Spring

We are loving this spring weather and have been outside as much as possible. The kids love getting out of the house and I love that my house stays clean :)

Ethan and I have also been able to tackle some projects outside and I finally convinced him to paint my front door a dark blue. Now I just have to wear him down on the idea of matching shutters...so excited to see what it will look like.

Our bit of good news this week is that we found a new nanny! Her name is Jamie will start helping us out for a few days in April and then start every week in May. This is a huge answer to prayer and we are all excited.

Ian and Amanda fly in on Saturday and we can't wait to meet Jude and spend some time with them over the next week! Ethan is taking some time off and we are looking forward to some family time.

Emma writes notes while Noah eats grapes.

Practicing dance moves on the deck

"Cheese!"



Noah gets a little frustrated because he just can't make his "bike" go as fast as Emma's.



My new blue front door...just missing the matching shutters.



"Catch!"



Sibling love



Emma was reading Noah his favorite book - Goodnight Moon.



Catch Up

Just realized it's been a couple weeks since my last post. Here's a short list of what's been happening:

• Still trying to find a nanny. In the meantime, my family is helping us out on Wednesdays. We are also swapping childcare with Lydia's mom. We have Lydia on Tuesdays and she takes our kids on Friday. It's working out nicely for now.
• We ordered new kitchen cabinets and a built-in dishwasher. I am so excited and can hardly wait to see the difference it will make in our kitchen. After having a couple of estimates done last year, we thought it would be out of the question. However we found a great new designer and she was able to cut the estimate almost in half which means our tax refund will cover it.
• We had fun with the Hagbergs watching the Cyclones play in the NCAA tournament. They had a great season and we can't wait for next year! Ethan and I watched lots of basketball over the weekend and Emma told us that was enough :)
• I managed to fit a breakfast date with Emma in on Saturday. She wanted to do errands with me so we stopped at a little breakfast place in town. Thought she would love it but it ended up with her in tears because her tummy hurt and she didn't like her waffle. Guess we'll try something else next time...
• Other than that, it's just been keeping up with the usual activities and enjoying the beautiful weather! We are excited for Easter and a visit from Ian and Amanda. I return to Florida in April for another work trip so the month will fly by!

Lydia came over to play in the snow (this must of been Feb)

Snow angels

We had to say good-bye to Lori

Noah found a new way to sip a shake



We made chocolate cookies for Grandma's birthday





My kitchen helper

 


Another hat and one Spiderman slipper...great style.




Daddy let Noah splash in the rain.

 

They made their own band.



Noah the drummer boy



Home

After a week in Orlando, I will openly admit that I enjoyed quiet nights alone in my room, catching up on reading, devotions with breakfast, delicious meals that I didn't have to cook, my bed being made each morning, and time spent with great co-workers.

These are all nice luxuries but after a few days I found myself missing home. It's so funny that when I'm living in the craziness at home there are moments when I would love some "alone time." Yet, when I get it, after awhile I've had enough quiet, enough room service, enough "me" time. I start counting down the days until I'm home. I can't tell you how excited I am to see those happy faces and feel their arms around my neck. Noah does these adorable bear hugs where he squeezes me really tight and even grits his teeth...so cute.

Being gone just reminds me that my heart really is at home. The people there are changing me and teaching me that there is so much more to life than me. Giving of myself brings so much more joy than indulging myself.

Now, I had to remind myself of these thoughts on Monday when I awoke to mounds of laundry, bills to pay, an empty fridge, and two hungry children :) Home sweet home... it was refreshing to be away but I'm so glad to be back.