Basement Play Room

Our old house was tiny.  Think the smallest house you have been in.  It was smaller.

I am not kidding.

And while we were great full to even have a house to call our own, it was too small.

There wasn't enough room for us to begin with, let alone extra room.  We had a full basement-but it was gross, and when feet of snow melted in a day, or when we would get flood rains, little 'rivers' came up through the cracks.  And it stunk in the summer...and we had to pay big bucks for a ventilation system.

Did I mention it was SMALL.

And old....and small.

I walked into our unfinished basement at our new house this week to find this....

I realized how truly blessed we are to have this house...

...because on a cold rainy day, my Munchkin has a huge room to run around in...with all of his outside summer toys.

Molly ran around in circles.  Karson giggled. DJ & Molly wrestled.  Karson giggled more.  He rode his big wheel, he put his bears in his cozy coop, he rode his tractor around, and played basketball with daddy.  He bounced around on his big ball, and pushed his tractors & lawn mower around.

 

It has ugly carpet....and I may never understand why it has two different kinds of carpet.

It has cement walls...ok I don't really know if they are cement...but they aren't drywalled.

It will be years and years and years before we can finish it!

But it is absolutely perfect for our little boy!!

Lately...

Santa Tree Topper

Growing up, we had a Santa on top of our tree.  We each took turns getting to put him up.  The last two years, Karson has helped Nana put our very old Santa on top of the tree.

Doh, Mommy, doh!

Don't buy playdoh again.  Google a recipe, and make it.  So easy, it takes 2 minutes.  If it wasn't for the fact that I am comfortable in the rocking chair right now, I would post mine.  But it is in the kitchen, and it is a rare case in the evenings that I can actually get comfortable.  

 

Karson asks for his doh all the time!

This face usually follows the 'oh wow oh wow oh wow.'

December/Spring Weather

I would like to send Mother Nature a letter, and remind her that it is DECEMBER in MICHIGAN.

And while Karson has a had and gloves on in these pictures, it was in the 50s this weekend. 

It is December....we need snow!!

have i ever mentioned how much i love his blue eyes?!

Daddy cut down my parent's neighbor's tree the day after Thanksgiving.  If everything goes well with our fireplace inspection tomorrow...we will have a fire tomorrow evening!! Not completely random...Karson is staring at the cut up tree on the side of the house, and signing his version of 'tree.'

 Karson and I took Nana and Grandpa to the airport last week.  Karson LOVES airplanes, we were all excited to see his reaction when he saw them.  He totally didn't get it.  The planes weren't in the sky like they were supposed to be...

this picture cracks me up...Nana & Grandpa pointing out the plane...Karson looking at them like they are crazy

Jesse Advent

 I have said this many times, but I am a huge believer in incorporating both the magic and miracle into Christmas.  I love all the magic that Santa brings, but I want Karson to understand the true meaning of Christmas as well.  We started doing the Jesse Advent Tree this year.  Except we didn't do a tree, because I have ocd and wanted them in chronological order.   I bought this book last Christmas and we have been following the devotionals for kids.  It is way over Karson's head.  He understands where we put them each day, and loves to show Daddy his ornaments he makes when he gets home.  That is about all he understands.  For the most part we have just been asking him, "Who made the Earth?" and "Whose Birthday is it on Christmas?"

 

He colors an ornament I make each day, and we hanging it on a ribbon in the living room.

The first day, I printed off a picture of the Earth.  He insisted on only coloring the back, so I have a blank circle with Karson's artistic work hanging up, with the Earth side glued to the card stock.

Our Jesse Advent Tree so far.  I have to come up with a new way to hang them soon, because I only have a few clothes pins left.   I love that the book goes through the Bible from the beginning, to Jesus's birth.  It is a fun tradition and a great reminder about the true meaning of Christmas.

Before Nap Snuggles

Depending on how early Karson wokes up, I will sometimes let him watch a few minutes of a movie before nap.  He and Molly usually snuggle up on the couch together while I pick up lunch. 

Tripod

It came with my Camera, I have had it for over a year, I have never take it out of the box.  We took it out a few days ago, to get some family pictures, and this was my first attempt and figuring out the self timer.  Karson thought counting to 3 and running was hilarious! 

Bedroom Play Time

I love it.  

Tired Munchkin

We do NOT mess with Karson's nap.  Ever.  Bad things happen when Karson's nap gets messed up.  He went down relatively late for nap after church yesterday, because he fell asleep on the way too church, and was wired when we got home.   Poor Munchkin had such a rough evening yesterday.  Every little thing made him completely melt down.  He handles lack of sleep like his Mama. :)  He was still tired today, and even asked to get in his crib at 10:30...nap is at 12.  We settled for The Grinch and a comfy spot on the floor by the tree instead.

St. Nick Night

It is St. Nick Night.  Karson put his shoes by the door before bed, so St. Nick could fill them while he is sleeping.    St. Nick has already visited our house...he must be running a little early this year...

