deckumentary

These men are HARD, I tell you! It's no more than 45 degrees out and they've been out there all day. I've got to give it to Dad... he got out there at 8:15 as we were leaving for church. We all had coffee and cinnamon rolls when we got home (well, not Joshua and Zoe), and then Craig and Dad headed back out for more around 11. I'm excited - it's looking great! Unfortunately, Dad is leaving around 2pm tomorrow - he'll never want to visit us again after all the work we've had him doing in this horrible weather!!

And inside the house, we've been busy too. Here's the fun new game I taught Joshua to play with his mittens on! Is that wrong?

Deckstravaganza

Here's our deck poster boy. He's all ready to help Daddy and Mr. Ryan pour some concrete. He's sitting on the existing deck; the deck extension will be 3 steps down in an 'L' shape around the existing deck. Craig had some help earlier in the week from a couple friends, and now my dad is here to help finish it up. hopefully.

Joshua breaking up the ground with his hoe (Monday)

Helping Daddy mix concrete. What a team! (Monday)Posts and piles of lumber. Oh, and there are the railings from the stairs on the ground. (Monday or Tuesday)Posts & support beams, and a whole lot of mud. (Thursday)We came out to check on Daddy's progress. (Thursday) Joshua and Zoe sat here for about 45 minutes eating lunch and watching Daddy and Grandpa work. (Friday)

All the joists up (Saturday)My first tulip bloomed... just waiting on the other 40Zoe enjoying her new favorite snack, rice rusks. I had never heard of them until recommended by a friend, then I saw them in walmart, and they're a big hit with our resident teether

In other news from this week, Joshua had his first dentist appointment on Wednesday and, despite our best efforts to get him excited (and he was until he got in there) he cried the whole time she counted his teeth. Then he wanted to go back and see her again. No cavities though, and he got a balloon, rubber tooth, new toothbrush, flossers, and a toothbrush for Zoe, who has her first appointment in August.

Blondie

Who me? I figured I'd style her hair a little for the photo shoot. 10 minutes after these were taken, it was sticking straight up again. I can't believe how blonde it's getting, and I'm sure it will only get lighter this summer. So sweet, especially with those baby blues! She's had this little pucker on her face for the past few days. What you can't see is her tongue peeking out between her teeth. She's getting a top tooth so I think she's playing with it.

Joshua was all ready to go outside and ride his bike!Zoe liked his helmet... very much, as you will see in the video. I just think she looks like such a big girl in this picture!And she sure does love the camera! Must be related to Joshua!! And he sure does love her. He just took her face in his hands oh so gently and said "hi Zoe" - she was looking at him at first. It was so sweet.

Well, he loves her when she's not interested in his toys. Believe me, had I seen that little swat he gave her hand, the video would have ended right there! Although, you can hear him say "no thank you Zoe" to go along with it... at least he was polite about it :) He also doesn't like it when I give her one of his millions of mega blocks to chew on. They're just the easiest thing to grab when they're strewn across the living room.

I added the other video because she gets the cutest little worried look on her face at the end. You may not notice it, I'm fully aware of my maternal bias. I'm OK with it.

Happy Bday Daddy

Zoe was super excited about this table. The first time she played with it a few days ago, she only held on for a few seconds before letting go (yes, I caught her). This time, she stayed up there for a while (5+ minutes) before she got tired & wanted me to come spot her while she played with it. Look how happy! (See the tape line on the floor in the background - I'm trying to get Joshua to keep his toys in the playroom, otherwise they cover the living room & kitchen floors. It's working, I just wish I had done it 6 months ago!)

We made some Bday banana muffins for Daddy

Joshua and I sang Happy Birthday about 50 times this morning, trying to get a good video. My challenge is that (a) my subject is 2 and therefore does his own thing and (b) my camera only takes 30 second videos so I have to try to get him to cooperate quickly. As is usually the case, the first video came out the best.

what did I do today?

Is it bad that I can't remember what I've been doing unless I look through the pictures on my camera?

I haven't taken any in a few days, but Joshua and I got outside today to enjoy the nice weather and digging in the dirt. Here are the last ones I took.

Here are a couple completely candid photos of Joshua reading Craig's Fusion mag on the potty. See all those nice little kid books behind him? Didn't want those. I walked in and he was brushing up on the latest from Uncle Glenn (Beck). Whenever the radio is on in the morning, Joshua asks "a-zat (is that) Unkoo Genn" (he can't quite say his "L"s yet). In the evening, it's "a-zat Unkoo Fee-ul (Phil)? Not Unkoo Genn."

He's wearing his new John Deere shirt. For like the 5th day in a row.

These are napkins from my mom. I have tons of cloth napkins so in an effort to avoid waste, I made them into a little apron and matching crayon/marker roll for neice Emily's bday on Saturday (Emily, hope you're not reading the blog today! Sara, let me know if you don't get these in the mail please :) Fortunately for Masie & Presley, there are still 4 napkins left, looking for a good home!

