Thankful

To say I am thankful for the life I have been blessed with is an understatement! I don't know what I did to deserve this...but you better believe I thank God every single day for it! I try so hard each and every day to not take it for granted because I know that it could all change in an instance.

Some things I am so thankful for...

Tate...where do I even begin. This man has the most patience of anyone I know. He gets me like no on else does and he truly is my very best friend. I love living life with him and love every challenge or bump we encounter because we grow as a couple during it! Life with him in it is so good!

Turner...so so so lucky to be his mama! A love I never knew existed! Being his mom is my greatest accomplishment! Every day I try to be a better person for him. I want to make him so proud to call me his mama! He makes me smile and laugh every single day! Life with him is so much better!!

Our home...another thing I thank God every night that I have. I thank him for this roof over my head that I get to call home. A warm and dry place to eat dinner, sleep and love my family in each and every day is something to truly be thankful for! Tate and I work very hard to have this and know that God blessed us with it.

Family and friends...I love everything about all these people. Each and every person is special to me. I'm so thankful I have them to laugh with, cry with and to share this life with.

Health...my health, my families health and my friends health! Cancer is word that is far too common these days. Sure, I have had skin cancer, but what I went through is NOTHING compared to the people that fight for their lives each and every day that are living with this horrible disease. I so thankful that I am healthy and so is all my loved ones. I pray every day though that they find a cure. I also pray for those that are fighting this disease.

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

MN Family Weekend

This weekend was a FUN one. I threw my sister a bridal shower with all her friends and we celebrated Thanksgiving with my Dad's side of the family tree. I love spending time with family and Turner sure loves all the attention!

My sisters wedding shower was 'Jamaica' theme since she's getting married there in February. I had fun planning this with her best friend and it went off with a bang! 

We enjoyed mimosas, brunch and one fun game of 'How well do you know the Bride...'

Hannah got many great gifts and many ladies had great suggestions for the 'date night jar' I made for her. 

Then on Sunday, my Grandma hosted Thanksgiving for my Dad's side of the family since most of us were busy this weekend coming up. (She alternates having holidays on the actually holiday day every other year). We will be attending the Viking vs Packer game this weekend and will be in WI on Thanksgiving celebrating with our WI family.

My brother reading Turner his bedtime story...so adorable!

I love everything about spending time with family and counting my blessings. I am so grateful for my family and Turner to have such special people to love on him. He was one tired boy Sunday evening...practically asking to have his bath so he could go to bed. 

I long for the weekends but never wish away time. I cherish each and every minute of every day...each day is a blessing and I will always be thankful that I get to live this life that God blessed me with!

Halloween 2014

Another favorite holiday of mine as come and gone. Another one where I did not dress up (super sad face) and I borrowed Turner's costume! I'll do anything to save money...and I will while Turner can't tell me what he wants to be for Halloween ;)

We also had something else in mind for our costumes this year but when the whether got super cold...it called for a costume change.

Turner has a Halloween party @ daycare on Friday. He was a dinosaur this year.

Look how cute they all look!!! Also...the pic on the top right, cracks me up!!

We had fun that evening. We started by taking Turner to a few houses on our block of the neighbors we knew.

This picture...it melts my heart!!!

Turner and a few of the neighbor kids!!!

Another successful Halloween holiday in the books. So excited for next year!!!

October Fall Fun - part 2

Seriously...this month is the BEST month ever and I will do everything in my power to fit as much 'fun' stuff in as I can. It's been a busy month but I wouldn't have it any other way...when it's busy, it's joyous!!!

Another beautiful weekend in October, we hit up the Apple Orchard right by our house for some fun with my sister and mom.

Turner was scared of the lil' tractor ride. We were seated right behind the tractor so I think that's why. He did smile big and screech with excitement when a couple walked by with a dog...he wanted to climb out to get the dog. He sure does love puppies!

We also explored the barn where all the apple items were. My sister ordered cider and an apple turnover and Turner & I shared ice cream with caramel on it!!!

On another weekend...we were still having beautiful fall weather so we raked leaves and Turner loved playing in them.

Turner loved almost everything about playing in the leaves....he hated when we put him in the leaves!

Next on the fall fun agenda was pumpkin painting. I love carving pumpkins but don't have the patience for it. Tate also hates how long it takes and the mess it makes. So next best thing for us is painting...which equally makes a big mess with a toddler!

Had to remove the pants since he started painting them...

