Max at 1.8 years, Rylan at 3.5 years

Aaaaack! So, the boys came home from Kansas 2 weeks ago with bronchitis. A few days later I developed laryngitis, then Max's became a sinus infection, then mine became a sinus infection. Fast forward two weeks and Max has developed stomach death. Like a 12 icky diaper a day kind of stomach death. For 5 days. He's been tested for a fun array of illness (salmonella, campylobactor). So much fun!!!!

My boys. Minus the bronchitis, pooping, whining, hitting,  love of putting all things (toothbrushes) in the toilet, my boys are at a really really fun age right now. Rob and I have actually felt the cloud of crazy that came with having babies so close together (especially boys that we have shitty ears and lungs too) lifting every day.

Rylan is 3.5. He is a sweetie-poo, especially right after waking and right before sleeping. I love those times of the day, when he wants to come sit by you and snuggle. He always whisper talks and tells us about his dreams (somehow, Humpty Dumpty is in 99% of his dreams).  At night, he loves to get in our bed and watch a "moodie". When we come to check on him, we get "I love you so much!" and other sweet nothings from him.

Lately he has MAD playdough love. He also loves all his "guys" which are a funny collection of action figures donated to him by his cousin, Anthony and his Grammy's mad garage sale skills, and many many McDonald's toys from our travels. Right now, Batman is playing a heavy role in the "guy" time. After watching Toy Story 9.5 million times, like I have, my first thought is to be happy for the guys when they get their time with their kid, like Andy and Jessie were. But when your kid is Rylan, it might not be such a coo. They are often drowned, buried, slept on, thrown in a fit of rage, sent down the slide, given playdough hair (and shoes and gloves), and sent off the porch like a canon shooter.

Max? Max is 20 months old. He weighs EXACTLY what he did on his 12 month check up. I'd maintain/lose weight if I ran EVERYWHERE too. Max is a happy, silly little kiddo. He loves his mommy and daddy, his dog Lola, and his brother soooo much. Guess what he loves more? His pacey. We are working on weaning, trying to make him take it out when he leaves his bed and only get it back when he naps or in the car. This is a blessing and a curse. It makes for better travel and the kid literally says "pacey night night!!!!" and hops in his bed. The curse is, Rob and I might be more hooked on that pacey then the baby is. And after this latest "poopsuation" he may never give that sucker up.

Max is so good at playing. Because he gets into lots of shinanigans (previously mentioned toothbrushes in the toilet, also eating playdough,we get a little nervous at any quiet time in the house. He is on his way to talking up a storm. Right now he does the most random and adorable thing: he adds "na na" to almost every word. Or uses "na na" as a catch all for words (or people) he can't say the name to.

Going through the book Brown Bear sounds like this
"bear na na"
"dog na na"
"horse na na"

Arriving at my parents house sounds like this
me "say hi to Grammy"
Max "hi Na Na"

A couple months ago, my boss talked to me about the possiblity of working Mondays or Fridays instead of my yearlong Thursday on stints. These are now their busy days, and being a girl that likes to feel needed, I checked into Tiny Town letting the kids move days. It was looking like that wouldn't happen. At the same time, we were getting sooooo sick of all the testing required to get Rylan free speech therapy from the state. Its been 4 months and he has just now got accepted, just in time for them to go on summer break! Yeah them!!!

So, we started looking at other school options. Rylan's bestie, Harper, goes to an awesome school and they just happened to have an opening for Monday/Friday for both kids. I was planning on just working Monday OR Friday, but the school wouldn't just do one day. After seeing the school and their curriculum including teaching sign language and Spanish, imaginary trips to the zoo, and a really awesome outside play area, we were sold. PLUS they contract with a therapy place that can come and provide Rylan speech therapy. DOUBLE SOLD! So, the boys have moved to real, big boy preschool. And, I have started working two days a week. If we could shake the illnesses and stop traveling so much, I think the switch will be awesome. At present time we are a little stressed. It'll work out.

My past year as a mother....in pictures

Halloween 2011. Loved this costume

 One of his very fave places to be

 Preciousness

 Asleep at the wheel

 oh my gosh, I can't look at this pic enough.

 serious travelers

 my favorite oldest son

 my favorite youngest son (with his dinner rubbed in his hair)

 they love their food

 Really really love their food

 They love their mama

And I love them. 

Bye bye Grandpa Gene

This is the last picture I took of my Grandpa Gene. Yeah, the lighting isn't awesome and Rylan has his hand in his mouth and Max looks like he's trying to bolt from Grandma's lap, but I love this pic. It is from Max's birthday that we spent in Kansas last October. Grandpa was in the best health he had been in a while and is up, smiling and wrastling with my kiddos.

