Sounds

Last week while Andrew was at Vacation Bible School, I truly enjoyed spending time alone with Carson. He is at a really fun age. Learning to talk and express different things. Here are some of the sounds that I am loving right now.

I love his sweet little "ya" after you ask him a question. I also love how he changes the tone of this "ya". For instance after he has injured himself somehow and I ask him if he is ok, it comes out a really pathetic little "ya".

I love the sound of his feet, the pitter patter, as he walks or runs across the hardwood floors.

I love the way he can jabber. These really long phrases of jabber, I just wonder what he is really trying to say.

I love the "Aahh" after a long drink of water or milk. I also love his loud swallows! Something Chad gets annoyed at when I do this. I realize this may be rude and not good manners but sometimes I just can't get enough water fast enough! :)

I love how he sings these little made up tunes of his that are full of jabber.

I love that he sings these tunes before falling asleep or after he wakes up in bed.

I love his ornery little giggle. I love how he can giggle when playing with Andrew, even if I think they are playing to rough.

I love that I can figure out what he is saying by the tones he uses, not the words. example ~ "All done" is very sing songy syllables, high pitched "all" and a lower sound "done".

I love the excited "Oooh!" he makes when we are driving in the car and sees a dog, cow or horse.

I love how he sings along with us for our meal time prayers, not exactly the right tune or right words but he is singing none the less.

I love his little arms around my neck for hugs. (So this isn't a sound, but it is something I really love!)

I just love every little thing about him, even the massive tantrums he is learning to throw. What a magical age!

Back seat driver

Andrew notices everything. Today while we were in the car he told me "Mom drive with two hands!" He has told me this before. A few weeks ago he asked "Why aren't you pushing on the pedal?" (How he can see if my foot is pushing on the pedal or not I do not know!) I was using the cruise control, so that became his first lesson on cruise control. Later he said "I thought you were going to push that button." I explained that I usually only use cruise control on the interstates. He also told Chad once "Drive!" at the time, Chad was eating a cinnamon roll from McDonald's and steering with his knees instead of his hands. I think we are in big trouble with this little back seat driver!

Children's Garden

Today our church play group went to a Children's Garden here in town. It was such a neat space. And quite large. There were many different wooden structures for the kids to play in; train and ticket office, a two story house, light house, boat, bridge, fort.... And the gardens were really pretty. There were even some strawberries that we munched on! I took a few pictures before I gave up ~ the kids are just way too quick!! I should have just taken pictures of the structures and pretty flowers. I'm sure this would be a space both sets of Andrew & Carson's grandparents would enjoy visiting. When are you coming back??

Carson really enjoyed this train's bell

Carson eating, I mean, smelling the flowers.

Bike Path Walks

This morning was such a pretty morning. Low 70's and sunny. The boys and I headed to the bike path for a walk/ride. I like going there because #1 it is so beautiful, #2 Andrew can ride his bike without worrying about car traffic or the hills that are in our neighborhood. I have taken them a couple of times with Andrew's trike but today he was able to ride his "big boy bike". I wish the bike path was close enough to our house to walk to but we have to drive there. On the walk, Andrew is often way ahead of Carson and I on the way out but once we turn around he tends to drag behind. Guess he hasn't figured out how to pace himself yet.

At the end of the walk, when we are close to the parking lot, there is a creek with a bridge over it. The boys always enjoy tossing stones into the creek.

This child size bench is across from the parking lot.

We are blessed

This past weekend, we were blessed with visits from both sides of our families. Andrew had been really looking forward to these visits. I told him on Friday that tomorrow they would be coming. He woke up Saturday morning and very sleepily said "Is it tomorrow now?" He asked about them all day! Saturday afternoon, Chad's parents, brother Bradley, Renee and their daughter Lucca arrived. Alan, Chad's oldest brother, came with two of their girls, Leah and Emma a little later. Anna had a ball game that evening so Tisha and Anna had plans of going to that ~ but it was rained out. We missed not having the two of them here.

