Team Tonagel

New Chairs

2012-02-16T16:45:00.001-05:00

We got new chairs over Christmas for our living room.

I LOVE them and love that this room is finally functional!

Still lot's to do on the walls, decorating, etc, but the big purchases are all done!

Or so Greg thinks :)

Yes that is my little guy in the background wearing his swimming trunks.

That's how we roll during the dead of winter at our house :)

I will be heading to La Porte tomorrow to co-host a baby shower for my dear sis-in-law, Megan.

Looking forward to showering her and her baby boy!

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T08:59:00.003-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to my one and only!

Thankful for you today!!

Woke up early this morning (now that's love, baby. this mama values her sleep these days!) and made my Valentine(s) a heart-themed breakfast.

So it's not super obvious that the egg is in a heart-shape but I assure you, it was!

Lucky this morning to have not one, not two, but THREE special Valentine's!

We play our school's rivals tonight for a big, home game, re-match so as expected, Coach was... let's say... in another world :)

Happy Valentine's Day, GT. Can't imagine this crazy life without you!

For Love of the Game

2012-02-10T13:31:00.004-05:00

A few funny basketball Jace-isms lately...

Jace: "Dad, I'm sure glad the Wildcats won tonight!"

Greg: "Me too, buddy. Me too."

Jace: "Yeah, they played tough. They played gooooood defense!"

Jace is extremely competitive.

Either that or just is extremely spoiled and used to getting his way.

I'm guessing the latter.

When we play basketball he wants me to give the play-by-play.

Example- "Jace Tonagel dribbles up the court. He shoots... ahh and misses. He gets his own rebound and puts it up again and he... SCORES!"

If Greg or I steal the ball and score he throws quite the tizzy and usually says something like this...

"Mom, Dad, I don't like the Wildcats! I hope they lose!"

Ouch!

Greg took Jace recruiting. When he walked in the door that night, he exclaimed-

"Mom, Mom! I had fun 'cuiting with Daddy! It's my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world. Yeah, I love 'cuiting!"

Most kids learn to potty train with the help of M & M's.

Ours is being potty trained with bribes of basketball games and threats of taking away his precious basketball.

Oy!

Happy Friday to ya!

Cabin Feva!

2012-02-08T20:45:00.001-05:00

I was ready for spring when December 26th rolled around this year.

Never in my life have I been so ready for the outdoors (even during this mild winter)!

I've been doing my darndest to keep the boys active, busy, and ready to take naps when 1 pm rolls around!

Trust me, it's best for all of us!

Here's what we've been up to lately...

Lot's of trips to the YMCA. AMAZING place for families.

We swim, play ball, take lessons in various sports, exercise, and the best part--child care!

Great things for adults and kiddos.

When we're home, we try and be creative (and creativity is NOT this mama's specialty)!

We've done art projects, cooked, played lots of basketball games in the basement, been creative with cardboard boxes, had car races, went "diving" off the bed into a pool of pillows and much more!

I'm tired just thinking about it!

These boys have ENDLESS amounts of energy.

Wish I did!

SO here is Jace enjoying some homemade oatmeal cookies.

They were A-MAZING.

Especially with some cold milk for dipping.

A cookie isn't really a cookie when it has oatmeal in it, right?

Sounds like a healthy snack to me!

Greg gave the boys haircuts.

This little guy looks not-so-little anymore :(

But oh-so-cute! :)

Jace has been my helper-boy in the kitchen.

*Side note--notice the fabric hanging in the kitchen window?

Planning on having roman shades made for my two kitchen windows!

You like?

Do we ever wear clothes in our house?

If you are 3 and under and look this cute in your little boxer briefs, then the answer is no.

If you are chubby and preggo, then yes, clothing is required at all times!

We made Valentine's Day cookies!

And the boys enjoyed decorating them.

Or in Will's case, pretended to decorate his cookie, meanwhile, eating the icing right out of the bowl!

Don't blame him though.

That homemade butter cream frosting is money!

Final product!

Pretty and delish!

Do we ever eat anything healthy you ask? Occasionally, we will squeeze in a few fruits and vegetables! :)

See?

I bought this at our local thrift store.

I lightly sanded it (didn't need much) and painted it a very light pink (Sherwin Williams, rosy outlook courtesy of my sista, Jill!).

I plan to girly-up the nursery once I have a little more free time on my hands (aka when I get my husband back)!

You can't see it well in the picture, but this little cutie has glass door knobs.

It was a steal if I do say so myself!

I will post AFTER pictures soon!

I'm off to enjoy an evening with my hubby!

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Monday Update

2012-01-23T13:17:00.005-05:00

Here's a quick update on what's been going on here.

The boys were sick last week.

They spent lots of time on the couch while I washed a record number of laundry loads.

They are extremely energetic boys so for them to lay still on the couch meant something was seriously wrong.

Here are a few pics from our "sick days".

Notice the bowl next to him?

I'll spare you the details.

Thankfully the bug only lasted two days or so and they gained their full energy back in no-time!

I, on the other hand, could stand an extended break from laundry/cleaning duties.

They made a full recovery just in time for a mini snow storm.

After 48 hours of cleaning, washing, disinfecting, and kid-neglecting, I decided to throw my "to-do" list out the window on Friday and devote the entire day to my kiddos.

We has so much fun!

We went sledding (picture this: Me pulling Jace and Will on the sled in our FLAT backyard. Jace hollering the whole time, "Faster, Mom! Faster!" It was quite the workout!)

Drank lots of hot chocolate.

We colored and painted.

Went "diving" (Piled every pillow in the house on the floor as boys jumped off the bed).

I had fun watching the boys get along (Hallelujah!) and use their imaginations.

Here are a few pictures of the boys bundled up ready to play in the snow!

And thawing out (back) on the couch with some hot chocolate!

It's nap time at our house and I think I might join 'em today.

This preggo mama is pooped!

Happy Monday, friends!

Chicken Quesadillas!

2012-01-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Ever get into a rut when it comes to serving food to your kids?

I know I do!

When Greg and I have a date planned (which we shoot for once a week), it's usually boxed mac and cheese (bleh!) & hotdogs OR frozen chicken nuggets & tater tots (also bleh!) for the little ones.

What else can I make these little rascals that doesn't come in a box or the frozen foods aisle?

Ding ding ding! Chicken & cheese quesadillas!

Who doesn't love tortillas, chicken, and cheese?

(Besides my sister's weirdo husband, Uncle Jolly!)

I know I do!

I've started buying a rotisserie chicken from the deli about once every two weeks or so. It's nice to have the meat on hand for various dishes (i.e. chicken pot pie, chicken casserole, etc).

It's PERFECT for this dish!

Get out your hot griddle.

Spray your tortillas with cooking spray.

Sprinkle cheese and shredded chicken in between two layers of tortillas.

Heat through until cheese is melted and tortillas are lightly toasted.

Cut with pizza cutter.

Serve these suckers up with some salsa, sour cream, that summer Indiana sweet corn that you froze during the summer, and some apple sauce.

Es muy bueno!

Pantry Organization!

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Since Will and Jace don't exactly make ball games relaxing for me, I've opted out of most of our away games this season.

I'm hoping to get back to my super-fan status for the remainder of the season by not missing any more games.

I am thankful, however, that we get to listen in on the radio and follow the Wildcats through various local radio stations.

So what do I do, you ask, while listening to the games?

(Besides the obvious pacing, yelling, nail-biting, and occasional cursing?)

I get organized!

My pantry was a complete disaster!

It was messy, disorganized, and I honestly wasn't sure what I had stocked (or living) in there!

Perfect stress reliever while listening to the game: Clean out the pantry!

I got busy.

I emptied.

I cleaned.

I purged.

I organized.

And I re-loaded our food back into our pantry.

Ahh. What a great feeling!

I know the picture doesn't look that drastic but BELIEVE ME, it is!

Some things I learned about myself during this process...

1. I love chips.

I already knew this about myself but I wasn't sure to what extent.

Here's the proof.

I am a salty girl (always have been) and this goes to show that I need some serious help.

Five bags of chips for a family of 4.

Geesh.

2. Stop buying BBQ sauce!

It is not secret that we love BBQ (heck, I'm married to Mr. Meat Smoker Extraordinaire!) but this just seems a little excessive.

And on top of this, there were three opened bottles in the fridge!

Yikes.

Note to self: Stop buying BBQ sauce for the next few months.

3. Stop going to Tastefully Simple Parties and buying beer bread.

Apparently I need to stock up on some brewskis and get busy bread makin'!

These are value packs (3 in each) so this makes 9 loaves of beer bread.

Hello carbs, we meet again!

Anywho.

I know my pantry organization probably isn't exactly the most interesting blog material but that's about as exciting as we get 'round here these days.

Now go organize something that needs it in YOUR home!

Holla back, friends!

