Day in the life

I know 6 months from now I won't remember what activities filled our days here at home, so for that reason I like to occasionally keep track of an average day so I can remember the craziness busy days!

5:30 AM - My alarm goes off, I hit snooze once and roll out of bed at 5:40. 10 minutes to get dressed, grab a banana and my water bottle and out the door to the gym

5:58 AM - Drive up to the gym and have to park halfway down the street because the 5 AM class is still working. This means the WOD is going to be a long one!

7:00 AM- Back in the car. Feels good to be done with the workout but I can already feel the 130+ kettle bell swings we did in my shoulders/arms. Those will make carrying Drake around even more fun.

7:10 AM - Get back home. Kellan meets me on the stairs since his clock is green. Get a big good morning hug from my boy and then run upstairs to jump in the shower before Andy has to leave for work.

7:20 AM - Dressed and get the boys their breakfast. I usually give Kellan two choices for breakfast and today he picked waffles. As soon as I set the waffle on the table he says "I changed my mind I'll just have cereal." Ha, nice try buddy you're having waffles. While the boys eat I empty the dishwasher and load it back up.

7:45 AM - The boys finish eating and I get them situated in the playroom while I clean up their breakfast dishes and the floor. No sooner do I turn around and Kel is right behind me again.  He is really into washing dishes these days, so even though it's more work when he "helps" I get him set up at the sink to wash a few of the remaining dishes. I want to encourage his eagerness to help with tasks around the house as much as possible so I try to say yes most times.

8:00 AM - Ahh, everything is cleaned up I make some coffee and sit down for a second....literally, I think. No sooner do I sit down and Kellan asks if we can go on a walk around the neighborhood while he wears his police uniform and "check on the farmers soybeans." I switch my coffee into a travel mug for a walk and get Drake buckled into his bike and off we go.  Kellan is very into rolley poleys lately, so he spends all his time with his eyes to the ground looking for them. Bad part is he can't figure out what is bird poop and what is a rolley poley so he makes many many stops along the walk. I finally tell him that if it's not moving it's probably poop and that seems to click for him so we can walk at a slightly faster pace. We check the farmer's soy beans (they look the same as they did yesterday, ha!), and then we walk down to the construction site so we can watch the "digger". We stand a watch for a few minutes and the construction guys wave at Kellan, which he thinks is pretty cool. We turn and head for home and I answer at least 20 questions before we finally make it back to the driveway.

8:45 AM - Drake gets a bottle and goes down for nap

9:00-11:00 AM - Drake naps so Kellan and I use this time to read books, watch a cartoon, and I get dressed.

11:00 AM - Spencer is in town so he comes to visit for a bit before he heads back to New York

11:45 AM - The boys need to burn some energy, and I NEED some energy so we get in the swagger wagon and hit up the Starbucks drive-thru and then head to a park to play. Kellan made me laugh while waiting in the drive-thru he asked me why I never take them both inside Starbucks so we can all sit together and have a snack and a drink.  I try to explain to him that Starbucks is more of a quiet place that people go to do work or talk with friends and Drake is not a quiet person so we just stick with the drive thru!

12:30 PM - We get done playing at the park and head home for lunch. On the menu today for Kellan: Mac n cheese and an apple. Drake is going through a super picky stage so he had greek yogurt, cheese, and peas...most of which did not make it into his mouth.

1:00 PM - nap time! After I get the boys upstairs I get the kitchen cleaned up from lunch and make my own lunch. Today I have laundry I need to do while they sleep, so I finish that up too.

2:30 PM - Kellan wakes up and comes downstairs. We sit on the couch together and watch a cartoon

3:00 PM - Drake wakes up. He gets a bottle and we get out the duplo legos to play with.

3:30 PM - I check in with Andy and he has to work late so we need to pick up Jake from the groomer. We get to the groomer and they can't find Jake?! Hmmm...they finally find him (apparently he was hiding in the corner of a large pen and they couldn't see him??)

