November so far...

Dusty took his week of vacation this week. We spent two days in Hocking Hills where we rented a cabin and relaxed away from work, kids, and the city. We're so thankful that Dusty's parents were able to watch the boys.
My only picture (the biggest rock bridge in the state):

We hiked a little (not nearly as much as we would have liked to) and it was beautiful. Nature is my happy place...maybe because I grew up in the middle of nowhere:).
And I'm not sure how to put this but it was really nice to get a little break from the boys. Parenting is hard work and it was just nice to have an extended time where I was away from some of the less enjoyable things (the um...terriffic twos?, diapers, etc). I was SO excited to see their little faces today though when we came home!

Last weekend we took the boys trick-or-treating (like to 5 houses, ha):
Micah was a homemade Larry:


Josiah was a hand-me-down monkey:



Tonight we took Micah to Veggie Tales Live and got to meet Bob and Larry afterwards:


:)

A Coke truck...and the TWO's...

I'm so smart! Yesterday I decided to surprise Dusty at work...delivering Coke downtown Columbus...so Micah could see Daddy's 'big red truck.' Well...I quickly discovered that it would be nearly impossible to just drive around and locate the Coke truck...it could have been hidden in any of the hundreds of alleys around town so we ended up calling Dusty and Micah got to check out Daddy's 'office'...



The whole experience of going downtown opened my eyes to what Dusty deals with every day...awful traffic, a VERY strange road system, pedestrians who don't obey rules, bikers 'sharing' the skinny roads, being in rough areas of town...AND it was really HOT and HUMID!! He WORKS really hard! And I know it's not a job he's passionate about...we all want to go to work every day loving what we do...so I feel like I'm extra thankful today for my husband...who is willing to work so hard doing something he doesn't love for our family. Love you babe!

And in other news...That sweet face in the 'big truck'...he has been on my mind an EXTRA lot lately. Being two is hard. Being the mommy of a two year old is HARD! Nothing in my life has caused me to be in SUCH CONSTANT CONVERSATION with Jesus...pleading for wisdom, hoping for MY heart to change, asking for patience and that he teach me how to be a good parent and asking forgiveness for all my failures as a mom.
People have a lot of advice...I WANT people's advice...but I am learning there is truth from the word, guidance from the Spirit, and MANY ways that can be good parenting. I am trying to figure out what works for Micah and it.is.hard.

Bye for now...

We went to Iowa...

I was blessed to have both parents available within a week (or so) of each other to come out to Ohio...my dad picked me, Micah and Josiah up and took us to Iowa and my mom brought us back. The boys did AMAZING in the car! (Which surprised me a LOT)


...because being in a car seat for 12 hours is FUN...ha.


Micah was really helpful in watering the...water...at my dad's.


We were SO lucky that my little brother had his class reunion and was able to stop by my dad's for a little bit!


Dad remembered seeing this for free on the curb for a month and decided to go to the guys house to see if he still had it...he did...free FUN for Micah!!!


Honestly one of the highlights of my trip...visiting my gramma...yea, in this picture she is talking on her home phone and cell phone at the same time (I guess there is no other option when both go off at the same time)


This was waiting at my mom's house...and Micah made himself right at home:)


Big brother Tyler with Sophie the 'puppy' and cousin Kate!


I'm pretty sure my children forced everybody to have a little alcohol...;)


Heaven for Micah includes parades...he LOVE LOVE LOVED it!!!


Downtown Iowa City...where I went to college...this was a much better use of time and space ;)


...found a local elementary with a sweet playground


...does not yet understand the joys of swinging...


After a long trip away from the husband/daddy we were very happy to be home with him again:).
...I was very thankful for the encouragement from Dusty over the phone while we were in Iowa since I often felt like an overwhelmed 'single' parent. He stayed up late to read to Micah every night on facetime, CLEANED our entire apartment (OCD mama's love language anyone?!!!?), CLIPPED coupons out of the Sunday paper, talked me through near emotional breakdowns... I'm blessed, and very thankful for him!

