Big Boy!

Well our baby boy is not a baby anymore...he pees standing up! Holy cow! He has one proud daddy here who was able to teach him :) Boys will be boys. Mom constantly reminds him to lift the seat and aim toward the water...I predict some fun cleaning days ahead ;) We are so thankful to have Graham with us for a whole two weeks. Nothing like being a family unit again. We were able to go to Sean's first Music Program tonight. It was really cute, even though he wasn't totally into it. I am going to blame it on his "no nap" today. He has started to sing along to songs in the car and wants me to turn it up louder! It is soooo cute!

I am also praying for a friend who had to send her husband off to Iraq this past weekend. May he return to you quickly and safely.

Happy Monday Night...only two more work days left! Yahoo!

Sean and Friends...

Sean and Santa

Sean and Leo
Tyler and Dylan
Tyler, Braeden, Sean, and Leo waiting for their turns with Santa!

It doesn't get much better than this! Hanging with his cousins and friends, waiting for Santa, and he even brough them early presents! Sean got the Monster Trucks he has been wanting so bad. Santa always knows:)

Playing in the Snow

I broke out my old snow pants on Tuesday night to spend a little quality time with Sean outside. He had a blast! He dove into the snow, rolled around in it, threw it, jumped into it, and so on. He didn't want to come in! "I'm warm, Mommy! It's nice outside!" As my toes and fingers were numb :) To be a kid again!

Winter Wonderland!

We just got back from spending a wonderful weekend away in Duluth. It truly is our home away from home. Graham had the tree up when we arrived on Friday night, so we were ready to decorate on Saturday morning. Gotta love how Sean loves to put all the ornaments on the same branch:)

On Saturday night, we met some friends at this awesome holiday light display. It was incredible! It was a town made out of Christmas lights with Santa and his reindeer, Mrs. Clause, and Frosty all hanging around, too! They gave out free hot chocolate, cookies, and marshmallows to roast! We had a blast even though it was only 8 degrees out! Sean loved wearing his boots and snow pants, and his cheeks were very rosy by the end of the night! It was such a magical night! I loved seeing the holiday spirit! Love this time of year:)

Check out our pictures to the side, as well. Happy Holidays!

Disney Show

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving break together as a family and enjoyed lots of great food and company. Thanksgiving was different for us this year, since Amy and her family drove to visit Alli for the holiday. That left my parents, Molly and Nick, and us for a smaller version. My mom got the flu and contained herself to her room for the day, so I did the cooking. Everything tasted great, but we sure missed having our usual big to do. The quiet was just too quiet, and the simple touches my mom does cannot be fabricated.

I had a great time shopping with Mandy early on Friday. We loved the deals, the coffee, and the people watching. It was awesome to have some "girl time" together all the while getting things checked off our list. Thanks, Mandy!

We were also able to have a great time down in Bricelyn with Graham's side on Saturday. Sean had a blast playing with his cousins, probably drove them nuts:) The adults loved the eating, visiting, and game playing. Who knew "Apples to Apples" could be so much fun?! It was great having Ginger home for the week, so we were able to spend some good quality time with her, too.

On Sunday, we took Sean to "Disney Live!" What a magical time for him! He was able to see most of his favorite characters from his favorite shows. He sang and danced. He loved the "treat" his dad got for him; cotton candy that came with a hat and lemonade for the low price of $20. I took some pictures, but he had a hard time taking his eyes away from the stage. He didn't want to miss a thing! We are so glad that we were able to do this together. :)

Great Teacher Moment...

It happened on my last day of conferences, and it was the second to last student on my schedule. Our Phy. Ed. teacher mentioned to me that this student needed gym shoes, and she went on to tell me that someone made a donation of shoes to our school. She was wondering if he would be interested in choosing a pair. Well, at the end of conferences I mentioned that fact that he didn't have any, and dad just looks down and says that he'll work on that. I, then, piped in about this donation we received and how we would like his son to go to the gym to pick out a pair. The dad answered, with tears running down his cheeks, that would be great and my student couldn't wait to get to the gym.

It was a time that reminded me of why I love my job.

Of course, I couldn't help but tear up along with him. It was an awesome moment. I get to work with amazing people.

Santa!

What a fun weekend we had! First it started off picking up Graham in Faribault. He was able to hitch a ride with some buddies, 4 to be exact, as they headed to Iowa for the weekend. I think it would have been a funny sight to see, 5 guys in a little car...Graham being one of them in the back seat :)

Since we were over there, we headed over to some friends' house for a pizza dinner. I volunteered to bring the salad, which was made easy for me by my local Olive Garden! Did you know that you could get a "party salad" with all the fixings, a bottle of dressing, and a dozen bread sticks for under $17! I thought it was a great deal. Thanks to Mandy for the idea. We had a great visit.

Saturday was a fun and busy day. We got up and ready, and were heading out the door by 8:45 for pictures with Santa! We met my sister and her kids at Drummers and all piled into her van to watch a movie while we waited. Amy and I would rather get there early and be first in line, than fight the crowd and have to keep happy kids for who knows how long:) It all worked as planned. We were first in line! Here is how our Santa visit went:

1. Santa parked his white PT Cruiser right next to Amy's van for all the kids to see him as he got out!
2. He parked so close to the Handicap sign, it was bending over :)
3. As soon as Sean walked in the door, he started yelling Santa's name. Santa waved and smiled at him, and he continued doing it until it was picture time. Sean was so excited!
4. Emma put on the brakes as soon as she saw him and wanted nothing to do with him.
5. So, Sean went first. He walked up to Santa and told him what he wanted before climbing up onto his lap. He wants big trucks, of course.
6. We got some great pictures of Sean smiling and talking with him.
7. Next, we did a cousins picture. Amy was in the first shot pushing, coaxing, carrying Emma to her spot. Charlie was screaming, and Sean and Braeden were having a blast.
8. The lady was able to get some fun shots of all the moods. We can't wait to get them home and hung up! We will have many memories and stories to tell.
9. Emma came around when it was just her family shot, and was even caught smiling:)
10. Charlie's crocodile tears melted our hearts and as soon his mommy was able to hold him, they instantly stopped.

