Thursday, July 28, 2016

A Whole Lot Going On

A whole lot has been going on since I last posted. And I probably don’t have a ton of pictures to go along with it - sorry!

We have had cookouts, company, camp, swim lessons, speech therapy, and VBS! Whew! We are tired. In a good way :) It is summer and we are enjoying every last bit of this hot weather and beautiful days.

Oh - I forgot to mention poop. It has been a major theme this week, for some reason. I have washed 2 car seats in 3 days (like take apart every last piece of the seat and throw it in the washer); we have had many spoiled clothes (including some jeans of mine - but not from my poop); I have cleaned poop off the living room floor; been told by my 4-year-old “there is poo poo hanging from my boo boo (bottom)”; and had a very close call with a poop incident in the bathtub. I told Nik I needed a raise!

Good thing there have been other good things going on! Tuesday I dropped Jaxen off at a local church that was doing a VBS. I went inside with him because he was a bit shy (and I wanted to check it out for myself). But by the 2nd song he seemed happy and told me I could go. So I did. And he had a great time!

This morning is quiet on the home front. Jaxen is at VBS again, Nik is gone - so it is just Zane and I! I am enjoying the peaceful - and trying to get laundry put away, dishes done, write this blog post and get ready for the beach this afternoon!

So with all that said - here are a few pics from the last few days….

I don’t know if I have mentioned it before or not -
but Zane naps a lot in Nik’s office. 
It is cool in there from the A/C window unit - which also drowns out other noise,
and we can keep the door closed so Jaxen does not wake him up!

Saturday night we had 18 guys over for a cookout!
And let me tell you…these guys know how to have a cookout - ha!
Almost every man brought a cooler (not a little baggie with meat and a casserole) 
but a cooler of meat, sides and drinks.
These men do it right :)
So I set it all up - and then left. Sad for me, right?! 

Nik was setting up tables and chairs and lawn games.

 Swim lessons for Jaxen are going fantastic!
He is working on swimming with his face under water.
And every time he gets in the bath - he practices putting his face under!
We are not allowed to stay and watch lessons, but as I was picking him up on Monday
I got to see him jump off the diving board and swim.
There is a video - but I don’t have time to download it to the blog - sorry!

Here is a picture before he jumped.

After Jaxen going through a phase of not wanting to hold Zane - he now wants to. 
He wanted Zane to sit in his lap while he played on Nik’s phone.
It was pretty sweet.

While Jaxen was at VBS Tuesday, Zane and I got to go on a little walk. 

And I went to pick Jaxen up early from VBS and he was riding the train!
He is having a great time!
(He is in the first cart by the blonde girl).

And then there is this handsome dude :)
As long as he eats regularly - he is a happy camper, going with the flow of all our crazy!

So Wednesday we went to Camp for the day and my two boys were looking cute!
I tried getting a picture…






Finally!

On the way to camp we stopped to check out some Falls.
It was more of a trickle, due to the major drought we are in…
but it was still a beautiful area!

Jaxen refused to take a picture with us - So here I am with my cutie husband!

And Nik snapped this one of Jaxen when he wasn’t looking.

I wish I had taken pictures of our time at camp on Wednesday - but I just never did!
Jaxen loves going to Camp and we had a great time with some friends
who were in town!

One last pic -
while I was doing dishes, Zane was helping himself to the paper towels!


And that’s that! No time to proof or re-read.
Hope you have a great day! 



Saturday, July 23, 2016

Random Pictures of our Life Lately from this Week

So I tried coming up with something clever to title this blog post…I mean, how many times can I use Random Pictures, Our Life Lately, Pics from Our Week….and so on? But that is what this is…basically, it’s pictures from my phone that I put on this blog post to tell you a little bit about and to update you on our lives. So - got any suggestions?!

Until you give me something better - here is my blog post consisting of random pictures of our life lately (from this last week)…

If you can’t tell - Zane is eating super great!
Whatever issues we have had in the past - they are over now.
This kid loves to eat and often gets in (what I call) Milk-Coma (I think I posted a pic last week).
Anyway -
Here is milk-drool.
I think he fell asleep with milk still in his mouth and it just kept leaking out. Haha!

