Our current phases

I am blogging tonight full of guilt.  I am not in a great place, which makes for a grumpy mom, and I lost my temper with Ramsey tonight while she was having a tantrum.  She doesn't have many tantrums, but this was the worst one ever and I was not ready for it.  She has been in an "asserting my independence" and "boundary testing" phase, and it is getting to me!  I have all kinds of excuses--my foot is broken, my 50-page report, exhaustion from Beck's coughing at night--but really, enough is enough.  I cannot be a screaming and shouting kind of mom.  Ramsey, I'm sorry.  You're being a normal kid, and while it is challenging, I'm supposed to be the grown-up.  

Here is a summary of our current interests...

The boot for my foot.  I thought it was a bunion problem, 

but the podiatrist said I have a fracture below the ball of my foot and I have to wear this boot for 6-8 weeks so that it will heal properly.  This is harder than I realized!  It is definitely throwing the kids off that I cannot do as much as I could pre-boot.  I am a totally frustrated busy-body with this thing.  Matt's funny comment:  "oh no, that thing is going to smell."  Haha!

The keyboard.  WE LOVE IT!  Beck requests "Muffin Man" 

and they both play along in their own way.  

ANIMALS!  Ramsey has been obsessed with animals for 2 years now.  Beck is also interested, but when Ramsey puts something on top of the white cabinet, that means she doesn't want Beck to "get" it.  

Dolls and other items from the dollhouse.  Notice that Ramsey enjoys lining things up!

Beck's "tractor."  He likes getting on and going backwards.

Makeshift canoe.  Ramsey insisted that Beck get in with her.  Luckily, he was super into it.  

I need medicine!  Both kids like medicine, maybe a little too much?  

They like getting on the counter for the administration of said medicine.  

Matt with our Valentines Day spread.  He picked up Elevation Burger.  

I really enjoyed the burger and shake.  Yum.  Plus, he's a dang handsome valentine.  

I'm a lucky lady.  He has been working a lot lately and we're missing him.    

And of course, the outdoors.  

Found this puddle on our walk to the park.  

It was hard to walk away from it!

Muddy and happy.

I realized Ramsey has been climbing these green bars since she was Beck's age.  

She is so agile.  Beck hasn't shown any interest yet, but he is very active and loves the playground.

They both LOVE finding a new spot to sit.  The neighbors' steps are always enticing. 

BOTH kids in the stroller.  This never happens anymore!  They enjoyed it--

we strolled to the shops up the street and walked back.  

 I guess it wasn't really walking as much as climbing and running.

Time to take a deep breath and count my blessings!  Tomorrow is another day, time to reload.

Storytime and such

We love books around here, and Ramsey now asks to go to "storytime."  Also, we are fully into winter, so we have found some alternatives to going to the playground.  

Here we are at Barnes & Noble--Beck likes to roam.  Our Ramsey reads and reads, 

and is so patient when I have to interrupt the book we are reading to go fetch Beck.

Beck at Borders during storytime.  He had a blast, nonchalantly "sidled up" to the kid next to him, 

and then tried to sit on a random grandma's lap.  He was so comfortable.  

And handsome with a ton of personality.

Beck at the library.  He was experimenting with his sassy side here by pushing the toy toward the little girl and letting it fall on the ground.  He was so amused, and insisted on sitting on the table or standing on a chair.  Luckily, the grumpy librarian wasn't there to insist he get down.  

I really disagree with her, but keep it to myself and just obey.  

Beck totes books all around the house--here he is in the kitchen.  

He typically shoves the book up to me and says "bah!" repeatedly until I read it.

Here they are running around Ikea, my idea of the week.  It was fun.

  Running around in their "nudities" after bath time is probably their #1 favorite thing to do in the evening.  Luckily it is super toasty on the top floor!  Look at that bottom :).

The kids are always hungry and eating.  I really don't mind independent fridge exploration.
I think Beck learned his lesson with Matt's hot sauce a couple of months back.

This darling girl loves walking in the snow.  And purple.

Matt's birthday

Matt turned 30 on the 30th!  As a surprise, Rob, Sherry, Jake, Mallory, Camie, and Leila drove up from warm, sunny Florida to come visit and see snow.  They were in luck because there was a ton of snow!

The birthday boy cracking up at dinner.  

We went to La Caraquena and enjoyed our meal--Matt, Chrissy, Rob, Sherry, Jon, & Emily.

Birthday brothers with supportive sister.

Blowing out the candles.

Matt in front of his birthday poster and the signs the cousins made for him.

Cousins coloring.

Ramsey said, "take a picture of my mad face."

Ramsey stayed up late and played and played with Leila.  After I put Beck in his crib, I caught these girls reading--Leila was reading aloud to Ramsey, who was soaking it up.  At one point, Leila started playing Celebrities with the older kids and grown-ups, and Ramsey cried and cried.  Then, Leila quietly and sweetly started playing with Ramsey again without being prompted.  Ramsey cheered up!

Dress up at Aunt Emily's.

Snow time at Great Falls with Ramsey and Leila holding hands.  Man, my kids LOVE holding hands!

Brothers in front of the Great Falls.

The girls gazing at the Falls.

The Falls were so beautiful in this weather.

Beck couldn't get enough of the snow.  This was his first time actually playing in it!

Ramsey's first sled ride.  Not bad!

Hold on!

Snow Days

We had a few days altogether when the snow came.  Matt's job is flexible, so he can work from home when the inclement weather comes, unless he has an important deadline or meeting.  I cannot even begin to express how grateful we are for his current job--he loves it, it challenges it, and he enjoys a nice amount of autonomy (mixed with the all-important mentorship of his boss).  Anyway, thanks ATLAS for making these memories possible!  We had power the whole time, so this was really an unplanned winter vacation.

The snow started at night.  It was gorgeous.

I can't wait to get out there!!!!

Ramsey played and played in the snow while Matt and I shoveled.  

We shoveled and shoveled and shoveled.

This looks like your average cuddle, but it's more than that.  

Sometimes I whisper in Beck's ear--either a song or just talking.  

He recently started getting into it--to the point where when I stop whispering,

he leans his head back in for more. 

  Isn't she beautiful?

Can't we go out too???

Snow days = Reading AND

lounging while reading!