We enjoyed having time for all the cousins to play together. We had a meal together that evening with more time for play afterwards. The cousins all really play well together. Leah does a great job of putting up with all Andrew has to dish out!! He tends to play a little rough.Carson & Lucca

Andrew & Lucca

Emma & Lucca

Andrew & Leah
Carson being tossed around by ChadAndrew tackling Uncle Bradley

We attempted to get a cousins picture while they were here. We waited until the very end and they were all tired and worn out. This was not very successful. Here are the pictures I snapped. I didn't get any that were very good. What fun!




































My parents had been to a wedding near by on Saturday late afternoon. They met us at our church on Sunday morning. The boys were very excited to see them at church. Andrew always wants my mom to ride in the back seat in between their two car seats, which is ok for short distances but we drive about 30 minutes to church. We went out for lunch and then they came back to our house for some play time with the boys. Andrew wanted to show them his riding toys.

After my parents left, Andrew asked "Why did Grandma and Grandpa have to leave?" I said "So they can get home and go to work tomorrow." Andrew said "They can just go to Daddy's work." I guess he doesn't realize that people do different things for "work".

Andrew's new joy ride

Yet another garage sale find. I'm lovin' it!

This one is for Uncle Justin & Aunt Tricia

Today Carson was very eager to eat lunch. I put his food on his high chair tray and was finishing up getting lunch ready. When I looked back, he was standing on the side bar of his high chair eating his food, just like this....
So this one if for Uncle Justin & Aunt Tricia because after Carson was seated in his high chair, he began mixing his food together. He had one bowl for his applesauce and one bowl that I had put his peas and macaroni and cheese in. He moved his macaroni and peas into the bowl with his applesauce. Tricia loves mixing her applesauce into other food, but Justin dislikes this. He actually places a knife under his plate so it is tilted just so that the applesauce will not run into his other food. (Sorry Gus)

R & R

Ever since we spent that summer in Maine 3 years ago while Chad was taking a course, we have really liked adirondack chairs. There is just something so peaceful, so relaxing, so summerish about these chairs. We have a little bit of expensive taste when it comes to these chairs, so we haven't purchased any yet.

Last week we did get these chairs for our deck. They are made out of old wine barrels. We got them for each other for our Mother's/Father's Day gifts. They really are quite comfortable ~ they don't really look like they would be. However not as comfortable as adirondack chairs. This afternoon while the boys were napping, I took the opportunity to sit on the deck in this chair, read a book and enjoy this wonderful fall-like weather we have been having. I had some great "Kristi time".

Garage Sale Finds

I'm pretty sure that I have posted on this blog before about how I love a great deal! Well today I stopped at two different garage sales and came home with these two hits!! The boys love them, this was also a problem with Andrew because I couldn't get him to come in to eat his lunch. Andrew road a Big Wheel when we were out visiting Rob, Sarah, Jonah and Isaac and couldn't get enough of it.

I have gone to several garage sales this summer and picked up mostly clothes for the boys. I also found each of them a winter coat for the fall. I love finding bargains and feel that I am helping recycle somewhat. Our neighborhood had garage sales a few weeks ago. I didn't have enough stuff to host my own garage sale (I'm keeping most of Andrew's things for Carson and not giving up things Carson has outgrown in case we would happen to have another boy ~ chances are good or maybe one of our siblings would someday have a boy and want some hand-me-downs), so I took some things down to a friends. It was nice having the garage sale together.

Vaction Bible School and One TIRED Boy

Andrew has had the privilege of attending Vacation Bible School this week. Our church was invited to the other Mennonite church in the area for VBS. The past three mornings one of our friends from church has picked him up and taken him along with her two boys to VBS. This has been wonderful! Andrew enjoys their boys so much, he tells complete strangers that these two boys are his best friends. Plus the drive is 35-40 minutes! I wish I could help out but we don't have a van to hall all the kids. Yesterday I was able to watch her children in the afternoon for her. Today I did go pick up Andrew. He is enjoying VBS, the songs they sing, the crafts they do and the children he has met. I have also enjoyed these past three mornings spending time with only Carson.

