instafriday

Friday, February 15, 2013

the last couple weeks in iphone pictures:


I know this is strange, but I do all my laundry on Mondays. I hate laundry, so the thought of doing it everyday makes me cringe, I'd rather spend one day on it and be done with it so I can enjoy the rest of the week. It's such a great feeling to have an empty floor in the laundry room at the end of the day!


I can't make it a day without coffee! It's sad really. I try some mornings to go without but I always end up having a cup by the afternoon, for sure. 
This pic reminds me of a few comments I got on IG about doing a hair tutorial. I've been asked that a lot and have considered it, but the only way I can think of to do that would be to make a video and that terrifies me! BUT I just watched a really good hair style tutorial on the BlogHer TV video on the sidebar, so check that out if you're looking for some poofing tips!

Grayden loves getting High Five magazines, he was so excited to see one waiting for him on his bed one night before he went to sleep.

Me and Sadler had an afternoon to ourselves a couple weeks ago while Grayden played by Grandma's house.

I told Sadler it was nap time and he plopped himself on Grayden's bed! So cute!

Sadler had a rough few days last week, he was irritable and not sleeping at night. Turns out he had a double ear infection :( I'm still not used to knowing the signs for those, Grayden has never had one so they are still new to me. 

He's so cute, even when he cries! I'm in trouble!
I told him he couldn't have another snack so he cried for daddy! lol

This is my morning cocktail of meds, plus a multi vitamin I take on a second swallow. Funny thing is, I can still remember HATING to swallow pills when I was younger, my mom or dad would try to hide them in my food or throw them down my throat! Now I dont think twice before swallowing the handful.

Play date with Brooklyn and Kinsley last week at the McDonald's play place, Sadler didn't want to pose for a picture!

Mid-haircut!

playdate with Drew.
Gray's enrolled in preschool next Fall, seems like I was just signing him up for 3school!

the boys are chasing a laser pointer around on the floor, easily amused, I was cracking up!

I thought this was the cutest craft Gray made in 'Kid's Club' at church on Wednesday night. The greatest gift of love ever, John 3:16

I love a clean fridge, makes me so happy!

I asked Gray to help me unload the dishwasher yesterday, he took about 2 things out and said, "I don't have the energy for this!' ha! I have no idea where he gets these phrases from! He makes me laugh everyday!
Happy Valentines Day from Sadler
Valentines for all Grayden's special friends at school.

My parents had us over last night for a Valentines Day fondue party. So fun!



 The chocolate fountain was a huge hit,
Grayden loved dipping the strawberries

and Sadler just dipped his spoon!


 Have a great weekend!


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Full Hands and a Full Heart

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

I don't know about you other moms out there, but I have my hands full with these 2 kids of mine!
This week has been especially difficult, but Grayden and Sadler have always kept me very busy and always on my toes. 
Sadler is so super busy and can find trouble like its his job. And Gray can go from sweet to sour at the drop of a hat.

We had a play date last week and Gray held on to a toy train, tucked firmly under his arm while he watched TV, just so the little boy we had over couldn't play with it. 

Just a couple days ago Sadler made this beautiful work of art on the playroom wall while I was cleaning up after lunch
He also learned to climb out of his crib, so we had him knocking at our bedroom door one morning at 6:30 am.  Thankfully, we've been able to buy a little more time by turning his crib around...but that will only work for so long until he realizes he can get out the sides. 
I am not ready for him to have the free reign that comes with a big boy bed yet!


After 3school and music class yesterday we grabbed lunch through the McDonald's drive through, the lady at the first window had a little acne that Gray noticed and he shouts from the back "DOES THAT GIRL HAVE CHICKEN POX?" when the window was down. I've never been more embarrassed! I grabbed my debit card from her and drove away as fast as I could!
I don't even know how he knows what chicken pox are!

Also this week, Grayden came upstairs where I was and left Sadler alone downstairs so I asked him what Sadler was doing and he replied "um, I think he's playing with knives" Panicked, because that is something Sadler would do, I ran downstairs to find him sitting on the couch playing with pillows! Good one, Gray. You got me good!

Now, I what you're thinking, 'she DOES have her hands full'! And you couldn't be more right, I'll be the first to admit I do have my hands full, BUT my heart is even fuller than my hands.
No matter what kind of trouble my boys cause, or how many walls I have to scrub, or how many time-outs I give, or speeches I give on manners and politeness, I couldn't love these boys more!
When I overhear Gray reciting Psalm 100 that he learned at Rev Kids this week, or when Sadler wants to hold my hand when we snuggle, I forget all about the troubles of the week and become overcome with gratitude for these precious gifts from God. 
They are the biggest blessings to Robb and I and we couldn't imagine life without their sweet faces. 
My heart overflows


"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him." Psalm 127:3

#don't forget to enter to win the gas drops giveaway, with only 2 entries so far your chances of winning are pretty awesome!

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Weekend Wrap up

Monday, February 11, 2013

We had a great weekend!

We did a babysitting swap with my sister and brother in law, so Friday we watched my nieces, Makenna and Peyton, while they went out.
My boys can't get enough of Peyton! 
She is a sweetie!

Makenna is big buds with her Uncle Robb, so cute! 
We had a fun night!

Saturday the boys had some fun playing in the snow and we took a family trip to the grocery store. 

Robb and I headed out for our date night around 4:30
We headed to Grandville and walked around Target getting shopkick* points, we're so lame!
We had Chinese at the mall and headed back to pick up the boys!

