Am I Nuts??

The pictures say enough....

Only a week late!

Ok...so I said I was going to post pictures after the festivities died down on Saturday...but I got lazy. After we opened presents, we went food shopping and then just hung out around the house. Josh played with his new toys and had a lot of fun. He really likes the Toodee Yo Gabba Gabba doll and his basketball/basketball hoop. We took him to Red Robin for his birthday dinner and Grandma(my mom) and Charlie came too! I think the highlight of his time there was that they gave him a balloon.

Here are some pictures of the day:
Being goofy---and wearing daddy's hat. He SO doesn't look like a little baby anymore in this picture!

Presents!
Patiently waiting so mommy can get some good shots!

Finally!! What could it be???
Toodee!
He loves sidewalk chalk...or as he calls them...Color!
New books! Hooray for me!!
First thing he did was dump all the tools and little pieces...was this a good idea??
Playing with his new toys.
Shooting some hoops!
Getting some much needed cuddle time with mommy!

His cake.
What all people do when a cake is put in front of them...
He would not let go of his balloon.

What he thought of the cake that night! haha. He had a lot of food so he really didn't eat his cake and ice cream.

He liked it the next night though!!

Josh is TWO!

I knew this day was going to come....I didn't try to stop it or anything, though I did ask him to stop growing up so quickly...but my little boy is TWO!! Joshua Christoffer is TWO! I remember it like it was yesterday laying in the hospital making decisions as to what we were going to do...I knew in my heart of hearts walking into the hospital that day that he was not going to be a natural birth. I had done enough research to know that the chances of a successful induction with my circumstances were slim to none...but I went in anyway. I wanted my healthy boy in my arms one way or the other. Josh was cut out of me (I say cut, because I did not push him out or anything, so yeah he was born or whatever..but let's be honest, they cut him out of me) at 7:31am on March 14. I would get to spend the entire day with him!! I think I met him more around 8ish though. I had to be put under for the c-section, so when I finally woke up, the first thing I wanted was my baby. He was my little piece of heaven on earth right from the start.

I am not going to say it has always been easy. From months 14-18 he was REALLY difficult...to the point where I said I wasn't going to have anymore kids...but he is my sweet, smart, adorable little boy still now...even going into his "terrible twos". Sure, he has his tantrums and melt downs....and he hits me a lot...but he cracks me up and warms my soul much more that the bad times.

Just the other day I was in the kitchen, and he pushed one of his chairs from his playroom into the kitchen, sat down with his blanket and milk and read a book. I don't know why this moment in time has warmed my heart so much but I can't stop thinking about it. Maybe its because I REALLY wanted him to like books (and he resisted for a really long time) or that he looked so grown up pretending to read...either way I smiled and had to give him a big hug.

He probably gets sick of me telling him I love him a million times a day....or all the hugs and kisses...but I REALLY want him to be a sweet, loving little boy. I don't want him to be mean or hurtful to anyone....I avert him sometimes by giving him lots of hugs and kisses....I try to teach him that if he wants to hit someone, to hug them instead! Sometimes it works!!

He REALLY likes the TV show Yo Gabba Gabba. In the last month he has REALLY started picking up words....so we hear Yo Gabba Gabba about a million and a half times everyday. He also lists out the characters in the show...Tuti, Plex (which is really cute when he says it), and sometimes he will say Muno...there are two other characters Fufa and Brobey...but he doesnt say their names as much.

Patric and I are so happy to have Josh in our lives. He taught us that we needed to have family prayer. One night, he told us to sit down and he folded his arms. So we went with it...and now we say them every night. He ALWAYS folds his arms before eating...so we say prayers before ALL our meals too. He is closer to heaven than I am, and teaches me that the basics are very important.

He loves sports...especially basketball. If he sees a ball, he says it over and over again and reaches for the ball. We got him a bball hoop and a bball for his birthday this year. It has been in our garage for a month now. It has been VERY tempting to pull it out to give to him, especially on some of the really nice warm weather days...but we didnt. Patric is dying to see his reaction. We also got him a tool set, a Tuti Yo Gabba Gabba doll, some sidewalk chalk and some books. His great grandma (Patric's grandma) wired some money over for Josh's birthday, so we are going to take him over to Target so he can pick out something special from her.

