The von M Family: March 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A few things...

Spring Break went too fast! It was seriously just a teaser for the summer. Nine more weeks to go! Before I forget some of these things, I just wanted to do a little update on each von M family member.

Erick
He's training for the Wichita Half Marathon and I am so very proud of him! There have been many times when he's started running again and then stopped. This time, he has been so determined and motivated. Can't wait to watch him cross the finish line on May 1. Erick also started a new job not too long ago with Copy Products Inc. He was losing his passion for his previous career and wanted to make a change. Just today, he made his first sale! Now I am double proud! :)

Ava
She's been very into sports lately. She has been begging to play soccer, but we didn't get her signed up in time, so we'll have to wait a bit on that. She does have a soccer ball that she loves kicking around and now a tee ball set. Gymnastics start tomorrow night and swimming lessons on Saturday. Hoping to keep her busy!

Brecken

B-man is now a full time walker. During break, he was off and on, but walking more and more each day. Now he doesn't crawl unless he wants to get somewhere super fast! Then...ZOOM! Off he goes! He loves to play catch with us. He tosses pretty well! He also likes to help Ava feed her babies or just use a bowl and spoon and pretend to stir. As for talking, he is still just babbling and randomly saying hi, dada, mama. This morning, Erick and I swear he said, "Ava!" Pretty darn cute! B-man also starts swimming lessons this Saturday. A little nervous about it since he didn't really like his first time in the pool. One month from today Brecken will be ONE YEAR OLD. Amazing how time flies! I've already made the invitations to his party...I'm not excited or anything. :)

Now on to me. Hmmm. I don't know. Budget cuts across our state and district for schools are making me nervous. I feel that I will still have a job next school year, but I am not sure what it will be. Will my position get cut? I have no clue. Could I go back to the classroom? Possibly. Does that scare me? Yes and no. I definitely don't see myself staying out of the classroom forever. I wish there was some sort of rotation where I could be an instructional coach (sorry--MTSS facilitator) for a few years, then a classroom teacher for a few years, and back again. Anyways, enough of that. I am also trying to save for a new camera. I have wanted a "big girl" camera for over a year now. So, if anyone would like to order some jewelry, check out Guy and Eva's new Spring/Summer catalog at http://www.guyandeva.com/our-jewelry/catalog/?repurl=vonm. :)

Okay, Ava has finally really gone to bed (I think) after an hour of getting in and out of bed. I am off to spent some quality time with the husband!

Right after I add a few more pics...

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Our Little Walker

Brecken has been walking off and on for a bit now! Thought I'd post a video!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

HaPpY bIrThDaY to ME!

So, I am 32 today. 16x2. Getting older and finally wanting to look younger. It was a fabulous day, though. I definitely can't complain. My thoughtful husband made his yummy biscuits and gravy this morning. My grandpa actually taught my stepdad how to make these and then Tom taught Erick. Once you have them, you will never be able to order biscuits and gravy at any restaurant because they just won't be good enough. After breakfast, the kiddos and I took a very windy walk. I pushed Brecken in his stroller and Ava pushed Strawberry Shortcake in hers. Then we were off to Target for some craft materials to keep us busy the rest of the week. My sister, Carrie, came over in the afternoon to watch the Littles while I got a massage (birthday gift from the thoughtful husband). It was so good. I even dosed off a few times. It was so relaxing!
So, yes, I am older. But I need to work on the "looking younger" part.
Took a few pictures of the kids today while they were both in good moods!

A Perfect Sunday

Happy Boy!

Playing "feed the baby".

Love this one! It's his "fit throwing face"!

Brecken & Mimi

The Closet

Ava has a new hiding place! Well, I guess she's not really "hiding" in there because it's not ever really a secret that she's in there because she is usually pretty loud. Sometimes she goes in the coat closet when she's throwing a fit (kicking and screaming) and sometimes she just sits in there and yells for us because she thinks it's fun. The coat closet also contains the vacuum, blankets, gloves, hats, bags, etc. She has to really cram herself in there. Anyways, since her little brother usually wants to be everywhere she is, he sits at the door and waits for her. It's pretty darn cute.

Erick turns 32!

