Monthly Archives: November 2015

Thankful

by November 26, 2015

It’s kind of sad how life’s busy work can take away from reflecting on the true meaning of the Holidays. So on these rare few hours of the night while both kids are sleeping, I’m trying to do that. Here’s what I am thankful for this year:

– On the top thing on my list is having my sweet boy Jonas. Can’t even imagine our lives without that guy. We ask Nola what she’s thankful for, or who she wants to pray for and Jonas is always on her list, mom and dad not always, but Jonas is always on it. Which leads to a double thankful moment, so glad Nola loves her brother like she does.

– Thankful for how spoiled we are by the way God provides for us, from cj’s job, health and love.

– Thankful for the small adventures we were able to take with the family this year from Florida, Apostles Island, Door County, Chicago, they were fun!

– Thankful for Nola’s school. I can’t even tell you how much joy it brings me knowing that she enjoys going to school and seeing her grow. The moments I get with Jonas while Nola is in school is pretty special too.

– Thankful for Nola. I love that girl so much it’s silly. She’s the girl I always wanted and more.

– Thankful for our neighbors that have become really great friends.

– Thankful for our long distance friends in CA who we don’t see, but still are dear friends to us (you know who you are, we miss and love you guys!)

– Thankful for the time I have with CJ while the kids are sleeping and we can watch episodes of the Office.

– Thankful for my parents and that this year was a relatively good health year for them.

– Thankful for God’s grace, because I oh so badly need it.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

DSC_0065

Friday Ramblings

by November 23, 2015

Hey Friends, how you all doing? I hope you are well! I can’t even wrap my head around the fact it’s Thanksgiving next week. Unreal how quick this year flew by. I mean my little baby is now a  big boy, crawling in lighting speed, walking along furniture and always trying to fine a way to endanger himself. This year has gone by quick!

– This week Nola’s snow pants and winter coat came in the mail, just in time for the first snow!

– When we were waiting for the snow Nola looked out the window and yelled, “it’s Christmas!!!” I died laughing

– Seeing your kids respond to the first snow of the season is MAGIC

– We also get nervous this time of the year b/c it can be a looooong winter. But all my Midwest friends, read this article!!  Apparently the Norwegians have an even harder winter than we do but studies show they have a surprisingly low seasonal depression. All comes down to attitude friends, I hope I can remember that February and March!

– I attempted to make ramen this week and it was good! I loosely used this recipe, but it was a lot of assembly and trying to get everything done and ready at one time…makes me feel going out for ramen makes sense. There’s so many good options for ramen where we used to live in Burlingame, Madison has only one place 🙁

– Still staying strong with no cable and actually doing ok! We are on an Office marathon and I look forward to it every night! But don’t you worry Food Network, Discovery and TLC you will always have my heart.

– I just tried to make chia pudding and not the biggest fan. Maybe it was the recipe, let me know if you have any good ones!

Chicago Getaway

by November 13, 2015

Recently we were in Chicago and I felt like a little kid reminiscing about our life back in the day. This was pre-kid life and well, frankly, that was a pretty fun chapter, not that it’s not fun now…just a different kind of fun. We’ve been to plenty of different cities all over and hands down Chicago will always have our hearts and we will always think it’s the best.

One thing I really love about being in the city is people watching. Walking down the street seeing all the people, looking in the lit up apartments and condos. A lot of my thoughts start like this, “that’s such a stylish couple, i wonder if they have kids, do they have a nanny? oh that condo looks soo nice!! i wonder what job they have to afford that place? i wonder if they have google express for the winter? or do they eat out most evenings? oh the tv’s on, i wonder what show is their favorite?” See, I live in la-la land and it’s a fun place to go sometimes. It’s such a big world out there and so many different stories. It is all so fascinating to me.

While in the city I did have a loose itinerary of what I wanted to do with the kids, but since it was in the 70’s in November, all plans were thrown out and we decided to live outside. And places to eat, my greatest joy, forget about it. We couldn’t even figure out how to get drinks and appetizers on the J. Parker rooftop bar in the hotel where we were staying. When we travel and we don’t have the safest home base, meaning most things will injure our all-boy Jonas, we try to be out unless we need to sleep. In ways it’s a lot more work, but I also love it because it forces me to get out and it’s such great exercise!  Side note, if you despise working out just walk! When I moved to Chicago I lost 15lbs by just walking everywhere!

We frequented the Lincoln Park Zoo, the playground near the zoo (we went there five different times), North Avenue Beach and ate at the Old Town neighborhood. One huge highlight was seeing my dear friend. She is a sister in Christ and love catching up with her whenever I can.

