Easter Weekend

What a full weekend this was.  We did so many fun activities and saw so many people.  Noah said last night his favorite part of the day was everything, which was no surprise. We started our long weekend by heading to the Michigan high school boys basketball finals.  A tradiction in Jeffs side of the family.  Jeff has been going since he was little with his family and spending all weekend watching basketball.  Now that Noah is old enough, I brought him over for a couple of games on the last day and he had such a great time. Probably his most favorite part though was after the game when we all ate outside on the parking ramp and he got to run around like a wild child playing with balls.

Early Saturday morning before we left for the basketball games Noah found his special magic beans waiting for him.  I had been talking them up for days and he was pretty pumped to see what they were all about.   We headed out and "planted" them in the front yard.  At first he tried to eat them but with hopes they would become lolly pop flowers in the morning he was easily distracted and we threw them all out one by one.

On Sunday of course he ran down in the morning to see if the Easter bunny had left him a basket.  He was for sure it was going to be a red one.  Apparently the Easter bunny didn't get that memo but he was still just as excited.  We opened up all the presents one by one.  He of course wanted to eat everything and play with every single thing he got.  We settled on the play-dough while waiting for breakfast and that was a huge hit.

Once we got dressed and settled into the morning we headed out to find our magical beans had turned into lollipops and that was super exciting to Noah as he picked each lollipop and asked to open and eat every.single.one.

We headed to church and finished the day with family.  We did little work this weekend with so many people around and even though it was jammed packed it was still very relaxing and fun.  It was really great to see Noah finally enjoy himself and understand things as we explained to him what was going on.  Really one for the books.

33 Months

Short update this month, mostly I just wanted to document some fun pictures Noah and I have been taking while spending lots of time together.

He's really becoming quite the mamas boy and I can't say it's the worst. One of the things I love about Noah the most right now is how much he is unaware of the amount of girly things he does. We were talking the other day about how we're going to move him to a big boy bed and we're going to re-decorate and one of the first things he said after telling me he wanted red sheets was that he wanted to paint his walls pink. And as we walk into Target to try on shoes he immediately picks out some leopard and pink slip ons... can't say I blame him. Girl stuff is way cute. I'm sure he'll grown out of it as he spends more time at school with other kids, but as of now I love that we can share in the same interests for girly things.

He's a great companion as we take trips and spend time together. He loves to cook and bake with me and will pull up his stool and try everything I'm doing. We obviously both love being in the kitchen and share a love for food as I recently noticed half of my Instagram pictures included food. =) Ooops. Good thing this kid keeps me active.

For whatever reason life seems to have gotten busy around here and maybe even harder than I remember last year being. Both Jeff and I work so much and we split our time with Noah like single parents. But as much as it's hard sometimes I need to remind myself that although Noah enjoys spending time with both of us he really is lucky to have so much one on one time with both of his parents. There are a lot of things that Noah does with me that he doesn't do with Jeff and the same the other way around. We really only have a couple more weeks together before school lets out and our schedules slow down. We'll have a lot more time together as a family of three but until then here's to enjoying my snuggly funny Noah as much as I can.

• Size: 37 lbs | 39in tall | 3T-4T clothing
• Random Notes: Not a lot new to note this month.  We are getting closer to finding a date to go to Ikea and pick up big boy room items for Noah. Once that's done we'll be busy re-decorating the room.  I'm thinking something industrial with a little bit of a sports theme mixed in.  He's already excited to watch sports on TV just like daddy and I'm sure it won't be getting any less so I think it'll be a good room to grown into as he gets bigger. So far we've purchased a couple of things like his comforter and sheets and I've had my eye on a great end table at Target.  Just waiting for it to go on sale.
• Mom Check-In: The time change went great.  Both Noah and I adjusted great to it.  Noah even started to sleep in a little more.  For a week that is... he's back to waking up at six.  Such a downer.  Jeff of course never gets enough sleep so it didn't really impact him all that much. The warm weather finally started to creep and and it's getting me excited to get outside with Noah.  Do beach stuff, work on the yard, start our garden.  Lots to look forward to this summer. 

We Finally Made it Outside!

The weather finally warmed up around here and I can stand to be outside for more than five seconds without freezing by butt off. We ventured outside this weekend to check out the property.  We have lots of plans for the landscaping this summer and we were talking it all out realizing how much work we have ahead of us.   For starters, we would like to make a rock wall by the beach to separate the lawn area from the beach.  That will for sure entail planting something behind it to make it pretty.  Then we have the area to the left of the front door which I have big plans for planting a birch tree and filling the area with lots of flowers.   And lets not forget our garden.  We made it through last summer without one, but it's just not the same.  We need to make lots of room for Noah and I to do our vegetable garden this summer so the sooner the better because it wont be long before planting season is here. ...and that's just the start of our list.

On Saturday night we ate dinner early so we could have time to enjoy a fire and eat smores.  Noah was so excited about the fire yet kept pointing out of hot it was and staying as far away as possible.  He couldn't get enough of the smores and kept asking for more.  Jeff said only one.  I budged at two. =)

Sunday, Jeff had to go back to work but Noah and I made the best of it by spending lots of time in the kitchen.  Noah's been all about helping out and "making pancakes".  He takes out all the utensils known to man, pulls up his stool to the counter and goes to town telling me how he's making pancakes.  He entertains himself most of the time I'm in the kitchen so win for mom, plus it's really cute constantly eating fake pancakes...and cupcakes.

We ended our weekend by bringing some food to a friend who had back surgery.  Noah was so excited to see Ms. Kaye and her doggies.  He laughed the whole time while her kids had dance parties and blew bubbles.  This kid needs a sibling for sure. Or maybe a dog, but that isn't happening.
We have another busy week ahead of us.  Crossing our fingers we can pick up our new car today since Jeffs' car completely died after a cracked frame and over 200 miles on it.   We can say we got good use out of that for sure.  Grandma Jan is visiting for a couple of days so Noah is pumped, and then we have a crazy busy weekend full of work for Jeff and I.  Living the life over here. =) Cheers!

Easy & Quick White Bean Dip

I've never been quite able to master the art of making hummus.  It's so simple yet it never tastes like the store bought kind.  Setting that aside, I have no problem making white bean dip which is essentially the same thing.  A little less garlic-y and more savory in my opinion.  It doesn't have a super strong flavor yet still tastes amazing.  Definitely worth a try for a healthy quick snack option while you're making dinner. Or slather it on your tacos, sandwiches and quesadillas.... I'm obsessed, and when I make it, I put it on everything.

Ingredients:
1 Can White Beans Drained
1 Can Chickpeas Drained
1/4 Cup Tahini
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
1 T Minced Garlic
1 t Paprika
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions:
1. Drain the beans and chickpeas saving about a half cup of juice from either.
2. Dump all the ingredients except the extra bean juice into the blender and blend until creamy.  If needed for the right consistency use the extra bean juice to loosen it up. 
3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with paprika and serve.