Losing it............

...... my mind that is!
So, soon I will, as promised, blog about my newly finished and first ever re-finishing furniture project, but for now I am simply going to blog about my revelation of a moment, if it were in fact profound enough to be called that.
Today was a pretty good day- Gabe didn't sleep great, but not too horrible. The sun was out, we went on a run, went to the park, Josh came home for lunch. Grace was on pretty good behavior and Gabe was good too. However by the end of the day the mundaness of the week was driving the three of us (yes even gabe) CRAZY!!! I mean crazy. Every two minutes Grace would say "i'm bored can I watch a movie?" To which I would say, "no, its gorgeous outside why don't you go out and play?". And I'm not exagerating one little bit- every sentence out of my mouth for THIRTY minutes, at the least, was - "grace stop kicking gabe, grace stop jumping on the couch, grace stop pinching gabe, grace stop pulling my shirt..........on and on and on. Now Grace really was doing all those naughty little things but who could blame her, I was bored out of my mind too! And I was losing it. Even though I knew she was acting up because she was bored just like me, I started to yell and snap and be a nasty mommy- and it wasn't her fault.
So this is where I could have a) took the kids on another trip to the park b) set grace up with an art project while I finished making dinner c) let grace ride her bike down the street d) wrote a letter to grandma.......and the list goes on and on of all the things I should have or at least could have done to resolve the situation. But I went into survival mode. A mode most often resorted to when the kids have croup and all plans and agendas must be cancelled, somebody has a fever, or like Christmas eve and my homemade presents are only half finished- those kinds of situations. But I went into it anyway- mostly to preserve any shred of sanity I had left today. and this is what I did. "Grace get out of timeout, we're going to get an ice cream cone!" Yes, it may have been 5:20! Yes, dinner may have been litterally half cooked on the stove, and yes, this was a totally bad mommy move, but IT WAS worth it. And I tell you what, I was a much better mommy because of it. It lifted our spirits. We decided to bring a cone to Josh who was finishing up at work. He was ready to leave by the time we got there so he let the kids play for a few minutes at his work while I went back home to finish making dinner in peace. It was perfect. Before, we were all in crummy moods, we were bored, we were down, and even though now I can think of about a hundred other things i could have done to make the evening better, in my mommy fight or flight mode I almost always resort to ice cream. And today- it worked.

Mother's day weekend

Mother's day weekend started off with the best saturday we've had in a long time! We had no plans, but were so productive, and none of it felt like work! It was gorgeous so we put our shorts on and planted our family garden! (Tomatoes, cucumbers, pumkins, peppers, jalepeno peppers, and some melons!) Then I re-organized all the toys in the house, re-arranged Grace's bedroom, and put my newly re-finished bedside tables (see next post) in our room! It sounds like work but it was fun to be so productive, and not be in any kind of rush! We went on a walk, made super yummy phad thai and went out for Ice cream! I have no pics to show because I was too busy enjoying it!

Mothers' day was also great. Josh and the kids let me sleep in (I got bored so I finished the book I was reading) while I waited for them to bring me breakfast in bed!!!!!! This was my request for mothers day and it was so great! I think the best part was just that I got to wait for breakfast to be brought to me while I laid in bed!!! Now the actual eating of the breakfast is a different story! So fun, but so many crumbs in the bed! (Gabe made things interesting!)

Then we had a fun, yummy, family brunch at the ever-classy eola hills winery, followed by Dox in the evening where Gabe was dedicated to Jesus! We did a group dedication, so we did it with all his little baby buddies! It was a great day!

I am soo soo blessed to be a mom. Rarely do I stop to reflect on the fact that being a mother is not a given but a true gift. It is by God's grace that he has given me the joy and the huge responsibility to love and care for my two beautiful children- and for that I am so thankful!

Thanks Josh and Gabe and Grace for such a wonderful weekend!

A few of my favorite things!

Friends!

Too much excitement!

Gabe's first Easter basket!

Such cute outfits!

Thanks Easter Bunny!

I caught a sweet moment of the kiddos playing together!

Number one. Saturdays

Recently one of my favorite things are Saturdays. It seems like we didn't slow down and catch up after the holidays till March was here, but now that we're here and the hustle and bustle has subsided a bit I LOVE saturdays when we have no plans! My favorite Saturday, at the moment, goes like this;

-"sleep in" or work out with Josh (Sometimes Gabe actually sleeps till 7 or later - SOMETIMES)

- Make coffee, put on the cartoons, and just relax

-Josh makes super yummy blueberry pancakes that the whole family loves (including Gabe!)

Then we clean up, and possibly my favorite part of the day is to bake something fun for tribe, usually with Grace's help! Then we either work on projects or have some visitors in the afternoons! It is truly my favorite day of the week!