Here’s an onslaught of photos of our little getaway if you care to see:

DSC_0101 DSC_0103 this little boy…he’s stolen my heart DSC_0104 this little girl loves to talk and my sweet husband is a pretty good listener Processed with VSCOcam with b1 preset checking out the city IMG_8872 on our morning walk IMG_8877 trying out the selfie stick…i have no shame whipping that bad boy out
IMG_8890 IMG_8907 my ‘lovely friend’ (see what i did there, inside joke my friend’s will get that). but really she is truly lovely inside and out!
 IMG_8917 at the playground near the zoo and this girl loved these pumas? cougar? jaguar? well whatever they were, she LOVED THEM. IMG_8927 as you can see… IMG_8936 mommy daughter hang out time while little brother was napping IMG_8937 sorry but i do love a good gallery wall IMG_8938 and if you have a 3 year old start playing ‘i spy’ this wall was a dream for that game IMG_8950 walking over to north beach DSC_0117 DSC_0119 in my opinion i think from north beach you get the best view of the city. back in the day cj and i played volleyball at this beach. our biggest dilemma back then was deciding if we were getting beers at the boathouse afterwards, now it’s making sure Nola didn’t jump in the water.  DSC_0123 my guys are so handsome
DSC_0138 i just love the look on jonas’s face and this picture shows you what we have to deal with trying to get nola to cooperate
 IMG_7766 the struggle is real
IMG_8952

When we got home Nola asked what our next adventure was, ha! She’s such a good sport and loves traveling. She told us she wanted to stay at the hotel forever. I love that and at her age she actually is pretty easy going places. Jonas on the other hand, oh mylanta! That boy and putting everything in his mouth and pulling himself up on anything that could be unstable or tobble over the guy. 10 months keeps you on your toes, that’s for sure.

We are heading back to Chicago at the end of this month to see the Macy’s Christmas Tree and to go to the Christkindlmarket at the Daly Plaza, which I can’t wait to show the kids. It’s a tradition CJ and I did for years while we were dating and into early married life before we moved all over the country. I have to say it’s pretty fun to continue these traditions on with our kids!

p.s. if you want to check out our last trip to chicago with the kiddos you can find it HERE. jonas’s moccasins are from freshly picked / nola’s fox socks you can get here / jonas’s hat is from june and january 

2015 Halloween

by November 5, 2015

I don’t know about you guys, but for us, our 3 year old seemed to change her mind on what she wanted to be for Halloween daily. It honestly was starting to stress me out a little because regardless of if I was going to make or buy the costumes, it takes time, especially when we try to do a family theme…that all stems from our daughter’s decision. Clearly that girl has too much power in our house. We would love to decide what her costume would be, but if she doesn’t like it she won’t wear it, hello cute dresses in the closet she won’t put on.

One day we decided to go to Halloween Express for some inspiration and there Nola had it narrowed down to super woman or a tiger. We were like, “this one!?! or this one?!? this one?! or this one?!!! Nola just pick one!!!!” In case you are wondering, yes, this how it is every morning getting dressed too, bless that sweet girl’s heart and ours as well. After much deliberation we are happy to report she went with the tiger costume. This is definitely is the year of the tiger for Nola since she also had a tiger birthday party earlier this year. I saw a baby tiger costume that I grabbed for Jonas and done and done! Though my crafting loving heart was a little sad because I wouldn’t be making them, I was also relieved and glad I wouldn’t have to be worrying about it anymore! With Halloween parties at school and events in the community this costume is in high demand much earlier than the 31st! And I have to say Nola wore that costume around the house and as pajamas for two weeks straight, yes you heard that right we choose our battles around here, that costume was worth every penny!

Here’s some photos if you care to see:

IMG_7609 This was at Nola’s school. We decorated a table and handed out some candy. As you can see we also caught some of the cutest tigers.

DSC_0011 Love my little tigers so much!

IMG_8843 And how it really is like trying to take a photo with a 3 year old and 9 month baby. Not easy, we usually are dancing, yelling for them to look our way.

IMG_7720 Nola posing with her pet tiger Simba.

IMG_8854 IMG_8850 DSC_0037 DSC_0069 DSC_0095

CJ and I had such a fun day and I know I’ve said it before, but I never was the biggest Halloween fan, but since having kids it is sooo much fun. We asked Nola what was her favorite part of the day and she said handing out candy.

Here’s 2014 halloween and 2013 halloween in case you want to look back!