Are you still here?

I've been a terrible blogger. Apologies. Things got CRAZY at the end of 2016. We have 3 busy kids and I'm running a side-business that feels like a full-time job {at times}. So - I swear, this time I mean it - I will do a better job! Nolan is going to have a huge gap in his "life events" and it's all my fault.

Recap of the end of 2016:

Teeth were lost! Jack has now lost 4 and Josie has lost 2. Nolan has come close to getting a few knocked out...

Fall happened and it was unseasonably warm...which made all of us HAPPY!

For Halloween we had a Kylo Ren, a Snow White, and her side-kick Dopey (sorry, teenage Nolan...I thought it was cute).

After a low-key Thanksgiving - we helped Josie celebrate her 5th birthday! She's a WHOLE HAND now! She had a Tea Party with some friends and it was a very fun time! (See previous post)

For our 11th Anniversary - Tyson and I took a parental time out and flew down to Key West for a long weekend. We had SO much fun...eating, drinking, and honestly, sleeping!!! Yes, I took many naps and slept past 9am. Uncle Bill has a few condos down there and was gracious enough to let us stay in one. He also took us on a bar-hopping tour of Key West and it took me a full day to recover.  Our friends, Jeff & Jaime, came down from Miami too! It was SO much fun! Oh, and we took a very adventurous jet ski tour.

We prepped for Christmas with Josie's Live Nativity program and then SANTA came! His BIG gift this year was a bounce house for our basement! Nolan is one happy kid.

For Christmas we spent time in Fort Wayne, with Agnes (visiting from Idaho) and in Warsaw with Uncle Jon, Cassie, Uncle Joe, Aunt Gina, and all the cousins. Too much fun was had! It is always great to see the kids playing and spending time with their cousins. We wish we were closer to everyone!

So - that's the wrap on 2016. Lame, I know. But I really will be better. 2017 will be an EXCITING year in the Becker house!

Merry Christmas and HAPPY New Year!

Annual Christmas Morning stair pic

We ha da whirlwind Christmas break! We left Friday before Christmas to go to Warsaw for Christmas with my family. Jon and Cassie were here from Florida...and it got super cold to welcome them back. Gina was smart and scheduled some babysitters so we could have a really fun adult dinner on Saturday night. That was genius and will be happening again. Don't get me wrong - we all love our kids - but some adult conversation was a great way to spend time with my family.

After that we headed to Fort Wayne for Becker family Christmas. Always nice seeing everyone and watching the kids play together. Unfortunately, while we were there Nolan spiked a fever and was out of commission for a couple days. Then, just as we thought everyone was on the mend - Jack puked. I mean, what are the holidays if you don't have a puker??!?!

We returned to Northville in time for a visit from SANTA and everyone was healthy again.

 The kids were pumped with their new gifts! Nolan got a car that he has been obsessed with. Jack got a Powerwing scooter and Josie got a new PINK bike - as their big gifts.

 The aftermath of the morning.

 Christmas afternoon Nancy & Denny came up and the kids showed them all of their new toys! Then Saturday morning we headed to the mall for some craziness.

And Jack - in an effort to convince Grandma to buy a new couch for the lake - pretended to nap at Restoration Hardware.

That night - I took a page from the "book of Gina" - and hired a babysitter so we could have a fun night out with Denny and Nancy. We were all drowning our IU bowl loss sorrows...but the food was delicious and the drinks were strong.

More to come...

Tis the Season

Christmas season is well underway - which means I've been buried in Etsy orders and FINALLY have that finished. Taking a much needed break for a week to enjoy time with the family. Our house is festive, so that's a start.

 We also wrote letters to Santa. He knows EXACTLY what everyone wants...today...

Nolan and I have made many trips to Target. He's obsessed with the red balls outside and MUST touch them or sit on them. Every.Single.Time.

And this is my pile of Christmas. It's embarrassing - but the truth. Boxes arrive and they get thrown on the mountain. I'll get around to wrapping...maybe.

Christmas Morning

Tyson and I made a pact when Jack was little that we'd spend Christmas morning at home. We know it can be inconvenient for family, but it's important for us that we have our own family traditions. So waking up Christmas morning is something we both look forward to! Unfortunately, Santa was quite the procrastinator this year...so he was up VERY late on Christmas Eve. Very late.

Nolan woke me up at 6am...claiming he heard Santa. I tried to get him back to sleep, but he was having NONE OF THAT. So we sat up and waited for Jack. I knew it would be Jack who woke up first....why? Because Josie is a 16 year old, trapped in a 3 year old's body. She hates waking up early. Even Christmas morning...she was all, "Awwwww, man. I'm ti-ward." Really?!?

So Santa didn't get crazy this year. He saw our basement toy area and he knew what was up... Mom's patience. So he played it cool. There were a few toys under the tree...but then he left a note:

 Chef Josephine got a new kitchen!

 And Officer Jack got his very own Police Car! (see why Santa was up so late?!?)

 And Noley finally got a nap. But then he woke up later and played with his toys!

Hope everyone had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Here is Officer Jack patrolling the dangerous streets of Northville:

Home for an Early Christmas

We were back in Indiana for most of last week - celebrating Christmas early with both sides of the family. We officially added three new members to the Clevenger family - which gave all of us a HUGE reason to celebrate!

