Happy New Year!

New Years Eve....

...I've always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with New Years Eve.

We are not heavy drinkers, so celebrating with a bunch of friends who drink way too much and finishing the night as the only sober ones in the room has never been much fun.

I do, however, love the celebration of closing out a year of ups, downs, and so-sos to begin a new year of unknowns!

New Years with children definitely adds a new flavor to the mix.

No matter how late you stay up, you will still be getting up at 6am the next morning when those little feet come waddling into your bedroom. And when you get to that point in life- staying up late is just not worth it.

So what did we do on New Years eve?

Well we hired a couple of Shawn's swimmers to watch the boys (these girls are seriously the best babysitters EVER!!) and caught an early movie. (the new Mission Impossible- I highly recommend it!)

Then came home in time to grab the boys and head downtown to ImaginEve at Hy-Vee Hall.

(it is a free event put on by GuideOne insurance- we really had no idea what we would be walking in to)

Kallen had decided not to take a nap that day so he immediately passed out in the car.



And remained asleep all the way into HyVee Hall.

But once we were inside it only took one look around and he snapped up ready to play!

Now, if we did not have toddlers, then my review of this event would be: An entire night of standing in long lines to play on gross, germ filled bounce houses.

But, because we have toddlers we were able to stick to the toddler area (a section of about 5 germ filled bounce houses) and the lines were really not too bad!

One of us would stand in line, while the other would follow the boys around until it was their turn.

They had a Blast!!!

Lincoln was content to just run around and watch Kallen, until we finally persuaded him to try this one in which he just sat there afraid to move. :)

Kallen, on the other hand, was so brave! Running around, trying everything, and before we left we even let him try out one of the big slides. (I was proud of him- even the big kids were struggling to climb the big ladder that led to the top)

A couple carnival games- rewarded by a couple fish tattoos and our night was complete!

I am not sure if we will try this event next year. We all came down with the 24-hour flu which I am blaming entirely on that night.

I read a cute idea in a magazine about having a kids new years party, complete with setting the clocks ahead so that midnight just happens to fall at bedtime. :P Then the kids go to bed, and the adults can have some fun!

We did have a great New Years though- and I hope you all did too!

Oh Boys!

Do you journal?

Do you blog?

Seriously- are you writing these things down?

These are the questions I constantly get asked when I tell people about my day. I never imagined how fun, challenging, and utterly exhausting raising 2 and 1 year old boys could be.

From Kallen peeing in random places (like yesterday when he was sitting on the heat vent in our kitchen and said "mommy- I peed down there!") to Lincoln constantly trying to throw things in the toilet or trash (like the TV remotes) I am on my toes all day.

But despite the tears, frustration, and exhaustion I can honestly say that the chaos is fun!

I LOVE my boys! I LOVE that their little minds are constantly thinking! I feel blessed beyond words that I have two healthy children, an amazing husband, and a roof over our heads.  

I do NOT love that my boys feed off of each other and gang up on me. (like the other day when Kallen started to break something and while I was disciplining him Lincoln finished it off) I do NOT love that my house is NEVER clean. I do NOT love that most days my frustration (or exhaustion) gets the best of me. I do NOT love having my lines used back on me. (like when we were in target and I was ignoring Kallen to focus on my grocery list so Kallen said "mommy I need you to look into my eyes")  But I really do love the chaos! I would be lying if I didn't say that there are days when I long for the simplicity of life before kids, but I have been blown away by the way raising children has brought my relationship with God to a whole new level!

Kallen is at such a fun age! He is often naughty around Lincoln - I think it's an attention thing- but if you get him by himself he is such a fun, tender hearted boy! He is at that age where most of the things that come out of his mouth keep me laughing all day.

Like today alone:

"Mommy what this is?"

When I told him we were going to run to Target real quick his response was "No mommy I walk!".

 Or while we were at Target and he wanted to leave so he said "mommy you need to go home and make supper".

While I was changing Lincoln's diaper, Kallen walked up and said "whoa mommy, Winken's wiener is big!" then proceeded to drop his drawers, check out his own wiener and say "mommy, Kawen's wiener bigger than winken's?" (seriously I can't believe it starts that young!!)

In the car on the way home he threw his car and said "whoa, that car does NOT fly!"

"mommy wike my hat!?"

Just to name a few. :)

Lincoln is also at a fun age, although he tends to be very whiny (could be due to cutting 4 molars at the same time!) and needy. He copies everything he hears and is talking Much sooner than Kallen did. He gives kisses and hugs to all stuffed/toy animals and Kallen, but rarely gives them to adults. :'(

Kissing the animals at Bass Pro Shops tonight.

The highlight of our day is when Daddy gets home! I would say that both boys have a Very special bond with their daddy.

And despite alot of fighting, the boys are really starting to become good friends!

I may have my moments but I LOVE my boys! I thank God for them every day!

Our home is filled with constant growling, wrestling, destruction beyond belief, motor sounds, shooting....

...and I would not have it any other way!

