Life Happens

Holy Cow...has it been forever since I've updated here. This last year has been nutso...summer flew by with grad school and being home with Lewis. This fall was crazy busy with getting back into the school year AND taking 2 grad classes. So now we're finally slowing down, but not for too long.

Lewis is now 2 and loving life. He's recently transitioned into a new daycare and so far, so good. There have been some tears at drop off, but he's typically chipper and ready to see momma when she arrives after school. He's chattering up a storm and looking more and more grown up by the day.

Kyle is still in sales at a local music store. He's been there a year and is still loving it. Plus...he's only days away from the big 3-0! Woot!

And I'm still teaching and working on grad school. This semester I'm only taking one class and that's ok, because... We're having another little peanut this spring!! Woo! I'm 25 weeks and it feels like a lifetime ago that we found out, but we are so thankful for a healthy baby and momma thus far.

It's been a full year of emotions, school, learning, and growth...but 2019 is already looking up.

So...tell me. What are YOU looking forward to this year?

Taking Stock | 03

Making: progress on my grad school homework
Cooking: kitchen sink quesadillas and grilled sammies w/soup
Drinking: water, I'm boring
Reading: Challenger Park
Wanting: mini basting brushes...think of how many pigs in a blanket I could top with egg wash!
Listening: The Greatest Showman Soundtrack...I haven't seen it yet
Playing: chase with this little guy...he LOVES being chased around.

Eating: homemade stew with venison that Kyle shot and beef broth that I made
Wishing: that I could get caught up at home and stay caught up
Loving: this dress

Watching: We just finished this...now what do we start on? Also, I'm re-watching Grey's...I'm almost done with season 13

Enjoying: time at home with my boys more often with Kyle's new job

Wearing: my new watch

Noticing: how long winter feels this year...and it's not even Feb yet

Bookmarking: recipes for my sister's bridal shower next weekend, specifically: this and this

Just an Update

Christmas is right around the corner and I just. Can't. Believe it.

So here's a little update on our lives:

Lewis has been sick TWICE now since Thanksgiving. He's brought home some bugs from daycare and gotten everyone else sick. But he's still a sweet, goofy, little boy who loves his puppies.

Kyle is staying busy at Rydell and helping out at home. He has been baking bread and making me a shelf. What a guy.

And I've been busy with students, grading, bread baking, dessert making, and recently was accepted into grad school at VCSU! Classes start January 8. What have I done??

And because he's just too cute...here's a video (or two) for you.

Happy Tuesday!

Writer's Block

Here's the thing. For the last two years, I've had built-in, monthly posts for you all. I was either pregnant or had a new baby. So now that Lewis is one and I'm not pregnant now, so I'm stuck on what to write about. I currently have five, yes five, started, but not completed posts.

FTM favs
Camping at McCarthy Beach State Park
Lew at 10 & 11 months
Why I love my Chiro
and a post on worth

What do you think? Do any of those sound awesome? Are they all terrible?

Like I said, I'm stuck. Sure, I'm a mom and a teacher, but I don't want everything I write to bombard you with teaching and mothering. I'm also not a fashionista. So, please don't request OOTDs (I hate that I even wrote that)...or make-up tips (when was the last time I wore make-up?).

Help a girl out. Thoughts? Suggestions? Affirmations? Criticisms?

And here's what our house has been busy with this week...an early Christmas present from Great Grandpa and Gigi.

Oh, and Happy Thursday!

I'm still here. Quick Updates.

I'm just now realizing that I've not been good at all about writing lately. We've been so crazy busy with the getting into the swing of things with work and daycare and new jobs, that I've not even thought about sitting down to write.

But alas, here I am. And we're still around and we're still thriving. Here are 5 updates on our lives.

1. Kyle got a new job. He's no longer in the teaching career. It was a great 5 year run, but he's moved on to sales. Cars, to be exact. So if you're ever in the area or you're needing a new (or new to you) vehicle, call him up. Word on the street is that they can ship you a car too. Who knew?

2. I'm in the midst of the beginning of year 4 at my current school and our first semester is almost over already. Plus I just celebrated my birthday, so I'm starting to feel a little nervous about the big 3-0 in not so many years. I know, I know. Inevitable.

3. Lew is growing like crazy and he FINALLY cut his third, yes, THIRD, tooth yesterday. It's been a long 4 months. And he's started walking...just a little. But it's walking nonetheless.

