Croup, Cats, and so much more....

Trying out the big boy potty =)

Busy doesn't begin to describe how things have been around here lately..... Lets see last week we had a surprise 40th birthday party for my dad which went great. Z and I have made weekly trips to the library which we love. C and i went to a Red Wings game a couple weeks ago and had so much fun that he bought tickets as soon as we got home from that game and we are going again on the 7th (Yay!!). We adopted a kitten who was so adorable and cute for the first week and a half.. now she drives me crazy, only when she gets all wild and starts biting, not sure how to deal with that so i have to do some research... Last week (Thurs) i got sick, it is now Wed. and i am STILL sick... its awful.. and on top of that Z started coughing the day before yesterday and it just sounded a little off to me so i called the doc yesterday and took him in and they told me it was croup then sent us to the ER so he could be treated since he was also having trouble breathing.. poor kiddo had to get a shot of steroids, but his breathing was great all night i even let him sleep with me to make sure, that was a very, very long night! We weren't to cramped though since C has been sleeping on the couch since Fri because 1. i keep him up coughing all night and 2. he really doesn't want to get sick and judging by how awful i have felt i don't want him to get sick.. My mom did come over and make me some homemade chicken noodle soup, which was very yummy =).

That's just what i can think of off the top of my head! I am so ready to get out and be busy again, we were really enjoying that!! But i also don't want to get anyone else sick so i am doing the polite thing and staying home.. We do have/get to go out for a little bit today since Z has a follow-up appt to make sure he is getting better.. so keep us in your prayers!

SPRING TIME!!!

Ready, JUMP!
Tag! Your It!

I am almost 95% sure that this weather is just a tease, but i don't care! Today i actually got to open my windows and get fresh air! It was AMAZING! and even better i got to take the kiddos out to play!!! Because of the cold and the amount of snow that we had they were only able to go out and play twice this winter, we tried a couple of other times but that always resulted in them falling face first in the snow and getting mad because they couldn't get up! (it was only a little bit funny =)

So, it has been a while since i have been on here, i keep thinking that i should update it but then i get busy again!

So as for new things, we FINALLY got our car on the road (PRAISE GOD!) so Z and i have been to Chx. the past two thursdays for story time at the library, the first time was a disaster! Z screamed and cried the WHOLE time, when he calmed down for just a moment and would start to walk away from me i tried to sit down and he saw that and screamed and ran back to me then hit me! Needless to say i was a little weary to take him again the next week. Last time though (#2) he did SOOO much better! First of all we were able to sit down when story time started with out any screaming, although Z did cling to me and was facing the back of the room, but by the end of the first story he had turned around and was facing forward and actually watching! It was an amazing transformation! I don't think i have even felt so relieved! I think its really important for him to get out and do things with other kids, its only ever been R that he spends alot of time with, we have playdates once in a while but everyone gets busy and its harder to do.. SO, i am on the lookout for anyother fun things that we could go out and do to keep us busy until the yard dries out! (any ideas anyone??) For now we have been going over to a friends house to play after story time and swimming in the pool which Z LOVES! i mean it is almost impossible to hold on to him anymore he just wants to swim! Very fun though.

My new thing is a workout video that i have started ( i can't stand to be fat anymore...) but the thing is i actually love it! (the workout) Its called yoga booty ballet, and after two days i am in SO much pain! Its great! haha.. so lets see how long this lasts, i think i am going to start running a couple of evenings a week when C gets home.. I am already enjoying the extra energy, now i am looking forward to looser clothes!

Okay this is almost at book proportions now so i will be back soon with more updates on our busy life!

Taxes, Haircuts, and other "Fun" things...

Sitting in the big boy chair for his first real haircut.

Whoa! I have a cape and i can fly! (he is such a boy) Right side!
Reading a book while he gets the left side cut

It's been a while since have been on here, we've had quite the busy week! Which i must say, i love! C came home early a couple of times this week because they ran out of work to do, its a little selfish but i love when that happens! It just gives our week a little something extra fun! Tues. night i went out with a couple of friends to see Bride Wars, great movie i loved it! Then we went to Applebees for some dessert and girl talk. The rest of the week kinda went by in a blur... Fri. we were able to go get our taxes done, and at this point in our life that's actually a really good thing! We opted for the 1-2 day option for our return so we already have it. I was able to pay off 2 credit cards today!! (PRAISE GOD!) and as soon as the payments post i will be canceling them! I am really working on my spending issues..