And to answer my first questions: no I do not journal, and I really stink at blogging, but I write when I can. (or when my brain has not been turned into complete mush from the chaos of the day) And I know that someday I will look back at these blog posts and long to be back in this phase of life. (although that is hard to believe right now)

Another month, another lack of blogging

Ok, I realize that it has been almost an entire month since I have blogged, but I have been trying to stay on top of my house a little better which means very little computer time.

That and my children are needy. It is a rare moment that they are playing by themselves and when those moments occur I am usually scrambling to get something done. (you know like cook super, or clean something, or get on facebook get some work done on the computer)

 I still have not blogged about my baby turning 1. That or maybe I am just still trying to process it.



I could probably blog every day about this guy. The words that come out of his mouth and the things that he comes up with keep me laughing all day.



We tried letting him stay up a little later the other night to watch Cars 2. He didn't make it very far. :)

My boys have moments when they get along great and play well together...

...and I know that someday they will be best friends...



....but oh boy do they fight! Lincoln screams the minute Kallen touches him, which makes Kallen mad, and I'm pretty sure his thought process is "I'll give you something to scream about", which leads to me coming in to save the day. Sometimes I sit back and let it happen- just hoping that they will learn to work it out on their own- but we are just not quite there yet. By 4pm everyday- this gets pretty old.

We have learned recently that all you have to do is take the boys to Bass Pro Shops and they are in heaven! We met Shawn's family there last week for dinner

(Faith is looking at me like "why won't your son hold my hand?")



Thank goodness for Shawn's cousin Alexis who was so patient and great at entertaining the kids while we finished dinner. 

and while the guys went bowling, and the ladies shopped, my mother-in-law and I tried to keep up with 2- 2year olds and Lincoln as they were turned loose in the store.

My kids wanted nothing to do with Santa, but here their cousins Faith and CJ being very brave!

These boys would spend hours on the four wheelers if we'd let them.



Typical kids- I hold up the camera and Faith smiles and poses, while Kallen starts moving uncontrolably while making engine noises.



They had a blast racing these little cars!



Exploring the ice fishing huts



And watching the fish!



I am pretty sure this will be our go to place this winter. There are not the crowds of the mall playplace, my husband is also in heaven, and I am not tempted to spend any money, and Shawn actually controls himself very well despite the hundreds of things he would probably love to buy!

I will try to catch up on blogging soon. Although I am not going to make any promises. :)



A photo dump

Here is a little photo dump of what we have been up to lately:

For each meal I cook- I pay a price. (meaning that while I am cooking Kallen is doing something naughty)

Here is the price I paid yesterday:

 He filled up the bathroom sink, added some hand soap, and washed his toys.

It didn't get too out of hand until I was just finishing up, and heard water splashing onto the bathroom floor as Kallen overflowed the sink.

We went to our 3rd and final pumpkin patch of the season with my family.

Howell's Tree Farm just 15 min. south of DesMoines- it was really fun!

We attempted a picture of the boys

Oh wait, we forgot Lincoln!

Ok, everyone look this way and smile!



.....Nevermind

A new development: my boys are Finally starting to play well together!!!

We took a little wagon ride out to the corn maze.

Doesn't Steph look great?! It was sad to not have Cru with us- but next year will be Awesome!!



Kallen hangin with Aunt Karlee!

"Hey Winken, look at that!"



I didn't get any good pictures because it was so dark, but Saturday night we went to Living History Farms with Shawn's family.

Isn't this just the cutest little tiger you have ever seen!?

Kallen  being a vampire. 

Catching a ride on Papa's shoulders :)

Kallen just walked up and started hugging this ghost. haha



Kallen has been making some Great progress with potty training!!

He has been doing a lot of this:



And this little boy has me completely wrapped around his little finger.



We had a few rare cuddling moments:

And for the most part we have just been trying to get outside as much as we can while it is still warm!



Check out the snot mixed with drool on this kid!



"I don't want to go inside!"

I Am Learning.

I am learning that 1 lb. of hamburger does not last 2 meals anymore- it is gone at the end of 1.

I am learning that sometimes it takes a child almost a year to get jealous of his baby brother, so that when you think you are in the clear it catches you completely off guard.

I am learning that I cannot do this on my own and am a Much better person when I take time to spend with my heavenly father.

I am learning that anyone who has more than 2 children is a rockstar in my eyes. :)

I am learning that I really stink at potty training.

I am learning that one of the hardest things about having 2 boys 19 months apart is having energy for your husband when he gets home.  (And I don't even necessarily mean in the bedroom- I mean even having the energy to have a conversation)

I am learning that my house will probably be a pit for the next 6-10 years and for the first time- that does not even bother me.

I am learning that I am not capable of giving up pop, sugar, or coffee. (one or all of these three is what gets me through the day)

I am learning that I will fail as a mother, but thank goodness 2year olds have a short memory.

I am learning that Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson may be a book I read every single year.

I am learning to let things go. (some of those things being shopping, voluteer opps, selfishness, pedicures, a clean home)

I am learning how to better handle my time.

I am learning that although my boys, right now, daily push me past my breaking point- the good moments truly do make up for the bad.

I Am Learning.