How To Make A Little Boy's Day

This picture is from a few weeks ago, but I just came across it and loved it.

That was the first time JJ really got to see a fire truck up close.

To touch it.

To wave at the fire men.

To see the lights and hear the sirens.

It was, more or less, life changing.

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Currently, we are dealing with the recently prevalent "It takes to hours to put him to bed" time.

This last week we have been working on sleeping in our "Big Boy" bed AND no pacifier.

Ohh. My. Goodness.

I'm trying really hard to remember this is hard for him too, and not just me.

He wants to sleep in his bed, thats not what the fight is about, its more about being alone.

If I sit there with him, he will fall asleep.

If I tickle him, he will fall asleep.

If he falls asleep in my arms and lay him in his bed, its okay.

He just wants company.

I can't get mad at him for that.

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In other recent developments, and we are talking post binkie

A certain small person has found he really REALLY likes to pinch and bite.

Oh joy.

You have no idea how thrilled I am with that.

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Well, I'm off to do some house shopping, then hitting the store to get num nums for tomorrow.

(Its Jon's birthday!!!!)

Oh Yeah

So,

did I forget to mention that...

WE ARE MOVING TO PORTLAND!

If you've been wondering where in the world I have been and what could possibly be talking to time away from my blog...well.  There ya go.

We got the official word on Monday that as of the middle of September, Jon will be working at a new job. 

Well, same company

different department.

Even though Jon doesn't start till mid September, we will be moving down there the last week of August.

At that time we will be houseless here in the tulip valley and (hopefully) moving into our new place somewhere in/around Portland.

Thats t-minus 4 1/2 weeks people.

You know the things I have to do...!?!?!

Lucky for us, we have moved every single year to a new house, so we are old pros at packing.  That's the least of our worries.

Its the finding a place to move into thats affordable but fits our needs.

Ya...that.

So these days, my computer time has changed from blogging to craigslisting.

Our family dinners have turned into "whats next" talks.

Life has gone from 0 to 60 and it ain't slowing down any time soon.

Your prayers are once again welcomed.

Prayer for guidance to the right house

and a not so stressful move.

Prayer for the hurt of leaving friends behind

but rejoicing in the friends we are going to.

Prayer for getting to know new jobs, new places and new people...

and that, over all, we would not stress and trust God would put us where He wants us.

We thank you for the prayers you have prayed for us already...
even if you didn't really know what you were praying about.

This was it, people,

this was it.

So...

if I'm not updating my blog a lot in the next few weeks...

or if you wonder if I have fallen off the face of the earth.

well no...

we are just moving across it.

xoxo

Our Son : The Genius

Dear Fans

Hi there,

JJ here, so you wondering where I've been lately?

Well...

Its been raining  a lot lately, but don't worry, I'm prepared!

My Nana and Papa came to visit!  It was a surprise!

Papa brought me something!  Wanna see...?

That's right, I'm rocking a big boy bed now!

My Mama tells me its for sleeping, but I have other ideas.

I am having some trouble getting the hang of it....

Sometimes I get it though!

I ate some cool, white, fluffy sticky stuff that mama calls marshmellows...I call it " Bar Melons"

Oh, and my buddy came to visit today.  See her hand, she got an ouchie...so I gave her hugs and made it feel all better! 

Well, that's it peeps.  Keep rocking. 

Oh, and by the way, Mama's got some pretty big news to share soon...so stay tuned!

All my love,

JJ 

 

Grandma's Treasures

My grandma, JJ's B'nana, gave us this this lovely table.
It remember it when I was little, in grandma's basement, and playing on it even though we weren't suppose to.  It used to belong to my great grandpa, so it been around for a while.
It had a darker look before, a dark stain that had beaded up and leather seats. 
After a lot of elbow grease from my mom and some personal touches from me ( that means the only thing I did was the cushions) here's the finished product.
Thanks Grandma!

We love our treasure!

Midnight Madness

{source}

I was thinking...

and then I stopped, cause it hurt.

ahem-

I digress.

I'm having trouble seeing the glass half full tonight, and am feeling all the more frustrated for it.

I would love to be sharing good news, but I'm not.

I would simply like some answers to some really hard questions, but I don't have them.

I would love to see my husband full of joy, and not so worried.

I would love to know exactly where our food will land if we take this leap of faith.

I know I'm being vague...

but only because I have to me right now.

We have till Monday to make a life altering choice, and as far as pros and cons go, there is no absolute best here. There is only the will of the Lord, which we are trying desperately to understand right now.

I ask for your prayer.

Sometimes I would love to throw caution into the wind and go for it.

I think this is one of those times.

Jon is the opposite, which I suppose make us a perfectly balanced match, but it also means we disagree on things like this.

I am trying so hard not to fix my mind on what I want, because what I want may not be whats best for us. (although, I would love for it to be)

Its so easy to say that you know the Lord has it all figured out, that its in his hands.

But it is much harder to live like you absolutely believe that.

Even when you do.

The night is late, and I should get to be bed if only I could shut off the endless picture show in my mind. The list, the dreams...they run ramped in there at these times of the night. I, evidently, have no off switch.

Sounds of sleeping people fill my house, though I assure you those are not quiet sounds, and all I really want to is to wake my husband up and cuddle in his arms.

But, for now...

I'll let him be.

Favorite Things

Favorite outfit # 1: "FuhFuh" on head and choo choo "unnies"

Favorite outfit #1 seen again here

Favorite outfit # 2:  The fisherman's hat...that we wear with EVERYTHING! 

Favorite snack: black olives

Favorite accessory: olive fingers

Mama's favorite lately: smoothies!

Aquarium Day

This weekend ended up being a lot busier that I had anticipated.

There were visits from friends, coffee dates, church, shopping, traveling, more friends and fish.  It really was a great weekend.
On Saturday I got a message from friend and fellow blogger Brittany ( of The Pistachio Project ) who asked if they could treat us to an aquarium trip! Who could say no to that?

This was JJ's first trip to the aquarium, and its pretty safe to say it was a hit!

Thanks Brittany (and wonderful, beautiful family) for such a treat, and dinner too.  We had a blast!