Playroom Floor

Our playroom floor was laminate flooring before.  It has just been put down right before we purchased the home.  Jeff is not a fan (although I see nothing wrong with it), and he decided to change it.  Here are pictures of the original floor.  This is the same floor that we have in the dining room.  Since we had a water heater leak that ruined half of the dining room floor, Jeff could use this floor in there to fix what has been messed up for about a year.  We also used it in our bedroom closet. 

He decided to put a bamboo floor down.  My BIL and sister had the light color in their first home.  Jeff wanted to be fancy and do a border around the edge with two colors.

 Here is the new floor.  It is really pretty!  Poor Jeff though-since we are on a slab, it has been a nightmare trying to get it to stayed glued down.  He has some areas to fix, but it is gorgeous.

Vizcaya Visit

Monday through Thursday of this week I took a vacation-BY MYSELF!  It was a much needed trip to visit my best friend Traci in Ft. Lauderdale.  It was so great to have NO agenda and no students or kids saying my name 1,000 times a day.  Traci and I always have a blast together!  We spent time in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.  On Wednesday, we toured Vizcaya (the winter home of James Deering).  The grounds are absolutely beautiful.  Here are some pictures of our visit there...

18 months

Tomorrow, PJ will be 18 months old!  This means in six months he will be TWO!  What?!  When did this happen?!  Although giving us a run for our money most days, he is a true joy.  Here are some highlights right now:

At 18 months, Parker...

• is WILD!  He is loud and crazy and into everything.
• is ALL BOY!  He is a climber and is rough and tough (sometimes too rough and tough).  You have to be careful because he will pull your hair and bite your leg.
• is a TALKER!  P has quite the vocabulary.  I am amazed at how many words he is saying.  He tries to repeat lots of things as well.  Of course, he still babbles a lot, but we are beginning to make out more.
• is SMART!  He is learning his color words and is trying to match them to different objects.  He still doesn't understand all the different colors, but he know what is means when we ask, "What color is this?"  He is also doing good understanding commands.  He can put things in the trash or laundry and pick-up toys.  He is also starting to name people in pictures (like his cousins).  I love when I say "one" and he says "two!"
• is SLEEPING BETTER!  It is still not great, but nights are slowly getting better.  After his ear surgery, he has been going down awesome.  He is awake when we put him to sleep and he puts himself to sleep with little crying.  He still wakes up in the middle of the night, but he has been crying for less time.
• is CLINGY!  This is really getting to me because I can't get anything done without him being attached to my leg.  He doesn't like to be left with anyone he isn't really familiar with.  He would love for me to hold him all evening!
• is TEETHING!  This is also making him very whiny.  Come on teeth-break through!
• is a HAIR LOVER!  If anyone out there likes their hair to be played with, my son is your man!  He loves to play in my hair.  This is NOT cool at 2 am.
• is SWEET!  He really has the best smile, and it melts my heart.  He gives hugs and kisses all the time.
• is in love with BUBBLES!  When it is bath time, he comes running!  He would play in the bath all night if he could.
• is NOT A GOOD EATER!  I was spoiled with Lily.  P eats nothing but cheese puffs.  What can you do?  Thank goodness for squeeze fruits and veggies.
• is in love with MUSIC!  When music starts, he dances and taps his foot :)

N and P in matching jammies! 

Hanging out while Lily was at tap.

Love his smile (he loves shoes)

"Hello?"  Anything can be a phone!

Enjoying bath!  Always has time to say "cheee" for a picture!

Reading a book before bed!

Family Day at the Air Force Museum

Yesterday, my dad and I took the kids to meet up with Sarah and Ty at the Air Force Museum in Dayton.  My sister works there as a Public Affairs Specialist (I know, big time!  She rocks her job).  They have great events there, and yesterday was family day.  Looking at the planes is pretty awesome, but they also had activities for the kids to do.  My dad and Sarah did a good job helping Ty and Lily enjoy the activities while I ran after Parker.  They got to hang like a paratrooper, fly kites, and make windsocks at story time!  It was a great day, and it was nice riding to and from Dayton with my dad.  I love chatting with him because I don't get to do it often.

Here is the site for the Air Force Museum.  If you are ever in the Dayton area, you should check it out!
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

Swamped

I am feeling very beat down these past couple of weeks.  Between getting ready for the first round of ISTEP testing at school, trying to do internship work for graduate school, keeping up with house work, and two high energy kids, I am BEAT!  Have I told you how mischievous a certain 1.5 year old is?  I am not sure I will be able to keep up with him much longer!

Not to mention, I am so over winter!  Really, 5 inches of snow in March?!

Luckily, I will be headed to Florida is a couple of weeks to visit my best friend!!!!  And yes folks, I am headed off BY MYSELF!  Although I feel slightly guilty about leaving Jeff and the kiddos behind, I am sure the sand between my toes will do me some good.

Sending lots of prayers out these last few weeks to those who are sick, have passed away, or are in the hospital.  Hearing bad news always reminds me that I can handle all the craziness going on in my life as long as everyone is safe and sound.

Happy Weekend!  Leaving you will a couple photos/video I found on my phone.

Family Birthdays!

We are behind wishing our niece, Caitlyn, a Happy 5th Birthday!  We weren't able to see her in Columbus, but we did video chat with her a couple days before.  We hope she enjoyed her special day!

And Happy 5th Birthday TODAY to our nephew Tyler!  We are so happy we were able to spend the weekend celebrating such a special boy.  It is hard to believe that these kiddos are all five now!