Sharing the Love

So much love being shared in the last couple of weeks. With our family, friends, each other. It makes for good times. Tanner and his best buddy, Belle. We needed a photo for pet day at preschool and he was more than willing to pose with her. He follows her constantly and is always petting her.

Phoebe showing her love for her all time favorite snack food. She can eat an entire bag herself.

They do love a good bag of FunDip. Mommy, not so much, especially when I find it everywhere. But I do have to admit that those green tongues are pretty funny.

Oh How I love thee Dollar store! Those giant balloons were only a buck the day of Valentine's. I went just for the tablecloth, cups, napkins, and hangy thingy but the kids lucked out. They were definitely shock and awe. Now I just have to figure out how to deal with them for the next two months. Lol.

We shared lots of love with Ohio friends and family the weekend before Valentine's, and my mom rode along so she could stay at my sister's. We hit the old digs on Cromwell on Saturday to spend time with very dear friends and had a completely lovely time.

And then we joined Mom on Sunday with my sister and the cousins. We went to the BEST free playland/giant hamsterland EVER. All I have to say is the kids didn't even come look for us for an hour and half and they were sweaty. That's good stuff.
Our kids loved having sleepovers at both houses and the kids had such a good time playing and the grownups had a wonderful time catching up. So much that I am planning to take the kids back in June. Tanner thinks Ohio looks very squatchy and he is intent on checking out some of the woods there this summer.

Hanging out in the kitchen. Why is that? People really do just hang out there, and I mean that for our house and everywhere we visit. We have to force ourselves to go sit on the couches. Why were living rooms ever even invented? Just a random thought.

Silly kids with pizza. Man did they giggle a lot that day.

He Does This for FUN

Jeff's job is slowing down for the winter. Very normal. I forgot to consider that football is almost over, he is not taking any classes, we don't have any babies, he is not in constant worry mode about crating this year. So with all this time on his hands I have to remember that it is very normal for my husband to decide on a whim, "It would be a great idea to just redrywall this don't you think?" But he only asks himself that question. I only learn of the decision after he as answered himself with a resounding, "YES! OF COURSE!" His eyes twinkling and his brain whirring.
This time when he started in, I just laughed. I should have seen it coming. Every February in every other house we have lived in meant "project." But I was out of practice--he went two whole years without drywalling a thing. Imagine.

So really I should have known that when I said, "Let's paint that ugly pine waiscoting and the wall above, " that he heard, "Yes, Jeff, you have my permission to start a large scale project--rip down that pine and redrywall that part." Which he did. And I am going to be thrilled with the results. The room even in drywall mode already feels bigger, taller, brighter. He is fixing all the little imperfections that drove him crazy and I am finally going to like that room.

But I still think it is funny. I mean really, how many men do you know that drywall for a hobby?

The Turtleman

Tanner is obsessed with the Animal Planet show, "Call of the Wildman" about the Turtleman from Kentucky. Ernie goes to people's ponds and gets the snapping turtles out, or he rids your home of other rascally critters. :) He is actually quite interesting, funny, and addictive. It is no wonder he is an internet phenom and has his own show.

Tanner pretends to be Turtleman ALL THE TIME. He has a lot of his phrases, calls, and mannerisms down pat. He pretends to catch wild animals in the house and puts them in pillowcases everyday. This video is just a small glimpse into Tanner's imaginary Turtleman world.