He has been battling heart disease and emphysema for years. Our Grandma's excellent care for him has kept him here with us many years longer than anyone could have predicted. Partially because she was such a good nurse and wife to him and partially because he loved her so much, he tried so hard to stay. This past month, my Grandpa's health deteriorated and it became apparent that God was calling him home. After such a long battle, everyone was ready for Grandpa to have some peace. Last Saturday he died. We left for Kansas and have been mourning him since.

He was a spitfire, never afraid to tell you how he really felt. At his wake, many stories came out of my Grandpa's sense of humor, ability to cuss even while laughing, and his very sassy spirit. My favorite story is when I took Rob to Kansas for the first time. We were there for a big fat German Catholic wedding and I thought it was time to introduce Rob to my family. My Grandpa came in the room and I stood up and hugged him and said "Grandpa, my boyfriend, Rob, came with me" and my Grandpa looks at Rob and says "well, what the hell did you do that for?" I hadn't prepared Rob for Grandpa's zanniness and Rob was standing there ready to shake Grandpa's hand with his eyes open wide. Grandpa busted out laughing shook Rob's friend and spent the night making sure Rob was having a good time.  Under his cussing, rough exterior was one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving, and Godly men I've ever known or ever will know.

My memories of my Grandpa range from being a small child and helping him pick blackberries in his yard, playing cards, making us stiff drinks (even if we weren't of age), watching him fight back from a terrible heart attack, hearing him congratulate me when I called to say I was engaged, watching my kids gravitate to him as soon as they met him, and finally watching him sit in his cozy chair, praying rosary after rosary and trusting his life to God. I love that man.

If you have a minute, pray for my Grandma, as she is starting a new chapter of her life after being my Grandpa's wife for nearly 64 years and being his most amazing caretaker. She has exhibited more grace and courage in the last month than I will have in my life.  Love her.

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog, I will do better. Other than the passing of my Grandpa, our life has been great, just really busy. Been busy keeping Max's hand out of the toilet and the dog food bowl, I guess. I was posting all my to-do's but my to-do list became too long for a blog, and doing all my to-do's took time from blogging. However, I have a slightly cleaner house, and a super de-dustmited life for my allergy/asthma ridden kiddos. I have also taken on an extra day of work, and the kids have left their daycare (sigh) Tiny Town and are in real big boy preschool. sigh sigh sigh. Life is moving so frackin fast!

Blogging is kind of like working out

You skip a few days and suddenly you are out of the habit. And then you get behind and brain blocked and it all the sudden seems like a monunmental task. Except its not. Especially when your pics mostly speak for themselves.

Last, last weekend the weather was totally gorgeous and we have sweetie poo kids and we decided to go over to Hot Springs to invade on my parents lakehouse rental with their friends, cause what is better than renting a beautiful lakehouse in the middle of tranquilty and happiness while sipping on yummy drinks? The Qualls clan and our sack of 2 crazies busting in on your tranquilty, that's what. Before we did that, we stopped at Garvin Gardens and it was so fabulous.

 We left our sad cocker at home, if she didn't poo in all the wrong places and bark like a madwoman at blue collar workers, she'd get way more outtings.

 Peace and tranquility

Craziness

 Rylan was in heaven being able to climb all over the rocks

Max was not happy to be contained, Mr Crazytown wanted to climb everywhere, he knows no fear

 Presh

 Total poser

 I got the good shot

 Rob got the crazy one

Max got giggly

 So, we were staring at these fish and I was saying I could look at these fish all day and was wishing we could have a koi pond and then my friend posted on facebook that there was a gigantic snake in her backyard eating her giant koi fish and I was suddenly very okay with gazing at them ONLY at Garvin Gardens.

Rylan asked me to take this picture. Your welcome, son.

I forgot to blog

Bad colds
Stomach Bug
Ear Infection
Kidney Stones
Return of Herpily Derpilies (Herpangina for those that, unlike me,have greater than a 15 year old's maturity)

Yep, one, two or all of us have had one, two or all of the above illnesses.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I love a good outdoorsy day

I love it that my kids would rather play in our ditch than anywhere

 Or in a suitcase with some wipes

 I love the occasional moments where they play together well

I love it when Rylan matches our walls

Our Love Story

Thank you, Ashley, for the blog post idea that I totally stole. Lets get all personal and sappy up in here! This blog needs a little more Rob in it, yes?

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We have been together for 7.5 years

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

Rob and I went to high school together, but didn't know each other well. Our parents actually worked on a committee together. He graduated in 1996 (I was a sophomore, cause I am and always will be so much younger than him:) ) and I didn't see him again until 2004. I had a bad day at work and was depressed and my friends talked me into going out to a bar. A guy singing at the bar was a guy from our high school, so we went to say hi, and he introduced us to his friends, including Rob. Three weeks in a row after that, Rob and I crossed paths at various places around Little Rock (we both swear the other was a stalker) and on the third meetup, he asked me for my number. After 2 weeks of dates, we were inseperable, a month in he met my big German family (a sure sign he was in love), 8 months in we were engaged and a year, almost to the day after our first date, we got married.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry?

