"Camping"

Q has been pretty into the idea of camping, campfires, tents, etc. lately (thank you TV). Since we're still a ways off from being able to go camping around here (COME ON WARM WEATHER!!) we haven't been able to accommodate his desire to go. UNTIL Shawn had a bit of a genius/crazy idea. Sunday he decided we'd drive over to the Leavenworth area where we could hopefully find the sun and maybe find a little campsite and have lunch and a campfire. It stopped raining about 5-10 minutes before we hit Leavenworth, and what do you know- it was sunny! Miracle! I even took my jacket off! We decided to pull into a little park with a playground we've been to before, right as you get into town. We let the kids play and run around for awhile.

 Then we packed back in the car to head to a campground. Well, it was all closed. And there were trees down all over the place. Either there was a terrible storm, or they're taking down trees on purpose. It was a mess. And also, did I mention, closed? Well a little thing like that doesn't stop Shawn. We pulled the car over next to a spot by the road and drug our lunch supplies and such over. We spent about and hour & 1/2 having some pb&j sandwiches (Archer ate at least 1 & 1/2 by himself then just held on to one while he walked around) then roasted a couple marshmallows for a sorta smore (no choco). Q loved it, and it made me so excited to take him camping. Archer on the other hand just liked to get up on the picnic bench, then back down. Then up. Then down. Also, keeping him away from the fire (we even had the huge baby gate up around most of it) was a bit exhausting. And doing something like having a fire at a closed campground makes me all nervous and anxious. BUT, I'm glad Shawn made us do it. If it were up to me we'd never do anything fun.

I think I'm ready for camping this summer. It's going to be so much fun with the kids, if not a little stressful. But I really do love camping so I'm very excited. Anyone else love camping?

I'm still alive!

Keeping up with blogging is, like, hard. You know, because of reasons.

Here's something I never blogged about, from NOVEMBER! We had pictures taken with Kipper Photography when she was doing some mini sessions. I can't even tell you how excited I was. These marked the first time all four of us were in a picture together. It's just craziness it took almost a year after Archer was born for that to happen. And crazy it took me so long to get them up to share!

I mean. Come. On.

I'd like to explain what's happening with my hair, but I just don't know.

Oh, that's just Q being THE MOST ADORABLE BOY EVER!

A little distance helps not see the doofy face I'm making

I don't know what I'm doing with my tongue. I mean, really. What's my problem. Still, this is kinda the winner anyway.

It was a cold, rainy day. The little guys were all red faced and I was grumpy. But I am just so, so happy to have these pictures. Care is so great, and I really hope I can have her take some pictures of us again in the future. (And hopefully she won't have to spend the whole day in the rain!)

I leave you with one last picture:

Happy Birthday Shawn!!

Okay, so Shawn's birthday was the other day (I think he likes to be secretive of his birthday, so we'll be vague) but we're going out tonight to celebrate so this works.

I'm gonna try to not be to sappy here. I suck with words and feelings anyway, so the best I'd be able to do is spout out song lyrics, and nobody wants that. BUT what I will say is, this guy? He's kinda the best.

Being all reverend-y and stuff

A small list of reasons why:
He only makes fun of me on about half of the occasions he could.
He's funny like whoa.
He's smarter than me. And probably you. And that guy too. But he never makes people feel stupid. He's not one of those showoff-y smarty pants kind of guys.
He is RIDICULOUSLY inappropriate. It's awesome and hilarious. Well except when I find out he's been talking about my lady parts to his female co-workers. Really Shawn? Really?
He rewinds the TV so I can take a picture of Joey with the Turkey on his head and Instagram it (even though he doesn't "get" instagram. (I think he thinks it's stupid. So see, he's not perfect.) )
He's the best dad our little guys could ever hope to have.
And a bunch of other junk about being sweet and kind and blah blah blah  ; )

Shawn, I know you'll probably read this eventually, so I love you sweet baby! (everyone else pretend you didn't read that.) Happy 50th Birthday!! (You're not the only one that can make jokes, chuckles.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to share this "Handburger" Q made me. I have no idea why he was calling it that, and it caused a lot of confusion in the car trying to figure out what he so desperately wanted to show me.



It was RIDICULOUSLY hard to get him to stand still. But look how proud!



This silly little guy, his baby brother & my awesome husband give me an awful lot to be thankful for. 

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Life, lately

So much going on, who knows where to start. I'm a bad enough writer anyway, but everything I want to write about is more of a jumble in my head than usual. Know what I am good at? LISTS! *With jazz hands!*

-No internet at home, which is the main reason for no blogging lately. See also, Comcast can suck it.

-Okay, I'm really lazy which is the real reason for no blogging. I could blog a little from my phone (which I'm doing now) or take my laptop to work if I wasn't so lazy.