Number two. Cooking for the kids.

I don't know why, but I love it when I get to cook a meal that both the kids can eat, and even better when we all eat it. Gabe is eating big boy food, but still can't eat everything that we eat, so I love making things we can all eat together. Example; breakfast I make one egg; Grace eats the white part and Gabe eats the yellow, one piece of toast that they share and some fruit! I don't know why but I love it!

Number three. Friends.

My favorite moment this past Easter Sunday was at the end of our service during the worship music; Grace, with her friends, running up and down the aisle with total joy on their faces. I am so thankful for the friends Grace has, I really pray that she can grow up with such a great group of friends to love and be loved by! That being said, Grace's friends' parents are truly an amazing group of people, a family indeed, who I love and am so so very thankful for! (Thats including those of you who are adopted aunts and uncles to Grace and her friends!!)

Number four. Dresses!

Gabe is finally and officially weaned! I am so excited to be wearing dresses and anything else not condusive to having a nursing newborn!

Number Five.Crawling.

He's finally got it! He's not super fast yet, and he has this akward cute little crawl but he's doing it! He's already getting into everything and driving his sister absolutely nuts, but I think he's already starting to love his newfound freedom and mobility!

Number six. This stage

Having a 3 1/2 yr old and a 9 month old. Though things do not always go how I would like them to all the time, and life is still crazy, I finally feel like we are entering a tiny bit of a smoother stage.

Number Seven. Dox Easter Morning Work Party

I didn't used to like this idea. We get up early Easter Morning and go serve the community where it needs it. This year we worked at a park, weeding, painting, pulling ivy, picking up trash. Then we have our Easter service. I didn't like it at first because I thought it would make it akward to invite friends and family ......and because lets face it, I really like the idea of wearing an Easter Dress! BUT, it was awesome! We got muddy and had fun. And It really felt like real worship. Like a true celebration of the fact that Jesus died and rose so that we could know him and have freedom in him! Plus there were lots of people running and walking around the park that morning who were like, wow what are you all doing out here on Easter! It was great!

Lastly, Number Eight.

We cancelled our t.v, which I am not loving quite yet- particularly because we've been all cooped up with the rain! But, we've been watcing all the shows we like online. So my favorite thing to do is a couple nights a week when we have nothing going on, making some popcorn and watching a few shows on our computer all cozied up in bed! I don't know why, probably because I'm lazy, but I love having a snack, watching exactly what I want, when I want, with limited commercials and then just rolling over to fall asleep instead of walking all the way upstairs when I'm done!

Obviously, it is very simple to make me happy! These are just a few of the blessings that I'm savoring at the moment!

Happy 9 Months Baby Boy!

Gabe, I absolutely cannot believe that nine months have gone by since you came into this world! Your are an energetic bundle of joy, you keep us on our toes and bring us so much happiness! Time has gone by so fast! Before we know it you'll be getting into everything and in a couple of months you'll be a whole year old! You've definitely proven to us that sleep therories just don't always work, and that you just need way way less sleep than your sister. BUT, in the middle of the night or way too early in the morning, when I hear that you are a wake, my frusteration subsides as soon as I see the bright and handsome smile that is always there to wake me! You are intense in the best possible way, sweet and cute. You adore your sister and she adores you right back. You are %100 boy through and through. We see that with your cute little man noises and the way you attack your football, or "work" on your dump truck. We love you little man!

Everyday life with the G's

Just a little update of daily life things going on in the Pannebaker house! Grace and Gabe are growing and changing everyday, and we never have a dull moment!

This is our new weekend breakfast special! From scratch blueberry pancakes! Josh does breakfast for us all weekend, he's so great!
Gabe with his fave toy- he's real intense about shutting all the boxes. Aren't his toes cute?

Uncle Bryce came to visit us for a whole day! He's such a great uncle! After some cooking lessons I owed him from Christmas we went to the park and played in the sun! Thanks uncle Bryce!

This is what I turn around to, after I ask Grace to give Gabe a toy while I'm making dinner...He doesn't seem to mind!

Yep, with one child I didn't believe in T.V - screen time they call it in the books. Well with two kids it's t.v or mommy loosing her mind.

My little cowboy already! don't know exactly what he's checking for but he's working on something! He's so close to crawling, just hasn't quite put all the steps together!

Magically Delicious?

This was the product/prize of like a hundred tokens!

nice......real nice honey

So intense!

Yes, it's true. There is something in the water at our tribe. Do not drink it if you do not wish to multiply. Theses are all the kiddos/babies in our tribe. And they are very very close to outnumbering the adults! (Yes Gabe is the only one crying, but seconds later many followed-he's such a trend setter I'm so proud!)

