randomness.

:: lane totally knows his way around our town & denver as well. he can tell me turn by turn directions to target, walmart, sam's house. he can even direct me correctly to vance's office witch is a good 45 minutes away. we've told him countless times, "only mommy & daddy can start the car" i wouldn't put it passed him to think he can drive, he thinks he's an adult.

:: gage looooves to dance. here he is dancing with his shirt...

:: ferry family...how funny is this board game?

:: the other day we went to michaels to pick out stuff for lane's birthday. *sigh* i'm having a hard time wrapping my heart around 3 years old. he picked out (lime-ish)green paper, (teal-ish)blue paper, and orange paper with stars on it for his "color" theme. hmmm. i have quite a few ideas floating around in my head on what to do. he was SO excited getting everything, he was telling everyone in the store "my bird day. cuptcakes. my real fun."

:: his favorite spot.

:: want to make this. soon.

:: it is SO much fun seeing the difference in our boys as gage is getting bigger & growing up. gage is obsessed with any sort of ball; footballs, baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls. he just goes giddy and can't control his smiles. we don't remember lane necessarily being that into them, he's always been about cars, anything that moves. both equally special, both equally cute, and both equally boy.

:: i sing this song all the time. all the time.

:: i saw this picture from gage's birth and it instantly made me want to go through the whole experience again. and again. amazing. seriously, amazing.

:: lane is sleeping without his bedrail right now. i'm thoroughly expecting to hear a thump sometime soon.

:: lane still dislikes the camera. i typically get cheesy smiles. or he starts crying for me to put it away. urgh.

:: when we picked gage up from the nursery on sunday they said "he is definitely not like his big brother." i said something like "oh, yeah, was he crying for me?" they responded with "he threw a fit for you" and its true. he's a little hot head and a total mama's boy. he loooooves me, which, i can't complain:) but he is a little firecracker. when he doesn't get his way he throws himself back on the ground and arches his back screaming.

:: gage is also a quick...and slow....learner. you can't put anything past him. he's got everything figured out, he picks up on everything so quick. he now signs "more" "drink" "all done" "change" "milk" (i keep forgetting to look up what the sign is for "help") but...he is a slow learner when it comes to the word "no". he loves trash cans, tables, climbing, toliets, being naughty. he just can't seem to learn what the word "no, no, no" means. hmmm.

:: my absolute favorite thing lately is hearing lane sing his abc's. so stinkin adorable.

(taken with my phone and off course, not his best time, but you get the picture:))

:: and i love hearing him call gage "my little bruder" or "little buddy" or "gage neeeaal"

:: i've worked out everyday for nearly a week. thats a first for me since 2007 . maybe if i put it on here i'll continue with it. maybe.

:: the other day, my friend amy and i were walking on the treadmill. we asked ourselves why we didn't do this last year. we were in survival mode with new babies.

:: up and down. lots of smiles.

:: i'm super pumped about some up and coming things. think pictures.

:: vance has to exercises with his knee multiple times a day. he can't pull it up on his own so he uses a trash bag to grip and pull. lane likes to work out too.

:: on sunday vance & i didn't make our bed for the first time in almost 6 years. it felt wrong and exciting all at the same time.

:: can you say biggest smile ever?

:: i had one of my most favorite mom of 2 moments this morning...walking into a store holding both of their hands. a mix of happy/proud/joy/smiles/love/excitement/precious.

:: is it april yet?

balance.

so yet again, i'm way behind, which means a crazy long post. the past few weeks i've been searching for some sort of balance. everything and everyone is every which way. how are am i suppose to fit 'everything' into each and every day...

i'm suppose to work out.

i'd like to shower.

i'm suppose to sleep.

i'd like to read more.

i need to spend more time in prayer, more time with God.

i'm suppose to cook, clean, fold.

i need to be a mom, sister, daughter, friend, wife.

and yet at the end of everyday, the day seems to slip away. how do people do it? or do they? but one thing is for sure, since the time this guy was in my belly, he's been speaking to my soul...every morning he asks, "mama, you ok?" and i'm reminded "that yes, i'm more then ok, i've never been happier, i have you."