Sat. was the real highlight though because we took Z for his first real big boy haircut! He has had 3 that i have done and 1 trim when i was getting my haircut. But this time he sat in the booster seat all by himself (most of the time) and did a great job! I couldn't have been more proud! (and relieved for that matter.. haha.. ) He looked a little funny at first, because he's had that long hair for a while now but the new look is starting to grow on us =) I'll post pics of it next time.

Other than that we have been taking a foundations class at our church and i am really learning alot, i have all this knowledge from going to church for so many years, but i don't always know how to apply it to my life. So that is one thing i need prayer for. I really want to get closer to God, i know i have LONG way to go, but i am looking forward to the journey.

Christmas Again

This weekend we celebrated Christmas with C's mom and dad, and A & J. It was great! We don't see then nearly often enough, Z was so excited to see his Lola and Lolo walk in the door! When they tried to go out the car to get more stuff he started balling! I love how much he loves them! Everyone got here on Fri night and we opened presents, above are two of Z's when he opened the sponge bob toy he made that face (above) and said "Buddy!" it was too funny! He also got a basketball hoop he is pretty excited about.. But more importantly he got to spend some time with his Aunt and Uncle, when he was younger he would look at A who looks very much like C and start crying because he was confused, now he runs right to uncle A. Sat. we spent the day at the Hotel swimming in the pool (see below) which Z loved! I was worried that he would be unsure since its been awhile since he has been in the pool but he did great! He is a little swimming machine! I think we will try to make it to Gaylord once in a while to take him to the pool there, if you haven't been its perfect for kids his age! Whenever we make it i will try to get some pics.. Anyways we had a great weekend and now onto a great week!

Zeke and his Lola

Snowy days yet again.....

I am about done with the snow now, true to my normal feelings... Love it in December HATE it in January.. You would think that we would be used to it but nope, it still seems awful and its only January! Oh well.. Z seems to love which i am thankful for, we were going for a walk earlier today and i told him it was snowing and he pointed up and said "snowing" too cute. Other new words are please & down.. and he has taken to singing the entire Sponge bob theme song all by himself! Its hilarious to watch because he only does when he doesn't think you are looking, and he will sing the whole thing, granted the only words you can understand are bob and i think i hear pineapple somewhere in there.. I just love to hear him sing =)

My friend B is going to be gone this Sat, last night was the last time i will get to see her, at least for a very long time.. I officially have no friends in Petoskey anymore.. That kinda makes me sad. I wish i could get C to move back to Charlevoix, i love it there almost as much as here, and in the summer we could actually go to the beach! not to mention that i actually have a couple of friends there! I guess we'll just have to wait and see.....

Wedding plans for my sister are going great, she doesn't seem to need me for much of anything which is actually okay with me.. She knows what she wants and opinions are not usually welcome! It is going to be amazing though, i can tell already.. I am just wondering what i am going to be looking like about that time.. I would love to have another baby, i am terrified of getting pregnant again but i don't know if we should wait long to try again.. I really would love to have my kids close together, but again i guess we will just have to wait and see!

Lets see what else is new... Z had a play date with his little buddy L today (the one this is only 2 days apart) which was great. Oh and we have had R's dog, Jonah for the past two days, cutest dog i have ever seen! We were watching him during the day, mostly so Z and R could play with him but also because i miss my dogs.. Hence the reason we have decided (maybe) to get a kitten. I think Z would love one and i would love to have a pet around again. I would rather have a dog but we can't have them here.. maybe someday when we buy a house!

Game Night!!!

Did i mention how much my husband loves to have his picture taken?

This is the beginning of the game...

Mom and Dad

The Final Score.

A long long time ago, (okay a couple of years ago) we (C, my mom and dad and I) started a family tradition we like to call game night...

Unfortunately game night somehow turned into dinner and movie night somewhere along the line, but, we recently decided its about time to bring game night back, and so here we are! This week we played Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit (not all that fun it turns out....), and our ultimate favorite Cranium. You really would have to be there to know why we love this game so much, but if you witnessed my father rolling around on the floor trying to pretend to be a mermaid, you would love it too!