It will be 7 years this May

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

Medium sized wedding, big in my book, but then I read about others and whoa!!! We had 150 guests. We got married at St. Patricks church and had a reception at Jaunita's party room downtown. 

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

In high school, Rob was Robbie, and I still call him that. I also call him Rob Rob sometimes. I don't know why. I just do.  

He very occasionally calls me Sarie. He used to call me baby, but then we had babies and it got weird.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

He has an awesome work ethic, and has done excellent moving himself up. He fights temptation to take days off, even when he probably should (sick days) when I hear about other people using all their days and then some.

He will do anything for our family. And I love that we have a relationship that he knows if I ask for something, he knows I need it.  

I love it when he laughs hard. Its hard to make Rob really really get tickled, but oh my gosh, its just the best laugh and you feel like the funniest person on the earth. 

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

It was Christmas eve, there was an ice storm and we were supposed to go to our favorite sushi restaurant, but we couldn't get into the parking lot, so we went to DeCarlo's. He had wrapped my ring up like a regular present and I knew that bag was for me and he put his hand in it and I was about to be all "hey! that one's mine!" when I spied what he took out of the bag. He did the cute, one knee question.  

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Neither, but in a good way. There has been times that I've gotten flowers, and I love them but, Rob tends to get me something I want or need or something sentimental. after we had Rylan, he got me a necklace with an R on it. One time he got me a massage, one time a coupon for a pedicure. 

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Pop in a movie and get me relaxed on the couch and you will see my eyelids in less than 10 minutes! I don't lie! I'm more of a sunset dinner on the beach, but cozy and wearing something with give. 

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

The biggest thing is to move to Fayettville so we are closer to family, and the beloved Razorbacks. That's the logical want.

I love to travel with Rob, we have similar tastes in where we like to go. If its just us, we would love another all inclusive getaway, but someday, somehow, we want to do a pub tour of Ireland. I would have to train major for this. I still have New Year's Eve champagne in the fridge, still in the brown bag I bought it in. Lame.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Um, we have kids that are 3 and 1. I will make us something sassy for dinner, and we'll eat while listening to the lovely tune of "I wanna watch Super Why!!!!, Batman? Spiderman? Can I watch super Why in your bed?" all while dodging flying food from Max's side of the table. Then its bathtime, more dodging, this time water. Then many, many books kisses, hugs, "yes its night night time" and they go to bed.

But after they go to bed, Rob and I will hang out and eat something for dessert and decaf coffee and turn off phones, tv, and computers and actually talk. Bliss.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Yes, Rob and I didn't do gifts last year. We were financially in a place that needed frivolous gifts to be skipped. I hadn't worked in 6 months, we had just lost our dog and those vet bills were out of control (I swear they just make a new number up everytime I go), I was combating Death Fever and had many medical bills, and we were saving for a vacation. We did good, we lived frugally, paid our bills and now we can go back to getting each other something special.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Always remember the person that you married is in there somewhere when you feel upset. Know that they are a good person, and that they love you. 

When you have kids, talk about things other than the kids. Its hard to, but its needed. 

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

I love this pic. Just happy. When you have a fancy reception, there are so many people to see and dance with, you almost forget to get back to your betrothed, and here we found each other and had a dance. I love it. He's so much taller than me, a whole head and some change. I like it that way. 

Reunited and it feels so good

Ahhhhh.......my computer finally uploaded pics for me! Something about having 5 million, give or take, too many pictures and downloads. Whatever.

So anyway, we've been running around like mad, and we realized that we had gone way way way too long without seeing Harper, Hayes and their mama, Krystal. Like all of December and part of January!!!! See, Krystal took one of those JOB thingies and those darn things take away from frolicking time. And there was illness, and birthdays, and trips, and holidays and oh my gosh, Hayes is HUH-YUGE and I swears she was just a tiny baby. And, Max is RUNNING and Krystal was just holding him on her lap.

So, we were going to enjoy the lovely springlike weather and hang at the zoo, but the minute we got there, the heavens opened up and it was rainy and cold. So, we decided to check out the (newly remodeled) Museum of Discovery. Holy Funness! It was perfect, minus the fact that I lost each of my kids at least once in the maze they call the children's area. I try to dress my children in colors of emergency traffic signs on days where they will be running amok, but I thought they were zoo and stroller bound, so they were wearing normal colors, easy to lose.

 Hayes and Max saying hello

 This is the best I could do at a couples photo. they are holding hands in case you are wondering. They held hands the entire day. It was precious.

 Dress up time, they kept these hats on for almost an hour

 Krystal is hiding back there trying to make it look like Hayes and Max took a ride on a cow alone

I highly recommend the museum to all. We got a season pass, so look forward to many many pics that look, pretty much like the above.  Me likes a clean, air conditioned/heated, non crazy, place to take my kids on a cold, rainy, or extra hot day.