Moving On Up!

Re-creating my blog was easier than I anticipated! It's something I've been wanting to do for a while but was afraid to attempt on my own. With a little help from google, and lot of patience, I was able to create something that will be able to grow and change with my family. A place to call home.

I will be closing this blog and moving everything over to my new piece of the internet soon. Please be sure to follow my new page My Life, Our Journey.

{I even created my own button!}

Change is good, right?

Time For a Change

It's time to shake things up a bit around here. When I started this blog 5 years ago I really didn't know what I was doing (not that I really do now either!). Since then my family has grown and changed, and it's time for my blog to reflect that change. But I'm not sure where to go?

1.  I need a new name. One that won't be as easy to trace directly back to my kids. That way, when they are older, their friends can't google search them and find out what they said/did as youngsters and use it to tease them. But I'm in no way creative. Suggestions?

2.  Debating a new platform. Stick with blogger, switch to wordpress, or get my own website?

3.  Re-design. I'm not sure yet if this is a task that I am capable of or if I should hire someone to complete it for me.

Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. I need all the help I can get! Hopefully, in the next few months you'll see some major changes going on!

Top 5 Saturday Laughs: 8-3-2013

It's been a pretty laid back week. Mom and Dad took Tyler Saturday and kept him for a few days so Bailey and I had some much needed mommy/daughter time. Then, Mom brought Ty back just in time for me to get my wisdom teeth taken out. Thankfully, she hung around for a couple of days to help with the kids. Thanks Mommy!

Want to share your family's laughs? Link up with Melissa over at The Mommyhood Chronicles!

5.  Bailey and Tyler were playing with some action figure toys in Grandma's van. Bailey threw one on the floor of the van and it just missed the dogs water dish. Tyler says:  It's okay if it goes in the water dish. It's like a swimming pool for them!

4.  When we were up in Michigan visiting Brandon's step-dad, Tyler insisted on taking his hat off while telling him "I'm touching your baldy spot!!"

3.  Bailey has learned from the master. Now, when they are arguing over a toy she will immediately tell me "me, mommy, me first!" (Which is Bailey speak for I had it first Mommy and exactly what big brother tells me every time!)

2.  Bailey was playing with Sleeping Beauty and Tyler explained:  "I don't like her. All she does is sleep."  Typical boy.

1.  I took the kids outside for some sprinkler fun and this is how they spent that time:

That's right, drinking out of the sprinkler.

Wordless Wednesday: 7-31-13

A few days ago I posted pictures from my previous attempt to get the kids outside to play, and it didn't go well. This attempt, much better!!

Dora wasn't feeling so neglected today! I confess, this time I drug the neighbor boys out too. Apparently I'm not fun enough to play with, but they are! ;0)

There Goes My Wisdom

It's time, much to my dismay. My dentist has been bugging me for almost 2 years and I am finally going to listen and get my wisdom removed. And I'm not happy! There is nothing that I dislike more than a trip to the dentist. I am frightened of them, each and every one. Even mine. I mean, he's a nice guy and all, but he's a dentist. Something about his occupation screams discomfort, pain, and an empty wallet.

When I walk into that office I revert back into a child. They practically have to drag me back into the exam room kicking and screaming. And now, I have to get my last 2 wisdom teeth removed. Tomorrow. Did I just say tomorrow? HELLLLLP MEEE!

So if I seem a little less intelligent in my future posts (if that's even possible!), please forgive me as I will no longer have any wisdom.

Please tell me I'm not the only one with a fear of the dentist....

Top 5 Saturday Laughs: 7-27-13

5.  My neighbor brought her kids outside to play with mine. We both brought our potty chairs outside since we are right in the middle of training our 2 year olds. Bailey insisted that her potty chair sit right next to D's and they sat, side-by-side, in the garage peeing together. :0)

4.  Tyler was watching TV on our bed and I went in to bug him. After a few minutes of tickling and messing with him he yells "Would you stop acting like a kid!"

3.  When she's being naughty, Bailey is often referred to by her full name, Bailey Ann. She now yells at everyone in the house when she's mad with 'Mommy Ann!' or 'Tyler Ann' and even 'Daddy Ann'.

2.  Tyler is in full on 'pick on my sister all day cause it's funny when she screams' mode. He'll do ANYTHING to make her mad. From sitting in her booster seat to touching her. It makes for a fabulous day!

1.  We can no longer ignore Bailey and her constant rambling. If your not paying attention, she'll climb on your lap, grab your face with her hands to make you listen, and go nose to nose with you as she talks.

Have a great weekend!

I'm Bored!

"Mom, I'm bored!" I can't begin to tell you how many times I have heard this over the last week. So yesterday, I decided lets have some fun! I went into the garage (which is no easy task!) and dug out the hose, sprinkler, and bubble toys. I got us all hooked up for some fun! Then, I told the kids we were going outside to play....

Bailey of course jumped up and down for joy! She loves anything involving outside. Tyler, however, whined and moaned that he didn't want to go out. I got Bailey dressed in her swim suit and drug Tyler out with.

I even thought ahead and created a "potty area" for baby girl!

