Cheerios

So I had to blog this, so I wouldn't cry about it... This is Jansen left alone (in the TV room, NOT kitchen) for about 45 seconds.

An entire box of Cheerios from Sam's. I guess Jansen was trying to tell me he was HUNGRY!
So you're probably thinking, put them up where he can't reach them... hummmm. This is my pantry, and Jansen is standing, NOT SITTING on the ground. I put Jansen back in there just so you can see. Notice the Life cereal on the top shelf, the Cheerios go next to them. I think I have a monkey, not a boy!
I let Reesa vacuum while I swept and it took us about 45 minutes to clean it all. When we were finished, Reesa said, "mom that was fun, let's clean it again!" Oh no, I hope this girl doesn't get any ideas.

James River

Yesterday was such a nice day, we took the kids on a little hike along the James River. It was such a fun trail, it made both me and Jake want to run it sometime. Jansen actually wore this "leash." When he first realized it was on, he SAT down and cried. As long as he thought he was in charge he did fine...

Reesa on the trail

Jansen takin' a break in the stroller

Me and Reesa

Jake and the kids

When we got home, I had the NEATEST package in the mail. FELT FOOD, Tiffany had made. Isn't it cute?

Reesa made us each a plate

and Jansen kept trying to eat the strawberries!

Isn't he cute? Thanks Tiff!

Food

So when Jake called me on his way home from work and asked what he could do for me... since I've been so sick, all I could say was FOOD! I needed something yummy, and healthy that I didn't have to fix! So he stopped at the grocery store and got wheat bread, chicken and ham slices, cheese, spinach, onions, avocado, bacon, lemon pound cake, and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I think I ate more tonight that I have in the past 3 days! It felt so good, and gave me lots of energy. Thanks honey!
I had to take a picture of Jake with his sandwich, he was so proud of it and couldn't wait to eat too!

It won't be like this for long

So I have had the hardest three days because I am SO SICK! I can't believe how hard it is to do anything when you don't feel well. I feel like I cannot even take care of myself, how can I ever even think of taking care of my kids? I've been on antibiotics since Wednesday, so I thought I would feel better magically in 24 hours! I think I just have strep and a bad cold, but it hurts to read stories, laugh, talk, swallow, cough. I have a fever and get the chills and can't move! I can't hear or breathe well, blah blah blah. Ever had one of those weeks?

Anyway while in the car I heard this song, "it won't be like this for long..." and I just needed it! It just got me thinking soon I'll be looking back on this sick time with my kids and it will all be over. I won't be sick forever, and how lucky for me that I'm not currently working and can just sit in bed or on the couch with my kids ALL DAY watching movies, reading stories and eating popsicles. I don't have to take my kids to day care, worry about money I'm losing by not working, or how to make up time missed from work.

Jake left for work yesterday at 5:30 a.m. and both are kids were awake. He got home at 8:20 last night, and both our kids were awake. See how easy it is for me to feel sorry for myself? BUT those words "it won't be like this for long" are so empowering. It makes me feel like I can do anything for a short while. I can hold my kids while they cry and ignore the splitting headache I have. I can live off liquids for a few more days, and so can my kids... I can quit feeling guilty for not taking better care of them while we're all so sick.

p.s. The funniest part of this story... Jake calls me on his way home from work Thursday and tells me he has been feeling so sick all day and is sure he has the same thing I have. He walks in the door and takes one look at me and says, "you look miserable, I'm not sick at all." What does that mean? Jake told me he must have been feeling "left out of the sick club" and wanted to be included too, but when he saw how sick we were he quickly changed his mind and realized how good he was actually feeling! I'm so grateful, for one person around here to be feeling okay. Here's a picture of Jake sleeping with the kids. They love dad!


Anyway, I hope these words will give you the same hope they've given me when you're feeling down. If not, call me and I'll try to cheer you up! xoxo

You could be a winner!