Grocery Run

2012-01-11T12:14:00.004-05:00

Ran to the grocery store this morning.

This is what I had in my shopping cart when I checked out.

Item 1: Red Wine (for my pot roast, but of course!)

Item 2: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (for the baby, but of course!)

Nothing like a pregnant woman waddling through the checkout line with a bottle of wine and some doughnuts in hand!

I'm sure I provided a good laugh for the cashier and bagger-boy.

You're welcome!

Next post: Before and after pantry organization!

Excited? I am!

I Scream!

2012-01-03T11:47:00.003-05:00

I scream!

You scream!

We all scream...

For ice scream!

Well, ice cream has officially become one of the major food groups in our home.

It has become Baby #3's food of choice.

Mint chocolate chip, por favor.

I am typically more of a salty person, but I can't get enough of the sweet stuff!

Not something I will be boasting about when I'm trying to get in my Hawaii-bod shape for next winter.

Did I mention we are going to Hawaii???

With 7 month old baby and all! Yikes!

Happy day to you!

Boohoo!

2011-12-29T11:15:00.000-05:00

Have you ever cried for no reason?

Yup, that was me last night!

Had myself in a full-out blubbering cry but never could quite pin-point the reason.

Ehh, I think I'll blame it on the pregnancy and my volatile hormones.

Someone please tell me you've been there!

Anywho.

I can't believe that my baby boy will be a big brother in a few short months!

He loves babies, despite his aggressive and wild nature.

While I am sad that he will no longer be my youngest, I can't wait to see him embrace the role of big bro!

Come to think of it, maybe this was the reason for all my tears.

Time is going way too fast.

My babies are becoming boys before my very own eyes.

And that's just a little too much for this mama to handle.

Love our boys so much!

J-Lo comes to town!

2011-12-26T22:09:00.005-05:00

Had a BLAST with my sis, Lauren, and her adorable family when they came to visit a few days before Christmas.

The kids did very well together and it was so fun to see the boys playing well with their cousins!

I L.O.V.E.D getting to snuggle my 7-week old nephew!

And how adorable is my sis? Umm, hello, I never looked that good 7-week post baby. Heck, I never looked that good post-baby. Period!

Will also enjoyed snuggling with little JP.

We had to watch him pretty closely or it could have ended real bad. :/

So sad to say goodbye!

But look forward to our next meeting!

And hopefully lots of these!!

Love you, Aunt Lo-lo, Uncle Jolly, Mojo, and JP!! Thanks for squeezing us in for a visit!

Tackle

2011-12-08T20:44:00.003-05:00

When Greg asked this guy...

to say one thing he liked about this guy...

He replied, "I like to tackle him!"

Not exactly what we were going for, but hey, it's progress!

Hmm... I wonder where he learned it!

Happy tackling, friends!

Trim

2011-12-06T14:55:00.001-05:00

We gave the boys a little hair trim last night.

They sat surprisingly still.

With a little help from the Berenstain Bears.

After a nice bath, we snuggled up in their Christmas jammies,

had a family devo on the meaning of Christmas,

and enjoyed the kids' tree in their room.

I wish we had more evenings like this one!

O Tannenbaum!

2011-12-03T19:37:00.005-05:00

How lovely are your branches!

Just wanted to post a few pictures of our boys since my blogging skills have been less than impressive lately.

And our Christmas tree. A couple pictures of our tree. :)

Love getting the house all ready for Christmas!

And now on to the boys...

Will was mad when I pulled him out of the tub tonight.

When they've splashed more water out of the tub than what's left in the tub, bath time is over. That's what happened tonight.

As you can see, our Will-boy was not a happy camper.

He recovered quite quickly.

I want to know whoever came up with the name "terrible twos"!

Umm, more like terrible threes! This child has been tough lately!

I'm thankful for the sweet moments he manages to squeeze in between temper tantrums.

Tonight he told me that "Jesus is my newborn King!"

Will post more regularly this week.

Promise!

Cowboy!

2011-11-21T21:27:00.003-05:00

I swear I've seen this guy on the streets of NYC...

Cutest cowboy ever!

Christmas Cards!

2011-11-15T13:46:00.004-05:00

Can't believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner!

Which means that Christmas will be here shortly thereafter!

Which also means that I better get my Christmas cards ordered!

I plan on ordering my cards this year through Tiny Prints, as they have an AWESOME selection of Christmas cards (so awesome, in fact, that I can hardly choose!)

AND are offering free cards to bloggers who are willing to give a review on their blog.

Check their promotion out by clicking here.

I'm thinking our Christmas card will look something like this...

I will keep the inside a surprise :)

I liked the simplicity of this card.

And I wanted a card that incorporated a little red from the boys' shirts. :)

This one, "Simply Merry", seemed perfect!

It allows me to put a picture on the outside, several on the inside, and one on the back :)

It also has room for a short message.

Years ago I started quoting lyrics from my favorite Christmas songs on our family Christmas card. And this year will be no different!

I can't wait to get these addressed and mailed.

I also can't wait to carry on old family traditions and start new ones with my little family this year.

I'm off to fine-tune our cards and get them ordered so I can get these puppies out before Christmas :)

Hope you are gearing up for the holidays at your home!

Thank you, Amanda from a.tonagel photography for taking our family pictures :)

Leaves

2011-10-31T22:03:00.005-04:00

Pro-We have beautiful color-changing trees in our backyard.

Con--We get TONS of leaves in our backyard.

We've spent half of every Saturday for the last few weeks raking and piling fallen leaves.

And I'm not a fan of raking leaves.

I am a fan of, however, my children finding joy in the outdoors.

And the fallen leaves have something to do with that joy.

Sick-o

2011-10-29T08:53:00.006-04:00

Our Will-boy hasn't been feeling too hot lately.

It's been a rough week.

I was so happy when I woke up and realized it was Saturday.

But then I realized I'm married to a basketball coach and that mean's he has to work on Saturday's. :(

Boo!

It all started with a runny nose.

Then turned into a cough.

Then the flu.

Then the little guy fell and bit through his tongue (not fun!)

And now I can proudly say that he is on the mend.

Can you tell?

Goof balls.

Happy Saturday, friends!

Fun and Frosties!

2011-10-27T07:32:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned that we have a live-in nanny?

Ok, not exactly a live-in nanny.

One of Greg's former student-managers is now an assistant coach for us and is living in our basement.

It has worked out great so far!

He's super easy to have around, he's clean and organized, AND he is beyond good with the boys!

He babysits one night a week for us so we can go out.

On Friday night he voluntarily took the boys golfing and to Wendy's for frosties.

They had an absolute blast.

I got to stay home for a couple hours and enjoy the quiet.

I had a blast too. :)

Could he take a bigger bite?

And Ethan himself wondering why I was snapping a picture of him.

Thanks "Uncle E" for being so fun to have around!

Brian Regan

2011-10-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Went to the Brian Regan comedy show a couple of weeks ago with this awesome couple.

It was a blast.

We ate at an Irish Pub in South Bend and walked straight over to the theatre.

We laughed so hard we cried!

We especially loved the material on marriage and children.

So funny and so true!

If you haven't checked out Brian Regan, you should!

He's goofy, hilarious and clean!

What else could you ask for in a comedian?

Brownies and flashlights!

2011-10-21T06:30:00.001-04:00

Made brownies with the boys last night.

Obviously I let them lick the bowl.

And I may have had a few licks myself.

I didn't even tell them to hug.

Swear.

I said "Ok boys, look at me and say 'brownies'!"

Jace looked at me and yelled "Brownies and flashlights!"

Thanks for the flashlights, Papa Hughie.

I'm off to make the boys some pancakes.

We do it up real healthy 'round here.

Patch

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

We headed to the pumpkin patch last week.

Just the three of us.

We usually make this an annual family outing, but since Greg's season seems to have snuck up on us rather quickly and our schedule has filled up with other things, we had to put the pumpkin patch on the back burner this year.

It actually worked out perfect. This way, we were able to go during the week and hardly had to compete with other kids to do the fun stuff! For example, there was a 10-minute limit on this awesome kid-energy-burner-thingy, but there was no one waiting in line so my kids got to jump for an hour straight (a mother's dream, right?).

We had a picnic, went on a couple tractor rides, jumped, fed donkeys and goats, enjoyed some pumpkin goodies, and finally, chose FIVE pumpkins to bring home.

A great time was had by all!

And as a bonus, they both passed out on the way home.

A rarity these days!

Love fall! Don't love that winter is coming! :(

Potty!

2011-10-18T09:30:00.001-04:00

We've been spending a lot of time in here lately.

Forgive me, son.

I think little brother may catch on before big brother (only kidding. sorta!)

Who knew potty training would be SO frustrating?

(And now you've seen my groovy, pink bathroom!)

But let me tell you, those are some cute buns in those monkeys-playing-basketball-boxers!

