Oh Lukey!

Kids are so funny.  Sometimes I just really want to get inside their little brains and see what they are thinking.  Why do they do the things they do?  Just for the record I'm sure there have been plenty of times when someone has wondered what I am doing or thinking.  Take yesterday for example.  I was out for a walk with the dog and the younger two kiddos in the jogging stroller.  The kids were munching on Toy Story fruit snacks and Luke said, "hey mom- I got a Jessie!" To which I started singing full blast, "There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl, Bullseye, he's Woody's horse, meet the old prospector and Woody the man himself of course...."  Just as I finished the finale "He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west- Woooody's Roooound-uuup!" I looked over to see about 5 construction workers across the street standing motionless and staring at me.  Welp... what can you do?

Anyway, back to kids.  Luke is one of those kids that is often doing things that we just shake our heads at.  Really, all we can do is say, "Oh Lukey."  He reminds me a little of those No David books. Adventurous, but sweet as can be.  That is the dichotomy of Lukey; a lion and a lamb, jumping off of anything and everything, but the best cuddler in the world.  Fearless in every way, but wants to be near people.  I love him!  Last week we had one of our "What was he thinking" moments.  I had just finished putting Lizzy in her jammies when Isaiah came in and told me I needed to see what Luke did and take a picture of him.  In comes Luke with red marker stripes all over his body.  On his face, his arms, his tummy, all the way down his legs, even on the bottoms of his feet.  He was proud of himself and I snapped some pictures.

 It wasn't until we stripped him down to scrub him off in the shower that we realized he really had drawn those stripes everywhere.  They were on his ears, and even his cute little buns.  Oh Lukey!

It reminds me of a few other incidents...

Last summer my mom was in town and she watched the kids one day while I worked.  They were playing outside and she noticed Luke hiding behind a lawn chair.  "Luke, what are you doing?" she asked.  "I'm going poop in the pee hole."  (the boys have been known to pee outside- not abnormal for boys- unbeknownst to me they had named the hole in the ground at their favorite spot next to the lilac bush the "pee hole")  Isaiah informed Luke that they weren't supposed to poop in the pee hole and Luke responded nonchalantly,  "Don't worry about it.  We can do it, it's OK"  Oh Lukey!

Watching a movie one night after the kids were in bed we heard footsteps upstairs.  Going up to check it out we found Luke standing in the kitchen with a hot dog in both hands and a stack of Kraft singles ready to eat.  Oh Lukey!

One day Luke and Lizzy were behind the couch and Lizzy started crying.  Kyle-  "Luke- why is she crying, what did you do?"  Luke-  "We're playing Pharaoh and Moses and I just told her, Lizzy let my people go!"  Oh Lukey!

Lukey's Moses costume on the right

I came in from the garden one day to finish dinner and found Lukey biting big chunks out of the top of my block of cheddar cheese.  Oh Lukey!

Mmmm, who wants some cheese?

Oh Lukey!  Our life would be boring and empty without your big grin, your marker drawings on the walls and furniture, your bear hugs, your funny outfits and bathroom habits and your sweet cuddles and I love you's.  You make us smile everyday!  Don't ever change.

Lukey... whacha doing?  "I don't know!"

Long weekends- oh how I love thee!

Well folks, just a quick post tonight before I hit the sack.  I loved the long weekend but I am pooped!

Reason #1-  I've had a sore throat and cough for about a week now.  I don't know about you but coughing wears me out.  I think everyone in my house is ready for me to be done too.  To sooth the throat and stop the cough I've been drinking fluids nonstop, which means I've been visiting the bathroom nonstop.  Ugh!

Reason #2- We had a busy, fun filled weekend.  The cough couldn't put a damper on a visit from my parents.  The kids love it when they come for a "sleep-over" as Lukey calls it.  We were so glad they got to stay for two nights and the kids made the most of it by getting up nice and early to play.  (Although Isaiah came downstairs this morning and with a big stretch announced, "I was pretty tired so I decided to sleep in today"  It was 7:13am.)  We enjoyed some sun at the park, a big family dinner, a trip to Northwest Trek and lots of fun time together.  Kyle was especially happy that my dad got up on the roof with him to finish scraping the moss off. Luke and Isaiah got in lots of loud, rowdy games of "pig pile"with Grampa and Lizzy was glued to Grammy Bee all two days.  We LOVE Grammy Bee and Grampa so much and are always sad when it's time to say goodbye.  Thanks for the great visit!