Look for the pictures to come! We, parents, had a blast watching all of this commotion. Love this time of year!

We spent the rest of the day at home hanging out with my mom, my aunt, and cousin. We enjoyed visiting and watching all the kids playing. I even was able to talk Graham into hanging some Christmas lights outside. He and I laughed so hard at what we call our "Griswold" lighting job, but had fun turning them on for Sean last night.

Now, Graham has left for Duluth in his car. We are excited to see him mid week for this long holiday weekend. Our time together is so valuable. A second is never wasted.

Out with the old...

Just last week we posted our cars on Car Soup. We needed to admit to ourselves that with our growing family, we need something a little bigger. Well, Graham's truck was a hot commodity! It sold fast! So that meant this weekend, we needed to find him a car. Not an easy task. Especially for a man who has always been a truck guy. It was hard for him to get excited about test driving cars...I really felt sorry for him. He said that the thing that makes him most sad is that Sean connects him with the truck. He has a toy truck that he calls, "daddy's truck." He loved to ride in it whenever we would go anywhere. So we took some pictures this weekend.

By the way, Graham did finally decide on a car at 4:30pm Saturday night. Right before closing time :) It is going to be a nice vehicle for us and will save us a lot on gas! I am proud of you, honey! He gets to pick it up on Friday. So until then, he is discovering the bus system in Duluth and hitching a ride with a friend down to the cities for the weekend.

Funny side note;

We searched high and low for the spare set of keys to the truck this weekend, as he was giving it to them Monday night. I told him I swore they were up in Duluth, and that he just needed to look harder. Well, he called last night and said he looked, with no luck, and could I please check my car one last time. I begrudgingly agreed, knowing they were not in there. Low and behold, I moved a CD in my console, and there it was...Egg on my face! Sorry, honey. They are now in the mail to the new owner of our beloved old truck.

Halloween!

I don't think Sean could have had any more fun! He was able to trick or treat with his cousins, he got to wear his Scooby Doo costume, ring doorbells, get candy from strangers, be outside in the dark, and so on. He was polite and kind, and enjoyed every second of it. I have the memories burned into my brain, but will share some fun pictures with you soon.

On Saturday, his Papa also worked so hard on the yard and made him a HUGE pile of leaves to jump in after his nap! He couldn't wait, he watched his Papa build the pile all morning, and it was hard to go to sleep. He woke up with one thing on his mind...leaves! He spent a good two hours outside running and jumping into the pile. Oh the fun he had! Thank goodness he still had energy to trick or treat!

Yesterday, we were able to enjoy a nice lunch at Grandma Darlene's house. We made tacos in a bag for the first time, and Sean ate every bite! We had a great visit, played with some fun toys, got to see some kittens, and a fuzzy caterpillar! He is our nature lover:)

Graham and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary yesterday, too! Hard to believe it has been 6 years. It seems like yesterday, but I don't remember my life without him. We spent a great day together and even had a date last night. It sure is amazing how much love we have and it continues to grow every day. We are so excited about the new babies and had fun talking/making plans for our future family of 5! :)

My Dogs

Nala and Gus

My little Gus was my first baby. He was walked often, fed well, enjoyed treats, and always slept in my bed (sometimes up by the pillow). Amy got his litter mate, Max, and they enjoyed a happy life together.

Then came my princess, Nala, and Amy's princess, Bella. With both Amy and I getting married, we needed to find friends for our little boys. The boys did not make it easy for the little princesses to warm up to them, but after a few weeks the new pairs before inseparable.

Before Sean, Gus and Nala were bathed and brushed at least once a week. They were walked at least once a day. Their food dish was always full, and they were welcomed inside with a treat each time. They slept at the foot of our bed and even went to doggy daycare twice a week.

Now, they sleep on a nice pillow on the floor. I haven't walked them in quite awhile. Their food is measured out, so they always act desperate to eat. They don't get treats because of a special diet they have to be on. They, once again, live with their litter mates and are trying to figure out "who is in charge." They still love to sit close and get as much love as possible, and they follow me around everywhere.

As you can see, I have having the case of the guilties. To top it off, Gus has been battling a never ending ear infection for the last couple years. It came upon after taking him the groomers one time, and now we have to make sure we are checking it often to keep it clean and medicated. Well, I haven't been checking him lately and it got pretty bad. So bad in fact, we had to make an expensive trip to the vet to get it cleaned, get new drops to clear it up and pills to relieve the pain, and a new ear cleaning liquid to try. Poor little buddy.

I think I need to find time in my day to start incorporating some of the "good old times" we used to have together. We can all use a good walk and a bath to make us feel good. If not everyday, at least a few times a week. So sorry Gus.

What a week!

Wow! I started this last week with the excitement of finally sharing our news of twins, but that quickly changed. Tuesday started like any other day, but by 9:30am I was sicker than a dog! I finally got a sub around 11:45am, so I was able to go home to bed. Thank goodness for my student teacher, otherwise my students would've been watching movies all morning long! I was laid up in bed all week, and I finally started feeling better on Saturday afternoon. Thank goodness! It was the longest week of my life!

We are all good and seemly healthy now. Sean never came down with it, so I am praying he is spared. I was even able to enjoy some husband time this weekend. Now, Graham has left and I have the bills paid, and I am trying to figure out why my money tree isn't producing as much as I need. Hmmm.

Here is hoping everyone has a fantastic week of fun! Halloween is one of my favorite times of year!

Twins?!

