Friday, February 25, 2011

Gage-isms

My sweet Gage is 2 years and almost 2 months old now. Being that age, he can truly exasperate me and stretch my patience sometimes, but mostly...Oh how I delight in him!

Our bedtime ritual consists of this these days:
We read books, say prayers, sometimes rock and sing, and then every time I lay him down he says, "Wait Mama, wait Mama!" I lean on his crib rail and say, "I'm waiting sweetpea." And he relaxes and smiles and we talk about things like what he is going to dream about. Usually "Thomas" is first on the list.

The camera is his favorite "toy"! He loves to take pictures of himself, and other things as of late. "My's" is his word for "mine". Something about that makes it easier on the ears. Although I am sure his little brother doesn't think so.

He so cutely and neatly lines his cars and trucks up in a train.
And then little brother comes along...You can see he's starting to move his cars away from those approaching little hands...

"I need that _____!" is his newest phrase. He fills it in with whatever he thinks he needs at the time.

He says in the sweetest voice you can possibly imagine, "Holda Mama, holda Mama" when he wants me to pick him up...usually it's a ploy to take him out of the grocery cart so he can walk, or have me put him up on the counter, etc. He sure knows how to get me to do it.

His belly is his favorite place to draw on, and place stickers.
Gage is definitely a typical two-year-old who likes to test the limits, but more than anything he makes being a mama so much fun!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Joys

I just love moments like these...

On a walk on a beautiful day...

This is what I get to see.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Valentine's Goodies

I give credit to my mother for my love of holidays! Growing up she would always make them special, in very simple ways. Just waking up to my valentine gift waiting for me on the table every Feb. 14 was so fun!

This year, more than ever, I really got into Valentine's day! I think having children to indulge makes it so much more fun, even more than indulging my sweetheart (sorry hon!).

It all started with the adorable yarn hearts I found in a magazine that are super easy to make. Just a little homemade corn starch glue, yarn, and heart shaped cookie cutters are all you need!


To start the day off right the boys found their little presents on the table (red baskets from Hobby Lobby filled with Target dollar spot items) and then we had heart-shaped pancakes.

Eli still doesn't really have a clue what's going on, but he liked his pancake!

For lunch we cut out cheese hearts.

Between breakfast and lunch a little neighbor friend and her mommy came over for some Valentine fun (playdoh, coloring, and cookies!).

During naptime I worked like mad to finish Craig's homemade gift (a heart-shaped candy box filled with his favorites - Reeses PB Cups!) which I had to redo after a frustrating battle with the hot glue gun. The gun won the first round but I eventually conquered!

I did not expect it to be so challenging! The boys' homemade heart cards are the best part. :)

These are the cards we made for the grandparents:
The card I made for Craig: Which I presented to my sweetheart after the boys went to bed, along with steak, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and this:

Whew, what a much needed treat after some very early mornings and late nights lately due to a teething baby/toddler (still not walking yet, can he be called a toddler??), and long days trying to keep my head above water! There just seems to be so much to do and so little time these days.

But how I love to craft...and will always make time for that, even if it is at the last minute! :)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Recovering

This is what life is going to be like for Craig for a few weeks...


Lounging in his chair with the boys! Poor Mr. Craig had back surgery on Wednesday. He had a herniated disc and two bulging discs that needed repair. He has been miserable for quite some time so the surgery was a welcomed relief.

Grandma & Grandpa E are here so everything can continue to run smoothly...until Sunday that is, when they leave who knows how things will run! Craig is not to lift anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks, so I think we're looking at a long month and a half ahead. I'm hoping that the extra work I'll have will burn off some extra calories.?!

On a side note, the "photo shoot" I had this morning with Craig and the boys got me laughing, hard! Eli was actually fussing and reaching for Gage's cup, but everytime I held the camera up he smiled a big grin.
It was so funny! I think our boy has figured out the concept of "cheese"!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Building Towers

I caught Eli building a tower today! I have never seen him do this before. I'm going to say this is the first time he's ever done it on his own. So proud! Then Gage joined in. My boys, playing together, it makes my heart swell!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cornbread Goodness

Oh.My.Goodness. Oh my yummy goodness! Craig and I both agree, I have found the best cornbread recipe! If you would like it too click here. It really has to be the world's best! So that's what we had for supper tonight, along with some chili, which in comparison, was the 'supporting role'.

