Smurf

When Matt is in charge of Kaden, there is no telling what will happen. Once, after a day of painting Kaden's room (bright green), I was loading the car while Matt was supposedly watching the little mischief maker. I came back in, to see my proud boy with the paint roller....painting the living room wall, the carpet, and the kitchen counters. I said, "Matt, who is in charge here?!?!" He just shrugged his shoulders and said, "well, apparently HE is." Apparently.

So, not to my surprise, this is what I saw when I got out of the shower. He is covered in blue slick oily crayon stuff. His arms and hands are painted too, and he is so proud. I think it's the cutest thing and have yet to wash it off.

I love being the mom of a rambunctious, adventurous, and sometimes frustrating little boy. I never know what I am going to get next...

This is what we do...

When it's Sunday, snowing outside, and mommy doesn't feel good.

Matt reads the Darwim Awards, I am lazy and cave to letting Kaden watch Cars just so he'll calm down and let me lay around.

And I can't resist a little tickle action because that laugh of his is contagious and my favorite thing to hear.

Light and home-y.

The living room has been put together for a while now, and I love the light, airy feeling. I am sure I will still rearrange things, add more, take some away, but for now, this is what we've done so far.

The entry. I love that mirror. I had a fun time refinishing it, although it was not as easy as I had originally planned. Here is what it looked like before:

It was so gross and dirty. It was shiny gold and the most gaudy thing. I love how it turned out, and I think that this is my favorite little section of our living room.

Looks comfy, huh? It is.

I need to throw something on those bottom shelves. Kaden has taken it to be his personal cubby/hiding place.

Kaden already shattered the green globe light on the right. Not that I am at all surprised, but I was a little bummed.

Can you tell how much I LOVE this part?

I am pretty much in Heaven in this entire room. Feels like HOME.

Little Boy Paradise

Kaden's new room is probably my favorite in the house right now. It is so bright and cheery and I love being in there. He loves it too, which boosts my pride a bit. I have been collecting things over the last year to decorate it, and so far, I am loving how it is turning out.

The pictures didn't turn out great because there was so much light coming in the window. I am definitely not complaining about that.

So, here it is:

I've still got to find a twin bed frame, but the little man loves the big boy bed. He will actually stay in it all night.

This toy bin is awesome. It's so easy to see what he has, and to clean it up afterward. He is slowly-but-surely learning to help.

I love that little red rocking chair.

Claiming his territory...

Well, we finally moved. HALLELUJAH. I'll post on that later.

For now, I'll leave you with this little treat.


Whilst unpacking the never ending boxes, I realized Kaden was in his new room with the door shut, being awfully quiet. This raises suspicions in the mommy of a boy.

So I paused my monotonous task and peeked into his little room. Instantly, my eyes teared up and my nose burned from the fumes. Kaden, standing on his new big-boy-bed, stepped aside and happily revealed his masterpiece.

"wook momma, puupple!"

Seeing and smelling the permanent marker in his grimy, fat fist, I slowly said, "no buddy, that isn't purple, it's black. It is naughty to write on the wall."

"uh oh.." was all he said. I whimp-ishly slapped his little hand and firmly said "No."

Seeing mommy seemed sad, or upset, or some undesirable emotion, my little man said, "awwwww momma, I saawwy, come on." He embraced my head in his arms and gave me a sweet hug, kiss, and patted my back, saying, "awwww...'sokay momma".

How can you get mad at that?

You can't. You just can't.

Sledding with the Ladies

Susan, Tiff, Lori, Theresa, Me
I love to hang with these cute girls from church when I have a break in the schedule. We got together to go sledding and laughed our you-know-whats off. It was a blast. I love that we are all different ages, but can still relate, laugh, and have fun.


Susan flyin' down.

Tiff trying not to let her bum fall through the hole!

Taking a break after the big climb.

Becky and Cru

These are a few...

Of my favorite things.

I am so glad that it doesn't take much to make me happy. I am content with simple things. I get excited about silly stuff, and I love to love things, and am quite sentimental. Most of these things are soft, cozy, and warm. Perfect for winter.

These are a few of my obsessions as of late...and if I were Oprah, I would throw a party and get these things (that I personally can't imagine life without) for YOU.

My "sweater boots". Am currently OBSESSED with these and wear them almost daily. My mom calls them the sweaters for my feet. They are the most comfortable things I have ever worn, go with anything, and keep my feet nice and toasty (which is a hard thing to do this time of year).


Hot cider...the fresh, straight from the apple kind. Warms from the inside out.

Tobes. Cute, soft, cuddly, and even smells good.

My shoulder pack. It's organic and full of yummy-smelling essential oils. I got it from my work, and heat it up at least 3 times a day, and take it to bed with me every night. Sometimes it's on my neck, sometimes my back, feet, stomach, you name it. How did I ever survive without this thing?

SUNNY, winter days. I am okay with the snow, but I am a girl who literally NEEDS sunshine. I swear I shut down and get S.A.D. when it hides for too long. It's been beautiful for weeks and I am soaking it up.

The anti-anxiety, everything will be and is right, most excellent book. I read out of it everyday and it has literally changed me. Everyone, READ this, over and over and over again.

my "barefoot dreams" blanket. The softest thing on earth, and I am obsessed.

Sesame seed and tamari rice cakes and almonds. I eat them all day at work to my heart's content. If only I had my cider at work too...I could live off of this for a while.

Celtic Woman. UH-MAZE-ING. The most beautiful, pure, resonating voices I have heard. Their music is inspiring, uplifting, and brings peace and happiness into the soul. I am all about the get up and dance music, but I would trade all that for these ladies. I am serious, they are that good, and make me feel SO happy when I listen. I'm pretty sure they're angels.

Cute hats: Hide ugly hair, keep my head warm, and go with all sorts of things. I have been wearing these a lot.

So these are the latest and greatest winter loves. What are you especially into these days?