I love that no matter what we do, we always have fun!
Just proves that date nights don't have to be expensive :)

*shopkick is an app that gives you points for going into stores and scanning items. You can redeem your points for gift cards, and they also have special coupons and deals for you to use, if you'd like to give it a try click here to download the app. 

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Swaddling Saves the Day, and Night

Wednesday, February 6, 2013


I was approached by BlogHer and St. Joseph Infant Gas Drops to share with you readers my #1 new mom tip.  I jumped at the opportunity to think back to those newborn days and share about my experience as a new mom.
Our two boys were totally different babies. Grayden was super easy going and always happy. He was a great eater, had a great sleeping schedule, but could also go with the flow from day one. Then, we had Sadler and thought he would be the same easy baby like Grayden was, but boy were we wrong! He needed constant attention, had terrible reflux, wanted to be held twenty four hours a day and cried A LOT!
But one thing they both liked was being swaddled!



It did wonders for their sleeping habits. We swaddled both boys at night and for naps for MANY months.  It kept them snuggled and cozy while they would sleep, and also prevented them from those ‘new baby twitches’ that would startle them and cause them to wake up.
As the boys got a little older and began to roll over in their cribs the swaddle would prevent them from rolling onto their bellies, and then get mad because they couldn’t roll back over to their backs on their own quite yet.

We didn’t just use the swaddle for sleeping though, we would use it during the day as well if they were fussy and just wanted to be held. Swaddling gave them that comforting feeling of being snuggled tight and gave us parents a much needed break from time to time.
The ‘baby burrito’ has become quite popular and there are a lot of different swaddle blankets on the market these days. We've used everything from the flannel receiving blankets, to the thin muslin type blankets. We even had a couple blankets that took all the guess work out of swaddling and basically swaddled themselves. They can be a little pricey, but they are well worth the investment if you ask me!

Before Grayden was born, Robb and I watched YouTube videos online to learn the proper technique to swaddle. We practiced swaddling stuffed bears and each other (I kid you not, I have the proof on video) until we got it just right.

Another thing that saved the day for us many times when the boys were babies were gas drops. St. Joseph Infant Gas Drops can be used at every feeding to quickly eliminate those pesky gas bubbles that cause pain and discomfort in babies bellies.
Click here to be directed to a $3 off coupon for St. Joseph Infant Gas Drops.

I’d love to know, what is your #1 new mom tip? Answer this question in the comment section below for a chance to win 3 packages of St. Joseph Infants' Gas Relief Drops. That's one for you and two to share with friends!
Sweepstakes Rules
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/6-2/28.
Be sure to visit the sponsor's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

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Weekend Wrap Up

Monday, February 4, 2013

First off, for those of you who asked for my green monster smoothie recipe, here it is:
1 frozen, sliced banana
1 spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter
a couple handfuls of fresh spinach
1 cup of vanilla yogurt
1 cup of vanilla almond milk

blend until smooth


We went out already a lot last week, so Friday night we decided to stay in.
We had a Pizza Party Picnic in our Pj's by the firePlace, the boys thought it was the coolest!


After pizza the boys went plowing and I did a little reading by the fireplace until they got back.
Then we played some old school Nintendo 64!


Saturday morning the boys took advantage of the snow and played in the yard, 
while I warmed up working out a little. I so enjoy a little 'me time' on the weekends :)


I started doing the 'plank a day' fad at the beginning on the month, hoping to see some results and improvement in my time by the end. 

Pacey is my little personal trainer, he can't quite figure out what in the world I'm doing though!

After Sadler's nap, (have I mentioned that Grayden's given them up?! If we're lucky he'll take a nap 1-2 times a week) we headed to my parents to do some snowmobiling.  Grayden fell asleep on the sled with my dad after about 5 minutes! So cute! We had Applebee's take out for Robb and Lisa's birthday dinners. 
We went to the Geerlings' house for a Super Bowl party, we had a great time!

Me and Peyton watching the game



I'm not into football, at all, but I have to say I was getting into it at the end, got a little more exciting after the power outage!









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Insta Friday

Friday, February 1, 2013

Hope everyone had a great week, here are some recent instagram pics:



I adore everything about this!

somehow I was carrying around an empty wipes pack in my bag, glad I didn't find that out the hard way at least!


love me some baby elbow patches
silly baby
Sadler likes to hide his pacifiers, makes for a not so fun game of hide and seek at 8pm when he needs them to go to sleep!
one night I found them in a combine upstairs in a closet in the playroom!

the best way to start the morning



Sadler had his first music class on Tuesday and Grayden was excited to go back to school after a week off
He loved it!


Sadler figured out how to open the gates, the same gates adults have trouble opening!
He's trouble! 

Robb and I went for a couples massage Tuesday night as a birthday gift from me, well played, huh?! :)


Wednesday we met up with Mindy and the girls, and other moms from our moms in tow group at Deanna's playhouse!
they have so much fun there

while the boys were playing yesterday I overheard Gray say to Sadler, "here buddy, we just gotta go potty train you a sec" 
like it's that easy!
That will not be happening anytime soon, thanks anyways bud!



 Another snow day today, so we tried to do extra fun things to pass the time he would normally be spending at school.

Grayden LOVES green monster smoothies, he even knows how to make them now!


never a dull moment! my heart is still pounding

have a great weekend everyone!

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