Mommy and me + fall + SICK

You know what I completely underestimated?  Being SUPER sick as a mom to a toddler.  Oh my gosh.  This last week through quite a wrench in our normal and this time it wasn't our little man that was sick - it was me.  The worst?  I cannot tell you how horrible it is to wake up with a 102 degree fever as an adult and have to walk into your toddler's room at 5:30AM when he's screaming.  Needless to say, dad took over Charlie duties after about an hour while I went back to bed.

The good news?  After finally biting the bullet and going to urgent care on Sunday morning and getting some drugs (and feeling like I'm on 15 medicines)...I'm finally feeling a little bit back to normal {minus the whole coughing my brains out still - but I will take that over a fever any day}.

The bad news?  Mama has TWO test this week.  Ugh - can it be December 13 already?  I cannot take this any longer.  JUST.WANT.TO.RELAX.

Ok enough complaining I guess - other than being sick - we attempted to have a great weekend.  And we pretty much did.

Friday night we got home to BEAUTIFUL weather.  Took a stroll in the wagon and relaxed.  Cracks me up how this little man kicks his feet back in the wagon.

And also this weekend?  Got 2 of the 4 (maybe 5) Halloween costumes.  All Willy needs is a piano....{hint: he's going to be Shroeder...}

After feeling like death Saturday morning, I had to suck it up because Jimmy was off being a good citizen to the world and was the captain for one of Hallmark's Christmas in October houses.  He has been working his tail off for the last 5 months getting everything ready for this weekend and he did a great job.  They had a great team of people to help fix this lady's house.  Way to go Jimmy!!!

So in the mean time, Charlie and I did some consignment shopping and then went to look at some model homes in our neighborhood for fun with my mom and Aunt Susan who was in town from Colorado.  It was so good to see her and she cannot believe how big Charlie is - I know!!

So after I spent all day being sick/studying/playing, the minute Jimmy got home, I knew I didn't want to cook dinner and needed something fun for Charlie to do.  And that's where the flier on my fridge called our name.  We headed to our church's fall festival for some dinner, fall activities galore and fun! Charlie had a blast and I want a petting zoo at my house - he freaking loved it.

On the hay ride!

They had a mini corn maze and it was amazing!  Charlie led the way.

Another new love - a baby pool full of CORN!!!  He enjoyed it for 7 min - then I had to take him out because he started to try to eat it....

He loved the bunny rabbit!

And we even got to take home a pumpkin for our little pumpkin.  That's perfect since we haven't had time to go to the pumpkin patch yet - so this beauty (complete with a $1 Target pumpkin decorating kit) is not adorning our porch).

Sunday...I woke up again with a fever. The highest it has been yet and Jimmy sent me off to the doctor.  Said I couldn't come home without medicine. Glad he did that.

While I was there, Jimmy and Charlie headed to the park.  And my "baby" went swinging in the big boy swing.  #stopgrowingup

Then it was time for the Chief's game.  Which this might be the world's most uninterested Chief's fan.

Needless to say - they pulled of ANOTHER win, and are still undeafeted.  Jimmy is on cloud nine, with the rest of KC.

After that, we went over to hang out with my aunt and cousin, who are headed back to Colorado today and then fell fast asleep!!  Overall, didn't get much of my studying done - but that is what lunch breaks are for right?  Ugh - I hope so.  Just need to pass!!

Finally, Mommy and Me pictures!!  While I didn't get a great face shot of Charlie and I this weekend - I love this picture of him with the goat and me cracking up.  Seriously, did I mention I want a petting zoo in my back yard.  Would provide us with HOURS of entertainment!!

Here's to a better week!!!

{Great} Grandparents and me: celebration of life

So this is not my typical Monday Mommy and me with a cute picture of me and Charlie.

Instead, in honor of the celebration of my grandpa's life today and my grandma's birthday, I'm going to post a few pictures of my dad's parents today.

