Hopes and Dreams

Everyone seems to be doing the "25 random things"-it was fun to do...but here is a twist to it...

25 hopes and dreams for Dylan!

OK, let me explain-I was driving home from Atchison today and I was thinking about Dylan (he went home with grandpa for the night) and it just clicked...when I get home I will be alone and bored (Seth is in a bowling tournament, and yes mom, I could clean, but I don't feel like it!!) so I thought I would do a blog about my 25 hopes and dreams for my little man!!

1. I hope Dylan always knows how much he is loved


2. I hope Dylan is always polite and kind


3. I hope Dylan is respectful to his teachers and classmates when he goes to school


4. I hope Dylan grows up to LOVE classic country music like his mommy and daddy


5. I hope Dylan enjoys school


6. I hope Dylan always wants to spend the night with grandma and grandpa


7. I hope Dylan is always a fan of KSU and KU, but if not, is still respectful of both teams


8. I hope Dylan finds a career that he loves and is passionate about


9. I hope Dylan continues to be athletic (like daddy)


10. I hope Dylan continues to be talkative (like mommy)


11. I hope Dylan is smart with money (like Aunt Ashley)


12. I hope Dylan learns to leave random notes and cards for his loved ones (like Grandpa and grandma do)


13. I hope Dylan has a good sense of humor


14. I hope Dylan continues to have a love of cooking and cleaning


15. I hope Dylan marries someone that I can shop with (especially if I don't have a daughter!!)


16. I hope Dylan will want to have a beer with his momma (when he is old enough of course)!


17. I hope Dylan is a good big brother (no, this is not an announcement...he is still the only one!!)


18. I hope Dylan goes to college


19. I hope Dylan continues to be happy and healthy


20. I hope Dylan is a good friend


21. I hope Dylan always looks at the bright side of situations


22. I hope when Dylan plays sports he is a good sport


23. I hope Dylan and Seth are always close


24. I hope Dylan and I are always close


25. I hope Dylan reads this someday and knows how much his mommy loves him
    

Now on a different note...if you read my last blog update (see below) you know that there is a sweet little girl that needs your prayers. She has started her first round of chemo and is having her ups and downs. I can't stop thinking about her and her mommy and daddy-they are in my thoughts and prayers everyday and I just wanted to remind you to all keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well.

I love Dylan!

These are just a few things that went on in my house last night...

Yes...Dylan climbed on the table...

The reason for climbing on the table was this...
Yes...I let Dylan wash the bowl after making brownies! Why did we make brownies? Because we wanted to! Dylan came home and asked, so I said yes! We even made them before making dinner, and even ate one before dinner!

Such a big help!

Why did we do this on a Monday night...because we can! Who cares that he made a mess. Who cares that he climbed on the table to eat a piece of candy. Dylan is a fun, sweet, handsome, smart, healthy baby boy.

Over the weekend I was reading my friend Amanda's blog and came across the news of her friend's 10 month old daughter being diagnosed with cancer...yes 10 months old and cancer...doesn't seem like something you should be able to say in the same sentence, but unfortunately it is. I have been thinking about and praying for this little girl and her family all week. It makes you think about how lucky you are to have a healthy child and not worry so much about messes, eating candy, throwing a fit, not picking up toys...just be thankful that you have a healthy child asleep in their own bed in their house. So as you read this, think about those loved ones, tell them how much you love them, hug them a little tighter, give them a few more kisses, and as you go through your day think about this sweet little girl, her mommy and daddy and pray that she will be healthy again, throwing toys on the floor, making messes, and eating candy just like all children should be able to do every now and then!

A little decorating and KU...yes KU!

