Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Weekend In Review

Friday started with Nik working and me laying around while trying to entertain Jaxen. I have had some pretty bad allergies since arriving back home and it just knocks you out somedays. That has been me lately. But I survived and when Nik arrived home from work that afternoon, I went and bought me a very large Mt. Dew and went to clean a house for my job. And that pretty much sums Friday up! Not too exciting.

Saturday, however, was a fun-filled day! Our church hosted and Easter Fun Fair. Nik had to be there early so Jaxen and I were lazy Saturday morning getting ready to go.

All ready to go hunt Easter Eggs!

Easter Egg Hunting is a “spring affair”. 
But it was cold here (in the teens) so I had to do my best picking out 
winter-but-spring-colored-clothes!
I think we did it

We watched a drama about easter and then got to color eggs with markers.
Jaxen enjoyed doing that - plus…he sat through the entire drama!
It wasn’t long…but neither is his attention span

I tried to have him hold up his finished egg, but he had no desire!

They had all sorts of games for kids of all ages to play…
This one was supposed to be a race - holding an egg on a spoon.
Jaxen pretty much ran around, throwing the egg.

He got to fish for ducks.
And by the end of our time there - he was soaked and so was everyone in the vicinity!

Here he is picking out some candy.

And here is the actual Easter Egg Hunt!
 They had a really cool black-light hunt set up for the older kids,
but Jaxen was pretty happy finding eggs in the nursery!

He enjoyed bouncing in the bounce house (with the big kids).

He also got his hand painted, ate lunch and pretty much had a blast playing with everyone there!

He was super tired towards the end - so we headed home and he took a nap!

That evening after dinner - Nik and Jaxen headed to Sams Club.
And Jaxen got to try out this bike they had on display. 
Nik and I have talked about getting this for his birthday, and now I think we are!

After Sams Club, they headed to Wendy’s for dessert...

where Nik taught Jaxen how to eat a Frosty correctly - with French Fries!
He loved it!

I had another cleaning job while they were out and about.
But I did get a chance to help Jaxen finish off his Frosty once we all got home - yummy!


Sunday we headed to church bright and early!


I just have to say…church was awesome! I always enjoy church, but there are just times when the Spirit’s presence is so strong; when there are no distractions so you can whole-heartily worship; and when the message brought is a sweet reminder of God’s love, grace and forgiveness. It was a beautiful Palm Sunday - and I am excited about celebrating Easter Sunday this week!

After church we headed out to “Maple Weekend” at Massey Ranch. Doesn’t that sound very “New York?” Love it! I took this screen shot weeks ago so that I wouldn’t forget that I wanted to go!


So here’s the deal. I was a bit disappointed overall. I guess my expectations were a little high? Not sure. But here is what we did and saw -

This is where they take the sap (straight from the tree) and boil it to make pure maple syrup.

Pretty cool, but that was the extent of it. I thought it would be a bit more educational. But I guess the process is pretty simple…not sure.

We did get to sample the pure maple syrup; and maple cotton candy.

Then we stood in line outside (cold) to ride on the tractor trailer.

I’m not sure what I was expecting…but we literally rode on the trailer around the property. No tour guide talking about the history, or the land…I didn’t even see any tapped trees!

The land was pretty - so I took a few pics. And then we were back at the beginning. That’s it!

We did decide that we needed to take something away…
so we purchased a bag of cotton candy, some Maple Black Tea and some Maple Coffee.

We then headed home for Jaxen to nap and we had a relaxing evening together!


Saturday, March 28, 2015

Life Lately

Here are a few peeks at our life lately...

I had to run a quick errand to the mall this week - 
Here is Jaxen, carrying my bag and talking on his “phone” (aka: hand).
He was pretty precious!

Wednesday evening, our church had their Annual Year End Meeting.
Pastor Chad always does something different and fun for these meetings, and 
this year it was “Cooking with Clergy”! 
The pic is really hard to see, but it serves as a good reminder to me about how fun this night was!