 

4. Karli has taken to retrieving these days....diapers from the garbage can...and hoarding them in her kennel. *gag me* And she still pees on the floor when she's scared or excited. *yay*

5. Gus is getting huge and he now has his big dog teeth (yay no more puppy teeth!) and he likes to chew on my shoe laces. *Thanks Merrell for sending me a replacement pair!*

We are doing well and trying to stay sane with two puppies and a toddler, but if you think of it, pray for our sanity anyway.

Happy Tuesday!

Four Months: Lewis

I know, I know. I've said this every month...but HOW??

 Seriously. I can't get over his long legs, his generous smile, and just all of him. Ugh.

13lbs 5.6 oz
24.5 in long
16 in head

He's rocking the lower percentiles, but he's growing and happy. That's what's important.

We went to go visit Gigi and she loved it. It was the first time she got to hold Lewis. What a champ.

Lewis is a chatterbox and he's recently learned how to blow spit bubbles...impressive.

He likes: sleeping, visiting, playing in his exersaucer, tummy time (usually), looking at people and faces, lights, dogs, scratching, laughing, smiling, chewing on things, watching all of the things

He does not like: laying on his back to play (at least not for long), being warm (he sweats easily), getting out of the warm bath and being cold

His personality is starting to shine through and we're so thankful for this peanut.

Just a little update...

Summer is here and we've been busy over the last week or so. So far we've gotten a few things done.

The garden is planted.
We've got beans, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, corn, carrots, squash, & watermelon.

Our new(!) window boxes are up and planted:

Kyle's made progress on the nursery, aka--it's almost done!:

The door frame is done.
The baseboards are getting done for now.

We've taken a few more baby prep classes...hopefully they actually come in handy. Our car seat has been installed and inspected. :)

This was our practice doll at class last night.

We're home from vacation and sticking close for now.

And that's a wrap for today.

Happy Wednesday!

Five on Friday: Home Improving?

I really, really, REALLY wanted to have some great renovation/home improving photos for you. Alas, it isn't so. So...this will be Five on Friday: Misc edition.


one | home improving updates

Our kitchen is painted (?!). I know. Big steps at the Entzel house.

We also have a new door on the front of our house. It's an $800+ door that we scored for $200! Thank you, scratch and dent!


two | fall

The fall is wrapping up. Every day I sit at my desk and look outside at the sad, sad, sad trees lining the street and our building. And there are NO LEAVES. Boo.


three | snow

It's November 13 and we've not had an accumulating snow yet! How awesome is that?? We live in North Dakota, so snow is a staple in our wintry lives.

Two weeks we had some large, pretty, fluffy snowflakes. Unfortunately fortunately they didn't stick around long. It was a bummer for hunting and tracking (not that our hunters needed it), but it's not keeping me up at night.

I originally wrote this post for last Friday. Unfortunately we now have snow on the ground. So, scratch all of the information above.

four | upcoming projects

I really want to redo our front entry way. I'm thinking about tearing all of the wallpaper down and  some tile for the flooring and a nice storage bench for future littles to store their shoes and hats and mittens. I'm thinking something like...

source

 

five | Friendsgiving

Tomorrow we are celebrating our first (hopefully, annual) Friendsgiving here. I've been asked to bring the dessert. What should I make? Cupcakes? Carrot cake? Pie? Help!

 

As always, head on over to see who else is participating in today's Five-on-Friday. 

 

 

 

10 | 30 by 30 .:. An Update

So with this Blogtember Challenge over at Brave Love Blog, I've been tryyyying to get these days done. I'm far far behind, but I'm working to get caught up. I'm going to give you 10 of my items off of my 30 by 30 list. My idea came from Aubrey, who is so good at updating hers.

Here are 10 things from my list.

3. Become more active (by using the C25K program) and be at my goal weight
  I've decided that I don't have to use the C25K program. We bought a gym membership, so I'm currently working toward that goal weight.

4. Read 100 new books.
  --This year my goal is 24 books total...I'm not quite there yet, and by not quite there, I mean nowhere close.
  1. Twisted (Laurie Halse Anderson), 2. The Glass Menagerie (Tennessee Williams), 3. Flight (Sherman Alexie), 4. The Princess Bride (William Goldman)

9. Send out Christmas cards every year (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)

10. Read through the Bible with Kyle

11. Bake "just because" cupcakes for people 8 times (twice per year)
     One done! Will & Vicki's house when we went out for supper (8/30/15)
 
12. Make salsa with the tomatoes from our garden

14. Create a cookbook for both sides of my family (mom's & dad's sides)

15. Compile 100 new recipes that our family LOVES & put them into a database

16. Visit & review all of the local restaurants and businesses in town with our friends

26. Build something for our house--by myself! (a shelf, a cupboard, a table, etc)

What do you have on yours?