Sunshine at 301

March 2011

2011-03-07T13:45:00.003-06:00

Yay, it has been awhile since I have posted. Life gets crazy.

Here is a quick update:

Jake just finished his Mites hockey season. He is fast, so look out! He has been doing some "work", print and commercial. He thinks its pretty cool. And he is banking some cash!

Sydney is loving Kindergarten, and is very proud of how well she is reading. She is making some great friends. Sydney has enjoyed being a "Daisy" this year, and sold girl scout cookies for her troop. She just started up swim lessons again.

Regan is LOVING farm school this year. And really loves her alone time with "just me", and she refers to it. She has told me several times she doesn't want to get big and grow up. Regan continues to be the silly one in the family, and is always caring for her dollies.

Did I post we got a puppy? Last fall. He is cute, but I wish the potty training and chewing would end soon. I kind of forgot how much work puppies are, but boy are they cute!

Facebook Status Updates for 2010...some of them.

2010-12-16T22:32:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Regan! 3 years and Counting...

2010-07-08T22:43:00.008-05:00

My sweet Regan!

You light up my days, you bring so much joy to our family! You are a little dolly.

Regan you are silly, our little comedian. You love to sing, and talk, you love to take care of your dolls. You often refer to them as your kids..."be quiet, by kids are sleeping"..."I need to go and wake my kids". You setup these intricate displays for your dolls of toys and foods from your play kitchen. You love playing with Jacob and Sydney. Always ready to get right in the mix or the hoggy pile. You are tough, and can hold your own. You want to try everything, at least once. You adore your cousins, and are thrilled when you get to see them and play. You are a snuggle bug, and we often wake in the morning to you cuddled up tight right in the middle between me and your daddy. It is SO sweet, and I'll enjoy every second of it while it lasts.

You love to wear dresses, and have your nails and toenails painted. If anyone suggests your full name, you are quick to correct them, that your name is REGAN! (no middle name, no last name) Pretty funny! You are so pleased with yourself that you are a "big girl" now, no more diapers for you! When you are playing outside, you are always busy making cakes or pies with dirt and grass. You always seem to have a messy face, and can't seem to wipe it clean enough times in a day. You love to dance, swim, and do gymnastics. You love animals, and are always thrilled to visit the zoo.

We spent your 3rd birthday at Como Zoo, and you went on your first Carousel ride. You wanted me close by, you were a bit nervous. But by the end of the ride, you were loving it. We also visited the butterfly tent exhibit, that was neat! You are such a joy to be around, and I look forward to seeing how you grow in the years to come.

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweetie!

We feel so blessed to have you a part of our family. We just adore you!

Loving Summer

2010-06-24T23:58:00.008-05:00

Gosh, I've been loving summer with the kids. Nice to have all the kids home. We got a new playset, that the kids have absolutely been loving! Regan likes the swings and slide best. Jake has taught Sydney how to "skip" on the monkey bars, and Sydney wants to show anyone that will watch. She is so proud of herself. We had a party for Jake's 7th birthday, and got an updated family picture courtesy of my sister Amy. Jake is playing TBall. He can really crack the ball, and loves to run the bases. He is not real sure if he likes the outfield, or waiting around on the sidelines...but he has fun with it :) The TBall team and families are great. Fun way to spend Friday nights.Sydney had her gymnastics show, and was very excited to show us all her new skills. Ms. Donna brought Sydney her very own flowers, which made Sydney feel so special! Thanks Donna!
Oh, and Regan is offically potty-trained! She loves being a "big girl" and thinks all of the underwear choices are great! Dora is obviously her favorite. But anything that sparkles comes in a close second.
I have lots more updates from this spring, which has been a very busy one....explaining my blogging absence. More on those things later.

My Little Man is 7!

2010-06-01T08:32:00.000-05:00

Seriously!!!

2010-04-29T21:36:00.003-05:00

Came home tonight to babysitter having done 2 loads of laundry. Seriously, what joy I felt!
LOVE her! I didn't ask her to do that, she just did because she obviously knew that it would be helpful...and that I clearly need help :)

SO COOL!

Sydney's Gymnastics

2010-03-22T15:01:00.003-05:00

Sydney- earning her medal in gymnastics.

Cake Pictures of the Birthday Girl

2010-02-15T15:58:00.002-06:00

Lots of Sledding!

2010-02-15T15:55:00.002-06:00

The big kids have been really into sledding lately, with all the great snow, how could they not be!

Jacob and his friend Drew were even brave enough to snowboard down the driveway....not me though :) I'll supervise, thank you very much!

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-15T15:48:00.002-06:00

We made some Valentine fun!

We decorated some yummy cookies. Kids loved it...I ate 3. Bad mommy!

And we had heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's, just because! It was a fun day with the kids. Jacob created his own Valentines for each of us, by dividing and selecting candy from his Valentine candy he got from his party from school. This was seriously an act of love for Jacob, because he really LOVES his candy!!! Very kind Jacob!

Happy 5th Birthday my sweet Sydney!

2010-02-04T23:08:00.006-06:00

More Stitches....

2009-12-22T19:48:00.003-06:00

Somehow Jacob split open the back of his had on the wood trim here at home.....No idea how he managed to do that. 6 stitches. But apparently the urgent care doc said he can play hockey tomorrow night...

He is looking super pleased....poor little guy!

Best Buddies!!!

2009-12-15T21:28:00.004-06:00

In Jacob's kindergarten class his teacher asked these questions, and this is what he replied...

1.) At school I like to play with...Sam, West, TJ, and every boy in class.

2.) My favorite free choice activity is.... I like them all.

3.) My favorite part of the day is....being by my friend Nick (Pictured above)

4.) I want to learn...how to read.

These two have been around each other since they both could walk. They are best buddies!

Minus 1

2009-11-20T17:31:00.000-06:00

Jacob lost his first tooth. He came walking up to the house with a funny look on his face. And he announced that he lost a tooth at school. (it was news to me that there was even a loose one).

He said he was eating an apple, it got loose, and he twisted it, and pulled it out. He said this all so matter of fact-ly. It was funny. He was very pleased that the Tooth Fairy was going to visit our house for the first time.

A Pirate and his Pirate Girls!

2009-11-19T21:28:00.000-06:00

We had a bunch of Pirates around here! What fun we had....

The girls dressed up for their gymnastics Halloween class/party!

Just before heading out to go trick or treating. They were saying "Argggg".

Regan being tough...she was really trying to only have 1 eye open..funny!

Some of the trick 'o treaters...

Jacob proudly showing off here his loot. He got a haul!!

Celebrating our 10th in Cozumel

2009-11-17T12:01:00.001-06:00

We had lots of fun celebrating our 10th anniversary. We had some great meals, met great people, went scuba diving for the first together, went snorkeling, and just had some R&R. We only had a day and a half of sunshine, but we still had a super time!!

The beautiful water!

Two new friends; Cara and Patti . We met some awesome people on the trip.

I hope we can all travel again together!

The welcome home sign the kids made (with the help of my sister) Thank you to Dave's parents who took care of the kids while we were gone. We SOOO appreciate it! We know they are busy :)

Nashville Trip

2009-10-29T13:59:00.001-05:00

I've been a part of the leadership team at my local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group for the past few years. This fall I have the opportunity to spend the weekend learning more about MOPS and experiencing their National Convention. I heard some great speakers and listened to some awesome worship music by Matt Redman, Plumb, Matthew West. It was amazing! For those of you involved in MOPS I recommend going on this weekend. It was great! More on that later....

This was a picture from inside the hotel. There were 3 areas like this. The Grand Old Ophreu Hotel...it was beautiful!