That's all for now.

Just cute buns and a pink baño.

Pumpkin Family

2011-10-15T12:33:00.004-04:00

These pumpkins represent everyone in our family. Any guesses?

*Hint-We are NOT getting a dog (sorry Dad)!

Apple Pickin'

2011-10-08T06:00:00.004-04:00

We took a family outing last Sunday and went to McClure's Apple Orchard in Peru, IN.

We packed the Clark Family and our crew in the van, complete with lunches for the hour car ride to the orchard.

The kids loved being outside and loved picking the apples off the tree.

The trip was complete with...

a trolly-tractor ride accompanied by a man playing the banjo. Awesome!

Flannels and vests...

Lot's of apple pickin'.

Apple tastin'.

Some snugglin'.

Of course a little wrestlin'!

Some horse back ridin'.

Brave younger brother went first!

And big brother wasn't about to be shown up by his little bro. He braved it out and rode "Rocket" too.

He absolutely loved it!

And finally a family picture.

Phew, that was a lot of pictures.

Hope you've made it outside with your family and enjoyed the blessings of fall!

Sisters!

2011-10-06T20:40:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, I went out to Hoboken, NJ to visit this little girl.

As an added bonus, I got to see this little girl.

It was SO nice to see my sisters. I am incredibly lucky to have the two best sisters a girl could ever dream of!

They are sweet, kind, loyal, loving, giving, beautiful, smart, funny, and the list could go on and on...

Both my sisters visited me after both my babes were born so i was insistent that I return the favor! Plus, I wanted to get my hands on my sweet niece ASAP.

Here is my niece, Morgan, cozy on her Aunt Amy's shoulders. :)

Baby Kara Christine!

We share the same middle name, you know.

I feel like I have to admit that her Grandma Misener's first name is also Christine, but I like to think she is my namesake. :)

The happy family of three!

I have to admit that Darren has some mad dad skillz!

The baby LOVES him already and settles down instantly at the sound of his voice.

It's so darn sweet!

Props to you, Darren.

I LOVED watching my big sister as a mom.

She loves this baby so much!

Girl cousins! Almost exactly a year apart.

Time to say goodbye. :( I've never been good at saying good-byes. I'm a complete and total blubber-puss. Waterworks like whoa. This time was no different.

Thankful I get to see you girls again for Thanksgiving!

Pure Joy!

2011-10-03T21:33:00.004-04:00

These two could live outside.

They absolutely love it.

And I'll be honest, I love sending them out there. :)

What could be better than swinging on your swing set on a perfect early fall day?

Nope, can't think of anything!

If I had more energy I would post more pictures, but this mama is off to bed!

Will update again soon!

Holla!

Date Night

2011-09-17T12:21:00.002-04:00

Got to go on a date with this hunk and two great friends Friday night. Haven't laughed that hard in a looooong time!

Love date nights with my hubby!

Hunter-boy

2011-09-16T18:00:00.001-04:00

Like father, like son.

And another :)

Oh, and I won't forget about you, little brother.

Enjoy the weekend, friends!

Apparently, we'll be busy doing lots of man-stuff!

My Boys!

2011-09-15T12:27:00.000-04:00

Allow me to brag for a minute on my two little ones!

I cannot believe how fast these little guys are growing.

Will is FULL of personality! He knows what he wants and isn't willing to wait long before he gets it. We are working on that one!

He says new words and sounds everyday.

His vocabulary isn't quite as up to par as his older brother's (at age 18 months) but what else would you expect from a second child? :)

Will is a ball of energy and brings us so much joy!

We love our Will-boy so much!

Jace is an awesome kid. He is always surprising us with his knowledge and vocabulary.

He has the biggest personality and absolutely loves attention (especially from the ball players)! He has his naughty moments, don't get me wrong, but for the most part we can count on him to do the right thing. He's a sweet boy!

He's showing off his new "Woody jammies". Thanks, Aunt JJ!

Hope you are having a blessed week!

Happy 3rd Birthday. Jace!

2011-09-11T21:35:00.005-04:00

We had a BLAST celebrating Jace's 3rd birthday on September 11th.

Appropriately, we celebrated in Red, White, and Blue style.

Jace loved all the attention, goodies, and friends & family who came out to celebrate with him. Greg and I appreciated having everyone there too!

Here is a little recap in pictures of the day.

The forecast had been calling for rain and thunderstorms ALL week.

It was supposed to start at 1 pm and rain into the evening.

We had nothing but sunshine.

I was SO thankful.

Here are some of the decorations for the par-tay.

American flag cupcakes

Dad and Jeff going over some basketball notes/scheduling at the party.

Tisk tisk, boys.

No working at the party!

A couple of the Tonagel cousins.

Best friend, Josh Clark.

The moment he's been waiting for--cake time!

Make a wish!

Dig in!

Jace wants to be just like Daddy.

He wants to look like him, act like him, dress like him.

So naturally, when he discovered that Dad wore a watch, he wanted one too!

Friends, Jeff and Tiff got him this awesome sports watch.

He loved it (and still does, he hasn't taken it off since!)

This was from Greg and me--a new bike! He has been riding a little Radio Flyer bike that he had outgrown months ago. We thought it was time to retire the Radio Flyer bike and pass it on to little brother. Will was thrilled! And Jace was thrilled to have a new "big boy" bike!

So sad that my baby will never be 2 again. Ahhh... they grow so fast! Sniff sniff!

And a family pic to finish off the wonderful evening.

Thanks all for helping to make our boy's birthday so special!

Rough livin'

2011-09-07T15:04:00.004-04:00

These two have it rough.

They get to lay around naked all day long.

Looking cute as a button.

Laughing and giggling with their brother.

Poor kids.

Ballpark fun!

2011-08-31T09:45:00.003-04:00

Greg took Jace to a Fort Wayne Tin Caps game last night (minor league baseball).

This child was beaming with excitement.

As you may know, he loves sports and a baseball game with his daddy might be his idea of heaven!

Greg was a good sport about letting him drag his baseball glove everywhere.

And his bat.

And ball.

Throughout the ballpark.

Can you sense his excitement?

I am thankful to have a husband who wants to make such fun memories for our boys!

Quick Update!

2011-08-30T14:07:00.005-04:00

Just a quick update here..

I went to visit a friend from Valpo yesterday so Greg was in charge at home.

I came home to two happy little boys... with short hair!

They look adorable but it was quite a shock when I walked in the door.

Jace asked "Do I look handsome, Mommy?"

Of course he looked handsome, but this mama would have appreciated a little warning (FYI, Greg)!

Anywho, here are the boys.

We also enjoyed some time with our best friends, the Clarks, over a bonfire in the backyard late yesterday.

No kids. No fights to break up. No poopy diapers to change.

Just four adults chatting about adult stuff.

And what good is a bonfire without s'mores? Of course we had those too!

It was fun having adult conversation, talking life and parenting and having a few good laughs.

We value your friendship so much, J and T!

We have been busy canning tomatoes and peaches, freezing corn and blueberries, making homemade applesauce and various jams.

My dad tells me I'm such a good "farmer's wife"!

Maybe he's right! )

Look at my latest Craig's List find. Dining room table and chairs. I love it!

That's all for now!

Two Peas in a Pod!

2011-08-22T08:34:00.001-04:00

These two are like two peas in a pod!

Jace absolutely loves father/son dates and he especially loves when he gets Dad all to himself!

Greg was gracious enough to let me have a morning with Will and took Jace into work with him.

Since Greg works at a gym and Jace dreams in gym, it was a win/win!

Love to see Greg's relationship grow with the boys as they get older!

Notice their matching Cubbies hats? Too cute!

Corn!

2011-08-20T14:36:00.004-04:00

What does a coach, coach's wife, and 2 sons do on a Saturday morning you ask?

We freeze corn, duh!

Greg and I did this a few years ago and loved having yummy, sweet corn during the winter months.

We decided to make a morning of it (and let me assure you, a whole morning it took)!

Our family inspired our sudden pioneer-ness when they froze 108 ears of corn!

Two blisters, an achey back, and a whole Saturday morning later...

There you have it! Corn to last our family all winter!

The boys had a ball playing in the corn's ice bath!

Oh we also gave canning a whirl last night and made Red Pepper Jalapeno Jam.

Mmm... combine that with cream cheese on a cracker and you've got yourself a treat!

I'm off to kick my feet up for a bit before my little pioneer babies wake up from their naps!

Happy weekend to you, friends!

Newport, RI!

2011-08-11T09:40:00.003-04:00

Good Morning America compiled a list of America's Top 10 Most Beautiful Places.

Among them was Newport, RI, a place I got to call home a couple of summers.

Luckily for me and my family, my parents still have a place there.

If you've never been--go!

Can't wait to visit next summer!!!

17 Months

2011-08-05T08:39:00.002-04:00

This little guy is 17 months today!