   

Lizzy was so excited to hold her cousin Isabelle

Fun at the park with Grampa

after morning bath snuggles

Me, after a fitful night of coughing-  just kidding!  (kind of)

Well, it's Niquil and bed for me.  Hope everyone out there had a wonderful weekend!

love, Em

I really love my... pink Target Cowboy boots

So, let me start by saying that you may not fully get this post if you don't read People Style Watch magazine.  Since this could be quite a few of you I will explain.  I don't personally get People Style Watch magazine but my mother-in-law does.  So whenever we get down to her house I like to take full advantage of other people entertaining and supervising my kids and find a nice comfy spot on the couch and check out all the new magazines.  It's a great de-stresser for me.  Kyle naps and I read.  Incidentally we do the same thing at my parents house.  I sure love grandparents.  Anyway, back to my explanation.  One of the regular features in People Style watch is a section called "I really love my... ______"  It showcases a celebrity and an accessory she really likes, such as a purse, or shoes, or earrings.  It then has pictures of that celeb with that accessory on many different occasions.  Are you picturing it in your mind?  Here is my own version...

Elizabeth Grunenfelder-  I really love my pink Target Cowboy boots

Cowgirl duds

The boots were originally purchased to be part of Lizzy's Halloween costume as seen here.  They quickly became her favorite shoe and she wears them pretty much every day.  They are a wardrobe staple and who wouldn't love the pink?

Try them with a denim mini

You won't find a comfier boot

All gussied up for a party

They can also double as rain boots

Great under jeans for a mom on the go

Just a girl and her shoes!  For all of you Tacoma readers I did happen to see Lizzy's boots when I was at Target today.  They were on clearance- marked down to $3.74.  So if you have a little girl that might like 'em head on over there.  The biggest size they had was the size Lizzy owns, otherwise I would have picked her up another pair in the next size up.  We'll see you next time on Grunenfelder Style Watch!  Hugs!

Photo shoot and a bribe or two

After getting my new camera in December I had been itching to take some pictures outside.  A couple of my friends got me a photography book for my birthday and I wanted to try out some of the things that were just barely starting to gel in my mind.  Everything I've read and everyone I've talked to has assured me that natural light is best... and there in lies my problem.  I live in Tacoma. And it's winter.  I wanted to take pictures of the kids but finding a window of time that it isn't pouring rain, the kids are ALL in halfway decent moods, no one has a bruise on their face and their hair has been washed within the week can be a little tricky.  So, when it looked like we were in store for a sun break one weekend I pounced.  Dad was pretty easy to convince of my plan but I knew the kids would take a little more finesse.  " Hey guys, I know!  Lets go to one of your favorite parks to play today- the CASTLE park!  And afterwards we can go get a fun treat!  Oh, and real quick, right before you play, mommy will take some pictures of you!  FUN!!!"  Now some people may call this a bribe, (and a sneaky one at that) but I prefer to call it knowing your kids motivation.  Any good parent or leader does it.  Isaiah and Luke are motivated by treats, seeing their friends, doing fun things and the Wii.  Lizzy doesn't quite get the concept yet of waiting for what she wants so she's a little tricky.  Anyway, the bribe/motivation worked pretty well to get them out the door.  I thought I'd share a couple of pictures from the day.

Lizzy, Luke and Isaiah

  

Brothers and best buds- how did they get so big?

Oh they make me smile

look how she's holding his finger- melts a momma's heart

  

  

Amazingly they sat still long enough to get a few pictures.  They did get a little squirrely though and there was plenty of running around and a bit of monkey business.  I was very glad I had my assistant with me.

And they did enjoy their play time at the park and the treat from Metro Market later.  All in all I think it was a win for everyone!

Happy Heart Day!

