Smorgous Board of Our Lives

Itzy getting some afternoon kicks from the baby

Stella and Zug Zug doing what they do best…playing and destroying toys!

A sunny afternoon of fun in the backyard. 

Thomas and Tripp warming up in the tub and playing Octonauts

Elin Reading her baby books after her nap

Thomas and his Daddy before Daddy headed to work

Messy Mess after practicing writing

Bathtime Bubbles

Elin wanted her hat and mittens, it was 85 degrees outside and she asked “Mommy can I go to the mountains??”

Our tomatoes, the cherry variety at least have started to change

The kids love to be buried in the sand…it is an immediate bath time after this happens!

Elin continues to be the messiest eater…it is so annoying!  Especially when our dog doesn’t clean up anything but meat and cheese…and even that isn’t a great cleanup like most dogs!

Thomas and Elin got to go pick out a toy at Target for being good listeners.  Thomas picked out an Octonaut toy and Elin picked out a baby.  Later that night Thomas told Mike that he needed to find and rescue the “Slime Carrot” or Sea cucumber…we all got the giggles!

Thomas and Stella during an afternoon nap.  Stella is reluctantly letting Thomas sleep on “her bed.”  For a long time as no one used that bed Stella claimed it as her own.  We throw her blanket down on top of his quilt and she snuggles in.  She normally sleeps where Thomas is, but she is doing a good job sharing!  Thomas also likes that he knows Stella is in there protecting him.  Most nights he is still falling asleep in his bedroom and then coming into ours in the early morning sometime.  When he naps it is always in his room. 

 

Thomas really wanted a place for his bubble gun on his new policeman vest.  Mike thought I could sew something in, I thought duct tape sounded way easier.  After making Thomas one, Elin quickly wanted to join in the fun. 

Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday morning we all slept in a bit after being out late on Friday night.  Then it was time to head to Thomas’ T Ball Game. The big guy was feeling a little shy at the start of the warm ups, so after a pep talk from Mike he asked if I could stand close to him while he warmed up.  After about 5 minutes he was all in and happy to start the game with his teammates.  T had 2 at bats and a couple great fielding plays.  Their coach has all the infielders take turns getting the other teams grounders and throwing them to first.  It is a huge improvement from last year (and most of our opposing teams) and all the kids running into one another to try to get the ball. 

After his game was over we headed home to load up our cabin gear and snacks and then we were off to an Oklahoma lake home.  Debbie, our friend and Mike’s Mom’s longtime friend had invited us up for the day to play.  The kiddos both napped so Mike and I took our time, we stopped at the grocery store and then at a farmers stand to pick up some fresh produce (YUM!  I have been craving fresh strawberries).  When we arrived at their home the kiddos were up and ready to go.  They had a blast running around, playing with all the older kids (Mike and I’s age) and the dogs that were at the cabin.  We had dinner there and then played some more.   Before we left Debbie asked to give the kiddos a bath so they would be ready for bed and they were happy to hop into her big ol tub.   When we were leaving the kiddos were both very generous with their “thank yous” and hugs and they even had a hard time saying goodbye to “Grandpa” Stewart and “Grandma” Debbie…it was very sweet.  They were both asleep about 5 minutes after we started to drive home.  

On Sunday we had a day at home getting things done around the house.  We all needed a semi chill day at home after a few days of chaos!  Mike got up early and headed for a bike ride with another dad from Thomas’ T Ball team.  The kids and I watched cartoons and I caught up on the blog.  After we had breakfast we got outside and did a few things in the yard/garden.  Then it was time for lunch and naps.  While the kiddos napped Mike finished up on the yard work and started to cut down more branches on our trees out front.  After Thomas woke up he and I helped take the branches to the back and we all finished just in time to watch a huge thunderstorm.  I do love the storms we have been having, and as long as they stay tornado free, I will continue to love them.  We then had our neighbor guys over for some Paseo sandwiches.  This is/was an old Seattle neighborhood favorite and since moving away Mike has been able to perfect his own version of the sandwich, which keeps us all really happy as they are soo yummy!  After dinner we headed over to the guys house so that the kiddos could swim for a few minutes before bedtime. 

Monday we met some friends at the park for a morning of T Ball/Baseball in the park.  Then we came home and worked around the house, had lunch, Elin took her nap and then we went over to the boys for a BBQ and some more swimming.  We had a great Memorial Day weekend and again we didn’t take for granted all that has been sacrificed by others for our freedom.  Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Memorial Day as well!

Celebrating 5 Years…at a Bike Race!