I have had so many blog posts written in my head this past week or two, but none of them have made them onto the computer. Lots of things going on in our world right now;

1. Tried to start a new tradition of Lucky Charms for bfast on St. Patricks day (who doesn't love candy in their cereal?--answer- Grace!) Grace very sweetly pretended to like them for her way over enthused mommy! (But her face looked like I was forcing her to eat Liver)

2. Gabe is almost crawling- he will be such a happier little guy when he can go chase his sister.

3. Grace is growing up every day. She can't wait to go to pre-school next year. She keeps telling me how she is going to school in the fall- then followed by "mommy, is it fall yet?"

Her and Gabe still adore each other, lately they've been holding hands in the double stroller and in the car, and boy oh boy can they make each other laugh! However I am getting little glimpses of the future, hearing (only once in a while) "gabe that's my toy! and seeing him scratch her face while they're in the stroller and she can't get away!

4. Grace was having some trouble being a good listener, so we cut the warnings down to one and implemented a sticker chart that worked great! After she earned enough stickers she was rewarded with a much antcicpated trip to Chuck-e-cheeses. And after I checked to make sure I had brought hand sanitizer it was a fun trip!

5. We CAN'T wait for spring at our house! We've got starts on the kitchen table and the bbq is ready to be brought out of hibernation!

6. Lastly, I've been dreaming lately of a baking business/or a baking blog or maybe both! I think I am just starting to crave some out of the house/using my brain/creative and non-diaper changing skills time!

San Diego

This is my picture documentation of our trip! We had such a good time. It was our first real "travelling" family vacation. It is not easy travelling with two kids.......5 bags, 2 carseats, and only 4 arms! BUT! It was so worth it! While in the city we used the trolley and buses and every where we went was quite a bit of work with the kiddos-but so great! The kids did great, and I was so proud of us! At the end of every day we were absolutely exhausted but every night I would just say "we did it!" the work was so worth it! San Diego is a fun and beautiful city, and we are so blessed to have had such a wonderful family vacation!

(p.s sorry for how long this post is, I should have done a slide show!)

My cutie pie waiting for the shuttle. We're ready to go! Gorgeous view! She was so excited and then out! She got up at 4!

Gabeys first flight!

Our hotel room was fabulous! Clean, cute, and a suite so the kids had their own room!

The first thing I did upon arrival! We made it!

As soon as we arrived at the hotel (after a way too expensive taxi ride from the airport!) the kids took naps and then we were off to the beach! It was so sunny (75 degrees) that I had to buy sandles! Crossing the Coronado Bay Bridge!

Such good travelers!

My guys in front of the hotel del! (scratch saving for retirement I want to stay there! So gorgeous!)

We were so excited for the sunny beach!

Such a great day!

This place truly lives up to its name! If you know me you know how excited I was when I spotted this cupcake "lounge"! I have been craving a cupcake from here ever since!

So many shops and restuarants downtown SD are so chic and modern!

So so many choices and soo very yummy!

Fun (and free) dessert at a great pizza place! (Eating out is such a treat and so much fun!)

The pool was right on our floor! This is Gabe's first swim!

Lots of this! Waking up early, cuddling, laughing, so much fun family time! It was so nice to get away as a family and just spend some time together having fun!

The first three days, josh had to attend class in the mornings. I was so proud of myself! I took both kids swimming and even ventured out on a "mini" adventure in the city for groceries and treats! (I have no picture but picture me walking up the steepest hill ever with Gabe on my back, and grace in the stroller- and I did it twice because I got lost!!)

One highlight from our trip was Little Italy!

I was able to embrace both the Italian in me and my sweet tooth! At this cafe I had my first (but not last) Cannoli! It took me a good 5 minutes to pick what I wanted everything was so beautiful and yummy!

Josh's Aunt and Uncle picked us up on Josh's birthday! This is Josh in his birthday shirt! Our tradition! Jake Dorr hooked us up- you can order this shirt for your very own! (If you're man enough to wear it!)

This is Gracie's new bff cousin Isabella!

Isabella and Grace made Josh a cake- all by themselves!!

Isabella's morning special

Sea World! We were lucky to get to see Shamu before it closed down!

The show was truly amazing! I know I'm a dork but I actually cried at the end! So great!

Uncle Russ and Gabe getting acquainted!

A beautiful day at Sea Port Village

I just have to share this! This is the mama panda and her new baby! The baby is only awake for 2 hours a day, and we were lucky enough to see it awake and playing! We saw all the babies of the zoo!

Nap time at the Zoo!In and Out burger! Our fave! Definately went more than once, and even ate off the mystery menu!

Pajama Party !

Our vacation was so much fun!