Well, that's what Craig and Eli and I had anyway. Poor Gage went to bed with an empty tummy. He immediately pushed his bowl away when I sat it down in front of him. I even picked out most of the beans and tomatoes ahead of time so it was mainly just yummy hamburger goodness. But he didn't want any, or any of the leftovers that I offered from last night's pasta dinner. All he wanted was the cornbread. Yes, the boy takes after his mama, the carbs are his favorites too. But he was not allowed to have any until he had just one bite of meat or veggies. Well the child is very strong-willed and I am very weak, especially when he is looking at me with big teary eyes saying "peeees". I must say, if it wasn't for my strong, grounding husband, I would have given in. But he reminded me that we can't let Gage have his way, which is an on-going battle in all arenas right now.

So tonight I had a heartbreaking tough love moment, that I hope pays off eventually. And I had some delicious you've-got-to-try-it cornbread. I hope Gage gets to try it too before it's all gone.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Pella Friends

It's always fun to do a little something out of the ordinary, don't you think? Last Friday we did just that. After the boys woke up from their afternoon naps we headed to Pella for the evening. Craig had a little meeting with this guy, seen here with Gage at 4 months:


Mike.
This picture was taken during Tulip Time a little over a year and a half ago. Mike looks just the same, but wow, what a difference a year and a half makes for a baby! :)

Mike works at Central College and although I graduated from there I never knew him until he and Craig became colleagues through a Central/QAS project many years ago. Since then we have traveled on a few business trips together...and bumped into each other at Tulip Time. Craig has been in touch much more often than that. I met his wonderful wife Sheryl a few years ago, but didn't really get to know her until Friday night. What a special person she is! They both are, so I just had to dedicate a post to them! Our boys were particularly "high maintenance" that night, but they were so gracious and laid back. That is just who they are.

Unfortunately I was not thinking and did not get a picture of both of them on Friday. I am so mad at myself! But I did get some pictures from my phone at the library...We had a little time to kill while the guys were meeting at Mike's office before dinner.

Gage found the perfect little spot for us to make a mess...



And look at books.Eli's face just cracks me up! He wanted that Clifford book Gage has so bad, but is making do with another one, for now.


Well, somehow he managed to get it away from Gage and now is as happy as a clam! :)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Good Things

Look at this little cutie!Pulling himself up every chance he gets!

Oh yes, we're heading toward good things...

Sunday, January 16, 2011

I am Crafty

Craig said the funniest thing to me the other day: "You really like to make things don't you. You know what I'm realizing...you're crafty."

After all these years of making cards, and blankets, and a few scrapbooks here and there, etc. etc. he finally gets it. I love to craft! I get so excited to read crafters' blogs and dream up new ideas for projects. I've started out small over the years but I'm just now on the verge of big things, because I have a new sewing machine! Craig got it for me for my birthday and I can't wait to use it! Now if I can just find the time to get it out...

Here are a couple things I was working on leading up to the holidays:

I'm really not much of a fan of scrapbooking. When I'm on a roll I love it, but I am too much of a perfectionist to enjoy it for long! But I made one for Gage for his first birthday and now Eli, and will carry on the tradition. Beyond that, digital scrapbooks all the way baby!

I'd rather be making cards or something like this:

I used wood blocks, specialty paper, stickers and Mod Podge to make a "Countdown to Christmas" gift for some special people in my family...

And of course the fleece blanket for Craig's grandparents:

My problem is I come up with ideas a little last-minute and put myself through stress and my husband through torture (or so he says) as I work like mad to get things done. Well, I'm going to try to be different this year and plan ahead! So I have roughly 343 days until next Christmas!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

A wrap up of our holidays...finally!

The brothers and their kids! One year ago at Gage's 1st birthday party:


One year later, New Year's 2011 at Gma & Gpa E's:

We have another boy cousin since last year! Bentley was born on Dec. 22. So sweet and tiny!


We had a great time with Craig's family over New Years! Played games on New Year's Eve with Craig's parents and our good friends, Nate & Christina (who moved to the Quad Cities a few years ago).
Played with the uncles and cousins on New Year's Day. You can tell that Chloe had been at this push-Eli-back-and-forth game for awhile now! What a good cousin!


What a great way to celebrate Christmas and the New Year!