Life lately...

Life....lately its been all about being outside, amazing summery salads, and firetrucks.

1) My dad's surgery went very well. It was a long day for him and my family as well, but God was with us the entire time, putting a calm in the air. The Dr. Is certain that he was able to remove all the cancer and at this point it has not spread! Praise God. He is still off of work and slowly recovering. We are all just completely grateful.

2) Noah and I got to watch daddy drive the fire engine for the memorial day parade we had in town. And he could have played in their new engine all day. He had too much fun. That little boy absolutly loves fire trucks. And I cant imagine the joy Brandon feels when he sees him get so excited about his own passion. Nothing like it. I feel a second generation coming on :)

3) Our days consist of this....gardening, baseball, basketball, baby pool, sprinklers, cars, books, trucks, baking, matching games, counting to 3, and too many more little boy activities. We love it.

4) Our totally awesome babysitter and family has moved away :(  I had been dreading this for the past few months and it finally had to come. I am incredibly thankful for the time we had with them and for the first real friendship that Noah made with their sweet little girl. The hardest thing is that they don't really understand they will not be together anymore and it breaks my heart. But like I said, I am thankful for all the many months that I did not have to worry for a second that my baby was taken care of. That right there is a beautiful gift to a mother. We are in transition mode right now (day 2) and the mornings so far have been rough. I had to peel his hands off me today so that I could leave. But not 5 minutes later my sitter reassured me that he was fine. And I know everything will be ok.

Those times that make your heart melt

Yesterday was a good day. It started off on the wrong foot as I had to call off of work, but after the initial call-in I felt good and free.

My husband is a huge soccer fan. He would rather watch the Chicago Fire than the Bears....... I know, I don't get it either. Back in the day we used to get season tickets, sit in section 8 (where the crazy awesome instrunmental singing, standing only, did I say crazy? fans sit.) It was fun. My husband loved it. Life now a days doesn't always allow for that but he gets to sneak away to a game every so often.

Well wednesday we had a crazy storm over here so they rescheduled the game for Thursday and knocked the price down to Free. We Caruso's like Free. I told B to go ahead and just take Noah. I didn't really feel like being at a game and thought it would be cute for the two of them to go.

When I talked to my husband after the game he was so happy. Just happy. He said that when everyone would cheer, Noah would look up at him to see what daddy did and would then follow along and cheer. He said that his excitement was unreal and that they just had the best time.

When they got home B told me that he got teary eye'd during the game just watching his little boy. He said that it was one of the greatest days of his life.

Part of me wished that I had been there to see it all. To see both of my boys in such excitement and awe. But then I think again and I am so glad they can have those moments to themselves as father and son. I know that Noah won't remember much, but Brandon will. And that is special. Here's to many more games together!

Little Red School House

When I think about the Little Red School house, all I remember is a tiny bright red house that sat on the corner of a slightly busy road. We had gone there as children and the place has since moved and magnified a bit. We visited the new schoolhouse a few weeks ago and although it looks nothing like that cute little red house it is still pretty great.

Of course we collected every rock in the world

Noah loves everything about being outside so anwhere he can run around and be happy is a good place to us.

In the city......

Last weekend was spent in the city with my brother and his fiance. Rachael's sister lives in the West Loop and their little family goes out of town fairly often so we were able to stay at their place. We went down early saturday morning and hit up the Randolph Street Market. The place was awesome. A vintage dreamboat, if you will. The prices were laughable though. Since vintage became something trendy, the prices became something ridiculous. I know some antiques are worth a lot, but my husband said it welll, that they take advantage of these people. Selling items they paid almost nothing for at a huge price increase. I guess thats just how it goes though. It was fun to browse and dream aside from that. Later on B and the little man went down for a nap so my brother, Rach and I went to this rebuild store where they sell old wood, doors, and amazingly beatup and battered but beautiful old stuff from houses. Glorious. I dreamed up an amazing kitchen table that my brother is going to make for me from this old plank wood. Saving up for that! Not that I have a million and one other unfinished projects in my house, whats one more. :) We had a nice grilled corn with mashed taters and broccoli kind of dinner. Topped off with a margarita and it was devine. The next day was spent showing the little man the big city. We took him to the bean of course and walked the city up and down. He was in heaven with all of the buses, trucks and cars he saw. Pretty awesome weekend. Love that family of mine. :)

Another trip to the zoo

 

 

 

 

 

Our friends Britney and Matt from Texas came in a few weeks back and we brought out boys to the zoo to meet for the first time ever. Jaxon is a few months older than Noah and just the cutest thing around. They got a long pretty well and it's too bad that we live so far away!

