Where are we?!

Here we are!

{Peek-a-boo is big at our house right now}

I'm so sorry for the long blog hiatus, that is if anyone is still reading to apologize to!

This is what we look like. Bean has two more teeth and is running all over. J is talking up a storm, pretending, and constantly looking for a misplaced Lightning McQueen. I suppose it's clear we haven't quite gotten to potty training. I do want y'all to know that we do leave the house with clothes on. This particular morning is a rainy November day in the seventies. Naturally, J and Bean had to run around in the backyard until soaking wet and then make a towel fort {or "fork" as J says}.

Seventies in November, you say... thought we moved to upstate New York? Well, yes, we did. Which brings me to my great excuse for the blog hiatus: we moved. Again. The long and short: we had a wonderful summer up in NY, no plans to leave. The people were kind, the weather was nice, the recycling program was outstanding. No complaints. Then, M received an out of nowhere call about a job... and a month later we have bought a home, and moved our things 1000+ miles {again} South. It was all good. We are thankful. {For the record, M is not dragging me around this great nation. I was up for both moves, and he would have stayed put if I hadn't been.}

The kids were awesome. Truly awesome. We stayed in at least 6 different places {hotels and houses} in 3 weeks and they never woke up in the night. Of course it was a little stressful at times, but God really was kind to us in the details of this move.

The past month has been packing, driving, living out of hotels, cars, and happily accepting the hospitality of family and friends, M starting his new job, closing on a house, and finally, unpacking! Thank you everyone who made it a smooth transition for us.

I hope to have before and after pictures of our house soon. Soon probably meaning this time next year... I'll really try not to be gone so long again!

For now, I'll leave you with the front runner for our Christmas card picture. No? ;-) Ah, well, maybe a Luvs ad then.

{Their hair is wet from playing in the rain, not dirty.}

Sorry it's been a while...

Add in J being sent to his room for climbing the walls and it's like you're here!

Back soon...

Bean's 1st Birthday Party

Let me tell you, this little girl knew this was her party.

She enjoyed every minute of the fanfare, which made it so fun for the rest of us! {I made her little skirt from this tutorial if you're interested.}

We tried, once again, to get a family picture. Here's the best, too bad the birthday girl is shooting the stink eye.

We decided to go ahead and get down to business by doing presents first. {M suggested it, but I think it was J's idea.}

She had the best time. Inspected every gift closely and then smiled approvingly.

Hugged each new friend straight out of the wrapping. {little elephant made by Grammie Sue.}

AP's reaction to her baby doll from us made my year. She wanted it out of the box NOW.

And kisses and hugs for the sweet rag doll my Mom made her

Little Bean just sat up in her new chair from Momo and Popo and ate up all the birthday attention. Speaking as her mother, it was adorable.

Thank you, Popo, for taking so many pictures so I could enjoy it!

It was wonderful to have both sets of Grandparents there- thank you for coming!

Then it was time for burgers...

AND CAKE!

J had a hard time waiting and had grabbed one before we finished singing Happy Birthday. 

I used this white cake recipe, store bought vanilla frosting with yellow food coloring, and "cookie" icing for the polka dots.

Sugar rushes followed, and AP gave us some sweet and sticky hugs. 

Girl knows how to party.

Sweet Bean is One

Happy Birthday, Sweet Bean! It has been the best year, because we are all here.

2 weeks

We love seeing your personality develop. 

Curious.

3 months

Social and laid-back.

6 months

A clever joker. You miss nothing that is said.

9 months

Lover of peek-a-boo and being outside.

One

Fresh dirt under your fingernails and a new dress are a perfect combination to you.

One

An adorable hot mess.

Precious AP, we love you more than I can express. We are so thankful for all you bring to our family. You are J's best friend, and we ask that you never stop annoying him. Most of all, we pray that you will grow in God's grace alone.

Pictures from Bean's birthday party and Grandparent's visits coming soon... {I also need to take some better one year old pictures, I'll post when I do...}

Settled into a pleasent boring

Woah, I haven't posted in over 3 weeks. I'm racking my brain for interesting content but coming up short, guess that's why I haven't blogged in a while! 

So, what is there to report? We sleep, eat, grocery shop, work, go to the park and change diapers. We like it here! For those who care, here's some of the day-to-day.

Winter-wear is probably the top google search in our household {by me}. M has mentioned that us moving to a very snowy climate might have just been an elaborate plot of mine to buy more boots. After much debate I ordered some that could probably be used to build igloos. Jury is still out on how many boots I can accumulate before March. See, really interesting stuff going on here.

In other boot related news, J found his {slightly too big} cowboy boots from Momo and Popo in his closet. We call them his Woody boots.

AP kicked the {baby}bottle habit about a week ago. Wahoo. Burning ceremony taking place soon. Or maybe I'll just melt them all in the microwave. Of course, it is a little sad because she did look so cute drinking one...

M likes his new job and is traveling next week {which he enjoys}. Lucky for me, the day M flies out my parents fly in. M's parents come in a couple days later, and we will all be here to celebrate BEAN TURNING ONE! What a year, what a year. She took one quick, wobbly step this past weekend from M to me. Here's a little peek of her party outfit.

I found a {very} part-time job teaching water aerobics {maybe more eventually}, with childcare. The kids love it. Have I ever mentioned how much I love the gym? I really, really do. And we are really going to need it when there's 12 feet of snow on the ground.

But mostly, these two keep us occupied quite enough.

In fact, this post was brought to you by Miss Bean herself.