I mentioned on my Five on Friday post that my grandpa was very ill.  And he went home to heaven on Friday just before noon.  My dad and his three brothers and my grandma were all there with him when he took his last breath, which after almost 89 years (would have been 89 in December), I guess that's the way to go.  Surrounded by your loved ones.  And just like that, he descended to heaven and all the pain stupid cancer was causing him was gone.

Not to get too deep, but on Friday night I was sitting on my front porch talking to my dad about the day my grandpa's passing.  A storm was rolling into Kansas City and the sky was filled with lightning and thunder.  After I got off the phone with my dad, I sat there staring at the sky.  Thinking about heaven.  Thinking about how God took one of his children home today.  A great one.  One that lived a great life as a farmer, husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, friend, volunteer, solider, son, brother a follower of Christ.  I was  wondering what he was doing up in heaven.  Thinking about all those that he loved that went before him and how they were so happy to see him.  His parents, three of his brothers and many friends.  All there to welcome him.  What a great welcome home.

At the open house last night, so many people came by to see my grandma and my dad and uncles.  We met so many people that were sharing stories about my grandpa and his life.  He was so loved.

What's really amazing to me is that I'm confident that this was truly the time that God wanted my grandpa to come home.  I've mentioned to a few people in the last few days that I have packed my bags a few times in anticipation of my grandpa not making it.  He has had cancer for a long time.  Different kinds that affected different parts of his body.  He fought hard.  And he beat it multiple times.  What a roller coaster his battle was.  For all of us, but mostly him.  He fought to stay alive for many wonderful things.  And mostly, I'm so thankful he fought hard this last year so he could meet Charlie.  I love that he got to spend time with him a couple times over the last year when we made the trip to Iowa to see him as well as see the countless pictures I always sent and stories I shared with him and my grandma on the phone.  Family was his life and the reason he lived.  I feel so blessed to be part of his family.  And that he got to meet my son.  So thankful.

This world will sure miss his loud voice and laugh, the thoughtfulness he had towards others, his great stories he told, his big, big hugs and his sloppy kisses (some lady that is not related to him said that last night - which means he didn't only give us those kisses!).  He was one of the smartest men I knew.  He was a farmer before farmer's had all the wonderful technology they have today.  He was a carpenter and taught my dad and his brothers SO much about that, which those skills are still being passed down (my dad has taught Jimmy and I LOTS).  He was so many things to so many people.  

I am blessed to have had him a part of my life for 28 years.  Many people don't get the privilege of meeting their grandpa, let alone for that long and developing the relationship we had.

So I'm choosing to celebrate his life.  Think of all the joy and happiness he brought to his world.

Of course it is sad.  I cannot believe he won't just be a phone call away or a 6 hour drive.  I cannot believe I won't ever get to talk to him or see him smile or hold his hand.  But I celebrate because I know I will see him again someday in heaven.  And I'm thankful for that.

He was a great man.  And today, we celebrate the great life he lived.

On top of that celebration, it is also my grandma's birthday today.  And we celebrate her life.  I'm thankful that she was able to spend another year in this world and with us.  And today only reminds us that our time on this Earth is only temporary - so we need to celebrate each day and year we are blessed to be here.

She was blessed with 66 years of marriage to my grandpa and eventually they will be reunited again.  Sixty six years - WOW.  That just blows my mind and is pretty amazing.

So Grandma, we celebrate you today as well.  And thank God you are here with us!

To round out this post, here are some sweet pictures that I posted here on our last visit to see my grandparents in March when my grandpa got very sick.  At that time, they said he would probably make it three months. But he fought the cancer a little longer than that, and we are thankful for that extra time and extra kisses he gave during that time.

We love you Grandpa and Grandma.  Today we celebrate you both.

And to finish it off, a picture of my handsome grandpa during his service in the navy.  What a stud.

Another five on Friday for ya!

This week has a doozy.  I'm just happy that we made it to Friday!

Down to 9 weeks of class left as well.  

Linking up again with Darci and friends for random Five on Friday tidbits.

