Simple weekends.

This weekend we had nothing on the calendar.  No trip back home, no projects around the house.  We got to spend so much time together just doing simple things.  It was so so nice.

Saturday Beau woke up with a fever.  He went to bed with a slight one on Friday night but it was higher in the morning.  He was extra cuddly so he and I stayed in bed to sleep. Andrew took Hudson fishing after a breakfast of mini chocolate donuts. Hudson LOVES those things.  He was so excited to go fishing too! 

By the time they got back, Beau's fever was down (either by Tylenol or just breaking all together) and that boy loves the outdoors so we headed out.  Andrew needed to mow desperately.  Beau and I did bubbles and chalk and Hudson followed Andrew's mower with his own little mower.  So stinking precious.

It was just one of those days we spend outside truly soaking up the day! We even grilled out and made s'mores.

Today was looking to be another one gorgeous day.  We went to church this morning and when we got home the boys were already wanting to play outside.  Andrew checked the weather and suggested to go fishing again and I suggested lunch by the lake first.  I mean, who doesn't love a picnic? Plus picnics also mean no mess in the kitchen for mom! ;) We packed up a cooler and set out on our way.  Andrew drove us to a secluded area, we spread out our blanket and took it all in. Beau didn't eat but for like two bites.  He was ready to check out the place.  

Andrew was getting the poles are set to go and Hudson and Beau explored.  It really was a gorgeous day.  There was such a nice breeze and the sunshine was warm but not too hot.  Like seriously perfect.  

And then, the sky changed. Dark clouds started to roll in and it began sprinkling.  Andrew checked the weather on his phone again and assured me, "there is nothing on the radar.  It'll blow over." So I put all the food items and blankets in the car (just in case).  After a few minutes the sprinkles stopped but the sky got darker.  We walked over to a lower spot so the boys could fish easier.  By this time the wind had totally picked up and Hudson's eyes were more on the sky than the water.  The poor guy absolutely hates storms.  Thunder kind of scares him but he does pretty well as long as mom or dad is close by.  

And for about five minutes, it was picture perfect.  All my guys, outdoors, together; Andrew teaching them about fishing.  Then lightning flashed across the sky and thunder boomed and this mama called the whole thing off.  Beau was in my arms and Hudson on my heels so I scooped him up too and we ran to the car.  Andrew said he wishes he had caught that on camera.  

The boys were laughing so hard as it poured on us as I got them buckled in and Andrew hurried to get the fishing gear in the van.  

The beautiful view through our sunroof ;)

We were all wet.  We had barely cast a line. But our boys were laughing.  We were together.  We had made a memory together with our kids.  So maybe Andrew can't read a weather report and spontaneity isn't our forte, but it didn't matter.  We can look back on today and laugh.  

Our boys went down for nap and when they awoke, although the skies were still grey it wasn't raining. So we played outside until dinner and the next set of storms rolled through.  

These days, weekends like this, won't last.  Soon they will be filled with ball games, school days, homework, busy schedules.  I want to soak in all these simple weekends I can with our boys.  It isn't about perfectly planned days or days filled with high priced activities.  It is about their laughs and smiles; the feeling of being loved undoubtedly.  I hope we always give our boys that.  

Xo~Bekah

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Growing up

It's been awhile since I have done a post about the boys and the stages they are in.  I can not believe how big they are getting and that we are already halfway to meeting baby boy #3!

So this past weekend as we were unpacking and organizing from our Easter weekend back home, I got the itch to just move our boys into the same room.  Like, that moment! Ha! It was something Andrew and I were planning on doing eventually and as I posed the question, "When do you think we should do that?" before he could really answer I suggested to just do it now! Bless him for going along with my crazy notions! We were both a little nervous to see how it would go.  Hudson's sleeping habits aren't terrible but there are some issues we are trying to get resolved with him.  Yet it's been three nights and so far, it has gone really well! Beau goes down about 20 minutes before we put Hudson to bed.  He is either asleep or content when we go in to tuck Hudson in.  Feeling super grateful that this transition has gone so smoothly.  I know we have more transitions to come as the year progresses!

