Never Gonna Forget This Winter...

but just in case, I thought I should record a few pictures of all the snow we have had.
Plus, Noah really loves 'toe', aka. snow.

I loved watching this out the window (I had already gone out with him for about an hour. I was ready to go in but Noah really wanted to stay out). He would swing back and forth and swipe snow in the air and just laugh and laugh as it rained down on him.

His favorite thing to do was make snowballs and watch them explode when he threw them against the house. He learned that one from Dad.

Shortly after taking this pic he figured out that he could pile snow at the end of his slide and then slide down into it. I thought that was pretty genius.

Eden was not at fan of the snow. I took her out and set her down and she immediately got a grossed out look on her face. I guess she didn't like the wetness of it. She much preferred the view from inside the house.

Vroom, Vroom

Chris took Noah to the Monster Truck show at the VBC a few weeks ago.

Noah was so excited to see the 'big bye-byes'.
Unfortunately, Chris failed me miserably and didn't get any pics of Noah during the event.
LOSER!
But, they had a great time together and both came back with big smiles on their faces.

They got to ride around the track in the back of one of the Monster trucks. Noah really loved that part. Chris said he waved to the people in the stands. That's my boy.
The reason I am so sad that we didn't get any pics of Noah at the event is because he was sporting Chris's gun range headphones because it was so loud in there. Can you even imagine how adorable he must have been?

I'll Never Complain About Changing a Diaper Again

It's

here at Hozians, Inc.

Our method of choice? (well, technically not choice. more like necessity.)

That's right, the Nudie Method. I always thought it was insane when people told me they let their kiddos run around in the buff during potty training. I just couldn't see how you wouldn't be cleaning up 'accidents' left and right. We started day one (Monday) in big boy undies. Noah was really excited about his "Speed' (aka. Cars) undies. He went potty great the 1st couple of times but from then on he just kept peeing in his undies. In frustration I called the Potty Training Expert, Misty, and asked for advice. Her suggestion? Let him go bare bumed. I'm am sure she heard the uncertainty in my voice. But, I followed through and it greatly improved things. He only had one accident after that. I think it works because a kid can really see the mess they made. Day one ended on a better note than it began with thanks to Misty's advice.

Day two was going perfect, even with a trip to spend some time with Misty and her crew, until about 3:00. I had gone to the back of the house to dump some laundry on my bed. When I came back to the front of the house I smelled poop. Eden was closest to me so I scooped her up and went to change her diaper. Surprisingly, no poop. I was confused for a second and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I ran back down the hallway looking for Noah. He was perched in front of his computer in Chris's office. Next to him was a smeared in pile of...well, I'm sure you have figured it out. He had stepped in it and smashed it into the carpet and then decided to take a little stroll. My first thought was, "Chris is gonna kill me!" He is very particular about his space. I picked Noah up and threw him in the tub to clean him off. Afterward I had the very unfortunate task of cleaning the carpet. I made him help on the smaller spots and he was grossed out to say the least. He cried the whole time and kept saying "Yucky". Yay! Tell me about it.

Looking back on day three (today) it is actually quite comical although it has been a REALLY stressful day. I started him out in undies today and was gonna wait for him to tell me he needed to go instead of setting the timer. I would ask him every 30 minutes or so if he needed to go. It was going really well. One time he even tinkled a little in his undies but stopped himself and ran to the potty to finish. I was so impressed. Well, unfortunately the day went down hill from there. He ended up doing what he did on my carpet in his undies. Urg. I had just gotten him all cleaned up when the doorbell rang. I through the undies in the tub and went to answer the door. It was our Cook's Pest Control guy there to do our yearly INDOOR inspection. Oh man. I let him in, all the while cringing because the place reeks of poop. I clumsily explain that we are potty training and then avoid eye contact from then on out. My house was a disaster area and it stunk like...well, like poop. I am almost certain that poor man was holding his breath. And to top it all off, he had to inspect the bathroom walls for signs of termites and I heard him move the shower curtain aside, exposing the source of the stench. Who know what he thought. I am sure that after he left my dump he immediately called his sweet wife in their perfectly immaculate house and told her how much he appreciated her. Sigh.

About an hour later I went out to get the mail. I just ran out real quick in a t-shirt, pj pants, and socks. I was looking at the mail when I approached the front door so I didn't notice that it had been shut. Yep, my son had locked me out of the house. I yell at him through the door to unlock it right this minute. Well, that did it. He broke down into hysterics. Crap! I started talking sweetly to him and trying to explain how to unlock the door but he just couldn't get it. I was freezing, none of the neighbors where home for me to call Chris, Noah, and now Eden, are crying like someone had spanked them, and I had absolutely no way to get into the house. I went to the back yard to decide which window to break. As a last ditch effort I decided to try to get Noah to unlock one of the dining room windows. I had him pull a chair up to the window and finally, after about 15 minutes of me standing in snow that hadn't melted yet, he succeeded in unlocking the window. Let's just say, it was not a graceful entrance.