On my last morning I was lucky enough to have breakfast with my friend Brenda. Her family moved to Nashville, it was great to reconnect with her. I miss seeing her every week!! Great to see you Brenda!!

Sisters!!

2009-10-29T13:51:00.000-05:00

Gymnastics is done!

2009-10-29T13:41:00.001-05:00

Well, the girls started gymnastics at a different place this fall. We just wanted to try out another place. Regan loved it, and Sydney like the old place we went to better. So, next session Regan will be PM and Sydney will go back to a gymnastics/dance class.

Gymnastics has been one of their favorite activities this fall. I'll post a picture from their Halloween Celebration class from Tuesday once I get it loaded.

"I Love Going to the Dentist"

2009-10-13T22:25:00.004-05:00

She may live to change her mind, if she is anything like me.

Before going to bed tonight, I reminded Sydney that she is going to the dentist tomorrow to have to cavities filled. I told her I'd be there with her, and I'd hold her hand. I mentioned something about her having to be brave. She looked up at me dumbfounded and said, "Mom, I'm already brave, but don't worry I won't be afraid. I like going to the dentist." I smiled and agreed, that she did a great job last time.

We'll see how it goes....

UPDATE:
Sydney did super at her appointment. So well, that they actually filled two cavities. The dentist told Sydney that she was better than most 8 year olds. The dentist informed me that she needs to pull one of Sydney's front teeth because it was damaged. (fall on the boat this summer) She is worried it will get infected because the root has died. :(

Kitty Manners....

2009-10-02T18:01:00.003-05:00

Do they have any?
I am trying to train Lucky to stay off the tables and counters. She gets it, but doesn't always oblige. Is it normal that our kitten is a serious scavenger for any type of fish or chicken that may be sitting on the counter....seriously!!! Yesterday she moved an entire chicken breast that was cooked and on the counter, to the floor, and was happily devouring it until I ruined her fun. Dave looked at me like I was crazy when I told him why his dinner was in the garbage.

I feel like I am constantly on kitty patrol. Like I need more to keep an eye on in the kitchen. We already have two that will likely could clear out the kitchen if I let them.

Heaven has a New Angel

2009-09-23T23:03:00.007-05:00

My friend Cari, the one who has been battling an agressive form of breast cancer for the past two years passed away yesterday. We met a few years back at church and spent three years in a small group bible study. I feel so blessed to have had her in my life. She was a wonderful, generous, courageous, and witty girl. A wonderful mom and great friend. Cari always wanted to make sure people felt special and celebrated. Always sharing her faith, and always seeking to grow and deepen in her faith. She was very transparent about life in general, which I truly appreciate about people. You can witness this by reading her blog http://www.undomestic.blogspot.com/. The picture above was taken last fall.

I learned so much from Cari before and during her battle with Cancer; it began in August of 2007. Having lost my own mom to Cancer when I was 8, I felt blessed by being able to support and pray for Cari during her journey. Being Cari's friend during her battle with Cancer helped me better understand what my mom went through during her 5-year Cancer fight. The tears flow readily today; each time I think of Cari....and the kids...and Melvin...and her parents...and all the lives she touched. I am going to miss her kind soul.

My heart just breaks for Melvin, and the kids. I know all too well that their journey will continue for many years to come. I pray that they can find comfort and peace knowing that now Cari is free from pain and with our loving Savior. I know she will watch over them. Continuing to pray for the Ashford/Spitz families in the days, months, and years to come. Please pray for Melvin and Cameron, Max, and Ella...oh, my heart just aches for them.

First Days of School for Jacob and Sydney

2009-09-12T14:49:00.001-05:00

The bus arriving after the 1st day of school. The bus stop has LOTS of kids at it each day!

Regan was so excited that Jacob was home from school!

Sydney feeding the baby calf, Tie-Dye. She was very glad to be back on the Farm at Preschool.
Sydney's first full morning of preschool. Regan wanted to stay with her. Next year she'll be old enough :)

Ouch!

2009-09-10T21:39:00.006-05:00

This kind of sums up my night tonight....
I overhear Jake muttering to himself, "Having parents sucks!" (while sitting in a time-out)
Nice! He is 6. Awesome!
No idea where he learned the word "sucks". Not from me...I really don't like that word, it is gross.
Jake and I had a nice long talk about respect, and who is the parent, who is in charge, etc....
Tomorrow is a new day!

One a different note, school is going great for Jake. He really likes his new school and class. He has a wonderful teacher. Personally, I think anyone who can teach 20 kindergartners at a time is a saint! Sydney has her first day of preschool tomorrow. She is SO excited!

Jacob's First Day!

2009-09-08T14:50:00.003-05:00

Jacob is off to his first day of full day, five day a week kindergarten! He is excited and I think a little nervous. He'll make lots of new friends! We missed the bus though. It came early, about 5 minutes. I've never heard of a bus being early, especially on the first day. Normally they run a little behind on the first day. Oh well, the school is close to our house. So we all jumped in the car. It was cute, when he opened the car door and jumped out about 3 kids said "Hey Jacob"! They were all excited to see him, and off he went! My little buddy. Kind of a bittersweet day...

Family Camp

2009-09-08T14:42:00.002-05:00

We decided to spend a weekend up at camp for Family Camp over Labor Day. I've haven't been there since my parents brought me when I was little. We had an absolute blast! Dave and I went on the high ropes course, 45 feet up in the air...LOVED it! Went on a trail ride on the horses, kids all won awards in the little guppy fishing contest, and lots of other fun stuff! I am so glad we went!

Hanging out in the dog house. There used to be a camp puppy each summer; now the dog house is just used to kids to play in.

Jake and Dave went on the traditionally "Mud Walk". This has been a Warren tradition for decades! The boys "Borped" every morning at the crack of dawn. Too cold for me...they are now members of the polar bear club!

The State Fair

2009-09-08T14:40:00.001-05:00

I have to go once each year...so much fun!

Jacob goes to Camp Warren

2009-09-08T14:33:00.003-05:00

Jake was so excited to go to Camp Warren for the first time! He told me, "Mom, I really want to go on my own vacation with other kids for a week. Really, I've always wanted to go on vacation." I am guessing he overheard me in my conversations while I was trying to decide if I should send him this summer or wait until next summer. I wasn't concerned whether or not he'd be homesick; because I knew he wouldn't be. I didn't plan on seeing anything I sent with him again. When we arrived at the bus, we was ready to get on. Had I not stopped to him and asked for a hug, I don't think I would have gotten one. He was so excited!!!! I knew he'd have an absolute blast; I spent 9 summers when I was a kid at this very same camp. And now one of the girls I used to go to camp with is the director. She assured me he was ready....so I let him go for a week, in good hands!

He came home with a big hug for me; and had all kinds of stories to tell. I later learned from some staff that he was the YOUNGEST camper all summer. He was a staff favorite, and many of the older campers took him under their wings. He has such a fun and easy going personality! Yah Jake! You did it!!!

Beach & Boating Time

2009-09-08T14:30:00.001-05:00

This is what summer is all about! Fun in the Sun with friends and family!

Introducing Lucky!

2009-09-08T14:28:00.001-05:00

Our new kitten. Lucky is a kitty from Children's Farm. I surprised the kids with a visit to the Farm, and shared with them that one would be coming home with us. They were all THRILLED to say the least...

August Fun

2009-09-08T14:20:00.003-05:00

Jake cooling off...Regan wanting a turn :)LumberJack Days Tot Race finishers...
Jacob's fishing trip with Grandpa Doug; the fish weren't biting...(notice the helmet my Dad wore for his protection...)