4:15 PM - Andy is home! We have a birthday party to go to tonight so I get Drake's food ready to take with us while Andy wrestles on the floor with the boys.

5:30-8:00 - The boys have fun celebrating Lexi's birthday!

8:00 PM - Boys home and in bed, Andy and I crash on the couch after I pack for a weekend trip to visit Carolyn (yay!!)

10:00 PM - I'm exhausted and ready to pass out for the night.

Life with a one year old and three year old means that someone always needs something. Lately it is that they both want me to hold them - at the same time. If one is sitting on my lap and the other sees then they too have to be on my lap. My lap isn't really big enough for both of them to sit without one elbowing the other one so that always makes it interesting. Sometimes, in the middle of the chaos I try to stop and really just appreciate it all because I know in a few years Kellan won't want to sit on my lap and cuddle so I try to soak it up as much now as possible :)

The Anti-Relaxing

Anti-relaxing....antirelaxing?! I may have just made that word up, and if I didn't it's probably spelled wrong. Either way, traveling with small children, or even Kellan sized children is not my favorite thing to do. You have to pack like you're leaving for 2 weeks, naps are missed, kids are grumpy, it just doesn't sound fun or relaxing in any way. So, for these reasons we never really took many long day/weekend trips with Kellan when he was young, and up until today we hadn't with Drake either. I had a change of heart though after being cooped up in the house for the last week and a half while Drake battled the HFM virus and was more than ready to get out of here for a bit, and the lure of a few things I wanted at IKEA also helped persuade me to take the plunge and break my "no travel with kids" policy.

To my complete and utter amazement, it was actually relaxing!! Andy and I loaded up Drake (timed our leaving with his first nap) and headed to Chicago this morning. Drake was a rockstar and slept the whole way there. He rode in the stroller for the 2+ hours while we shopped and was happy to just look around and practice waving at everyone.

After IKEA we ate at a brewery Andy wanted to try. The name was something weird that I'm not even going to try to spell, but it was good! Since I'm a rookie at packing for day trips I forgot his bib, a change of clothes, and his splat mat to put down on the table to eat off of.  Drake left a big mess, and we left a big tip (I hope).

There was a Bass Pro Shop near the restaurant so we walked over there and Andy picked out the pontoon boat that he decided we needed. The Swagger Wagon can't pull a boat so we'll have to wait to pick it up until we have something with a little more power. I feel the same way about boating with small children as I do about traveling with them, so we need a few more years for the boys to grow up a bit anyway. While Andy took his time and shopped the gun section Drake and I had time to explore the entire rest of the store. We entertained ourselves with some hats.

We left about an hour after his normal afternoon nap time. He quickly passed out and slept the whole way home! I've decided day trips are now do-able. The next big hurdle I need to overcome....a weekend trip...with kids...sleeping in a hotel room. Kind of makes me cringe!! I'm up for the challenge though, and we're planning on taking the boys to Chicago for a weekend sometime this summer. Now, my only question is should I pack one bottle of wine or two?! (That's a joke, Mom!)

All my favorite people!

Today was pretty close to being my "perfect" day, and this is a perfect day that did not even involve a trip to Starbucks or Target! Nothing super extraordinary happened but it was a culmination of the entire day's events that made this day stand out as one I don't want to forget anytime soon.

Our day started with a trip to Springfield. Aunt Darcy invited Kellan to a "Pete the Cat" class she was teaching so since we were headed to Springfield I decided to make a day out of it, get a babysitter for the littlest wild man, and have a special day with Kel. When Kellan finished his class (which he loved by the way and said that was his favorite part of the day!) we went to lunch with Darcy and Anna. I miss those girls...a lot. So it was so nice just to be able to sit and catch up with them. After lunch we hit up Ergadoozy to play. Darc and I even enjoyed climbing around with Kellan while he pretended he was mario and would climb up and down through all the "levels."