It's more fun painting myself mom!!!

Finished products! We are certainly not Picasso. I of course had a better vision in my head of what I wanted to do...but with limited time...this is what came about and it was fun! Turner loved it and memories were made!

I still can't believe October is already over. It came and went in a flash. I'll miss it and look forward to next October!!!

October Fall Fun - part 1

I can't believe this month is almost over...I hate seeing October end since it is my FAVORITE month!!!

We've had a lot of fun this month...so it's going in a 2 part post!

The first weekend of the month, Tate's family visited. There was also a clinic grand opening right by our house that we decided to go to. They had food, music, games, tours and FREE PUMPKINS!! It was fun and I am so glad we went!

Turner had his first apple and LOVED IT!!! I could not pry it away from his hands...I only got it when he dropped it and then he cried when I wouldn't give it back #toddlerproblems #itwasfullofdirt

(is it cool to hash tag while blogging...if not, who cares...my blog, my rules) ;)

Turner loved spending time with his Wisconsin family since he doesn't see them as often as we would all like. 

Coloring with his Grandma T.

The following weekend, we hit up the local farm...Country Sun Farm in Lake Elmo. We went there last year and had so much fun (even though Turner was only a few months old). I hope to make it a yearly tradition to go there. So much fun and so much for the little kiddos to do.

Turner had fun feeding the animals. His favorite were the goats.

Turner loved running around to all the different painted boards they had and seeing all the pumpkins. 

4 months and 16 months

I'm thinking if we go every year...I should make sure to get this photo!

I love him more and more every single day!!!!

Turner was obsessed with this scarecrow! We put in the 50 cents to make it dance and he loved it!!! He even danced along with it for a few seconds!

Making these amazing memories with Turner is so fun! My hear explodes with joy when I am with him and it smiles endlessly when I see Turner and Tate having the best relationship a father and son could have. I only pray that every day going forward is this good #nevergrowup ;)

3 day weekends are the BEST

I loved that Thursday was a work Friday but Friday was still Friday. Those are pretty much the best kind of weekends! Love me some extra family time!!!

Thursday night...Tate was working late which will somewhat be the norm in the coming months as he's opening a new fitness center and in order to be successful, he works his tail off to make it that way. I'm at home trying to balance 20,000 things it seems like. Entertain a 1 year old, make dinner, feed the dog, wash the dishes, etc. Turner got a minor diaper rash when we went camping a few weeks back and there was one lil' tiny open sore left over that would not go away no matter how much coconut oil I used (one of the few items you can use with cloth diapers). I decided to let him go diaper less this evening in hopes of 'airing it out'. Well...while sitting on the kitchen floor, playing with pots and pan...he decided to go #1 and #2. SO GROSS!!! Then....as I'm trying to clean that up, he crawl over to Mya's water dish and dumps the whole thing all over the floor. It was wonderful! ;) Let's just say I was happy to go to bed this evening in one piece!!!

Friday we had plans to attend a get together at a friends in the evening for a cookout and fireworks to celebrate July 4th. I made a yummy patriotic dessert and it was the easiest thing to make.

Patriotic layered dessert:
Vanilla cake
Cool Whip
Strawberries
Vanilla cake
Cool Whip
Strawberries & Blueberries

Turner enjoyed getting dirty in the sandbox and flirting with his friend Briar.

Another great 4th spent with my 2 favorite boys!!!


On Saturday we enjoyed soup, salad and bread sticks lunch @ Olive Garden as a family. We also went and got Tate's golf clubs re-gripped. That was his Father's Day gift so he was happy to finally go get it done. That afternoon, we had a birthday party to attend for our lil' 3 year old neighbor! It was 'water park' themed party and it was so fun! Turner loved splashing in the water!

And can we just talk about how cute my boys are?!?!

Sunday was a true day of relaxation. My parents stopped by on their way back from up north. We enjoyed 2 visits to the park. I promised Turner we could go back after dinner as he threw a tantrum (that lasted 10 seconds) when we had to leave the first time (he's one...does this really happen this early?!?!)

Also...Turner has this nice big water station to play with...but what does he want to play with, Mya's water dish! This makes ZERO sense!!!

Another great and fun weekend in the books. Each day I feel more and more blessed for my life! I hope you all had just as great of a weekend celebrating the 4th of July with family and friends!

