Day 600 | 600!

Posing at our favorite breakfast spot.

Yep, another 100 days has flown by. You know what that means: another team update.  Enjoy!

Name: Sara
Favorites: SmartWool socks (now that winter has finally arrived, super warm socks just couldn't make me happier), lattes (there’s nothing better in the chilly afternoons), going out for breakfast
Biggest hurdle to overcome: dealing with attention-deprived kiddos after the last two weeks of constant family distractions. Eek!
Dreams for the future: crafting with my boys more often…this whole school five days a week is really cramping my style. Goal for 2016? Craft more all around, with and without the babes.

Name: Chris
Favorites: giant ice cubes (and now we have a circle mold in addition to our square ones!), kringle (good thing he got to eat it three times in the week he was in his hometown), writing notes on his brand new old typewriter, horsing around with the boys, going out for breakfast
Biggest hurdle to overcome: how to spend his big fantasy football earnings (he won his league…no big deal)
Dreams for the future: the first snow day. It’s DC, we’ll have one eventually…but when?!?

Name: Marshall
Age: 3.5 years (45 months, to be exact)
Favorites: Paw Patrol & trains (at least he’s consistent), puzzles, practicing his writing, saying “I really love you so much, [fill in the blank]” (it’s the sweetest thing ever), negotiating…anything and everything, going out for breakfast
Biggest hurdle to overcome: finding the time to play with all his new toys (thanks, family, for spoiling him like crazy over the holidays) in addition to all the old toys that he hasn’t seen in 2+ weeks.
Dreams for the future: going diaper-free. He’s gone one day at school with no diaper for nap (he’s been doing it at home for a couple of months) and last night was his first diaper-free bedtime. We’re so close!

Name: Robbe
Age: Almost 2 years (22 months, to be exact)
Favorites: Miga (for some reason, these two are best friends lately), his brother, giving the best hugs, offering up smooches, tucking in his toys before naps/bedtime, trucks, reading, saying “mama”, going out for breakfast (have you noticed a family trend?)
Biggest hurdle to overcome: whining and screeching. It’s a new development since we’ve been on vacation. Not sure how it came about but let’s just say no one is a fan. Hopefully once we’re back in the routine of real life he’ll realize it’s not a great attention-getting option.
Dreams for the future: talking. He’s so close to actually being able to express himself. I see an explosion of words in the not too distant future. Stay tuned.

And, if you're interested in looking back over the past year and a half of team blog posts, here's your chance:

• Day 500
• Day 400
• Day 300
• Day 200
• Day 100
• Original posts: Chase, Robbe, Chris & Me

Day 599 | Card Crafts 2.0

Aside from a lot of family time and yummy food, what does a trip back to Wisconsin mean for me? Card crafting with Chris's mom. My favorite!

Making these silly cards just makes me so so happy. Thanks for letting me use all your supplies and expertise, Bibi! I can't wait 'til next time.

Day 598 | Home Sweet Home

As sad as we were to say goodbye to Wisconsin and our lovely vacation, there's really nothing better than being home again, is there? I feel crazy lucky to feel that way.

The flight went perfectly. I even read a few pages while Robbe napped on me (a seriously unusual circumstance). The travel day could not have gone better. 

Thank you, family and friends, for the best holiday trip yet. So many things to be thankful for as we inch toward 2016. 

Day 597 | Wrapping It Up

We had a busy last day in WI: visit to the Children's Musuem, lunch at a new spot, quality time with the sister in-law, a evening visit to the farm, a pizza party with the whole fam, and reading time with Chase and the girls. Oh, and packing, lots of packing.

Whew. Tomorrow's travel day will feel like a relaxing break. Just kidding, of course, here's hoping it's just as uneventful as possible. Happy thoughts, please!

Day 596 | Winter Wonderland

Look what we woke up to this morning! Better late than never.

Day 595 | Christmas #3

Our third (and final!) Christmas celebration occurred tonight while we watched the snow fall. A perfect ending to a completely wonderful Christmas season.

Thank you, family, for spoiling us with time, conversation, and gifts.

Day 594 | Girl Talk

Sometimes, although not frequently, something blog-worthy happens after I've completed my post for the day. Hard to believe, I know.

Last night, my favorite pre-teen/teenage nieces and I enjoyed each others' company while playing a board game (Girl Talk), watching a movie (Home...it was cute), and playing cards (Kent...a middle school favorite of mine). Grandma Mary even got in on the action. It was the kind of evening that made me more convinced than ever of our need to move back to Wisconsin. I want to be a bigger part of their lives during this super-important, super-influence-able time for them. I miss these girls.

Oh, and the little cards we're holding in the photo are from the Girl Talk game. We all passed out cards that we think best describes each person and then each of us picked our favorite card we received. The selected cards?

Isabelle: Giggles a lot
Ann: Incredibly caring
Sara: Can be trusted with a secret
Grandma Mary: A good listener
Lane: Very confident