The first 5 people to respond to this post will receive something made by me for you. I get to pick what I make for you, but it will be especially for you.
But here's the deal:
1 I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (But I'll try to make something cool:)
2 What I create will be just for you.
3 It will be done sometime this year.
4 You have no clue what it will be.
The catch? The catch is that you must repost this on your own blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on their blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!! Maybe I'll get crafty, maybe I'll bake, maybe I'll come with something else. Who knows! So come and play along!

p.s.  I totally copied this from the blog I found it on... I hope that's legal???

Puzzles

So Reesa is in LOVE with puzzles.  I bought her a little princess one at the dollar store and she loved putting it together.  The only problem was it was so cheaply made that every time she put in one piece, six more would come apart.  She got so frustrated (seriously crying for 20 minutes at a time) and I got tired of having to hold the whole puzzle together while she did it.  You get what you pay for, right?  Anyway I have been on a puzzle hunt for over a month now.  Every store I go to I buy a new puzzle trying to get a stronger one she could put together herself.  I bought the 24 piece Melissa & Doug Under the Sea and it has been a hit.  Because of my obsession I couldn't stop with only one puzzle that worked... I ordered this puzzle on line because it had fairies and a princess, even though it has 48 pieces.  I thought it might be too hard for her.  Reesa surprisingly has done it several times.   This is the best puzzle, it is so cute and colorful!  It is so thick and made of wood, just perfect for little girls.  I love it!  

More snow day fun...

Jansen found these bandannas and insisted on wearing them. I think this kids just likes things on his head.


Of course he'll never look at me.

Jake and Reesa made heart shaped biscuits

Which were a hit by everyone.

Reesa was so proud...


I read on Stephanie's blog how to dye pasta and I've been dying to try it. Well as you can see, my colors didn't turn out so bright. (If you do this... I put in 3 drops of food coloring then added three more later. I would start with 10 drops in your rubbing alcohol.)
The purple looked more like brown and the blue was a close green.
But the orange and green ones looked great!

My kids can't put them down, so I guess the colors really didn't matter to them!

Jansen using his motor skills

Sorry, one more photo of Jansen... He is just too cute!

Snow Day

Virginia got a great big snow storm yesterday! Jake got to stay home from work and we got to play ALL day! Here's some pictures from 7 a.m. when Jake thought he still had to work and cleared all the snow from the driveway. We only had another inch or two after...
Poor Jansen had to wear pink snow pants, but he LOVED the snow.
The kids stayed outside with Jake for almost an hour clearing snow and didn't want to even come in for breakfast!

Our back porch through the kitchen window.

What a fun relaxing day! It's supposed to be in the sixty's on Friday, so I don't think it will last long!

When Grandpa comes...

Look who came to visit!!! What a crazy trip we've had with Grandpa Geyer. First he, Hannah and Emma were planning to visit, then Monday when Hannah and Emma couldn't come, Grandpa came alone planning to leave Thursday. He changed his plane flight to leave later, and decided to drive back to Hannah's on Monday. Then THIS morning Jake checked the weather and decided his dad needed to leave NOW to not be caught in a snow storm tonight! Confused yet? So off he went WITHOUT the amazing Fast Sunday meal I was preparing especially for him... boo-hoo.

We took Grandpa to Inflation Nation. Jake told him it would wear him out, but he wouldn't believe that...

Jansen running laps.

The kids loved these inflatable cones. They spent half their time here.
Grandpa crawling laps.

Me with the kiddies...

There he is!

Jansen wanted to go down the slide all by himself!

Best buds

Grandpa needed some down time, and Reesa would NEVER leave him alone...

Reesa learned a few things from her Grandpa... she wanted to look at magazines on her own.

You think Grandpa's ready for a break yet?

Okay, time to go home... We just wanted to Thank Grandpa Geyer for coming all this way to see and make us feel so special. We had a great time getting to know you better and loved being able to visit with you. Thanks for coming and come back anytime... SOON!

A family shot before church.