Blog created for: Grandparents, family, birthfamilies, and friends. To keep everyone updated, and to share the fun moments in our lives.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Update

Our Little Man is 14 months old
Full of Charm. It's in his smile and laugh.
He was making a kissing face until he realized he wanted the camera. Then it became a pouting face. Which is fitting since he wants everything done his way or he'll scream. Lucky the screaming is improving as he's learning to communicate. He does please and more in sign language, he says ow, cracker very clearly. Then we will repeat others words as I'm talking to him during the day, plus car sound effects.

What a Lover!

Clark is way overdue on walking. He can do it, but he won't. He truly desires to be carried or crawl. The baby gets his way. It's so cute when he does walk. This is two weeks ago. He is really good at standing. So even though I've said it every week for a month now. I really think he will be walking by the end of this week.



We love our backyard! Toys, bikes, basketball, tramp, and sand pile.

Clark's first time in the sand.

Loved it.

Gabe can play outside for hours. This is his new shovel that he's attached to.
My kids decided that it is our tradition to have ice cream cones for Family Home Evening each week. Gabe just l0ves life!

Luke is becoming quite the businessman. He drew this picture and wrote, "I luv mom and dad. For $10 or $8." Then came up to us and asked if we would pay 10 or 8. We laughed. He looked serious and ask us for the money. I told him that if he drew our family at the bottom I'd pay him a dollar for it. He said, "$3". I said no. He said "$2". I said, "$1.10" He said okay. Ben talked to him about the pricing of his art and how he needed to practice, find out what people wanted him to draw, and work really hard on it. He was a little discouraged to find out that his art didn't have much value yet. He is hilarious and smart. Watch our Donald Trump here comes Luke. He is a very driven kid.

Drawing his birthday invitations.
Cheesy! But that's me. I had a piano recital for my students on Monday. They did great! I LOVE teaching piano. It's been 10 years now, and I'll probably never stop.

Decorating

Kitchen Done (Check)
I didn't know I had it in me, but the inspiration came (at Ross).
I love it! That's what matters most.

So I started with a tray we purchased with traditional Norwegian painting on it. Ben went on his mission to Norway, so it's special to us. It not in style at all right now, actually a bit of an out dated look, and it wasn't the colors I had in mind. BUT it's special.

I was looking in a store and it hit me-
Roosters

It was perfect! The colors worked and the style worked. Plus all my grandparents were farmers and it reminds me of my heritage. I thought I'd been so unique, but as I shopped I realized there are tons of rooster lovers out there buying tons of rooster decor. It's everywhere.

Master Bath

My favorite find!!!! Can't you feel the love. Ben and I love to dance. It was perfect. Love the vase too. I also stripped the border of the wall. Wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Living Room
We got couches. Yeah!
I feel like a spoiled brat. I just love my house.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Love is in the air!

Happy Valentine's Day!
from the Hokie's

We love you!

Especially wanted to say, "We Love You!"
to our out of town family, Grandma and Papa Hokie, and our birthfamilies!



Wonderful weekend
A Valentine's Dinner, celebrating 10 year of friendship with our first newlywed neighbors, Cami & Travis, AND Ben's sister and husband, Holly and Ben

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Welcome to our new House!

My favorite things about our new house is the big pantry, master bed/bath, and the basement.

Here's the tour:
Front Room

Upstairs Family Room:
We are planning to get a brown leather couch set for this room.

Kitchen: Painted it mudslide brown (from Lowes) I LOVE IT!
Back yard: It also has a garden on the other side.

I'm calling out to my SIL Katie for some decore inspiration for my family room and kitchen. I can't decide on accent colors or anything. Then my other SIL Holly can help me execute the plans.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

On to February!

Boys in Caribbean Shirts
This has had an eventful month, week, and day.
In January we moved into our new house and love it. We also left the kids and went on a Caribbean Cruise for our 10th anniversary. I highly recommend it.
The biggest news this week: Gabe is potty trained. He is very independent and private about it. He doesn't like to be told when to go, be watched, or helped. He will suddenly appear bottomless and announce that he has done his duty and we are welcome to come and see. He's awesome.
Today I was cooking a chicken carcass in water on the stove for chicken noodle soup tonight, and forgot about it. I didn't burn it, I TORCHED it! I came up stairs from putting the kids down for naps and the house was FILLED with smoke. I couldn't breath. After spending an hour outside and 3 hours with the doors open, it still smells very strongly of burnt tephlon. OOPS! So we had McDonald. 1/2 off Happy Meal Night!

2008 Summer Fun

Our Family