Laundry, sigh

Our washer is acting up, and we haven't had the time (really?), energy or money to get it looked at and fixed (tho I know what the problem is... it's the timer). So for the last two weeks, we've been taking our clothes to the laundromat. I only wash them and then I bring them all home (our dryer is working JUST fine). Today I decided that I would hang some clothes up so I wouldn't have to use the HOT dryer as much. This is my living room at the moment.

Kind of awesome. 

It smells so good. I should do this more often!

In and Out

Not the amazing burger joint. 

I'm talking about being IN and then getting OUT! 

We had a F-1 tornado hit our little town the other day. We are/were safe, but there are TONS and TONS of trees down- ALL OVER. I felt like we were cooped up inside for so long (or it just seems like that when there are tornado sirens blaring all day). We tried to make the tornado time as much fun as possible for the boys so they didn't sense our fear.  I think it was a hit! They are now obsessed with all things flashlights. 

I put up a sheet and we did shadow dancing and hand puppets! 

This is Grant's duck. 

Pretty awesome.

Today (Saturday), we GOT OUT! We headed off to Leonard Spring Nature Trail, but the trees were so badly down that we could go to the waterfall. So we did the easy hike instead. Grant is SO FUNNY on little hikes! He is constantly running, kicking rocks "out of the way" and making it his own little adventure. What a funny kid. Click on the picture/s to see it all up close. We saw a small cave, awesome fallen trees, tracks and wife's butts (thank, Ben). 

Enjoy!

(I made it xtra large so you can see the pictures better)

I CAN SEW!

Not Really.

My friend gave me her broken sewing machine before Henry was born. I finally got it out and had it fixed (Hilary- it's still working!). I found this awesome tutorial on this AMAZING blog called Made (this link is for the tutorial) and I made them into flat front shorts. Not too shabby for not having sewn ANYTHING in over 15 years. 

Teeth and Stamps

So Henry has those little crayola hand stamp things. I bought them for Grant but he figured out how to put his fingers in them and that was the end of his stamping days. I got them out for Henry one day and he enjoyed them a little too much.

He has also been teething. Ah- WHEN DOES IT END? (rhetorical question) Here is just one picture of (I swear- like 4 teeth/molars) the teeth that are coming in. POOR KID :(

Clean Boys

Don't you just LOVE clean kids? I love it! And this picture is just to die for.

Learning to Write

Grant has been doing REALLY well when it comes to learning his letters. He's learned what letters say and can tell you word for each letter. He's our little smarty pants.  However, our friend made this app that TOTALLY helped... it's so fun! It's called, "Alphabet Zoo." Look it up.

I saw someone do this and thought it was brilliant. Learning how to write letters in pudding.

It was a throw back to an old college FHE night (pudding pictionary)!

So here is Grant and Henry learning/playing in the pudding!

HE LOVED THIS!

Canoeing!

Our little town has SO MANY COOL THINGS! For $6 you can rent a canoe and have at it! The boys did a great job. We didn't realize how late it had become until we got in the car and it was PAST nap time! oops. But we had a blast! Even Henry was having fun.

A few things I learned on this trip:

1. I need to loose the weight I have gained in the last few months! 

YIKES! I had to edit the photo because it was pretty bad. 

(ya know- sometimes you don't know how bad you look until you see a picture! Look at my gross arms! AHHH)

2. Both the boys love to paddle 

(for Grant that means splashing and for Henry- it means dragging his paddle).

What a blast!

We are Crazy

I've decided that my little family is a bit on the crazy side. We're getting ready for summer. I think all we need is this cold front to go away, the pool opening next week and a pass to the beach and we are READY TO GO! Here's a fun little collage of some of the things we've been up to since Ben finished school! (Grant helped me with the collage!)

HENRY

Our little tank is 18 months old :)

He is such a fun little kid. At the moment, he is laying on his stomach, feet in the air, playing with my phone while swaying to Les Misserables in the background. He speaks his own language while understand what we say. Our little athlete. No fear. Loves to wake you up with kisses and hugs. He really is such a great kid! A goober, bruiser and sweet child.

Now- GO TO NURSERY! 

:)

Learning to Jump

When I was little, my siblings and I would put pillows and blankets at the bottom of the stairs. We would stand on the banister at the top of the stairs and then jump into the pile of blankets. It was awesome. It should come at no surprise that my children find the same joy in jumping off the couch!

Green and Red

Mother's Day was Sunday and my sweet husband surprised me with 2 Dozen long stem roses. They were/are BEAUTIFUL! I'm so grateful for him and also to be the mother of our little crazies :) They are so much fun and occasionally test our patience (I know- they seem so innocent!).

I have never gardened before but I hear that it's pretty tasty! I decided to jump on the sq ft garden band wagon- and I'm so excited we did! I am seeing things pop up looking healthy.  I am sure that I'll be updating the one reader of our blog ALL THE TIME about how our little garden is doing. We have planted cucumbers, broccoli, basil, pumpkins, watermelon, squash and a few more. We are waiting to plant corn, but it all looks so promising right now! Enjoy :)

1 Baby, 2 Baby, 3 Baby Birds

We have nests all over our house and yard. We recently took notice of the 3 baby birds on our porch light. Ben got these amazing shots of them. Don't worry- the birds were out of the nest the NEXT day! Talk about good timing.

Click on the photo to see closer pictures.

The far right picture is the mom and dad birds.

Music Master

Shout it from the Mountain Tops! 

BEN IS DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!

JOY TO THE WORLD!

OSAMA'S DEAD!

Not to make light of a beautiful hymn, but really- Thank God! 

(and I do NOT use that in vain)

Everyone remembers where they were when the planes hit the Twin Towers and sent us into this horrific war. I remember not really getting it at first, but then feeling numb when I went home. I remember feeling so exhausted.

**at this moment the President of the United States is making his official declaration** 

I'll post more in a bit.

#ok- I'm back#
Anyway- I remember the way America was brought together.
I remember seeing flags on people's cars.
Many candle light vigils.
And many fears for what laid ahead.

Thank GOD that he is gone, but God Bless all those who CONTINUE to fight for us.
God Bless America!