Easter 2014

Another first holiday for T has come and gone...he's almost a year which means that every holiday going forward (besides Memorial Day) will no longer be his first. It's exciting and sad at the same time. He's growing so fast...when can time just stand still for a lil' bit?!?!

We had a wonderful Easter celebration with my family. We had originally planned to celebrate the weekend before but Turner was sick and we weren't about to take him to a family gathering where he would have been passed around like a hot potato. He is finally on the up and up...but still fighting a bit of a cold. 

We woke up early and I was so excited for Turner to check out his Easter basket from the bunny. 

Turner's first Easter Basket.

I went the unconventional route for the basket...I wanted to get him the pail for this summer at the beach. Worked great as his basket. He also received a pair of Nike Sandals, Moccasins, foam bath letters and his first toothbrush. It's actually just a rubber teething toy...but he also helps with cleaning up his gums/teeth while he chews on it. He loves it!!!

Well...he had no interest in his basket...he checked it out for a split second...then was more interested in Mya and the baby gate that he tries so hard to get open.

He crawled out the room all excited...knocked it over and went on his marry way to Mya. Then returned eventually to check it out :)

We went to early service on Easter morning so that we could hit the road and get to my parents by 11. 

We enjoyed some yummy turkey, beans and potatoes. Turner enjoyed the plastic eggs and Easter basket grass.

Turner giving Auntie kisses - Easter photo with my lil' man (forgot to take family picture...oops) - It was also my Dad's birthday so we celebrated that in addition to Easter!

After hanging out at my parents, we went over to my brother's house as he is just finishing building it. 

We headed back home after that. We got home around 4:30 and decided we need to go for a family walk since it was so gorgeous outside. We grabbed Mya and the stroller and got on our way.

We stopped @ the park that's very close to our house and Turner enjoyed his first swing ride. He seriously loved it. So giddy with excitement. Seeing so much joy on your child's face is one of the best things ever.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter also!!!!

It's the big LOVE day!!!

And Turner's pretty dang excited about it...

and if he's excited...the WHOLE house is excited because this little person has everyone wrapped around his tiny little fingers and we all don't mind!

I ALWAYS tell Tate to NOT buy me flowers for Valentines Day. I'm actually not really a flower/plant type of person. I just can't enjoy them because I know they will die. I'm frugal and would be annoyed he spent so much money on flowers that will die than enjoy them! We usually exchange cards and have a nice dinner @ home. He has bought me flowers in prior years for Valentines Day...but they were grocery store flowers, which is totally OK with me because they were priced just right and lived just as long as the people that received flowers that were triple the cost of mine!

Earlier this week I went searching for a special and nice card for him and found a few I liked. I then looked @ back @ the price (because that is what frugal people do) and they were all over $7 ($6.99 to be exact). $7 FOR A DANG CARD!! I can get 2 different 1/2 price appetizers at Applebee's for that much (Applebee's did not pay me to say that & I honestly don't remember the last time we went to Applebee's to enjoy those appetizers...probably when I was pregnant, now I am hungry)!

So I left without a card because I can't spend that much on a card that he will read and throw in a drawer to collect dust for a few years. So I called him and told him that he shouldn't buy me a card either because they are outrageously priced. I mentioned that we should instead just write love notes to each other. That way it's our own words and meaningful and it doesn't cost a damn penny. So now I need to actually write mine...It's all in my head, just need to put in on paper!

So there you have it...another aspect of my life I am trying to control, what my husband does for me for Valentines Day. He actually has free reign to do whatever he wants for me...but he knows I'm an obsessive frugal freak, so I know that no matter what he does...he will ALWAYS get it right! I just had to tell him about that card thing because he knows I love to get cards...but I am not all about spending that much on a card! So now I guess I am more a 'handwritten love note' kind of person!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

When it rains, it pours

So we've hit a few road bumps lately in the finance department...and forking over the money for it is NOT FUN!

First up..washer dies over labor day weekend! Not a big deal as I always wanted a new washer...so we went washer shopping and purchased one. Small expense?...NO, but needed! Especially when you are a cloth diaper family! Need that thing to keep those diapers clean!

