Weekend at the Double JJ

Friday morning we headed to the Double JJ Ranch for a weekend away with just our little family of four. It was the perfect winter get-away! We spent most of Friday at the waterpark and the boys had a riot.

Brian and I enjoyed giving the boys all our attention, but I think we were more exhausted than they were in the end! They never stopped running, plus neither boy has any sense of fear, so we were constantly on guard and chasing them all over the place. In the late afternoon we went to our hotel room for a few hours and everyone crashed (except Sam, of course). As soon as we woke up, he was begging to go back to the waterpark. Since this weekend was not about relaxation and all about spending time as a family, we headed back for more waterlogged fun.

Here's a peek around our hotel room...it was fabulous!

In the evening, we all relaxed on the pull out sofa sleeper and watched a bit of the Olympics.

The kitchen/dinette area

The boys playing cars...currently their favorite thing to do together. I love listening to them giggle!

Our master suite...

(okay, so we did get to relax a bit after the kids went to bed.)

We even had 2 balconies that overlooked a rustic area/golf course. However, we didn't realize that one of the doors was unlocked until Carter escaped in his bare socks!

Saturday morning, the boys lounged around and watched cartoons for a bit. Then it was "bathtime" in the hot tub which became more like "splash time"!

Then it was back to the waterpark (AGAIN) for a couple of hours until some cowboy kicked us out.

Let's get outta here!

Don't worry though, Carter saved the day with those big blue eyes and curly hair. His cuteness has a softening affect on most people, apparently even cowboys.

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Upon arriving home, the boy who NEVER wants to sleep actually asked to take a nap!

To top off the day, my youngest brother Alex stopped by on his way to the Holly Hop dance. He couldn't find his date's house and needed to use our phonebook! Too cute, isn't he?!

Valentine's Forecast: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

So...our much anticipated Valentine's Eve date night didn't turn out to be at all as we had planned. :( After 5 whole days of health, the plague returned...Sam woke up Saturday morning with a wicked cough. My parents had planned to babysit and since my mom wasn't feeling well either, we decided to cancel our plans. I was really bummed, but we made the best of it by ordering Village Inn Pizza and watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with the boys. It was actually a pretty funny movie and I enjoyed snuggling on the couch. (Carter even sat still for almost the entire movie!) After the kids went to bed, Brian and I enjoyed a brownie sundae with homemade hot fudge, a nice glass of vino (or two), and watched The Time Traveler's Wife.

We gave the boys a bubble machine for Valentine's Day!

Hours of fun and a clean floor to boot!

(Notice the tulips in the background? Sam, Carter & Brian each gave me a gorgeous bouquet in a different color! Tulips are my favorite!)

Here's some other random pics from this past week...

Wednesday we had a SNOW DAY and Sam couldn't wait to go outside and "shovel" the driveway. Such a good helper!

While I was watching Sam shovel, Carter decided to be naughty. This picture was taken as he was trying to get down. Previously he was standing on top of the TV stand shaking the flat screen! Good thing Daddy wasn't home!

SuperBowl Sunday we went over to the Thayers for a fun party. While the adults chatted and watched the game, the boys (Micah, Sam & Asher) snuggled up in the basement for a movie.

So adorable!

Brian added undercabinet lighting in the kitchen...I love it!

Here's to a germ free week!

18 months

This past week Carter had his 18 month check up, so I thought I'd post an update about what's new with little man #2. One thing's for sure, he hasn't gotten any less cute. :)

Stats:

Height: 33 1/4 inches (75%)

Weight: 24 lb. 4 oz. (25%)

Head: 48 (50%)

I love to eat a "nack" and drink "joosh" while watching Sesame Street

I like to pester my big brother while he plays the Wii

Take down! Sometimes he gets so mad at me! I don't know why?

I love to look at books, especially the kind that play music. Mama and I read lots of books everyday and I like to read the same ones over and over and over.

Mom, quit taking pictures of me!

(Mama thinks my curls are so cute. The problem is, the only time my hair is curly is right after a bath, otherwise it's kinda nappy and fuzzy. I don't know why she won't just cut it?! )

Mama made this video of me and tried to make me show off. I don't really like to talk too much yet, but I can say lots of animal sounds, point at my body parts and I understand everything mama and dada say to me. From what I hear, my big brother was an overachiever at my age, but I don't get it...why talk when you can run and climb and wrestle? In case you are interested, here are the words I can say: dada, mama, hot, bu bye, belly (sort of), kitty, juice (joosh), & baby. I try to say a lot of other things, but no one understands me except Murphy. :) He's my buddy. We get each other.