and this little guy, his eyes dig deeper in me everyday, overwhelming me with love.





yes, there are lots of pictures of them eating, its the only time they are sitting. here, i asked lane if he could give gage a few more snacks. he filled his tray:)
lane's favorite breakfast, oranges. no surprise, i ate nearly 5 everyday when i was pregnant with him.

and a little too tart for him.
we love the park. and even more, we love the park when we get to go in the winter. we've gone every month the past year. this is way back in february.

still loving the kitchen chairs and still making me loose my ever lovin mind with climbing on the kitchen table. ugh.
seriously boys, this is the best picture i can get of you both together? we'll try again, sometime.
love his toes.

gage is by far the pickiest eater i know. he likes fruit and mac.n.cheese and thats it. any suggestions of food? meal times are exhausting.
brothers.

(playing with editing...)

(and again...)
and yet again with bath time.


a few weeks ago we snuck down to colorado springs to see jenni and her girls. it was a great day at their house. jenni and i were so impressed with ourselves, at one point in time ALL four of our kids were sleeping (everyone but gage were in the same room!) which meant jenni and i could play hair and chat. she is such a great friend to talk with, i always cherish our time together!
little maya is getting so grown up (which means lane is too). what happened to our little babies?!
and it was so special to meet sweet norah!

also, one weekend not too far back we got in the car to just go for a drive. we knew vance was having surgery soon so we just wanted to get out and about. we drove until we stopped and that happened to be in breckenridge. it was eventful to say the least. we were quite the scene walking around- vance in a knee brace being careful not to fall on any ice/snow, lane wanting to be carried (why, we dont know!?), gage wanting to be done on the ground running, and me trying to smile between the kids cries :) vance and i laughed because it maybe wasn't the funnest times but we know in years to come we'll look back and say, "oh remember when we went to breckenridge with the boys in winter? that was fun."...and it was fun, we were just thankful to get back in the car and drive home. ha:)

if anyone ever goes there, you'll find this little store. no idea what the name is but it had ME written all over it. i could have spent hours in there, it was like a etsy store in person.

soon after this picture a lady came up to me and asked where my kids gloves were. not sure really how i responded but inside i wanted to scream, give me a break lady! lane seemed unfazed playing in the snow, sans gloves:)



gage had his first ice cream cone there, he loved it.
look at his little tongue...

vance and i shared this yummy treat. more please!

my boys!

i've been told if you're ever having a long day with your kids, put them down and then go watch them sleep. its true, helps every time. a sense of peace like none other washes over you seeing them...

we were SOO thankful, grandma kay came to help out while vance had his surgery. we honestly couldn't have done it without her!! despite it being sorta a bummer of a reason she had to come, we loved her being at our home. such special times for the boys (and me!).
oh lane.

gage snatched lane's beloved "bunny". this is his personality to a t, see that spunk in there...


they spent close to two hours like this one morning, reading books.
gage, on a step stool, stealing snacks on the counter, signing more.
we did venture out on a walk one afternoon. aren't my kids such fashion statements?

grandma made edible play dough. of course, lane thought it was for monster trucks to drive in.
gage workin out with me. he really does a half way decent job with jillian yelling at him, up down, up down.

my dear friend amy brought super over to us one evening this past week. so thankful!! we ate it tv dinner style. lane thought it was extra special!

this is probably the closest we'll ever get to hair bows in our home. lego men head lamps.

gage making little messes.
rise and shine lane.

rise and shine gage.
"mom, get the camera out of my face. i want my milk!"
and gage doing what he does best...climbing!
note to self, never keep foot stool near taller objects.
and lane doing one of his favorite things...helping me make cookies. he's a great taste tester!
see what i mean about dinner being a bit exhausting? he refuses to be fed but yet can't feed himself. ...but he looks cute doing it!

right now there may not be tons of balance in our home. we're trying to get in the swing of things but man, these boys have my heart...

i love them...
...plain and simple.