So we have decided to bring back the tradition, every other Friday night is family game night, any of you who want to join in (and are close enough to do so) are more than welcome! It is always a good time! hahah...

So as for us we are all doing great, Z is napping right now, hence the middle of the day blog.. This weekend should be fun, C's parents are coming up and his brother and his fiance are coming down. C's parents are staying at a hotel so we get to take Z swimming for the first time since summer, he was doing really good then so i am hoping he enjoys it, since a friend of ours moved into a place with a pool i am hoping that when we go visit he actually has fun! She has a little girl who is only 2 days younger (i think,, maybe older but i mean its two days!) than Z and we get together every once in a while so the kiddos can play and we can talk.. Play dates might be a little more frequent now that we are getting the "new" car on the road, i am something of a procrastinator so its taken me a while to get everything done but i plan to do it next week, then Z and i will be making weekly trips to Chx! As of now i plan to go every Thurs so i can take the kiddos to Story Hour at the library then we will spend the rest of the day with friends. I am really looking forward to it! So if you want to get together let me know!

Happy New Year!

Mischievous?

actually he was just tasting the snow... =)

Dec. 31, 2008

Eating a banana Jan. 1st, yes he slept in his clothes, he was too tired to be bothered with jammies....

Happy New Year Everyone! I can't believe that it is 2009! This was the first time in a long time that C and have done anything for New Years, and a first for Z! The year we got together with my family to celebrate and ring in the new year together. It was an absolute blast! Christmas Eve just went by so fast, no one got to the house until after 8 so there was only so much time we could spend together so i was very excited to see everyone again. We played games, ate, and generally just had a good time! Z was thrilled to be able to play with his cousins again, the wonder in his eyes when he see's them is just hilarious! My mom has a pic of the three of them that i will be sure to but on here when i get it. Z made it until about 11 then he walked into the kitchen looked at me and and asked to be picked up, so of course i did, after about 3 seconds my mom looked and him and informed me that he was already sound asleep. It was too cute, so i snuggled for a while while i talked to my sister in GR on the phone then i laid him down to sleep with his younger cousin, also absolutely adorable! It was a great night and i am grateful for my wonderful family! C is still laid off for the week so we are getting to spend lots of quality time together, he is only making me slightly crazy which is great! (he is a very restless person, so i wondered what how he would do being trapped in the house most of the week) But it has been great, and Z has never been happier! Not to mention that i have gotten in more reading than ever since i can just hang out while they play!

Oh and please do let me know what you think of the new look of my blog, i am trying some new stuff out.. =)

Merry Christmas!!

Opening a gift from his aunt N.

I know this post is a little late in coming, but we have been very busy! Last week it seemed all we did was go, go, go! But as the year comes to end we are enjoying a little more family time. C was laid off for the week, and all though its not good for the budget its great for me and Z! We miss him when he is gone at work all day! So for the rest of this year (isn't that still fun to say even as we get older?) at least he will be home!
So last week was Christmas and it was great! We started off Christmas eve at my parents house for the Johnson family Christmas, which i always love because i don't get to see any of them nearly often enough. Z had a blast playing with his cousins, and it was the first time as the last time he saw them it was Easter and he wasn't really at an age where he could play yet so this we a real thrill for him. We didn't get home until late (close to midnight) so it was right to bed until Christmas morning! This was the first year that C and i have ever done Christmas morning just us and Z of course, so it was really fun. We all had breakfast and then tore into the presents =) I am a huge fan of Christmas and a giver at that so C and Z made out like bandits! I got a couple of great gifts from my wonderful husband too which i am very grateful for. I got an ihome this year so i finally have a radio! i am very big on having some kind of background noise on nearly all the time so for the longest time it has been the TV but now we are listening to alot more music and Z loves to dance! We spent the whole day together which was my favorite gift of all! The next day i cleaned and packed to get ready to head down to C's parents for the weekend. That was a blast as always! I got to finish an entire book! Have i mentioned how much i love my mother in law? She is really great! Z also had his first ice cream cone down there which you can tell by the pic below he loved!

Enjoying some ice cream...