Cabin Time!

Happy 2nd Birthday Regan!

2009-07-23T13:49:00.002-05:00

Regan, you are a really sweet little girl. My little honey! You love to cuddle. Your brother Jake is your BEST friend. You often say, "I want Jake", and will wonder around looking for him. He takes great care of you. You say eh, ah...that is your version of NO. Yah is one of your favorite words. You are definitely more into me than your daddy right now, but that is part of being a 2 year. We call you a "pinball". You are full of joy and are really laid back. You try to keep up with Jake and Sydney and are bit too brave at the park. You have no fear. We'll see if that continues to be part of your personality. You are really good at following directions, to my surprise and I REALLY hope that continues. You love your baby (pink glowworm) and pink blanket, and of course your precious nuk. (which you can only have in the car,bed, and in the house)...we'll work on that! You are mostly certainly my little sweetie.... Love you!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-23T13:46:00.002-05:00

The Past Week

2009-06-22T07:46:00.006-05:00

Dave has been in CA the past week for an intensive seminar....I wasn't sure how the week would go; fast, super slow, somewhere in between?

I thought I would get a lot of projects done...at least that is what I'd hoped.

I did get the house cleaned up, (well kind of)
cared for a food-poisoned 4 year old,
bought a NEW TV!!, (which involved going to 4 stores w/ all 3 kids)
had 4 HS friends and our 8 kids over to play,
took Jake to Vacation Bible School,
worked out at the gym,
went to a bonfire with my HS girlfriends,
bought a new rug for the sunroom,
brought Sydney to gymnastics,
carried the new TV into the house and got it setup,
took the kids to Friday's for lunch to celebrate Father's Day,
had Dairy Queen ice cream cake w/ at my father-in-law's house,
6 loads of laundry,
I'm meeting some girls for dinner tonight, and then picking up my honey from the airport.

(I know I am missing so things we did, but I really can't remember, things are kind of blurring) The kids were great, but missed their daddy. Jake asked me on day 4 when his dad was going to be home because he REALLY missed him....sweet!

I'm excited to hear about Dave's week and hang out with him! It is the longest we've been away from each other since 1996!

Maybe tomorrow I'll go to bed super early and rest!!!!!

CHEERS TO DADDY @ FRIDAYS BELOW:

Summer has began!!!

2009-06-17T20:56:00.005-05:00

Let the summer time fun begin! I'm so looking forward to all the fun the summer brings. Playing outside, trips to the cabin, boating, time at the beach, going to the park, playing with lots of friends, vacation bible school, soccer/t-ball camp, planting flowers, pulling weeds, riding bikes, water guns, oh, it will all be so much fun!!

Farm School Picnic

2009-06-03T17:35:00.004-05:00

Sydney loved going to preschool at the Children's Farm Preschool this year. It is so up her alley; being outside so much and being able to help take care of the animals. Whenever I've asked her what her favorite thing to do at farm is, she always says the same thing; riding the horses. Personally, I think holding the baby kittens is a very close second. She made some great friends in the class! She is sad she can't go there all summer. I decided not to do the summer camps they offer this year, and try some different activities.

Happy 6th Jacob!

2009-06-02T15:01:00.004-05:00

Really, Jacob you are 6! Wow! Over the past year, Jake has grown and matured a lot. He is amazing with Regan, douting on her really. He is always checking on her to make sure she is happy, and has what she needs. Jake is always wondering what Papa is doing next door. Jacob is really excited to put his new fishing pole to work this summer! Grandpa Doug, we'll be up to visit soon, and you can teach him the ropes again.

Swimmers....

2009-05-30T08:26:00.005-05:00

Year 2 of Level 1 swim classes has come to a close. I shouldn't say "year" maybe more like session. Sydney doesn't like going because she doesn't want to get her face wet....She is the front of the line in the picture below, Jake is happily smiling in the middle...

Jacob loves it, and has improved a lot and will even put his face under water (as long as he has goggles on) The teachers did a "train" to end the session, it was cute. The kids loved it!!

Jake is ready for more swimming classes, Sydney needs a break.

Babies sleeping

2009-05-30T08:23:00.005-05:00

This is how Regan insists on going to bed lately. She seems to notice if she is missing a baby, which is even funnier....I snapped this shot after I tucked her in, I just couldn't resist...

Cousin Fun

2009-05-22T22:39:00.006-05:00

My dad is back in MN today, so two of my sisters came over to visit and see my Dad and let the kids play. I didn't get any pictures of my nephew, Andrew. But he was in the mix as well. We all had so much fun and enjoyed meeting Donna. Times like today make me look so forward to summertime fun!

Well Checks

2009-05-11T14:47:00.003-05:00

The girls had their well check doctor visits last week ( a little late) Both girls are doing great! And are very healthy. Regan has finally caught up on the growth charts!

Here are the stats:

Sydney (4yrs3mo): Height 41", 50%. Weight 36 lbs., 50%. And she can see and hear just fine....phew! At her 3 year appt, she was 50% percentile as well...steady eddy.

Regan (22months): Height 34", 75%!!!!! Weight 25.5 lbs., 50%

Huge improvement here, at her last dr. visit, in October (15mo), Regan was only in the 25% percentile. (the appt. before that only 5% percentile) Regan normally eats as much as her big brother at most meals, so you would figure she would be catching up one of these days...geez!

Babies...

2009-04-30T17:42:00.004-05:00

Regan seriously LOVES and gently cares for all of her baby dolls. Pushes them around in her baby stroller, puts them to nap all around the house (always with a comfy blanket covering them up to their chins), I've end gotten a glimpse of her gently patting their tummies. I was cleaning the kitchen the other morning, and looked over and this is how she was laying on the floor near the fridge. She prepared a blanket for herself to lay on, then laid herself down, cuddled the doll to her chest, and covered up the doll with a blanket, actually 2 I think. Just adorable. I had to shoot a quick picture....

And she popped herself in the baby doll stroller! I was surprised to see her like this, not quite sure how she manuvered herself in there, because it is teeny...kinda surprising this is the first time she thought of it though considering she plays with this stroller a billion times a day!

Veggie Burgers....

2009-04-23T18:07:00.004-05:00

Tonights Dinner: Veggie burger (no bun) cut in triangles, sweet potato fries, kiwi & bananas.

Nobody was touching the Veggie burger...big surprise. About a year ago they all loved veggie burgers, I couldn't make enough of them. Lately, not so much. It has been a while since I've made them because obviously nobody would eat them. So, this is what I said....

Me: You guys know those aren't "beef" burgers, right?

Jake: They aren't??.....oh cool.

Sydney: Really? Are they veggie burgers?

Me: Yup, there is lots of yummy stuff in them.

Jake: Like onions, tomatos...

Sydney: Yummy.

They all proceeded to eat them. Jake's were gone in less than 60 seconds, I think.

Sydney: Thanks for buying these, Mom!!

Whatever....atleast they ate them. I just don't understand how kids decide to eat or not eat something at any given moment.

Fun at the Park

2009-04-23T09:40:00.003-05:00

Finally, some great weather....everyone had fun at the park!! Jake took Regan done this huge tunnel slide, it was probably 30 feet long. She cried....so we'll probably wait awhile to try that again.Lately when Regan doesn't have her nuk, I've been catching her like this. I don't want her to be a finger sucker too...seems like such a hard habit to break! Regan looks just like Sydney did at this age.

The Biggest Shooter...

2009-04-10T13:57:00.004-05:00

Jacob: I think I'm going to be a police officer or a soldier when I grow up. Whichever you get a bigger shooter..

Me: just listening.

