{{friday/favorites}}

its been a week, friends. I am not sure if its the anticipation of vacation....feeling like I will never get through my to do list...the snow storm and snow days or what....but I am excited to see Friday. And to see "vacation" on my calendar.

favorite little dickens:

this guy has been keeping me on my toes like no one's business lately.

monday morning brought a self-application of mascara.

favorite chat:

leaving Dan Hoe has also forced us to put some space between some relationships we didn't necessarily want to. Like Chris, for example. She works in the office there and the boys and I used to have lots of visits with her. She fell and broke her arm last week so we packed up to go visit on monday and check out her cool arm candy. the boys were impressed.

favorite kissers:

{yes, he seriously kissed the truck tire "bye bye" before we left}

favorite spoiler:

the boys cannot get enough of Ms. Cindy lately. we enjoyed family dinner with her this week. 

favorite bosses:

I haven't had many bosses in my life {dont worry, aunt marcia, you were the best!} but now, technically, I have TWO! Good thing they're handsome! ;)

the guys had a super productive week with their new business and are feeling really good about the way things are going so far. We are looking forward to continuing to forge forward after our week in the sun!

While the big bosses left the office this morning, Harrison decided to step in.

We hope everyone has a good weekend, and soaks up all this snow while we are gone. We will try our best to bring home some sunshine...if we don't soak it all up for ourselves! :) xo

{{weekend/rewind}}

We have been soaking up all our time together now that Daddy is home more; and in anticipation of a {hopefully} busy spring! :)
Friday night the boys and I relaxed at home and waited for Daddy to call to say he was home with his first Dirtech purchases! The boys could hardly wait to see daddy's new trucks!!

Some of us got little sleep friday night due to so much excitement {ahem, all my boys!} but some of us got a lot of sleep knowing we had a big Saturday ahead! :)

We spent our afternoon at Crazy Bounce having a birthday party for the boys' cousins Ryan and Ethan. 

I flew solo for this party as Dad had a busy day so chasing two kids did not allow me to take any actual action pics! ;) But we still had so much fun!

We left there and headed to grab dad, some food and head to the next party.

When we arrived, I found Bentley dead asleep in the backseat. I was pretty surprised, actually!

The second party was at the Doubletree and was for another cousin, Brooklyn.

Harrison hasn't had a ton of pool time so to our surprise he was a little fish!!

Bentley had fun too!

We had some pizza and cake pops..

cake and icecream...

and Bentley stood front row for gifts. He was pretty overwhelmed with all the girl toys and had a hard time trying to figure out where the toys that he might like to play with had gone. :)

We had a super busy and fun day - both the boys were in bed at 730 and slept until 9! much needed!!

Sunday we relaxed together. Sundays are by far my favoritest day of the week!

We also recieved this thank you card in the mail this week from Bentleys Sunday School teacher. He has asked her to call him "john deere" instead of Bentley.

Tough parenting days and overwhelming weeks that never seem to end make notes like this ALL worth it! :)

I am one proud momma!

Hope everyone had a great weekend as well. We have a busy week preparing for our vacation {without the kids}. So much to do, organize, clean , pack and think about! 

But we are getting super excited to spend some time together in the sun with some of our closest friends!!!

exciting news!

no babies on the way, but we have some exciting news to share!

Some of you may know that over a month ago already Brandon left his position at Dan Hoe Excavating. It was one of the hardest decisions we have made as a couple, and many factors played a role, but we believe it was what God was calling us to do.

Brandon and a partner have decided to start a new excavating company together. It will be called Dirtech and they will do much of the same things they did at Dan Hoe. We are super excited for this new chapter in our lives, although much of this excitement comes accompanied by nerves, too! We know that God has a plan for us and we can wait to head down the path He has marked for us and see where it leads!