Yes! Graham, Sean, and I are having twins this April! We are 12 weeks along, and have been monitored closely. Everything is going beautifully, and I can even feel them moving around! This is a dream come true for our family, and we feel so blessed. Please keep us in your prayers.

Here are some pictures my dad took Sunday night. I am so lucky to have him. Who else would want to go into their work on a weekend...I guess looking at your new grand-babies is worth it :)

The bottom picture shows both babes, only the left side shows the top of Baby B's head and the right side is the profile of Baby A. So that is why there is the top picture to show Baby B's profile. Baby A is the lowest one and Baby B is the higher one.

White Coat!

We had an amazing weekend in Duluth watching Graham receive his White Coat and Stethoscope! He looked amazing, and I am so excited for our future! We are so very proud of him and how hard he worked to fulfill his dream! Here are some pics to enjoy...

We were able to spend time with my parents and Graham's mom and sister, Crystal. It was great to all be together and share in this special day. The ceremony was during Sean's regular nap time, I was hoping he'd just crash out on my lap...no such luck. Thanks to my dad for taking him out, repeatedly, and for finally taking him to walk the school and wait for us to be done. What a Grandpa!

Our weekends always go by way too quickly. It seems like we just unpack the car and then we are packing it up again. Four hours one way is quite a distance and one that we are not getting used to quickly, but Graham is worth the drive :) Sean is a trooper and a great traveler. Now if this road construction could finally be done...

Bike Rider!

We now have a bike rider! He was doing so well on his tricycle that this weekend we decided to upgrade. He thinks it is awesome, but is still a little unsure when he is on it. He will ride it for a little while, then go back to his tricycle. He is learning that pushing the pedals backwards brakes...it is interesting and so cute! Each day he goes a little farther, and it won't be long until I need to get out my bike to keep up with him :)

On a side note, we are thrilled that fall is here! Love these temps and the falling leaves. I just wished it lasted longer :) My classroom is finally cooling down. The hardest part for me right now is putting away the sandals...I will wear them for awhile longer.

We are looking forward to Graham's White Coat Ceremony this weekend. We will be entertaining my parents, and Graham's mom and sister, Crystal. We can't wait to show them our newly remodeled townhome, too. Hoping to get out some fun decorations early Saturday before they get there to make it "fallish." I always think of my friend, Andrea, at this time of year. She inspires me to get festive :)

Duluth :)

Wow! We have made it through the first couple weeks of living separately. I am not going to say it has been easy at all. Our weekends are not long enough and Sean keeps thinking daddy is coming home after school each day. We are all trying our best :)

We did enjoy a nice lazy weekend up in Duluth together. Graham had to work the Med Tent for an In-line Skating Race. Little did we know how "big" this event actually is! It took me nearly 5 1/2 hours to get there Friday night...usually it is a quick 3 1/2 hour drive. Both Sean and I were done with the car by 9pm Friday night! Saturday was low key, and we just enjoyed playing and watching Sean ride his tricycle all by himself! He is a pedaling maniac! Today, we woke up and Graham made us our favorite "Hawaiian" breakfast (waffles with macadamia nuts and bananas). Then we took a walk down by the lake. The air is so fresh and it is so inspiring seeing all the people out there working out! Inspiring, and I am hoping it will rub off on my one of these days. :) Sean and I headed home after lunch, hoping to have missed the crowd going home earlier...everyone had the same idea as me and waited, so we drove another 5 1/2 hours home. We are so done with the car for awhile! Miss Graham terribly already. Wish I could've gotten one more hug...next weekend.

Hope all is well with you! Congrats to the Westmans on their new baby girl!

Weekend Fun

It was so nice to have a long weekend to spend up in Duluth together. We really enjoyed our time together and were able to do a little more sight seeing, too! Graham was even lucky enough to make two late night trips to our local Walgreens for our ailing Sean.

Friday night Sean split his eye lid open by hitting his head hard on the tub. He and daddy were just having too much fun and it ended with a bang! Graham had to run to get starry strips, to "tape" it together...now he has a black eye. Poor guy. Then Sunday, he felt extremely hot and we were worried out how high his temp was getting, so Graham had to run to buy a thermometer. Ugh.

Other than that, we had so much fun! We walked the lake walk, crossed the lift bridge, ate lunch at Grandma's on the deck, hung pictures at our new place, and enjoyed family time together. Here's to wishing the week days to go fast and the weekends to go slow.

It has begun...

Our crazy way of life has now begun. It was pretty hard for us to say goodbye today. Today is the first day of the next possible two years of living apart on the weekdays. We have had some practice this summer, but saying goodbye today was different. We will cherish our weekends. We will be pro skypers and telephone callers. We will be closer than ever. I am so proud of Graham, and I look forward to our future.

We had a great last week together. We moved out of storage and got settled up north. The three of us saw Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Light House, Castle Park, and the Malt Shoppe! We went to my cousin's wedding and had a great time. We had to say goodbye to Alli, which was really hard. But we are so very proud of her and that makes us feel better. It was a great way to finish our summer.

Tomorrow Graham and I both start school. It will be nice to get on a schedule and get him on his way!

Moved!

This past weekend, Graham and I moved all our stuff out of storage and up to Duluth! Yahoo! Graham is still doing a few things up there, but it is very livable and ready for us to be there. Thanks to my dad for helping load the truck...sure wished we would've gotten a bigger Uhaul...we will be hauling more stuff this week. Thanks to my dad, mom, and Alli for watching Sean for a few days while Graham and I made the trek up there to unload and unpack.

Here are a few preliminary pictures of our place. I will post more when it is all done. We are looking forward to taking Sean up there this weekend to see his new house and spend the final week of summer together before the craziness of life begins!

