Visit to Minnesota

I planned a trip to see Meg and her new baby (Joey, Vincent, and William too of course) last summer because I knew our busy fall weekends would creep up on us and of course they did.  What was originally planned as a 5 day trip turned into a 3 day visit due to parent teacher conferences that were not yet on the calendar last summer.  

None the less, after a long night of conference last Thursday, I jumped out of bed at 5am on Friday morning and got right into the car.  Isn't it funny how when you have something fun planned it seems so effortless to get out of bed? I entertained myself with a book on tape and enjoyed the quiet drive.   The sun was rising behind me which was absolutely beautiful.  It was fun to see the horizon slowly appear becoming more and more colorful.

I arrived at 10:30 with a quick pit-stop to bring Meg Caribou Coffee (ONE of our favorite beverages to enjoy together).  We are beverage buddies - that's what we call ourselves.  We can sit for hours with coffee, wine, really whatever, as long as something is in our cups, and never run out of things to talk about.  Joey laughs at us, as does Steve, but it's something that we both cherish.  Sometimes we even do it over the phone although as we've had more children those times have become less and less frequent.  We used to have coffee dates some weekend mornings! :)

Back to my visit - I arrived to the sight of the most beautiful baby boy.  Samuel is perfect and gave me the baby bug.  He melted onto my chest and instantly warmed my body.  It's a wonder that any of us survive that baby stage with the lack of sleep but from an outside perspective you realize what a relatively short and amazing time that is.  The first few weeks of an infants life - wow.  Discovering the world, trying to figure out how to get fed when hungry, warm when cold, changed when wet, sleep when tired, etc.  It's really quite miraculous when you think about it.  Those of you who know me well know that I am quite passionate about labor, birth, and babies.  I just can't get past the miracle that occurs throughout it all.  It's so above us and our capabilities.

We spent that first day visiting, playing with the kids, etc.  I tried to help out as much as I could with laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc.  Exactly what a new mommy needs - someone to come in and just do things for you.  Thankfully I am close enough with them that I can do that without stepping on any toes.  That is why I chose not to bring my kids with me. I wanted to help and hopefully that is what I did.

That night Joey went to a movie so Meg and I watched CNN, while enjoying some wine!  Can you tell we're getting old? The next day we had a relaxing morning, ran some errands in the afternoon and evening and then played a little wii before bed.  It was a BLAST!  I love Mario Cart and think Steve and I should invest in one. I can just picture us putting the kids down and playing...What do you think honey?? We also bowled and played Tennis but Joey kicked my butt.  

Sunday morning came way too fast.  We again spent the morning enjoying coffee, talking and playing with the kids.  I left around 12:30 to head home.  The drive home wasn't as fast or enjoyable.  It's always that way.  Not that I wasn't looking forward to seeing my family because I was - absence makes the heart grow fonder - but it just seems longer for some reason.  

Meg - I love our friendship.  It's easy.  It's rejuvenating.  It's fun. It's comforting. It's special. It's perfect.  Congratulations again on Sammy.  You're a wonderful mother and your three boys are very lucky to have you.... as am I!!

Playdate with Daniel

Braden and Evan had a special playdate with Daniel today.  He is a friend from preschool.  They played outside for a while after school and then Daniel, his mom and brother followed us to our house.  We visited for a while and then she took Daniel's brother Tyler home for a nap.  We didn't get to chat long but it seems like we have a lot in common. I look forward to another playdate so that we can get to know each other even better.  

The boys played while I made lunch.  We packed ourselves into the kitchen and had what could have been the loudest lunch I think we've had at our house.  That is saying a lot if you know Braden and his noise level.  He tends to have his volume dial stuck on LOUD!  :) Following lunch, they decorated cupcakes, we lit them all and sang, "Happy Birthday."

After scraping the cupcake from their faces, fingers and yes...even their clothes, they had a great time running around the house, playing with every toy they could find and giggling.   They are a great threesome.  It's fun to watch them interact. 

Thank you Evan for the dinosaurs and shirt!  Thank you Daniel for the Teenage Mutint Ninja Turtle toy!  What a great birthday.

Happy Birthday Braden

Just Days Old!

One Years Old and SO BIG!

Two Years Old and LOVES to Eat!

Three Years Old and a BUSY Boy!

Four Years Old - A REALLY AMAZING KID!

Wow - Four Years Old. I remember the day Braden was born like it was yesterday. I remember how scared and how excited I was. I remember being overwhelmed with instant love the moment I saw him. A love I didn't know existed and suddenly couldn't imagine my life without. I remember all of our visitors in the hospital and every first...first bath, first cry, first smile, first time in the car seat, first time at home, etc. Every moment felt like one we should celebrate.

