In my defense, when I came upon the scene, I did not scream. Even if we used to have a little grass under that mud. The clean-up process (HOW?) did immediately enter my mind. Yet I did not scream. I had visions of Asher eating worm poop. I did not scream. Remember how I swung my arms at my sides and used my, “I’m really trying to be cool about this” voice? Aren’t I grown up? (replay of my thought process):“Boys like mud,” I said to myself. “They’re having fun. Go nuts. I will try not to be my usual neurotic self about this and go get the camera. That is what I will do. I will be fun mom.” I did not think, “what was he THINKING?!?” I stopped my brain from doing that. I’m making progress. I must really love you.Always,Heather Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your […]
I love my life… HEY!!! Who’s doing that?!? “Help me, pick me up, help me,someone sprayed me!!!” (all credit to Sabrina for the picture story idea. Sabrina, stop camping and come home, all of us are hurting over the lack of comments!) Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
This was Asher’s face the first time he saw a monkey. It was a crazy monkey. Then Asher tried to look like the monkey. And Miles said, “why does he have a butt?”This made me laugh a lot because of my previous post regarding monkeys (and their butts). Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Yesterday we spent time in the backyard with Uncle Kevin. Here are some photos from that adventure… Asher lasted awhile in his stroller, hanging out and holding on to his feet. Miles had a CRAZY ride in the swing.At a random moment, standing by the water table, Miles looked at Kevin and said, “I miss my daddy.” I think he must miss you more than he is able to understand or articulate because he’s acting like MONSTER Miles quite frequently. Here are some quotes:“NO, I will not stop my body!!!”“Mommy, you are hurting my feewings.” (While in time out for cracking Asher on the head)“I WILL NOT listen to your words!!!”This defiant-finding-his-own-identity thing is getting tricky. The threats have become more serious – “If you don’t start to listen, we can’t go to the zoo.” Then I suddenly realize that I will have to follow through and spend the afternoon at home and […]
Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
What a difference a year can make! We spent some time out in the backyard today. Or the “back ard,” as Miles calls it. I couldn’t believe how different Miles is from my memory of hanging out back there last time it was warm enough to do so. Last year Miles was just saying tiny little phrases. This year he’s telling stories and expressing his feelings. He said things like “I’m glad we came outside.” And “That was fun to swing.” Then he golfed and golfed. We knew last year that he was pretty coordinated for his age. We put a club in his hands this year and were shocked at his ability! He had an adult right-handed club (he swings with his left) and he could still smack the ball! It was so much fun to watch.Then we came in the house for dinner. Miles said, “tell me up a story, daddy.” […]
Here you go Mackenzie and Caleb! Look at this! Can you believe it’s been three years? Here is the first installment of photos for the wedding video… I mean… for fun! (I suggest choosing a fun song from the right-hand side under “Hear This” while you watch…just an entertainment suggestion…) Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
You don’t have to be nice and good all the time to be unconditionally loved. Toddlers know this best. Miles: “O! That’s for Olivia!” Mommy: “That’s right! O is for Olivia!” Miles: “Yeah, Olivia…my love.” Mommy: “Your love?” Miles: “Yeah, she’s kinda good to me.” Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Trying to get the photo: And this was the best I could do when trying to get these two wigglers to pose. This is actually one of my favorites because it shows their personalities so much. We’ve got the sweetest boys. To know them is to love them! Asher’s favorite form of transportation (and I actually love it too): But he is pretty heavy: If you’re saying “what IS that thing?” it’s a Moby D baby sling and it’s the BOMB. Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Grandma, Dad, Asher, Birthday Girl-Shelly, and Zach Miles and MaxZach and Max There is something I just LOVE about this picture. I don’t even know what it is, I just love it. My sister had a birthday today and Miles, Asher and I were able to go spend part of the day with her and her family. We met Grandma and Dad at Dave and Shelly’s. It was good to see everyone. Miles is so crazy about his cousins, it’s always good for him to get his dose of them. Family is such a good thing. I can see an understanding of what family means unfolding in Miles. Maybe an understanding that they’ll always be there and that his cousins are forever friends. An understanding that people like Nanny and Bapa and his Aunts and Uncles are connected to him in a special way. He’s just starting to understand how his grandparents are […]
