Daddy's Little Helpers

Josh has been hard at work getting our  new house fixed up.  He has tiled the bathrooms, kitchen, breakfast room, and laundry room.  We have new wood floors in the living, master bedroom, and carpet in the boys rooms and upstairs.  Dad, Josh, and I (and a friend) have painted every room in the house.  We have almost finished putting in new baseboards.  Crown molding comes soon.  Josh and I painted the kitchen cabinets.  We got new counter tops, dishwasher and a sink.  We refaced the fireplace.  We have a million and one other projects still going on, but NONE of them could have happened if it was not for Daddy's Little Helpers.  They have their own measuring tapes (they call them measurements) that they bring to the hardware store along with us.  Josh was measuring for the new back splash we were headed to buy for him to install and the boys starting measuring too.  It is always good to double check the work!

                           

Josh working on the board and batten a couple of weeks ago - more posts about that soon!

 

Noah "installing" baseboards.  That day Josh was running around in a swimsuit and no shirt working, so so was Noah!  I love the drink and apron sitting in the boys bathroom floor - ha!

 

Josh taping off the countertops getting ready to install the back splash!  We were finally putting on the cabinet doors that day (YIPPEE!) and you can see the board and batten a little in the background.  We LOVE how that turned out!

Rare sleepy moments...

Ever since Andy could walk, he just does not slow down.  He is one of those little boys that just goes goes goes.  I love that about him, but also it makes Josh and I really miss those sweet baby cuddles.  Andy is quickly nearly his third birthday (sniff, sniff) and he is still such a little guy, but is growing so quickly.  I miss just holding him for hours.  He has reached the age where missing a nap is okay, but it does mean he will be asleep for the night around 6:30-7.  We do not miss naps often, but last weekend he did miss his nap.  He was sitting on the couch with Josh watching a movie and just feel right to sleep.  Josh was so happy, because cuddling Andy like this is so rare.  Josh just laid back and enjoyed every moment of the cuddles.  Which then sent me running for the camera, since I had not seen this sweet sight in so long!

Andy is just growing up way too fast.  His favorite thing to yell is "Moses says LET MY PEOPLE GO!" and yells it in this hilarious little country boy voice.  He loves singing "Five little ducks went out to play, over the hills and far away.  One little duck went quack quack...."  while playing his ukulele.   He loves food, but does not eat much.  He is moving into the 3T shirts, but still wears mainly 12 month shorts and some 18 month shorts.  He can write the letter A and the letter H.  He can count to 20 and almost always gets blue and red confused.  He loves his brother, and loves pestering his brother equally.  His favorite color is yellow.  Everything needs to be yellow.  He has a yellow room.  Yellow silverware.  Yellow bowl.  And really wants yellow crocs for his birthday!  We met his teacher this morning for his new MDO and he is really excited about his class.  If he gets embarrassed (which sadly happens often) he either starts swinging like he is going to hit or spits.  He is a little riot!  Andy wants to do everything on his own.  He does a great job with going potty and loves to swim (but not put his head under water!)  He truly melts my heart and I cannot imagine not being with him every moment of every day!  I love you Andy!!!

Treasure Chests

The boys really love the new Disney show Jake and the Neverland Pirates. They walk around all day singing "yoho let's go, jake and the neverland pirates!" We have been talking lots about pirates lately and what they looked for or kept in treasure chests. The boys each decided they needed treasure chests. I was so excited. We went to Hobby Lobby for all the supplies and picking them while singing about pirates was really cute:)

Painting and decorating the pirate chests was some serious work!         

                                                  

It was more fun watching the boys paint and you can tell from Andy's "moustache" a treat of fruit punch Gatorade was super exciting too!

Sweet thoughts...

After bible class tonight the picture Noah colored blew away in the wind. First I thought it was Andy's and poor Andy in his sad pouty voice said "Mama, but I made that fooooorrrrr YOU!" Then I looked in the front seat and realized it was Noah's. Poor Noah then busted into tears. Then he said "OH! God made the wind, so maybe God can send it back to our house and we can find it?!" ... I sure wish that was possible!

We have been experiencing a severe drought and heat around here with just no signs of rain. When we stepped out of church tonight Noah said with complete certainty, "I SMELL RAIN!" I was shocked when he said it, even more shocked when I started seeing lightning! I have my own little rain sensor! I hope we smell it a lot more often in the next few months!!!