This has also come with a great price. Andrew is so exhausted and hungry by the time he gets home, around 1:00. Yesterday I would have had him take a nap, but with the other children here I knew that would be near impossible. Andrew's behavior is unbelievably bad. He does not listen well. I tell him the same thing over and over and when he does it again, he gets a time out. I try to stay as calm as possible (at least on the outside while boiling on the inside!!) I tell him he needs to take a time out, he runs away from me yelling and screaming. I pick him up and take him to time out while he is attempting (and succeeding sometimes) to kick and hit me and yelling. Then the final straw is he sticks his tongue out and very angrily spits at me. Where is this coming from?! What has happened!

Right now he is taking a much needed nap. I had to lay down with him until he fell asleep because he kept getting up. The entire time I was laying down with him, he was screaming and crying. He might get his short temper from me. I really thought I was a pretty patient person until we had children. I try really hard to be calm but I admit I do overreact at times. I feel like I am at a loss with him right now, I just don't know what to do with him.

Happy Father's Day!! (a day late)

We are so thankful for these four fathers (grandfathers/great grandfathers) that are a part of our lives. We feel blessed with the Christian homes we were raised in and the values that they have instilled in us. We appreciate all the ways they have shown and continue to show their love for us. Thanks for all you do! We love you.

Family Fun Weekend

We spent this past weekend with my family at my parent's house. We went there Friday late afternoon and Tric and Justin arrived Friday evening. Saturday morning all the guys went golfing. Andrew & Carson hung out with us ladies. We went for a walk down to the park. Andrew & Carson always enjoy this park and climbing up the hill.
After the park, we went to pick up some strawberries to make jam. Tric and Mom did most of this while I got lunch around for the boys and put them down for a much needed nap. Then it was time for swimming in the pool. The boys are getting very brave in the water. By Sunday, Andrew was jumping off the side of the pool over and over, just trusting that you were going to catch him. He can touch on his very tip toes, so maybe next year he can do more swimming alone.

Sunday Ben, Kristy and Abby came for lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon there. We enjoyed time altogether. We were all there except for my youngest brother Tim. We missed not having you there Tim! Andrew, Carson and Abby all enjoyed playing with Abby's exercauser! Andrew kept saying "Hi Abby! Hi Abby!" She is very cute and such a happy little baby.It is really difficult trying to get a picture of three little ones. Andrew was pretty tired at this point ~ no nap and lots of energy used swimming, hence the attitude! As we left town, we had to stop at Tiny's Dairy Barn. What a great end to a wonderful weekend.

Pool time

The boys and I went to the pool today. Andrew asked "Can we go to the outside pool when Carson wakes up?" (he is used to going to the YMCA for his swimming lessons) This is the third time we have gone this summer. The boys are getting more and more brave, which makes watching both of them a little difficult.

Andrew's favorite thing today was some hanging ropes. The ropes are in pretty shallow water and he can swing himself through the water. Carson's favorite thing was jumping into the pool from the side. He would hold onto my hands (actually he prefers just one of my fingers from each hand to hold on to) and then he says "One, two, one two" and jumps into the 1 foot deep water over and over again.

Strawberry Pie

I am sometimes easily intimidated with cooking certain things, pie is one of those things. It is something that I rarely make. I made this Strawberry Pie today from a recipe my mother-in-law gave me. It actually turned out pretty good and wasn't that difficult to make. We all enjoyed it and I think the boys are still on a sugar high from it!!

