Winter picnics.

Lately the boys have been in the mood to have a picnic.

So we brew up some hot chocolate & throw out the blanket

& we have some happy boys.

Their picnics always involve the squeezable applesauces!

Ohh they're something. 

And this is what our little Mr. has been up to.

Up on his knees, pulling himself up on things.

I feel like walking is not too far off for this fella. 

And this is what Olivia has been up to.

Sleeping with Brock at night. 

Late nights.

When it's Luke's late night to work 

the boys & try to find something to do to pass the time.  

Now that the weather has been a little 'nicer' we decided it was time

to venture out & visit the library & grab a bite to eat.

So after naptime I informed them we were going out on the town.

They said no at first, but then I told them they read so many books

that the library will give them a book bag.

After that they were sold & so excited to get there that I was summoned

to drive to the library first! 

I walked in (the boys ran) & they headed straight for the librarian

to request their special bag.

(Another cheap reusable bag that I get to throw as soon as they're not looking!)

They filled up their bags with DVD's, books & read a longs (with complimentary cassette of course).

Thanks to grandma Elois we received her donated cassette player

& the boys have no clue that those buggers are a thing of the past.

And that's just how I want it, because at the library...the cassettes are always available to check out!

We did go high class with the DVD's during this visit though.

 Here's the loot we came home with.

I know...let's hope I can keep track of all these books.

After the library the boys voted to go to McD's for some nuggets.

While I was ordering I told them I wanted 2 girl happy meals.

Then they both started yelling, "we're boys mom, not girls!"

I explained that in order to get the barbie toy I needed to say "girl".

They said, "oh, okay!"

Haha I love the stage we're still in where we don't quite care about society's norm 

of what's for a girl or boy.  Let's keep it that way for a little longer please!

So they enjoyed their happy meals with butterfly bracelets that they LOVE. 

Showing off their bracelets.

And Vance stayed busy chewing on the plastic that the toys came in!

Just keeping everyone happy til dad gets home. 

Meant to be.

You know every once in awhile

you get reminded by something or someone

how things are meant to be.

Well here's a prime example...

Luke had his work Christmas Party last week

& when he came home he had a few paper towels with something inside.

He told me he thought I might like a couple bars from the party!

How 'old person like' of him, but how sweet.

Even though the bars were squished and probably shoved into a coat pocket

(to avoid potential embarrassment!)

I ate them up & enjoyed every bite.

It was just another one of those 'signs' that we were meant to be.

Because I would have done the same thing!

(I just had to get a picture....I'm still laughing!)

Tubing.

The weather took another turn for COLD this past weekend.

We were hoping for warmer weather, but no, it was freezing.

It was beautiful though!

(our backyard)

The cold didn't stop us from going tubing at Powder Ridge though.

Adler was so excited & the whole family was going,

so we went along.

And they had a blast.

Even Brock went down, even though he said all week prior to going

that he was just going to sit & watch because he was too scared.

Grandpa Wayne, dad, & Adler headed out without him

& he quickly changed his mind!

(Grandpa Wayne & Adler) 

The tubing hills. 

Luke with Brock. 

The little tubers chalet where I hung out with Vance, Grandma & Erin. 

 Happy Birthday Auntie Erin! 

Closet shifting.

I hate changing out closets.

I can't wait until this slows down a bit

because I'm changing out Vance's closet every 2 months 

 the other boys I just changed up a size too.

Ahhh it's exhausting & usually takes a lot longer 

than what you would anticipate.

I especially dislike when I find a tote with sizes that you just packed away

because they were getting too small.

But a few of the things I just had to unpack so Vance could wear them

once or twice.

This little outfit will be one that he can only wear once.

It was just too tight!

Back in the tote it goes.

(don't you love his expression!)

Brothers.

Brothers. brothers. brothers.

What would they do without each other?

And what would I do without them?

Adler & Brock do a great job as big brother

& they help entertain him or grab a diaper.

I think things have recently changed though 

& Vance is now doing some of the entertaining too!

Vance is crawling all over the house.

Should be interesting when he starts walking! 

Brock showing Vance his 'Scout' puppy.

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Johnson.

That puppy is wonderful!  He loves that it says his name. 

More helping out! 

Vance takes no mercy.

He's into wrestling already.

(and a little biting!)

and his older brothers love it

(except for when Vance bit Brock!). 