With all that, let me introduce to you one of Dirtech's biggest fans! :)

Thanks again for putting up with all the hassle and everything of going private. I appreciate everyone who is sticking by us and all the support. Things can be tough but we are sure that God is watching over us and has a plan for us. We would love any continued prayer we can get. Thanks again friends! :)

twenty{{20}}months

Harrison Lee -

You are twenty months old today. Hard to believe that your brother was this age when you were born; you seem like such a baby to me, I can't imagine having a brandy new babe right now! {i often wonder how we survived...and i often can't believe i was so crazy!}

Anyway, you are developing quite the little personality and attitude. You are super sweet and loving, very tender hearted. But you also can hold your own like no ones business. You don't take anyone's beef, especially your brothers. And when Sawyer is around you love to pretend to be the big dog and treat him the way your brother treats you. You are definitely a little boss. Although your super tender heart and giving attitude are leading Auntie Nenn to believe you might be a preacher. ;)

You are all things boy, just like your brother. You love anything truck, tractor and dirt. Your favorite words are tractor and dump truck, as a matter of fact. Maybe its because you like riding in Daddy's new dump truck the best! You also love trains, and have recently come to love "momas" {thomas} the train. 

You have quite a vocabulary - much larger than I remember your brothers being at this age. But, you also have a good teacher in your big brother, which he didn't have. You speak in fragmented sentences and love to ask questions. "where did  ____ go?" "why?" "whats this, momma?" and your favorite: "NO NO Brudda!"  When we ask you "what is your name?" you say, "ME!" You are quite the little talker, and I love it!

You are taking a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon and sleeping about 11-12 hours at night. You never mind extra sleep -- you get that from me, my love! You are wearing size 5 diapers and 24mo - 2T clothes. You are getting taller and taller almost by the day, I feel. Quite a bit taller than Bentley was at this age.

You love playing outside, even in the freezing cold. It never fails, you cry when we bring you in. You also love your daddy. You are big buddies.

We are just so in love with watching you continue to grow and we can't wait to see you continue to change! We are sure the Lord has big plans for your future, sweet one. We love you so much!!


Also, for some good fun, here is a 20 month comparison of you and Bentley. Daddy and I both agree you guys still look quite a bit alike.

{weekend/rewind}

Thursday Bentley went back to school after some snow days that gave us an extended Christmas Break. Little brother was overwhelmed with heartbreak and cried all the way home. :(

Friday night we celebrated B's birthday with friends and the boys had a fun night with Casey, Kevin, Ally and baby Sawyer! :)

Saturday afternoon we headed downtown to check out the ice sculptures. The boys were pretty impressed!

test driving the jeep!

the detail was amazing!

we picked up pizza on our way home and had a relaxing night together.

Sunday we headed to church, indulged in some naps and then spent some time outside. Harrison rode their snowmobile for the first time with Momma! He loved it!

Bentley was afraid to even get on it so he just stayed put and helped Daddy get his running again!

We had a perfect relaxing weekend. Two weeks until we leave for vacation without our little guys so we are soaking up our time together now! :) Hope everyone has a great week!! xo

Daddy's Birthday {31}

There might not be anything I love more than celebrating birthdays - especially my guys' birthdays! Brandon and I have never gone super over board for birthdays, and even for Christmas as far as gifts go..we prefer to spend time together and make memories.
When Bentley was just a tiny babe, we bought Brandon a movie for his birthday. So keep in tradition, I took the boys to the store and picked out three movies, and then let them decide what one to get him. {i like them to pick out movies that we can all watch together, as this is something we love to snuggle up and do as a family.}

they picked this movie. been years since we have seen it. :)

I also let Bentley pick out a card for his dad, a special one, just from him.

He picked this one, that says "grandson" at the top...because it has balls on the front and...

"my dad likes to throw catch with me!"

so so precious.

we baked a cake and decorated it! :)

per Daddys request, we ordered some Jet's pizza and bread and enjoyed a nice dinner and evening together. I just cant get enough of having all my guys together, all the time. Im not sure how I'm gonna survive when Daddy gets back to work! ;) 

Harrison obviously couldn't begin to understand why I would make him wait to dive in and take a pic first.