To top this all off, I had to deal with this from my other child.

We are officially in the 'climb-up-on-everything' phase.

Ilovemykids, Ilovemykids, Ilovemykids.

Bump, bump, bump...Is This Thing On?

Yes, the Hozian's are still alive.

Have you missed me?

No? Just pictures of my oh. so. ADORABLE. kids?

Oh, well, that's okay then.

I stressed myself out thinking that I would need to go back to everything that has happened over the last several months and do this epic post to catch up on it all. But then I just decided to hit a few highlights and then move on.

Sigh.

Stress relieved.

On December 22 my baby gal turned one.

{Hey! I heard that gasp. Yeah, that's right. I didn't post about Eden's very first birthday. Don't judge me...........okay, you can totally judge because I am such a loser. Sigh}

On her actual b-day we had an intimate bash at home with just our little fam. I actually loved it and I think we will do a tiny party at home with just us for every birthday and then do a big bash with the family and friends. Eden was hilarious eating the cake. She started out with finger painting using the icing but then she dug right in.

This is my favorite shot of the whole day. We made a trip to Target to spend some of her birthday money and this is what she thought about what mommy picked out for her.

Isn't she adorable?!

On Christmas Eve we had a party with Chris's side for her and then on Christmas we celebrated with my family.

3 parties ain't bad for your first b-day.

In January Noah started a trampoline and tumbling class.

HE.LOVES.IT.

Misty's 2 girls attend the same class so we love getting to see them every week. I really love this class because it is an excellent outlet for his endless energy, the teacher is amazing, he learns all kinds of skills, and he has a blast. Misty and I call it gymnastics just to make it easy but when Chris heard that he put his foot down {snicker!}. He said his son was NOT taking gymnastic, he was in a trampoline and tumbling class. So, to appease His Royal Manlyness, we call it T&T.

Noah has a little bit of a love/hate relationship with heights. He loves to jump high but doesn't like to stand on things that are high. It totally freaks him out. On the parallel bars he is supposed to cross them with one hand and one foot on each bar. For the 1st month and a half he would do what he is doing in the pic above and then just jump off and run on the mats the rest of the way. Just this past week he finally crossed all the way across the bars the way he is supposed to. I may or may not have jumped out of my seat and ran to the window (mommies observe the class through a huge window) and beat on it to make him look at me so I could blow him kisses and give him 2 thumbs WAY up.

Whatever.

With all of the insane weather we have been having I have had to get inventive with things to keep Noah occupied, thereby keeping my sanity.

Here are just a few of the things we have been playing around with.

I would so fly with this airline.

If you can't tell, we attached string to the end of the wings so he could flap them. Fun right?

I was trying to get some hairbloom orders done and Noah was not cooperating so I took a bit of a break and wrapped a piece of cardboard with some felt and then cut out some shapes in felt. I also threw in some scraps and he went to town.

Noah is really into cooking these days.

I really need to get in on the felt food phase.

He will stand at the kitchen gate almost every meal and whine to help me cook.

I try to find easy tasks like pouring the cereal or stirring stuff and that seems to please him for now.

Alphabet soup anyone?

No?

Something a little more hearty?

Perhaps something with generous chucks of trains and trucks would hit the spot.

This pic I had to post just for laughs.

Noah came out of his room one day wearing this get up.

This is him through and through.

And what has Eden been doing, you ask?

Being gorgeous....as always.

Here They Are...

Please let me start by saying...
I am so NOT a photographer.
I have already bribed Alisha to take some REAL pics for me.

Without further ado...

This is the back of each bloom. I designed each bloom so that you could use whatever kind of clip or barrette that you prefer or you can slide it onto a headband. This way you can part the hair on either side and not have any of the clip showing or you can change out the color of your headband according to the outfit that you are wearing. I really love the versatility.

Last Time...I Promise

Okay.
I have narrowed it down to 2 names.
Please vote for your favorite.
Thanks for hanging in there!!

Posies and Puddles
or
Meadows and Mudpies

more to think on

so sad to report that 'Petals and Puddles' is already taken.
should have looked into that before suggesting it.
Boo.

any thoughts on
Sunflowers and Superheroes
or
Meadows and Mayhem
or
Blossoms and Bruises
or
Sugar, Spice and Superheroes
or
Cuteness and Cooties

???????