The boys made our family at Sunday School.

Can you guess who's is who's?!

Someone even got Olivia in the portrait too. 

Adler has been spending time practicing his letters.

Sometimes I won't see him for a bit & I catch him writing things down

I think he's pretty excited about school!

This is what I saw him doing the other day.

(the alphabet...on top of each other. he starts at the bottom 

& if he runs out of room he moves up on the paper, strange!) 

 I can't wait for spring.

I feel like if I want a quiet moment in the house

I need to turn on the tv.

I'm warning them that pretty soon I'm going to be telling them to go outside.

Then Vance & I are going to follow them outside too

& I'm going to be chasing him all over the place I presume! 

I made the boys their very own loaf of banana bread yesterday.

They got to pick what they wanted in their loaf.

Brock wanted chocolate chips & pecans.

Adler chose just chocolate chips.

And they ate their whole loaf in a day!

At least is wasn't in one sitting

(even though they wanted to eat it all for breakfast). 

LOVE.

I LOVE Valentine's day.
Sadly, it typically doesn't equal a very romantic day.
I think several small children & lack of budget might be part of it.
But one day.
In the future.
I'm holding out for the days when the kids can be home by themselves
& Luke & I can spend an entire day,
heck, maybe even a entire day & night,
& when we have more money
(& we're not trying to build a new room onto the house that drains all of our funds).
THEN we're going to make a big bang out of Valentine's.
Right honey?

This year's Valentine's was nice though.
Luke & the boys made me Valentine's cards.
I made Luke a homemade card too.
And we gave the boys a big sucker with a stuffed animal
with a homemade card (of course!).

He also brought me home a beautiful arrangement of flowers
(does it count when I told him I wanted flowers when he walked out the door?!).

But the most precious gift of all
that didn't even happen on Valentine's day.
It was a note I found on my way into bed a few night before
& it read this...

(I love mom)

I think this made my day, maybe month,

heck...it made my last 5 years!!!

I love this new stage of learning letters & writing words.

I hope there's many more of these sweet love notes to come.

Luke surprised me & took the day off (his late day at work too!)

I hired my cousin Ang to babysit for a few hours (thank you!)
& we went to Maple Grove to shop a little & eat out
without kids!

Time went too fast, like always,
but we had fun together
AND Luke purchased some green skinny jeans....
now we're talking romantic,
or more like...SEXY!

Visitors.

We've recently had a few visitors

& it has been so fun having them around.

Last week it was school conference time,

which means we get to play with Ms. Personality (aka Ingrid).

The boys were so excited to have her come play.

I think she was equally thrilled

& as soon as she walked in the door she came and asked me,

"Where's baby Vance?" 

Ohh she's a hoot, considering she's so little & knows way too much already!

This past weekend Mike & Emily & Levi came to hang out, drink, 

eat food, talk, & spend the night.  It was great!   

Levi was hanging out too! (literally) 

We unpackaged our new furniture which also doubled as playpens for the boys. 

p.s. we love visitors.  come visit us!

Baptism & birthday.

Today we were busy with Aubrea's baptism 

& Ethan's birthday.

Church was packed & the kids were wild!

Catching up with friends after church. 

Sweet Aubrea Rose. 

Here's the trouble makers! 

Shortly after this picture I headed to the back of the church

to attempt to keep them quiet.

Here's where the boys & I ended up

while everyone else watched the baptism.

But hey, we played doggie & read every book we could find.

Ohh the joys of boys!

After church we all went to Max's to celebrate. 

And after a fun & crazy weekend at the Herdina's 

we headed home.

Wrestling.

Our little (I mean big) comedian nephew Peyton

decided he was also spending the night with us at G & G Herdina's on Saturday.

He always gave us something to laugh at!

Grandpa Herdina decided he was going to show Peyton

a few 'old school' wrestling moves

(since Peyton is now a heavy weight wrestler & he was telling us how good he was!).

Here's the spectators.

I thought Eddie was going to need another hip

with all the action that was going on & I got so nervous watching that I had to leave.

But not after I got a few shots!  

Eddie even took his glasses off, so you know he was serious.

And this move turned into a dog pile

(with Peyton on the bottom! haha)

Everyone agreed that no one will be wrestling Peyton in a few years.

They could barely handle this heavy weight 10 year old!