 

Currently....

A few things....... // and pictures, of course

 

//Our hearts have been heavy and worrisome over here lately. We found out earlier this month that my dad has cancer. It's kind of a surreal thing, really. One of those things that you hear about but never think will happen to you or your family. In a way it doesn't seem like anything has changed. He is still my daddy. He is still whipping up gourmet meals in the kitchen, tending his amazing garden, and overflowing my little man with love as usual. We know God is greater than this and trusting in him is the only way to go about it. He is scheduled for surgery this Wednesday and after that I feel like a bit of relief will come. Praying, praying and more praying.

//On a lighter note. It's Garden season! Noah and I prepped the garden a few days back. He pretty much shoveled around dirt and picked up the manure after I laid it out. Awesome! I have to get a few more plants this weekend and I think I'll put them in the ground this coming week after the rain stops. So far I'm going with kale, chard, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, blueberries, mint and basil. I'll probably add more one I go back to the nursery as my dad got me a gift card for mothers day. I'm really excited this year because Noah will be able to help and even if he doesn't, he will be occupied by playing outside. Last year was hard with a six month old. I put him in a walker a few times but he got bored and so my garden pretty much went to waist. We will see if my black thumb can brighten up to a shade of green this year!

//My sister surprised me with 3 new cook books for mothers day this year. I just got them in the mail and I could not be happier! Time to start experimenting and meal planning! Can not wait to just sit down and skim through all the amazing foodie creations.

//My little guy is still having sleeping issues. After we were out of the house for 2 months it was extremely hard getting him back in his crib. So hard that he is still in our bed. Sometimes I don't mind but I sleep terribly when I have feet in my face or I am being pushed off the bed every five minutes. The real issue now is that my husband is working nights. He gets home at 6am and the baby will sleep until about 7:30 but almost always wakes B up with said feet and pushing. Oi! I've tried again and again to get him in the crib and let him cry but now that he is older his cry has turned into the most saddening "mamaaaa, mammaaa," of my life. I am a huge baby and I just can't do it. This may sound extremely dumb and backwards but I found a toddler bed at a garage sale today. We are going to try it out. Who knows, time will tell, but something needs to change. We all need a good nights sleep!

That's what is going on around these parts lately. Constantly thanking God for all these special people in my life. For the good things and the bad.

Rock Poop.....

Last weekend Noah and I hit up Lake Wampum for a bit of fun, in and/or around the sun, ya know. I figured I would just follow him around as he ran about recklessly back and forth from the grass to the water. I had to find my heart a few times which somehow escaped through my mouth several times because he just doesn't understand yet that water swallows people and momma is a paranoid freak. Anyway, He is all "Mama, Hock! Hock! (rock)" so I'm like, awe he's such a cute little boy, collecting rocks. His hands were all dirty full of mud and I was seriously a proud mama. I took part in helping this baby become a full on 'boy,' you know?

After about 10 minutes of hock collecting, I cautiously took him by the water and asked him if he wanted to throw his rock in. "Yea!" (His newest response) This boy winds up, releases flying hocks, they land 6 cm in front of him and in the water. I'm all ready to start making up explaining some law of gravity or physics or something when I realize these, "hocks," didn't sink to the bottom of the water. Those hock's are just floating. We both looked at each other. Me: confused//him: happy as a clam. Then I grab him and start running to the car to get the damn wipes because sweet Lord them things were not hock's or even rocks for that matter........

"Hock Poop Collecting"

Oy, mommy fail.