We celebrated Erick's birthday by having dinner from one of his favorite places--Olive Garden. We also had some of the red velvet cake that Ava and I made.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Brecken is growing up!

Our little man is growing up so fast! He will be ONE at the end of next month. He has five teeth and a couple more that look close to popping through. He is standing longer on his own now and just today took a step--two separate times! Two of Erick's aunts were even at our house to witness it! It was so exciting! Now I have to keep my camera handy so I can record it at a moments notice. Most likely, though, it will happen at Kelly's house while we're at work. That's okay. I saw the first step and that's all that matters.
B-man is saying mama and dada when he feels like it, but nothing consistent. It mostly happens when he wants his bottle this very instant! Then he says, "Mamamamamamama!" He does throw a small fit every so often, but he is still the happiest little red headed boy I've ever seen. Smiling all the time. He is becoming more loving, which I LOVE. Putting his head on my shoulder, hugging me, etc. He's a little shy with new people at first--doesn't want anyone to pick him up right away without first warming up to him. If he is picked up too fast without getting used to a person, that bottom lip starts to quiver and he just bawls. Sad, but still darn cute.
Every time we take pictures of the kids, Ava always says, "cheeeeese". Now when I get out the camera to take a picture of them or just Brecken, he smiles real big and just makes a noise that sounds like he's trying to say "cheese". Very cute!

Brecken loves his big sister to pieces. He wants to be everywhere she is (if she would just let him).

Ava likes to play with him on her terms. He can't play with any of her things unless she actually hands it over to him. He can only go into her room when she asks him to. Otherwise, she keeps her door shut so that he'll stay out. When she decides she wants to be Big Sister of the Year and really play with him, she does such a fantastic job! I love to watch them play and giggle together. It's one of the best sights and sounds!

A Little Free Time

Erick and I had the chance to have a little free time this weekend. His birthday is tomorrow--he'll be 32--and all he wanted for his big day was some time away from the kiddos. No schedule, no getting up early, etc. So I asked my mom to take care of A and B for the weekend and she happily accepted. We ended up just house swapping for the night actually, because she thought it'd be easier for everyone if they just came to our house. So they stayed with the kids and Erick and I headed out to Marion. We relaxed in the hot tub, watched basketball, ate lunch at a restaurant without having to quickly shovel food in our mouths so that we could get out of there before the kids got antsy, I read an entire book, and we I slept in. It was nice for us to get away for a bit and nice for the kids to be with Nanny and Papa. I am sure my mom took some cute pictures of the kids while we were away, so I'll put them up when I get them.

When we got back into town, Ava and I went to the store to buy a cake mix so we could bake Erick a birthday cake. They had the little carts there and Ava loved it! I wasn't allowed to even help her steer it.

Loving it!

Cheeeeeese!

Ava got to help mix and then she licked the bowl clean before she took a bath! I know it looks nasty, but it's a red velvet cake! :) We will ice it tomorrow night and sing happy birthday to the best husband and Daddy!

Before the mess

Wanting to do it by herself

Getting slightly messy

Scary!

I feel like we have been so busy lately, but I have no idea what we've been doing!
The kids have been over their sicknesses for quite some time. Erick was sick last week and now I am! That's right, Moms get sick too--even though we really don't have time for it. As I am typing this, I am sitting in my comfy bed with these things beside on on the nightstand: glass of water, toilet paper roll (we are out of Kleenex), Vicks, and vitamin C tablets. The sound of a quiet house is wonderful right now--just wish I wasn't sick so that I could enjoy it a little.
We took the kids swimming at the Y a couple of weekends ago. Ava had tons of fun! B-man, on the other hand, thought it was a little too cold. So he and Erick got dressed and walked around (watched basketball) instead. The next day was Sunday and I was planning on getting everyone ready for church. But little Ava comes upstairs and says, "Mommy, I want to go to the zoo today instead of church." Hmmm. Guess who put her up to that one? Yep. Her father. So, we prayed at the zoo instead of church that Sunday. Ava got to feed a giraffe and we saw a baby chimp! It was a nice family day.
Okay, I'm too tired to type now. Here are a few pics of what we've been up to lately.
(Ha! This was written on Monday, the 7th and I am just now posting the pictures. I guess I was a little too tired to even post them.)