Excuse the poor iPhone quality 

We need some curtains

Along with the room change, here is what else is going on with the boys.

Hudson 
Personality- Hudson has changed so much these past few months.  He has found an independence.  He loves Andrew and I to play games with him and draw and color but he has also learned how to play on his own.  I love seeing him pretend and create his own stories in his world with his toys.  It is so neat to see that imagination unfold first hand in your child.  He also has developed this wit and sense of humor that has Andrew and I in stitches many days.  He is a pleaser and really wants to do the right thing (most of the time). He is tender hearted and helpful.  I am really proud of the boy he is becoming.

Favorite Foods- Hudson LOVES breakfast! He loves all the breakfast foods and eats them so well! He loves fruit, all kinds! He is starting to eat some vegetables better- green beans, potatoes, carrots.  He is also a typical 3 year old and loves chicken nuggets, burgers, hot dogs, cheese and crackers, yogurt, fruit snacks!

Favorite Activities- Hudson loves to play.  He enjoys puzzles and reading books.  He has been lining up his toys during play lately (cars, animals) which is sweet to me.  He enjoys being outside, going to the park, taking walks.  He loves to watch a movie and ask questions about what is going on.  He can be perfectly content to take in the world around him- watching animals outside, picking up rocks or pine cones.

Friends- Hudson's best buds are still in our hometown.  He talks about them all the time.  He also LOVES his cousins.  Their names are often brought up during our day or when he is playing by himself.

Beau

Personality- Beau has always been a mellow fellow.  He still is but he definitely is learning to express what HE wants! He is developing his opinions and wanting to make sure they are heard! He wants to do everything anyone is doing.  Beau likes to be where you are.  He definitely is a mama's boy but he sure loves the moment Daddy gets home from work.  He has a really comical personality.  We can definitely see him becoming a class clown.  If he can get a giggle from you, he will keep it going. He can be a stinker as Hudson says! He acts innocent but will often instigate a little tiff to get a rise out of Hudson.  He is definitely going to keep Andrew and I on our toes.  He is sweet and funny and definitely such a blessing to our family.

Favorite Foods- Beau eats pretty well.  He likes to eat when he is hungry which isn't always at meal times.  He gets into the pantry ALL the time to try to find crackers or bring me a box of something to munch on! He loves yogurt and cottage cheese. He eats sandwiches and tacos well.  He LOVES salsa.  I think he would eat it with a spoon if we let him.  If he can dip it into something, he will eat it! Ketchup would be eaten with a spoon too! He still loves fruit a lot and has started to eat eggs. If he wants to try something, he will let you know.  He opens is mouth SUPER wide and leans way in! So cute!

Favorite Activities- Beau is our little shadow.  He likes to do what we are doing.  He likes to follow Hudson around.  He really likes to rough house with Hud or Andrew. Beau LOVES to be outside.  He cries when it is time to go in.  He also loves to play ball.  Catch, hit the ball, kick the ball, basketball.  He is SO into it. He is very into books right now.  He loves to be read to. He has favorite books and mimics along as we read to him. 

 I have no clue what this third boy will be like but I know how blessed we are with the two we have.

Xo~Bekah

Easter 2014

I just love Easter.  It is the most important holiday in my faith and I am always thankful for the sacrifice God made in sending his Son but I love this holiday that really focuses on it.

We really want our kids to always know the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice so we don't play up the bunny and we try to keep God at the focus of our family always (you can read about that here). That being said, we love all the fun traditions that come along with Easter.

Andrew had Good Friday off so after lunch we headed back to Decatur to spend some time with my parents.  They were traveling on Saturday to see my brother and sister-in-law in Chicago so we wouldn't see them until church on Sunday.  We wanted to get in some special Easter time with them since the rest of our weekend was pretty packed.

The weather this past weekend could not have been more perfect.  So when we got to my parents the boys had their (first) egg hunt of the weekend.  They seriously loved it.