Hidden Beach

I met a friend today at a park that I didn't even know about! I had been out to Bray Park as a teenager, but the purpose of going to a camp ground was much different for me back then. Parties, friends, bonfires, maybe a drink or two. How things/priorities have changed!

This park has a beach, play area, and nice covered picnic area. One of Sean's favorite activities to do this summer is to play on the beach with toys and to be able to wade into the lake. He can do this for hours and hours. Thanks, Katie, for showing me this hidden park in our area! This will be a regular spot for us now!

There was also some fun new toys out there. On the way to the lake he was talking about "his surfboard," which he doesn't have. When we got there, one little friend had brought one! Sean traded his boat for the board and was in hog heaven! Enjoy the pics!

Music

Please enjoy this little tune and picture this...

Graham and I at a Def Leopard concert (before Sean) and we have great seats just to the side of the stage. We are really enjoying ourselves, when all of a sudden this guy (very, very drunk guy) comes down the stairs to our left. He was going pretty fast and it wasn't on his feet...he tripped and road the stairs down on his knees and shins! Ouch! He gets up, raises his un-spilled beer, and shouts, "I'm okay!" Now that is a memory burned into my brain! I wonder how he felt the next day...unexplained bruises?! Ouch!

This music is for Graham. Love you, honey!

Waiting...

We are sitting on the couch anxiously awaiting "Daddy" to come home from Duluth. He should be here any minute! It sure is amazing how much you can miss someone when they are away. Saying goodbye is the hardest part of my week, but then we are on our way to another week of work and play. Weekends don't last long enough:)

I had a blast with my sisters at a Craig Morgan concert last night. We haven't hung out like that for awhile. Good company, singing, dancing, and a few cocktails made for a great night. Sean got to stay home with one of his favorite babysitters, Bailey. I babysat her when she was a baby! Sure is fun to have her with us now! We are really lucky.

Think I hear the garage door! Daddy is home!

Hotel Manners?!

We have been spending a lot of our weekends up in Duluth with Graham. It has been really fun and we have been lucky to get great hotel prices from "priceline." Some places were better than others, but that is the risk you take!

This last weekend we stayed at a decent place, had a nice room, TV worked, tub drained...all important in my book:) The trouble was the next door neighbors! I couldn't believe how rude people can be! It started off at 11pm with slamming doors (repeatedly), screaming, laughing, and talking at the top of their lungs. We had just gotten Sean to sleep, so I wasn't too happy at this situation. By the time I stuck my head out into the hall, they were in the elevator...you know what that means...we fall hard asleep to be awoken by the same behavior at 2:30am! This time it was worse and somewhat scary, as they were fighting now, too. At first Graham was going to go say something, then we stopped and called the front desk. Thank goodness, they sent someone up to warn them. It quieted down enough that we were able to get back to sleep, but turned the fan on high (super loud) and kept the TV on for noise. Ugh! When I woke up, I wanted to pound on the walls and scream, but I am better than that...sometimes:) Isn't there a "hotel manners book" out there? Why do I always worry about my neighbors?

Check out the new pictures from up north. Our condo should be done in about 2 weeks, then moving day! Hooray!

Update...

I know you have all been on pins and needles wondering if he/I was successful in potty training!

The answer is YES! He totally amazes me. The third day went well. I pushed him too early to go play outside, and he had an accident. I immediately went back inside with him and followed the advise of the program, "to not leave the house for 3 days," and got back on track. Only needed 3 pairs of underwear today!

The fourth day was a little nerve racking as we were driving to Duluth to see Graham and to stay/play at a hotel. I wondered if he would be able to "hold it" until the next gas station, if he would be able to "hold it" during the fun time away from home, etc. I had towels and lots of clothes with me. WOW! We stopped twice on the way up. Once for potty break and lunch, and the second time as we entered Duluth. Dry and clean the whole weekend long!

We are still not consistent with #2, but are getting closer. I am so proud of him. He has done an awesome job! No more diapers at this house!

Potty Training...

We are on day two of the three day program! The object of the program is to absolutely be done with diapers and go straight to underwear forever. Forever. Daytime, nighttime, nap time, and bedtime...You are with your child throughout the entire 3 days, paying attention to their every move, and continually saying, "Tell mommy when you need to go potty, let's stay dry and clean!"

I didn't think it was going to be possible yesterday! The morning started off rough with full bladder releases. Then mid-morning it changed. He still wet a little, but was able to hold the majority until he made it to the bathroom! Yahoo! Yesterday...10 pairs of underwear, totally dry nap, and totally dry overnight!

Today, day two, he woke up yelling for me. He made it to the bathroom then and has every time since! Today...1 pair of underwear, dry nap time, and just beginning overnight. Yahoo!

Tomorrow...I am hoping to master #2. Wish us luck! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Deer?!

Graham almost made it home from his first solo trip to Duluth without a hitch...but then a deer decided to make a run for him 10 miles from home. Nice. He was fine, deer ran off, but the truck has major damage. So, that is my job this week. I got the estimate this morning and waiting for the appraiser to check it out before scheduling the "work." For now, he took my car up for the week and my mom has generously offered to loan me her car while they are out of town.

Well, we are hoping that this isn't a sign :) We worry about the travel, but have to say our prayers and keep our game face on while driving. This is just the beginning!

Duluth...It now begins!

Graham has officially started in Duluth today. He finished up his last job yesterday afternoon, and we spent the evening getting everything loaded into his truck. It really is amazing how much it can hold! He needed a little of everything, as he is going to be living there and remodeling at the same time.

It was a little hard for us to say goodbye early this morning (5am) because it is the first time of many to come. It is really starting. It is exciting and scary at the same time. He made it up there safe and sound, got unloaded, and now is making a game plan for what to do first. He will make his way back here on Friday night to spend time with us and reload for Monday morning.