The kiddo also got some quality time in with his puppies =) all in all it was an amazing Christmas spent with an even more amazing family.

Christmas~time is Here...

This past weekend we went to my parents house for Christmas, and it was great! My mom and i shopped in TC until about 9pm which is funny if you know that we planned on being back to her house by about 1 or 2 in the afternoon.. haha.. But we had a blast! Z did great, we rented one of those cars at the mall and he rode in that nearly the whole time, when he got crabby i let him watch The Backyardigans on my Ipod which i had handy just for that reason. It was so cute that we decided to take a picture, which we immediately got in trouble for, turns out you can't take pictures in the mall, especially in front of the jewelry stores! oops. =) we did get the shot though but its on my moms camera.. After a while Z fell asleep which was so funny because he was still sitting straight up, i had to put my moms jacket next to him and lean him over so he could really sleep. Too cute.

After we got back we wrapped all the presents and had some great family time. I miss that, we don't really get to see my family all that often. The next morning we woke up and had a great family breakfast (with only a few mishaps..) then we opened presents! I love watching the joy on everyones faces when they see what they got. Its not just about getting stuff to me, its about seeing what the other person thinks you would like, i really put alot of thought into gifts that i give most of the time. Its a reflection of a lot of things to me. But i did get some really great things (thanks family =) And i was just overall very blessed to get spend time with my mom and dad, and my sister and future brother in law, and of course my amazing husband and my hilariously adorable son.

Above are a couple of the family photos we took. Every year i like to try and get a few, whether or not they turn out is a whole different story... getting everyone outside, dressed nice, and looking happy is something like pulling teeth i would imagine.. haha..

Zeke

Just a couple of shots of Z i thought were too cute to pass up =)

Just a quick update to let you know that i have not in fact fallen off the face of the planet =)
Things are getting better around here, i am getting better.. well emotionally anyways.. I am so thankful for the wonderful family that i have and the great friends that i get to spend my time with. Things could be ALOT worse that's for sure.. so thanks to all of you who have taken the time just to care, it means more to me than you know.
On to better things, the kiddo has a new favorite person (?) and word, Elmo.. couldn't come at a better time actually as i let C talk me into getting him the Elmo Live for Christmas, he actually chose to watch an Elmo DVD [that we borrowed from our wonderful neighbor] over Sponge bob, which is a HUGE deal! haha, I'm actually pretty excited that he is choosing the more educational show for once! Oh something that i am pretty excited about and anyone who doesn't like TV as much as i do look away now, i am going to get a Tivo for us, i really took time to think about it, which i never do... and decided that i would be a good investment for us. Now there will be no more arguments over me choosing TV over other things (to be fair its not all TV in general, i just have my shows and i don't like to miss them... ) and i can save the educational cartoons for Z so that if he really wants to watch something when nothing is on then i am set! Okay i really ought to get off here since this was just supposed to be a quick update! And we are going to be running late for Church!

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

It has been snowing here almost non-stop it seems.. The first few days of snow were wonderful, we were able to go out and play in the snow and the kids and i both loved it! However, this week (and the week before...) we have not been able to go out at all, we have tried, but the poor kiddos can't walk in such deep snow so they fall face first and get mad because they can't get up in all their snow gear! (sound familiar?) It would be so funny to watch if they weren't so mad about it! So we have been spending most of our days inside.. okay all of our days! We were able to make it out to the library the other day but other than some weekend shopping we have cooped up in this house for too long! I think it may be starting to get to me... i have been pretty restless this week,,, i have the urge to just run.. However Doctors orders are i must rest.... that's a while different story that i would write about if i even knew what the heck was going on! however.. i don't... but i will let you all know as soon as i do.. whenever that may be..... So for now i am off to talk with my husband, at least if i am going to be inside i can have some adult conversation!

Busy Days....

I can't believe it has been a month since i have been on here! I guess we've just been busy!! Doing alot of Christmas shopping, which i love! some people don't care for it but i find nothing more enjoyable than being able to pick out the perfect gift for someone i love. Shopping for Z has been a blast too, i know we are overdoing it and i don't care! Is that bad? haha.. i just want to be able to give my son everything, and since i know that we will have more (at least one) kids in the future i know most of the stuff will get tons of use! I have had all my decorations up since just before Thanksgiving and my tree up since the day after... I love the holidays!!