 

{ONE}

Oh sheesh.  The theme of this week has been a sick babe.  Poor Charlie.

Pink eye on Sunday and got some medicine so he was good to go back to school Monday and not be contagious.  Then Wednesday, Jimmy had to pick him up from school early because he had a 101 fever.

I got to stay home with him on Thursday and we actually had a great day.  Woke up fever free and feeling great and seemed to be back to his normal self!  I was very productive with work and Charlie had fun entertaining himself.  We had lots of snuggles and smiles.

Hopefully his day back at school today goes well!

However, my house looked like THIS at 8:30AM.  Needless to say, I had to pick it up a few times!!

{TWO}

Speaking of sick...my dad is up in Iowa with my grandpa right now.

He is very sick, so appreciate your thoughts and prayers for his peace and comfort and that God's love surrounds him and our family.

{THREE}

How about something a little more upbeat for number three?

Well the fact that my little man got his first big kid haircut this week.  He went from looking like this:

To like this:

And was all smiles.  What a cutie!!

{FOUR}

OMG: Scandal.

No words.
I literally sit on the edge of my seat watching that show.
Obsessed.

Kerry Washington is amazing and this show and these writers.  Freaking amazing.  Already looking forward to next Thursday.

{FIVE}

Feeding Charlie seems to be getting harder and harder.  I always try to have healthy fruits and vegetables on hand but really what he likes to eat:

hot dogs
puffs
sometimes lunch meat
more puffs (just a different flavor)
grapes
toddler breakfast bars

So not entirely horrible...but still.  I feel like this kid needs a little more balance.

Any ideas/tips/thoughts on healthy toddler food?

All appreciated!!

Two BIG summer events: 60 and 40

The reason I started this blog was to be able to look back on our lives and remember all the fun we have had and exciting events.  Well - I missed documenting TWO huge events in our lives celebrating family members.  So here I go!!

First off - 60 years.  My wonderful dad turned 60 years old just a few days before Charlie turned one.  Actually, Charlie's birthday falls right in between my dad's birthday and Jimmy's dad's birthday (which is on August 3)- so that's kind of fun!!

But his birthday fell on Saturday, July 27 and we weren't going to let it go unnoticed!  So my mom sent out a Facebook message to family and friends and his coworkers to come over to my parents house for dinner. My dad was golfing with my sisters boyfriend, cousin and my mom's cousin in town from Texas.  And he came home to a backyard FULL of his family and friends!!! Pretty fun to see his reaction. 

And then an even bigger surprise?!?  Jimmy and Charlie rode in the backyard on my dad's present...a riding lawn mower!  Pretty much his dream for a long time that my mom finally made come true!!!

Don't judge us that it says "keep kids away" all over the mower.  Charlie very much enjoyed it and is looking forward to mower rides with Papa!!

As always, my mom made SO much food (all delicious) and jimmy smoked lots of pork!! We had my dad fooled a bit because all party prep was disguised as Charlie's party prep. 

Highlights of the night??!? 

(1) getting to see my dads surprise face!!

(2) LOTS of great people that we haven't seem in a while.  My parents have some great friends that have all known me forever so it was just to see them and have them meet Charlie!

(3) celebrating 60 years of such a great guy!!!  Seriously- I still don't believe he's 60!  He's still soooo energetic, fun and just such a great guy that I am so lucky to have as a dad and friend!

Overall- a great celebration!  (The third one in the last year for us celebrating parent's 60th birthday!!  Jimmy's mom and dad just turned 60 too).

So to round out the year of big birthdays, my mother and father in law celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in late August.  I mean 40 years?!?? And if you're following along, they got married at 21 and 20.  Babies!!!  It's amazing to me that people got married that young and made wonderful decisions!!  

Jimmy and his brother's wanted to go big celebrating, but they said that is for their 50th and a mass honoring their marriage and a party with family was just the perfect way to celebrate.  So that's what we did!!