Sporting his Pete the Cat mask

Showing Aunt Darcy some love

After we finished playing we took Kellan to the mall for his first ride on the big carousel and a visit to Build-A-Bear. He is the perfect age right now for this and I loved seeing how excited he was over it all. He ended up with a dog dressed like Spiderman that he aptly named, Silly Bear. Yeah, I don't know either...

Chatting it up with Aunt Darcy

Informing the lady that his dog's name was going to be "Silly Bear"

"Mom, this isn't really water though, right?"

Of course he wanted his dog to have underwear, because underwear is hilarious when you're three

On the carousel together

Taking Silly Bear home with us!

 The second half of my day consisted of seeing all three of my brothers, at the same time!  They live in three different states right now so it doesn't happen all that often that they can make it back at the same time. We enjoyed dinner at Alexanders and just hanging out and catching up. Next week it will be 5 years since our Dad passed away and seeing these guys all doing so well makes me smile. I know my Dad would be so incredibly proud of them! I also laugh because as they get older they all are starting to look more and more like him :)

Andy, Spencer, AJ, Wes, Dad and I in 2006

And in 2014

When it rains...it POURS!

The last 24 hours have been rather eventful in the Anderson house, let's recap:

Wednesday at bright and early o'clock: Load up the boys and Andy and we caravan to the repair shop to drop the swagger wagon off to be looked at again (it was at the same shop last week) because one tire keeps leaking air. After we drop it off, we take Andy to work and come home riding in style in the Camry (but we have A/C, woot!)

Wednesday 10:30 AM - Andy calls to tell me the shop says we really need four new tires, that the leaky tire can't be fixed and all four are about at the end of their life. Okay, not what we wanted to spend money on right now, but oh well. The tires aren't in stock so they need to be ordered and the swagger wagon will be spending the night at the shop.

Wednesday 2:00 PM - Drake wakes up from his nap BURNING up. I use the forehead thermometer and it says 100.5 but it's not so reliable and I have a feeling it's much higher than that so unfortunately for Drake and myself we have to check it the old school way. 102.7 :( Poor buddy, I give him some tylenol and cuddles and load the boys up in the car to go pick up Andy.

Wednesday 6:00 PM - Drake's fever still isn't coming down but he doesn't seem too bothered. We give him a bath and some more tylenol to see if that will do the trick. We get it down to 101 point something and Andy rocks him to sleep. Drake NEVER wants to be rocked, let alone sit still long enough to fall asleep so we know he isn't feeling the greatest, but Andy is soaking up the extra snuggles :)

 Wednesday 7:30 PM  - Now that Drake's asleep Kel asks me to cuddle him on the couch and watch a cartoon. Who can say no to that?!

I'm semi-freaked out by Drake's high temp so I keep going up to check on him every 20 minutes.

Wednesday 11:00 PM - Drake wakes up and is burning up again! More tylenol for his temp that is now 103.1. Kellan has NEVER had a fever this high so Andy calls the doctors office just to make sure there is nothing else we should be doing for Drakey (and there isn't). So...more tylenol and another bath for Drake. This kid is a champ, he happily played in the tub for 20 minutes and splashed everywhere.

After his bath Drake passes right back out in his crib, score! I set my alarm to check on him in a few hours when he can have more tylenol, if needed.

Thursday 4:00 AM - Up to check on Drake and nothing says "good morning" like having a thermometer in your rear, poor guy. Still has a fever, so more tylenol, a bottle, and more snuggles. We are efficient though and he's back in bed in 15 minutes.

Thursday 6:30 AM - Everyone up to take Andy to work since we only have one car. I bring Drakey down to give him some cheerios before we go. I put him in his highchair, step back and notice something on the floor. Ummm, A LOT of somethings on the floor - and they are moving!! Little ants, everywhere on the kitchen floor. Of course there are. Just about this time Kellan comes down the stairs, sees the ants and immediately gets hysterical and starts screaming (his new thing anytime he sees a bug...lovely). Andy comes down the stairs during Kellan's screaming fit to see our new house guests.  At this point all I could do was laugh because we have Andy stepping over ants making his lunch like it ain't no thang, Kellan screaming everytime an ant gets near him (which was all the time because they were everywhere). Drake happily munching on his cheerios in his highchair, enjoying the show, and me chasing ants with the vacuum - all before 7 AM.