Jacob: Actually, probably a police officer because I don't want to die. A lot of soldiers get killed.

I wasn't too sure how to respond to that one. We have never talked about soldiers. I led the conversation to what police officers do to protect people and why they have guns, etc.

Jake has been full of all kinds of get ideas lately. He is thinking things threw on a higher level and suddenly seems so much more mature. He is a joy to be around!!!

Really??? A Kidney Stone....

2009-02-18T19:24:00.004-06:00

Dave ended up in the ER on Sunday night with a kidney stone. Crazy!! Today is Wednesday, and the poor guy hasn't passed it yet.

All I can say is loopy :)

In the ER we asked if he was kinda young to get a kidney stone...(like we thought) The ER doc kinda laughed and said no, he starts seeing them in patients at age 16, and all the way up. The doc said they see a lot of them in the ER. Because they are SOOO painful.

Hopefully, it won't be too much longer....

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-18T19:17:00.003-06:00

The kids and I made cookies, and frosted & sprinkled them :)

They were delious!

Blogging

2009-02-13T20:39:00.003-06:00

Recently I've been peeking at many different blogs, and blogging "styles". It is very interesting to all the differing ways people use blogs, format them, and how they write on them.
I may be changing my style, maybe not....I will have to see.

Our Visiting Friends

2009-02-11T21:18:00.007-06:00

A girlfriend of mine asked if two of her kids could come and spend some time at our house while she took care of some things out of town. We were thrilled to have Levi and Mitchell with us for two "sleepovers" The kids completely entertained each other...lots of giggling all throughout the time. Levi and Mitchell were both great! Very well mannered, listened well, and of course were lots of fun to have around. Levi looked at me at lunch today and said, "I really like being able to stay here all day and play!"

I quickly realized while trying to take a picture of all 5 of them, that is was kind of rediculous to think it would look anywhere near normal. But this one is a perfect representation of all the fun that was had by all :)

Hockey was a big hit with Levi and Jacob. They got really into it. Jacob insisted that they wear his helmets for safety. Pretty cute!

Regan ran her fastest to try to get into the picture, but she didn't quite make it in time, so this is her courtesy shot! She is such a ham, always loves to have her picture taken!

Happy 4th Birthday Sydney!!

2009-02-04T21:26:00.005-06:00

You are 4 today!You have such a kindness and gentleness about you, but you can wrestle around with the boys any day. You are social at school, and knew all 20 kids in your class with 3 days! You are confident at school and have no idea you are the youngest in your class, and your classmates don't seem to notice either. You are always watching out for your baby sister Regan and are the first to coming running to her aid. You and Jacob are the best of friends and are together all the time. You are my little snuggle bug, and often ask if we can cuddle for a little while. (Silky and Blankie Bear are both present as well) You love to dress up in princess dresses and feel pretty. We've recently witnessed you peering at yourself in the mirror when you think no one is watching...kinda a funny kinda scary :) You are a wonderful girl inside and out, and you bring so much joy to everyone around you!!! You are such a blessing!

Happy 4th Birthday my sweetie.... Love, Mom

Making smoothies in your new smoothie maker :)

Animal Kingdom & Magic Kingdom 2nd Round

2009-01-14T22:17:00.012-06:00

Animal Kingdom is a smaller park, and has shorter hours than the other parks. Here are some of the rides we did; It's Tough to be a Bug, Kilimanjaro Safaris (Very Cool!), Expedition Everest (I was totally freaked to do this ride, but LOVED it, Jake went on it twice!) , TriceraTop Spin, and Dinosaur.

Regan absolutely LOVED all the parades! She was waving and blowing kisses at all the characters. Her and Mickey had a moment of two or three straight blowings back and forth.

We did Magic Kingdom for a 2nd day. It is just so magical and there are such fun things to do there! We spent hours in "Tomorrowland"; mostly at Space Mountain, luckily we got some extra "Fastpasses" because the Carousel of Progress broke down while we were sitting there watching the show. We did Space Mountain several times, Indy Speedway, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Buzz Lightyear's Space Spin, Stitch's Great Escape (we'll pass on this one next time...boring). We walked through Mickey's Toontown Fair for the first time, the kids seemed kinda a over it. We took Sydney and Jake on Goofy's kiddie coaster because had become a little afraid of the rides after going on the scary Dinosaur ride at Animal Kindgom. She was upset on Goofy's coaster with her face buried into mine. Poor girl...We stayed for the fireworks, and they were absolutely amazing. We were right down by the castle and had a great view!

On one of the cloudy days we went and walked around Downtown Disney for a bit. Seems like most of the stuff wasn't open for the day. We ate at this cool, but very overpriced Trex restaurant. Ice caves and Dinosaur bones were lit up all around us. The kids thought it was cool. We hit the Lego play area and a fun disney shop with faux princesses outside.

Magic Kingdom & Epcot

2009-01-14T22:16:00.004-06:00

We got a late start today, but we headed to the Magic Kingdom. We made it through about half of the park. We went on Swiss Family Treehouse, Magic Carpet of Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Its a Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventure, Many adventures of Pooh, and the Teacups. The Parade was great, the kids really liked it! Regan was so happy to sit with Papa and watch. We stayed for the fireworks, which were great! Not bad for a half a day! January is definitely the time to hit Disney, that is barely any lines. But the weather is always questionable.

Epcot was great! I love how the parks are all different in their own way. We had arranged to surprise Sydney with lunch with the Princesses. She was thrilled! Just started out nervous, and didn't want to meet or have her picture taken with Belle. She quickly warmed up to the others though.

Jake was not interested in the Princesses at all. Kind of surprising. Regan was happy to look at them and smile, but would not them get close to her for a picture :)

These are the rides we went on in Epcot:

Reimagined, Mission:Space (I'll NEVER do this one again, made me sick, weird), Test Track (D&J), Finding Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, Living in the Land, Circle of Life, Missed: Soarin' (which I totally LOVE). We went to a watch a Belly Dancer, which was kinda cool. And we stayed for the Fireworks, which were absolutely AMAZING!

It is FREEZING in FL right now!!! Waiting for fireworks...

I cannot believe how long the lines can be for some of these rides. The roping setup for many of the popular rides (the roping wasn't needed when we were there) was just unbelieveable. The Nemo ride for example looked like it could hold hundreds of people in line at a time, taking probably 2-3 hours....for a 2 minute ride! Glad we only waited 5 minutes. Crazy! I'll never go to Disney during peak season, that is for sure.

Pool Day

2009-01-14T22:13:00.004-06:00

The first full day we had was supposed to be the nicest and warmest, 75 and sunny. So we decided to make it a pool day. Jake and Sydney had a blast, but Regan probably was the most excited to be in the pool. I don't think she remembered being in a pool before, she was only 6 months last time. She had NOOO fear (kinda scary) and would just keep walking into deep water. Dave and I took turns holding her hand and keeping her in shallow water.

Dave spent a lot of time reading.

Disney 2009 Begins....

2009-01-14T22:08:00.006-06:00

We were all so excited for our trip to Orlando. The airport portion is always challenging with 3 kids, and all the luggage, car seats, strollers, etc to bring along. But we made it. Regan had the hardest time on the flight, as I suspected would be the case. Being 18 months confined in an tiny space for 3 hours is tough. She is too young to stick to doing the same thing for more than a few minutes. Upsetting her neighbor Sydney was much more fun, and LOUD!!! But hey, we made it. Picked out our mini, the Sienna, and headed to the resort. I would definitely recommend this resort; Orange Lake Resort Orlando, FL. We were lucky to score a 3 bedroom condo. We had a room, the kids, and Dave's Parents. It was huge...I couldn't get over how much space it had.

