Say its true....please!

We've had a few nice days...and have THOROUGHLY enjoyed them by being outside!

I hope this means spring is around the corner. I know we haven't even had it 'that bad', considering the other parts of the country that have been pummeled with snow. But still...I'm ready...we're ALL ready!

So on the nice days, we typically get a bike ride/walk in at some point. Christian LOVES to ride his bike he got for Christmas and the car case that came with it, is now his "bug collector" or stick/leaves/random assortment of stuff collector.

I'm glad for the path near our house that we take. We will occasionally make a pit stop and the "secret spot" as Christian calls it. It really is just a nice quiet area. It's funny how Noah walked on the grass, I forgot he hasn't spent alot of time roaming the grass..usually just inside!

 Melt my heart.

 He just loved to be outside...so much. He was QUITE verbal about the idea of going back inside!

Once he discovered Christian's rake, it was a keeper. He carried that thing around the whole yard...just as proud as can be.

 Dirt does a boy's soul good. He can spend some serious time playing here.

Oh, I do hope that spring is coming...please!

Kitchen [FINISHED]

Throughout January and into February, the last bits of the kitchen are getting completed. 

Ben says there is even yet a few more minor details to wrap up...but for all proposes of saying its done...it is FINISHED! Yay :)

Tiling the backsplash..

Painting the kitchen/dining room, living room and hallway..

My message regarding my feelings toward the new kitchen..

Ben cut out the wall/window, framed out the space for the new door, and then installed the door one afternoon. This is the same space the "old sink" and window used to be.

Crown molding around the cabinets, toe kick, other trim stuff, and a few other cosmetic things...and it is d-o-n-e!

 So here are the final pictures of the kitchen/dining room...

Dining room

A bit random as far as final product..but its somewhat fitting.

Demonstrating how handy it is to get into the pots/pans drawer...my little helper.

The back door and back of kitchen (excuse the weird lighting..the wall is not green, it is really brown)...

The view from the front door...

The big picture...

WAAA-HOOOOO!!!!!!

Thank you very much Mr Hershberger...your work is greatly appreciated!

My little loves

I like to do the fun little things for Valentines Day. I like to (mildly) decorate and do some fun crafts of sorts. Its just nice...and a happy sort of holiday. I do think its silly to the extent some people take it...but to each their own. 

I think I enjoyed making the water color hearts more than Christian. All the options...they looked so pretty.

I could decorate my new area around the kitchen..

Christian especially liked his mail box treats. Some days the "mail" didn't go...other days it brought a very small random treat. Noah's favorite one was the yogurt covered raisins.

This was the first year he handed out Valentines.

We gave s'more flavored goldfish crackers (You make class S'MORE fun)...and he wrote out all his classmates/teachers names and signed his name. It was good practice with writing his letters.

A final treat for us...brownie cupcakes.

Relaxed little cuddle bugs.

 I was actually gone on Valentine's day, through the weekend. I went with the youth group to Snow Camp at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in CO. It was good. I wish I would have felt better, I have some kind of cold/respiratory junk that is less than desirable. Regardless...I'm glad my three loves at home survived without me..and I was glad to see them all on Sunday evening!

"Go"

Shortly after Noah turned one..he said his first word, "GO".

I should've known he was trying to let us know something very important by choosing this to be his first word. Not mama, not daddy, not ball...or whatever else.

Go.

Does he ever!

He definitely "allows" me to give him my attention the majority of the time :) And if I chose to do otherwise...that's when the following take place!

He has claimed this stool as his own.

Next up, the dresser drawers. He is not particular upon whose clothes he removes...

it is as if he is a machine, flinging clothes out..just as satisfied as can be :)

Moving on to the next climb-able item..the chairs. Any way that we try to arrange them so that is it more difficult for him to access them...he manages to get in there, move it out, scoot it around...then shimmy on up there with PRIDE :)

Even things that aren't going to really get him places...such as the high chair tray...he tries to climb that too.

The closet...any closet really...he thinks it's great fun to go in there, try to hide...

and then laugh so hard when he knows we see him. (It really is a fun game to play! His laugh is just priceless.)

Now this one, I admit, I should've probably intervened prior to taking the picture (he didn't get hurt, but he wasn't very happy about getting stuck)...but I seriously didn't think he would try/could fit back there. This is now covered...but it is what is underneath the backing of the cabinets facing the dining room. He wanted to smash himself in between the back of the lazy susan and the wall. 

Not comfortable Noah...that was not a good idea.

I believe this was one of the first times he realized he could just climb on up there...as if it was made just for him! Such a nice toy for a one year old :)

Chairs of all sizes, the smaller the easier...and of course makes getting to other things more accessible. The desk next to him in the picture frequently gets stood on.

This was when the stool previously pictured was removed. When he stood on the side bar (not the actual step) to use as an extra boost to climb on top of the COUNTERTOP. 

This blue stool belongs in the bathroom...another stool in which is very fond of.

The bathroom are very enticing to him...the toilets, the toilet paper, the bath tub, the sink...and any drawer that he can get his paws on. No fear if it's dark...even better, he can be more stealth like.

He's liking Christian's dump truck..it makes quite the fancy recliner..and racing vehicle when Christian pushes him around!

Other places in which you find great pleasure being curious in...the laundry room (the sink and washing machine in particular), the kitchen (all the drawers that do not have child proof openers...have most definitely been opened), Christian's book case (you stand on his bed and then leeeaann over to get whatever is on top of his bookcase...often ending in a topple onto the bookcase itself), on top of the train table, in the trash....you get the idea...you name it...you've got it covered. Let no space be unfamiliar for you my boy.

Ahhhh, but then.....there's this.

A precious sleeping baby.

See, you are innocent.

Noah, I love you.

I love your laugh and that being curious makes you happy.

You are a very spunky little guy, with lots of ambition...I am sure you will GO places in life...GO big places! 

So you and your ornery little ways may consume most of my day...

but you know what, 

that's okay.

I love you. I will keep chasing after you...and probably never being too surprised with what you have found or gotten in to. You're my little mess...the most beautiful mess.