I have made some small changes around the house... I guess I am ready for spring because I have been using some pretty, bright, springy colors! We repainted our bathroom--again! In the 4 1/2 years we have lived here this is the 4th or 5th time we have painted our bathroom! Good thing it is TINY and the bottom half of the wall is tile!! I bought a new spring shower curtain at Target! I thought it was pretty and a change from the last 3 or 4 animal ones we have had in there! I am not sure Seth is a fan, but that doesn't matter...he will live with it!In the kitchen we painted the walls this fun orange color about a year ago. I really like the color-I just added a few things! I bought this bucket to put on top of the fridge and added stickers to personalize it! It holds all of our "stuff" that doesn't have a home yet!

Above the stove I added a picture of my favorite chef! I LOVE having pictures of Dylan around the house!

On the shelves above the stove I added ribbon to a basket I already had to make it a little more colorful. It holds spices that I use the most often! I also have another picture of my handsome little guy!

This is what started it all...napkins! My mom bought these napkins at Kohls, to actually use as napkins though! I thought about them all night long because I loved the pattern and colors! Then it clicked, they will go perfect in my kitchen! My curtains before were black and white, which I liked, but these I just love! I know you can tell they are napkins, but I don't sew and each window cost less than $5-so for the whole kitchen it cost about $10!

This is so embarrassing, and I cannot believe I am showing this...our hall closet! We have these wonderful built ins in our hallway. Seth uses the bottom drawers for some clothes-the top shelves were just a mess! The very top shelf was full of kitchen towels, why I have so many I have no idea, why they are there...because that is were my mom put some one time she was cleaning my house!! There were a million candles stuffed in there, art supplies, tools, toiletry items, medicine...a lot of those things stayed, just in better order!
About 20 minutes later this is what I had...a hall closet that was clean and organized, 3 bags of trash, and piles of stuff to take to the basement. I had plastic bins, so I just added some things to them so everything has a place now! The kitchen towels are now in the kitchen (tons were thrown away-so yes mom I can buy more now!!) and bathroom towels will be in their place when they are out of the dryer! The side shelves look messy, but they aren't! The top is all tools that are used on a regular basis, the next shelf is camera supplies and batteries, next is medicine, then swimming stuff, sheets are on the next shelf, and on the bottom art supplies for Dylan. I feel so much better now! Tomorrow I will tackle the dining room! I am not sure when I will get to the bag full of school papers I brought home, but for now a clean and organized house is making me very happy!

Today to celebrate my dad's birthday we all met in Lawrence for the K-State/KU Women's basketball game. Dylan enjoyed looking out the windows more than the basketball game!

When we were getting ready for the game I gave Dylan this option...

This is what the little stinker picked out! He did have purple on under the sweatshirt! He thinks all boys like the Jayhawks and all girls like the Wildcats! Pretty funny, he is convinced my dad and Ashley's husband are KU fans! I am pretty sure my dad would be if Dylan really wanted him too, but not Uncle Brad (or mommy and Aunt Ashley!)Dylan and daddy looking at all the KU trophies...big deal...who really cares!! OK, a lot of people care, just not me!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Dylan and I made cupcakes for my dad's birthday. When Dylan found out it was his birthday he went right to the kitchen to make cupcakes. He wanted green frosting with sprinkles and Diego cupcake liners, so that is what we did. Here Dylan is tasting the cupcakes before we baked them! What a yummy treat!

Helping with pouring in the ingredients! Notice my new mixer...my sister got it for me for Christmas! I LOVE it! Thanks Ash!

Wednesday was my dad's birthday...and no Dylan doesn't think he's old, Grandpa is

smart Dylan says (and sometimes cute!!). Aunt Ashley is still the old one!

If you have been reading my blog for a while you know that I like to do something special for my loved ones birthdays! Sometimes they are a couple days late, but oh well!!

My dad...as a lot of you know I am very close to my dad (and my mom!!). My dad and I have always had this special bond-we just get each other I guess!!

Some of my favorite dad moments...

When I was younger my dad jogged a couple miles everyday-Ashley would always ride her bike with him...it took me a long time to get the hang of the bike thing, but when I did I joined them too. One of my favorites was when I wasn't on my bike though! It was a snowy winter day and we went on our favorite bike trail, my dad was jogging and he was pulling me in a sled and we hit a bump...I swear (we swear) I flew 10 feet up in the air! I can remember going home and telling my mom and sister about how high I flew!