We went inside to empty their eggs.  It was HEAVY on the candy and snacks but the boys got some coins to put in their piggy banks.  I seriously have already started to hide the candy in our house so I am not tempted.  :)

We also got to go dinner with my parents that night.  I so enjoy being able to have time with my parents as a parent now myself.  I truly see the preciousness of that relationship and know that I hope my boys will grow into adults that Andrew and I love in a whole new way.  

The next day we went to have breakfast with Andrew's grandparents.  Don and Jo are so so sweet.  Jo is seriously such a gem.  She is the kind of grandma (and now great-grandma to our boys) that makes them quilts and bunnies for Easter, can sew anything, makes things like jam and biscuits from scratch.  People like that just amaze me and it comes so naturally to her.  She also raised three boys so I feel a bond in that too. :) Our boys are so lucky to have three sets of great-grandparents so involved in their lives.  They can learn so much from them.  Definitely blessed to have family so close. 

Hudson was in serious need of a haircut and this mama was really to the point of being done doing that nonsense.  Not that I mind really, but I feel like it takes me FOREVER and Hudson gets restless and then I get snappy and then don't want to do it so put it off for like ever which results in him looking like a rag muffin. He was such a stink about when he was little that I took it over but I mean, he's three now.  Kid has to start some big boy stuff ;) 

Fortunately there is this barber shop in town that I had seen other people go to and I knew they did kids.  So after breakfast we headed downtown.  And oh my, it was so cute.  Cute probably isn't the term the men that own the establishment want me to use to describe it but I loved it!  It smelled amazing, had such a charm about it.  And you know they did good work because it was walk in only (maybe they take appointments) and our little man had to wait like 45 minutes.  To which I will say this--totally worth it! Hud was done in like 15 minutes, the man that cut his hair was a DOLL and so sweet to Hudson and the boy looked adorable when it was done! That was worth it for this mama to be stress free in the hair cut realm. 

We then went to Andrew's parents' house where we were staying for the weekend.  The boys had lunch and played outside.  Hudson got to with Mimi to the circus later that afternoon.  He was pretty excited even though I don't think he really knew what to expect.  Hudson's cousins went too.  My SIL, Jaci, put this picture of the big two on Instagram.  You can totally tell they are cousins, right??!

After they got home we all had dinner and then we got things ready to dye eggs. Four kids, three and under- it was a hoot! They were all pretty into it really, even the littles! Hudson and Beau used their hands while the girls used the egg-grabbers. Lila was seriously clean when she left the table compared to Hudson's hands that looked like the Hulk! Boys! 

I am so grateful for cousins (on both sides) so close in age to our boys.  It has made holidays, family outings, and traditions so much fun!! 

The next morning our boys woke up to see what they got for Easter. They didn't wake up particularly early.  They still don't know to do that on Christmas and Easter and birthdays.  I'll take it while it lasts.  Then we all got ready and headed off for church.  

** I know that girls seem like so much fun to dress up and such but oh my I absolutely adore dressing up our boys like little men! Seriously- melts my heart!!

Church was amazing.  I get so much out of worshiping with my church family every week but oh how I love Easter.  I love our home church in Decatur so it is always sweet to be there for worship but especially so on Easter Sunday.  If you are in the Decatur, IL area and don't have a home church, I know First Christian Church would welcome you with open arms!!

After service we headed to Andrew's other grandparents.  The boys got to have their second egg hunt but not before pictures with cousins. 

First Cousins

Paisley, Lila, Hudson, Beau, Eli

Family of 4 (and a 1/2) Easter 2014

 Then the hunt was on! There were a ridiculous amount of eggs! Like, our kids all had two buckets! Ha! 

Then it was into play clothes and time for lunch! They opened their Easter baskets from Mimi and Papa and their great-grandparents and played to their  hearts content outside with bubbles.  We hate leaving but our boys were tired and driving home is always less thrilling.  Fortunately both boys napped the WHOLE two hours home.

It was such a wonderful weekend with our families.  Hard to believe next Easter we will have three little boys to share these memories with!