Then...when MEA weekend started (for those not in MN, students get Thursday and Friday off of school...so there weekend starts Wed evening), some kids decided they would like to destroy other people's property. We were the lucky people they decided to throw a rock through our 2nd story window. Not only did it NOT wake us up, Mya didn't even do anything. I noticed it the next morning after feeding Turner. I went to go put him on his play mat so I could get ready and there was glass all over our couch and living room floor. The shades were down so I didn't know exactly what happened...but it freaked me out so I immediately went and woke Tate up. We called the police and they came to take a report. Turns out we were one of twos with window damage. What worries me the most about this is that living room window is right next to Turner's room. I just freaked out thinking what if they would have hit his window. What pisses me off is that these punk kids think it's OK to do this type of stuff. I said a prayer for those kids.

Next up...Tate and I BOTH needed new tires for our cars. Well we all know those cost a pretty penny. It's also something we can't put off. Winter is approaching and we have a little one to think about for safety reasons. So new tires it was...wah wah!

As I am getting my tires installed...they decide to tell me my brake pads need replacing along with some rotors. That would be an additional $400+ just for that. Luckily...I thought maybe our daycare lady's husband knew a think or two about cars and asked if does this type of work ever. Sure enough...he does!!! Woohooo...that saved us over 50% of what the auto repair place would have charged us.

THEN...haha, yes...a few more things!

Our house was built in 1995. We have windows that are wood frame inside (vinyl outside). I was cleaning and noticed that our bedroom window was 'rotting'. There was condensation on the window which causes the wood to get wet and eventually rot over the years. Well great...we've been sleeping in a room with rotting windows. I am a germ freak so of course I bleached the heck out it and called my dad to figure out what to do. He talked about ways to reduce the condensation in our home and also told us to consider replacing the windows since they were older. I've wanted to actually replace our windows and patio door for some time, but never wanted to fork over the money for it...I mean we are talking 5 digits here!!!! We've had a few window companies to the house to go over things and now Tate and I need to make some decisions on what we want to do for sure.

Then...one evening Tate and I were driving back from a evening with friends (with Turner in the car). We were about 1 mile from our house when a deer ran out in front of us...luckily Tate avoided hitting it. But then...the buck that was chasing the doe that we avoided hitting, literally runs into the side of my car. Hits my passenger side (where I am sitting). FREAKED ME OUT! Tate pulled over and got out. The deer had gotten up, ran back to where it came from, and then crossed the road. My car had a nice big dent on the side and my door makes a lovely noise when you open it. Thank gosh for insurance...but there is still a deductible to pay. I'm just thankful we were all OK and nothing more serious happened. Turner slept through the whole thing.

Even though we've been hit with a string of bad luck, I am still feeling truly blessed and thankful. I've been waking up every morning so excited for a new day and feel very grateful for the life that God has chosen for me. I'm not going to lie...this is not normal for me when things like everything listed above has been happening. Maybe it's because being a mom puts everything into perspective of what is really important, maybe it's our food challenge making me feel really good or maybe it's because I know we are going to be OK since we have money saved with our emergency fund for these type of situations. Either reason is fine by me and it feels good to not be stressed about it.

With Thanksgiving approaching, it's nice to be extra thankful for what we do have. We have our health and our happiness. We are beyond blessed. Of course I'm always thinking of new things I want want want...but everything I need...I already have!

And it looks like our luck is finally turning around. We got pulled over on Friday evening on the way to a friends house. Tate wasn't paying attention to how fast he was going. The State Trooper gave us a warning and sent us on our marry way...THANK GOSH (it may have had something to do with Tate telling the trooper that it was getting close to Turner's feeding time and him screaming in the back may have just helped)!!! Fingers crossed we are on the up and up from this point forward!!!

  

Halloween 2013

I can't believe October has come and gone...best month is over and best holiday is now done!

I had so much fun this Halloween...even though it's been a lot different then years past. No party, no dressing up (I wanted to put couldn't find my cat costume..grrr), minimal trick or treaters cam this year...but the part that made it oh so much fun...was I got to dress Turner up and make Halloween special for him.

I dressed him up in Halloween attire during the week!

He was really excited to start wearing some Halloween gear!!!!

Sporting his glow in the dark onesie form his Auntie Hannah!!!
1 - "OK, I'm sitting still mom"
2 - "What do you want to do?
3 - "Really, another #halloweenwardrobe photo shoot?
4 - "Is this good mom?"

Could pumpkins on baby butts be any cuter?!?!

Our lil' pea pod ready to go trick or treating!!!!

He did perfect while visiting a few neighbors. Some got to meet him for the first time!!

I loved sharing my favorite holiday with my lil' man. I look forward to each and every Halloween I get to share with him and hope he falls in love with Halloween like I have!!!