This is how I found them mid-morning after our first night sleeping in our place, it was pretty cute.

They tried, AGAIN!

2009-01-06T09:27:00.004-06:00

Dave and I went to the Vikings playoff game against the Eagles. We were really excited to be going. We had great seats, and invited some good friends. The first half of the game was pretty good, but the the 4th quarter we all saw the writing on the wall. It was the first and last game of the season that we went to. But, we had a really great time! (minus the fact it was SOOOO cold) The Sphagetti Factory before the game was yummy!

This was the super slow line (or herd) trying to get into the Dome. It was about O degrees on Sunday..Yikes!

Christmas Morning

2008-12-26T14:17:00.005-06:00

Santa came and brought a few things. Sydney came and woke me up about 6:15, not too bad. (While Jake was inspecting) Jake and Sydney could hardly wait to open gifts until Regan woke up...about 8, I went to wake her up.

Christmas Eve

2008-12-26T14:04:00.005-06:00

We hosted my sisters and their husbands and kids on Christmas Eve. The kids had a great time playing together as usual. They had an even better time opening gifts. My Dad flew in from Florida. I heard him talk about how cold it is in MN a few times :) And burrrr it is cold here this winter. We've had more snow this December and super cold days than I remember having in a long time. The kids all made a haul! They'll keep busy for days....

WhirlWind 24

2008-12-22T22:25:00.005-06:00

The last 24 hours have been crazy...

Worked out at the gym; Core Conditioning.
Jake gets his eye poked, off to urgent care he goes. He came home looking like a pirate and miserable.
Couples Group Christmas get together w/ all the kids...Fun!
Drop Jake at school, and explain to his teacher what happened, and that he didn't want to miss the classroom Christmas party, but that he was pretty miserable.
Dropped Sydney at School
Dave Dr. Appt
Return at Kohls
Dropped Dave at the gym so he can get a quick workout in before he is down for the count for a few days.
Embarassing attempt to purchase my MIL a Christmas gift, and realized I'd been driving around all day with no wallet in my purse...ggrrrr. (After my purchase was boxed, bagged and ready to go)
Picked up Sydney from School.
Picked Dave back up and dropped him at the hospital for his repeat surgery...this time it should work, right!
Came home, and got the girls down for their nap. I cleaned.
Picked up Jake early from school to take him to the Dr. to have his eye looked by his primary Dr. (Sydney & Regan are along of course)
Jake's right eye now has TWO visible scratches (after dye and black-light) During this process Sydney has to go potty, really really bad. Dr. waits w/ Jake and Regan while I bring her...
Jake'e eye should be all better w/in 72 hours!!!! Seriously. But atleast it is not infected, and will heal.
Visit Dave (all went well), the discharge nurse explains the important details to me while I try to keep all the kids rained in, and from peeking into other peoples rooms. (I should have taken Jan up on her offer).
Get the hungry kids to the car and pick up Dave at the front door.
Pick-up dinner. Dave's Dad meets us in Woodbury and brings Dave home so he can have some peace and quiet. The kids were a little bit on the roudy side. Dave needs quiet so he can rest.
Go to LTF to get my hair done, and let the kids play for awhile.
Came home, and got all the munchkins to bed and helped my poor Davey!!

I am beat. Going to bed!

Christmas Service

2008-12-19T19:56:00.003-06:00

Jake had his first Christmas program at school on Wednesday night. He was so excited!
He did fairly well, except for two things. First...He was pulling at his sweater vest, pulling it up, down and twisting it around. Nice...and he told me he really didn't want to wear it. Maybe I should have listened. Second, during the last song he placed both hands covering his ears, with his elbows straight out. And then the kid standing behind him started pulling on Jacob's arms, to get them down. Imagine a little tug a war with Jake's arms, luckily it was only for the last song :)
The program was so cute! I couldn't believe all the songs all the kindergarteners knew :)

We really tried to get a Good One!

2008-12-07T22:39:00.004-06:00

Trying to get a decent Christmas picture this weekend proved to be fairly difficult....3 silly kids to sit still at the same time.......nearly impossible. Here are a few of the attempts! Regan proved to be the silliest of the bunch.

It did get a little ridiculous....oh well!

Happy BDay Dave!

2008-11-23T22:25:00.004-06:00

Another year has gone by for Dave. We had fun celebrating this weekend, kind of all weekend :)

Festivities ended tonight with a yummy Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake!

All the kids REALLY enjoyed the cake :)

Welcome Baby Luca!

2008-11-23T22:17:00.002-06:00

My newest nephew was born last weekend. He is just a doll!
Luca Daniel was born on 11/15 at 11am. 8 lbs 15oz, 22oz long.
My SIL was able to do an amazing waterbirth!! Yah Shan!

Trick-or-Treat

2008-11-06T09:15:00.003-06:00

The kids had a fun time trick or treating, and received way too much candy of course!

Jake was Mr. Incredible, Regan was a tulip fairy, and Sydney was cinderella of course :)

Political Opinions at age 5

2008-11-04T14:11:00.005-06:00

Jake got off the bus after school yesterday and we had an interesting conversation.
He told me voted at school. (They've been learning about the candidates and election process)
We've haven't told him anything about the election or candidates, and the news is never on when the kids are up....their shows are :)

I asked him who he voted for. This was his response, "McCain, he is the only one who tells the truth..." I thought that was pretty interesting for a 5 year old. Then he proceeded to ask me if he could come along when I voted, because he knows a lot about voting. He also told me how many kids Obama and McCain both have, and other basic facts. I was pretty impressed, and think his school is doing a great job to teach kids so young about these things.

I just went and voted, and of course brought Jake and the girls along. I did tell him who I voted for, I hope it makes a difference.

What a beautiful day!

2008-10-30T14:54:00.004-05:00

Loving this weather today, just gorgeous!

Today I gave Regan her first Oreo cookie, she was thrilled and enjoyed it :)

Little Sydney is sick. I think it is food poisoning. She woke up from her nap yesterday and lost her cookies. She was completely fine yesterday all morning, so we'll see. Sydney doesn't have a fever. I hope it passes quickly, it has now been 24 hours. Although she hasn't thrown up for a long time, she is moving quite slowly.

I am sad to be leaving her soon for the weekend. But looking forward to the warmer weather. The forecast is high 70's all weekend. I hope things go smoothly for Dave this weekend.

My friend Cari has another surgery tomorrow morning. They will be installing a chemo drip in her head. My heartaches for her and her family. They've been through so much! But she is strong and is going to beat this terrible cancer. Please pray for her and keep her in your thoughts on Friday and this weekend.

Just a few words now

2008-10-27T16:08:00.004-05:00

Regan can say:

MaMa (and says this all day long :) )
Da
Cheese (when she is having her picture taken, see above)
Nu (for her pacifier)
I've heard her say "Jake" clear as day, but only twice.
Tickle-Tickle-Tickle

She is walking all over the place now. Always collects her shoes when she notices everyone getting their jackets and coats on. And oh, does she love her nuk! Regan is a sweet little girl, and such a joy to be with.

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

2008-10-20T21:19:00.007-05:00

My nephew Andrew had his 2nd birthday party over the weekend.

All the cousins had fun playing. Andrew got this cute little chimp "fur real" animal toy that Jake and Sydney loved. Definitely a Christmas idea! It was fun to see all my sisters, and my Dad happened to be in town for the party as well. He is headed to FL now for the winter. It was a fun afternoon!

Fall Fun

2008-10-20T21:11:00.002-05:00

On Sunday we took the kids to a pumpkin patch. They enjoyed seeing the animals and liked picking out their pumpkins. We tried hard to get a cute picture of all 3 kids looking at the camera, but that was pretty tough!