Boy, time flies!

We love you, Will-boy!

Living Room Makeover!

2011-08-04T08:31:00.001-04:00

It's not everyday that the hubby insists I take an entire day to go shopping.

With a wad of cash in hand.

While offering to watch the kids.

All day.
I was SO excited when the opportunity arose.

Do you think I accepted?

Of course I did!

I went on an all day shopping trip last Tuesday to furnish my living room and these are some of my finds...

Black-bound sisal rug.

Not the softest on the toesies but pleasing to the eye :)

Here is a picture of the black border in a room.

LOVE our new coffee table!

My slipcovered couch!

And not exactly my lamps but very similar! Mine have a black base, but a similar shade. My favorite find of the day. Thank you, Home Goods!

I also got a couple occasional tables to take up wall space.

A large woven basket for throw blankets.

A few new picture frames.

And that's it.

Phew.

It was a fun day.

Coolio

2011-08-01T06:30:00.000-04:00

I know I'm not cool.

Or hip.

But I'm pretty sure this little guy thinks I am.

And I'm good with that!

Happy Monday, friends!

Floaties

2011-07-29T06:00:00.001-04:00

Sometimes we hang out on the couch watching TV.

In our swim floaties.

With fruit roll-ups spread out on the couch.

Almost naked.

Nothing out of the ordinary about this picture!

Jace begged us to sleep in his floaties.

We finally convinced him to just sleep with them, not to wear them.

I think I better take them swimming today.

I'm off to the waterpark!

Bye friends!

Gammy!

2011-07-26T20:04:00.001-04:00

My amazing mother came to visit last week.

She just might be one of my very favorite people in the entire world. No joke.

Jace and her were like two peas in a pod the entire week.

Like all of us, he was SO sad to see her leave!

In fact, he sobbed in my lap when he woke up and "Gamma" was not here. So sad!

Here is the duo at the Howard County 4-H Fair enjoying the carrousel.

Lemon shake ups, pork tenderloin sandwich, italian sausage, curly cheese fries, 2 hot dogs, 1 corn dog, 1 funnel cake, and 1 apple dumpling with ice cream.

Yup! We did it up right!

Mom, if the fair wasn't enough to entice you to move to Indiana, I'm not sure what is.

Love you!

Jesus loves me!

2011-07-24T19:21:00.003-04:00

Greg was home to put the boys to bed tonight. We ALL appreciated him being home :)

I love this man. And obviously not for his singing voice. And not because he is a hot dad either.

I love him because of the heart in his hot body :)

So thankful for my 3 tonight!

Forever Friends

2011-07-20T23:20:00.007-04:00

Went on a double date last night with these two. No matter what happens with basketball or babies or job changes or life...

They will be our forever friends! So very thankful for their friendship!

Enjoyed an awesome, laughter-filled, no-kid evening out on Wednesday. We headed down to Indianapolis for dinner at Kona Grill, dessert at Coldstone Creamery, a little shopping, and finally, ended the evening off with a little bowling.

We all were happy to get home to our sleeping babies but thoroughly enjoyed the night away.

Can we get something on the calendar again soon, Tiffany?

Bye, friends!

Coffee Crusade

2011-07-17T12:28:00.004-04:00

We may or may not have been 15 minutes late for church Sunday because we decided to go through the McDonalds drive-thru and get iced coffee drinks.

And I may or may not have had brain-freeze from trying to slurp that sucker down before we arrived at church. Unsuccessful.

And I may or may not have been embarrassed to show up for church 15 minutes late with my non-fat iced vanilla latte in hand that I hid my drink in my purse :)

This mama needs her caffeine!

Sprinkles!

2011-07-16T08:29:00.003-04:00

These 3 cuties headed off to the doughnut shop this morning.

Hmm... I wonder if they will choose one with sprinkles?

I'm a glazed-kind-of-girl all the way!

While this mama headed to a coffee shop with one of of her best friends!

Happy Saturday!

Fourth of July!

2011-07-12T21:58:00.009-04:00

I experienced my first ever La Porte County Parade on the 4th of July.

The day was beautiful and we had a great time joining Greg in this hometown tradition.

Here are some of the highlights from the day.

Snake guy. Loved seeing snake guy. Who doesn't like to walk around with a snake chillin' on their neck?

And for your viewing pleasure--the belly dancing float. :)

Feather girl :)

My all American boys.

And the annual fly over! How cool!

We had a great time celebrating our country's freedom!

Hope you did too!

Bye friends!

Lightning Bugs

2011-07-12T15:26:00.002-04:00

It's been over a year now since we moved to our new home. There are so many things I love about this place, but what I love most of all is the backyard! It's nice to have a safe and private place to send your kids to when you don't feel like cooking dinner with two children hanging on each leg!

One night Jace and I kicked back in his new adirondack chairs (yes, I somehow squeezed my big caboose into those suckers) and chatted. You know, about kid stuff. In the midst of our uber deep kid conversation, he spotted a lightening bug! He was so mesmerized by the little creatures. We had a good ol' time running around chasing the little guys.

He's cute.

He's silly.

But most of all, he's just plain sweet!

Love being his mom!

Camping

2011-07-10T07:54:00.006-04:00

I know, I know. This update is long overdue! With the combination of a busy summer and a broken camera, my blog updates haven't been as frequent as I would like them.

A few weeks ago we went camping as a family. Ok, for all you REAL campers, it was cabin camping. The only way to camp in my opinion. :)

The boys did great. They loved it. By the time we convinced Jace that we were outdoorsy camping and NOT basketball camping, he was able to relax a little :)

Here's is a little re-cap of our trip. All of the pictures were taken with our cell phones :/

It was nice to have a getaway with my family where we weren't surrounded my noise--ya know like cell phones, internet, TV, etc...? We were all alone with no distractions. Well, except the raccoon that paid us a visit at night.

Here is our fancy shmancy cabin. 2 sets of bunks beds. Two electric outlets. One table. One light. It was perfect!

One of my favorite things about camping--the man does the cooking! Greg made us the most bomb meals!

This little munchkin enjoyed climbing whatever he could find.

And this one couldn't get enough bike rides!

And this mama couldn't get enough of her little boys!

We were able to squeeze in some serious snuggle time.

And of course lots of wrestling!

And more wrestling...

We all had a really GREAT time. We are already talking about going back before the summer is over!

Hope you get a chance to block out the noise and spend some time with your family this summer.

Bye friends!

Memorial

2011-06-22T08:08:00.006-04:00

Here are some of my favorites from our family pictures taken by ReneeJPhotography last week! There were so many good ones of the boys, it was hard to choose!

*************************************************************************

We returned on Sunday from a family trip out to Kansas City. We celebrated my grandpa's life by honoring him through a memorial service. It was truly a time of celebration as we shared stories of his life and reflected on his legacy. I am so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful family!!!

Here is a picture of Boppa in his younger years with my sister Jill. He was a great grandpa!!!

*************************************************************************

Did I mention how well my boys did on the 10+ hour car trip home? They did fantastic and it really made the trip enjoyable. Being stuck in a mini-van with your family for an entire day does have it's perks--it was a nice time for Greg and I to sit and chat. We sometimes get into a rut and don't make time to just sit and talk. The car ride allowed us to talk life, kids, budgets, career goals, and family goals.

I'm off to make my grocery list for the rest of the week so my kids can eat something other than buttered noodles!

Bye friends!

Shower Fun

2011-06-10T07:30:00.001-04:00

We had a great time visiting with family and friends over the weekend. We put on a baby shower for my sister and her baby girl due in August. Our family is THRILLED with the new addition and can't wait for her arrival! I'm so excited to see my sister as a mama!

Here are some pictures from our weekend. Let's start with the food, shall we?

Punch, pink candy, and chocolate covered strawberries!

Somehow the sandwiches didn't make it to the platter before this picture was taken.

We served a spinach and strawberry salad, cheese and chutney sandwiches, roast beef with cheddar and arugula sandwiches, salmon salad sandwiches, and ham and cheese poppy seed sandwiches.

Oh and we made this cute fruit salad carriage!

Crab martinis for an appetizer.

The guest of honor there on the left. Love me some baby bumps!

Due August, September, October. SO fun!!! And don't they look beautiful??? Will got to spend lots of time with his aunties. He loved that he didn't have to share the spotlight with his older brother! We squeezed in a visit with Uncle Troy! And spent lots of time with Aunt Megan! Troy, are you defending yourself in this picture? Looks like maybe it was 3 verses 1 (Girls v. you).

They unknowingly dressed nearly identical one night. Sisters!

It's been determined that Will is part boy, part monkey, part fish. He loves the water!

And how can I forget this little cutie! I got to spend time with my ADORABLE niece, Morgan.

Cousin love!!

That's our trip in a nut shell! We had a great time and can't wait to go back for another visit!

Happy Friday, friends!

