Day 1006 | Wall Art

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We need to host more parties. Man, it's just such a good motivator to finally get to some of the things on our to do list around the house. We've even hung up pictures + art on a few of the walls. Woohoo! 

This little collage in our dining room just makes me so happy. I feel like it tells so much of our family story...in just a few images. It's lovely what a little visual comfort can do to boost your spirits and make it feel more like home. 

Day 1005 | He's Three!

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Check out this big three year old. Yeah, that's him posing next to all those photos of himself wearing rain boots. What's the big deal?

We spent the day doing Robbe's favorite things: breakfast with family, library time, lunch with daddy, a long nap, a "choo-choo" movie, breakfast for dinner (french toast), popsicles for dessert (his special treat of choice), a special world-premiere stop-action short-film (painstakingly made by his dad), and presents. That last one *might have* been his true favorite. 

In keeping with blog tradition...

Top 10 things you may [or may not] know about my favorite three year old:

  1. He’s a problem solver. This kid. You never know what he’s going to do next to get what he needs. Good thing he’s real trustworthy as well, otherwise, we’d be in serious trouble! [ Exhibit A: Mr. Independent, Exhibit B: Independence , Exhibit C: Bug Barricade ]
  2. He’s got mad dancing skills. He must have gotten them from his dad.
  3. This kid loves monkeys. Talking like them, acting like them, constantly thinking about them, etc. You might say he’s bananas for monkeys. Hahaha!
  4. He’s a puzzle master. In the last few months, Robbe’s puzzle interest went from 0 to 60. And his mastery of them has been just as impressive. “Me do” is his response whenever you try to help him too much.
  5. He’s empathetic. If Chris and I have done nothing else as parents, I’m happy to report that we’ve raised two very empathetic and caring little guys. Robbie’s empathy (especially towards his brother) is heartwarming and very special to watch.
  6. He’s a tough guy. This kid bumps and falls more than I could have ever imagined. Aside from a few passing tears occasionally, he bounces back super fast and it doesn’t get him down. 
  7. He’s got a crazy long attention span. He can focus on certain tasks, projects, and pretend play longer than I would expect from a fresh three year old. The best evidence? The fact that he can sit through two (2!) Berenstain Bear books in a row (and probably more but we never test that). In case you’re unfamiliar, these books are about 7 minutes long each. 
  8. He loves, loves, loves his big brother. And the feeling is mutual. Robbe’s best friend is Chase and he’s the happiest version of himself when Chase is around. It makes me happier than I’m able to express in words.
  9. This kid has will power…really impressive will power. He stopped sucking his thumb cold-turkey (during the day, that is…night time has been a bit tougher) and now he potty trained himself throughout the day, nap time, and bedtime. These two accomplishments are maybe the most impressive actions I’ve witnessed out of my kiddos.
  10. That smile. 

I have a feeling this next year is going to be a really good one for our sweet babe. He's got the spunk + charisma that are going to lead to great things for this little guy. Chris and I are beyond lucky to have front row seats to the Robbe show.

Day 1000 | 1000!

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Quadruple digits. That's no joke. I'm not sure what I expected when I started this blog nearly three years ago, but 1000 days later I'm both exhausted by the time + energy I've spent on it and in love with the fact that we have this amazing record of such a special and important time in the lives of our young family. Looking back at the BIG DAYS we shared with my little guys brings a new level of appreciation and joy to a time that is often filled with more challenges than rewards. Thanks for coming along on this journey. I'm glad you've been joining us.

With no further ado...a little update on our team:

Sara:

FAVORITES: listening to Hamilton, planning birthday party crafts, eating dried mango, seeing + feeling the signs of spring (it was so sweet while it lasted), coffee (although I’m trying to cut back…you shouldn’t love something that much), eavesdropping on the boys’ conversations, not having to change diapers anymore, being greeted by the boys hand-in-hand to welcome me in the morning
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: conquering my back pain [finally]. I’m hopeful that my strengthening (mommastrong.com) + alignment attention (chiro + massage) will finally give me some relief. I've made some impressive progress but I've still got a ways to go. Fingers crossed!
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Finally sorting out the school situation for both my boys. Chase is all set for next year (Woohoo! Finally!), now we just have to find the perfect home for sweet Robbe. Getting close!

Chris

FAVORITES: his new sherpa sweatshirt, honing his stop-action animation skills for Robbe’s birthday video, developing the perfect cocktail, playing super heroes with the boys, trips to Chicago,  weekend morning snuggles with his three favorite people (even if they don't last as long as he'd like)
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: having to be cooped up in the office all day (now that we've had a glimpse of spring) while the boys and I are off frolicking in the sunshine. 
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: designing + building the perfect backyard structure for the boys. Stay tuned. There will be photos.