With the ant crisis mainly cleaned up we head out to take Andy to work. On the drive home I had my stroke of genius. There was still a small parade of ants coming out from the baseboard after I vacuumed so I was trying to figure out how I could block them.  I got it - clear tape,  #winning!!! So we got home and I put Drake in his highchair for the second round of morning entertainment and taped all along the bottom of the baseboard in the kitchen. My trusty side kick Kel would scream and alert me to any ants who got out before I finished the tape barricade. I sprayed the outside of the house with ant killer and I'm happy to report they are gone - at least for now!

9:00 AM - More tylenol for Drake who still has a fever, and I put him down for nap. I am starving and haven't had breakfast or coffee yet due to all the excitement this morning. It's quiet and I am so looking forward to coffee and sitting down for a hot minute. But oh no - the icing on the cake is that today, of all days, is the day my beloved Keurig decides to QUIT WORKING. Really?!

At this point I wave the white flag and call my Mom who brings me over a large coffee and breakfast, she's the best!!  After breakfast Kellan was kind enough to perform a concert for me and be extra sweet to his sick little brother.

Cheers to crazy days! There is a glass of wine waiting for me at the end of this one :)

Kellan Conversations

Kellan is at the perfect age to really have some interesting, and often times entertaining, conversations. He simply tells it like it is which often times has Andy and I laughing out loud or turning our heads so he doesn't see us laughing if it's something we don't want him to repeat 20 times a day! So, installment 1 of Kellan Conversations (because I don't want to forget these!):

1. My Mom was watching the boys a couple weeks ago and while doing so, showed Kellan how to complete a google search using the microphone to say what he wanted to search for on the iPad. He wanted to hear some specific songs that he likes so he was able to pull those up on YouTube and watch them. He decided he wanted to watch an episode of Handy Manny, so he said "Handy Manny Show". It pulled up a wikipedia article regarding the show instead of a video like he was expecting. Kellan's response, " well damn, that doesn't do me any good!" My Mom said she had to ask him again what he said, and he repeated it the same way. After she composed herself in the other room she told him that wasn't a word we use and thankfully I haven't heard it since. Moral of the story: kids are ALWAYS listening :)
2. Last night at dinner Andy asked Kel what he did to his shoulder and pointed to a mark he had on it. Kellan couldn't remember so I said, "I think that's where you fell running at the pool". Kellan: "Oh yeah, it is but that was back in May and this is June now". What?! The funny part is that he was right, it was in May but I was shocked he got the months right!
3. Again while sitting at the dinner table one night. I said something to Kellan, probably along the lines of "please start eating your food it will taste better if you eat it when it's still warm", or "no, you need to eat your hotdog/meat before you have more green pepper strips (yes, we have to say that!). His immediate response to me "babe-uh, you are being ridiculous" I couldn't help but start laughing because when I asked him who says that he told me I tell Andy that all the time!

More to come....he hits us with a new one nearly everyday :)

...and we're back!

Second kid problems I guess, but I have yet to complete any of the little guy's baby book and the guilt is mounting. He will have to scroll through my ancient iPhone pictures to see memories from his childhood. Mom fail. So, all that to say, I'm bringing the blog back! And by back, I mean I will post more that once every three months. :) It won't just be about Drake, but instead a way to half way keep track of our days, so I can look back and remember what life was like with a one year old and a three year old.

Things can get kind of crazy around here these days, so thankfully my Mom was so kind to remind me that one year ago today Drake came home from the hospital. I enjoyed a few minutes of silence in the car earlier this evening (courtesy of a Sonic Slushee) while Kellan enjoyed his drink and thought about what a difference a year has made for our littlest guy. 