I seriously just love him! 
He makes me pretty happy :)

As does Jaxen…
We have now instated the new rule of “hug under his arms”.
I got tired of Jaxen nearly a) choking or b) ripping Zane’s head off every time he hugged him.
Under the arms works much better!

We have held true to my rule of going to the beach at least once a week this summer...
We even went twice this last week!

Jaxen, with his friend Leah

Zane does pretty well at the beach!
He gets warm sometimes, but this tent that Nik found for me to take
is wonderful! He can play in there, sleep and I can even feed him (a bit more privately)!

Going to the beach with a 4 year old and 3 month old is no walk in the park though.
The packing everything up, loading it in the car, making sure Jaxen goes potty,
feeding Zane before we go, carrying everything from the car to the beach (nightmare), 
while holding a hand and carrying a car seat, setting it up, the sunscreen, the sand….
But while we are there…bliss. Almost :)
I like to stay as long as possible - get the most bang for my buck all the work, right?
But then comes the part where we head home…
a sandy, dirty, tired, cranky boy plus
packing everything up, carrying everything back to the car (nightmare), 
while holding a hand and carrying a car seat, making sure Jaxen goes potty,
feeding Zane before we go, 
sitting them in a hot car while it cools down and getting a snack and drink for Jaxen…
unloading it at the house, unpacking everyone, hanging things to dry,
shaking sand off of everything, the laundry...
Like I said - no walk in the park!

Plus with the stage these two are at - I do not go alone!
It is too hard to keep an eye on Jaxen and take care of Zane.

So we go with friends who don’t mind my crazy - haha!

Moving on…
For someone who will hardly touch a piece of bread - 
Jaxen sure loves him some Zucchini bread!


And we had a visitor this week - Misty!
We have had a great time with her!

Tis the season to pick blueberries.
I am doing my part (picked about 8 pounds) and plan on going back once more.
They are super tasty this year!

 Don’t think I have forgotten about Nik -
He is just not around!
He spoke at Camp on Monday night and has been back and forth all week.
He pulled in Saturday at 8am and was gone again by 8:30am for a work day.

And one last picture before this very random post ends...

We are just getting in that phase :)

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Home Tour - Jaxen’s Room

When deciding room placement at our house, Jaxen’s room was originally going to be Nik and I’s. But right before we moved in, we decided to give it to Jaxen, and I’m glad we did! It has worked out great as his room. Plus - eventually, the boys will share a room and this room will be perfect for sharing. (It’s big and has a big closet!).

So - welcome to Jaxen’s room!





The pictures of both Jaxen and Zanes room were taken some time ago and since then, there have been some tweaks and changes. I’m sure both of these rooms will change pretty often over the next few years as we add a bigger bed to Jaxen’s room and move stuff around based on interests at the time!

Outside of Jaxen’s room is a little nook in the hallway. Currently, it houses some more toys (and an A/C window unit). I’m not sure what the space will end up as - but I’m thinking an art wall (from the boy’s artwork) would be fun!  



Monday, July 18, 2016

Snapshots

Snapshots of Jaxen

I was sharing with my mom this weekend that Jaxen does not want his picture taken. Ever.
Where did my little boy go who would smile and pose on cue?!

So I have to sneak pictures in now - like the following…

Craft time!
I finally unpacked our art supplies and Jaxen has enjoyed coloring and painting again.

Beach Day last week!
I am trying to make it a personal goal to go to the beach once a week.

Jaxen loves to play with his bubbles and buckets of water outside.

Jaxen really wanted to help with dinner the other night so I let him break all the spaghetti.

Think he is outgrowing his toddler bed? haha!

And finally…
after about 15 pictures I get a cute one while we were out at lunch one day.

And then this happened :)

Jaxen insisted that Zane take a bath with him.
Then before I could even bathe Zane, Jaxen was begging me to take him out!



Snapshots of Zane

These are probably my new faves...

And then there are these….


But then there is that smile :)

Milk-coma. Haha!

For the record…This will be the last time he wears this cute outfit!




Snapshot of Nik
(courtesy of Jaxen)

Snapshot of Carla
(courtesy of Jaxen)

And one final snapshot:

Zucchini Bread
I made this last night and it was yummy!