Blast from the Past...

The not so distant past.

As I am going through and picking out pictures to upload to other posts I have created in the past few months and not been able to finish, I am coming across lots of pictures that I can't help but stop and share. We don't have lots of pictures of Gavin and Dane together for lots of reasons but I love when I come across ones that I forgot were taken.

This is from almost a year ago (February 15, 2013) and I can't believe how different they both look. Gavin looks so much more grown up now and Dane (though not a surprise) looks like a toddler.

I wish they would just slow down a bit so I could feel like I was really able to enjoy and absorb them but it all goes by faster as they get older and busier. I guess it is a good thing we have so many pictures so I can go back and look through to remind myself of how they looked (and oh how cute they are!), what we did, and all the fun we had.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

(Details of our awesome Christmas to follow!)

Dane's Newest Obsession...

I am glad that Gavin and Dane have never minded the vacuum. I have heard some have children that are afraid or don't like the noise but we don't have that problem. I am certainly glad because it is out pretty much every day at some point and sometimes more than once. Shop vacs are awesome!

Dane is now obsessed with the vacuum and as soon as it comes out he is coming at it trying to take control. Gavin used to like to help (he will do it now if I ask but will rarely ask if he can help otherwise) and Dane used to be satisfied with just holding a piece or two of the hose extensions. Not anymore. He now demands full control of the vacuum and prefers for it to be on. He does seem to try to vacuum the floor but that quickly turns into trying to get someone or something, including his own fingers. He loves it and always has a huge smile on his face.

I am so glad to have my little helpers!

So Behind...

I am, yet again, majorly behind with updates around here! I keep thinking I will get to it and do it from my phone but that doesn't really work for lots of posts or long posts plus I can't upload photos from the camera via my phone, only those that were taken with the camera on my phone. The laptop I had from work had become a bit unreliable and I was unmotivated to spend any time trouble shooting it because it was going to take a fair bit on time. Not to mention the hardware that had stopped work (or working reliably). I could have used Scott's computer from time to time but I rarely had a chance to get in there for anything more than a few minutes to hand necessities when Scott wasn't home and wanting/needing his computer. So anyway, I am now set up with a new laptop (I had to turn mine in when I resigned at the end of my leave of absence, a post about that day will be up at some point in time for sure!) and so Scott insisted that we get something for me to be able to do everything I need to around here. At first I was resistant because I knew I could get by without having one but I am glad he insisted because I am really excited to have a good reliable machine to handle bills, surfing the web, blogging, pictures, and everything else that we may need it for. I am determined to get back on top of sharing tidbits about our life. I am really looking forward to being caught up so I can share more of all the fun things that we do and all the cute pictures we take.

So a couple of recent cute pictures of the boys playing in the snow just for fun!

Apple Picking!

We had an awesome playdate this morning at our favorite farm to play, visit the animals, and pick some delicious fruit! I have only ever been on weekends when they are busy so this was an entirely different experience. It was even better than usual! We had a chance ti meet and chat with the owner, he gave us a ride around on a fancy new jeep type vehicle, we played with their new chocolate lab named Mocha, and had free reign of the farm! It was fun to catch up with good friends while playing and enjoying the beautiful weather (after three days of yucky weather). Gavin had such a good time that even almost 3 hours there, he desparately wanted to go back after his nap. I forgot the Canon and generally forgot to take pictures but I did snap a few on my phone. 

We can't wait to go back in a few weeks for more apples and to pick out pumpkins for Halloween!

Hey! There is a Baby in There!

Dane was playing in the kitchen while I started dinner and Gavin napped and he found his reflection in the over door (please ignore the dirty window, I have yet to find anything to completely clean off what manages to find its way on there while things bake). He was so excited. He was banging on the door and babbling up a storm! So. Much. Fun!

Sharing...

Is caring! Dane loves to share whatever he happens to be holding and enjoying. If it is a toy/teething item he will gladly look at you, smile, and then try to shove it in your mouth for you to try it out. He does this with food as well. Last night while I was making dinner, Gavin and Dane were snacking on carrots and cucumbers (both favorites of theirs, we go through an insane amount of them every week). Gavin pulled his chair up to Dane in the high chair and Dane was more than happy to share with Gavin. Gavin would ask for him to share (although Dane doesn't really know what he is saying yet, it is really sweet Gavin wants to play and eat with Dane), Dane would then try to put the carrot or cucumber in Gavin's mouth. When they were out, Gavin came looking for more to share with Dane.

It was great and occupied them both for maybe 5 minutes so I could finish up dinner (and it kept Gavin out of trouble for a few minutes). I am glad I caught it with my phone because it was really cute, even though it was short lived!