Here are Drake's top 5 favorite activities as of late:

1. Eating. The boy can eat, and we have yet to find something that he truly does not like. I enjoy the fact that he isn't picky because I can load him up with healthy food and he doesn't argue. Current favorites: chick peas, black beans, peas, corn, cheese, cantaloupe, and bananas.

2. Chasing Jake (the dog). Maybe it's because half the time I call Drake Jake, and vice-versa but for whatever reason Drake is ALWAYS going after the dog. Poor Jake is old, he doesn't want to be bothered by an adult let alone a slobbering one year old who pulls his hair. I can tell Drake is catching on to the fact that he is supposed to leave the dog alone because now he looks at me and smiles before he turns and crawls as fast as he can after Jake. We moved Jake's crate up to higher ground where he can't be bothered so he at least has a retreat where he can nap in peace.

3. Screaming. This favorite is thanks to his big brother who always likes to encourage the screaming matches. Drake will start it off with an ear piercing scream, then Kellan does his best scream and they go back and forth. By this time I'm yelling so they can hear me over the screaming for them to STOP.  Oh, and I should mention this always seems to happen in the car...so that's enjoyable.

4. Crawling under the kitchen table. I think the allure of finding a few stray pieces of food is what started his love for being under the kitchen table, but now he does it even when no food is present. I thought after he bumped his head every.single.time he was under there that he would stay away...but no, he loves it.

5.  Playing with Kellan. This is his favorite by far. He follows Kellan around all day and wants to do everything he does. It's a nice combo because Kellan always lets me know if Drake is doing something even remotely dangerous and Drake has little fear and has already encouraged Kellan to try new things and step outside his comfort zone.

It's been almost three months since I quit my job to stay home with them and I still love it! The days go by so fast (and on crazy days I'm thankful for that!) but even on the craziest of days I still am so thankful for the opportunity to be with them all day. As cheesy as it sounds, it really is the best job I've ever had :)

I'm going to miss this

These days, they are crazy busy. It seems like every minute of my day is filled and if I'm lucky I get one hour before I pass out at night to sit on the couch and zone out. I know that I am going to miss this craziness - and possibly even forget all together just how crazy busy the days actually are once the boys are older, so I want to document a day in the life of us.

4:30 AM - my alarm goes off to start the day. Drake is talking in his crib but fingers crossed he will go back to sleep - and he does!

5:00 - Crossfit. I did not want to drag myself out of bed today but I am so glad that I went and got in a good workout

6:00 - Back home, jump in the shower

6:15 - Drake is waking up, get him up and dressed and pass him off to Andy. Dry my hair and get ready for work before Kel gets up.

6:30 - Kellan is up for the day, spend a few minutes with him before he heads downstairs for breakfast

7:00 - ready for work, pack my lunch make some coffee and get ready to head out the door.

7:15 - kiss the boys goodbye and Andy and I are off to work. We work the same hours right now so it's nice that we can ride in together and have a few moments to talk each morning

7:30-3:45 - work work work

4:00 PM - back home with the babies! We play and cuddle and I try to clean up the house a bit. Andy is working hard on the rental house this week to get ready for the new tenants so it is just the boys and I at night

5:00 - Dinner

5:30 - Set Kel up with a cartoon and head upstairs to give Drake his bath. He likes to "help" give Drake a bath, but some nights it is easier to do it without his help so a cartoon does the trick

5:45 - Drake gets his bottle, we read a book and he is in bed by 6

6:00 - Give Kellan a bath and go back downstairs to spend some time with him.

7:00 - Kellan goes to bed, do some laundry, clean up/pick up upstairs. Mop the kitchen after Kellan's messy dinner.

8:00 - sit on the couch and watch mindless TV- woo hoo!! :)

9:00 - Goodnight, get ready to repeat tomorrow!