Mike and I threw out a few ideas to go and celebrate our anniversary.  Originally, we thought we were going to go to a baseball game.  Then Mike mentioned the Bike the Brick bike race in Downtown McKinney and asked if I wanted to check it out, I was game so off we went.  We thought if it was a bust we would still have time to make the 7 p.m. baseball game and all wouldn’t be lost.  We got to the race and immediately realized that the atmosphere and downtown McKinney were right up our alley.

 

We walked around for a bit watching the bikers race and then the kiddos got their turn racing.  Elin rode for the first time on a balance bike and Thomas got to ride a “tester” bike.   I love that my little guy requested wearing a helmet to be safe before he got on the bike!  Then it was time for more race watching for Daddy and Elin, while Thomas and I waited for him to get his face painted.  Once he had his face done, we switched and it was Elin’s turn.  Then we continued to explore and walk around until we stumbled upon a Mexican restaurant called Bien Salsa…where we ducked in to eat.  Yum Yum Yum, it was perfect…it wasn’t a chain restaurant and it was very yummy food!  Mike and I continued to fall in love with Downtown McKinney and it reminded us soo much of our old hot spots in Denver and Seattle, it was perfect!  After we got our drinks we toasted to a wonderfully adventurous 5 years and told the kiddos to enjoy because for our 10 year anniversary we wouldn’t be bringing them along, T didn’t like that idea too much!

After dinner we watched more bike racing and then walked around and explored.  Finally after some ice cream and our fill we headed back to the car about 9:30 we were all tired and ready for bed!  What a great night celebrating our marriage and our family, we really are extremely blessed!

5 Years of Marriage…

Today was Mike and I’s 5 year anniversary!   In the 5 short years we have been married we have lived in 3 states, bought 3 houses, sold 2, had 2 children with a 3rd on the way, laughed so hard our bellies hurt and cried together in pain.  It has been an adventure for sure and there have been some bumps, but isn’t that what marriage is?!

 

This man is my best friend and there is not anyone in this world that completes me like he does, I love him more than myself and the life we have created and our family are my ultimate pride and joy.  Just the other night we were talking about where we started, where we are and where we want our lives to be headed.  It is amazing all the memories we have shared together…our lives have been blessed thus far for sure.Before he started to work we took out our wedding album and flipped through the pictures.  There are so many great memories from that day, the most epic party of our lives and a day that will forever be engrained in our memories.  Aside from all the fluffy pretty stuff about our wedding day it was the day that joined us as one and the day we started our new lives together.  Enjoy a quick walk down memory lane in a few of our favorite pictures from that day.

Pictures are taken by Katie at Jenna Walker Photography

Swimming

We have been spending a lot of time at our community pool or our friends pool.  When we bought our house down here we knew that a pool in the yard was not going to work with the kiddos, but that we would need quick and easy water access.  I am so glad that we ended up close to 2 fantastic pools for the kiddos to cool off and burn energy in! 

Usually I don’t bring my fancy camera to the pool but I wanted to get a few pictures of the kiddos at the beginning of the summer swimming.  T and E are both still anti swimming without their water wings which I am ok with.  They love to “cannon ball” and jump into the water, swim for their floating toys, and bask in the sun like lizards to “warm up.” 

Thomas and his buddy Tripp also have their own thing going on in the pool and they have a blast together.  It is so much fun to watch the kiddos enjoying themselves and it also feels great to stick my feet in.  In a few more weeks when the water is warm I am going to hop in a lot more, especially with this growing baby belly!

Musical Beds

A tale of the musical beds in the Laschen house…

Ever since Elin started to sleep in her own bed, then Thomas followed and now it is a tale of the musical beds…sometimes in their room, sometimes in ours…

This was one of the last naps the kiddos took together at our house.  I don’t know how I knew it would be the once of the last naps, but something told me to savor it, snuggle in and when I crawled out I snapped this picture. I am sure that there will be naps together from now and then, but it won’t be like this ever again, where it was a consistent thing.  It is a transition for sure and so bittersweet as they are both growing, gaining their independence and spreading their wings.  I am also loving this time as it gives me some alone time with each kiddo.  Elin typically falls asleep very quickly for her nap and then I can go and read books to Thomas for his quiet time.  If Thomas then naps he usually doesn’t wake up until after Elin so I then get some alone snuggle and book time with her.   If everything lines up and they are both napping at the same time, then I can get some of my own time to get my work or cleaning done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a bunch of pictures I have snapped of my beautiful sleeping babes!  So far the trend continues, if they are napping they are almost always in their own rooms, E has had a couple “Daddy Room” naps, but mostly she chooses “Elin’s bedroom.”  Thomas has even started to fall asleep on his own in his bedroom as I am laying with Elin to get her to sleep.  If he doesn’t fall asleep then I crawl in and read books then he will snuggle away and fall asleep too.  If it is a no nap day he has some quiet alone time with books and then we are able to do an activity or play together until Elin wakes up. 