The Thigh Guy When Mommy Walks AwayA Winter Walk Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Minnesota MarchI wish the hail-sized snow of today was uglier so I could hate it more. You can’t really see in the picture, but those are some big, beautiful flakes! Of course, all the Minnesotans know this, but I thought I’d share for our out-of-state friends. I shoveled once already because it’s SO heavy. Happy Spring. We’re still in good spirits though because we got to spend the morning with Mackenzie, Olivia and Ellorie. They’re such good friends. Olivia (Livy) Ellorie (Ellowie) Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Miles and Tia like snowy Easters: This was the first time I have ever made an Easter meal. It was just so so if you ask me and just wonderful if you ask my kind and careful husband. Uncle Kevin was our guest The party got out of hand when Miles stripped and asked why he has nipples. Then he punched Kevin. So it was time for the Easter party to come to a close. Had we been at a bar (or drinking for that matter), we would have been asked to leave on account of being naked and rowdy. Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
On Friday nights we have movie night. Every Friday, at some time during the day, Miles gets to take a trip to the “movie store” and pick out his own movie. He’s really quite good at it, choosing movies that are appropriate for a small person and ones he hasn’t seen but look good to him. Friday his choice was Monsters, Inc. He LOVED it. Meanwhile, I made a dinner from Martha Stewart’s “Everyday FOOD, Great Food Fast,” for Ryan and I. Gotta LOVE this cookbook, by the way. The recipes truly are simple and not all weird and stuff. But anyway, we had a super tasty chicken thingy with a Dijon mustard creamy yumminess over the top, and asparagus. I absolutely love this recipe! I will for sure make it again. Ryan loves anything mustardy and was a big fan. And then, on Saturday my parents, my sister, and her boys came. […]
It really was his idea… Nope, still not tired…just roaring…Daddy’s hat…Uncle Kevy’s hat…Cousin Abby Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Today Asher got some sun near a window (long winter, we’re desperate for Vitamin D…and sanity.) Miles got to go outside at school today and go sledding. He was WORN OUT when he got home. He had a good nap and was NOT worn out anymore. So he pretended he was a duck… …and also pretended that he was a monster with a laundry basket on his head. All I had to do was throw cheese at him to “save the dave,” but I didn’t know that at first….until he told me, and then I fended him off with “cheese” and he went away.These boys are really something, always keeping me laughing. Just now, after he went to bed, Miles was crying out, “Hey! I can’t find my kid!!!” We had no idea what he was talking about. I thought he was crying out, “hey, I can’t find my pig.” Ryan went in […]
First comes dinner… Asher decides AGAINST avocado; Miles is all FOR ice cream; Then comes bath… No worries, he gets his haircut today; The bliss of the afterbath; Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
This is our dog, Tia Maria. She is dreaming of her high-dive position. She is a really good dog. She has had to put up with being dethroned by two screaming, drooling, tail pulling boys. But sometimes she does naughty things to try to get the attention back on her. Like eating bibs or small plastic toys. Or the ear off a brand new puppy stuffed animal a friend sent to Miles. Had she not ripped his poor unsuspecting ear off, it would have been impossible for Miles to do this: Take note of the poor, sad puppy in the corner, earless and alone.It is hard for this dear pup to feel sad because he has no brains left in his head. I went in to check on our dear son after he fell asleep. I had wondered what had been so exciting in there, hearing him giggle and squeal and talk for […]
“MOMMY, I PUT A RUBBER BAND ON MY HEAD!!!”“OKAY, BUT DON’T DO THAT AGAIN, IT COULD GO IN YOUR EYE.” “WHY?” “IT JUST CAN.” “BUT WHY?” “MOM, I’M A BASEBALL HAT ROCK STAR.” “YES, YOU ARE!” Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Take a rest with me mommy!Ryan brought me “you’re doing a good job”flowers: making the kkkkkhhh sound:Carrie recently posted a comment with a quote I love, “While you are trying to teach your children all about life, they teach you how to live.” Or something close to that, anyway. I love that. I guess my lessons from Miles and Asher are pretty simple these days, Rest whenever you can. If possible, with a loved one. Smile a lot and make silly faces to make people feel good. And then there’s my thoughtful husband, taking the time to make me feel appreciated with flowers, a book, and some candy. What a guy. If not for him, I’d surely be in the mommy loony bin. My boys are pretty great, if I do say so myself! Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. […]
