Father’s Day Weekend

The kiddos and I spent the weekend celebrating Mike/Daddy!  It was a busy weekend getting everything done around the house while also enjoying time out and about.  We are still hoping that the baby and I will get the go ahead to travel to Minnesota on Thursday morning.  We started off the weekend with Thomas’ last baseball game of the year, he will miss 2 games while we are in MN.  T had a couple great hits and it was a fun to see how much he grew in the few short weeks since T ball started.  At the end of the game they always get treats and Thomas picked up one for his sister, so thoughtful.  We then headed to the McKinney Farmer’s Market to get some produce.  We didn’t know that it was going to be the Ice Cream Crank Off so there was a lot more “going on” than just the market.  We didn’t score as big with produce as we were hopeful for but we did get a few things, the kids got to have a few samples, and made coasters.  We then ducked into a Pub in Downtown McKinney for lunch and then picked up some steaks for dinner before we headed home.  Once home Elin went down for her nap and the boys went to run errands together.  They had to mow the lawn and then run to Home Depot, as the birds have been stealing and eating our ripe tomatoes!  When Elin woke up she and I ran to the grocery store and we all met back at home to chill and grill. 

On Sunday morning the kiddos and I got up and we let Mike sleep in.  We cut up some of the strawberries we got at the market and made waffles for breakfast.   They also made him his special Father’s Day cards.  Then it was time to start “working” around the house and getting everything in order.  That afternoon I picked our second round of basil from the garden and made Pesto (one of Mike’s favorites) for us to use for dinner.  I also decided to make homemade pasta and got cracking on that.  It ended up being a family affair and the kiddos and Mike helped crank and prepare the sheets of pasta.  Although it takes a lot more effort to make it from scratch, homemade pasta is really worth the extra effort.  Dinner was fantastic and I think Mike approved as he had 4 helpings .  We then got in more playtime and the kiddos ready for bed.  It was an early night for all of us but a wonderful weekend celebrating Mike and time together as a family. 

On Sunday, social media was going crazy with everyone posting pictures of their “favorite” dads for Father’s Day.  I have to say Mike and I are luck to have 2 fantastic Father’s as role models and also to be able to see be great Grandpa’s as well.   We are also very lucky that Mike’s Grandpa Larry is still with us and we wish him a very special Father’s Day too.  Happy Father’s Day to everyone!

Long Week With Daddy Gone

After having the weekend at home to recover and relax a bit, Mike was off on a Midwest tour for work on Monday morning.  After two weeks together this was a tough transition for the kiddos.  They were tired and emotional.  I did my best to keep them occupied and that meant lots of late night bathtub play.  Why?  If you have ever spent more than a few minutes with these two you know they never stop moving and at the end of the day I am exhausted and ready for Mike to help a bit or to stick them into the tub for some contained play.  Plus the cleanup is so easy in the bathtub!We made some muffins and then did more messy play in the bathtub with cornstarch and water.On Thursday night, Thomas was soo excited to see Mike.  He fell asleep snuggling with him like this…holding both hands wrapped in his arms.  We all like life much better when Daddy/Mike is around.

Superheroes

With Halloween around the corner and Thomas’ pretend play revolving a lot around super heroes, protecting the house and and getting the bad guys we had a little fun with face paint tonight.  Thankfully Mike is a great sport and he’s always up for some bad guy hunting!

Celebration of Mike with Max and Amy

It is official Mike finished his MBA, so we spent the weekend celebrating him for a few reasons.  When we were still living in Denver Mike was accepted to Regis University, thankfully when we found out we were moving to Seattle they let him switch into the online program so he could finish his degree over the last two years. 

Mike has accomplished a lot and gaining his MBA while he had a full time job and a family to keep happy was not easy.  It meant a lot of very late nights of homework after we all went to sleep.  We are very very proud of him and thankful for how hard he works for our family.

Max and Amy came over and after having dinner we headed up to Sunset Hill to watch the sunset over Puget Sound.  It was also bittersweet as this was the beginning to the end, we were also celebrating Mike getting and accepting a job in Dallas.

