Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year, New Beginning?

Every year around this time everyone starts to think about changes they can make for the New Year.  When the calendar clock starts over again it gives people the gusto to try and make new promises and habits for themselves.  I am no different.  I have been struggling with organization.  In a BIG way.  I think the true challenge with it, is to organize and area or space and then keep up with other daily chores and keep the new changes up so you don't slide back.  I really do know that this is easier said then done, but also that it is possible.

I found an awesome tool on http://pinterest.com/, where else?!  I am obssesed with Pintrest lately!  So while browsing a bit for today I came across this...


A new challenge will be posted on their site every Monday, so to give me time to accomplish/ attempt the challenge I will post on Friday the results.  The first week is Kitchen Counter Tops and Sinks!  My counters become the dumping ground for a lot of stuff, I'm pretty sure you can relate.  See you next week Friday with the results!

Happy Organizing!
The Mrs.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Most of you will not be surprised this happened to me.....

Yesterday we had a very awesome day, we celebrated Thanksgiving!  It worked better for everyone's schedules to do it Friday instead, and it really worked out well.  We had lots of time to enjoy good food and good family.  As a result of Black Friday shopping and a full day of family fun, we are all a bit tired.  But Mr.Levi somehow woke up on cue this morning.....

So, I went down stairs to make a bottle for him. I got him all situated and then I was going to grab a drink of water. 

But first , because I wear night and day wear contacts I needed to put my eye drops in.  Someday's when I wake up my eyes just stick until I put drops in.  Well, it just so happened that I had a bottle of drops in my fleece that I was wearing last night.  So I pulled it out of my pocket and went for some eye relief.  A few drops in each eye usually.  But.....

when I went to switch to the other eye, something was not right about the bottle....


Yup, Purely Pomegranate Stamp'n Up ink!

I pretty much freaked out, I grabbed a towel in the kitchen and pressed it on my eye to hopefully blot out a majority of it.


The big spot on the upper left is the stuff I blotted out.  Then I grabbed my bottle of the real eye drops and started to flush my eye.  That's the rest of the color that you see on the towel.  At one point I stopped and looked at my eye and it looked like a crazy villain from the movies eye!

When I felt I got a good amount of ink out I took my contact out.


My colored contact next to my regular contact.  Then after I took out the contact, I flushed my eye some more.  It surprisingly didn't hurt or sting as much as I thought it would.  So for a few days I'll be wearing my glasses.  At least it was time to change my contacts any way.

But I really couldn't believe I did that.  I don't know why I'm surprised though, because most people that know me well, know that these types of issues happen to me all the time.

But REALLY. INK. oye......


-The Mrs.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Anything that makes you happy....

It is no secret to most that Levi had a bit of rough time at first adjusting to the outside world.  There were so many things that were not done "by the book."  With your first child everything has to be just so, you follow every instruction given to you by doctors and think that any other way is wrong.  I was one that did just that.  Avery was a by the book baby.  Now, when Levi came around, I thought, "Well, I'll just do things the same way. It worked the first time.  I /we survived the first year of baby until Avery became a toddler."

WRONG!!!!

The thing I didn't know ( even though people had told me....) is that Levi, would be nothing like Avery.

**Grandma's stop snickering at me.... ;) ** 

So with Levi I had to learn the ( hmm, what to call it...)  "Parenting on the Fly" approach.  Levi slept in a bouncer seat sitting on a footstool next to my bed for the first 4 months or so. He just would not sleep in his cradle. This way I could hang my arm over the bed and bounce him at any moment. I had to nurse him twice as often, Avery was every three hours, by the book. :)  I also let him hold /play with toys I probably never would have let Avery.  Levi being a colicky baby I would try anything so he didn't scream all day long.

So, on this particular day I was walking around with him, trying to get something done. He just wasn't having it if I put him down.  When I started the washer I saw a twinkle in his eye that gave me an idea.


There, what do you think about that Levi?!


A boy, his washer, a tea cup, football and toy Dilly bar.


He was happy ( I know your thinking he doesn't look that thrilled, but compared to the previous part of the day, it was happy) I was happy, and the bonus.... laundry got done.  The adventures of parenting, it will always surprise you!

-The Mrs.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Little Brother Mischief

This little girl and her brother were playing so nice in their room together.  Levi found some toys he liked and Avery decided to play dress up.


Her bears also got dressed up for some princess fun!
Now it was time for princess lessons...


......how to make sure your crown is placed just so,


and that your pretty top is buttoned up perfectly.


Now these princess bears were ready for their photo op with princess Avery, wait a minute....


Here comes Levi, showing awesome little brother skill, he knows just when to strike.


It seems it is programmed in little boys to bother their sisters in such a way that always pushes their buttons.  I say little boys but my brother pretty much didn't stop until around high school. Geesh, I can think of anyone that could possibly relate to me..... { cough, cough, Steph, cough, Sam, cough, cough) 


Here he goes again, it just completely ruffled Avery's feathers, I couldn't help but laugh.  The best part to me is that he doesn't even realize yet what exactly it is that he is doing, see like I said, PROGRAMMED! Ahahahaha


With no hesitation Avery scoops up her princess bears and carry's them away to safety........


Whew, all is well in pretend princess land.


Well, for as long and Levi is occupied by another toy.


Oh no Avery, hide your bears, he's on the loose again! 

-The Mrs.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Pumpkin Farm Fun

This year was Levi's first trip to the Pumpkin farm!  With so much to look at and explore who wouldn't have a good time?


Yey! Pumpkins!