Quick hello!

2011-06-08T12:27:00.004-04:00

Hello blog friends! I realize I've been a complete blog loser lately. This summer has gotten off to a busy start! Here is a little teaser post including a picture of my William baby.

And a picture from my sister Jill's baby shower. Crab martinis anyone? Yum!

Will update in more detail soon--I promise!

Bye friends!

We're Playin' Basketball!

2011-05-26T14:58:00.002-04:00

We're thinking about getting a rap agent for this child.

Pretty clever, huh? "1-2-3 We're playin' basketball, we're playin' basketball, we're playin' basketball". He is completely brainwashed!

Notice the empty toiler paper roll as his microphone?

I see my hopes and dreams of a show choir star slowing fading away :(

Have a great weekend, friends!

Park Day

2011-05-11T14:19:00.003-04:00

Here are the boys after a couple hours at the park. It is H-O-T outside today!

Which means that I have to wear clothes that show more skin.

Which makes me regret the extra helping of potato chips I had with my lunch.

Which makes me want to go shopping.

Which makes Greg not happy.

Anyway. Back to the boys...

The best part about the weather turning nice is that the boys get to play outside.

Which means that they wear themselves out.

Which means that they sleep well.

Which means that I have more time to myself.

Which means I have more time to waste and I blog more.

See, it's a win/win/win!

Bye friends!

Mother's Day

2011-05-10T14:12:00.004-04:00

I was treated to a big, sugary, yummy, cranberry muffin and freshly brewed coffee in bed on Sunday morning--Mother's Day.

We had a nice, relaxed, family day at home.

Well, as relaxing as it can be with two boys ages 1 and 2!

Greg was on top of ALL the daily house work and I appreciated his heart and effort so much. The boys gave me a big, beautiful bouquet of flowers.

I love my 3 boys so much!

Mr. Droopy Eyes wasn't feeling too hot over the weekend :(

The only plus--more snuggle time for me!

He is finally on the mend.

Thank you, Jesus!

Love this baby.

And these are random but wanted to share them too--Jace joined me grocery shopping this morning.

Our local grocery store has these adorable "Customer in Training", kid-size shopping carts and Jace had so much fun!

With the exception of ramming the cart into the back of my foot on several occasions, it was pretty fun watching him "shop".

Love this big baby!

That's all!

Bye friends!

Mini Marathon

2011-05-07T21:10:00.006-04:00

I survived my first mini-marathon! 13.1 long miles. Mile 1-6 went great. I thought I could run forever. Then mile 7 and 8 rolled around. BOR-ING! I got bored. My body felt good, I just wanted to do something other than run. When I got to mile 10, my mind and body were in a major fight.

Body: Walk, Amy. You know you want to!

Mind: Don't do it, Amy. You can do this!

Well. Mind won. I could do it. And I did! I was so happy to cross that finish line. Tears filled me eyes. I was so happy. I was on a high.

And then I came back to reality. My knees and body ache! I'm tired (from my 4:45 wake up call) and crabby. Hello, reality. Goodbye, high! I'm sure you will return as soon as I can climb the stairs again.

I also spent my first night away from both boys while Dad took care them at home (more on that later)!

While away, I got to spend some time with these two lovely ladies--my sister-in-law, Malorie and her sis, Liz. SO fun to laugh and have some fun girl time with these gals. Thanks girls for letting me crash your family weekend!

Oh, and I got to spend some time with this little cutie--my nephew, Jack. Biggest eyes I've ever seen on a baby... so cute!!!

Overall a really great experience. So happy I did it. So happy I survived it. So happy it's over :)

S'more!

2011-05-04T10:48:00.001-04:00

I always struggle with gift ideas for Greg's birthday since his numero uno hobby is hunting and I know nothing about it! Since Marion doesn't have much but a Big R, Lowes, and bike shop (the only stores that sell "man stuff"), my options were limited. And I wasn't exactly up for dragging my two boys out of town on a shopping spree. I wound up at Lowes in the outdoor grilling aisle. Perfect, the man loves to cook and loves to eat even more. A new grill set will do just fine. When suddenly Jace spotted something down the aisle from where we were standing. He said "Mommy, look, look. Look, look. (He tends to be extremely repetitive until I affirm him) Fire is hock (hot)!" Bingo! A firepit. We have the perfect backyard for a good ol' late-night fire. You're a genius, son!

Give me s'more of that!

Jace LOVES roasting marshmallows!

But Mr. Independent prefers to do it all by himself.

Here we are bundled up at the end of April (yes I said the END of April) enjoying some s'mores with our best friends. What could be better?

Two of my favorite people. Ever. In the whole world. Love 'em!

And my birthday boy. Love you lots, Coach!

.3 more days until the mini marathon! Hopefully all my s'more consumption as of late will not slow me down too much. And if it does, it was worth it!

Bye friends!

Before and After Family Room!

2011-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

This is what we've been working on at our house lately.

This is what we decided to do with the entryway through our garage. I shared some ideas in an earlier post. You can read it by clicking here. It's a small space but it was becoming very cluttered with no place to put all our shoes, coats, hats, gloves, etc. We were given this hall tree FREE from a friend so we gladly took it. It fit the space perfectly and we thought even if it's there temporarily we will only have invested a little paint money into it (it was red when we got it). We wanted a color pop in our family room so we went with this fun, teal color. We love the color and it's just the pop the room needed. Don't know if we will keep it there permanently, but for now it's very practical and functional for all of our stuff!

I could have snapped a better picture with less crap hanging from it, but hey, I'm keepin' it realz. Notice the fridge wide open and a certain little monkey standing by?

I've also been wanting to re-decorate the space above our couch. I wanted a picture wall of some sort. Here is what we had there before...

And from a different angle, here it is after. I scrounged up all of these things from what I already had around the house. I really like the way it turned out!

Here is closer look.

Happy Monday, friends!

Cheese!

2011-04-29T15:39:00.005-04:00

This one's for you, Papa.

Grandpa Jamieson, cover your ears!

Translation below.

Jace: Papa, can you take me deer hunting?

Cheese! Cheese! Cheese!

Mommy: Do you want to go deer hunting with Papa?

Jace: Yeah!

I’m gonna go hunting with Daddy.

Me and Papa and Daddy see a big deer in the woods.

Me and Papa and Daddy shoot the deer so you guys can eat deer meat!

Deer meat is yummy for you.

Yeah, it makes you strong!

And then you play basketball!

Cheese!

Well, I think it's safe to say that my two year old is going to follow in Dad's footsteps and be a deer hunter. He cracks us up!

Happy weekend, friends!

Happy Easter, peeps!

2011-04-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful Easter this year! We attended a beautiful Easter morning church service as a family then headed up north to enjoy a meal with our best friends, the Clarks. The Clark Family was so gracious to invite us and let us visit with their beautiful family, feed us a delicious meal, give us Easter goodies, and put on an Easter egg hunt for the kids. We feel blessed to call you all friends but think of you more as family! My little boys loved all the excitement at the Clark house with all the other little kids!

Here is Jace on Easter morning finding his basket. Behind the curtain... tricky!

He could barely stop to pose for a picture. This boy had some jelly beans to eat!

Notice the Peeps? What's Easter morning without Peeps? But who really likes Peeps anyway?

Posing with their baskets.

Egg hunt! We just had to convince Jace that the eggs were actually balls and whoever scored the most points in the "basket", wins! Ohhh, he gets it now! We have to speak in sports lingo with him. All the time.

The sweetest little Easter baby ever!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!

Peace out, peeps!

Chowda!

2011-04-27T17:28:00.004-04:00

Rain puts me in the mood for comfort food. What's one of my favorite comfort foods you ask? Soup! And since this has been the rainiest April in the history of Aprils (ok, maybe not), I have been craving lots of soup! One of my all time favorites is Potato Corn Chowder. My mom made this for us growing up and would sometimes add clams, but I prefer the less fishy approach. If you are wanting to enjoy a cozy, rainy evening with your family, make this recipe. You will not be disappointed!

Here's the crew:

butter - 4 tbsp. or so

flour - 3 heaping tbsp. or so

onion - 1 medium size

chicken broth - 2-32 oz. cartons

potatoes (red skin or idaho) - 4 cups or so (are you seeing a theme here? I am definitely a dumper)

half and half - until desired color - maybe 1 1/2 cups or so. maybe two :/

frozen corn

Ok. I know those measurements are all very vague but this is one of those recipes where it doesn't matter. you can't screw this recipe up. unless you forget the flour. or potatoes. or burn the milk. but trust me, you won't screw it up.

Here's what you do:

Finely chop onion. Dice potatoes (peel first if using idaho).

