This & that...

Due to my laptop being out of order until I buy a new one...

this post has to be a long one with a little bit of this

and a lot of that!

We have been spending so much time outside that last few weeks being the weather is GORGEOUS!

The boys do yard work...

while I admire and plan where our next outdoor project will be

including planting these flowers I got for Mother's Day!

We are those "weird" parents who make our kid wear a hat on windy days.

We get so nervous about his ear due to his constant ear infections

"mema" Smith made this hat for him to wear in the spring/summer/fall...

but as you can see that it's not doing it's job,

as his little ears are sticking out!

I had to post this picture...

and this picture...

because last week I was bragging how much he looked like his dad,

but this week he looks so much like his mom! 

PERFECT MIX i think.

The kids have been LOVING the outdoors as well

I think this summer will consist of them "washing" my car

that turns into a sponge water fight!

Breck even enjoyed getting suds dumped on his head!

(he looks like he is upset in this picture...but nope, this is his new smile EVERY single time I say smile...eyes close)

Two weeks of school left...

then I have these monsters all summer long!

We have also had play date after play date with our buddies.

Picnic lunches

and outdoor playtime.

The last few days have been heaters...

so after we were dripping sweat over pizza one night...

we broke down and turned on the a/c!

When we have spend time indoors we have done a lot of crafts!

Breck loves to watercolor paint!

And Ellery and I have made these fun crayola pinterest projects!

This one she made for her bedroom that is lime green.

We used pinks, reds, purples, and oranges.

It turned out amazing!

Probably my favorite one yet.

And check out Elle's new glasses...what a cutie.

All this fun

means we have needed some rest time too.

It's wedding season again and we are busy busy busy.

Jerod had a bachelor party a couple weekends ago 

and I had one this weekend and another one next weekend.

So Breck and I made a trip to St.Cloud to do some gift shopping

and have a little lunch at my favorite place (and now Breck's too)

LeeAnn Chin's

Saturday I attended a Miss. Tancabel's Party

along with a dozen other old high school friends!

We took a pedal pub in downtown Minneapolis

and had a BLAST!

It was s fun to all be back together again for an evening of fun!

Time to catch up along with MANY laughs!

Here's the bride to be...

Wish I could be at her wedding, 

but we will be at another friends wedding the same day that Jerod is in...

So HAPPY WEDDING MISS T!

And after a long fun weekend...

It's time to go snuggle my boy and nap!

Heaven Is Here...

A favorite pastime for me is a good book and I am always looking for suggestions

(so post some good reads for me and I'll do the same for you)

I have recently read:

50 Shades of Grey

okay ish' 

I'm not sure I will read the trilogy..or maybe I just need a break and will pick them up later.

But,

today at work I decided to start a new book at lunch that my sister had borrowed me

and a much anticipated book I've wanted to get my hands on after loyally following her blog for the past 3 years! 

here 

(I feel like I know her so well...sometimes how I feel about my "friends" on Days of our Lives ha!)

I love her ideas, her mom moments, wife moments, family moments, craft ideas, cooking & baking (we make her homemade pizza often at our house), courage, and happiness for life.

 (I wish I was more like her sometimes, honestly)

Heaven is Here

Her story is unbelievable.

I would recommend this book times a million! I can't put it down.

I promise you'll like it.

Mini Me

Everyone ALWAYS says how Breck looks like his mom, g'pa Tom, uncle Ty (Smith side) so much!

And I agreed.

Blonde hair.

Blue eyes.

Fare skin.

But,

My dad always had said,

"he's got Jerod's face"

and I didn't see it....

till now!

HOLY SMOKES.

It's a dark haired,

brown eyed,

tanned skinned...

Breck!

Luckiest Mom...

This last weekend MAY have been one of my most favorite weekends yet.

The beautiful weather couldn't have been more perfect in helping us celebrate our

5 year anniversary

& 

Mother's Day!

On Saturday Jerod & I went out for dinner (just the two of us) while Breck kept Grandma & Grandpa busy.

This doesn't happen very often (slim to never), so it was nice to have some time just the two of us!

Then we did a little "browsing" for a new laptop since "mine" took the plunge last week after having it for 10+ years and for new cell phone's since we are the last people on earth to refrain from getting a data plan..meaning having a decent phone!  