Friday night we celebrated Brandon with a large group of friends. We headed to Skiles Tavern for some pizza and drinks.

Then we headed out for some bowling!

Brothers. these two are quite the pair! :) 

So blessed to celebrate another year with this wonderful man, looking forward to many more! :)

*snowed in 2014*

This probably isn't breaking news to most of you, but we have been snowed in. Almost literally!

Brandon and I ventured out Monday morning for some appointments. The roads were bad, as was visibility and there was no traffic. It was kind of fun to be out and about -- we have always loved to take drives together, and the weather doesn't usually change that!

The boys enjoyed some time with Sawyer and Jenn.

some new toys were a good change of pace!

After dinner we tried the famous snow ice cream we have been seeing all over facebook and pinterest. the boys thought it was super fun to make, and it didn't taste bad either!

{i was a skeptic at first but after trying it i changed my mind}

we spent our second snow day at home sleeping in and relaxing in our jams watching Cinderella. Yes, the boys love Cinderella and princess movies. And I totes don't mind the change of scenery one in a while! :)

Apparently two snow days in a row are just too much for Harrison

Bentley and I played together while Harry napped...including a trusty Pinterest craft of food colored vinegar squirted into baking soda!

Harry & Dad did some plowing in the "guh guck" {dump truck} as Harry calls it.

He wears the worlds biggest smile the entire time!

This morning we were up, ready and out the door by shortly after 9 am! It was a very welcomed changed of pace.

Tomorrow starts us back into the school routine, which I am much looking forward too, as is Bentley!!

{weekend/rewind}

Our boys have been battling some nasty colds and coughs so we laid low most of the latter part of the week and this weekend. Nice change of pace after the holidays.

Bentley asked me to come help him get "this" un-stuck. I assumed he meant a toy, not his brother! ;)

this rarely happens. and i enjoyed it for a full hour.

there is nothing sweeter.

friday night we had to cancel plans with friends and we stayed in and rented a movie instead. the boys love movie night, and love snuggling with daddy!

Saturday I got out of the house for the first time in quite a few days! Harrison and I went to Meijer to grab some groceries and stock up on some things before the big storm!

Then he helped me with some projects before naptime!

The "big" boys had a fun morning out together and spent the afternoon constructing their model airplane. They sure love their special times together!

We also took a quick plow "trip" after dinner, before bed. The boys just can't get enough!

Plowing just our driveway didn't cut it so we toured the neighborhood and plowed out some friends too!

Sunday we headed to church for one of the best sermons we have heard in a long time. God is really speaking to us and working in our lives right now and we couldn't be more thankful!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoys an awesome week as well! Stay warm friends!

Happy {2014}!

We spent new years eve with some friends at one of their parents house on Lake Michigan. They are always super generous with letting us use their home, and they even let us all stay the night. The kids loved being together and having a really big sleepover with each other! And it was nice to be able to relax together as adults once all our little loves finally fell asleep.

the girls

Cheers to a new year!

so blessed to be able to begin another wonderful year with this prince.

he is the best.

bentleys sleepover buddy of choice: rodey

of course we woke up early, i mean who sleeps in when they know their friends are just in the rooms next door? ;) We packed up, headed home and took some naps. 

We went to my parents at night to spend some time together before they leave us for the winter.

And i enjoyed cleaning some house in Wii bowling! ;)

Harrison and Sawyer enjoyed their view from the park...

and Bentley from what he said was his "picnic"

A new year also brings a new devotional for me. I found this one here, and you can order the book there too or grab it on Amazon like I did.

So far I love what Im reading and I can't wait to spend this month transforming myself as a wife and a Christian woman of God. 

Hope everyone had a great holiday and is looking forward to a prosperous and healthy new year!!