Here goes nothing?

For the entire month of January, I've been contemplating my "New Year's Resolutions". Let me just say, I HATE resolutions (probably because I can't do anything consistently for an entire year!). I've also been known to procrastinate. So, rather than make any big changes, I decided to just try a few small things, starting with exercising more. I committed to exercise on the days when Sam has kindergarten and do a 24 minute work out tape. Baby steps. So far I'm 4 for 10. Not exactly what I would call success, but it might equal the total amount of times I did the tape last year altogether! My second goal was to wake up earlier and try to be more consistent about starting my day with God. Yeah, so, I kinda sucked in that area. What I hate more than resolutions is waking up early. I can hit my alarm clock for over an hour straight, no problem. It's easier than actually getting out of my nice warm cozy bed. Plus, when you stay up until midnight every night on Facebook or blog stalking, it makes it kind of hard to get up early. Did I mention it's 12:05 a.m. right now?! So, I've been slowing contemplating (the entire month of January) how to make my second goal a reality and then 2 things happened in the last couple of days. First, I read a new blog by a good friend of mine about living life more intentionally. I was really inspired by her honesty to admit her struggles and commit this year to living with more purpose and not just watching life pass her by. This idea resonates with me big time! I am a very organized and determined person, but the things that are most important to me (staying in shape physically and spiritually) often get lost in the business of everyday life and responsibilities. I know that if I just got up earlier and went to bed at a reasonable hour, I could make it happen, but old habits die hard. The second thing that happen was I came across a blog tonight called www.inspiredtoaction.com that had a free download called "Maximizing Your Mornings". I downloaded it and was further inspired to recommit to the idea of waking up earlier. The ebook suggests starting by waking up 5-15 minutes earlier and slowly but surely? I will achieve my goal. The free ebook had other practical ideas and planning worksheets that I'm excited to use. I'll admit, I'm really skeptical about being able to wake up early, but I'm going to give it a try. Tomorrow.

Absent Again

Looks like I'll be missing church for the 3rd week in a row! First I had a terrible cold, then last week Sam & Brian got it, and now Carter has it. I really love to go to church and look forward to it every week. I don't mind missing once in a awhile, but 3 weeks in a row stinks! Since Brian helps with the worship, he can't ever miss, so it's always up to me to stay home with the sick kids. So, I'm having a little pity party today and hoping to disinfect the house and get rid of these stinkin' germs once and for all!

Kitchen Project Before & After

The "little" kitchen project that started months ago is finally almost done! Last week we had the countertop and backsplash installed and I love the new look! The pictures really don't do justice, but here's a taste of the before and after..

BEFORE

AFTER

We still have a few minor things to finish...staining, undercounter lighting, and trim work, but I'm so happy with the look of the backsplash/countertop, the extra storage for mittens and hats, and the extra long counter space! All those months of indecisiveness are finally paying off...I think I finally made the right choices!

Belated Christmas 2009

Better late than never? Although I have lots of excuses as to why I'm posting our Christmas adventures SO late, mostly I was just being lazy. I debated whether or not to even post anything at this point, but since I want to save this blog as a family "scrapbook" of sorts, I guess I can't leave out Christmas 2009! (Sorry, most of the pictures aren't great quality b/c I lost the battery to our camera and had to use the photo feature on the camcorder).

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Riding his new scooter in the kitchen. For some reason I only took video of his favorite gift from "Santa", a blue electric guitar!

CHRISTMAS DAY with the FREGOS

My adorable niece Mya and nephew Owen.

Carter tackling Owen

(this is typical behavior between Sam and Carter, but Owen didn't think it was very funny.) :)

CHRISTMAS in TENNESSEE with the BECKHAMS

Bubble wrap! Who needs presents?...this was way more fun!

Carter loved Grandma's whirlpool

He also loved the cat door!

Happy 40th Anniversary Sonny & Ellen!

BACK HOME in MICHIGAN

CHRISTMAS PARTY #2 with the FREGOS

Grandma Judy with her boys

Sam & his cousin Mya wrestling

Yeah! A phone that lights up and makes noises! Maybe he'll quit stealing ours?

Grandma & Grandma & all the grandkids

Jon, Jen, Mya & Owen

The Beckham Family

We also celebrated the January birthdays...Jon turned 30! and Alex turn 16!

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Thanks everyone for spoiling us and our kids. We are so loved and blessed to have such wonderful families! Happy Belated 2010!