All in all, we love our little boy so much and could not have asked for a better son. He is funny, adorable, sweet, spiritual and so much more. We thank our Heavenly Father everyday for the gift he gave us.

We will take pictures of him today opening his presents and eating cake and post them later.

Snow, an Anniversary and a new nephew!!

Man---what an exciting week we have had! First---we actually got some snow! In our area, we got about 6 inches. It was the nice powder snow...great to look at, not great to sled on. Josh wanted to make a snowman, but we couldn't even do that!

Patric and I celebrated our 5th anniversary today. I can't believe we have been married for five years! It has had its fair share of ups and downs...but we have grown closer with each down and enjoy the ups even more! Not only did we celebrate our anniversary on the 6th, but Megan (my sister) decided it was time to have her baby...on our anniversary! To see pictures of baby Phoenix visit their blog...www.dealfamilyblog.com . Patric and I went up to see the baby before we went to Old Town Alexandria for our date. It was nice to see Megan so glowing and happy. Her delivery with Phoenix was much less exhausting than Sage...and he seems to be very different from Sage (at least that is what Gregg says).

The economy sucks. And I HATE it. I feel so bad for those struggling. I mean, we do not have it easy, we work hard for what we have, but we have so much. I am truly grateful for all I have. More than anything, I am grateful to have family (all over the world) and friends.
Our mailbox. See swedes...we get snow too!

Patric and Josh attempting to make a snowman. Patric gave up soon after, when he said the snow wasn't packing right.
My cute boy. I can't get over how cute and grown up he is getting. He will be two next Saturday! He insisted on wearing my scarf that day too! The boy is getting opinions.
Carlie is Josh's best friend. He does NOT stop talking about her, and loves her so much. Carlie was brave enough to jump in the sled with him. She quickly got back out after the hugs got a little rough.
Patric rarely picks up the camera to take pictures...but I guess he thought that this was a cute shot of Josh and I reading on the couch. Josh LOVES books now...and for that I am grateful. I thought he would never allow us to read to him.

Josh realizing that daddy is taking pictures.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This Valentine's Day was filled with stuff to do. First, Patric woke up early to go pick up wood from a very nice guy who gives us wood for free...we just go pick it up whenever we need it. Gotta love Craigslist!! On his way to go pick up the wood, he gets a call from our friend Brad, who says that they need Patric to go play basketball at the church. So--with the trailer attached to the camry that we are borrowing from my stepdad, he makes his trek over to the church to play some ball. Unfortunately, they were playing down a man so they lost by 12 points...but not bad for four on five! A guy playing basketball on Patric's team said that he would help Patric haul the wood if he stayed to finish the game...so after the game Patric got help, and a big truck, and went over to get the wood. We got A LOT of split wood...which I am sure Patric is forever grateful for. He has had to split a lot of wood this winter to heat our home. Wish the guy would have told us before that he had a splitter!! Oh well...

After putting the wood away, we got some lunch at Jerry's subs and pizza and just relaxed while Josh took a nap. Our friend Brad came over and it was nice to just sit and chat with him for awhile. We haven't hung out with him because Kami is in Utah with her family for a little over two weeks. We were having withdrawals! After Brad left, we put a movie on for Josh, and we buzzed Patric's hair. FINALLY! I have to say...I was getting sick of the hair. I was trying to be a good sport about it...but it is nice to have my man back again. I am not sure if I will be so allowing the next time he has a desire to grow his hair out....

While Patric was getting the wood, I went food shopping and prepared for tonight's feast. Since our anniversary is so close to Valentine's Day, and I knew that we had somewhere special planned for our anniversary, I didn't want to go through the hassle of a babysitter and crowds for Valentine's Day---plus I wanted to do something nice for Patric. I picked up some sushi (which was my first time eating it, and it was pretty good), some nice steaks, asparagas, caesar salad, bread, a fancy bernaise butter, potatoes, chocolate to make chocolate dipped strawberries and pudding to make a chocolate cream pie. IT WAS A LOT OF FOOD!! We were not able to finish the food...and haven't even made it to dessert...but we get yummy leftovers and a much cheaper dinner than if we went out...all in the comfort of our own home...right in front of the fireplace and window...we got the best seat in the house!