Before we left for NM, Jaxen started Speech Therapy.
He continued it this week, with 3 sessions.
This is him and Ms. Lindsey, working together on his speech.
I do have to say…I can tell some improvement just from this week alone!

Jaxen has adjusted really well to being back home - 
the only thing that has been hard is that he wants to go “out” all the time. 
We just can’t…it’s still too cold!
This is him trying to go out, but getting stuck between our two doors!

Oh, and he does not want to wear clothes.

 So when he gets cold, he just sits in his favorite spot (in front of the heater vent).

And that about sums of our life lately - at least in Jaxen’s eyes!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Spring / Snow

Today it is snowing. 

And so when Nik came home for lunch, he built me a fire!

I'm okay with a bit more cold weather, but I sure am looking forward to spring! After I came home from our trip, I was really feeling the "spring bug". Which made me FINALLY take down the green wreath (that was dead) off my front door, and put away my "winter" mantel decorations. I know I'm a little late in the game...but seriously, who wants "spring" decor when there is 4 feet of snow on the ground?! 

But now that Easter is less than 2 weeks away, and much of the snow has melted, I'm finally feeling the "spring bug"! This week I plan to change out some pictures in my frames from winter to spring pics, and put out a few decorations that will help spring come to be! Ha ha! If only it worked that way!

It also has me wanting to put away all of our snow/cold gear, and move out Jaxens winter clothes and bring in summer clothes! But I'm holding off - because like I said... It is snowing!!!

I did purchase Jaxens Easter clothes. I don't go all out, usually just a new top and it is always something he will wear again. He is going to look like a stud on Easter Sunday! I might even pick up a new shirt for Nik and maybe something for myself. I'll just have to look and see what I can find and see if the price is right :). I have not purchased "Easter" clothes for either of us in a very long time! 

Ok. I guess I'm done with my spring ramblings. To sum it all up... I'm ready for spring!!!!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Our Trip - Home!

Jaxen and I are home! 

I was sad to leave my family but I am glad to be back home with Nik.
I was sad to leave 80 degree temps but I am glad to see lots of snow melted while I was gone!

I had the absolute best time on our trip. It was so fun to see family and friends.
And I honestly can’t remember when I spent that much time with my family, since I moved out many years ago! So - thank you, family and friends, for a fun-filled two weeks!

Here are a few pics to wrap up our trip….

A selfie on the airplane. 

He did awesome traveling home and I am so thankful.
I only have a few pics of our trip home because it was go-go-go all day!

Here he is riding on the skyline at the DFW airport.

And this is how he traveled on the flight from Dallas to Philadelphia…
headphones, ipad, drink and snacks!

 Re-united with his daddy. I think both were thrilled!

Practicing letters with the “Boggle” game.

Coloring.

This was so funny -
Scotty had someone looking at their HVAC unit and Jaxen thought he needed to be with the boys.
He followed Scotty around wherever he went…garage, outside, bedrooms!

And he, of course, got many hugs and kisses from his aunt Jessie.

Relaxing.

One morning, I took my mom’s car for an oil change 
and while we waited Jaxen checked out all the cars and found his favorite!

And then entertained himself with a balloon.

We spent a few mornings at the park and he had such a great time.
He keeps asking to “go play” now that we are home. 
But it is still pretty cold here!

A dirty boy taking a nap!

While I was getting ready one afternoon, Jaxen decided he needed to blow-dry his hair too.

 Brennen (my nephew) and Jaxen. 
Jaxen LOVED Brennen. He wanted to do and be wherever he was!

Playing outside with Brennen.

I put Jaxen’s blanket on him like a cape one morning -
I think this picture is so funny!

While there, Jaxen and his aunt Jessie painted!

We got to see my cousin, Lindsey and her husband and kids while there.
They came over and Jaxen played with Aiden (3) and his 2 older sisters outside for a long time.
He was dirty and worn out when they were done - but they had a great time!


 Taking it easy.

Wearing Scotty’s shoes and eating an apple!


Well, I think that’s it!
I’m trying to get caught up on some rest and get back in the groove of “normal” life.