Saute chopped onion in melted butter in a large saucepan until translucent. Stir occasionally. Add flour a whisk until well combined (important). Add chicken broth. Turn up heat to medium-high and add cubed potatoes. Stir occasionally. I usually stir with a potato masher and mash the potatoes as they become tender to create a thicker consistency. Once potatoes are at desired consistency (soft!) turn down heat and add half and half until a nice cream color. Throw in some frozen corn. Add salt and pepper. Top with cheese and real bacon (please no bacon bits). I served this with BLT's (it was a bacon fiasco!) but it's definitely hearty enough to serve on it's own.

Oh and I usually have all of these ingredients on hand all the time so this is one of my emergency go-to meals.

Everyone loves this meal. Except for Jace. And Will. Stinkers.

Bon appetit!

**************************************************************

On a less foodie note, why must we travel with 3+ balls everywhere we go? As if sleeping with them wasn't enough, we now have to travel with them?! Boys!

Notice the football in his right hand and the soccer ball sitting shotgun to his left? Will isn't quite as into the whole jock-thing like his big bro. He likes balls, don't get me wrong, but he can read a good book every now and again too.

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!

Oh and this little blondie really likes his oreos.

And puddle jumpin'. Loves his puddles.

One more thing... this desperate mama needs some advice on how to handle her 2 year old who feels the need to deck his younger brother every time they pass. Please advise!

Bye friends!

Mr. Teddy

2011-04-21T22:43:00.004-04:00

I love this picture.

Not because he is lounging on the couch in his swimming trunks when it's unseasonably cold and rainy out.

And not because he has his beloved basketball sitting next to him either.

It's because he is hugging his bear.

But not just any bear. This bear.

His daddy's bear when he was a kid.

His name is Mr. Teddy Bear (clever!). And Mr. Teddy Bear makes him happy.

And when he's happy, I'm happy.

Manscapers

2011-04-15T07:58:00.003-04:00

Check out my manscapers!

Greg did the first mow of the year! The boys "helped" rake by pretty much undoing everything Dad did :) Welcome to my world, honey!

LOVE being outside! Now if only I could keep it from snowing tomorrow.... Ugh, Indiana!!!

Happy Friday!

Nike's and Hawks

2011-04-14T07:53:00.002-04:00

I realized I hadn't posted any updated pictures of the boys in ages! Sadly today was the first day I got my camera out in ages. So here are a few I took today.

Will is still more concerned with using the camera as a chew toy than letting his mama snap a few shots of him. I'm not kidding, all of his pictures involve drool hanging from his chin and his arms opened wide, begging for the camera. Come on, Will! Work with yo' mama here!

Jace on the other hand, knows how to work the camera!

Greg got the boys new shoes last week. It's like their thing. They always go shoe shopping together. He got both boys new Nike sandals and these sweet babies for Jace. Get this, they only look like they tie. They actually velcro. How sweet is that?!

I asked Jace to model them for me and this is what he did.

Ok. So maybe he's not the next Vanna White but he can make any pair of shoes look cute. My only question.... why do all my shoes come from Payless and my 2-year old sports Nikes? Not fair!

Will reminds me of Greg more and more each day. He is just the most fun, adventurous little guy. I can't resist styling his hair in a little faux hawk. So darn cute!

That's all. We aren't the most exciting bunch. Just new Nike's and faux hawks.

Bye friends!

Personal Intervention

2011-04-06T14:55:00.005-04:00

Whoa! Can you say slacker? Sorry to leave you blog stalkers waiting so long for an update! Well, I haven't actually been slacking, just in the blogosphere world. I will explain.

I have made quite an effort to get more organized. Not in one particular area, just overall, more organized. With two little boys, ages 1 and 2, I found myself in an unproductive slump. I kept blaming it on the cold weather but unfortunately have diagnosed it with pure laziness. I had a mild internet addiction and wasted most of my morning reading blogs, checking facebook statuses, and getting caught up with my family via phone or email. Nap time completely wasted. Entire morning, gone. I would get so far behind that I wouldn't even know where to begin. Anyone relate??? So. I had a personal intervention where I decided it's time for a change. I got myself on a regular workout regimen (Indy mini coming up in 4 weeks!!!), cleaned out my car and home closets, made a laundry schedule, meal schedule, and budget. Wow. I feel so much better. It's amazing what a little organization can do! My days are productive, my kids are better off, my husband happier, and I don't have to feel so guilty sitting down at 3:00 during nap time to watch a little TV (a little obnoxious Rachel Ray anyone???) and browse a few of my favorite blogs. It's amazing how starting your day off with a plan can lead to a productive day.

And I don't tell you this to try and convince you I am some sort of super-mom (remember I admitted to blowing my ENTIRE morning on the internet above), but instead to challenge you to get more organized and disciplined in areas that are weighing heavily on you.

Hope you are encouraged or inspired or just got a good laugh out of what a wasteful loser I have been this winter.

I will leave you with this video of Jace singing Happy Birthday to his favorite guy--Daddy! Happy 31st birthday to my one and only!

Peace out, friends!

Wilma

2011-03-24T17:02:00.002-04:00

We Tonagels can dream, can't we??

I'm off to have a kid-free night with some of my favorite gals!!!

Happy Thursday, friends!!

Decorating Ideas!

2011-03-20T16:01:00.005-04:00

I am hoping this spring we will finally be able to furnish our living room that has sat empty (with the exception of some odds and ends) for almost a year now. The room is big, has a lot of windows and natural light, and has a pretty, white fireplace smack dab in the middle of the room. I plan on getting a rug, couch, two chairs, coffee table, end tables, a couple of lamps, and a few decorative pieces to finish off the room. I have long, cream colored window treatments and a neutral green color on the walls. Here is what I am thinking for the room:

I'm typically drawn to the persian, traditional-looking rugs but I am trying expand my style a little bit and go a tad more modern. My mom found this rug and I love all the colors in it! PLUS, I like the dark brown and think it would create great contrast to the cream curtains and cream couch that I plan on getting.

I've always loved the slipcovered look. And I also really love white. Having kids, I obviously couldn't do this in our everyday, family room but think I can pull it off in the "formal" living room.
And of course we need some good lighting for those rainy days when I can curl up on the couch with some coffee and a good book (since I have SO many of those kinds of days)!! :)
And I liked this picture because 1) I like the bench/coffee table 2) I like the quilt hanging on the wall. For my birthday my mom and dad got me a BEAUTIFUL quilt that I plan on displaying in this room. And 3) I love all the colors with the white couch.
My mom and dad are also giving us 2 wicker chairs from their house that they no longer use. They don't look exactly like this but this was the only picture I could find.
Can't wait to get started on this!! Now if only my hubby were on board for all my big plans!

Hope you had a great weekend! Mine was FULL of Madness!!!

Bye friends!!

Big Baby

2011-03-15T12:11:00.005-04:00

These pictures were taken one year ago today.

When he was just a wee little baby.

And these were taken today.

And somewhere along the road he turned into a big baby.

Can't believe my baby is this big!

William Hugh turns One!!

2011-03-07T10:09:00.005-05:00

Check out our 1 year old!!! Love him more than words can say!

Big brother helped us wrap presents. "You mean these presents aren't for me?"

Big Brother Birthday hug!!!

I made a collage of Will's first year of life. He has changed SO much.

"CharSawy" came to celebrate! Jace gets so excited that he combines his cousins' names, Charlie and Sawyer, in to one name. Hah!

He was so-so on his cake. He liked amusing his buddy, Brooks by throwing cake more than he liked eating it. Boys!

And when Aunt Amanda set up this adorable back drop for his cake pictures he freaked out! He started shaking and wanted nothing to do with the cake. Poor bubby. So far he is scared of the vacuum, bathtub, and apparently cake. Ugh!

This is my favorite! Love.

And our attempt at a family picture at the end of the night. Of about 20 takes would you believe this is the best we got?

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby, William Hugh. Can't believe you came into this world one year ago! Our life has been better ever since!! Love you.

Happy Friday!

2011-03-04T18:52:00.004-05:00

Just another Friday in our house!

Does Will even flinch? He obviously isn't amused be his mama.

I have a birthday party to get ready for!!!

Happy Friday, friends!!

Wild Thing!

2011-02-26T17:00:00.002-05:00

Can't believe our baby will turn 1 in one week from today!!! CrAZy how fast time flies!!! Love our wild, biting, messy, on-the-go, persistent, loving, tender, baby boy!

I better start party planning!

Bye friends!

Entryway Space

2011-02-25T11:38:00.003-05:00

In an effort to de-clutter our entry way, we have been searching for the best way to organize our small entry space. We rarely use our front door, as I am sure is true for most people. We always come in through the garage door, which is connected to our breezeway/family room. Inconveniently, our hall/coat closet is on the other side of the house (near the front door) and we are stuck tossing our shoes in a laundry basket, throwing hats/gloves/scarves in a small wicker basket, and hanging our coats on an overflowing hall tree. Since our entry way is part of our family room (not separated by a wall, just separated by different flooring), we want to make is clean and organized, yet still functional. I found some examples by specifically searching for "small entryways" since that is what we are dealing with!