Braden you have been such an amazing little boy. I can't believe that you are already four. In honor of your fourth birthday I will tell you about the four things I love about you the most...

1. I love what big heart you have. You are so thoughtful and kind to others. Yes - at times your four year old self shines brighter with words like, "mine," "NO," and your arms swing with intention but overall you have a heart like your daddies. Soft and Huge. Room for everyone and everything.

2. I love how much you love animals. Since you were teeny, tiny you have loved animals. You could make animal noises before you could talk and gravitate towards anything having to do with them. You love playing with them, reading books about them and asking questions about them. You got this trait from your Nana!

3. I love how you read your books. I've never seen another child more taken with books. You can sit for hours reading quietly in your room. You love to turn through the pages and have just started to "read" books to us as well. We go to the library when we can and you enjoy picking out books of all topics and lengths. You LOVE being read to and reading on your own. I absolutely love this about you. It is part of what makes you such a smart little boy and of course the teacher in me thinks there couldn't be any better way to spend your time!!

4. I love listening to you talk. After you had your surgery and you could finally hear perfectly, your vocabulary just took off. It's been fun lately listening to you use expressions and phrases that adults use. You experiment with words just learned and most often use them appropriately. I often find myself wondering where you have learned all of the wonderful vocabulary you use. You express yourself very well Braden - maybe we have a public speaker in our midst!

Happy Birthday Honey - I love you, Daddy loves you, Olivia loves you and the list goes on. You are such a special part of our family and as your Papa would say, "You're doing such a good job growing up!"

Winter Wonderland

Out of nowhere it began to snow about 30 minutes ago. It was a mini-blizzard for little while, with snow blowing all around. The kids were still napping so I was able to sit on the couch and watch the ground slowly turn white. The house was quiet and it made me feel so peaceful inside. Although I am not a huge fan of the cold I do love the coziness of winter!

When Braden woke up we looked outside and he said, "SNOW! Does that mean it's winter time?" He then asked if we could get our tube out to go sledding.

When Olivia woke up we looked outside and she just stared like she'd never seen anything like it before. After a minute she looked at me and a huge smile appeared on her face.

I can't wait to play in the snow with them although I think that'll have to wait until there is more on the ground.

Potty Training?

This weekend Olivia began to notice when she has to go potty or more likely when she has just gone. It is kind of ironic after I had a conversation about just this thing with my friend Heather. Her daughter Annika is doing the same thing.

She grabs at her diaper and wants to sit on the toilet on a little insert. I did have Steve bring down our small potty from the attic and she sat on that this morning for a while with her diaper off. She had been pulling on her diaper so I put her on. She sat for a while - doing nothing, then walked into the porch and pooped all over my floor. Looking on the bright side, she knew she had to go but just didn't get the timing right!!

I am the last person anyone should ask for advice on potty training, we had NO idea what we were doing with Braden and tried too early which set us back bit. That makes me hesitant to push things but I also know that there is a window around 18 months (she's almost 17 months) that many kids can be potty trained.

Any advice??????

Braden's Party

We had the most wonderful day yesterday. We got things done around the house, did some cleaning inside and winterizing outside. Judy came down early and Darrell and Marc weren't too far behind. Braden's treats kept our tummies full while I started diner. My parents arrived as I was making homemade tomato bisque. I'm more than willing to share the recipe if anyone is interested. It was simply delicious. Judy manned the grilled cheese which we cooked on two griddles on our kitchen table.

We had a really fun dinner, all cozy in our dining room. Braden is not feeling the best so didn't eat a whole lot but all of the food and conversation was great. It was very different for us from previous birthdays which felt chaotic and more about entertaining than the birthday boy himself. It was nice to have such a low key day/evening to focus on him and enjoy our company. I know he is already looking forward to celebrating with friends in the spring but this was perfect for now.

After dinner we sang, "Happy Birthday," and Braden blew out his candles. We then moved into the living room to enjoy the blazing fire and open presents. He was such a gracious 4 year old (without a whole lot of coaxing from mom and dad) and said Thank you for his gifts and seemed delighted with everything he opened.

A few of the highlights were some diego toys to go with his dinosaur set, a Hot Wheels race track, a Spiderman scooter and some craft supplies! He is a very lucky little guy.

We played games and visited the rest of the night. It was a GREAT way to celebrate Braden turning 4!

Retro Girl

My mom watched the kids while I had conference yesterday. She is cleaning out the attic at home thus the last two times my parents have visited they have graced me with memories from the past that I now have to find a place to store. Those things like highschool yearbooks that you can't throw away but don't need them out on a shelf.