I highly recommend planning a yummy meal at home, especially if money is tight, after the kids go to bed and enjoy time with your significant other. It is easy to fall into routine and habit...and sometimes it is nice to change things up a bit.

Now, I am blogging and Patric is relaxing...and if we get enough room in our bellies before bedtime we will be snacking on some strawberries...I think the pie will have to wait until tomorrow or Monday.

I almost forgot!

Patric ordered me roses from Proflowers.com to be delivered! He has never done that before, and the roses are beautiful. They came in a really cool red vase too! He also got me chocolates and a snoopy holding the Whitman's sampler. I think he is trying to fatten me up again or something with all this chocolate!! I got him two bags of his favorite Lindt chocolates to go along with his meal.

Though it was a rocky beginning to Valentine's Day, it was a nice finish. I am grateful to have such a loving man in my life.

And here are some pictures of our set up!

All the yummy food!
It was a true feast!
mmmm steak!
Yay for haircuts!!
I look tired! I do not have any make up on!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Snow Day!!

I was so excited for the chance of snow that I could not sleep well the night before it snowed. I woke up at 4am hoping snow was on the ground...and around 7am the flakes started falling. I swear snow makes me feel like a kid again! I remember missing school and going sledding with my brothers and sisters and also the neighborhood friends. It was so fun! Also--drinking hot chocolate and eating popcorn...best combination ever!

My sister and I decided it would be fun to take Josh and Sage over to my mom's house for some sledding and fun. They are definitely our children because the first thing they did was start throwing snowballs. Josh would NOT stop eating the snow and Sage had fun doing snow angels. If I had video of her doing them, I would post it. It was pretty funny actually. They enjoyed sledding, with the help of Charlie.

Patric left work a little early so that he could spend time with Josh in the snow too! So I was able to pull out the camera again and take some shots at night....and I was also able to get some shots of Josh and I!

Here are some pictures of the day:
I can only assume he is catching snowflakes? Or doing a dance??
mmm snow!
The kids loved sledding. Charlie was nice enough to pull them around.
Choosing the next piece of snow to eat.
Poor Josh being smooshed by Sage and Charlie!
Sledding with daddy!
Sledding with mommy!

Playing catch up!!

I am constantly playing catch up with this blog! I try really hard to stay on top of it, but then an entire month goes by and I haven't loaded any pictures or written. My apologies!! From the last time I wrote, Patric had a birthday, Christmas and New Years happened and Josh turned 22 months.

For Patric's birthday, we got a babysitter, courtesy of Cassie. We went out to dinner and a movie...something I am not sure we have EVER done since being together. We also had my whole family, with the exception of one brother, over for Patric and my mom's birthdays. I made swedish meatballs, and assigned the rest of the food out to people. I sat for two hours making the meatballs by hand, but they were great and we had tons of left overs too!

Christmas was good, but also made me feel a little sad...this year really made me realize that I need to have more kids to have more of that kid like joy in my home...because unfortunately, I don't have the same excitement anymore!!

This New Year's we had fun with friends...what better way to ring in the new year but with people you love? We spent time with Anthrea and Andy, Brad and Kami, and even Megan and Gregg stopped by for awhile. Anthrea is pregnant with her first kid, so I was really excited to be with her for a little of her pregnancy. They moved to NC and Andy is going to Iraq in February.

Josh is officially 22 months...almost 2 years old!! Where has the time gone? It still feels like yesterday that I was working full time at American Disposal and pregnant with him.

Now is picture time!!
We had Brad, Kami, Joe, Liese, Corbin, Josh and Alice over for some cake for Patric's birthday.
Ella patiently waiting for some cake.
Liese, Josh and Brad's enormous tongue!
Christmas eve---I know this because we have presents in our stockings...and we open our stockings on Christmas eve.
Santa came!! We must have been very good this year!!
Josh riding his new big wheel! He doesnt quite get it yet, but I thought the bike was so cute and he is too!
I never really put too many pictures of myself on this blog...this is a self portrait taken a few days ago. Josh was done with me trying to take pictures of him and I...oh well!!