oh, how they grow and change! This is Miles getting ready for bed. He decided he could comb his hair on his own. While brushing his teeth. Asher is still crinkling his nose constantly and is trying to eat everything as if all of it is edible and he’s starving. Does he look like he’s starving? He had his 6 month check-up today. He’s in the 80th percentile for weight, the 44th for length, and the 99th for head circumference. Too funny. The Dr. said, “does daddy have a big head?” Um…yes. Both of these boys have very big brains. I hope to fill them with my own ideas of course. Like, “your mommy is the best lady in the world, don’t ever forget to call her.” Or, “You should never say anything bad about your mom, cause she always knows best and besides that, she’s perfect.” Okay, maybe I won’t do that, […]
ASHER BASHER We waited a long time to find out, what with all the crying, but it seems our Asher is quite a ham, and a really sweet boy. That second picture cracks me up more than words can say. He’s been doing this thing with his nose, crinkling it up. It is so crazy to see your child’s face do things that your own face does. I can make a million folds on the bridge of my nose too! I don’t know why he started doing these faces, but the crinkly nose one seems to be a way to make you laugh. And sometimes he does it when he wants to smile at someone, but he’s being kinda shy about it. It’s so adorable. Babies really are the best. It’s so cool to watch a person unfold. To see their personality develop, watch the ways they change. It always surprises me that […]
I was putting Miles down for his nap (yes, he still has the stinkin’ paci when he sleeps! Get off my back!) and he said, “Mommy, are you sleepy?” and I answered yes, of course. He then asked if Asher was going to take a nap. I told him that Asher was already sleeping. He said “yes, he is, in the closet behind a closed door.” Which totally cracked me up because it’s true! It sounds so awful when you put it that way! Asher’s current “bedroom” is the walk-in closet in our room. That way, he isn’t waking Miles up all hours of the night by sharing a room with him. So we figured either the basement or the closet. The closet won out since the basement is sort of out of the question. So we keep our baby in the closet. It’s a big closet! Anywho! It works for now. At […]
Miles’ school had their Christmas program today. It was a hoot! Miles mostly just stood there looking at all the other kids singing and doing actions. He’s a silent observer type, you know. The picture on the right is Miles’ best friend from school. He’s from Norway and his name is Johanis (YO HAHN ISS or HAHNUS, if you’re Miles). The kids danced and sang and we had cookies. What could be better during the Christmas season in Milesy’s world? He loves his friends. There were kids from many countries and they brought “gifts” to the manger scene while holding their flag. It was so touching. I love that Miles goes to a school with such a “variety” of kids. To him being different from himself isn’t even noticeable because he’s always been around such an eclectic group. He goes to school at Luther Seminary. There are a lot of kids of Seminary […]
Miles – 2.5 years Asher – 4.5 months Psalm 127:3 says “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.” I have often thought about how God has given me such a great gift in my children. It makes me think about how much He must love us, to give us these little miracle people. I tell Ryan I can’t wrap my mind around this: me + him = new person with part me and part him. Twice. Thank you for allowing me to pop up in your inbox and for reading my words, silly or serious. I appreciate you. ~Heather
Miles vocab. update: Tato – Playdoh Axis*cent – Accident Ribber – River These are about the only words that he doesn’t pronounce correctly. Except for licorice. He has some trouble with licorice. Other than that, the kids got a better vocab. than a lot of adults we know. Okay, maybe I’m biased, but he really does know a lot of words. Tonight we were reading a book and he said, “you’re getting tired mommy.” Well, he got that right! I was reading pretty slow too. Smart little guy. Asher is flippin’hilarious these days. He gets a HUGE kick out of Tia. When she plays fetch with Ryan, Asher just cracks up, hysterically laughing. We’re not even sure what the joke is, but it is so great to hear that boy laugh. He’s also practicing being a talker like Miles. He doesn’t speak english, but he sure does go on and on. Ryan’s home […]
* * Actual christmas tree not shown We only had to go about five blocks to get our tree this year. That was good due to the weather and the small people we brought along. Miles wasn’t too sure what the heck we were doing, but we loved watching the “wonder” in his eyes: He kept saying that he was cold and I would ask if he wanted to get in the car and he’d say no as if it was a silly question. How could I miss this, mom? Asher didn’t really get to partake in the festivities due to his newness, but he did come along:We had such a good time doing this today. I don’t know what it was. Maybe the beautiful snow that was making it feel all Christmasy. Or maybe because Miles was so excited to have a Christmas tree since it would have lights on it. We […]