Chase

AGE: 4 years, 11 months
FAVORITES: riding his scooter again, wedgits, anything super hero-related, swim lessons, Berenstain Bear books, playing the role of big brother, blueberry tea, reading about the day’s weather (in the newspaper), talking about ducks, assembling lego cars + houses (with the little legos!)
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: dealing with adversity. A lot of things come easy to this smart kiddo so when he’s faced with a challenge, sometimes he doesn’t have the patience + motivation to work through things on his own (at least with his mom and dad…seems like school might see a different side of him). This is a tough life-lesson, for sure!
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: reading. He’s been sounding out words more and more these days. It’s a fine line between pushing him too hard and standing back and letting him take the lead. It’s exciting to watch, though!

Robbe

AGE: 5 days shy of 3 years
FAVORITES: Berenstain Bear books (we are very familiar with the Bear Family these days), asking if it’s his birthday yet, book orders, firetrucks, wearing blue clothes, playing baby batman, sleeping without a diaper on (for nap AND bedtime!), Sunday comics, waking up in the same room as Chase, talking about monkeys, singing, snacks, being outside
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: getting his point across. His thoughts are so complex these days that his sweet [and still limited] three-year-old vocabulary can’t keep up. 
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: starting school. There’s been a lot of talk about school around here lately and Robbe has caught the bug. Just *a bit* longer, little guy!

And here's the rundown of how far we've come:

Day 997 | Bug Barricade

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Let me set the scene for you: 

I was in the kitchen cleaning out the refrigerator (which doesn't happen nearly as often as it should, by the way), when Robbe calls out to me "BEE!" "BEE!" (his general term for any bug) from the entry way. I ask him if it's alive or dead. He replies "dead" and I tell him I'll be there to take care of it when I get done putting the food back.

Approximately three minutes later, I arrive in the entry way to find that Robbe set up a bug barricade with cones to protect himself from the dead "bee". I've never been prouder of anything...until I realize that the dead "bee" is actually a piece of dried grass (or dirt) on the floor. You can see it in the bottom-right corner of the photo.

Hahahaha!

 

 

Day 995 | A Glorious Weekend

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I'm sure it's not a surprise (at least it shouldn't be) to hear that our weekend sans kids in Chicago was absolutely the best. Seriously, the best.  A HUGE thanks to my mom and dad for taking such good care of our boys while we were away. It was much easier to enjoy the weekend knowing they were in your loving care.

Just a few of the highlights (in no particular order):

  • The weather! I mean, what are the chances we hit 60•+ weather in Chicago in February? We spent every available second walking around and soaking in the sunshine. A bit of a tease since we know we've still got winter left ahead of us, but we'll be thankful while it lasts.
  • The food! We had Indian, sushi, plus my favorite new eggs benedict variation with tomatoes, balsalmic glaze, + goat cheese (pictured here from my last trip to Chicago).
  • The views! I love walking around cities and being in awe of the energy. Chicago is no exception. We even had a super special view of the cityscape from the Signature Room in the Hancock Building where we managed a romantic table for two right in front of the window.
  • The company! Part of the decision to head to Chicago was to reconnect with one of Chris's college roommates. It's been years (eek!) since we've seen them and yet the conversation flowed like no time had passed. Hopefully we don't let 3+ years pass again.
  • The shopping! Being the bargain shoppers we are, the Magnificent Mile wasn't really our idea of prime shopping. However, the decision to drive (instead of fly) made a stop at the outlet mall on the drive home a reality and we definitely scored some great deals. You probably won't recognize us the next time you see us. 
  • The lack of a schedule! Our nap/eating/bedtime schedule is one of the reasons I've managed to stay sane as a stay at home mom. It also drives me crazy. It was beyond lovely to take a break from the monotony of our daily routine for two days. 
  • Time with the husband! Chris and I are thankful every day to call each other best friends. When things get busy+hard+crazy+exhausting with the boys, sometimes you forget just how amazing the person who you spend every day with really is. I mean, I never forgot that, but this trip was a nice reminder that we do have more in common than the kids, the household tasks, food, and friends. We laughed. A lot. And some of the predicaments from the weekend will live on as inside jokes for years. The testament to a good trip!

That's it. Chicago in a nutshell...oh, except for one little thing:

Hamilton!!!

The best musical I've ever seen. No question. And I've got quite a few under my belt (mostly thanks to my mom). I almost feel like this theatrical experience has been what my love of musicals has been prepping me for my whole life. The seats were amazing. The songs were crazy impressive. The emotion portrayed by everyone in the cast was infectious. Almost indescribable. 

Thanks, Chris, for making all my musical dreams come true. I'll be happy if I never see another broadway show. But, hopefully that's not the case...especially because Hamilton will be in Minneapolis in 2018/2019. Ha!

No idea what I'm talking about? Here's a brief video from CBS Sunday Morning that gives a pretty good introduction to the phenomenon that is Hamilton. [Remember when I started linking videos all the time?!?]

