"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

21 Months

Your Dad will hate me saying this, but you are now 21 months.  Don't worry, I never say that when people ask how old you are.  It's hard to believe that in a few short months, you will be two! I am loving the age you are right now.  Learning to be independent and picking up everything like a little sponge.
Says:  Your vocabulary keeps growing!  I feel like you communicate really well, although sometimes I still have to interpret for other people.  You repeat new words after we say them, and then add them to your vocabulary.  You are able to name most of our family members, especially after spending Christmas together.  I was impressed when we told you Gigi and Gdad were coming to see you, and you asked if Mike was coming too!  You recognize things and call them by name.  Your Dad has been making sure you can identify all of the superheros. :)
Stats: I'm really not sure what you are measuring in at.  You are in 2T tops and jammies.  Some 18mo pants still fit you (mostly because you are on the short end-sorry!), but mostly you wear 2T for those as well.  We just bought you size 7 shoes...the old ones would not velcro across your feet anymore.
Sports Center or the Bachelor...which will win??
Loves: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - you can name all the characters, and have started responding to the questions they ask in the show.  You get upset when they choose the wrong mouse-ka-tool!  Lately you get your stuffed Mickey, and sit him next to you on your little couch.  You still love the farm, going to feed the goats (doats!), and sitting in the combine.  Another favorite is to play games on the iPad.  "DumpTruck" and "Firetruck" are at the top of the list.  Whenever I am cooking in the kitchen, you are insistent on bringing over a chair, climbing up, and helping me finish whatever I am making.
Hates:  There is not much you do not like.  Vegetables don't always rank the highest, depending on your mood.

Sleeps: Right now you take a nap after lunch, then are ready for bed at about eight o'clock.  We read a couple books.  You usually ask for "Ho-Ho" (The Night Before Christmas) and "G Dog" (Go, Dog, Go!), finishing out with Dumbo or Sheep in a Jeep.  We never get through the whole book of any of them.  You just skip to your favorite parts!  After reading books, saying our prayer, and giving kisses, you go to bed really easy, and sleep till I wake you up about seven.  I try to squeeze a few more minutes out of you on Saturday mornings by bringing you into our bed.  Most of the time you are awake and goofy, so it doesn't last very long!  Last weekend you started jumping your bum back and forth, and after you licked me on my face, we got up! Hah!
Eats: When I ask you what you want to eat, most of the time you say, "sauce!"  which took me awhile, but means applesauce!  I was thinking you were crazy and wanted spaghetti all the time! :)  Your other favorites are cheese, macaroni, chili, spaghetti, fruit, yogurt, and M&M's.  We made french bread pizza's the other night, and you probably ate half the can of both mushrooms and black olives.  You definitely got that from your Dad and not me!
Does: Everyday I am impressed by something else you have learned.  You like to count, and if we ask you how many of something you want, you will hold up one hand and say "FIVE!"  You potty-trained really well, and have been consistent for the last few months.  You still wear a diaper at nap-time and bed-time, but the last few weeks you have been dry waking up from your naps.  You have been in a regular daycare for the last two months.  The first few weeks were rough with tears at drop-off and before pick-up time.  Thank goodness your Dad took you, I'm not sure I could have handled it.  We learned that a couple of M&M's made the transition smoother! :)  Now you are loving it.

What an awesome few months it has been.  We love your goofy personality and that you love to laugh.  You bring joy to everyone around you!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Just What We Needed

After a little bit of an emotional week, sometimes you just need a few favorite things and some sunshine to get back on track.  While we waited for my car to get done at Honda, we went to Zach's favorite stores (Cabela's and Gander Mountain) and my favorite store (Target).  Lyle was in love with the fish tank and kept pointing out all of the mounted deer heads at Cabela's.  He thinks that deer say "No, no no!" because when he was driving in the truck with Papa, he had Lyle tell the deer, "No, no no!  Stay off of Papa's wheat!"  And it stuck!    
 A happy drink for mama!  Extra happy because I had a few dollars left on my gift card, making my drink free!
Farm boy at heart, playing in the sunshine!


One of our goats had babies!  The girl in front is "Nananana" and the boy in back is "Batman."  
Lyle was beyond excited.  I am much more excited than I look in this next picture! :)


 He would have a whole farm in our backyard if I let him!  (Don't worry these are at his Grandma's!)
 Playing in the "dump-dump" with Papa!
 A good end to the weekend.  Watching a movie and eating popcorn.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Five on Friday

I am linking up again with Hello! Happiness, the good life blog, Carolina Charm, and A.Liz Adventures to bring you my Five on Friday.  

I decided to give you my five favorite pictures of Lyle from the last week.  Enjoy!

Picking out his dream combine.

Using Tupperware as a sippy cup holder
Getting ready to help blow out the candles!

Zach's grandma has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks.  Lyle's favorite thing to do when we visit her is take a ride on her walker to see the fish!

Syrup EVERYWHERE!  Did you guys know it makes a great hair gel??


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Happy.

Do you ever feel like God is telling you something?  As I was reading blogs this morning, God sent me a message.  Both my sister and one of my best friends wrote posts on being grateful.  And they were inspiring.  One of the next blog posts I read was about 100happydays written over at Ellie Love.  The challenge is to take pictures and record for 100 days in a row something that made you happy that day.

I couldn't help but make the connection between the two.  Grateful and Happy.  Read this excerpt from their webstite:

We live in times when super-busy schedules have become something to boast about. While the speed of life increases, there is less and less time to enjoy the moment that you are in. The ability to appreciate the moment, the environment and yourself in it, isthe base for the bridge towards long term happiness of any human being.