Getting Back in the Routine

2008-10-16T10:47:00.004-05:00

This week I am trying to get back in the routine. Dave and I were on vacation for a long weekend last week. We had 4 days together! It was fantastic!

Thank you to my friend Shawn, who bravly offered to watch all three kids. She posted some cute pictures from the weekend on her blog. She was so happy to have them, so I wasn't concerned about them while we were gone. I knew they would be well cared for, and having fun. I did hope Shawn and Kurt were handling 5 okay, and that their energy reserves didn't need to be tapped. It sounds like things went well.

Sydney wanted to stay at the Johnson's when we arrived to pick up the kids :)

She's a walking....

2008-10-05T21:19:00.004-05:00

Last Wednesday Regan took her first steps at my friend Cari's house. It was very exciting!!!

Over the weekend she has definitely been testing out her new skill. She is managing to take about 10-12 steps at a time.

She is SOOO pleased with herself! Regan is kind of showing off :)

All files are safe!

2008-10-01T08:51:00.003-05:00

Dell repairman left yesterday, I was so pleased. Our hard drive was spared. So all of our summer pictures are safe, MOPS newsletter resources are safe, ALL of my files are safe...phew!

I will be sure to run backups to my external hard drive regularly now...if there is a "next" time I don't want to get burned....

Oh, when the repair guy was here, I asked him about surge protectors. (Clearly ours did nothing) He said that no surge protector can for sure protect your PC. They can just help. He recommended the "Monster" brand, they are the best, but that any surge protector can fail. So really, an external backup is the only thing to keep precious pictures and such safe.

A Serious Pain

2008-09-29T11:09:00.006-05:00

Last Tuesday night somewhere very near our house was struck by some lightning. Long story short, the Qwest repair women said we are very lucky we didn't have more damaged. (I would say blessed :) ) Our phone was down a few days, and my computer is still out for the count. The Dell man was here Friday, and will hopefully be coming back today or tomorrow. I didn't realize all the things I use my computer for everyday; checking the weather, researching things, staying connected to the world, email, etc. I've missed my PC....I thought I'd put an update here in the meantime. Sorry, no pictures.

Hopefully my hard drive didn't get zapped. I haven't been good at backing it up lately. Right now it is not looking good for my computer. I'm on a wireless laptop right now. I can't get my high speed line to work, so hopefully my cable line didn't get zapped too. So far the motherboard is fried, probably the CPU, and we'll see what else when the Dell man returns....

Regan is standing all by herself!! We were playing in my closet this morning while I was putting some clothes away and she kept staying up! And she is VERY pleased with herself. Yah, Regan!!

Praying for Cari

2008-09-23T08:40:00.003-05:00

Cari was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 07. She finished her chemo and radiation last spring. She had a brain tumor removed last month. The cancer has now been found in her spine.

Please pray for Cari's complete healing, and for her comfort. She is having extreme headaches. Pray for her family, pray that she can get the rest she needs.

You can read more about her on blog Undomestic.

The skates have hit the ice!

2008-09-21T21:36:00.005-05:00

And some other things!! Jake has officially started hockey! Saturday was his first practice. He was so excited, as were we. It was so cute seeing him get all his gear on.

Jake along with a bunch of other 3-6 years got on the ice. Some clearly beginners. This was Jake's 3rd time ever on skates!!! It was SOO funny for us to watch at first. On Saturday, they kinda looked like a bunch of bowling pins, barely able to stand up. By Sundays practice all the kids were doing much better, and skating. Jake was SOO excited to be playing hockey. He had an absolute blast. Dave was able to skate as a "coach" on Sunday, which Jake really liked! It was a great weekend! Sydney, Regan and I had fun watching.

For any Stillwater people that might be wondering why the Woodbury jersey...it is only Termites. We fully expect that long term Jake will be skating in his hometown :)

Night Terrors....

2008-09-15T15:33:00.004-05:00

Last night Sydney had a night terror. It was pretty creepy. It lasted about 30 minutes, she also had one on Friday night. I've learned that they are mostly caused by lack of sleep or a major change in sleeping habits. Since she started going to preschool in the afternoons, she isn't getting as much sleep because she isn't napping on those 3 days. We're going to try to bring back an earlier bedtime and see if that helps.

Hopefully, her sleep schedule adjusts soon...night terrors are very freaky!

The Bus has arrived

2008-09-09T22:41:00.003-05:00

Monday was officially Jake's first day taking the bus. He was SOO thrilled, I was a little nervous. My little guy getting on a BIG bus!
He couldn't wait until the bus arrived! He was so excited. We all escorted him to the bus stop.
Off he went! He arrived safely, of course. I think some of my heart went with him on the bus yesterday morning. A sad moment for me, but so thrilling for him.

Cousins!

2008-09-07T21:16:00.006-05:00

My three sisters and I all got together on Saturday to celebrate my neice and nephew's birthdays. (Along with some Uncles and Grandparents) The kids all had a blast playing at Hyland Park Reserve at the creative play area. What a neat park! They had most amazing rope climbing wall, 3 sections tall. They've made big improvements to the park since I was a kid...granted that was a LONG time ago :) All the kids in first picture are all my and/or my sister's kiddos. My dad was quickly blessed with 7 grandchildren w/in 6 years.

Happy Birthday Jayden and Kylie!

Jacob's 1st Day of School

2008-09-04T09:41:00.006-05:00

Jacob was so excited for his first day at Salem. I was excited and nervous for him!
I wasn't sure how getting all three kids feed, dressed and out of the house by 8:15am would go. Once we get added to the bus route, he'll ride the bus.

All the kids were ready, so it was time to take the "picture". In the busyiness of getting everything ready the night/day before, I failed to recognize that the battery was dead in not just one, but in both cameras we own. I figured this out after I had all the kids in place on the front step. My phone! Duh, so I got one of Jake, and then tried to take one of all 3 kids together. It would have turned out so cute, too bad it is only in "video"...I wish I had spent more time learning how to use the camera/video feature on my phone!

We arrived in this classroom, and he quickly remembered where is coat hook was for his backpack. Then he went right over to his desk and sat down. I think he was a little nervous, because he was the only kid actually sitting at their desk during the arrival of all the kids :) Sydney and I have him a hug, and then he said, "Mom, you can go now." I couldn't believe it! But good for him. To me that meant he felt so comfortable, and ready, he didn't need my support.

After we dropped Jacob off, Sydney asked where Jake was going to eat lunch. I reminded her he'd be eating lunch with his class at school. She got really sad, and said, "But Mom, I'll miss him today." I thought that was so sweet and real!

When we picked up Jacob from school, he didn't even say hi to me. I think he was SOOO tired from the day he was just out of it. His teacher said he had a good day. Apparently the only thing worth mentioning to me was that he just got a little impatient when he wasn't called on right away. The teacher said that is pretty tyipcal when kids learn how a classroom runs. I think it is good that he was raising his hand, and wanting to contribute answers! He really likes his teacher and said he made a new friend. He loves school!

Alexandria Pictures

2008-08-31T09:10:00.005-05:00

11 Kids and 4 Moms! Good times....

We tried to get a picture of all the kids, well, that didn't work very well. There are quite a few missing from this one :)

The Beach was a big hit!

Jake learned to kayak, and was confidently cruising around after Drew gave him a quick lesson!

Campfire and Smores...

A quick movie will we got dinner ready for the masses....

Thanks to the expert meal planner Jess, the kids all stayed full and happy!

What a fun way to spend a week during the summer! Thanks girls!!!