Day 994 | Birthdays: Back to Back

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That's right, after my wonderful day yesterday, we're celebrating Chris today!  I need to get this posted before he notices, so it's going to be short. 

We're the luckiest family in the world to get to spend every day with this guy. He's the best. I know you all agree. 

Best of husbands, best of men.  

Happiest of days, Swan. We love you. 

 **Special note: I'm taking the weekend off of blogging. Chris and I are escaping on a magical, Hamilton-filled trip to Chicago (without the boys!!). I'm just *a bit* excited. And, although, I would love to share all of our adventures with you in real time, I'm opting to be completely present instead. I'm sure you understand. Check back on Monday for the full report!

Day 993 | Treat Yo Self

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When you’re a stay at home mom and it’s your 33rd birthday but it’s a week day and everyone is at work, what do you do to “treat yo self”? It’s tough, I know, but I think I managed pretty well:

Sara's Treat Yo Self Day, 2017: 

  • A car wash: super lame? Yes. But I love a clean car so much. I'd get one every week if that wasn't crazy. And, to be honest, I did this yesterday but a clean car for today is the real present so it counts.
  • A manicure: gel (so it would dry quickly), while the boys happily entertained themselves…with some assistance from my sister in-law (thanks, Tera!!)
  • A coffee date with my #1: Chris snuck out of work to join me for a coffee while the boys played like maniacs. Did I mention we were at McDonalds? Not anywhere I thought I’d ever celebrate my birthday but it worked out exactly as I’d hoped: the boys were happy and I had some kid-free time to enjoy my coffee…and my sweet husband.
  • No laundry: I do laundry most days so that I don’t end up having a million loads on any given day. I gave myself the day off today, though, and it’s been wonderful.
  • No cooking: I’m hosting my whole [local] family tonight for dinner and I’m not cooking. Chris did the prep work for the burgers last night and he’s picking up real sweet potato fries on his way home from work. I might have to turn on the grill, but I think I can handle that.
  • A banana: are bananas a hot commodity in your house? They are in ours. I don’t think I’ve eaten a banana in months, even though I love them and they’re always on our counter. We constantly run out of them (leading to problems) so I just don’t eat them. Not today. I ate that banana. And it was delicious.
  • A back pain fix tutorial: I’ve been sticking with mommastrong.com (and it’s amazing + totally life-changing!!) and was debating about doing a regular work out or taking the day “off” with a back-pain tutorial video. I decided to “treat myself” with the tutorial instead. Definitely the right decision. I learned so much and can focus on fixing my back problem as well as strengthening the trouble spots. Win-win!

For the record, things I wasn’t able to take the day off of:

  • Tidying up: these boys are like a tornado!
  • Potty duty: no further explanation needed.
  • Dishes: who wants to stare at dirty dishes all day on their birthday? Not me.
  • The school day rush: no matter my intentions, I’m always *right on time* for school and am always feeling rushed to get there. Today was no different, unfortunately. 
  • My blog: It's definitely the one thing I love to hate most in my life. I love tracking our days and journaling our life, but man, it’s such a pain! To give myself a break, I wrote early today so I’ve got the night free. Whoop whoop!

**Special note to all of you who dropped me a line, called, sent a card, gave a gift, or just thought of me today, thank you. It just warms my heart to feel surrounded with love from my family + friends. 

Also, if you have no idea what a "treat yo self" day is, watch this. You won't be disappointed.

Day 992 | Feeling the Love

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We had a really lovely heart day. Way too much sugar was consumed, of course, but you've got to do that every once in awhile, right?!? 

The boys were overjoyed by all the cards + sweet gifts from the grandmas and grandpas.  And it was the first year we had an official school valentine opening session with both boys. Chase's teachers were sweet enough to put a few valentines aside for Robbe so that he wouldn't feel left out. Thank goodness for that! The boys had such fun opening and comparing treasures. 

Maybe Valentine's Day is filled with commercialism and lots of hype, but I don't care. I dig it.  

Day 989 | Ice Fishing

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We headed down to the 35th annual Strum Ice Fishing Contest today. I think I've only been once before (ever!) and it was a first for all my boys.  

The little boys even got to fish in an indoor kiddie-tank. Chase caught one (with grandpa's assistance) and was subsequently terrified of the flailing creature. To be fair, I was too. Maybe we're just not the fishing/hunting type of people. I'm sure you're shocked to hear this about me. 

Day 988 | Weather Winner!

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We've been waiting a long time for this announcement. Today was the first day [since we've been keeping track] that it was warmer in Eau Claire than it was in DC. 

Eau Claire, WI: 41°
Washington, DC: 38°

It's not much, but we'll take it. The boys and I have been comparing weather every morning since we subscribed to the local newspaper just after Christmas. Some days the weather in DC has been 40°+ warmer than it was here. That's a mood-crusher, for sure. Not today! We basked in the "warmth" of the 40° and enjoyed that our friends in DC had to wear winter coats today. That's not too mean, is it?