 We also celebrated an IU win over Butler.

And a Lions win over the Bears. Nolan is really filling out his Stafford jersey. I believe Jack wore this when he was just shy of ONE. So, yeah.

After a couple days in Warsaw, we spent some time in Fort Wayne. Devin & Kristin are in Idaho for the holidays, awaiting the arrival of our niece (due in February). We missed them!

Jack, Nolan, and I stopped by the Carsten house to see Julia and her boys. Jack LOVES seeing his buddies...and I believe Nolan will feel the same excitement soon enough. It's always a super hero convention when they're all together.

We celebrated with Nancy's side of the family on the 23rd. Nolan really wanted to party - but it's so hard to meet so many new people. He was exhausted.

After a brief nap...he shed his Christmas overalls (which were a little snug - shocker) and met his second cousin, John. John is from NYC. He's four months older than Nolan and quickly gave him a right hook. NYC > DETROIT...for now.

Stuff...and Santa

Christmas is coming. That's the finish line for me. Even if I'm wrapping presents right up until I go to bed on Christmas Eve...Christmas Day will be responsibility-free (aside from the parenting gig).

Here are a few things we've been up to...

Nolan has been gnawing on my fingers whenever he can get them near his mouth. It's gross AND it hurts! So I convinced Santa to give him a teething toy a little early. It's called an appe-teether (like appetizer) and it's shaped like broccoli. Genius. Also - I'm 90% convinced he will have brown eyes! BROWN!

Jack & Josie spent a good hour playing in Josie's closet. I mean, really. Maybe not the safest place in the house to play...but they were LOVING it...they weren't fighting...and they had fun. Go with it.

And Sunday afternoon we stopped by our local mall to see the BIG man. It was his first time meeting Nolan. Nolan is on the "perfect list" - VERY hard to get on that one. Could be the ONLY year he's on it...not gonna lie...I know his siblings and their history. 

Santa didn't even recognize Josie...she has gotten so much more hair in the last year! And Jack, well - he knew Jack! GOOD NEWS! They're all in Santa's good graces. Phew. We told him we'd leave him cookies & milk. 

I made a mental note to make sure I get cookies for Santa this week at Costco.

PS: I'd like to thank TAYLOR SWIFT and her new album (1989) for getting me through the "CRAZY CHRISTMAS SEASON." And if anyone knows any 9 year old girls who need a chaperone to her concert, feel free to pass my name along. ;)

iPhone Christmas

My first Christmas gift of the year was a new iPhone 5. I can't even begin to tell you how badly I needed a new phone. After listening to me curse under my breath a few times, Denny & Nancy must have decided I needed a new one, too. And it couldn't have come at a better time. I was able to use my new phone to capture a few Christmas moments that I probably would have missed with my old phone.

Devin, Kristin, Tyson, and I were able to sneak away for a few adult only meals! So thankful to Nancy (and occasionally Denny) for babysitting. We really love being able to enjoy kid-free dining while we're back in FW.

Aunt Kim got Jack a Foosball Table and he insisted it be put together immediately. We convinced him to wait until the next morning. You better believe - at 7am the next day he was asking anyone who would listen - to put it together for him. He got the hang of it pretty quickly...but if you are ever playing with him, watch out because he cheats!

Josie got a Road Trip car from Aunt Kristin & Uncle Devin. It has a mommy, daddy, Josie, and Jack in the car. I think they also included a road map with directions to Idaho. (just kidding)

Jack got a Doctor Kit and he was sporting his doctor specs. Very professional - especially in a Batman t-shirt!

 

Josie and Uncle Devin did some "work" over the break. Josie helped Devin write some poetry. 

And finally, this was Miss Jos on New Year's Eve. She had quite the party in her crib with all of her Disney friends. I'm still trying to figure out how Goofy passed out on her back!?!?

Becker Christmas

We had Becker Family Christmas the Sunday before Christmas. It was crazy, chaotic, and fun. Jack, Josie, and Kinley managed to sit a the kids table and eat their meals. That was a win.

Mallory (Billy's wife) is expecting her first baby (a Girl!) in June, so she got some baby practice with Hadley (Kinley's little sister). We're adding babies like crazy in this family....which only means many more years of fun & excitement!

I can't believe I captured any pictures of presents being opened because it was like an eruption of paper flying around the room. But Josie and Grandma Nancy shared a moment amid the craziness.

Jack Photographs Christmas

 Tyson, Allison, & Ryan

 Kady & Josie, Nancy, & Kim

 Devin, Kristin, & Denny

Tom (aka: Red Shirt, as Jack called him), Sally, & Blake

Jack took it upon himself to take some portraits of everyone at the Netherland/Swihart Christmas on the 27th. He actually did a pretty good job. Luckily Santa brought him his own camera. So you can all look forward to more Photos by Jack in the near future. And as soon as he learns to read & write I may just let him take over the blog...

Hope everyone had a great New Year celebration! Ours consisted of THIS chili, early bedtimes for the kids, me falling asleep on the couch at 10pm, and Tyson staying up by himself to ring in 2014. Who says you can't have fun after you have kids?!?!