I can't wait to get Karson out of bed in the morning and see his reaction when he sees his shoes by the door.  Click HERE to see more on our St. Nick Night tradition.

Lately...

I had uploaded these pictures last week.  With the hope of getting them posted at the beginning of this week.  But Monday night my Aunt called.  She had taken my Grandma to the Emergency Room and they thought she may be having/ may have had a heart attack.  My Mom and I made a mad dash though the house, packing for who knows how long.  I called DJ home, and he switched Karson's car seat.  We loaded up the pack and play, a few toys, and headed to the other side of the Lake.  On the way we found out she did not have a heart attack, but she definitely was having a heart related issue.  We pulled into her apartment complex at 1am. Unloaded the sleeping baby, and headed inside.  We talked with my Uncle for a while, tried to get the not  sleeping anymore baby back to sleep.  We woke up early Tuesday morning and headed to visit my Grandma.  We stayed there all day.  She had a heart cath and we found out good and bad news.  Basically, we are praying the meds help to treat the symptoms.  We are home now.  We are exhausted.  We are thankful Karson's Gigi is home and doing well.  And because I am exhausted a completely random post will have to do.

Karson & Molly

They love each other.  They really do.  Sometimes Moll just tolerates Karson, and sometimes Karson gets frustrated that he gets knocked down.  I think it is important for a little boy to grow up with a 'goggie.'

 

They really do spend a lot of time playing together outside.  The older Karson gets, the more he plays with her, and the more Moll likes him.  After all, what dog doesn't like sticks being brought to them.

 

 Bath Time

He had a rough week last week.  Cutting 7 teeth would do that to anyone.  He took a lot of baths.  Some in the middle of the day to curb his crabbiness.  It always works.

Zoo Phonics

I have always said I was going to start Zoo Phonics with Karson when he turns 18 months old.  We have a new addition to our breakfast routine now.

He eats...

And when he is done, we go through half the alphabet.  I was shocked how well he did the first time. He was really trying to mimic what I was saying.

Sprinker Fun

Karson has to be in control when water is involved.  Which is why, when I was watering plants the other day and he decided to play in the sprinkler, I let him play with his clothes on.  Because if I stopped him to put his suite on, he would never start playing again.

the picture on the right: he is allowed to play with the rocks in the landscaping, but he isn't allowed to move rocks into the grass.  He was sneaking a hand full of rocks around the back yard.  Thus the 'i'm not doing anything wrong' face.

When Nana got home from work, he even convinced her to play in the freezing cold water with him.

Upside Down Icecream

He is convinced ice cream cones are to be eaten upside down.

...and now to go unpack and do some laundry.

Lately...

I seriously slacked on picture taking last week.  I also slacked at going on outings, even going outside, making dinner, doing laundry....  Basically, Karson played in the living room & watched Sprout while I laid on the couch.  I am not a huge fan of him watching excessive amounts of tv.  However, I was in survival mode, so I really never shut it off. 

Here is a quick glimpse of what we have been up to lately.

When I wasn't laying half asleep on the couch. :)

The Beach

I love the beach. Nana loves the beach.

My Mom got home from work last week, and suggested we go to the beach after dinner.  I, of course, thought it was a fabulous idea.  We packed a few shovels for Karson and headed out the door.  I started feeling sick on the way there.  After 10 minutes of sitting in the sand, I decided we better leave.  I have now experienced throwing up out a car door. Not a whole lot of fun.  We definitely need a make up beach evening!

Goggies aka Molly & Maggie

  He loves them.  A lot.  He loves to give them sticks from the fire pit out back.

Then run away really fast, before he gets knocked over...

Nap Time

He was exhausted one night, when I was making dinner.  I usually turn on Caillou while I make dinner.   He curled up on a pillow with his blankie and fell asleep.  Shocking, if you know our little guy!

 I actually woke him up when I was taking the pictures.  He walked into the kitchen, and I told him to go back night night.  He laid back down on his pillow, and went back to sleep.  Again, shocking!!!

Free Ice Cream Park Date
 

We were running errands at the beginning of last week.  Picking up camping supplies, for the camping trip we didn't end up going on. I always try to do something special for Munchkin when he has to run errands for me.  I heard on the radio our local station was giving away free ice cream at a park down the road.  So, we skipped lunch and ate free ice cream instead.

Molly

I like her again.  If the vet takes her off her anxiety meds when I call on Wednesday, I will cry.  Really, I will.  I love her, but wow, is she one intense dog!  I love that Karson will get to grow up with her!  He really loves her, she tolerates him.

What Mom?  I'm not taking the goggie's toy away.

Corn on the Cob

We had corn on the cob for dinner.  A perfect summer treat!  Karson didn't so much help shuck the corn, but we did catch him trying to eat it.

He got so upset when I took the raw corn he was eating away.  I kept trying to convince him it would taste better when it was cooked.

He is such a goof.  He liked eating it, but he spit it out as soon as it was in his mouth.

House Updates

Master Bedroom 

Before

Master Bedroom

After

I will share more Before & Afters later this week.

What have you been up too lately?