My Big Kitchen

We're finally in our house! It was an exhausting weekend and the work hasn't slowed down either. And we love it and are so thankful! We have so many plans to keep us busy in this house. I only have a few pictures for now but I will definately be posting more "before and after" pictures over the months and years.

The boys love all the new fix-it tasks that have come with this new house. First job - fixing (ahem, replacing) the garbage disposal. Jack's got quite the plumber's butt for the job.

Patrick crashed this morning while I steam cleaned the carpets. The old owners left a steam cleaner behind and it works great! I'm almost as stoked about owning my own steam cleaner as a house!

Story time back at the duplex.

My pumpkin.

Stay cool!

Stuck

Just this morning I was sitting here at the computer when I heard Jack screaming bloody murder. He ran into the room - "STUCK! STUCK STUCK!" That's a DVD case on his head, if you couldn't tell. Thankfully I had my camera with me and snapped a quick picture before he pulled it off his head.

Goings On

We've been busy over here. After the New Year we started house hunting. The process was fun for about an hour and now we're just eager to get into our house. We were set to move this week when we got the bad news that it'll be another month. Apparently buying from bankrupt sellers can be quite a hassle. But it should be worth it! So we're shoving our our boxes aside and trying to live as "normally" as possible until we (Lord willing) get our house and can start making it our home!

The boys supply us with endless entertainment over here. Patrick loves to tag after Jack and Jack is talking non-stop these days. Some of our favorite Jackisms are "I'm so cuuuuuuuute!" "Cannimal" (camal.) "See you alligator." And how whenever we talk about pigs Jack has to mention Patrick.

Cabin Fever: February Edition

Matching-Jammies-Night

It seems I have a picture of Patrick like this in almost every blogpost....

Here Jack's showing off his "Cider" (spider). The boy just loves finding spiders around the house and making them his pets. I think he has been greatly influenced by his new favorite movie - Charlotte's Web.

Some of the great benefits of moving - bubble wrap and packing boxes!

Chicago visit

So it's been a while since I last posted. We've been busy! Busy visiting Grandma and Grandpa and the Mertens Aunties. Busy with buying a house and packing up our stuff. Busy with life in general. Plus I've tried several times unsuccessfully to post pictures - so hey, it's not my fault.

There was a lot of snow in Chicago.

Notice how in the only two pictures I put up of the two boys together Patrick is crying.

Patrick's birthday dinner!

Whattia have to say birthday boy?

But all in all it was a great birthday.

Christmas Time

Of course these pictures are completely out of order, because that's how I roll.

Jack was cooking with his new play food (while sitting in his new rocking chair from G&G Bakken) when he decided it was time to eat. He yelled out to me "Mamma! Pray! Amen!"

Jack had to open his presents with his new wooden knife that came with his play food.

Jack got some new underwear from Aunties Carol and Becky. He immediately had to wear it.

Playing with stocking stuffers. Their favorites are these pathetic kazoos from the dollar store that don't even work.

Some Pre-Christmas shots...

Patrick dual-sipping

And reading books

And walking. Lots and lots of walking now. Crawling is for babies.

The boys got to open an early Christmas present from G&G Mertens - a nativity set. Patrick likes the box the best.

Ooh "Caymuls"!

As they always say... the box is the best part.

I must say... Christmas just gets more and more fun every year. Next year we will have a 3 yr old, almost 2 yr old and an infant. What fun will that be?!

Fashion sense

Jack pulled this look off all on his own. He got the boxers on the right way, but the boots are on the wrong feet. Better luck next time.

Here he is putting on his "shoe boots."

And Patrick still likes eating...