We gave him a closer look, he didn't seem sure of these big round things with a funny "stick" coming out the top.


"Mom, these toys are too big!"

Avery on the other hand, being the experienced farm connoisseur she is, had no hesitation.... 


Here we go, a pumpkin chair! Perfect!
With so many pumpkins, hows a girl suppose to chose the perfect one?  Hmm......



"Back up the car and get out your credit card Daddy, I'll take them all!"

Nothing can come between this girl and her pumpkins....... 


......well, maybe one thing.....

There were so many animals, and Avery has no fear.  Me on the other hand, I could use some of that fearlessness. I never liked animals that get to close, you know the kind that know you bought a cup of food and nudge or nibble at you for it.....  


That's better, I like to look at them from behind the fence.  This beauty caught Avery's eye, I think Avery's hair "pretty" caught the ducks eye.



Of course we had to go over and check out the horses too.
 Avery fed the horses some grass while Levi watched. Next year buddy....


Then we headed over to some cute cut outs that transformed our cute little Avery in to a big bad monster....


Some how I'm just not buying the big, bad part....


Levi and Avery popped their head through this fun pumpkin too!


Levi really enjoyed his first trip to the farm.....


.......and Avery was happy to share all the pumpkin fun with her little brother!

***This post is brought to you by the Mrs. , Adam does a better job at this than I do......***

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Catching Up to June! (pt1)

It's time to play blog catch up! 
Events in June happened and a few memories were captured!

This summer has been particularly busy for the primary blogger with work. I have intentions to blog about that at some point, but when it comes down to family and work... I've given work enough of the time! So here is a family catch up with events in June! Enjoy!

Levi had his first bout with cereal in June! 

He's not a fan, but always a picture worthy moment!



The Z's spent a day with the R's and our "not so little anymore" godson, Davin. 

It was Davin's big number 2!


As you can see, a newly acquired trampoline added to the enjoyment this year!

Avery and her "boyfriend" had a pretty fun time jumping, bouncing, falling, and rolling around with lots of giggles and crazy playing.



Daddy had a good time watching the fun as well.




The game pop the weasel comes to mind...







June also brought us a spur of the moment tag-along ride with G&G Zastrow "up nort" to a rather large dairy farm for breakfast on the farm day!

Large in many ways indeed!




Avery enjoys tractors quite a bit... but this one may have been a little intimidating! 




Speaking of intimidating...



I wonder how Levi was feeling during this trip to a park in Allenton one summer night?

Good times in June...


Sunday, July 31, 2011

A Joyous Occasion in May


Being entirely to far behind on blog posts... I bring you back to May! The end of May to clarify if that makes it any better. An event that had the family traveling. Traveling and staying overnight for the first time as a foursome! 

Preparations had to be made to keep everyone happy.


Speaking of keeping everyone happy... can I just say thank goodness for cartoons at all times of the day!



The event that had everyone excited involved a rehearsal. That's how big this event was! After the rehearsal, there was wind down time as well. 

For some of us... for others it was "push great grandpa around" time.




Even though the kids never seem to want to wind down, it's okay! 

Because that's why there are aunts and uncles around!




Thanks to those aunts and uncles...

A husband and wife can actually pose for a picture!

Alone!

Like it was... once upon a time...




A time before, well, a time before a queen size bed had to be shared with a little gremlin.




Pretty please with yourself eh, Levi?

I thought so.




Alright... let's let out the reason for all the excitement...

I'll tell Avery first...

"Avery... your auntie Steph is going to get married!"




"Listen, I'm serious! She really is!"




"She's going to take the plunge and marry a really awesome guy."



"That IS exciting news! I know!"

"There she goes!"



"It's okay. Don't be nervous! She'll do fine, she'll repeat the words right, he'll say 'I do' and they'll both ride off in to the sunset."




"Oh, Avery... it's okay! She's in good hands! Er.. or... are those tears of joy?"




I had some of those also! You and I are some emotional saps! 

How's Levi doing?



Stone. Cold. Levi.

A real man. :)

He wants to get on with the celebrating.

Bottoms up Levi.




Looks like you're not alone, buddy. Uncle Brad is going to join you. 




Wait a minute. I don't remember taking a picture of Brad having a drink...

That's not really my type of picture. Hmmm...

Ah Hah! Now it's starting to make sense...




 Let's get that camera back. Thanks Levi. Family pic! Everyone in your best pose!





Yeah, that's as good as it gets!

"What's the matter Avery? Sick of your ma and pops? 
Who else you think your gonna hang out with?"




I should have known!




While you're gone... more pictures!

It's so nice to have everyone together for such a wonderful reason!




All the different parts of the family are always in different parts of the land! 




Wait a minute... 

no kids!

Say Cheese!




Where are the kids?

Who's with them? 

It's Dave and Steph! Cutting a rug!




All my pictures of Dave are fuzzy! 

It's a good thing I have great pictures of my gorgeous Sis!




What a great day! Not complete until I can pick on my lil sis a little however!




The next morning was a slow start...




Eventually, we got it together however.




We enjoyed a little more time with family before we all parted again!

Well, some of us enjoyed it. Others under the age of 2 started a downward spiral.

This was the beginning of Levi's with a still happy Uncle enjoying his limited time.




Lastly, because it is so rare since we've been blessed with Avery... another picture of me and my own bride.

Even more rare... was the smile on the ride home! It must have been during a rare moment of silence. 



Overall, a great weekend! 

We welcomed a new brother in to the family and shared a forever awesome moment in time with a sister we love dearly!

Who can ask for more!?! Not us! :)