Muffins and More

Our family has been battling various illnesses over the past several days. Thankfully, I think we are starting to feel better. Not 100% yet, but hopefully we'll get there in a couple of days. Since we've been taking it easy, there hasn't been a lot of time for playing or cooking. I was feeling a little better this morning, so I decided to try a muffin recipe I found on Pinterest. The recipe included bananas, oatmeal, sugar, eggs, baking soda, and baking powder. Pretty simple! Max helped me make them and they ended up being really good!

While the muffins were cooking, the boys decided to play with their play dough. 

Yummy!!  

New Dining Room

 It has been 2 1/2 years since we moved into our home, and we have definitely had our share of decorating decisions. We have enjoyed picking out different pieces of furniture, but it is also challenging & time consuming to find things that we really like. We still have several rooms to finish, but last night we had our new dining room furniture delivered!

Clint and I have been searching for a dining room outfit for over a year now. We both like the traditional style for a dining room, so we've had a hard time finding something that would look right with our open concept floor plan. Since we have a really big, empty wall, we decided that more storage would be a good idea. I know that buffets are more popular right now, but for some reason I've always wanted a buffet and china cabinet combo. So after much searching, we finally found what we were looking for.

                                                              Before 

After 

Yay!! We are looking forward to many family dinners here :) 

Snuggle Days and More Maxism's

Well, our family has been enjoying some much needed downtime lately. I think we've all been feeling pretty overloaded, so it has been nice to take it easy, not plan as many activities, and spend time at home. Don't get me wrong, our lives are still hectic with all of the normal day to day routines! I am enjoying little bits of free time here and there. It is awesome :)

One thing that I think is super cute lately: Leo and his lovie blanket. He really enjoys snuggling with his super soft blanket (It is actually Max's baby blanket from my Aunt Cheryl. Don't tell him ;) ). He reminds me of  a little Linus, dragging it around with him after night time and naps. So cute!

Leo has also been trying out some new words on a daily basis. He has been surprising us lately with how many words he is starting to say or attempting to get out. Some of his new (and old) favorites are as follows:
                                " Love you" sounds kind of like "Laa Uuu"
                                 "Thank you"  = "Aan Uuu"
                                  "Phone"  = "Mone"
                                   "Mine" =   "My"
                                   "Uh Uh" = "Uh Huh"
He has been saying, Uh Oh, Mama, Dadda, Ma (Max), Kitty, Up, Go, Out, Milk, Cookie, Noo! and a few others for a couple of months now. Our little buddy is growing up so fast!

Max is also changing daily. He is my ultimate little helper. We spent the day yesterday doing tons of chores around the house. Max willingly helped me fold and put away laundary, sweep, mop, dust, and wipe down furniture. Best of all, he actually did a good job! I will take advantage of his helpfulness while I can. One of his famous quotes, "I'm good at picking up dirt-people call me The Cleaner."

Max is such a creative soul and frequently says the cutest things. Last night, after reading stories, Clint looked at Max and said, "You are the best at cuddling." Max replied, "Indeed." lol  While playing Firefighters this morning, Max and I were rescuing about 25 stuffed animals from Leo's crib (the burning building). After we rescued them, we put them in the chair (ambulance) and whisked them away to the hospital. Max changed his costume into Dr. Max and started checking all of the animals over. He discovered that several of the animals had at least 5 or more broken teeth from the fire(?) and the rest had broken hearts. Awe! He had to take those animals to the special hospital to get fixed up. He is also obsessed with the Home Alone movie from when we were kids. He thinks Macaulay Culkin is the coolest. However, he has now gotten into a habit of telling us he wants a new family when he doesn't get what he wants. I pretty much laughed out loud the first time he said it in his serious pouty voice.

                      

We are enjoying our time indoors for now, but I will be ready for spring & summer soon. :)

Snow Fun

After the holidays I still had several days of winter break left to hang out with my boys. It snowed quite a bit around here, so one afternoon we bundled up and went outside to enjoy the weather. Max and Leo had a blast playing in their clubhouse, making snow castles, snow angels, and flying down their slide. I had a lot of fun watching them enjoy themselves. Usually I can't stand the cold weather for very long, but with my new coat, gloves, and hat, I felt like I could stay out there for at least an hour, lol.

Leo LOVED going down the icy slide. He flew so fast- it was hilarious. 

He also really likes playing in his fort. I think it makes him feel like a big boy- going in and out of his own little house. 

Even more snow castles :) 

Daredevil slippin' and slidin' on the turtle. 

 

New Year's Day

Leo woke up right when the rest of us were getting to bed on New Year's Eve, so we decided to leave Todd's around 7:00 and head to my parents house. We stopped at Barry's Bagels to pick up some tasty breakfast. Love 'em! We surprised my parents with how early we were & then spent the morning and afternoon hanging out with everyone. We got to celebrate Christmas with my grandma and brothers as well.

Grandma Norma used to buy us Berenstein Bear books whenever we would spend the night up at the lake. It was a memorable tradition that we loved. It was always exciting to see which one she picked out for that weekend., and then snuggle in bed and read them multiple times each night. She has been buying them for Max now, and it is fun sharing that tradition with him. 

Silly Uncles! 

Oma opening her gift from us. 

Leo loves curling up on the chair to watch TV. What a cutie!!

Happy New Year!!

We celebrated New Years with our group again this year. We have been celebrating New Years together for almost 10 years now, minus one when my sister and Jeff were married and another when Max was a year old. Other than that, our crew has gotten together to ring in many new years.  Jill and I have spent even more than that over the years, as have Clint, Todd, Tyler, Brandon, and Kelli. It is special to be with people you have known forever. We missed Thad, Angie, and their boys this year, but it was fun for Max and Leo to have their cousin Drake to spend the night with.

Todd was fully prepared for three kids under 3! He had glow sticks and nerf guns for them as soon as we walked in. Let the craziness begin!! :) The boys love their Uncle Todd & they had a bunch of fun all night. 

Max smiling right after he got me with the Nerf gun. 

Trying to get Aunt Jill with the Nerf Gun :) 

I hung out upstairs most of the night with the boys. 

Movie Time! 

They have so much fun with Uncle Tyler and the fog machine. 

Leo couldn't believe the fog. I was having flashbacks from the "People Demand Fog". 

All dressed and ready for the New Year!

Buddies. 

Max was very intrigued with Janga. He realllllly wanted to knock it over. 

The boys hanging out. 

The Girls :)

Happy New Year Everyone!!