I am writing this while sitting in Dallas so the emotion behind the initial decision is all gone, but lets just say it was one of the toughest decisions Mike and I have ever had to make together.   It is going on my list of big adult things that I never want to have to be a part of again, ha!  The long story short is that there were two positions both with Coca Cola that were offered to him.  At first glance it seemed that Minnesota would be the answer and then after further review and looking at all the different factors, family, life quality, career, happiness, ect, Dallas was the clear answer.  Let’s just say telling our families who were all obviously rooting for Minnesota that we were so so close to getting “home” that we would be going to Dallas was excruciating.  Mike and I are however confident that the right decision was made and fast forward a few months, here we are (dang I need to catch up this blog)!

Mike and his mini…

Thomas is a little big guy that loves to think he is big.  I'm talking he thinks he and his "buddy" Mike are both super big guys that can do super big things.
I'm not joking when I say that he will often ask while Mike is at work if he and Dad can mow the lawn and do yard work when he gets home.  

Today was no different, when Mike was at work he asked if they could mow the lawn when he got home.  Tonight was a lawn mowing night and watching the two “guys” mow their lawn and do yard work was too cute for words.  Thomas happily helped his dad and in no time at all they were finished.  What hard working guys I have in my family.

Swing Batter

Spring is here in Seattle and along with spring comes Daddy and Thomas time at the park. This is a good thing as our big hitter has been devastated about the fact that he can no longer play baseball in the basement.  Seriously, we go over why it isn’t a good idea every night. 

choo choo

Thomas has been very into playing with his trains, truck and cars lately.  The picture of he and Mike in his room was taken as they were setting up the track again. I asked them to smile and Thomas quickly put his hand around Mike’s neck to pose with his buddy. 

Egg Crackin’ Good Time

After a long and late nap yesterday Thomas was ready for an “ark projek.”   On Pinterest, I was given this idea for Easter egg painting.

I knew with a 2 year old we would be quite a bit messier but went for it anyway.  All but 1 set of our eggs had holes in it, which I thought would be a disaster, BUT for Thomas it ended up being perfect.  It was difficult for him to independently crack open the eggs, but he could hit the paper and paint would come out.

We started our project so late that Mike even got in on the fun!  Best part was watching Thomas paint Mike.  We tried to ask him if he remembered painting Daddy in October or if he remembers it from the picture we have sitting in the house, he didn’t tell us.  Regardless, it was a fun paint session and as usual it was followed with a shower!

Dot dot dot…

Crack…

Pour…

Smear….

Spread…

Get Daddy messy!!!!

For your viewing pleasure a couple little snippits of Thomas painting and the messy fun with Daddy home!

Roop-Beer

Thomas is a big fan of 3 things at the moment, saying “cheers,” his Daddy and drinking “roop-beer.”  We snuck away from cooking on Tuesday and Thomas got to enjoy a dinner out with Mike and I. 

We went to one of our favorites right on Puget Sound and it was far too “bright” for Thomas to take his hat off.  Mike also had to keep his body in the right spot so the sunlight didn’t bother him.  Thomas just might be made for this Seattle Grey!

Slow Week…

Last week both Thomas and I had colds.  On top of that he was cutting his top molars, so we kept ourselves away from other kiddos and stuck around the house. 

Thomas was very into being messy with art this past week.  After painting on Monday he wanted to do it every morning.  Tuesday I whipped up this tearing/pasting/collage to replace paint.  He was still all about smearing his hands in the glue, but there was not a bath involved in this activity!

He has really enjoyed his new chalkboard in his big boy room.  He calls it “painting” and we had many pictures “painted” and repainted in there.  We are still working on “staying on the black” but have yet to have time to put the trim on.