I was able to send a little surprise gift with him, too. Graham and I love our morning coffee. As I was looking for a nice, new, big mug to send with him, I found one that could be personalized. I had Sean write (draw) on it along with me writing a message. He found it once he got there and unpacked. Needless to say, he loves it! Just a little bit of us with him now.

Wow! This is really happening!

4th of July Weekend

We had such a wonderful weekend with our family and friends, and we are still recovering from all the fun we had!

It started out on Friday night at my sister-in-law's lakeside campsite. We grilled out, drank, talked, laughed, and stayed dry (we always seem to bring the rain). Graham and Sean went on the 4-wheeler, and Sean even swam in the lake. This lake is like one I have never seen before. It is sooooo shallow, 100 feet from the dock and the water only comes up to my 6 year old nephew's stomach! Needless to say, Sean really could play by the shore with the trucks and boats without waves or drop offs. With all the fun he had playing with his cousins, we thought for sure he would sleep all the way home (about an hour), nope. Talked and watched his "Scooby Doo!"

On Saturday, we began our day very lazy. It was raining for most of the morning and early afternoon, so we didn't rush anywhere. After Sean woke up from his nap, he and I headed out to Amy's parent-in-laws' lake home (Graham had come down with the flu and had to stay home...bummer). Thanks to Uncle Nick, Sean and I got to take many boats rides around the lake. He likes going fast in Papa's speedboat, but he also enjoys being able to walk around and play on the pontoon boat. Oh, the fun of it all! Mary and Dean made a wonderful dinner for us all and soon we were out on the lake to watch the fireworks! It is a wonderful tradition that we have. There is a family on the lake who puts on the fireworks show. This year they added WWII planes as a prelude. It was awesome! They came right over our heads, and Sean couldn't get enough. The fireworks started a little after 10pm, and there had to have been over 100 boats anchored out in front of their place. They were awesome, and Sean stayed awake for the entire thing "oohing and ahhing" over them. On the ride back to shore, he fell asleep. Once again, we were headed home late, Sean woke up during the transition and talked the whole way home. He had so much to tell me about! It is such a relaxing and fun day, we look forward to it every year.

Sunday was the best weather day of them all. We were lucky to just hang by the pool and enjoy each other's company once again. The kids love to swim and play, the moms love to lay out, and the dads love to watch golf. Who could ask for a better day?! It is always a bonus when the littles take naps, too:)

Hope yours was a good one, too!

Parks, Parks, and More Parks!

This is my 2nd summer off, and I am loving it! I get the chance to be a stay-at-home mom for 3 months, and we have playdates.

There is a group of us from school that meet on Tuesday mornings at different parks around Mankato. It is great to stay connected to my co-workers and enjoy playing outside. I also have been able to reconnect with some high school friends via facebook. We have set up playdates for Thursday mornings. It is so fun to catch up with them, to see their babies, and to get to know them on a different level. Fun, fun, fun!

Sean, of course, loves playdates and can't get enough of the parks. He loves to climb, slide, swing, and run. Tuesday, he started to climb up a ladder that was spaced pretty wide, and I didn't think he'd get far. Next thing I know, he is clapping at himself and saying, "Yeah!" Yup, he climbed it and I didn't watch him. Thank God for little angels. Today, he learned how to climb up a rock climbing wall...watch out! I have one brave little man!

We have a busy 4th of July weekend ahead. We hope you all have fun and stay safe.

Time to Catch Up!

We have had a busy couple weeks! Here are a couple updates and some new pics to enjoy.

1. Graham turned 40 this year, and we had to celebrate! We had a small gathering at one of our favorite spots, Westwood. We ate and drank and let the babysitter drive Sean home early for the first time...YIKES! It all went perfectly.

2. Minnesota Zoo...need I say more?! We love to go and this time we brought along Grandma Darlene and Ginger. We all had a blast!

3. My cousin Melissa got married yesterday! It was a beautiful day, and we all had a great time seeing/catching up with our Peterson Family. We don't get to see each other often, but when we do, we sure have a great time!

4. Construction begins soon up in Duluth. We are excited to get it started and finished. Then it is time to settle in and make it our home for the next two years. Wow, how life changes and how exciting it is!

Summer?!

Will it ever be here? Finally, it is getting warmer, but the rain is now keeping us inside. Ugh! Soon, soon.

We are all getting settled into our new life style; living in the parents' basement, organizing construction plans for Duluth, and finding ways to make our life as "normal" as possible. This next year is going to bring lots of changes for our family, but they are exciting changes. Graham and I are looking forward to creating a home up north for our family.

We celebrated Graham's birthday yesterday. He is not enjoying getting older, but I like to remind him of all his accomplishments (owning a successful construction business, going back to school, meeting and marrying me, having our pride and joy, and getting into medical school!) and that makes him smile.

Heavy Heart

I write this entry with a heavy heart. This week our hearts were broken when we found out the baby we had worked so hard to create did not make it. I was 8 1/2 weeks along and had just heard the heartbeat 2 weeks ago. But Tuesday afternoon, there was no longer a heartbeat. Our hearts are so very sad. I was given this poem from a dear friend, and I want to share it.

My Butterfly

~

I long to feel the soft weight of you

to welcome you home, with kisses

on silky round cheeks.

~

Instead my arms ache with the

weight of your absence,

the empty places that were meant for you

to grow into.

~

My love for you will last an eternity

My hopes and dreams now carried

on the fragile wings of each butterfly passing

compelling me to pause,

to savour each moment,

~

each flutter in my heart-

your wings.

~

-Unknown-

~

Every time you see a butterfly, say a little prayer for Baby King. For this baby was created with lots of love and will be missed terribly. Thank you to all our family and friends for your love, support, kind words and gifts. You just being there helps us.

Moved!

We did it! We are moved into the basement of my parents' house for the time being.

It has been a crazy week, but successful. Now we just have the last minute clean up before closing and a few more boxes to unpack. God bless my parents!