Carson's 18 month pictures

Yesterday we picked up Carson's 18 month pictures that were taken a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised how well they turned out. The day of the photo shoot, Carson was being a big time Momma's boy, had some serious separation/stranger anxiety. He clung to me, cried part of the time, wouldn't hold still ~ when he finally let go of me. I was surprised she was actually able to capture some smiles. Many of the pictures we got were close up shots, so you couldn't see me holding him.

That day was a little stressful. I was by myself trying to get Carson to let go of me, cooperate with what she wanted him to do and smile. Meanwhile Andrew was being a little ornery. He was trying to steal the show and get the photographers attention, as well as not listening very well. And it was unbelievably hot in the studio. Thankfully she was able to get some good shots.Here is Carson's senior picture pose.

Strawberries galore!

We all went and picked strawberries tonight. Andrew helped for a little while before he tired of it. He would sometimes pick overly ripe or not nearly ripe enough berries, so we were fine with him tiring of it! :) I had Carson in a backpack for a while but he wanted to be down. Plus I haven't had him in a carrier for a long time and perhaps this one was too small! Sorry Carson. The boys really did well. At one point Carson was walking down the rows of strawberry plants singing this little made up tune of his. It was so cute!

We made 6 batches of strawberry freezer jam. I'm not sure what we will do with all the rest, we actually picked too many I think. We will freeze some and I plan on making strawberry shortcake and perhaps some cupcakes or maybe I'll try making a pie ~ something I don't make very often.
Andrew's eyes lit up when I told him we were going to make jam. The poor boy was so tired tonight. I didn't want him to take a nap today because he has taken a nap the last several days but then doesn't go to sleep at night until 10:30-11:00! No good for me! I need that time from 8-10 to be awake without children around to help restore myself. So at the fruit farm, he picked out a candy stick. I didn't want him to eat it in the car because I knew it was going to be a sticky mess and I would have no way of helping him. We told him he could have it as soon as we got home. He cried the whole way home (25-30 minute drive) saying "I want my candy stick! I want my candy stick!" over and over. I actually started counting how many times he said it, well over 100! Plus the 15-20 times he said it before I started counting. I guess maybe he still needs the nap.

Bambi

Today Andrew said "There is a deer in our yard!", which happens pretty frequently. I was working in the kitchen and turned to see Andrew waving through the window at the deer saying "Hi Deer. Hi Deer." I walked over to the window to see the cutest little baby deer. This picture is really blurry ~ I took it through the window, knowing that if I opened our front door, the deer would be scared and run away. He was already startled enough by our sprinkler that was watering the grass! Poor little thing.

Croup Tent

Both of our boys have had croup several times. They each have spent some time in the ER receiving breathing treatments because of it and been on steroids to help with swelling and their breathing. Whenever they get a cold, this is my first thought. Andrew hasn't had it for a year or so, so I thought/hoped he had outgrown it.

Saturday night, Andrew started coughing a little during the night. Last night, he was coughing a lot and at one point was sounding pretty bad. When children have croup they recommend cool moisture, like taking them outside. Well last night was not a cool night, so I took him to the freezer and opened the door. He was not pleased with the freezer light in the darkness but I do think it helped him a little. Today he has been ok, no difficulty breathing, still a cough but not nearly as tight as last night. Croup tends to be worse during the night. I'm hoping it doesn't get worse again tonight.

For his nap, I made him his own little croup tent with the cool mist humidifier. He thought it was kind of cool to sleep in a tent for his nap ~ if there is anything cool about napping anyways.

Can they do that?

We have been noticing a lot of big bumble bees in our yard recently. Then we noticed a few holes under the top railing of our deck. We weren't sure if they had always been there or not, but Chad saw a bumble fly up one of these holes as he was out grilling the one night. (and proceeded to kill the bee with his spatula! I think he was done grilling at that point.) Later we saw this saw dust on the deck and a new hole under the top of the railing. So can bumble bees do this???

