Blue Man Group

If you haven't been to see the Blue Man Group, you need to! It's hilarious, creative, surprising and just plain FUN. My face hurt from smiling so hard (it also hurt when I woke up because I got wind burn from a 10 minute walk outside in freezing Nebraska temps).

January Reflections: Reading

I've never been much of a reader but I've been converted. This sweet, sleek white little machine has changed my world. Yes, the Kindle has made me love reading! It's so easy to take anywhere, I can read several books at the same time and not feel guilty that I need to finish one before I start another. Since my dear Kindle has joined my world on Christmas I've read/almost finished the following:

-"The Help": This book is hard to put down. It's set in Mississippi during the civil rights movement. The story forms around it's 3 main characters- Miss Skeeter, Minny and Aibileen. Miss Skeeter is a recent college graduate who chooses to write about black maids working for white families. Minny and Aibileen (the black maids) keep you hooked in to their stories. I don't want to tell you much more except go get it!

-"In Their Own Voices"- A blog friend recommended this to me. It's a very difficult book to read but I'm so glad I did. The entire book consists of interviews of transracial adoptees. These adoptees talked very candidly about their life growing up in white families while being African American or biracial. Some stories shared great pain about never fitting in and struggling to find identity. There were also amazing stories of love, acceptance and family. 

-"A Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for Women"- I bought this book because I strongly considered running a half marathon this May and I'm definitely NOT a runner. It followed the author, Dawn, through her journey from the couch to a marathon. She was super open about the how hard her training schedule was and the toll it took on her body. She spoke often of aches, pains, boredom, etc. Personally it de-inspired me to run. That's just my 2 cents.

-"Love & Respect"- The entire basis of this book was that without love, wives struggle to respect their spouses - but- on the flip side, without respect, husbands struggle love their wives the way they need to be. Couples get stuck in a "crazy cycle" where their marriages go round and round in a hamster wheel of discontent. This book teaches wives to treat their husband with deeper respect and husbands to love their wives deeper. It was a really good read. I catch myself nagging or cutting off my husband on some issue and I've taken pause to think "does this show him respect?" more often than I ever have.  A must read for all married couples. 

Currently, I'm also reading "Crazy Love", "Aftershock" and "The Five Love Languages". What are your faves? I'll put them on my list! 

January Reflections: Fun

Most things in Declan's toddler world are simple, laugh inducing FUN. Thus, must fun activities I do these days have to do with him. A recent fave: hide and seek ("more hide???" he asks). I will hide in the kitchen or around the corner in the dining room and call his name. He loves to be scared. Like, 48 times in a row, for an hour. Loves it. His laughter is intoxicating and we play this game often.

Now that we are in Old Man Winter's tight grip I'd love to hear what other people do for fun (inside)? 

Snow Day!

Last year at this time we had already endured nearly 40 inches of snow- a chunk of that was a Christmas ruining snowed-in mess. Today we finally have our first snow storm. We bundled up and went outside to scoop and my dad was already out there doing it. Declan was pumped to scoop with Papa!

Nothing mickey can't fix.

Mark introduced Declan to the old school Mickey and Donald Duck cartoons a few months ago. It's been a love affair ever since. When we went to Target to pick out "special bandaids" to cover Dec's stitches, he was so excited to see Mickey ones. 

 Oh, did I forget to mention injury #2? Declan reached up to show his nanny a toy this week. It wouldn't have been a big deal if she wasn't cooking! He burned his hand- blister and all. He tells us at least 10 times a day that his hand is hot. Neasporin and Mickey are helping it heal. :)

 I can barely handle the cuteness:

It was inevitable...

Mr. Daredevil was destined to have stitches at some point. The fact we made it to 28 months+ is pretty amazing. He's the kid that makes you hold your breath all day long- completely reckless. 

My first thought when I look at this- besides how adorable my son is? That iodine and blood soaked hair that I can't wash until Saturday. Yuck.

 Declan was wearing his ONLY white shirt today- an adorable gift he got for Christmas. It tells so much- sucker juice (that's what I decided to call the spit/sucker drippy gunk), Diego reward stickers for being such a big boy and blood of course. 

Funny sucker note- I do not give Declan suckers. I'm scared the ball part will pop off and choke him and I hate the sucker juice. After the nurse put on stinging liodocaine gel she gave him a sucker. He turned his tears right off and told her "I love suckers!" What? Who's slipping my kid suckers behind my back?!

 Such a sweet, tough guy! His pain tolerance will really pay off when he's a sports star, I'm convinced! :)

baby jaguar

Declan watches too much Diego because when Papa & Nana gave him this stuffed animal he proclaimed it to be "baby jaguar"!! Cracks us up b/c it's the fattest least baby-ish form of a tiger or jaguar or whatever it is. Got to love the imagination of a toddler. :)