71% of people tried to complete this challenge, but failed quoting lack of time as the main reason. These people simply did not have time to be happy. Do you?" 


Did you catch that?  "These people simply did not have time to be happy."  I do not want to ever feel like I am too busy/stressed/tired to be happy.  I want to be happy WHILE I am busy/stressed/tired.  And honestly, isn't life so much more fun when you are happy???

So I am signing up for 100 days of happy.  I will be posting my pictures on instagram (kbauer30) if you want to follow me.  I'm sure there will be plenty of Lyle pictures in there, because I think he makes everyone happy! 

Let me know if you decide to sign up too...I'd love to follow your 100 days!  

Friday, January 10, 2014

Five on Friday

Am I ever glad to see Friday this week!  Linking up with some great gals, listing my five "happenings" of the week.  

ONE  We are heading to my sister's tomorrow to celebrate my nephew, Eric's first birthday.  Can't wait to celebrate!

TWO  I don't know what it is about this week, but all I want to do is go home, put on my pajamas, park in front of the TV, and not move.  Maybe it's because I know how incredibly comfy my new pajamas and slippers are.  

Victoria Secret

Amazon

THREE  It's been Pioneer Woman themed at our house the last couple of weeks.  I made her potato skins and Whisky BBQ sliders for New Years snacks-both were amazing!  I'm hoping to keep cooking through her cookbooks, instead of filing them on my shelf.  I also got her book "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" and just finished reading it.  I loved it.  

Sliders - Potato Skins




FOUR  Why oh why are there so many good sales, AFTER Christmas, when we are trying to really watch our spending???  I have been barely skimming my hotmail account (where all my store/ad/sale emails go), so I'm not as tempted.  I did find a great sale on some new tennis shoes for Lyle.  He had outgrown his others, and I got these on sale at Finish Line for $14!  That's cheaper than you can find not name-brand ones most of the time.  I went ahead and got another pair in the next size up!  They still have their sale going on, and I'm sure there's adult sales too, I just resisted looking!  
Finish Line


FIVE  A precious Lyle picture to top it off! :)

Photo credit goes to my brother-in-law Shawn Swander.  He gets the credit for the gift of bubbles too! :)

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Homeade Christmas

This year, the girls in our family did a gift exchange, just between us.  The basic goal was to make or get a $5-ish gift for everyone.  We did this a couple years ago (read about it here) and it was so much fun!  I love scouring Pinterest (both mine and theirs) for ideas.  I was torn this year on wanting to make something different for each person, but time won out and everyone got a version of the same thing!  (I totally overestimated the amount of projects that I could get done between Thanksgiving and Christmas - note to self for next year!  Because of that, you might see Christmas projects being finished and featured on here in February!)


I made infinity scarfs for everyone.  They really are pretty simple to make (especially if you do not pick striped material.  That took the longest...lining up the stripes!)

Kansas pillow with a heart for Harper! Made by my sweet sis Kristen. 

Super cute frame from my sister Carrie.  Time to print off some favorite Instagram pictures!

Embroidered towel and goodies from my Mom.
And unfortunately I don't have a picture of Steph's gift.  In packing everything up, my gift from her ended up at Carrie's house.  Don't worry, I'll get it back this weekend!  She made us these awesome engraved wooden spoons.  

It was so fun to see what different ideas everyone came up with.  I recommend trying it with your family or friends sometime!  It mixes it up from just buying them something!  


Saturday, January 4, 2014

2014

I'm not usually a New Year's Resolution kind of gal.  I tend to make them and break them like the rest of the world.  This year I felt a little inspired, and hopefully I don't break all of these, but here is my list of goals/resolutions.

-Come up with a morning schedule that works.  (Including devotion time, packing breakfast/lunches, and a quick pick up of a room.)
 
-Menu Plan incorporating new recipes and the beef in our freezer
 
-Find a simple way to track our budget/spending
 
-Send birthday cards to our family
 
-Finish our Disney and Hawaii photo books
 
-Decorate the master bathroom
 
-Make another quilt
 
-Have my neice and nephew come over and spend the night
 
-Do something intentional with Lyle each day off we have together (i.e. go to the park, make breakfast together, do a craft, etc.)
 
-Have a date with Zach at least every other month
 
-Learn to use Zach's nice camera
 
Here is to an awesome 2014!!!!
 
 

Friday, January 3, 2014

A Look Back at 2013

What an absolutely amazing year it has been!  Even if no one reads this blog, it is such an awesome way to keep track of what is happening in our lives!  And to remind myself how incredibly blessed we are!

Here are our 2013 big moments!

-Rang in the New Year at Disneyworld
 
-Added a new nephew, Eric Robert, to the family
 
-Celebrated Easter with my sister and brother-in-law in Arkansas
 
-Had our first ER visit with Lyle
 
-Partied with family for Lyle's first birthday
 
-Enjoyed a trip to Kansas City for a bowling tournament and to visit Zach's sister and brother-in-law
 
-Watched my younger brother graduate from K-State
 
-Spent two weeks in Hawaii with the Bauer family
 
-Lyle started walking!
 
-Relaxed with a weekend at the Lake with the Norris family
 
-Took our farm loving boy to the county and state fairs
 
-Went to an awesome concert
-Saw several comedians
 
-Said goodbye to my Grandad
 
 
-Had our first experience with bronchitis and pneumonia
 
-Enjoyed Zach's company picnic
 
-Dressed up for Halloween
 
-Counted our blessing with family at Thanksgiving
 
-Had a very merry Christmas with all our family