Morning at the Dallas Zoo

We spent the morning at the Dallas Zoo exploring the Children’s Area and seeing some of the other exhibits that we had never visited before.  The kiddos absolutely loved the children’s area and feeding the birds, goats and Thomas rode on the pony.  Much to my surprise, Elin, even in her cowgirl boots, decided not to ride the pony!  They both have a huge love for animals and could spend hours exploring and learning at the zoo.  Once we were done in the Children’s portion of the zoo we headed to see the monkeys, tigers, kangaroos, koalas, and a few other animals.  We then rode the train and grabbed lunch before seeing the Galapagos Tortoises and some of the birds of prey they had on exhibit.   By then the kiddos were tired and were ready to head home so off we went!  

T Ball MVP

Thomas had his 2nd T ball game this morning.  Before we headed over to the field we went and picked him up a baseball back pack and a bat.  He was struggling at practice on Wednesday night because most of the other kids had their own bat and were not wanting to share.  Mike was out of town so it took me awhile to see that he wasn’t batting and when I asked what was going on that is what he told me.  When we finally found a bat he could use he batted one time and then practice was over.  Anyway, we solved that problem as he was a great listener during the week and he got rewarded with a special new bat.  We also gave him a pep talk about how he needed to be able to share that bat with other kiddos because that is the nice thing to do, he wasn’t too excited about that but hesitantly agreed. 

T started out the game with a great hit and “RBI.”  His second hit was also fantastic, according to this proud Mama!  When he was fielding he also had a great play where a ground ball was hit to him on the pitching mound and he scooped it up and threw to first…what a great play!  Mike even had a smile and said “wow that was a legitimate play by the little guy.” 

After he had his second at bat he ran over and told Mike and I that he had also shared his bat!  We were so proud of him, because we knew this bat was new and very special.  At the end of the game when the coach was talking to the kiddos he announced that Thomas was the “MVP” of the game and gave him the game ball!  What a special honor and treat for the little guy and his proud parents, not only because he had a great game individually, but because he was sharing and being a great teammate as well!  We are so proud of you little buddy!

Thomas’ “NEW” Big Boy Room and Sleeping in his Bed Again

Thomas has been very into dressing himself lately.  He no longer wants us to pick out his clothes, or clotheses as he calls them, and often times we would find him in long sleeve shirts on 80+ degree days and didn’t know what was up.  When I asked him and watched I realized that this was the only shirts he could independently take down off the tops shelf in his closet.  So we asked if he would like to have as second bar to be more Thomas height and he happily agreed.  On Mother’s day we worked on cleaning out his closet and Mike built him the lower bar.  Thomas was so excited and very proud of his new closet and independence. 

Later that week while Mike was away and during one of Elin’s afternoon naps, Thomas and I went crazy on his room.  We moved around a few of his toys and the biggest change was we moved his bed.  I thought if we moved it and made his bed it might help him get excited about his room again.  Up until this point he has liked his room, but told us it was “too dangerous” to even consider sleeping in there.  We talked a lot about how exciting it was going to be to surprise Daddy when he got home and how cool this new arrangement was.  We also talked about sleeping in there and how just because he sleeps in there doesn’t mean he can’t ever sleep in our room again.  We also talked about how Elin sleeps in both her and our room still and that we are just a room away.  That night low and behold he went to sleep in his room with Daddy.  He woke up about 2:30 screaming for us and Mike said he hasn’t seen this pregnant Mama move so quick in a long time. 

The next morning he was a little upset about the fact that we had “left him in there” once he fell asleep.  I was a little skeptical about if we could get him back in there, but I thought napping in there was our best shot.  So that afternoon after Elin fell asleep I snuggled up next to him in his bed and he fell asleep.  That night with the promise that Mike and I would take him to bed with us when we went to bed he again fell asleep in his room.  This is such a huge step for our big guy and Mike and I couldn’t be more proud of him! 

Frisco Science Museum

Thomas, Elin and I went to check out the Frisco Science Discovery Center with Anna, Tripp and Boss.  The biggest hit were the making the bubbles and playing with the huge foam blocks.  The kids had a great morning running around and playing, exploring science.  We grabbed lunch afterwards and before we made it home, both kiddos were sound asleep in the car.  I would call that a successful morning adventure!