We have been in Ohio almost exactly 3 years. Something that hit me last week Friday after a fun playdate was that I am not lonely. When we moved here I only knew a handful of people, mostly family and it was HARD with my non-bubbly, introverted personality to make friends. I am so thankful for the friends that I have now and that God allowed a long season of alone-ness to grow me through...(and my thankfulness does not mean it was fun!) :)


Micah and his friend Eli at our playdate. Eli has a little brother Isaac who is a little older than Josiah. And their mommy is awesome! She 'gets' me.


Today we had a playdate...Micah stole Olivia's shoes...and...um, wasn't wearing pants...haha

And in other news...
Josiah can hold his bottles but is mostly too lazy to...he only drinks bottles which makes life for me full of pumping and feeding him. I CANNOT WAIT until he is eating more and taking less bottles!


We went hiking at Deer Creek state park. Definitely got a workout carrying Josiah!


The FINAL hill in our hike...got rid of Josiah for that one.

We have hit a lull in the house hunting. I am sad that I cannot purchase a whole farm.

Mmmmm....that is all the news I can think of...although I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Bye for now.

Hellooooooooo....

It's been a while so here are some pics and a little update on life...

Just a little family picture...


Micah flossing...with 13 miles of floss...


Josiah lovin' the bumbo...


Yes, the dog actually licked it and Micah actually took a bite right after...


Sweet Josiah


My babies are growing up!!! Josiah has two teeth now and has gone from being the perfect angel baby to an average, sometimes fussy baby. He is still pretty happy and I'm loving this stage where he is interested in everything (and putting it in his mouth, ha). I really feel like I'm trying to savor Josiah's baby moments...sometimes I just watch him and try to memorize the baby-ness. He will be (most likely)be our last and with that knowledge I think I am just extra sentimental about everything.

Micah is talking more these days! We go on walks and he has to point everything out and tell me what it is. His favorite things are vehicles...busses, cars, trucks, and bikes. I LOVE that the weather is nicer...we go on walks and to the park and getting some of his energy out really helps our days run smoother. He loves his 'Yaya' (Josiah). They really like each other (at this point)...except when Micah wants MY attention...then he sometimes picks on his little brother.

The big thing that our family has been up to lately is looking at houses. It is exciting and hard at the same time. We will most likely purchase a fixer-upper because of our price range, but I am really excited about that since Dusty is really good at all that stuff...and we can really make it our own. It has been a little hard though because sometimes when we look at houses that look decent online we go to see them and find all types of critters and structural/mold problems in the house...so it will definitely be a hunt to find the right one.

Ok, that's all for now...and as always, I hope to write more often ;). I miss all you Iowa folks!

My love...

I was going through pictures and was reminded of all our good times...

Way back...not even interested ;) (2008)




I remember facebook stalking him and thinking 'Who is that good looking girl?' and it was his MOM! Never thought she'd become the best mother-in-law ever to ME!! (Seriously, not even joking, really wonderful!)


Made these yummy tacos for when his mom came over before we were dating...we totally didn't like each other then (ha)...


We fell in love on a walk at Lake Michigan with Yujung...I AM there...in the background...


Right after we got engaged (2009)...


Engagement pic...


Then we got married...


Then these two beautiful boys came along...


Ok...that's it...love them ALL so much!

Hi...

Winter has felt so long. The boys and I are ready for spring and spending time outside!!! Today we made banana muffins...

...my little helper (who picked his own outfit...)


...my other little helper


...I guess this two year old thinks cooking is boring


Success!

In other news...Micah woke up from a nap very grumpy (he has a cold) so I told him we'd go to Meijer to look at the fish...well, I ended up getting 2 (one jumped out and died)...

Micah turned 2...

TWO!

These days he is talking a little more...still doesn't say too many words yet. He calls Josiah 'yaya' which I love. He likes his blocks and balls. We like going to story time at the library (ahem, we're working on that) and going to play dates. He has a lot of energy and I am excited for the weather to get warmer so that we can use some of that up outside!!