-Also the laptop needs a new battery and we just haven't gotten around to it since we aren't using it much (See no internet at home)

-Both Shawn and I have hurt ourselves in the last few months (Actually I guess mine was in like Feb or March. huh)  I messed up my back and Shawn torn some muscles in his calf. That kind of stuff makes life crazy. In other news, WE LOVE PAINKILLERS!!! Haha, kidding. Sorta.

-Archer is getting too big, too fast. We have: 5 teeth coming through, he's sitting up, pulling up to stand all the time, sleeping in his own crib in his room finally, tells jokes (runs his binkie against the crib rails, while it's in his mouth, and laughs), is very attached to mama right now, screeching very very loudly, eating foods finally! He's about 19lbs (25-50 percentile), and very tall/long- I think it was 29in (97 percentile I believe), w/ a small-ish head (25th percentile). Mostly though, like his big brother (see also: his favorite person in the world), he's just a sweet, smiley, happy baby. Boy do I love that little pink lump (Shawn's weird terms of endearment are clearly rubbing off on me.)

-Q is talk, talk, talking up a storm. Current favorites: I hold da babe (Translation: I'll hold my baby), I don't want it (Said when food is presented he does not approve of, or if he doesn't want to do something that's been asked of him), Oh Shit! (we're working on getting rid of that one, lol. Replacement therapy in process to change to Oh shoot!), Cuddle mama! (I mean COME ON!), I find it!, Listen (Okay, that's just one word, but the way he says it when he hears something and he wants us to hear it to? So cute!), and just a bunch of other cute stuff. He tries very hard to make sure he is saying things correctly, so he'll repeat them over and over until he gets it right. He's still pretty sweet and affectionate, giving us run by hugs and kisses all the time. And we have not yet entered full blown toddler madness yet, so that's awesome. Cause I'm so, so scared to reach that stage.

-My mom is finally moving into our house. I think. So the next few weeks will be utter madness. I'm trying not to stress too much, but well... I'm stressed.

-This week/weekend is BlogHer and holy overloaded twitter and instagram feeds! Honestly though I actually like seeing the updates and living vicariously through everyone else. I don't know that I would ever have the guts to go to something like that, or really a good reason. But it's fun to see everyone else go.

-We have finally had some pretty decent days here in the PNW weather wise, and we are trying to take advantage of it. Mostly our big thing is sticking to the plan of getting the boys out to a park of some kind for a good long walk and bit of exploring. It's been pretty fun and am enjoying discovering new parks all over.

Whew! I think that's all I can manage for now. Hopefully I can get the laptop battery replaced soon, get some pictures uploaded and actually up on the blog. Maybe. Possibly?
Haha! Happy Friday dearies!

A lovely long weekend

I had a couple extra days off work around memorial day and Shawn had the Friday before off, so we decided to take a little day trip up north. We stopped first in Mount Vernon to walk around a little and so that I could feed Archer. Q was being adorable and having a good ole time waking along with us, checking things out. But, note to self: bookstores with a 2 yr old? Um, perhaps not. At least, not if I want to actually look for books.

Starting the car trip by reading sweetly in the car

Yeah, we leash him. So what? He doesn't love being the stroller and he likes to run.

Checking out the River

Playing "piano" on the boardwalk

After we'd walked around for awhile we hopped back in the car and continued on north to Deception Pass State Park. We spent and hour or two on the beach throwing rocks in the water and squealing over how cold it was. And by we I mean Q. Okay fine, me too. Q just had a ball. I mean, I'm sure most 2 year olds love being outside exploring, gathering, playing. But seeing his joy is such a good reminder to make sure we get out at every chance possible. Trying to make sure we at least get one good long walk every weekend.

Having a snack before setting off to play

I caught a little cuddle ; )

Deception Pass Bridge

Failed attempt at a picture with Archer

Bonding

Ignore me- Look at that EPIC Archie Stink Face. OMG!

Inspecting rocks. Also Q would like the hold the rock he's sitting on. "Hold it mama!"

One last failed atempt

Oh, well that's pretty cute

It was really a pretty perfect day. Perfect weather & happy kids. I'd like a repeat every weekend please and thank you.

Wordless(ish) Wednesday: 3rd Anniversary!

Three years ago today I married this sweet boy

He makes me giggle

He mostly pretends to listen when I'm blabbing

He understands how much I love cake and mostly trusts me not to bite his hand off

He's a good smoocher

And a good hugger

He doesn't mind that I'm a goof ball. At least, I don't think he does

He likes my crazy friends

Even when they tell a room full of people embarrassing stories about his new bride

I guess his friends are okay too

Let's not talk about crazy families ; )

Smooches

 from your super cool wife 




LOVE YOU!!!!

Linking up with The Paper Mama

Wordless(ish) Wednesday: New Pool!

Sunday morning we went out to the store to get a pool for Q since it was supposed to be so nice out. It's pretty dang fancy. And even though the water was freezing, he had a ball.

Down you go!

Archer had fun chillin in the shade chatting and screeching

Hey! Who said you could get so big?! Please note the shovel which must come to bed with him every night now. 

Linking up with The Paper Mama