Travel Often

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” — Rosalia de Castro

Love Deeply, but Laugh Along the Way

"Happiness is only real when shared." - Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

View Marriage as an Adventure

"Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage." ~Finnish Proverb

Fuel your body with GOOD (It's the only one you get)

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything. - Arabian Proverb

Open your Soul to Motherhood

A Grand Adventure is About to Begin - Winnie the Pooh

A New Kind of Love is Born

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Week in Review - 17.5 Months

Super fun, but fast week.
A LOT going on but we still managed to survive with lots of smiles! That's always a successful week in my mind.  I've started to get the hang of Karl working his longer hours. I know. Just 17 months LATER. WHEW. What a journey this has been. Or maybe I've finally accepted it? Ha.

I hope that when we start trying for Baby #2 and then baby arrives, maybe Karl will be able to get home by a reasonable time during the weeknights AND be home more on the weekends? Lots of hope here. Don't laugh, but I can't help and think that perhaps it'll feel more like a vacation to me with two kids because he'll be around more?? Am I dreaming here? Just comforting to think this even though that would be a perfect world and well, we don't live in that trype of world all the time, do we? He, he.

I still send out my positive energy that things WILL change for the GOOD! A good attitude and positive thinking really DOES work wonders.

I was talking to our neighbor and she was saying that even if her hubby is home (but busy doing other things), it still FEELS like her family is complete. I agree. It's just nice KNOWING Karl is there when he is.

I never knew things would be the way they are - with him working so much - but I keep telling myself maybe the outcome will be worth it. And NOTHING stays the same for long. I think we're living in a world where we expect things right away and need things to be perfect right away. And they aren't always that way. We have to work hard to get there. OR maybe things are actually pretty darn good but we're so focused on the negatives that we forget about the bigger picture or even the good that is sitting RIGHT IN FRONT OF US?

I've been reading a lot about being GRATEFUL for what we do have. Karl and I really do have a lot and I'm focusing on that. I mean, I can't help but squeeze him to pieces when I see him. I love the man to death. AND I always go back to our health. I am VERY grateful for our health!! VERY. VERY. VERY.

Anyway, enough babble... here is our week in pictures!

Daycare drop off was worth it when I was able to pick up Jackson's photos!


Friday was a bit cool and rainy but we made a morning trip out to the Apple Orchard in Jordan, Minnesota. SO MUCH FUN! Only cost $20 for a BIG bag of apples. Eesh!
 
Jackson loved picking the apples and eating them. He also enjoyed eating them off the ground.
 
We took a tractor ride around the apple farm and came across the largest tractor EVER! Jackson was in heaven!


Jackson loved the goats
 
The guinea hens kept playing around with Jackson
 
Karl and I FINALLY ran a 5K TOGETHER!!!! I was SO excited!!! The 5K was for his company. We ran together the whole time and ran in 33 minutes. Pretty good for a guy who ONLY trained three times before the race!
 
I was so inspired during the race! Lots of Hanger patients shared their stories and then RAN with their prosthesis! AMAZING! I'm PROUD of Karl for being so passionate about his career and helping others... With that said, I guess all those hours are worth it just to bring someone else HOPE and a BETTER LIFE!


My parents are up visiting so that meant SHOPPING with my mom. Of course I needed a NEW pair of running shoes for the race! I was torn between these two. There are SUCH fun shoes out there right now! These are at Kohl's ON SALE and I had a 30% off coupon! SCORE! Thanks MOM!
 
My church sent me this picture! Jackson and I are trying to make church every week. VERY important to ME! It's been great for the both of us! WE LOVE JESUS:)


Crazy Uncle Mike comes too when he's around!

See you all next week!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Week in Review - 17 Months

Weekly Koester Commotion -

Always busy in our house. Here is the week in review, all in pictures! I saw this on my friend Leah's blog and loved it. Thanks, Leah, for the great idea!

Always a fun time in the garage! J's big thing is to blast music from dad's stereo and dance.


Auntie Kelly came over and played! Isn't she soooo pretty?


One last Minnesota 5K with my brother before he moves to Milwaukee. This makes me VERY sad. We have lived next door from each other for 12 years. But he is HAPPY! So I have to be. I'm going to miss you, Smike!


My duty as a mom - keep Jackson ACTIVE (don't have to try hard). He loves chasing balls all over the place!


Wonderful trip to my in-law's cabin. BEAUTIFUL. SERENITY. MUCH NEEDED!
 
Jackson LOVED being outside but I needed to keep my eyes on him at ALL TIMES. Wanted to jump in the lake. I was exhausted when we got home. There is very little rest for moms!


My in-law's have awesome neighbors at their cabin. They let Jackson play in their playhouse! He was in heaven. I enjoyed too because I could SIT and watch him!


He loves opening and closing doors.


Headed to in-law's 74-acres of land in Wisconsin and went wild! Having fun with Gpa and Gma! Pulled mom and dad in the trailer. Reminded me of Kids Week at my own grandpa and grandma's.


Had to make sure Gpa Jim's deer stand was in good shape. Ready for the Big One!
 
Truly Jackson's element. The outdoors and running FREE with nature!
 
Burning leaves with Grandpa Jim. Pretty sure Camping is next on our list.
 
Trying out new sports all the time. Little man is obsessed with balls right now.
 
We ran bases. And ate dirt...
Until next week!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Jackson at 16 Months - Month 16.5


Time is cruising.  

CRUISING.  

Mr. Jackson at 16.5 months
 

I realized I only have a couple days left before Jackson turns 17 months and I haven’t written much for month 16. Whoops! Can you tell we are having a BLAST? We are!   