Thanksgiving was not what i was really hoping for but at least we got to see family. I had really hoped to be able to see my family this year but no such luck, however i do love my in-laws very much so it was still a good holiday.. My mother in law bought a HUGE turkey to feed 4 people and a toddler and made a roast to go with it! However since we did celebrate at our house i got to do at least some of the cooking!!! (if you knew my mother in law you would know what a treat that is =) The following day we were able to visit with my brother in law and his fiance which was nice, J and i went to TC and did some shopping which i can never get enough of!! Then Sunday we went out and got our Christmas tree! I think i will take a cue from a dear friend (yes you =) and post a picture on here, that is if i can get my son to leave the decorations alone!!! The first few days he did very well just looking, but as time goes on he becomes bolder and now he will just look at me and pull them off!! So none are in the same place as i put them! Oh well, someday i am sure i will look back and wish he was still that small... He is just getting so big and getting to the point where he is adding words to his vocabulary at least every week, the other day C and i took him to the library and he said Bee & Bird, He also started bending his knees a little and saying ready then running all the way across the room, it is hilarious! Oh he also closes his eyes super tight now when he is being shy or nervous, or if you tell him its time for "night night" but only if he is super tired.. The other day i had a Doc. appt and i took him with me, when they had to take my blood pressure Z got so mad at the lady he was screaming and hitting her and trying to take off the cuff, it was adorable! haha, he was trying to protect his mommy,, My sweet boy! He is just the greatest.

18 months..

Somehow we went from this,

To this, in only 18 short months.

Z had his 18 month check up yesterday and he is doing great! He weighed in at 23lbs 10 1/2 oz and 32 3/8 inches.. Oh and just for the record, he is in the 20th percentile for weight, 50th for height, and 60th for his head..He has always had a big head. =) He had to have a couple shots, which i hate only because now i have to hold him still.. It gives me flashbacks from when i was a kid, i specifically remember getting out of the room and running down the hall before someone caught me then my mom holding me.. I wasn't a big fan of the needle.. Then i grew up and i now i give blood on a regular basis.. haha.. how things have changed! I just can't believe that my little baby boy is already 18 months old. They love him at the doctors office, other than crying when he gets poked he is just a little (okay big) bundle of smiles and laughs for the nurses and the doctor! Oh he does have eczema which is no good..Its just one little spot behind his knee, But we picked up some eucerin creme on the way home and C put it on last night and it already looks 90% better!

Here Comes the Snow!

The Snow is officially here!!! And we are having the time of our lives!! Z and R and I have been outside sledding for the past two days, and could not be having more fun! These two love the snow! The little hill outside our house it turning out to be one of the best things about this place, in the spring and summer when Z was too small to listen it kept him from going too far away and now that winter is here it is proving to be the perfect sledding hill for the kiddos! It's just the right height that they can climb all the way up and slide down all on their own.. However we only have one sled so that is on the list of things we need now, i would like to have a couple more so that when we have play dates everyone can sled, I also need to find some snow pants for Z, he has been going out in jeans the past two days i just have to limit the time we are out there and change his pants as soon as we get inside! Its still worth it though! And nap time seems to be lasting a little longer too! Other than the snow fun we have been having there are no other updates.. Z has his 18month checkup this week which i am not looking forward to.. But other than that we are just having fun!

Playground Fun...

Just a couple more pictures from out adventures outside before the snow... There is little playground just a short walk from the house that up until a couple months ago didn't really offer much for the kiddos, but as they have gotten bigger they can now hold their own and play with the bigger kids... But the favorite is the slide!

The last of the snowfree days...

The snow is officially here!!! I Love Snow! There is after all a reason (aside from all my lovely friends and family) that i live here! But before we get into that i wanted to share a few pics from the last couple of weeks when we had the most amazing weather, all leading up of course to snow.. =) Z and i were lucky enough to make it to the park a couple of times and the lighting was just right for some really great pictures.. I didn't get all the shots i wanted but it was tons of fun none the less! Z is really discovering his love of swings and slides,, a little too late i am afraid but there is all sorts of new stuff to look forward to! But for now i think all he wants is some lunch so i am off to cook!