During mass, Father Mike did an amazing job of helping to celebrate and show the amazingness of being married 40 years.  They stood up in front of the congregation and he commented on their life, love and family.  And love in Christ that helped get their marriage to last this long.  It's pretty special!!

After the mass, we went back for the party!!!!   With lots of family and friends in town, we ate some delicious food and drank some beer while the kids ran around and entertained themselves outside (did I tell you how amazing having 8 nieces and nephews is?? Full time babysitters....)

And when it came time to give his parents their presents, I was interested to see what these boys came up with.  Jimmy was asking me for Pinterest ideas about something cool to get them...and I will say Pat came up with an amazing present!!  A frame that has their wedding picture, invitation, marriage license and the scripture readings from their wedding!!  It was a hit!!  Good job boys.

Unfortunately, we took off early because Charlie was rocking a double ear infection (diagnosed the day before which mean we had to miss dinner the night before- mi ranchito!).  But it was so good to see family members we hadn't seen in awhile and celebrating Red and Sue.

Seriously- 40 years!!! I mean amazing.  We are coming up on 4 years and just one kid...40 years and 5 kids and 9 grand kids later...pretty amazing!

So there you have it.  Two BIG celebrations from the summer that I didn't want to go undocumented because this blog is like our family memory book.  We are lucky to have some pretty amazing parents that are such a good example!!  

On a side note: still cannot believe going on 5 years of this blog.  I need to make a blog book ASAP- any ideas?!?

Mommy and me: copy cat

Another weekend has come and gone just like that.

This past one?  It was filled with family time, shopping, fishing and not-so-much sleeping.  Well that was due to the whole four molars, being totally off his schedule, having green snot come out of his eyes and sleeping in a pack n play.   But we all lived and guess what?  That's what being a parent is about right?  Learning and trying to enjoy the ride.

Well you know what we all did enjoy?  A stop at Lambert's cafe in Springfield, MO on our way down to Table Rock Lake this weekend.  We used to make the Lambert's stop a lot when we were kids and we would go down to my grandparent's cabin at Table Rock.  It was just how I remembered it.  Lots of food and lots of thrown rolls (seriously, they throw rolls!)!  So glad that Jimmy (and Charlie) finally got to experience it!!

While the adults were enjoying the fried okra (OMG so good) and chicken and dumplings (OMG also so good), Charlie really enjoyed the rolls.  

And we seemed to be copying one another's faces in these pictures.  Not sure who is imitating who, but I sure liked them and will happily have him copy me for at least a little while longer.  Thank you Jimmy for finally being like me in your photography skills and taking more than one picture!!

Linking up again with Leah and Emily for Mommy and Me

All I can say is that this boy is a HAM.  He seriously puts on a show for bystanders.  It's hilarious.  He sees people walking by and will throw his head back and smile at them.  Then they sit there and oodle over him and he just smiles and laughs and waves and says "bye bye" on command.  Hilarious and so cute.  Please stay this cute and little.  

Ok - maybe get a little bit bigger and wiser.  But seriously - this growing up thing FLIES by!

Happy Monday!

Five on Friday

And it's FRIDAY!!!  Wahoo!  Guess what?  We are already off to a fun weekend that involves a lake, family and lots of fun.  Hoping that beautiful weather comes along with us too.

Plus- down to 10 weeks of grad school left!
Linking up with Darci for another 5 on Friday!

{ONE}

Well, Charlie's first molar finally broke through so I'm considering that a milestone for him and for me.  Lets just say we are both SO excited for more.

But seriously...what happened to my baby?!?

{TWO}

TV shows are starting.  Not that I have time to watch them or anything, but that when pushing my own bedtime comes into play right?  Watched Nashville this week and cannot wait for Homeland and Scandal!!  Wahoo!!

{THREE}

I cannot believe Halloween is almost a month away!!!  Been trying to figure out what our babes are going to dress up as.  Not sure how long this will last, but last year it was so fun to coordinate Charlie and our dog's costumes.  

