Home Sweet Home

Ah.  I love vacations (especially ones where I get to see family), but boy does it feel good to be home.  I can put my clothes in my closet, cook my little family dinner and just enjoy quiet nights at home.  It's the best.  I also love fall!  But we will save that for another post.

So after Noah's great escape we took a little trip to UT.  Saw some of our family, had good food and visited the zoo.  It was a great time (especially when my allergies weren't bothering me!) ha.

I tried and tried to get Noah to sit on one of the carousel animals, but he cried - so I gave in and let him sit in the boring seat.  I guess it made him happy! haha.

Other things we had going on....

Noah playing with moms phone.  I'm not sure what's so funny but I love how he is crossing his legs, he sits like this all the time.

Smoothies with mom, sleeping in the car, eating marshmallows off the floor, cat naps with Gramps, riding the horsey, BUMBO!, spooky eyes and what I like to call the prettiest girl on earth (meaning Clare, of course).

Yes, all courtesy of instagram (I love it).

As you can see we had a grand time! IF you are curious why Andy isn't in any of these pictures it's because he was at a 2 week training in Kansas.  I think he's just as happy (maybe even more so) as we are to be home!  Here's to a relaxing weekend!

Story of An Escapee

Can you see where this is going?

Today, the house was pretty quiet.  I put Noah and Clare down for their long afternoon naps and decided (once they were both fast asleep) that I would take a little snooze myself.  Since we are visiting my parents, I  am sharing a room with Clare, and that's where I decided to lay down.

After a little over an hour of when I first laid down I got a phone call from my mom..
"Where are you?!?!" she said, frantically.  "I am laying down, why?"  "Noah has been wandering the neighborhood and Karleen Ashcraft found him."  "No he hasn't!"

I run out of the bed room to find the door to the room where Noah was sleeping wide open, as well as the back door (which had been locked).  I open my front door to find Karleen sitting there with Noah (and three kids of her own).  I just about had a heart attack!  Apparently, after Noah woke up from his nap he decided (instead of coming to the room Clare and I are in, which he normally does) that he would take a walk around the block, barefooted and all.  About half way around the block, Karleen drives by and sees him.  Since we lived here before, she recognized him - but wasn't sure whose child he was.  Thankfully her intuition told her that this scene didn't look right.  She pulled over, put Noah in her car and drove to the neighbors house (who also have a red headed grandson).  When they didn't answer their door she went to another neighbor and she reminded Karleen that Noah was the Jorgensen's grandson.  After ringing the door bell and all (which I never heard), she finally called my sister who was picking my mom up from work...next thing we know we are all sitting around laughing (slash mortified) about what just happened (or could have happened)!

Noah is fearless.  He wasn't upset or crying.  I think he was enjoying himself.  He has NEVER tried to sneak out at home.  Until a week ago he never even opened a door by himself, he had no interest in it!  I am realizing quickly that my little boy is growing up.  I am SO grateful that Noah was being watched over.  I will laugh about this in the future, I know...but I am so glad that Karleen was there at that moment, and that she listened to the spirit telling her that something wasn't right.  Because of her, Noah is safe.  So, Thank You Karleen!  You were an answer to my prayers today!!

Remember Noah's similar adventure?  Story of a Storm Chaser
I'm just glad it wasn't in our neighborhood where the bears roam.  Ugh.

Update from Idaho..

I have been awful at Blogging lately. Aw-FUL.  Sorry friends.  Things have been crazy around our place these days and I am just trying to keep up!  A lot has been going on, and I am going to try to bring you all (and my blog posts) up to speed!  So hold on tight, it's going to be a bumpy ride!!

Over Labor Day weekend, Noah went to spend a couple extra days with his Nana and Gramps down in Portland before Andy and I came for the weekend.  I am pretty sure Noah could care less if Andy and I were there and I know he had an awesome time.  LOTS of toys to play with, lots of attention and lots of Mickey Mouse (we don't have cable at our house!).  He loved it.  One morning, after Andy and I got there, Andy and Gary took Noah out to the grocery store.  Keep in mind it was pretty early, and since it was a quick trip, Noah was still dressed in his PJs.  While at the store, Andy spotted a fire truck that was parked there and decided to take Noah up to see it.  If any of you know Noah well, you know what a big deal this was.  He loves cars, trucks, vans, airplanes, fire trucks, police cars...pretty much anything with wheels or that can fly.  Anyway, the fire men were SUPER nice and let Noah sit in the cab!  He was in heaven.  Before they left they gave Noah a sticker and Andy snapped a picture of the moment.  Don't let Noah's expression fool you, he loved it...but it really is his expression (and his outfit) that make this picture.  I still laugh when I look at it! haahaha

The best part about this (besides the expression on Noah's face) is that his PJs are way to short, so it makes his feet look huge! haha, This will be a gem in our family picture album forever.

Also, over Labor day I inherited some old furniture that my mother-in-law was getting rid of.  I decided to give them a little bit of a new look and paint them.  Here are just a few before and after pictures!

My friend had used this color to paint a few things in her home and when I saw it I fell in love.  I had to find something to paint yellow.  I love the way they turned out!

It's amazing how a little hardware and some paint will give a piece of furniture new life!  I also painted a shelf for Noah's room...but we will save pictures of that for another post.

Whoo, are you tired yet?  Not even close to being finished....
So before Andy left for his training, we took a family trip to the farmers market.  We LOVE the farmers market.  I will be so sad when winter comes and they all end. One of our favorite things about the market?  Well the food, of course.

This is a picture of our lunch from the market,  trust me - it tasted as good as it looks! 

I love fall, but I am sad to see this summer go.  It has been PERFECT weather (mostly mid 70s) and we have really enjoyed it! 

So, like I mentioned a little before, Andy is gone for a 2 week training.  I realized just before he left that this is the longest he's been gone since the deployment.  Crazy to think he has been home a year already.  Anyway, we decided that this would be a perfect opportunity for the kids and I to visit the fam in Idaho (hence my title).  We have only been here a few days, but have had a lot of fun so far....

Noah on the Airplane

Clare and Cousin Jayni

Baby Clare

Sitting in Uncle Mike's Big Big Red Truck!

Noah and Mommy Yogurt Date! 

I am sure we will have a lot more fun to share from our trip!  So stay tuned (and I promise not to be so delinquent!)  Happy Friday All!

Five Months Old

Yesterday Clare hit her 5 month birthday.  Where have the past 5 months gone?  Seriously.  Clare is growing so fast.  She is such a joy to have in our home and brings lots of smiles to our life.

Here are a few things about Clare at 5 months :

* Her hair seems to be a strawberry blond (although there is still VERY little of it).  Her eyebrows definitely have a red tint to them, so we will see if her hair grows in as red as Noah's or not.  

* Our favorite nickname for her is Baby Clare.  Even Noah calls her this.

* She loves to smile and has the most contagious grin. 

* She is happiest when she has had a good nap and is well fed (much like her mama)!  

* She rolls over like a champ! 

* Her legs are super chubby and I can't get enough of them! 

* She has been doing VERY well sleeping in her crib, so much easier than with Noah. 

* She loves to grab and paw at things that are dangling in front of her.  This will keep her entertained for a good amount of time, until she insists on being held 

(which I happily oblige)!

 * She is spoiled, but mostly with love :)

* She has the most beautiful blue eyes

* When she is very tired she will paw at her face a lot, and almost every time she will grab her binki and yank it out, only to look at me as if to say 'Why did you do that Mom!' 

* She has the sweetest personality, and is truly a special little spirit!

* She toots, A lot.  

We are so lucky to have you in our family Baby Clare.

Happy 5 Months!

xoxo