I really like this look but I am not sure if it's very functional. I like having a mirror there, which would come in handy when I walk out the door with my shirt inside out as I did yesterday. Oopsies. Love the craftsman-style bench! (Image from http://paintyourspace.com/tag/mirrors/)

This is cool and fun but not sure I could pull this look off. (Image from http://www.ivillage.com/mudroom-ideas-0/7-b-258263)

This is more functional but I'm not crazy about the look. I like all the storage and think it would really do the de-clutter trick! (Image from http://ana-white.com/2009/11/plans-for-entry-storage-benchshelf_2314.html)
I love this look and think it would be great for my kids to be able to learn to hang up their coats/bags themselves. Right now, they can't reach the coat rack so they drop their coats on the middle of the floor when they walk in the house! (Image from http://hubpages.com/hub/Entryway-Decorating-Creative-Ways-to-Decorate-a-Small-Entryway)I think this is adorable. I love the low coat/bag hooks and again, think it would be great for my kids to have the responsibly of putting their own stuff away. I also love the big pictures with the matting above... very clean looking. I already have two small chairs so this would be pretty easy and do-able. (Image from http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/inspiration/look-an-entryway-for-the-kids-117638)Any pointers out there from someone who has transformed a small space into an entry way? Which look do you like??

William's Dedication

2011-02-22T11:07:00.003-05:00

Our sweet William-boy, was dedicated to the Lord on Sunday at church. Greg and I wrote this letter to Will and read it aloud to him during the service.

William Hugh Tonagel,

You have been an incredible gift given to us by the Lord. What a privilege and responsibility that the Lord has chosen us to raise you. We recognize that you are His and ultimately you belong to Him. Today we stand before our family, friends and church body to dedicate you back to him.

Will, you have already shown to possess a persistent personality. Our prayer is that this quality will carry you through difficult times in your faith as you hold steadfast. Another quality we have witnessed is your tender loving heart. Our prayer is that you will allow Christ to mold and shape this heart, thus making the things of this world pale in comparison to the eternal treasures he has for you. Although you are second born and you tend to follow your brother in whatever he does, our prayer is that you will be leader amongst your peers. Among them may you stand up for truth while carrying a bold witness for Christ.

By word and example we will do our best to teach you the amazing gospel of God’s grace. Our home will be a Christ centered place where you will be encouraged to become the man of God that Jesus desires you to be. We will raise you in earnest prayer. His word will be a staple in our home. Our home will be a place of worship by the things we say, watch and do. Our church family will be an extension of our family to help us commit to these principles. Will, we love you so much and nothing could bring us more joy than to see you grow and develop into the man that God has intended you to be.

Love,

Mom and Dad

IWU Men's Basketball Retro Night

2011-02-18T13:25:00.001-05:00

Should I be embarrassed that this is my husband?

You have to hand it to him--he wants to win BAD!

Amen!

2011-02-13T19:22:00.006-05:00

I know this is a horrible, blurry picture, with a bad background and toys all over the floor, but I wanted to post a picture of me with my Valentine. We got a sitter, and enjoyed a nice, quiet evening out. Just the two of us. Listening to country music in his pick-up truck. Telling old stories. Telling new stories. And laughing. We had a great time.

*********************************************************************

I heard two prayers today that I thought were worth sharing.

First, overheard Greg praying with Will before his dinner. It went something like this,

"Jesus, thank you for this day, thanks for this food, and help Will not to be a whiney little baby anymore. Amen."

I burst out laughing around the corner because it has been one of those days.

Jace sat down a few minutes later. We usually eat as a family, but like I said, it's been one of those days. So, we staggered our mealtime today. His prayer was a "God our Father/Where is Thumbkin Medley" and it went like this,

"God our Father, God our Father,

How are you today sir, very well I thank you,

Amen, Amen!"

And while most days I feel like I could lose it at any minute, I am thankful for this blessed life!

Can I get an Amen???

Sick!

2011-02-08T22:23:00.005-05:00

Sickness seems to be lingering at the Tonagel household. It's always one of us, and right now, it's me, daggonit! Both boys have suffered a great deal of sickness this winter, and I'm sick of it!

Here are just a few pictures of the past week.

Will was just not himself last week. I snapped a picture here, just gazing at the TV, because this is SO unlike him. He is Mr. Mobile and loves to be on the go. He rarely stops going. Even for Elmo. And, well, I think it's cute how his arm is resting on the couch.

Jace had a fever four days in a row. Again, snapped a picture of this because it is SO not him! He never falls asleep on the couch (or anywhere, really, that's not his bed). And yes, if you look closely, you will see leftover lunch still on his face. Hey, I have enough surfaces to wipe (counters, butts, faces) that I do miss this once in a while.

This face may look sweet but he has been rather devil-ish lately.
Oh and I realized why Will is crying in every picture. He loves to eat my camera (that is slowly breaking thanks to my youngest)! Once he lays eyes on that camera, he wants it! And he will whine, fuss, kick, scream until he gets it. Can you say strong WILL? I did manage to get this one of a half smile/cry just before he let me have it.
And let the temper tantrums begin...

Ok. Totally boring post, I know, but I needed something to stall me from the long to-do list hanging on my fridge.

Love my boys, despite my rather negative commentary today. Moms are allowed to have days like this, right??

Bye friends!

11 Months

2011-02-05T10:08:00.004-05:00

We were so frustrated with being house-bound for so long that Greg and I bundled the boys up, took them out in the middle of the blizzard, and pulled them around in the sled. We decided to head back inside when we started getting pelted by giant ice-hail.

Oh, and happy 11 months old to this happy little guy :) He hasn't been feeling too hot lately. This is pretty much the face he makes most of the day. Hope his face doesn't get stuck like this!

Holla!

(Not) Picture Perfect

2011-02-03T10:04:00.003-05:00

Will, look here!

Good!

Now Jace, look at mommy!

Good!

Ok. So not picture perfect but it will do. Love these three!

Pool/Gym Fun!

2011-02-02T09:34:00.006-05:00

I am so thankful that we live just 3 1/2 miles from campus and have access to the university facilities, especially during these loooooong Indiana winters! We head up there a couple times a week to go swimming, run around the gym, eat lunch/dinner with Coach, or just walk around and let the college girls ooh and aah over my babies :) Sometimes the players ask to take the boys around. They say it's a sure fire way to pick up chicks! Hah!

Here, Jace and Coach were splashing around in the pool. Lucky for Jace, there was a b-ball hoop in the pool. Right up his alley! I thought he would be begging to go back to the pool, but it's not the water he remembered, but the hoop. Geez.

Coach showing off his mad skillz.

Now on to the gym.

Coach lowers the hoop for Jace and the height is just right for him. He shoots "3's" (aka 3 feet jumper), "free-throws" (aka 2 feet shot), lay-ups, and with a little help, slam-dunks!

Little brother enjoys the change of scenery too!
Jace ALWAYS puts up a fight when it's time to leave the gym. He flails his body and is completely out of control. It's no fun.
Will just learned to clap and cheers for big brother on the sidelines. Won't be long before he is practicing "3-pointers".
The Wildcats are still on their win streak and this guy has been working his tail off! It was our bye game this week so he has spent more time at home. Love when he's home more!

We are enjoying this mini, icy, blizzard! Hope you are too!

One more thing, I added the "Followers" gadget at the right side of my blog. Follow me!!

Bye friends!

Carry You

2011-01-23T15:01:00.003-05:00

My boys and I participated in the celebration of our church's Sanctity of Life service this morning. The song "I Will Carry You" played as we crossed the church platform, carrying a rose, representing the year we were born, and all the babies taken through abortion that year. It was an incredibly moving experience and I urge you to listen to the song below.

This song was written by a mother who carried her baby full term, though she didn't know if she would survive even a breath or a few minutes outside the womb. The song is accompanied by pictures of the months before her delivery (they took her to Disney World!) and the moments after she was born. I admire their joy and courage so much! If you have some time (and some tissues), I recommend clicking here to read about their journey and their courageous story of faith.

Hope you spend some time today reflecting on how precious life is!

-Team Tonagel

Football

2011-01-16T15:56:00.004-05:00

It's no secret that this little guy loves sports.

It's usually basketball...

But this week, it's football.

He sleeps with this football, eats with this football, and travels with this football.

I wish I made this stuff up!

Holla!

Memory Lane

2011-01-12T10:58:00.007-05:00

I took a quick trip down memory lane this morning and thought some of these precious pictures were worth sharing with you. I LOVE looking at old photos and reminiscing of what a blessed childhood I had. But more importantly, I like teasing my mom for her perm, my dad for his beard, and us kids for our fashion sense :) Here are some of my favorite pics of some of my favorite peeps!