Ideas for Halloween 2013:

1. Charlie Brown and friends (love this one)

2. Charlie dress up as a dog (already have  a costume for this)

3. Chiefs player...and fans (the dogs)

So we'll see what I decide!! Any thoughts or ideas?!

{FOUR}

Fall.  I know everyone has been talking about fall's arrival for a while now, but with cool weather this week it finally started to feel like it.  With a busy next couple months ahead (did I mention I cannot wait for school to be over??), need to make a list of a few things we need to do this season.  Hopefully will be a little more fun now that Charlie is more interested in things.

1. Go to the pumpkin patch

2. Make some Smores!

3. Go on a hayride

4. Decorate/carve pumpkins

5. Make some homemade playdough and enjoy!

6. Go to a local fall festival

7. Go trick or treating!!!

8. Go to a football game and tailgate

9.  Start our Christmas shopping (early start)

10. Enjoy walks in the cool air

So who's in to enjoy some of those with us??

{FIVE}

Need a yummy, easy and semi quick recipe for weeknight dinners??  We had some friends over last night and I made this crispy cheesy chicken and it was delicious.  Already had all the ingredients on hand (I ended up forgetting the sauce- duh!).  But usually the chicken I make come out dry and even without the sauce it was SO good.  Not sure if it was this recipe, my new oven or a combo.  Either way: DELICIOUS!

Check it out here!

So there you have it.  Looking forward to a long weekend at the lake to have some fun and relax.  Hope yours is full of fun and relaxation too!!!

Beautiful weekend, embarrassing moments and another 10 year reunion...

We were on a walk last night and I asked Jimmy how sometimes the weekends go by SO fast but they seem like when you are living them, they are so long.  Weird how that happens, right?

The weather was just BEAUTIFUL in Kansas City this weekend and we soaked up as much as we could of it.  Went to a fun STA tailgate on Friday night where Charlie had lots and lots of fun with lots of other friends and kids.

I also had a "remember that one time?" moment.  Do you ever have those?

Long story short, it said "bring a snack to share" to this "tailgate" on Friday night that was from 4:45-7:00.  I was all stressed out because of course I had no time to make anything and had to be that person again that brings something store bought - I think I'm just going to have to get used to that.  In my mind, I was thinking tailgate in between that time meant that it would be like burgers, hot dogs, whatever.  So I just grabbed a tub of macaroni salad.  Not the most delicious or even something that Jimmy and I like, but I thought others would.  We get there and there are just like appetizers.  Um, how embarrassing.  (Especially since I didn't even have a spoon)  But Jimmy INSISTED that we put it out.  Pretty much so he could make fun of me.  Sweet, right?  Well it sat there awkwardly all night.  I kept staring at it so embarrassed and finally snuck it back into the bottom of the stroller.

Jimmy did a big "told you so" because he thought it was SO weird that I bought that.  Guess what?  It made sense at the time to me - but was pretty mortifying...and hilarious.

I'm pretty sure Jimmy will talk about that years from now - proving that he's right.

Anyways, Saturday we ran some errands in the morning and had a nice visit with my grandparents.  

Then Charlie's teachers from his old school came over to visit (so sweet) and we had a nice time hanging out with them.  Then it was off to the reunion.  We got one picture of the night.  

It was pretty fun - we both lost our voices.

Seems like my parents and sister had a good time hanging out with Charlie too!!

And then...Jimmy had a fun morning.  Haha.  As always.  He likes to have a little too much fun sometimes...and every once and a while I like to rub it in his face a bit.  We went to a delicious post-birthday brunch for me and my cousin, Brett, with my family at Nick and Jake's and stuffed ourselves silly. 

Went to a new park on Sunday afternoon with Charlie and played lots in the garage while I vacuumed our gross van - he didn't really take the gate thing seriously.  But he was sure cute.

Then got some time with my man watching the movie Hitch.  Which for some reason, we both like.  With NEVER happens.

I love these pictures of me and my little man + my tired husband, which I'm going to say count as Mommy and Me, right?

Happy Monday everyone!!!  Here's to another week!