Sean is a little confused of his new surroundings. He loves Nana and Papa's house, but he doesn't get that he is living there yet. Falling asleep in his new room last night was a little different, too. He was quiet, and I went to check on him. He had opened his door and made a "nest" of his blankets in the doorway where he was falling asleep. Broke my heart. All I could do was pick him up and hold him awhile. He will get used to his new digs soon and love it. Poor kid. Hopefully it gets easier fast. We just need some good outside time to burn off some energy, too!

First Swimming Lesson!

Last weekend, Auntie Alli needed some guinea pigs for a class she was teaching. We had our first Parent-Tot swimming lesson with her. Sean had a complete blast! He was even more excited to have his cousins there as guinea pigs, too. He laughed and squealed and jumped and floated and swam...he even went down the big water slide! He couldn't get enough of the slide, picture a little 2 year old climbing up steep, slippery steps with a nervous mom behind him. Perfect and fun! The pool is also a zero entry pool, so he was able to run in and out and all around. Wow, I have to get him signed up for the real thing now! Awesome! Thanks, Alli!

Procrastinator

I am sitting here watching a lifetime movie while my boys are taking naps. I should be using this time to pack...it isn't getting done on its own! We are moving on Sunday, so I am thinking Saturday would be a good packing day.

I do have a lot done, it is just hard to get into the stuff we are using. So I will sit and watch this movie and pray for a great week of packing:)

Sleeping In...

My boy is taking after his mom and enjoys a lazy morning. It really doesn't work for us too well on school days, though. So I came up with a brilliant plan. I am going to get him to bed earlier, so he will wake up earlier. Makes sense to me, right?! Wrong!

He futzed around in his room for about an hour, ends up falling asleep in the rocking chair (which I got a picture of before moving him), and then gets up bright and early today at 6:00am! Ugh! Made me laugh!

It is so much easier to get out of the house when he wakes up on his own and has some "play time." Otherwise, it is, "No, mommy. Na-night time." As he turns away from me.

Date Night

Wow! I forgot how much fun my husband is! With all the packing and planning, we decided we needed a night out. We went to dinner, a comedy show, and finished the night seeing Hairball (a fun 80s rock band). We knew every word to every song, so we had a blast! Nice to escape reality for awhile and let loose. We went with our neighbors, and they are a hoot! You know you are old when...you can remember babysitting the bouncer...when you are yawning before the band starts at 10pm...when you drink water at the end of the night, so you don't wreck the next day! Yikes!

Big Day

Wow, was Easter fun! Sean had two egg hunts, and he saw all his cousins and grandparents! Needless to say, he played and played, ate candy and junk, and loved every minute of it.

Today it was back to our regular schedule. Sean decided to not take a nap today, so when I picked him up he was miserable to say the least. We had to go to Target, and that is where the melt down began. It continued until I put him down on my bed and cuddled him in with a blanket. And that was all I saw of my awake child for the day. I have tried waking him, worried that he will be waking up in the middle of the night, with no success. So, I moved him to his bed and that is currently where he is crashed out. Poor little buddy!

Oh, and we also got a condo/townhouse today in Duluth! They accepted our offer, so we will be closing late next month. It needs a lot of work, but we are the right people for that. (Or should I say, Graham is the right person for that!) I think we/he prefers buying fixer uppers or new, so that we/he can make it how we want it. Soon the fun will begin! Plan on visiting us, we would love to have you!

House...Sold!

We were lucky. We told our realtor that our house was on the market if someone came through that was a serious buyer. We didn't want any contracts or signs out front yet. Well, that was the conversation on Sunday and by Tuesday he was calling for a showing and by Tuesday night he was calling with an offer. All the papers were signed on Friday, the day before we left for Hawaii. Crazy how everything turns out sometimes. Although, we are not thrilled with the closing day (May 8th), we feel really blessed to have it happen so quick and easy.

Now comes the packing and moving. I have this week off for Spring Break, so I am hard at work sorting, organizing, boxing, and planning. The best part is I am getting rid of a lot of things. Mom and I will have a garage sale early this summer. Here's hoping it is a success!

For now we will move into mom and dad's basement, just like before when we were building this house. They are so gracious and generous. We are also on the lookout for the "right" place in Duluth. We'll keep you posted!

Sad Day

My sister Alli has been working as an intern at the Minnesota Zoo since September. A dream come true for her, and to top it off, she has been working with the dolphins! One of the female dolphins, Ali, has been expecting a baby, and my sister Alli had a big part in it. She worked the over night shift watching, monitoring, playing with the dolphins waiting for the baby to arrive. Once the baby was born, her job would be to "dolphin sit" on the overnight shift until it was old enough to be left alone.

We have all been waiting anxiously for Alli's text to let us know that the baby has arrived. I woke up this morning to a text that the baby dolphin was stillborn. Shock and sadness is all the words that I can muster. My sister has poured her heart and soul into her work up there and it breaks my heart to know that she is suffering. I know it might be hard to relate, but an easy way to look at it is that Alli treats her animals as if they were her own kids. And that is why my heart is broken. I know that she is going to be a better Vet because of this. I know she is going to take what she learned today and do something spectacular. But for now, send her and her Zoo friends some hugs, as they are all feeling a great loss.

I am so sorry, Alli. I love you.

Sick Little Man

I am home for the 2nd day with a sick little man. It amazes me the strength that he has. He uses every last bit of energy to play before crashing in my bed or on the couch to watch a "moobie" (movie).

Haven't seen him like this before, and the doctors say it is going around. I really wish it was me, and I pray for him to feel better soon. These rainy days fit the feelings at our house.

Hope you are all healthy and seeing the signs of spring time soon!

First Dentist Visit!