This was our first house in Maryland. It was a great little house in a great neighborhood.

In fourth grade, we moved here. Love love love this house. If I could build my dream house someday, it would probably be just like this one!
How adorable are my three older siblings? So darn cute!

This is where we vacationed when we were kids. Our vacations were made up of visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Here we are at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. We have SO many good memories from this place!
I had just turned 1 this Christmas. Apparently, I wasn't happy about posing for the camera!
Love this one of my dad and Ben. I see both Jace and Will in my brother. Lookin' good, daddy!
And I had to include this one of my mom and show off what a babe she was (well, still is)!

Little Ben.

Here we are on Easter morning showing off our baskets. Our family weimaraner, Jayhawk, is in the corner of the picture. I am sure he just got done eating a dozen hard boiled, decorated eggs. He was infamous for his fondness for eggs.
I REALLY see Will in this bottom picture of me.

We were always coming up with skits/song performances/poems for birthday and holidays. Here we are, I'm guessing, performing in celebration of someone in the family. Don't you love my leotard?!

Love my one-piece, sun-flower, skort/dress thingy above! Here we are below, enjoying our family Thanksgiving dinner at home.
It's always fun to look back at old photos and be able to laugh at yourself!

Enjoy the rest of your week, friends!

Bath Time

2011-01-08T10:21:00.005-05:00

We have fun during bath time at our house!

First we get 'em nice and dirty! I am guessing we had spaghetti that night for dinner. Apparently, Jace excused himself from the table without being wiped down first.
Bath time includes a little brotherly love.
Then moves on to a game of "who can open their mouth wider".

Will wins!

Some plain goofiness!
And some not-so brotherly love.
Watch out, lil' bro!
I just adore these two little goof balls. Couldn't imagine life without 'em!
Disclaimer: Warning. Thick layer of soap scum on the shower tiles. Yikes.
These two have really started to interact lately. This has been fun for Greg and I to watch. Can't wait to see their friendship grow!

Have a great weekend, friends!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T20:43:00.007-05:00

Sorry I've been MIA for a while now. The holidays were crazy busy and now that they are over we seem to be busy with basketball games, fighting sickness in our house, and keeping up with everyday tasks.

We kicked off the Christmas celebration with a visit from my sister and her family! Loved spending a couple days with them! Just wish it could have been longer. Thanks Lauren, Ben, and Morgan for fitting us in to your busy Christmas!

We decided to stay home for Christmas Eve/Day this year and really enjoyed being at home with our little ones. Nana and Papa Tonagel and our best friends, the Clarks, joined us for a Christmas meal which included seven-layer salad, prime rib, mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans, rolls, and cheesecake for dessert! It was a great day!

Sadly, these were the only pictures I snapped of our Christmas morning.

Greg and Jace went sledding on our white Christmas day and had a blast! Our little scaredy cat was SO brave and by the end of their outing was flying down the steepest hill all by himself!
Thanks Nana and Papa for your fun visit!!!

Greg had to leave early the 26th for Phoenix, AZ, where his team would later win two big games! So proud of him and the players. We really missed him while he was gone but enjoyed the virtual face to face conversations via Skype. We were glad to get him home New Year's at 1:30 am. I got my kiss (just 1.5 hours late)!

Now, starts the busiest time for Coach and b-ball, where all our remaining games are conference games. That means lots of long nights and a busy/stressed out/distracted baby daddy. Lucky me!

I have just started training for the Indianapolis mini-marathon in May. So far, I have VERY little motivation! Wish me luck! I've started my new year off with a new look. I cut twelve inches off of my hair! Feels good to have healthy hair that I can actually run a comb through!

In other news, my baby is 10 months old today! Can't believe it! Love our sweet William baby!

Have a great week!

Tired

2010-12-13T10:27:00.004-05:00

This little guy has been quite challenging lately. He was sick all last week and wasn't himself at all! Our whole house is tired from long nights and little sleep. But one things for sure, I never get tired of....

This.
Adorable.

Face!
Happy Monday, friends!

P.S. Notice the theme in the first three pictures? Drool hanging from his chin! The kid rarely takes a picture without it! So naturally, I had to take advantage of the no-drool moment and snap the last picture. It's his signature mark!

Christmas Tree 2010

2010-12-09T20:21:00.004-05:00

So. You may remember the Tonagel Christmas tree fiasco of 2009. If not, you can get a recap by clicking here.

Greg had a great opportunity this year to redeem himself from last year's unfortunate tree.

He TOTALLY hit it out of the park this year! I love our tree. I love the soft, short needles. I love the way it smells. I love it's shape and size. I love that my mom helped me decorate it. I love that my hubby picked it out. I love this tree.

This week I was able to get a few Christmas decorations up while my mom was visiting. Our house was made for Christmas! So here are some of my favorite Christmas things scattered throughout the house.

Ta-da! Here is our tree!

And some of my favorite ornaments.

My mom and I came up with these fun, sparkly arrangements. Love them!

And I just love this little guy!

I love this cute, hand-made, wooden nativity made by Greg when he was young.

Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful season!

Bye, friends!

Family Picture

2010-11-29T12:11:00.003-05:00

We had family pictures taken at Matter Park in Marion just down the road from our house. The boys were (fairly) cooperative and I think we got a few really cute ones. Thanks Renee Janofski for taking our picture!

1967 Ford Falcon

2010-11-27T07:24:00.003-05:00

So. About 10+ years ago Greg had the brilliant idea to refurbish an old car. He found a deal in a 1967 Ford Falcon and bought it. He was young, single, and thought why not? Well, ten years, a wife, 2 kids, and some pretty hefty change later, the car is (almost) done!

This car makes my hubby happy and that makes me happy.

Shutterfly Promo

2010-11-23T14:45:00.004-05:00

Wow. Where did the time go? It seemed like just yesterday that William was born, followed by a crazy summer and my baby boy turning two. Then is was the start to another school year and a new basketball season. Now, it's Thanksgiving week which means the start to holiday shopping and time to write/address Christmas cards! I love creating a family card of our own but also LOVE receiving cards (especially photo cards) in the mail. Lucky for me this year, my mail slot empties right into our foyer so I don't even have to bundle up in the cold to get my fun mail goodies!

So who do I like to turn to when it's time to create my family photo card? Shutterfly! They have a great selection for various needs/occasions and often run amazing deals and specials that make choosing them a no-brainer. When I am NOT feeling ambitious and not up to creating a crafty invite/thank-you of my own I always turn to Shutterfly. So this year for Christmas, I plan to do the same thing! I love their Christmas selection and especially the 5X7 folded cards! I haven't decided which card is calling our family's name but this one looks cutesy and I also like this more classic look! I also like this one and appreciate it's Christian affiliation. I went with this card last year and loved how simple it was! Wow, so many great options, I better get deciding! If you are a blogger and want to take advantage of another wonderful Shutterfly offer, click here to read details on receiving 50 free Christmas cards of your own!

Looking forward to our Thanksgiving celebration this year. We are so blessed and have SO much to be thankful for.

I am off to make homemade dinner rolls, cranberry relish, and a family favorite, rutabaga for our Thanksgiving meal. Yum!

Be thankful, friends!

Coconut Doughnut!

2010-11-18T15:19:00.007-05:00

Made this feathered wreath the other day. The previous homeowners had one in their nursery and I really liked it so I tried to recreate it. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out! I could have bought one on Etsy for $40 but I made this for under $10! Go me! Can't wait to see it in a little girls room someday. Maybe.

My sister says it looks like a coconut doughnut and I think she might be right.

And she also said it's something you would find in her [gay] neighbors' apartment. I will take that as a compliment!

Also, while I am posting decorative pictures, check out what my sister Lauren made for Jace's room. LOVE!

Enjoyed some alone time this morning while the kids were home with a wonderful babysitter. I needed a bit of a break. This terrible two thing is rough!

We are gearing up for Thanksgiving at our house! Love the holidays! Blessings to you today!

Quick Update!

2010-11-09T19:05:00.000-05:00

Here is a glimpse of how big our baby is getting. He is crawling, pulling himself up, and eating solids. He turned 8 months old on Saturday. We adore our baby (even when he is whining and crying which seems like 50% of the time recently)!

Here is big brother riding on Papa's tractor in La Porte.

Will got his first ride too!

Love my boys!

That's all!

Hound Dog

2010-11-01T15:28:00.006-04:00

You ain't nothing but a hound dog

Cryin' all the time

Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

And you ain't no friend of mine!

Thank you. Thank you very much!

Bloggin'

2010-10-23T16:17:00.004-04:00

We just love our

football playin'...

big smilin'...

"Up to no good" lookin'...

Camera hoggin'...
Side-ways hat wearin'...
Tractor lovin'...

Country boy!

Do you like seafood?

2010-10-22T21:06:00.003-04:00

See, food! :)

Happy Friday, friends!