big girl and took big strides (pun intended) with her walking this weekend

-I can’t believe that I am compiling tax information. I feel like I JUST did this. Where did 2011 go?

-Not sure where Blake gets his imagination. He says the funniest things. When he and Ryan were fishing Ryan was explaining the tip-ups and that when there was a flag up, that meant that there was a fish on. Blake said, “I’ve got my eye on the prize, dad.” That just cracks me up because it is not something that we say!!

-I am busy de-cluttering the house…where does all of the STUFF come from!?

-I am so happy that some of my shows are back on TV…gives me something to look forward to at night; Bachelor, Biggest Loser, American Idol, etc.

More of Livi's cute 1 year pics:

Friday Phone Dump

I just got my new iPhone in December. I still don't use it to take a ton of pictures...I guess I just need to get more in the habit of using it! I have seen others do a Friday Phone Dump post....is there a link-up somewhere? I am sure that there must be....

Anyway, I think that I will jump on the bandwagon this week and post my iPhone pics!! (although there are only three :)).

Poor sweet Liv.......she's even adorable when she is mad :)
This is here favorite new hangout. This chair is in Blake's room. He never paid much attention to it, but she thinks that it is the coolest thing EVER. She just sits there acting so proud of herself!

And this is ALL that you will see of Blake these days. He avoids the camera like crazy. Such a MAN. I miss the days when he would pose for the camera!

Happy weekend everyone!! Enjoy :)

Pony-Tails

It seems like Olivia's hair is growing like crazy lately. Her bangs are starting to hang in her face, but I cannot bring myslef to snip them yet! We have started to wear a pony-tail! She looks so cute. Remonds me of my sister when she was little. Mary wore what we called a "whale-tail" until about 3rd grade! ha.
And here are a few more pictures from Olivia's 1st birthday photo shoot:


It was nice to not be super busy all weekend. I worked late on Friday and then we went to bed early. On Saturday we hung out around the house and then Ryan took me out on a date :). Sunday was spent at BOTH of our parents houses...Blake loved sledding and playing in the snow. Ryan was finally able to do a little ice fishing, and he caught a 28.5 inch pike. Now he is going to want to be fishing all of the time :)

Winter Wonderland

We finally got our first big snow of the winter! It looks so beautiful here this morning. I haven't taken pics yet, because I am working today. Blake is chomping at the bit to get out and build a snowman! I am posting a few pictures of Blake and Ryan playing in the snow last year at this time.....my has Blake grown in a year! He looks like a baby in these pictures. Can't wait to get out there and play with him this winter :)

Smarty Pants

I just have to tell y’all how SMART my little Blake is. Some days I am seriously AMAZED by the stuff that he knows!! He retains EVERYTHING. He has the longest attention span ever. He LOVES to read. He is obsessed with the iPad and will work on that thing all day long (IF I would let him).

One of his new favorites is putting together puzzles in the Pad. He is SO good at it! I explined it to him just one or two times, to look for the corners, and then the edges, and then to fill it in. He just concentrates on it...and does it...and then is SO proud of himself. And I am proud of him too :)
Check out this look of concentration on his face :)

Not only is my little guy smart...he's also CUTE :)

...and silly!!

I just love him so much!!

Trip to Great Wolf Lodge

Before the holiday and the kid’s birthdays we wanted to take a little overnight trip. Ryan had another vacation day to use. We decided to go to Traverse City for a night and stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. We had been there once before with Blake just before Livi was born. That was our last trip as a family of three. This time all four of us went!

It was very fun. Both kids loved the waterpark. Blake loved our hotel room and kept asking if it was our new house! He had his own room with bunk beds. It looked like a tent, so he was in heaven.

I love making these memories with our little family. This small trip makes me look forward to the bigger trips that we will be able to take when they are a little older!

Olivia checking out the hotel room :)

Me adn my girl getting ready to hit the water park!
She's excited...

Blake and Ryan at the arcade! Not sure who has more fun...Blake or dad?

Intense game of skee-ball!

Weeeeee!

Blake LOVES Wiley the Wolf! We went to "stroy hour" where we listened to a story and did a little dance. Blake was in awe when he got to meet Wiley! So cute!

Checking out the lobby

Daddy and Liv too!

The lobby was all decorated for Christmas!

Getting ready to hit the slides! Blake is SO brave and such a good swimmer!

Livi likes the water too, but had just as much fun watching everyone else.

Time to leave :( Waiting for daddy to pick us up at the front door.

It was a very fun trip. I am so proud of my babies for being such good little travelers!