New Design & a Daily Question

2008-08-30T08:13:00.003-05:00

I've been wanting to update the look of my blog. I added some things/colors that I like. I still want to add some other stuff, which I'll try to do soon. I had fun doing it :)

Here is a question I've been thinking of the past day or so....think about it.

What have I learned lately?

I'll share some of my thoughts on this question in a few days.

What happened to August?

2008-08-27T12:37:00.006-05:00

Seriously, I've barely even posted this month...it has just flown by. There has been a lot going on.

Visited my Dad at the Cabin in Lutsen.
Spent a few days in Alexandria with some great friends and our kids. We had 11 kids under age 6, and 4 moms....fun times! (I'll post a few pictures)
My friend Cari, after battling breast cancer for a year was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has since had surgery to have it removed.
Struggled to make a decision on what schooling option is best for Jake for this fall. He is a young 5, and we really wanted to have him wait to start Kindergarten until next fall. What we've decided on is a 3-day/week Kindergarten program at a Christian school. And he will most likely attend full time Kindergarten next fall.
Regan started cruising along anything she can, and has mastered a very quick butt scoot. Or "Gorilla" scoot as Dave calls it. Because she really looks like a gorilla. Funny! This may end up being her version of crawling. We shall see.
Spent a long day at the State Fair. The Giant slide was a big hit, so was the Little Hands Farm.
And lots of other things....

Hard to believe next week is September. I am going to make an effort to post more regularly, at least it is one of my goals for next month :)

Not just a regular Friday....

2008-08-22T13:30:00.003-05:00

Today my friend Cari is having surgery to remove a brain tumor that was discovered last week.

I've been thinking of her so much lately. I pray that the surgery was successful, and that this horrible cancer is behind her. I pray for her healing. I pray for her husband Melvin, and her kids.

Cari is so courageous and has been a real trooper.
If you are interested in reading about Cari's journey her blog is undomestic.

If you are a believer, please pray for her today, and in the days ahead.

Fun times at the Cabin

2008-08-11T13:10:00.004-05:00

Cabin Trip 2008

At the shore in Grand Marais. The kids had a blast throwing rocks back into the water.
Regan loved moving the rocks around...they were nice and warm!

Picking fresh raspberries around the cabin. I think they ate them all :)

Regan loved playing with Grandpa Doug. Pretty Sweet...

The kids each had their individual fishing trips with Grandpa Doug. When I asked them on the ride home what their favorite part of going to the cabin was, they both said "FISHING". Sydney caught her very first fish, her first time fishing! She couldn't stop talking about how it flopped around. Jake and Sydney each throw back a fish, and held it with there bare hands, something my dad won't even do. They were so brave.

Good Times! In the car when I was driving home Jake said he wants to go to the cabin more, so he can spend more time with his Grandpa Doug. Smart kid.

Silly Kids

2008-08-11T13:05:00.003-05:00

These guys really make me laugh! I asked them to get ready for their bath before bedtime. This is how I found them. Both "wearing" their clean underwear, Sydney wearing her jammies....They both thought there were absolutely histerical!

Cabin, or Not...

2008-08-07T14:54:00.002-05:00

I've been planning to bring the kids up to Lutsen this coming weekend all summer. But, my sister Amy and I were planning to make the 5 hour trip together. She is out now, because she really hurt her back. My other two sisters aren't free either...so now I just need to decide if I am going to saddle up, and bring all 3 alone. Just thinking about it makes me feel exhausted. But, I think the kids would be sad if I didn't bring them up to see Grandpa Doug.

We'll see how much I can get done today.

Farm Camp, fun summer times...

2008-07-31T14:55:00.004-05:00

Jake and Sydney went to Farm camp together in the mornings for two weeks in July. They both really loved it. Jake was able to show Sydney the ropes. On the last day the parents were invited to see what the kids had been up to during camp. Sydney was so excited to show me that she could ride a horse. She was SO brave, and confident. Jake was excited to show me the animals and the veggies they were growing in the garden.

Quiet Kids

2008-07-31T14:51:00.003-05:00

Today I was cleaning up lunch. Things got fairly quiet (usually not a good sign at my house) I tuned into what the kids were doing to hear Jake say, "I think she feels trapped." I got a little worried. Turns out they were make Regan "comfy" with every small stuffed animal and blanket they could come up with. She was pretty much submersed. Regan really looked like she was having a great old time!

Dinner Questions

2008-07-26T18:01:00.004-05:00

Tonight I decided to ask the kids some questions to make our dinner time a little more lively.
1. What is your favorite color?
j- Blue
s- Purple
2. What is your favorite thing to eat?
j-blueberries
s-ice cream
3. Where is your favorite place to go?
j- rolli pollies
s-farm school
4. Who do you love?
j- mommy
s-regan
5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
j-police officer
s- a princess
6. What is your favorite sport?
j- basketball (I don't think he has ever played!)
s-lifetime (maybe I bring her there too much :))
It actually made the time we spending eating more fun tonight :)

Cake is great!

2008-07-15T08:16:00.003-05:00

The cake was a hit!! So much so, Regan had a little tummy trouble overnight. Poor thing.

Happy Birthday, Regan!

2008-07-09T21:23:00.005-05:00

Regan is 1.

She is such a joy. Regan has such a happy spirit. She is constantly waving (with much vigor) at everyone that enters her site line, with a huge smile on her face. Jacob loves holding her hands, and walking around the house with her...I can tell she enjoys it, too. She lights up when Daddy comes home. She loves to dance. Anytime she hears any type of music, she instantly starts dancing/swaying her head to the music with such joy! Regan is laid back, and is comfortable watching all going around her. She is a mamma's girl...at least right now. When another adult approaches me, she now is putting her head on my shoulder, almost to say...please don't take me away from my mom. It is sweet.

Regan's birthday is bittersweet for me. The baby stage is ending, which makes me kinda weepy. I sooo enjoy the tenderness of infants. Yet, I love seeing all the discoveries she makes, the achievements, the learning, the developing words, the attachments, the engaging and interacting with others. I treasure each day.

I want to thank all the people that have helped and supported me during this past year with thoughts, prayers and encouragement in regards to Regan. There were times when I was very concerned about her development and growth. I feel such peace and reassurance now. Regan is thriving!!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!! We love you dearly.

Sweet Baby Nathaniel.

2008-07-09T20:39:00.004-05:00

My friend Andrea welcomed baby Nathaniel into this world last night and Jesus brought him to heaven shortly after.

My heart feels so heavy for her. Everytime I think of her, and what she must be going through, I struggle to control the tears. She has been amazing throughout this journey. I can't imagine.

Please pray for Andrea, husband Mel, and boys Jacob and Kyle. I hope and pray that they can feel His comfort during these early days of grieving.

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-07T12:42:00.005-05:00

Wow, we lucked out with a fantastic weekend! The weather was great, and lots of fun. Dave & I missed the fireworks this year. I am sure if any of our babysitters had been in town, they would rather have been watching the fireworks themselves. Too many little ones to bring them all out to the fireworks...in a few years :)

We went to the Annual Afton Parade. The kids just love it, they made a candy haul this year. If you live near by, check it out next year. It is a small town parade, with lots of spirit. The parade draws a few thousand people each year. The parade starts at noon, and they close the street at 11:30am. The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Everyone is excited, festive, relaxing with family & friends, and it is warm and sunny.

We finally got out on the boat on Sunday. That is our first time of the summer...kind of sad!! Jake went swimming off the back of the boat. I could tell he felt more comfortable in the water, so his swim lessons this spring definitely helped.

"Wipe my Bu**!!!"