Tasty Recipes

Just wanted to share some recipes I have tried recently that we have really enjoyed. Last night I made this fruit salad to take to our church cookout. There was a great turn out of people and the boys had some much fun playing with all of the children. As I made this salad, Carson was wanting to be held, which isn't easy to do with all the chopping. I put him in his high chair and whatever I was chopping at the moment was what I gave him. He loved it!!

Hawaiian Fruit Salad (from Taste of Home, Healthy Cooking)
3 1/2 cups cubed fresh pineapple
3 cups honeydew balls
1 1/2 cups cantaloupe balls
1 medium mango, peeled and cubed
1 cup green grapes (I used red, for color and what I prefer)
1 cup halved fresh strawberries
1 kiwifruit, peeled, quartered and sliced
Banana Dressing:
2 small bananas, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In a food processor, combine the bananas, sour cream, brown sugar and lemon juice. Cover and process until smooth. Serve with fruit.

Tonight I made these two recipes for supper. I reduced the amounts in the salmon recipe. Andrew really likes salmon.

Campfire Salmon (from Simply in Season)
6 salmon filets
Place each filet in the middle of a separate piece of aluminum foil. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic to taste.

6 lemons, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 green or red sweet pepper, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, thinly sliced
1 cup Italian dressing

Divide lemon slices and vegetables on top of the fish and pour on dressing. Seal the foil, leaving a little space at the top for each package to expand. Place directly in the coals of a campfire or in a preheated oven at 450 and bake about 15-20 minutes. The packet will puff slightly. Transfer to plates. Open carefully to avoid being burned by the steam inside.


Lemon Poppy-seed Tea Cake (from Everyday Food)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flout (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
3/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 T. poppy seeds
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 t. pure vanilla extract
2 T. grated lemon zest, plus 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
1/4 cup whole milk

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and poppy seeds; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar on high until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; mix in vanilla and lemon zest. With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture in two parts and milk in one, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

3. Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. In a medium saucepan, bring lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar; set syrup aside.

4. Remove cake from oven. While cake is still in pan, poke several holes in top with a toothpick. Set aside 2 T. syrup; pour remainder over cake. Cool cake completely in pan, about 2 hours. Turn cake out of pan; place right side up on a platter and brush all over the reserved syrup. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

For my one thing, I want....

When my siblings and I were little, Mom would let us pick out "one thing" when she went grocery shopping, within reason of course. This usually kept us in good behavior and we knew we could only have one thing. It sort of continued even after we stopped going to the store with her!! We would request what our "one thing" would be, at this point usually a candy bar. My favorite ~ Snickers.

Last night Chad was mowing the lawn and Andrew was out "helping" him. I decided Carson & I would run to Big Lots for some cereal, snacks, misc. items. Well Andrew wanted to come too and to be quite honest ~ I really didn't want him to come. So I told him I would bring him "one thing". Which he quickly agreed to.

When we arrived home, Andrew met me at the door saying "what did you bring me? what did you bring me?" even before I had the car parked and turned off!! (Just like they greet Chad everyday... Daddy! Daddy!) I got him this little golf set, with three clubs, two balls a couple tees, and a hole complete with a flag and his own little bag. He was so excited. Chad and the boys were golfing while I unloaded the bags.
Later when I came out to join them, Carson came up to me and stood directly in front of me, pushing his back into my legs. It was very hot and I was sort of puzzled by this. So I stepped aside and said "What are you doing Carson?" Chad said "He wants you to help him hit the golf ball." It was really quite cute. He kept doing this over and over for you to help him hit the ball. He really enjoyed it! Andrew couldn't golf just in one spot, it was like he was actually golfing. He started out in the front yard and made his way all around the house.

Pool Days are Here!!

Yesterday afternoon I took the boys to the local pool for the first time this year. It is a great pool. It was redone last spring. It has your traditional kiddy pool, then one of the pools you enter like at the beach ~ just gradually gets deeper. There is some play equipment, water slide with different water activities and then a very large water slide for the bigger kids. There is another pool for lap swimming and jumping off the diving boards.