Happy Heart Day everyone!  Hope you had a LOVE filled day!  I personally love any reason to celebrate, especially if it involves food.  We spent the weekend making and frosting millions of heart shaped sugar cookies.  Luke took some for his preschool party today and Kyle took a bunch for his high school kids.  Of course we also kept a couple for ourselves.  I made the kids a festive breakfast of heart-shaped egg in a hole and berry smoothies.  Mmmmm... smoothies.

It was one of those mornings where it felt like there was lots of things to remember- lunches, Valentine's, class party snacks, Isaiah's free dress (Valentine colors instead of  his uniform).  It was one of those mornings that I wanted to be there directing traffic, packing backpacks, getting Lizzy up and putting her in a fun little outfit, dropping everyone off at school, but alas I had to go to work.  Now don't get me wrong, I really am not trying to complain.  Hubby and I have had plenty of talks about gratitude in this arena.  I am so thankful that I have a profession where it's possible for me to work just one day a week.  I am SO happy that I get to be home with my kids the majority of the time, especially after someone I love pointed out to me that 75% of moms in my age bracket work full time outside of the home.  I also have some AMAZING people watch my kiddos who love them, play games with them, bring treats, leave us dinner  and probably keep a closer eye on my adventurous children than I ever do.  (Big shout out to Papa, Auntie Deb, and Erika!) I work with some amazing and fun coworkers and I'm helping people live fuller healthier lives.  It's a sweet deal! But no matter how great it is, when the alternative is this...

or on some days it could be this...

...there really is no question where I'd rather be.  I mean really-  can anything compete with those cute little faces?  I think not.  I actually did enjoy my day at Cardiac Rehab today and there was one thing that made it even brighter.

flowers from my love

 

Yep, that's right, I got a special delivery from a not so secret admirer, my sweet hubby.  I can't even remember the last time I had flowers delivered, I think it's happened to me one other time in my life when Kyle and I were dating.  It was fun.  It made me smile.  It made me feel young again.  Thanks babe!  You're the best!  In return I made him a gluten free lasagna and we enjoyed a fun night with the family!

Kisses!

  It was a very good day. XOXO and Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

See ya later!

 

 

It only took me until February...

Friends and family.... this blog is for you!  To open to you a little window into the comings and goings of our life here at the Grunenfelder house.  It was a New Years goal of mine to start a blog and although I realize it is February, I'm rejoicing because it's ONLY February.  A little over a month late is not too shabby right?  At least its not October or November.  I will admit right out of the gun that I am not super technically savvy so we're learning as we go here.  BTW if anyone wants to help me come up with a neat blog header I'd be all for it. :)

I probably wouldn't be doing any of this if it wasn't for my number one motivator... my hubby.  A couple months ago he surprised me with a birthday/Christmas present, even though we had said we weren't getting each other anything.  (I hate it one he does that- but I also love it when he does that)  He sold his bike on ebay and bought me a sparkly nice new camera.  My first reaction was, "What!! You sold your bike!?!  You can't sell your bike!!"  I know how much he loves having a bike. (more on this topic later)  But the damage had been done, the bike had already been shipped to it's new owner who loves and appreciates it very much, so what could I do but start taking pictures?  Along with the surprise gift came a birthday card. Now I have to say that my hubby is the best card writer in the world.  Really... its true.  If there was a card writing contest I am confident that he would win.  He always covers the entire surface of the the card with his (quite small) writing and says wonderful and perfect things.  If you know him at all you know that my husband has no problem with communication.  My favorite is when he makes his own cards- or has his class make me cards.  Maybe someday I'll post a couple of my favorites from over the years.  Anyway, back to the topic on hand.  In this year's wonderful birthday card he explained that it was important to him to get me a camera so that I can record our story- to "record our life, record our adventures."  Life zips by, the kids are growing up so fast, each day is a gift, and I want to remember those simple, everyday moments in this journey that we're on.  So I'm excited to continue to learn how to use my new camera to chronicle our lives.  I'm excited to see things in my family that I might not have noticed before.  I'm excited to have a place to record the growth of my kids because photo albums have just not been happening.  I'm excited to give our parents and family a way to feel close even when they are far away.  Join us in our journey if you wish... it will be fun to see where our story goes.