Playing outside...we loved playing outside. We lived very close to our school so we would walk up there on the weekends and play! One of our favorites was HORSE! My dad would also throw a ball over the house and my sister and I would try to catch it-so much fun!

Surprising him with HOMEMADE spaghetti! Ashley and I decided one night to make my dad homemade spaghetti. The pasts was VERY thick and the sauce was VERY thin. I am pretty sure my dad ate every single bite!

Long talks...when I was in high school and would wake up Saturday or Sunday mornings I would sit at our bar at the kitchen while my dad made me breakfast and we would just talk and talk and talk, OK maybe I would talk and talk and talk but my dad always listened. I loved those mornings. Mom was sleeping and Ash was at college, it was just a time for the two of us.

Our songs..."my wings are wet my wings are wet my wings are wet..." "I'm goin to the Jack-O-Lantern and I'm gonna get married..." and the best "green acres is the place to be..." that last one was the intro to the song we danced to at our wedding! I knew my dad would be nervous so I asked the DJ to play a few seconds of the Green Acres theme song, my dad had no clue I was doing that, but when it came on I know he was a little more relaxed!

My dad as a grandpa...I have never seen a more proud and loving grandpa! My dad loves Dylan more than just about anything in the world. At times I have to get after him because of what he lets Dylan do, but man he loves him. It is so special and I know that Dylan and my dad will forever have a very special bond-I love to see it and it reminds me of how my dad and I are...they just get each other, just like my dad and I get each other!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I love you!

My new hallway and a nice compliment!

We redecorated a little and this is by far my favorite thing we did...I put up all new pictures in our hallway and my favorite thing, my uppercase living quote-http://www.uppercaseliving.com/-great way to add something special to yours walls. I went to an uppercase living party a couple months ago-and I just love it! If you aren't familiar, it is vinyl lettering that you put on your wall (or any surface really) they have quotes or you can design your own. It comes right off when you are ready for a change! I am going to have a party next month, so if you want to buy anything let me know and I will send you an invite or catalog if you don't live close!! My mom and sister have several in their house and I am excited to get something for Dylan's room, our playroom, and living room! Notice the sideways pictures-they are changed now! I don't think there is any better art than pictures of my handsome son...he is everywhere in the house!
On to the compliment...Dylan said to my mom today (and all weekend I guess) "my mommy is pretty!!). How sweet is that, he then went on to tell me I am not pretty, I am cute!! He won't say anyone else is pretty or cute, just mommy! I can handle that!! What a sweet guy!

Fun in the Playroom!

Tonight we were having all kinds of fun upstairs playing! Dylan thinks he is such a big boy walking on daddy's back! Can you tell Dylan likes Thomas!! For Christmas Dylan got a Thomas Tent (he calls it his house!!). He is so funny when he goes in there, he loves to peek at us through the windows!

He also got several pieces to add to his train set! This is what we made tonight-it is so much fun! We love putting 2 sets of trains on there and try to make them crash!

Last night Dylan ran in the living room and looked at me through this...

We went into the kitchen and found this...

At least it wasn't a new roll of paper towels! I was impressed by his letter making skills--totally done by accident-but we can pretend he made a J on purpose!

Dylan got a Lincoln Logs for Christmas, here Dylan and daddy are building a house! I think about 5 minutes later Dylan knocked it down! This is what happens when Seth leaves me home alone on days that K-State and KU play...the kid wears PURPLE!! I believe when K-State and KU played football this year I ran some errands before the game and I came home and Dylan was all decked out in KU, so I don't5 feel too bad!!!

Saturday night some friends came over for Tacos and Games! This is our friend Dave and his son Jaxon! Dylan was getting ready for bed, so excuse the random PJs!!

The other night Dylan had a buddy in bed with him-Toby! Dylan thought it was so funny that Toby was in his bed!