Wednesday afternoon we headed out for a Thomas/Mommy date and went to see The Lorax.  Thomas was having a really off day and I thought with it being chilly outside we would give it a shot.  He didn’t have any popcorn (a favorite snack) or Coke (another treat he always wants a sip or two of) and snuggled the whole 1st half of the movie.  Half way thought I asked if he wanted to stay or go and he said “go home.”  So that is where we went.  In the car we talked about it and Thomas said he got “scared guy down” meaning he was scared when the guy fell down from the house.  Not going to lie we both jumped in the theater!  Better luck next time I guess. 

We also were able to get our daily walk/park or dog park/hike in.  This is a quick snippet of my little and big adventures out on our afternoon hike. 

Thomas and I were cleaning out a drawer that wouldn’t close and we found Mike’s harmonica.  Since that moment we have been being serenaded on a daily basis. 

As always, cold or no cold, Mike coming home from work means dinner and then basement for “ha ta.”  They have a ritual, they turn on a hockey game, lace up the skates on the bottom step and then play like mad!   Thomas is getting pretty good on the carpet with his skates, he now likes to “shoot” and “score” as well.  So much fun for me to watch the two of them play.  I just need to get a black and white referee jersey and whistle as sometimes Daddy gets a little rough and needs to take a 2 minute penalty for roughing or hooking.

Weekend Adventures

Mike’s good buddy Uncle Larson was married this weekend in Fargo.  It was hard to not go with Mike back for his wedding as both Thomas and I too love Uncle Larson, but we didn’t have a good option for Stella and the cats for pet sitting.  With a new baby coming into our world so soon, life is going to get a little wild and we were not willing to overly stress the pets.  So it was Mike representing our family solo on a quick “boys trip.”   Just sayin’ he probably was able to get a lot wilder without Thomas and I there to reign him in!  Only bad part is the pictures were from his phone and here they are!

Thomas and I held down the fort for the 36 hours Mike was gone!   He got lots of Skyping in with his grandma and grandpa and some good mommy time.

Friday morning we met up with the Welfare/Langenbrunner clan at the Aquarium for some fun.  Thomas had his mind on his mission to find the baby otter, but stopped for a few minutes to see his other aquarium favorites the shark, big fish, diving birds, and the seals.  On the way home he fell asleep and then continued his nap at home so I could get a few things done.

Saturday we got the house in order and played for a few hours with the neighbor boys.  We also went on our nice day adventure walk to find the tree tunnels (people in our neighborhood need to cut back their trees that hang over the sidewalks), the chickens, goose statue, soft tall grass and cool rocks/sticks.  As always it is an adventure and we always have a good time. 

Once home the neighbor boys who are almost 4 and 6 and Thomas adores played soccer with him, let him try out the scooter, fed Stella sticks and then came in for a little play time before it was time for dinner.   Mike was home for dinner and then the Daddy/Thomas time began until bedtime. 

Sunday started with Daddy and Thomas playing hockey in the basement, making a sticker art project and then a family trip to the park.   I worked on organizing the office for its move downstairs.  It was a great weekend both apart and as a family.  The old office will now be transformed in to our baby girl’s nursery!  Thomas’ magnetic chalkboard is also finished so we tried out a few magnets.  The little guy has had a rough time getting his second molars in, last night he kept saying “owwa teef” and pointing to both sides of his cheeks.  Then today Grandma Nancy asked how they were and he said “no” but during nap it was obvious that his mouth was hurting.  Poor guy, the good news is though that they are almost in!  The bottom 2 have been in for the last few weeks and the top left one is through and the right one has cut through the gum!  Wahoo!

Thomas also got to try on his new big boy soccer undies.  His tiny little self in these tiny little undies is too adorable for words!

Stick Handling Lesson 1

Thomas is very into sports right now.  His current favorites are soccer “sha-ka shoe,” hockey “haa ta” and baseball “go go throw.”

His adorable tiny skates hang in his big boy room on a hook and every few nights he asks to skate.  Tuesday night we did indoor skating and on Thursday, while I was out for dinner, he and Mike went to the rink again.  Once he got the stick he was happy to pose for a picture with his Dada.

He also needed a few “breaks” during his skating.  He is really a riot and a constant source of laughter in our house.