Detained

I know I've been a slacker blogger lately. The simple reason is that I've been busy. But busy doing what, you ask? Ok ok, here are my perfectly good reasons for not getting the blog on.

1. Holidays

Like always in the past (but maybe not so much in the future) we visited both sides of the family for Christmas and New Years. 3 flights with a toddler. . . not enjoyable. We reminisced about the days when we could take a nice nap on a plane. . . or maybe read a book or listen to music. Now it's a full contact sport as we wrangle a very active toddler. He was good. . . but did not like having to sit on our laps for 2 - 3 hours. He napped on each flight but not for the duration.

But, we love seeing our family. We had a white Christmas in St. Louis and a white New Year's in Utah. Our families were way too generous to and helpful with Ryan. I just wish we all lived closer.

Santa Fail

It only took Ryan and Andrew 4 days to get used to the idea of playing with each other-- mostly because Ryan was sick most of the time we were in Utah. But once they did, it was cute. We have high hopes that this two boys will be best of (long-distance) friends someday.

Baby Charlie (Peter and Paige's little one, and Andrew's brother) entered the world while we were there! Yay for good timing! Ryan and I went to visit Paige and Charlie in the hospital. He is such an adorable little boy. Another boy cousin for Ryan!

So Jen & Matt's Wedding wasn't technically during the holiday season, but since it was mid-January and we had barely unpacked from our holiday travels to go back to St. Louis for the wedding, I'm counting it. I don't have any pictures of the actual wedding or good ones from the reception but this picture makes me laugh because Allison is always in pictures with my husband and kid now. I think she should just move in permanently. And we had way too many cupcakes left over from the reception. . .

2. The House

I LOVE my house. We closed Dec 1 and then painted and refloored it. Ok, we didn't really do that, but we paid someone to do that for us. Yay for a nest egg (and boo for its depletion.) Maybe in a couple years we will have it furnished and decorated how we (err, I) want it. It's a house that we plan on staying in forever. . .ok maybe not that long but I want my kids to grow up here. I spend a lot of time planning all my home projects and future purchases.

Here are a few pictures of the house BEFORE we moved in, painted and refloored.

The entry way

The Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Soon I'll show you my recent projects: painting my kitchen table and chairs red and making an upholstered headboard. That'll have to wait though.

I have to plans to paint a rug, paint a chalkboard wall, paint my bedroom dresser glossy black, and do other various home decorating projects. This is so much fun.

3. And the most important reason I've been a blog slacker is because of a little boy who is everywhere now. . . and we love it.

He walks, he runs, he climbs up the ladder on our outdoor play set. He is everywhere all the time. He is also dealing with some separation anxiety issues which make the gym childcare and church nursery quite stressful. He's getting better. But he wants to be around us all the time. Can't say I blame him. We are pretty cool parents.

At the Children's Museum

Bath Time

Pre-First Haircut

The First Haircut

Lounging on our stairs

First day of church nursery

Swinging with Dad in the backyard

Chillin' in the video box-- his new favorite perch. He can get in on his own, but not out.

4. And in the other category: my blasted thesis that I HAVE to finish this semester, couponing which I am all gung-ho about right now, and being an overall domestic goddess (naturally).

So that's basically it. Please forgive my sporadic postings. I'm a little busy. . .