So sweet

We are so BLESSED to have parents who love our kids and are so involved in their lives. They take care of them pretty much anytime we ask and they play with them all the time. Our kids adore them so much and are always asking to go over to their houses. The other day we were over at Pete's parents house and Joe for some reason would not take a nap. Then his dad came home from work and went in sat in his chair to take a nap. Joe walked right over to him, cause I think he knew what he was going to do, and wanted to be picked up. They both laid right back and fell asleep. It was so cute to see Joe go running over to him so that he could take a nap with him. Once again we are SO blessed to have our parents around again all the time. Even though I miss the weather in NC, I would rather have friends and family around all the time.

Butter him up

Joe thought it would be fun to wear the butter rather than eat it today. It was a good thing that they were getting baths tonight anyway.

After Pete just took a wash cloth to his hair to get it out and this is how he looked.

Oh Toodles

I was getting lunch ready today after church and all of a sudden PJ goes "Mom, Oh Toodles" I was like what are you talking about. Then he said that I had toodles on my necklace. I looked down and sure enough there was toodles. It is so fun to see what kids observe and pick out.

Here is the full necklace, do you see toodles?

There it is, for those of you who do not know who Toodles is watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and you will know what we are talking about.

Weekend away!!

We are in the "30" phase with all our friends. Some are 30 (a few of them 31) but most of us are turning 30 this year. A couple weekends again we went up to Boyne Mountain for the weekend to celebrate a few of them. We had a 1/2 off weekend so it was pretty cheap and a lot of fun. We got up there early afternoon on Friday and then from 6-8 we had FREE beer, wine and appetizers, can't beat that deal, oh and I got a free mini massage. They had a heated pool and hot tub that we went in, which is fun when you have snow and really cold weather all around you. We got to sit in there and watch the crazy night time skiers come flying down the hill. Then on Saturday we went skiing which I have not done for a LONG time. It was so much fun though and I got to ski with Pete for the FIRST time since I have known him. Just so you know we have known each other for 13 1/2 years. Which means that is how long it has been since Pete skied. He was usually playing basketball in the winter which forbidden him from skiing. He did good and I was impressed. Then we got a FREE lunch which consisted of hot dogs and burgers. At night we hung out, got pizza, and played some games. It was a great get away weekend that I think we all needed. We are so blessed to have such a great group of friends and we are loving hanging out with them all the time now. We have been making up for the 2 1/2 years of sitting at home most weekends when we lived in NC. Those were nice but I would much rather be sociable and get out.

Joey Joey

I feel like I say that alot everyday. He is such happy kid but has a little bit of a redheaded temper. It has been coming out more and more everyday. If things are not going his way he throws himself on the ground and cries, or swings his arms around and flips out. He definitly keeps us on our toes these days.

Potty Training Again

I think that this is my 3rd attempt at potty training PJ. The first one he would put the underwear on but then cried and screamed every time I tried to put him on the potty. The second attempt he screamed when I took the underwear out. So today I wasn't really planning on trying but thought, hey we are home today so why not. I had to force him to put the underwear on today but we got them on. He fought for a while to take them off but I distracted him and then we was ok with it. He did pretty good though and I was impressed. He never told me before he had to pee but either during or after. So then we would go sit on the potty, for a very long time, and he would go a little more. So we definitely made progress. Hopefully tomorrow he will get the hang of it more. I found out that potty training is a good way to catch up on laundry though. So lets home for a good day tomorrow.

Fun with the cousins

I had the privelege of watching my sisters kids a day this week while she went to work. One nice perk of living back in Michigan. I am loving that PJ gets to play with his cousins ALL the time now. He loves it too as well as Joe. This is some of the activities that went on.

A new craft that I found, you get the ends wet and then you stick

them together and make whatever.

Joe helping out

Ty's creation

Lindsey "J"

Ty reading to PJ

All the kids reading

This is Ty's version of the story

Who needs a dishwasher when you have kids?

The apartment we are living right now does not have a dish washer. It really kinda stinks since I have never not had one. So I do a lot of dishes and get sick of it quickly. It is a good thing that my boys like to play with water. I just through so dish soap in there and give them a brush and away they go. It is also nice cause it entertains them for a while.

Meet PJ's new friend -- Mr. Robot

PJ got these build it up blocks for Christmas and you can make a robot out of them. Pete would put it together and then act like he is the robot talking. He will ask PJ to shake his hand and give him a hug. It is pretty funny, to me atleast. Here is PJ and his new friend - Mr. Robot.

Joe + yogurt = a mess

When a 19 month old is determined to feed himself this is what you get. I guess he has to learn somehow so why not with yogurt. He has really gotten good with utensils though. He has to have one with every meal, even a peanut butter sandwich. I cut it in fours stick a fork in one piece and he is all set.

Officially Michiganders again

For those of you who have not heard yet, we have moved back to MI. Just after Thanksgiving Pete and I went down after Thanksgiving and packed up the rest of our stuff. I made a lot of trips that week. I rode down with Pete on a Saturday, packed up Sunday and realized that we were not going to fit everything in. So I headed back up with the truck on Sunday afternoon. I got stuck in the Holiday traffic for a few hours so I had to stop overnight and then got home on Monday around noon. Got my haircut, emptied the truck and saw my boys for a little bit. Then Tuesday got in the truck and rode back down with his dad. It took like 13 hours for some reason so it was another long day. Packed up stuff on Wednesday and headed out that afternoon. Made it about half way and stopped overnight. Got home on Thursday for good. So Saturday-Thursday I was traveling and I was so sick of it. But I am SO glad my traveling days are over. It is SO nice to know that I do not have to make that trip again unless I want to go visit someone. Which is not going to happen anytime soon. I am so THANKFUL for ALL our safe travels over the past 2 1/2 years. There was never any accidents or major car problems. A few break downs but it was always a quick fix. I only got pulled over once, one of my last trips up there, but did not get a ticket. Living in NC was a great experience and I am glad I got live there but I am really glad to be back by friends and family.

Joe helping me pack

Joe playing Peek-a-Boo

Saying good by to my good friend Vonda and her kids

Joe riding in the truck with Pete, getting ready to head out with a work load.

My mom came down to make the last trip with the boys cause Pete had to work

Boys LAST morning in NC (November 22, 2009)

I must say that is was one of our best trips with the boys.

They were such troopers over the past few years.

Then this is what you get when you move. Since we kinda

downsized again I needed to find room for all our crap.

We are settled now and it is feeling like home again.