The first 2 minutes looked something like this:

Then:

Poor Dora. She just wasn't feeling the love.

Top 5 Saturday Laughs: 7-20-2013

Phew this week went by fast! We got back home from our 2 week vacation to Michigan late Sunday night. I began re-potty training little miss first thing Monday morning and the week has surprisingly gone well! I am almost brave enough to take her out of the house now too! (almost)

5.  I have been doing my usual summer cleaning around the house and spent one afternoon trying on a bunch of clothes that I still had packed in boxes from our move *coughs 6* years ago. With each clothing change, Bailey would enthusiastically say "Cute Mommy!" no matter how ugly it was. Talk about a confidence booster!

4.  With each week, comes a new phrase for our oh so talkative toddler. This week's phrase "Ki-it down!" which is Bailey speak for 'quiet down!' Suddenly, every time Tyler speaks we hear 'ki-it down Tyler'. And then I hide my face as I giggle at her naughty-ness!

3.  I gave the kids corn-dogs for lunch cause I'm a cool mom. The first thing Tyler says is "I'm going to make mine naked!"

2.  We took the kids to the zoo on one of our last days up north. They have a Macaw that has learned some phrases. Tyler heard him say "Hello" and immediately had to call dad to tell him about the talking bird!

1.  We stayed an extra day in Michigan so I could go to a birthday party for my cousin and to see the local fireworks. While waiting for them to start Bailey looked up at the crescent shaped moon and said "It's bo-ten. Moon bo-ten!" in her super concerned voice. So then my aunt chimes in and asks her "Does Daddy need to fix it?" Needless to say, for the rest of the evening we heard "Moon boten, Daddy fix it!!"

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday: 7-17-2013

I miss this place already!!

Top 5 Saturday Laughs: 7-13-2013

5.  Bailey may be a monster, but she's polite. every time we hand her something she always responds with "Tank you Mommy!" or "Tank you Daddy!"

4.  Bailey was sitting on top of Brandon and I heard him squeal. I looked over to find her putting her finger in her mouth and then putting it in Brandon's ear! I think she's spent too much time with her Uncle Curt!

3.  I took Tyler to JoAnn Fabrics. As we were wondering around, I kept hearing "Mom do we have to go down EVERY aisle?!?"

2.  One of Bailey's favorite activities when riding in the car is to throw her paci on the floor and scream because she wants it back. After about the 100th time of playing this game during our 13 hour drive to Michigan, she throws it down, points to it, and says "bummer Mommy."

1.  Tyler LOVES his sister and is excited to see her learn and grow. Some days he pays more attention to her than others. We will occasionally hear from him "Hey Mom, Bailey just said _____! She has a new word!" Even if it's a word she's been saying for months!

Pure Michigan: 2013

We got an extra special treat this year on our visit to Michigan. We got to spend 4 days with our family along with Brandon's brother and his family at a beach house on Lake Michigan! What an experience! These pictures don't even do it justice, but I'm sure they are enough to make you just a little bit jealous. ;0)

Simply beautiful.

Thanks Jamie and LouJean for sharing this once in a life-time experience with us!!

Top 5 Saturday Laughs: 6-29-13

It's been a while since I've joined the blog hop, so I had lots of laughs to pick from! I hope they make you smile today!

5.  We went to Yogi Bear Campground for Father's Day weekend. If you are a camper and have never been to one, I suggest you go! Boo Boo made an appearance the first day we were there. We took the kids up to say hi and neither one of them would go up to or talk to him. But for the entire rest of our stay (and the weeks following this event) we got to hear every couple of minutes "Boo Boo go bye-bye." from a very sad little girl.

4.  Brandon was being a smart mouth the other night and I, being the classy gal that I am, told him to bite me. Tyler, without missing a beat, said "Yeah, but he's not even a vampire." You got me there kid.

3.  I bought some nail polish for Bailey to paint her toes. Now, she demands for them to painted, tells me which color she wants and then parades around the house pointing to her toes telling anyone that will listen how 'pitty' they are.

2.  Bailey has mastered tattling on her brother. Now, whenever he gets out a toy from the giant toy box she immediately runs to me or Brandon and informs us that "Tyler take my ____".

1.  Did you know that putting a rubber duck up to your belly and squeezing it makes a really cool farting noise? NO? Well, you do now! And you can thank Bailey and Tyler for discovering this awesome, entertaining, fact!

Tyler's 6!

Time flies when you're having fun! How can my baby boy be 6 already?!?! It seems like just yesterday that I brought the little bugger home from the hospital.... This post is a little late because we've been CRAZY busy the last few weeks, but Happy Birthday T!

Newborn, oh so sweet!

1st Birthday!

2nd Birthday!

3rd Birthday, looking oh so cool!

4th Birthday

5th Birthday

Love you little man!

Wordless Wednesday: 6-26-2013

Every year for the last several, we kick off our summer with some visitors. My sister-in-law and 2 nieces have made it a tradition to come visit us every June. This year, they brought my Aunt Lou Jean along for the ride! We had a very busy week, but enjoyed every minute of it. Here are some highlights. These are all from a trip to the local gold mine, I'll post more pictures later!