Yesterday went pretty well. Carson still has a cold and perhaps it wasn't the best time to take him, he wasn't sure about all the activity and splashing. But Andrew LOVED it! His favorite area was this steering wheel. There was a hole that would shoot water out when you turned the steering wheel or stop the water if you turned it back. Older children would come by the hole and he could spray them. He thought this was so much fun and so funny. Many of the older children were doing this (I think) for Andrew's amusement ~ which I thought was quite sweet.

We got pool memberships this year and I look forward to spending a fair bit of time there. Swimming lessons are included with the membership. They will have swimming lessons for two weeks in July. Andrew will be in his class at the same time Carson and I do a Mommy and me class. Maybe sometime I will take the camera to post pictures of their fun times but it is a little crazy keeping track of both of them by myself ~ perhaps sometime when Chad is along.

Man Cave

It is hot here. Yesterday I tried to turn on the air conditioning but it wouldn't come on. Chad attempted when he got home. No luck. It was a tad bit warm in here but tolerable. This morning I called the heating/cooling place. They mentioned they were very busy but would be over sometime in the next few hours. He got here around 11:30.

As he was walking down the basement stairs, he said "wow, it feels nice down here". I said "If only it was finished." Andrew said "Yeah, like a man cave!"

Have you seen the show? It is on HGTV or something similar. The show is all about men fixing up their basements into "man caves". They often have a home theatre, work out room, den or office... Andrew has seen it a couple of times (on the nights that he just won't go to bed) and it must have left an impression on him!!

Church Playgroup

This morning we met at our church for playgroup. The church recently put up a play area that they found used. It is an ark. Since it was used it didn't come with many of the originally things but yesterday two of the guys from church put two slides on it and made a wooden ramp up to the ark. They hope to add some swings too. The kids had so much fun playing on it. (forgot the camera) Carson was giving some of the other children hugs! Too cute! The one little girl didn't like it all that well and then the hug ended in a tackle of sorts. He also, at a different time, was pointing at her and saying "baby", when actually she is a month older than him. Andrew has so much fun with these boys from church and refers to them as his "best friends". Today there were 6 boys between the ages of 3-6. This playgroup is as much for the children as it is for the women! We enjoy getting out and seeing each other during the week, other than Sunday.

Breakfast club

A while back I made the mistake of letting Andrew watch a show while eating breakfast (only breakfast). Now this has become the norm. This morning Carson pushed his high chair over by Andrew's chair so he could sit beside Andrew and watch the show too.

Garlic Chicken Spaghetti

I made this Spaghetti dish last night. The recipe is from Taste of Home Healthy Cooking. Chad and I really enjoyed it, unfortunately the boys weren't too fond of it. Andrew is sometimes funny about trying new things and doesn't have very sophisticated tastes. He kept saying "This is gross spaghetti!" for which he got in trouble for. Carson has a bit of a cold, so I think he might have liked it if he was feeling better. I had been wanting to make this recipe but had trouble finding the sun-dried tomatoes even after I asked someone at Kroger. I did find them on the third trip to the grocery store. The sun-dried tomatoes made the dish feel like "restaurant quality".

Makeover Garlic Chicken Spaghetti

1 pkg. (1#) spaghetti
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 t. garlic salt
1# boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
2-3/4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine or additional chicken broth
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/2 t. dried basil
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/8 t. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, place tomatoes in a small bowl; add boiling water. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Drain and chop tomatoes; set aside. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and garlic salt. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat.

2. In a large skillet, saute chicken in 2 T. oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, saute mushroom and garlic in remaining oil until tender. Add the broth, wine or additional broth, parsley, basil, salt, pepper and pepper flakes. Stir in the reserved tomatoes and chicken; heat through.

3. Drain spaghetti. Add chicken mixture and cheese; toss to coat.

I did not put the mushrooms in it, Chad's preference. I also only used 1 large clove of garlic; 5 garlic cloves! wow!