Sean had his first trip to the dentist today! He sat in the big chair, let them look at and brush his teeth, and even let them paint the "frosting" on! His favorite part was the "water squirter, air hose, and vacuum thing." Very proud mama here. He loves his new Tiger toothbrush, too.

We're Back :(

Begrudgingly of course! We are back from our Hawaii trip and already want to start planning our next trip! It was so fun to get away to the warmth and sun. We enjoyed spending time with my sisters, bro-in-laws, and parents. We laughed a lot, ate too much, and indulged in a few cocktails.

Sean loved the freedom of running around, swimming, and playing in the sand and waves. He makes things very exciting and eventful; like locking himself into a hotel room! It all turned out fine, but my heart was in my throat! Busy boy with lots to do, never a dull moment.

Went to school today and brought home some work...thinking I might just wait on it until tomorrow. It is still vacation weekend, right!?

Biggest Klutz...

I have won back my title of "Biggest Klutz" just in time for our fabulous vacation! If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all! Yesterday, I drove to work admiring the warm weather and wet streets. I had to clean my windshield numerous times from all the wet grim. When I got to work, I parked in my normal spot and gathered all my things into my hands. As I put my foot onto the wet ground, I quickly learned it was not "wet," it was "ice!" Next thing I know, I am on the ground with all of my stuff thrown everywhere. I did a quick check to make sure no one was watching (as I am sure the sight made someone's day!), then proceeded to get up and gather up my things. As I began to walk, I noticed that my right ankle was extremely painful. I made it to my classroom and decided I better get it looked at, because we leave Saturday for our trip! My awesome principal found someone to cover my room for me and then Graham came and took me to the clinic. They didn't find anything broken, it is just a bad sprain. Thank God, but man, I have never had a sprain like this before!

I should be at work for my last day before break instilling fear into my little darlings, but instead I am home with my foot up. Not fun. No matter what, the beach and lawn chair and cocktails will make me feel tons better! Just can't bring the new fun sandals...oh well. Klutz.

Family Night

We have decided to put ourselves on a tight budget to start preparing ourselves for Medical School. So that means that our dinners out needed to change. Some friends of ours told us how they take a date night to the mall. They walk around and get Subway. Well, tonight we tried it, only we took Sean to the play place before heading for supper. We really had a great time and only spent half (or less) than what we would've normally spent at a restaurant! Yeah for us! Sean kept saying, "Fun!" all the way home tonight. He is sound asleep as we speak, exhausted from a night of climbing, sliding, and running! I agree, "Fun!"

Sean's 2nd Birthday!

Wow! Sean has had one awesome birthday! It has been a week of celebrating, and he is currently out cold in his bed for a nap!

When he woke up on Wednesday (his birthday), we told him that there was presents to open. He thought Santa had come! Cute comment #1! The Live Elmo was a hit, along with the Little People farm!

When we sang "Happy Birthday," he sang along with us. It became his favorite song of the week. Cute comment (song) #2! He enjoyed chocolate cake and ice cream a couple times, too!

He had an awesome time with his family and friends last night at his big party and played his little heart out. He loved all his new special things, and wanted to take them all to bed with him! When saying "Goodbye" to everyone, he also said "I love you." Which melted many hearts. Cute comment #3!

We are proud to say we are the parents of a 2 year old. He has grown so much, is learning so much, and is turning into such a smart, caring, and affectionate little man. Sean is truly a miracle and gift from above.

Valentines

I love holidays. I love to celebrate them with my family. I enjoy making a big deal out of little things. Sean had a great day and was even able to see his cousins! That always makes a day better! We got him a new movie with Tigger and Pooh. He loves it. We are realizing the importance what is on the TV when Sean is in the room. He doesn't necessarily pay close attention to it, unless it is Mickey Mouse/Pooh/Walle, but he is really good at repeating things...I am also grateful for his enjoyment of these movies for our long plane ride to Hawaii coming up. I really think it will help him relax and enjoy it more, too.

Mom and dad had a date night, so Sean was home with a new babysitter. This one was younger than our regular (she had a date), so we were a little worried. I kept reminding myself that I was young when I started and loved every second of it.

We went out and tried to eat at Olive Garden, but the wait was 3 hours. No restaurant is worth that! We moved onto Red Lobster. The wait was better, only 1 hour 45 minutes, so we thought we'd hold down the bar and talk. It was fun and we met some fun people. As our wait time came and went, and my husbands stomach was beginning to ache, we ran into our neighbors. They are a hoot of a couple, and we've really enjoyed hanging out with them. Finally our name was called, and we changed our table from a 2 top to a 4 top and had a ball. It was all worth the wait. And the boy at home had a fabulous time with his new pal. All is well that ends well!

Hope yours was good, too!

Thanks, Alli!

Wow! We had a great day at the Minnesota Zoo with the whole family! The kids went crazy seeing the animals, especially the dolphins! We were able to watch Alli "show off" the dolphins with all their tricks, and that was awesome! It was incredible to watch her in her glory and doing something that she has always wanted to do. We are praying she gets into school to make all of her dreams come true. Her whole heart and soul is in all she does. We enjoyed lunch and being able to catch up with the everyone. The cousins just love being together. It really is a beautiful thing. We were even able to see Braeden play with the dolphins, and that was really cool, too!

Hope your weekend was full of fun. Thanks, Alli, for making this trip one to remember!

Big Boy Bed

We finally did it, and changed Sean's crib to a toddler bed! We have been talking about it for awhile now, but then the weekend gets away from us and we decide to wait until the next weekend.

Last night was the night. Graham changed it right before bed time and Sean thought is was awesome! That is until it came to actually sleeping in it. I think it was a little scary for him at first, as he seemed concerned. Amy suggested putting a baby gate in his doorway to keep him confined to his room, GREAT idea! I couldn't tell you how many times his door would open and he'd shout out, " Mommy!" We took turns putting him back into bed and tucking him in. All in all, it only took 30 minutes for him to be out cold! I was really shocked.

