Josh's 35th!

For Josh's 35th birthday I planned a small surprise party with a few close friends/family since I dropped the ball for his 30th (in my defense we were getting married 19 days later...).  So I was extremely excited to pull a fast one on him for his 35th.  He deserves so much and asks for so little.  For being 35 you still look better than the day I met you:).

We all met at Taki for dinner and a couple drinks and then ended up at a new(er) bar called the Draught House.  Fun night for all!

July 4, 2014

July 4th weekend started on Thursday July 3rd.  Every year the kids have a parade at school and it is so adorable.  Both kiddos were in it this year and I was so excited.  Josh had the day off, but we took the kids in this day specifically so they could attend the parade.  We both watched the parade and then Josh went to visit the kids and ended up coming home with one.  He is a sucker for his little boy.  All Bo has to do is ask and its over.  Josh and Bo had a guys day and after I got home from work Vallery and I got to snuggle. 

Josh had to work during the day on the 4th, but came home a little early to spend some extra time with the us.  We got out the pool and waterslide and made an afternoon of it.  That day Vallery also took her 1st steps on her own.  We were laying on the blanket playing and she stood up on her own and took 4 steps toward me.  I was so excited!!  Since then it has been a few steps here and there each day, but she has yet to take off completely. 

That night Josh got some sparklers for him and Bo to light off and we watched the fireworks from our deck.  It was a great evening with family and couldn't ask anything better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Dear Vallery...

Dear Vallery,

Happy 1st birthday, my sweet baby girl.  I was not ever convinced that I could be such a softie until you came into my life.  After having your brother I was determined that I was going to be a mother to all boys.  I was scared to death what being a mother to a little girl would do to me.  You have changed so many emotions in me that I will never get to tell you.  You truly are my mini me.  I have always known that if I had a girl I wanted her to be like me, but not only do I want you to be like me, I want you to be better than me.  I know that I am not sugar and spice and everything nice, I want you to have more grace, elegance, and poise than me.  You deserve sugar, spice, and everything nice, but let's be honest...you will be a spitfire, have some attitude, stand up for what you believe in, and be loyal forever.  I see myself in you everyday and I couldn't be prouder.  You will have my heart forever.  Thank you for making me a better person and a better mother.  I love you.

Your brother already looks at you with such caring and protective eyes and I want nothing more for both of you to have a loving and respectful relationship with eachother.  Watch out for one another as you age and as your Daddy's brothers would say..."I got your six". Take care of one another.

And as much as your Daddy says he has a little Grinch heart, he has a heart of gold and that has only continued to grow since he met you.  You are his little "sweetie pie".  He is never going to let anything bad happen to you.  Turn to him for anything and don't ever settle for less than what your daddy would give you....the world.

We love you to pieces, baby girl.  You make our hearts smile.  Happy 1st Birthday.  To Many More!

Always and Forever,

Mommy and Daddy

Bo's adventures...

After many and many times of my parents asking when they could take Bo for a few days, we finally gave in and let him go last week.  It was honestly a lot harder than we had expected.  We missed that little booger.  My mom came up on Tuesday and took him back with her that night.  I know Bo had a blast everyday.  The have fish in their little landscaping pond, which Bo obviously named Nemo.  Each day he got to feed the fish and feed the cattle.  He also had a trip to the park, took a dip in the kiddie pool, rode in the bobcat, and WENT FISHING FOR THE FIRST TIME!

He also had lots of cookies, watch Shrek a thousand times with Papa, and stayed up way past his bedtime.  So strangely enough I can't believe he didn't ask for us?? :)  We were able to facetime with him everyday so that helped us.  I remember on Thursday night (his last night there) he looked exhausted!  Bo had so much fun with Ma'ma putting money in the change machine at the car wash, catching a fish with Uncle Nick, and watching Tom and Jerry with Papa.  He is one lucky boy. 

It was soo quiet around our house without him there.  Needless to say we were so happy to see him on Friday.  I know Vallery enjoyed her time being an only child for a short bit, but everytime we would say Bo's name she would look around to try and find him.  My so graciously made the trip back up to Des Moines on Friday and stayed the night so she could see Vallery as well. 

 

 

 

Bye Bye Binky!

We have finally been binky free for almost 2 weeks now (for Bo that is...).  Yes, yes I know we are just NOW getting rid of the binky.  He did only have it at night, not during naps or during the day.  I am so sad, yet proud at the same time (more proud of myself than Bo, he took it a little better than I did:)).  Good friends of ours had a baby girl on June 16th (Miss Madelyn) and they have a boy a couple months younger than Bo, named Eli.  We were discussing our boys and they told us they got rid of his binky not too long ago.  After talking with them it gave both Josh and I (more me) the encouragement to finally go through with getting rid of it. 