2008-07-03T12:27:00.003-05:00

I hear this at least once every single day. When are kids old enough to wipe their butts? I would think Jake has GOT to be getting close! I mean seriously!
Just a few minutes ago, I heard the becking..."Mom, please come and wipe my butt". After I remind him to flush and wash his hands, he replies, "Wow, Regan is doing good! She isn't crying when you left her to come and help me" I thought that was interesting that he noticed.

A Visit from Grandpa Doug

2008-06-25T22:51:00.003-05:00

My dad visited earlier this month. He spent some time playing with the kids. Sydney, as usually cuddled right up to him...as if she sees him every day. Pretty sweet. I know my dad enjoys his time with them. We'll go visit him up north later on this summer. Jake and Sydney are especially exciting to go to the Cabin. Jake has high hopes of going fishing. Hopefully he'll catch his first fish on Caribou Lake!

It's Flying

2008-06-25T13:09:00.004-05:00

Wow, it is already the end of June. I have been terrible this month with my blog...we've just been outside enjoying the nice days.

Jake decided the day after he turned 5 that we was going to ride his bike, without the training wheels. And he has done very well. He needs a little help getting started. I was surprised by his determination, he told me he would never quit. And just take breaks when he needed to.
Turning 5 has seemed to help Jacob feel older, and behave a little better. He suddenly seems to be wanting to be helpful, a little more mellow, following directions SOO much better, and just being more cooperative overall. I am just elated. I'm not sure if it is being 5, watching his sugar intake very closely, or he just decided...whatever the cause, I LOVE it.

Sydney is enjoying riding her "trike". And continues to be very into babies. She is like a little momma to Regan, basically like my sidekick. Sydney has enjoyed being around other little ones, and is always very aware of their needs and wants to help whenever she can. Here she is below caring for her cousin Ava.

Regan is a lot of fun. Her first 3 teeth broke through this month. Luckily they didn't seem to bother her, and she lets me feel them without a problem, she actually thinks its funny. She has been labeled a "Sit-n-Spin", because she loves to sit and spin in circles to reach various things. She is not crawling yet, but really enjoys practicing walking. Here reverse-highlights always catch her attention no matter where we are, almost everyone stops to comment. Kinda funny!

Chucky Cheese & Grand Old Days

2008-06-05T20:46:00.003-05:00

Jake asks if we can go to "Chucky Cheese's" at least twice a week. Thanks Nick Jr. for reminding him of this place. He had only been their once before, so last week our park play date got rained out, so we went to Chucky Cheese instead. The kids had a total blast. We'll go back!
Here are some pictures from Grand Old Days...

A few of my friends told me that I make having 3 look easy! I took that as a complement...I didn't tell them that I told the kids that if they didn't stay right by me, we march right back to the car. They certainly didn't want to miss out on all the fun. And I didn't either, that is why I bucked up and went to the parade without my partner in crime. We missed you Dave! Thanks for having us Andrea!

5 Years!!

2008-06-01T21:38:00.004-05:00

Happy 5th Birthday Jake!

We had a jam packed day today. Went spent most of the day at Grand Old Days. (I'll post some pictures tomorrow) The kids all had a blast. The weather was just gorgeous. I managed very well with the 3 kids...I was a little nervous with all the people. The kids heeded my warning, and stayed close. Great time hanging out with good friends and all of our kids. We spent most our time at my good friend Andrea's House and watched the parade.

A trip to Target, shopping with Nana. Jacob got to pick out a birthday present from Nana. He decided on another remote control car. He already has 3. We both tried to convince him otherwise, but he definitely had his mind set on another. The remote control even won out to the pirate sword. Then we had dinner with Nana, and had a small ice cream cake. Jake will have more birthday festivities in the coming weeks. Many important people we missing today :)

I love you, Jake! It is hard to believe it has already been 5 years since you joined our family.

Fun on the Farm

2008-05-31T22:38:00.003-05:00

Jacob has been so excited for the end of the year picnic at his preschool, he goes to Children's Farm. He was able to invite family and show us around the farm. He was disappointed some of the guests he invited couldn't make it. (Dave, Papa, and Nana) They had been practicing a few songs to sing for/with all of the parents and siblings. The kids were able to show us around the farm, go on hikes, ride the horses, feed the animals, etc. Here are some snapshots:

The first thing he wanted to show Sydney and me was the baby kittens. He handled the kittens very gently and with great confidence. (fun to see) And I wasn't surprised that Sydney wanted to bring one home. I held very firm in my NO.
The swinging/climbing rope he enjoyed.

Jake was very excited to show Sydney the new calf that recently arrived. Each spring there are several different "baby" animals that arrive. Sydney enjoyed feeding the calf named Daisy.

Here are Jake's teachers, Jenny and Vicki, leading all the kids and their families in a group sing-along. From what Jake tells me they have group signing time each day. Last fall after he started school at Farm, he suddenly really, REALLY wanted a guitar. For Christmas, Santa brought one, but Jake hasn't kept his interest in learning to play!

Jake took us on a hike (the class frequently goes on hikes to various places on the farm). He proudly showed me the garden that they've been planning and working on over the past few weeks. He told me about the Rhubarb they made a cake with, and explained to me that the leaves are poison, but the stems are good for eating.

And the last thing Jake wanted to show us before he left was how well he could ride the horse. The kids all ride bare-back, and are expected to swing their leg over and get up mostly on there own. You can see the stump in the picture that the kids stand on to help them mount the horse. He sat up so tall and proud that he was on top of such a large animal. He was beaming....very sweet.

Jake will definitely miss going to Farm School. I could tell that he really felt a part of the farm and all the happenings there. Jake and Sydney are going to a 2-week camp there this summer. And Sydney will start preschool there in the fall. What a neat experience!

Treo/Palm or Blackberry

2008-05-30T14:13:00.005-05:00

For some strange reason I've been drolling over the PDA/Smartphones lately. My phone works fine, so I don't understand why I seem to keep thinking of getting a new one. Back in my working days I thrived on my iPAQ. Maybe I'm craving some of the organized and routine days of yesteryer.....Nothing about my life right now feels organized.

Anyways, back to phones...the "smartphones" seem to do just about everything. One of the ones I looked at even has GPS on it. Crazy...so know I just need to decide on the Treo/Palm or Blackberry? (And start saving for it :) ) Are there any opinions out there? If you have one and love it, or hate it, tell me why. Thanks!!

Water Bottles

2008-05-29T14:11:00.006-05:00

I've had lots of friends ask me where I get my sigg water bottles, so I thought I'd toss it on here for people to reference. The site I order them from has all the designs, and sizes ranging from toddler to enormous. http://www.nubiusorganics.com/ Here is a discount code for 20% your total order RHR25 . Here are the ones I've gotten for the kids:

Fairy Pirate Zoo Animals

For those of you that don't know what Siggs are here is a quick description:

SIGG combines 100 years of Swiss quality & craftsmanship with a fresh, fun perspective on contemporary style – delivering a water bottle with both function AND fashion!
Plus using a premium reusable bottle like SIGG greatly helps reduce unnecessary environmental waste caused by plastic PET water bottles. Sadly, Americans add over 30 million plastic water bottles to our nation's landfills – everyday!
While not everyone is ready to purchase a hybrid vehicle, we believe every little bit helps. And thinking "reusable" instead of "disposable" is a great place to start. So, Rise Above Plastic – and consider the advantages of hydrating with a SIGG.

I just went to the mySIGG website, and it looks like there are closing down their 'internet' retailing portion because of the recent super high demand for siggs....so Nubuis Organics may be running out. Let's hope not, saving 20% is a lot better than paying full retail and tax.