Today's nap, however, is a different story. As I am writing this, he has been opening and shutting his door for the last hour. He has been naked twice, emptied his dresser once, put his puzzles together, and has read all the books in his room. Ahhh, too cute. I am letting him explore his new found freedom while checking on him regularly. I am hoping one tired little busy body will crash out soon!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Hawaii, please!

Hawaii can't get here fast enough! Yesterday I had morning duty. Morning duty is when you supervise the kids outside before school. Thank goodness this job rotates, as I was NOT prepared for the blasting, cold wind that froze my body to the bone! I really need to talk my sister into making me a hat! I think it was the longest 20 minutes of my life (at least for this week!). You know it is cold when your hot coffee turns to slush. Of course, I didn't discover it until I took a sip to warm me up. Yuck! I guess I will settle for my daydream of walking on the beach with the warm sun on my face...

Saturday Fun

On Saturday, we took Sean to the Mall of America and played in the theme park. He loved the freedom of being able to walk around, holding our hands, and riding on the little rides! He keeps talking about "Thomas," the fun train ride that he was able to go on with his dad. What a fun time!

This warm weather is awesome! I am waiting for Sean to wake up, so I can take him on a long awaited walk! I need to breath in the fresh air and stretch my legs for awhile.

The trick...

I think my mom has found a trick to potty training. She has a potty chair and a little table with books next to it for Sean to look at. She lets him go in there and sit and read to his little hearts content. Pretty soon, he comes carrying out his filled potty bowl to show and give to her! Way too cute. The positive result has come more and more, so I gave in and went to Target on my way home to get a table and new book. It worked! He peed for me again, too!

Of course we sing and dance and make a HUGE deal out of it. I am hoping this is the beginning of the real potty training and not just a tease...keep you posted!

Date Night

Last night, Graham and I had a great night out with some friends. We went to the movie "Mall Cop" and out to a nice dinner. How we cherish these times, but realized afterward that these nights will have to be special occasions. Between the movie, popcorn/pop (how can you go to a movie without), dinner, and then the babysitter, we spent a small fortune. Worth every penny, and we'll just save up for another down the road. A long road... :)

Sean, of course, had a blast with Bailey. They played and played, and he slept through the night. A first in a week! Yeah!

Proud to be Minnesotan

Glad to be Minnesotan! Thanks, Beth, for these warm thoughts.

Cold Weather Behavior…

60 above zero: Floridians turn on the heat. Minnesotans plant gardens.
50 above zero: Californians shiver uncontrollably. People are sunbathing in Duluth.
40 above zero: Import cars won’t start. Minnesotans drive with the sunroof open.
32 above zero: Distilled water freezes. The water in Bemidji gets thicker.
20 above zero: New Mexicans don long johns, parkas and wool hats & mittens. Minnesotans throw on a flannel shirt.
15 above zero: New York landlords finally turn on the heat. People in Minnesota have one last cookout before it gets cold.Zero: People in Miami all die. Minnesotans close the windows.
10 below zero: Californians fly away to Mexico Minnesotans dig their winter coats out of storage.
25 below zero: Hollywood disintegrates. Girl Scouts in Minnesota still selling cookies door to door.
40 below zero: Washington, D.C. finally runs out of hot air. People in Minnesota let their dogs sleep indoors.
100 below zero: Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Minnesotans get upset because the Mini-Van won’t start.
460 below zero: ALL atomic motion stops (absolute zero on the Kelvin scale). People in Minnesota can be heard to say, “Cold ’nuff fer ya?”
500 below zero: Hell freezes over. Minnesota public schools open 2 hours late.

Potty talk

Sean has been obsessed with the potty lately, and we are encouraging it. Wouldn't it be great to be done with diapers! Well, we were walking into our local grocery store last weekend, when Sean starts saying, "Oh, No! Phew!" over and over. I ask him what is "phew" and he points to the chunk of dirty snow left from a car tire! Cracked us both up!

Flooded Bathroom...

My mom took Sean to visit his cousins on Friday morning. They had a blast playing together, ate a great lunch of homemade pizza, then even had time to watch cartoons before nap. Well, when they were supposed to be watching cartoons, Miss Emma and Mr. Sean decided to have a little fun. And when Amy and my mom went to check on the "too quiet" kids, this is what they found! There was about 2 inches of water on the bathroom floor, both kids were soaked to the bone, Sean was missing his socks, and notice the EMPTY box of wipes next to the toilet! They were busy alright, stuffing wipes and Sean's socks down the toilet! The first thing Sean says to them as they open the bathroom door is "All wet, Nana!" All wet alright! He is still talking about it today. Must have been fun!

Energy, Please!

We are closing in on the end of the work week, and I am happy to say that we have survived it! It really is amazing how having a few days off can throw you out of routine! I have been so tired this week, and I am hopeful that I will have more energy next week!

We are waiting another snow fall and praying it is a big one with light, fluffy snow to cover up all the cold, hard ice on the ground. Sean is ready to play!

Holiday fun

Our holidays were filled with family and friends, fun and love. All the parties and visiting has really made it a great time. Even Santa came, which made Sean's day/year! All the new toys have now made playtime even more fun. It has been awesome to be home playing, talking, and listening to Sean. He is picking up new words and motor skills everyday. I will post a few pics from the season for you to enjoy.

Great Break!

You know you have had a great break when:
1. you have totally been off line, and haven't even given it a thought.
2. your pants are fitting a little tighter due to the lack of self control and great food.
3. sleeping in has become a habit, one that is going to be very hard to break!
4. walking the mall while shopping has been my only form of exercise.
5. now that it is my last day, I am looking at the "to do" list I made two weeks ago and trying to get as much done that I can today.

Monday blues are starting...