I am back!

Whew, it has been a crazy couple of months. Josh has been working tirelessly on the new house, we finally got all packed up and moved. If it had not been for my parents watching the boys, Josh having time off, and Josh's parents and brother's help it would not have happened. It feels so good to be under our new roof! We still have lots to do, lots of boxes to unpack...but swimming at the new neighborhood pool, riding bikes, and playing in the sand box have been of upmost importance. That and a few rounds of strep throat, croup, and two or so viruses. Sheesh. Our internet finally worked today! We had a couple of missing cords, router, etc...but we are finally in business and I can get back to blogging! I missed it here!

Someday...

In the car today Noah said... "Mama, when I grow up I am going to be a race car driver, a soldier and an airplane racer!" Andy then said "Mommy, I'm going to be a race car driver too!" It was so adorable to hear them talk, but I sure hope they will pick something a bit safer than race car drivers or airplane racers! (what is that anyways?!)

Later on Noah asked me "Where is heaven?" Andy piped up and said "With God!" It was so cute. I explained to the best of my abilities and Andy then yelled "I'm gonna sit with Lane in heaven!" Noah then responded "And I'm gonna sit with Kole!" It was just the sweetest thing. (Lane & Kole are two adorable little friends of ours from church, school and everyday!)

I love our little guys so much. Noah said to me earlier when talking about Kristin, "You know Mommy, when you miss her, just think of her at night when you are in bed." I thought, wow, you really gets it! Such good advice from such a little guy. Last night Andy and I were feeling yucky and he was laying in bed with me cuddling. We were singing songs and talking. He was rubbing my cheek and saying in his sweet paused way "I love you Mommy" and I started singing Jesus Loves Me, he said, "that's my song!" He asked what Noah's song was. I sang "Twinkle Twinkle." He asked what Daddy's was, I did not know so he suggested "Jingle Bells or chicken fried" and we did not come up with one for me except maybe "Goodnight sweetheart." It was such a sweet moment. One I will cherish forever!

bed time...

When Andy was born I took care of his bedtimes and Josh took care of Noah's. We had a little joke of saying to one another "You got yours? I got mine?!" Then we would boast a bit as to who's 'kid' was asleep first. Then Andy got older and quit nursing, then really just had one over on us both. We would literally stay in his room sitting there watching him til he fell asleep, because if you dare just step outside of his room he would literally throw up everywhere instantaneously. It was gross and just not fun. Fast forward til a couple of months ago. Josh and I were just worn down and Andy was winning. Finally we said, enough is enough, and we told Andy the new plan, that he would have to stay in bed in his room by himself, or we would shut the door. Period. Amazingly it immediately worked. Josh took over Andy duties and I got the sweet joy of Noah. I was so happy to read Noah stories, say prayers with him and cuddle. Noah has been a dream getting to sleep since he was about 15 months old. He goes to sleep quickly and stays there til he is asleep. He also likes to go to bed early. Andy is a night owl, takes forever to go to sleep and is a light sleeper. So... there have been some nights lately where I am the one putting both boys down... Josh has been busy getting our new house move in ready! (My Dad and I have too, but during the day!) Tonight Andy is like a jack in the box with me, up and out of bed, every five minutes. I went to check on him once and he was not even in his room. He was in my bathroom. I asked him what he was doing and he responded "Ust looking at stuff" as he meddled with my contact vials. Then I watched him sneak a piece of cheese out of the fridge then run back to his room. And just now I went in to talk to him again (because sadly shutting the door is not working tonight because he figured out how to take off the child knob) and he said, "Noah's eyes are closed, he is nice. My eyes open, I rude. See Mama I nice now" and he shut his little eyes and squeezed them tight. Sigh. Oh, I hear him in the hall again - wish me luck!!!! :)

p.s. I really love bedtime with Andy too, he gives such sweet kisses and hugs and has to say with purpose good night, I love you and loves loves loves to sing me "Goodnight Sweetheart, it's time to go, I hate to leave you but I really must say, goodnight sweetheart good night" and it sounds like "good night schweetheart its time to go i hate to leave but i must stay, good night schweetheart good night." It is one of the best moments of the day, but writing the above note I was just tired because I had repeated that part at least 20 times already:)