She brought down a bunch of my old baby clothes. Most fit Olivia right now - thus the retro girl. Steve is having a fit that I am taking her to the grocery store looking like she does with her bright red/orange retro one piece polyester jumpsuit, pink tennis shoes and now a pink fluffy hat. Actually some of the sweaters are adorable and we'll wear often this winter. One pair of shorts will fit her next summer - they say, "you are my sunshine," all over them - ADORABLE!

Thanks mom for the cute additions to the wardrobe and Steve...she's cute no matter what!!

Braden's Birthday Party

After Steve and I put Braden down for bed tonight we got to work decorating the dining room. Tomorrow is Braden's 4th Birthday Party with our family. My parents, Steve's parents and Marc are going to be here and Braden can't wait! He's been talking about it non-stop.

We've never decorated for a party for him before. I'm not sure he would have gotten the idea before now but it was so fun. I don't tend to be a fan of streamers but we went to town! We strung them from the ceiling, wove them through his chair and looked around for other opportunities before deciding we needed to stop! We used pipe cleaners we had spiraled to hang balloons from the light and to attach them to the BIRTHDAY CHAIR! We also made a fun birthday sign. Tomorrow the plan is to go and get helium balloons to attach to his chair and put in the doorway. I can't wait until he wakes up to see his face and feel his excitement.

We don't have a theme - another thing I don't tend to be a huge fan of. We are using our regular plates both to save money and the environment but I did let him pick out some batman napkins. I also let Braden choose the menu. He wanted grilled cheese, tomato soup, corn, lemonade, orange juice, chocolate cupcakes, and ice cream. He also wanted cheese, sausage and crakers plus M&M's for a snack. We made the cupcakes tonight and we'll frost them tomorrow. His menu was easy and will be yummy. I found a great recipe for homemade tomato bisque.

His birthday isn't actually until Wednesday so he'll be in birthday heaven for the next couple of days. It's so fun now that he's old enough to make requests and feel that the day is especially about him. I can't believe that he is almost 4... but I'll save that sappy blog for Wednesday!

The past four years...

My mom sent over some pictures that got me reminiscing...

Congratulations Axe Family

Congratulations Meg and Joey. We are very excited for your family and can't wait to welcome Samuel Robert ourselves. He is absolutely beautiful and lucky to have you as parents. What a miracle!

Good Friends

We met the Gendrichs at Jacobus Park today. They are our old neighbors who we haven't seen in quite a while. Jenny had her third baby boy 2 months ago and it just hasn't worked to get together due to illness or busy schedules. Braden left the house today chanting, "Own is my best friend, Owen is my best friend!" He was very excited to say the least. We arrived at the park at the same time and our boys (Braden, Owen and Nate) took off playing! They had a blast together up and down the slides, through the tunnels and running all around! Olivia did her own thing and as soon as Jenny would let me I borrowed her newest bundle, Luke. He melted in my arms and fueled a baby fever in me! :)

I come away each time I am with Jenny, which is much less often than we both would like, with renewed zest for life. She makes me smile, makes me laugh and feel good about the world. I leave with new ideas for parenting, living green, and with plans to be a better person. I adore and admire her greatly.

Thanks Jenny - Owen - Nate - Luke. We miss you and hope that we can find some time to get together again soon.

Exercise your right to VOTE!

Regardless of your political affiliation, I hope you exercise your right to VOTE today. Obviously I'd encourage you a bit more if you were voting for a certain someone!! Hehe But really - we have an opportunity today to make a difference in the world in which we live. Rosa Parks taught us long ago that one person can make a difference ... so no matter where your allegiance lies, head out to the polls and participate in life.

GO OBAMA!

1st Playdate

We had our first official "playdate" today with a little boy from preschool. His name is Benjamin. He came over for lunch and played for about 2 hours then went home and the boys went down for their nap. It was really fun, they did very well together. I think they played with every toy we have both outside and inside in that 2 hours! Busy boys and a busy mommy!!

Who Knew?

Who knew that Tom and Jerry was so funny? I was finishing up my meal for meal co-op tonight and Steve was getting started on his work so Braden settled in to watch an episode of Tom and Jerry. I have never heard such giggles and have never seen his face full of such delight before. It was hilarious. He was cracking up with a grin from ear to ear and belly laughing. I love hearing and watching him have so much fun. Ahhhhh...to be a kid again!

Book Club

I feel so lucky to be part of our book club. I absolutely love getting together with this particular group of ladies and talking about books - drinking wine - eating yummy food - and reflecting on life. We talked today that we've been meeting now for 3 years! Lexi, who has an astonishing memory, is compiling a list of the books we've read. My all time favorite is, "Eat, Pray, Love," but I've truly enjoyed them all. There was only one that I didn't finish, "Memory Keepers Daughter" and I think that happened sometime around Olivia's birth ... minor excuse!