I was so proud! Dylan has known his shapes and colors for quite a while now, but I wasn't sure what he would do if I said to color the square yellow...well he did just what I wanted him to do! He colored just that shape the color and didn't just scribble all over the page!!

A little talk Dylan and I had today! Don't worry, I am not brain washing Dylan, on some days he says wildcats are yucky, when I say Go Wildcats he will tell me Go Jayhawks...so it just depends on his mood! I don't want Dylan to be JUST a Wildcat or Jayhawk fan, I want him to like both, but there is NO way I will EVER like the Jayhawks because I AM A WILDCAT!!!!!!!!!! Go Cats!!

What is Old?

According to Dylan 30 is old!! My sister turned 30 this month and when we were getting ready for her birthday lunch I was reminding Dylan to tell Aunt Ashley Happy Birthday. I was telling him that she was turning 30 and I decided to add in that she was old!! Well when they got to the lunch I said tell Aunt Ashley Happy Birthday! He not only said Happy Birthday Aunt Ashley, he also said, You're old! Well last night Seth asked Dylan if he was staying home with his old mom (he's older than me--so I am not sure why he said that!!) Dylan said, mommy not old, Aunt Ashley is!!!! Today she came to visit and he told her several times that she was old! When asked how old mommy was, his answer was 3. When asked how old Aunt Ashley was, his answer was old!! I just grinned and said, sorry!!!! She will forever be old to him!!

Here is Dylan and his "old" Aunt Ashley!

Way to go Seth!

So proud of my husband!! Seth got his 5th 300 game in bowling! Seth has been bowling since he was young-his entire family bowls! Seth got his first 300 game (if you are confused-a 300 game is all strikes-12 to be exact!!) in 2004. His older brother got one and then Seth got one a few days later--http://www.cjonline.com/stories/112404/bow_weekly.shtml-this is an article the paper did about them when it happened!! Seth ended up getting another one a couple weeks later too. Unfortunately I am never there when it happens! When you get a perfect game you also get a ring and a jacket! Luckily Seth doesn't wear the rings! He has 4 now-one is for a 800 series-that is over 800 for 3 games-which I guess is harder that getting a 300! He will get another to add to his collection along with a new jacket to hang in our closet!! It is a pretty big deal for Seth and his family! It is something that he loves to do and that he is very good at. He has been in the Top 10 for all of Topeka and the Top 10 for the bowling alley that bowls at. There have been several teams here in Topeka that ask Seth to be on their team-my mom's maintenance guys even had Seth be their ringer one year in their company bowling tournament-and yes they did go home with a trophy that night thanks to my husband! So, way to go Seth... Dylan and I are very proud of you.

And just for the record...Seth doesn't ask me to bowl with him...I would be lucky to get a total of 300 in 10 games!!

I always tell Seth that I want to put his rings on a necklace and wear them!!!

Potwin Pottery

One of my favorite things to do it go to Potwin Pottery-it is a place here in Topeka were you go and paint anything you want! I take Dylan when we are bored and just paint something for fun! This year we took Dylan so he could make a plate for Santa's cookies! I did most of the work-Dylan just put his hand print on it! I thought it turned out pretty cute! This is a plate I made when my friends Tabatha and Heather came in town (Tabatha-your plate will be in the mail tomorrow!) I was pretty proud of my plate! I can't wait until next year when I can make some goodies to put on my plate!

This is one that Dylan made all on his own! He picks out colors and goes to town. This is the second plate he has done. We also went back and he made a bowl! Next time I want him to paint a bank!

Fun at the Zoo

We were so lucky to have some beautiful days last week while I was off. Dylan and I took full advantage of it and went to the zoo. He wanted to ride the train, but I told him it was closed for the winter. He went ahead and informed me that it would be back in 30 minutes! All three of the monkeys were pretty active that day. He named them mommy monkey, daddy monkey and baby monkey! The giraffes are our first stop every time. He runs right up there and we usually stand there for several minutes! This time I didn't want to stay too long, you may notice the giraffes are very close-let me put it this way-they were being very friendly with each other! Thank goodness I was there with a 2 1/2 year old and not 20 3rd graders!