We prepped him by telling him in the mornings, before it was officially gone, that we gave them to the babies.  And he would willingly put them on the table every morning to give them to the babies, but he clarified to let us know he wanted to give them to the babies at school.  After a couple days of that before bed he asked for his binky so we would just remind him that he gave them to the babies at school who need them.  He wasn't too reluctant, which was a relief.  There was one night that I almost caved.  Bo woke up once and asked for his binky and I went searching around the house at 2 am for them, but apparently Josh knows me better than I thought because he hid them from both of us. :)

So we have the Nelson's to thank for giving us the push to finally say "bye, bye" to the binky.  The better news is that we got to say hello to this beautiful little face.

Daddy's Day 2014

This was Josh's first father's day with both of our children.  We are so thankful for everything that Josh does for us everyday.  He is such a hands on father, and wants nothing more than to give us everything in the world and put a smile on our face.  We truly are his whole world and at times I have to pinch myself and say is this really true? 

He is Bo's hero already.  Bo thinks that Dadddy is the coolest thing since sliced bread.  What's not to love...he gives him cookies, let's him stay up late, but gives him the discipline he needs when he needs it. 

One of my favorite things has been watching Josh's soft spot grow and grow with his baby girl.  She is wrapped around his finger already.  He is such an amazing father to our children.  We are truly blessed to call him ours.  He gives so much everyday and I am beyond thankful. 

For Daddy's Day the kids gave him a special card that Bo picked out (it had a tiger on it, weird:)).  Bo left some of his artwork in the card for him and I gave him one as well.  We also got him a Puma Soundchuck bluetooth speaker so he can take it with him while golfing. 

He requested for his day to get a few things done that were on his checklist and go to the park with kids, so that is exactly what we did.  It was a fun day with just the four of us.  Love my little family!

I heart DADDY (he's the best)

 

V's 11 months

This is the last post that I can put up that will not follow with the word year....tear:(.  My baby girl is moving from being a baby to a toddler.  I'm so sad yet so proud at the same time.  This little girl had changed my life more than I can ever tell her.  She is truly my mini me and I am so excited to see her grow up (and scared at the same time!).

She is talking up a storm and absolutely loves everything her big brother does.  Between Bo and Daddy there are many giggles with this girl.  Even though, she is still attached to mommy a bit, she has her fair share of fun with the boys.  I was telling Josh that I cannot wait to dress us alike (no judging...it's going to happen.).  I still can't believe that Josh and I created something so beautiful.  I thank my lucky stars everyday for both of my kids.  They are the light in my life, the twinkle in my eye.  They are the reason I am here.  Coming home to them or getting them from school is what I look forward to everyday. 

I am already predicting Miss V to be a pretty independent young lady like her momma.  She is going to be forced to be tough and a tom boy.  She can throw a ball so good and loves playing with tractors.  She is crawling everywhere, but still not walking.  She has technically taken a step , but nothing consistent.  She will stand up on something and then let go.  One of these days she is just going to take off and we won't know what to do!  Her hair is still growing like crazy.  She can offically wear a pony.  Seriously, so adorable.

She is officially eating about as much as Bo during dinner.  We haven't fed her baby food in quite some time.  As Josh says "I haven't seen anyone get so excited to eat, other than her mother...."  Glad I could pass it down baby girl.  She is still drinking 4 bottles a day (before school, 1130, 330, and 7ish).  She moved up to the one year old room at 10.5 months (once again, sad...).  She only naps once a day in that room, the same time as Bo, 1230-230.  She will occassionaly take a cat nap on the way home from school.  Her bedtime is at 730-8.  She still sleeps like a champ and wakes up around 7 (or whenever I need to wake her up during the week).  She is officially in 12 month clothes, but mostly 18 month tops.  She is still wearing her size 3 moccs that she has had since Christmas.  She has a pair of Jellie sandals, but doesn't quite fit into them yet. 

She loves any kind of riding toy, sleeping with blankets, playing with Bo, and putting together puzzles.  Vallery is getting fiestier and fiestier everyday.  Josh's new nickname for her is "dozer" because she will put her head down on the floor and doze her way through everything, especially when she is tired.  Daddy and Bo still refer to her as sweetie pie most of the time.  If she gets hurt, Bo will say, "Are you ok honey?".  He is getting very protective of her.  He is going to be an amazing big brother to her. They take a lot of baths together, which usually involves Bo pouring cups and cups of water over her head.  She takes it like a champ! 

We are still so blessed to have such happy, playful, loving children.  They are as healthy as can be and have a loving home to come home to everyday.  That itself is so much more than so many have, so we are so blessed.

 

B & V

 

 

My Boys.