We meet about every six weeks and have gotten the whole routine down to a science. We meet at someones house and they provide the goodies. The person who hosted last chose the book and brings the questions. We start talking about it we liked it or not and then move on to the questions ... we do actually talk about the book! Of course we go off on tangents and some of us are more outspoken than others but always come back to focus eventually. It's always enjoyable, we laugh a lot, and although some conversations are light and airy, we've all shared part of ourselves at one time or another which has given us a connection.

Our next book is, "Water for Elephants," which I plan on picking up tomorrow and can't wait to dig into. Thanks ladies - for another great night and thanks Lexi for being such a great hostess. We meet next at Ryan's house in early December.

Update...Our booklist from day 1 is:
In Her Shoes, How to be Lost, The Amateur Marriage, The Poisonwood Bible, Carry Me Home, The Glass Castle, Case Histories, The Pact, The Painted Veil, The Night Listener, Tortilla Curtain, Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Amy & Isabelle, Lost & Found, Before I Die, The Almost Moon, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Confessions of Max Tivoli, Eat, Pray, Love, Whistling in the Dark, The Godmother, Water for Elephants.

Pretty amazing huh! In looking back I stand corrected...I have missed three books. I didn't finish The Poisonwood Bible, The Memory Keepers Daugher, and Amy and Isabelle. I've thoroughly enjoyed the other 18!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween this year was really fun. Braden is at an age where life is exciting no matter what you're doing. His boundless energy and curiosity make what could be a ho-hum experience an adventure.

Steve took the day off Friday as did Judy and we had a houseful! Judy and Darrell got to our house just before lunch. We had soup and sandwiches and then put the kiddos down for their naps. It was amazingly beautiful outside. In fact, one could have easily thought it was a summer day in mid-June. The sun was shining and the air was warm.

The afternoon was spent cleaning up the yard. Darrell helped Steve put up a rabbit fence around some bushes that they all but killed last winter while Judy and I cut back plants. My parents arrived mid-afternoon and helped us as well. My dad helped supervise :) and my mom helped trim the bushes. It's crazy how much they grow in a year and how nice it looks when you trim them with the electric saw. I remember thinking the same thing last year and wondering why I waited until late fall. I'll have to remember to do it earlier next year and enjoy the clean lines during more of the summer.

When Braden and Olivia woke up we played in the front yard. They LOVE when their grandparents are here. Braden especially loves to get his "Bapa" going - running, chasing, hiding, wrestling and anything else physically exhausting. Olivia, as usual, tried hard to keep up, running behind her brother.

Before getting ready for trick or treat we had a great dinner! We figured it was one of the last times we had to grill out so we grilled hamburgers and veggie burgers! We also had a really yummy salad with dried cranberries, blueberries, almonds, and grated parmesan, boiled red potatoes and spinach-artichoke dip. YUM, YUM!

Kristin, Evan and Andrew joined us for trick-or-treating. Braden was a BLUE Power Ranger, Olivia a Rooster, Evan and Andrew - the famous Buzz Lightyear. The women and kids headed out to collect candy while the men held the fort down. Being that it was so beautiful outside, Steve pulled a chair out and read the paper on our front porch while greeting the little ghosts and goblins that approached.

The neighborhood was quite decorated. I realized that Steve and I need to step it up next year - our jack o lanterns and few other decorations pale in comparison to some of the houses down the street. Braden and Evan took off running. They were so excited and loudly said, "Thank You" to each person handing them a treat. The conversation mostly surrounded who had more candy when in fact they had the exact same amount! :) Andrew kept up quite well and Olivia spent most of the night in the stroller.

As we were nearing home I decided to let her out of the stroller and she headed up to a house. She was delighted that someone gave her a treat and didn't want to leave. She had figured out what this trick-or-treating was all about and she wasn't going to let anyone stop her. When we finally got home I gave her a mini-twix bar and she then attacked the treat bowl. She got my sweet tooth I guess. It was hilarious.

We put her down for the night fairly soon after we got home and Braden enjoyed digging through his bag and eating way too much sugar but hey - isn't that what Halloween is all about? I clearly remember dumping out my whole bag and sifting through picking out my favorite things to save for later. My mom would then put all of our candy in these huge gallon jars on top of the refrigerator. I would sneak pieces when I could since she would only allow us to have a little at a time. At this point for Braden I don't think he's sneaking the candy - it's more Steve and I!!