Bobcat Monday

I know it's Thursday already, my how this week has gotten away from me! We had a lot going on though, and there are no guarantees I will finish this post before someone wakes up or before I have to go! Craig and I (mostly Craig) spent Sat & Sun marking where the posts for the deck will go since the bobcat was supposed to come dig on Monday. We were racing the rain and just barely finished in time. We told Joshua all about the Bobcat that was coming on Monday and he was so excited! Unfortunately, the bobcat didn't make it on Monday - but that's OK since when he came on Tuesday he charged us $50 less for the job! Joshua had SO much fun watching him, but didn't want to touch or sit in the bobcat when he was all done. Maybe next time - he prefers his 'Bobbys' from afar for now.

Joshua and Daddy supervising

He liked whatever the bobcat was doing. I wish I had video of what he was doing with his hands. Although, I was laughing so hard that a video might have been a little shakey

Wednesday was supposed to be school picture day for Zoe, but we now know that siblings will take their pictures, together and individually, next Wednesday... so keep holding your horses to hear how that goes. I was glad I had her all cutesied up though, since they took a class photo. I think. Joshua's class photo is tomorrow but I'm not sure if he'll be feeling up to it. He's been grumptastic all day, which it usually indicative of impending illness. Hope not since Mommy has stuff to do tomorrow!!!!!!

oops, how'd these cute pictures of Zoe get in here?!?!
Her head's not really that big - it's her voluminous hair

I also painted a whole bevy of stuff white for Zoe's room. Pictures to come - I don't know why this is all taking me so long lately. Oh, I know... I like to keep you all in suspense :) Sure, that's totally it. This stool matches her rocking chair and picture board.

I don't know if I got the right video on here, but all week, Joshua has been asking for Bobcat Monday again. Too funny!

Movie night

he was so happy with his own big (unsalted) bowl! His shirt says 'chicks dig me' and has a little shovel on it. he kept trying to steal out of my (salted!!) bowl.My hot date for movie night. What a Not Great picture of Mommy!! What can I say, we worked outside all day, got dressed for a walk, and caught in the rain. Of course I don't look ready for the prom! Notice how I cropped myself out of the other two pictures - they were even worse!

Joshua had his first movie night last night! He was so excited that we got to make popcorn and eat not only outside the kitchen, but on the bed!! We borrowed Bolt from our neighbor and Joshua loved watching him run all around throughout the movie. Throughout the first 20 minutes, every time something loud, dark & mysterious, or just a little bit scary happened, Joshua would say "ooooooh, sca-wee" with varying inflection depending on what, exactly, was happening in the movie. We had fun, he enjoyed it and I'm sure we'll have more movie nights in the future!

Movie night was somewhat impromptu, though. It occurred in lieu of the walk we wanted to take to enjoy some warm weather - finally! - and celebrate daylight savings time. We got to the end of the street and felt some sprinkles, turned down the next street to stay close to home, and ended up running back home through a couple backyards, barely making it into the garage before it started pouring.

picture perfect!

Joshua and Zoe have school pictures next Wednesday so I've been trying to decide what they should wear - mainly Zoe since she has too many super cute outfits. I'll get it narrowed down and then Craig will vote. In the process I put her in this dress that she hadn't gotten to wear yet. SO cute!!


cutie booty. love those squishy legs!! look at her trying to crawl!

This is what's for dinner tonight. I'll let you know how the men of the house like it. As for me, I'll eat pretty much anything. I felt very strange putting all these ingredients in the crock pot together. I'm very curious about how this will taste!! Joshua helped me cook it so hopefully he'll take a bite!

**dinner was OK. I probably won't make it again. It was easy and tasty, but I was hoping to taste hot spicy mustard, and instead all I tasted was thyme. Not a huge fan. Also, the chicken, although super tender, was a little dry. The sweet potatoes were delish. I'm going to make chicken salad out of the leftover chicken, with some mandarin oranges and toasted almonds. Yum.

**I made chicken salad out of the leftovers from this and the bacon wrapped cornish hens. It rocked. I just added mayo, mandarin oranges one time and gala apples the other, and slivered almonds.

Little cowgirl

Joshua got this cute cowboy hat around the time he was first sitting up. I just can't believe Zoe's that old already! She looked pretty cute in it, but then again, I always think she looks super cute.
And she loves having her picture taken. Look at Craig, he loves it too. Can't you tell!

Joshua wanted a turn too.

Zoe was playing on the floor and Joshua got down and started immitating her. He was even biting the carpet. Ewww. (her blanket was in the wash) I thought she was supposed to be imitating him!?!

She's gotten very good at sitting for a long time. She only gets upset when she's done sitting and can't get down. Her hair is so fluffy, it's hilarious! It's fluffy and about an inch long all over, and then she's got one little stripe down the middle of the top that's about 4 inches long.

Zoe got this little doll for Christmas and loves to chew on it. It turns inside out for a nighttime doll & daytime doll. Joshua, however, likes to wear it on his head and pretend he's a puppy.

He has also been going through a serious building phase lately. He likes to bring a few blocks to bed with him too. We have a bag downstairs and a bag upstairs so that he never has to be without his blocks!