I say "browse" because Jerod needs time to "think about it" and make sure we are getting the best deal....

oh boy...lucky me!

We spent the rest of the weekend outdoors:

Planting my new flowers I got for Mother's Day

and doing some landscaping!

Along with a couple walks to the park

with these two lovey cousin's.

Breck ADORES Calvin a.k.a. "Cayan"

and I think Calvin feels the same way!

We also did a bit of fishing...

I think we have an interested little boy!

Something fun him and his dad can do together.

 On Friday we went to story time at the library and planted flowers.

Breck gave his to his grandma's for Mother's Day!

He was so excited to give them to the grandma's,

that on our way to breakfast with the Barrick's "he hold it"

and it tipped over on Main Street! 

I thank God everyday for all the blessings in my life.

Being a good, happy, fun, loving mother is the MOST important thing in my life.

I'm just so lucky.

And.

This.

Is.

Why.

(flashback time...some of my favorite memories that make me laugh and smile most)

Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful MOMS.

Especially mine.

little bruiser

This is what a little boy who plays really hard looks like!

Bumps, bruises, skinned knees, and black eyes.

It's tough being a boy!

Twenty TWO things about my TWO year old

I probably could think of 122 things I could tell you {brag} about my lil' man,

but I'll just tell you twenty TWO things instead:

P.S if you don't want to read...I don't blame you! I just need to remember all these little moments before more time flies by!

1). On the day of his 2nd birthday, HE decided he didn't want his nuk anymore! He is going on 7 days nuk free!

2). He loves to SING his favorite songs are ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and knows and can pronounce all the words pretty clear!

3). He weighs 26 pounds and 34 1/2 inches tall. According to the height predictor he will be 5 foot 11 when he is 18 years old!

4). He is always smiling. If you ask him if he is always happy he says {with a lisp} "yeath" {yes}

5). He is still obsessed with vacuum cleaners. But at least now he isn't afraid when they are turned on, instead he helps vacuum.

6).  Lays down for naps when I tell him he will see his cousin's after school. He gets excited to see Calvin "Ki-Yan" and Ellery "Elree"

7). Still takes a two hour nap every day! He goes to bed around 8:00 every night and wakes up around 7:30! 

8). Has NOT tried crawling out of his crib YET, although I know he can...he's a monkey boy!

9). Is all boy! Makes dinosaur and car noises...with a deep grawwwwwwl.

10). Loves fruit! It's mostly what our breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack consists of with a tad bit of other food mixed in.

11).  Every time we go to Econo foods he has to sit on the pony! We have never actually put in money, until I got suckered into it on his birthday :)

12). Loves to lay on mom and dad's bed and watch Mickey Mouse after a long day...while mom makes dinner!

13. Has a pink "favorite blanket" because we left one at daycare one night so we had to borrow one of Ellery's {she has four}  NOW we have sleep with both blue and pink blankets + a kitty and puppy every night!

14). Went through a biting stage at school {hasnt' bit for months} but when you ask him what he did at school today he says "I bit"!

15). Loves to visit his MeMa & Up-a's {grandma & grandpa's}  Today we were at g'ma & g'pa Smiths and he was in the garage messing around.  He brought me over to a bucket of water...with a dead mouse in it!! He was saying "icky, icky" as I screamed!! {surprised he didn't pick it up and bring it to me}!

16). Is a parrot and repeats everything...good and bad!  Also has to do EVERYTHING everyone else does! Ellery was in a Community Theater play Flat Stanley Jr. this last month so I had to curl her hair and of course she had to wear make-up....SO, so did Breck!

17). Is a snuggle. Gives the best hugs and kisses! Such a lover.

18). Wears size 6 shoes, 18-24 month/2T shirts, and 12-18 pants

19). Hates going on walks in the stroller unless he is pushing it {not a very productive work out} but loves going on bike rides..we bike out to lake and back!

20). Goes potty on the potty {sometimes}!  He tells us when he has to go...and actually goes!  BIG BOY!

21). Always has a little pep in his step and loves to gallop!

22). Definitely changed from a 1 year old {my baby} to a 2 year old {big boy} over night!