As we were leaving all the animals he would say...bye bye giraffes, we'll be back in 30 minutes! Over break Dylan kept telling me things would happen 30 minutes-like grandpa will be here in 30 minutes, daddy will be home in 30 minutes...so funny, but I have no clue were he got it from!

Happy 30th Birthday Ash!!

OK, so I am the bad sister and I am a few days late for Ashley's big birthday! I can't believe my sister is 30 years old...that means I will be 30 in a year and a half!





Some of my favorite memories with my sister are...
Switching up our bedrooms when we were younger! Whenever we had a vacation from school Ashley and I would always trade rooms or combine our rooms! Sometimes we would decide that my room would be our "study and dressing" room since we would put our dressers and desks in there. Then her room would just have our beds. I think most of the time we would switch back to normal not long after. I think there were also times my parents would come home with a bed on the stairs-we would get worn out and stop-thats what dads are for...right!!
Road trips...when we moved from KC to Topeka when we were in high school (her) and middle school (me) we would take little road trips to KC to visit friends and shop. When were in college we would take road trips to Texas to visit our friend Jamie. After Ashley graduated she went to Texas for several months and I even made that trip on my own to visit her once.

TV-when we were in elementary school we would always race home to "call" who got control of the remote. That was in the day when there was only 1 TV in the house. I knew if she got the remote we would have to watch sports or Jerry Springer-or something along those lines. If I got the remote she knew she would be stuck with The Brady Bunch!

Cooking...when we were younger Ashley and I would experiment some in the kitchen to try and surprise our parents, back then it never turned out too good! These days we still like to cook together. We get together for holidays to make treats-it is always a lot of fun!

Our differences...I always played with dolls, played school, all the girly things. Ashley always had her nose in a book. She would read all the time. She would finish a book on the car ride to our grandparent's house and I would use her as my pillow and sleep! If she wasn't reading she was watching sports. My sister is the biggest sport nut! When I went to Vegas several years ago I got her a licence plate that said, I would rather be home watching sports center, and it is so true! Which brings me to my next one...
K-State Football!!!!!!!! When I was a freshman at KSU Ash was a junior. I went to every game with her and some other friends. At that time I knew NOTHING about football! That girl taught me all I know when it comes to touchdowns, first downs, fumbling, turnovers...trust me there is still a lot for me to learn but I know the basics! She was very patient and a very good teacher. She even taught me the fight song and all the wonderful K-State traditions. While talking about that fabulous school we are both alumnus from... I was so lucky to have Ashley at K-State when I was there. There were so many times my freshman year she would come over to help me with algebra and biology. She would come over just to do flashcards with me. She was so helpful and cared so mush about how I was doing with school work.
Another favorite one from our college days were our weekly dinners. Her and I would have dinner every Wednesday. It was that little thing we did every week to catch up and just hang out. As adults we still do dinners. Before we were married we started dinners every Wednesday and traded off houses each week. We continued this for several years. It was just last year that we changed it to every other week-things get so busy but it is a time I always look forward to ( Ash, lets do our house next week!).

Ashley is also an awesome aunt! She loves Dylan so much. He is one lucky guy to have such a wonderful aunt. She takes care of him when ever needed, takes him shopping and best of all bakes with him! She is quite the baker and whips up some yummy treats!

I love you Ash! Happy Birthday-sorry it is a few days late!

Bike Riding Fool

Here is Dylan riding his new bike! Luckily we have had a couple nice days so he could ride it outside. As you can see he has no problems riding it. It took him about 30 seconds to get a hang of it. I am just amazed at how well he does. Everyone says he will be ready for no training wheels this summer, but mommy won't be-so they may stay on! Thank goodness Dylan got Seth's athletic abilities and not mine!!