This mom stuff is fun. I'm being serious here. I never knew how much time I spent looking forward to the “next thing” coming up in my life until I had Jackson. I was always so focused on trips or work or writing or planning things. Jackson has taught me to enjoy the moment we are in NOW.  Like get down and play. Push everything else aside and throw a ball. Read a book. Chase each other around the house. Wait 35 minutes for him to walk down the stairs. Just BE.  


We spent over an hour collecting stones at this school.
 

We play a TON. I’m ZONKED by the end of the day. It is GO-GO-GO. There is NO sitting. The night I actually get to sit is Thursday when I watch Project Runway. That is it. It feels like my TREAT day:) I love Thursdays! 

Typical weekend day goes like this:

·         Mom up around 6 a.m.

·         Laundry started and going

·         Coffee brewing (one of my favorite parts)

·         Toys cleaned up, kitchen cleaned up and breakfast cooking

·         Either I shower OR try to fit in a morning run (I find I have more energy if I get a run in first)

·         Jackson up between 6:45-7:30

·         Breakfast

·         Play inside a little bit until things are cleaned up in the kitchen

·         Walk to a park and play

·         Walk back and play inside or outside the house

·         Lunch

·         Nap

·         Walk/Run/Bike to a park and play

·         Play by the house

·         Snack

·         Might go for another walk to the park. Or trip to grocery store.

·         Dinner

·         Play in the house

·         Bath with dad while I clean up

·         Books and prayer

·         Sleep

·         Either I go workout if I haven’t yet or will enjoy a glass of wine.

 

Can you see why I’m scared for the winter? Where the heck are we going to run around outside with all that snow and COLD???  I'm going to have to get creative.


Right before he dove in the puddle
 

Jackson is learning SO much too this month.  

I feel like 16 months is when Jackson’s vocabulary really started to take off. Sometimes I don’t even know how he remembers things but he does. For instance, on his way down the stairs this morning with Karl, he pointed to the light switch and said, “lights”.  

Here are a few others things Jackson says:

1.       My brother Mike was over for dinner and counted out Jackson’s watermelon pieces. He started with one and Jackson quickly said, “two”, just like that. How???

2.       Speaking of watermelon, Jackson says, “wa-wamelon”.

3.       He’ll say “wa-wa” for water.

4.       He says, “booberries”.

5.       He can say “lawn mower” clear as day.

6.       He loves saying “ball” and he totally loves throwing balls around ALL DAY. LOVES IT.

7.       He’s working on please and thank you. I know he’s saying them but for anyone else it’s a little bit hard to hear.

8.       He loves to sweep. My mom bought him his own broom set so he loves pointing to his “broom”. He loves saying that.

9.       My mom said “aye-ye-ye” the other day and Jackson repeated. So funny.

10.   Right now fish sounds like “pssss”.

11.   Jackson and I really work on our prayers at night and I’ve made sure I’ve talked a lot about Jesus and God. When Karl was changing Jackson he accidently said…”Jeeeeezzzzz-US!” Guess who said that back?

12.   He will say the color “blue”.

13.   My father in law started Jackson on the color “purple” for the Vikings. Go Bears!

14.   My in-law’s dog’s name is Kacey and my brother and sis in law’s dog’s name is Kacey. Jackson LOVES dogs. He says “Kacey” SO cute!!!  Melt your heart cute.


Jackson's obsession

 


 
Waiting for the bus with dad at my parent's house in Illinois


I know there are more but these are what I can remember him saying.

 
It's a bird. It's a plane. No...it's SUPERMAN!
 
Being "careful" on the fish!

 
We spend HOURS at the splashpads!

Pure joy!

Dad's time with Jackson!


As for Jackson’s loves right now:

·         He loves balls. Loves them. He loves throwing them in the house too. We save the soft ones for inside, but a hard one will sneak through! Did I mention he only throws backwards?? But REALLY good backwards.

·         Loves pushing his lawn mower

·         Loves getting in those big cars (they have a couple at daycare. All the ladies say he’s obsessed. Even the teachers from other rooms.)

·         Loves helping! I shook out one of our rugs and right behind me was Jackson grabbing the other rug and taking it outside. I spill something and he’s running for the towel and wiping things up. He’s incredible

·         Loves going down the slides and getting shocked (as in touching my finger to his so he gets a little zap)

·         He loves making car noises and just watching cars and trucks

·         He is slightly obsessed with school buses so Fridays are the BEST at home. He gets so excited when all the buses go by the house.

·         Jackson loves oatmeal right now! Yay! He also can’t get enough of cooked carrots, corn on the cob, and watermelon. He very much loves frozen blueberries too. Not fresh. Frozen.

·         He also wants to be a big guy. When he sees mommy drinking out of her coffee mug, he drinks out of his thermos.

·         LOVES water. He will find a sprinkler and jump through. He’ll lick up puddles. He’ll run through splashpads. He’ll dive in pools. He’s fearless around water.

·         He loves music. He’ll stop and dance. So cute. He’s been GREAT in church too. It feels so good to be back. Ahhhh.
 
      Jackson will stop to smell the flowers:) He's teaching mom a LOT about this. And she needs it!
 


 

 More on our summer FAVES coming soon!
 

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Why We Love Summer - 16 Months

5 Reasons Summer Rocks...
In Pictures.

1. Corn on the cob. Need I say more?



 

 

2. Sprinklers are in full force.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


3. Shirtless, shoeless days




4. Sunglasses for Jackson and mom...
 



Mom's lost it.... (not my real hairstyle...)


5. Driving with the windows down