A walk in the park..

A couple of weeks ago we decided to start taking weekly walks down by the waterfront, it didn't last long because the cold came too fast, but it was still fun! Z is so great about staying with us (most of the time) and we had some great photo ops =) The one of us under the willow tree is my absolute favorite! I love willow trees, when we do eventually buy a house we will have to have one, even if i have to plant it myself.. And as anyone who knows me knows, i am not much of a gardener... haha..

So on our first walk through the park, Z had his first drink from a water fountain which was the most adorable thing ever, he loved it! C took a video of it but you don't get to see Z smile and laugh after he gets some water..

Hayride at Bills

I guess you could call this a belated blog.. =) We took Z on his first ever hayride last month!! It was so much fun! We Got there just in time to hop on the wagon and i expected Z to run around like a mad man but he was so good! He sat on mine and C's laps through almost the whole thing and he kept looking around checking out the beautiful scenery, and it was beautiful! We even got to stop and see some cows which Z loved! When we got back to the farmers market Z got to pick out a pumpkin and have some apple cider. He loved it there, actually we all did.. It was just so much fun for something so simple. I think it will be a yearly tradition now! I only ever went a couple of times as a kid that i remember anyways. Check back soon for more on our adventures!

Oh how time flies...

This is a pic from our hayride which i promise to write all about tomorrow!

I feel like it has been forever since i have had a chance to get on here... Time really does fly.. (and i am having fun =) We all got sick, again, some kind of stomach bug.. i would not wish that on anyone,, it was awful enough for me but i felt even worse for Z.. Poor kiddo.. But we are all better now!! Gearing up for the holiday season!! YAY! I am the BIGGEST fan of Christmas!! I look forward to it all year! Maybe even more than summer which is really saying something because i do love summer! I can't believe we already have snow on the ground.. It always makes me so excited! At the same time i am nervous because that also means a whole lot of time inside with the kiddos.. at least this year we can go out, even if just for short periods of time... I am looking forward to taking the kids sledding down the hill and teaching them how to make snowmen! And i am resisting every urge to get my Christmas decorations out,, which is not easy when i see the snow.. But i have a tradition that i like to keep,, the day after Thanksgiving we always go and get our tree then i decorate it.. I think when Z gets old enough that he would be able to help that i will have to get him his own tree to decorate,,, ha ha,, i am just too picky for my own good... it only took C a couple of years before he figured out i would rather do it all on my own...

But before all the wonderfulness of Christmas, we have Thanksgiving! I really feel that it should be all about the big family get together but this year we are doing it here, and it will just be us and C's parents.. not all that exciting but i am grateful for the family that we can be with. The next day though, we will be headed up for the sault to visit with A & J (my brother in law and his fiance). Oh on a side note, no more Mexico trip for us =( A & J decided to get married here instead, because her father couldn't make the trip.. Which from a financial standpoint its a relief but at the same time i am still bummed.. Okay, i had better get some reading time in before the kiddos get up from naps and the chaos starts all over again! But i will be back tomorrow.. i always forget how much i enjoy this until i get back to it!

.....

So its been a long couple of weeks, since C got out of the hospital we have all gotten sick, C a few different times.. Then we were just exhausted.. But things are starting to pick up again and with them my mood! We went to our first ever wed night service at Harbor Light and we really enjoyed it! I wasn't sure what to expect but it was very small and they had several groups for discussion at the end which i didn't really get into too much but i think i will be able to warm up a little more over the next few weeks as we plan to go every week now. Oh and they had nursery for Z which i love! They open up two rooms so there is tons of space to play and there were quite a few other kids in there which made it all the better for Z, he really needs to spend time with other kids, he does see R almost every weekday now but she is more like a sister at this point so the excitement comes and goes.... Z did start doing something new though, he holds his finger up to his lips and goes shhhh... =) too cute, he learned that from Lorelei a little girl he has play dates with every once in a while.. they are only two days apart so they are very close in alot of things.. All though she talks alot more than Z, he knows words but he just chooses not to say them.. It drives me crazy! I am too much of a worrier... i need to work on that! Anyways things are going very well and i feel like they are just going to keep getting better!!!