Fall Fun

I absolutely love fall, but this year it has not been a typical fall...VERY cold and snowy!! We have taken advantage of the weather though. We finally had a Sunday that was decent so my mom and I took the kids and Blake to the the apple orchard in Mazeppa. They enjoyed a hayride, the corn maze, and they picked their own apples. It was a fun time...The kids just love Blake and always have fun with him!! It was pretty windy and you couldn't really take strollers up the hill so it was difficult with Tyler but he was a trooper.



That night we carved pumpkins. Not my favorite thing to do, but just something you have to do with your kids. I keep thinking one of these years Jack will like it, but not yet. He still will not stick his hands in there to get the guts out, but he did use a spoon once to try and get them out. He spent most of the time playing Memory by himself. Abby on the other hand digs right in...She loves it!! She really wanted to carve her own pumpkin this year and doesn't understand why she can't use a little knife to do it. Instead she got to help dad make the faces on them and he carved them. Tyler was a little grumpy so I held him the whole time so basically Keith and Abby carved pumpkins...They look great!!!



Last week we got a fair amount of snow and Abby and Jack were thrilled when they saw the huge flakes falling. It is a bit early for snow but it sure was pretty. The kids had a blast playing in the snow in our back yard. It was kind of nice for them to be able to play in the snow when it is not too cold out. Jack was not a big fan of the snow last year but it seems he will enjoy it this year!! Makes me look forward to winter :)



Abby is enjoying preschool, dance and Sunday school. I am very proud of my little girl!! Jack is silly as ever and we sure laugh at him a lot. He is a lot like his sister though...He cries every time it is time for mom to leave the room at ECFE...UGH!! I am hoping three's a charm and Tyler is not going to have separation issues?!?! Jack really enjoys ECFE though, loves to do the projects, read stories, and sing songs. I guess he just love his mommy :) One day my kids are not going to want me around so I should just enjoy it while it lasts, right. Jack is the only one who caught a touch of the flu bug so far. Last week for a couple days he ran a high fever, 104 which was very scary!! The nurses urged us to keep him home though as long as we could keep his fever down and we were able to with Motrin and Tylenol. Thankfully, that is all it amounted to and hopefully everyone stays healthy!!

Don't think I forgot about Tyler with all this posting about Abby and Jack :) Tyler turned three months old...Can you believe it?!?! He is a sweet little man and likes to be held A LOT, but he has to be held a certain way and he loves his tummy. He smiles and "talks" all the time and is starting to giggle. I just love that...I could sit and listen to him all day!! And bless his little heart...He started sleeping through the night at about two months...YEAH!! He is getting so big, makes me sad to think my baby is already three months old. Can't they all just stay little?!?! Here are some pictures of my little man...



We are loving life and are blessed with our three wonderful children...They make each and every day exciting!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

All summer we talked about taking the kids to the Como Zoo, but of course our summer was crazy busy and we never did. We usually bring them Labor Day weekend but with the Bears in the State tournament that wasn't an option this year. So for my birthday I decided I wanted to take them to the zoo. It was a fun day and we all had a good time :)


The weekend before my birthday we went out to dinner to celebrate Jamey Lockhart's 30th birhtday. We went to Osaka's in Apple Valley...Great food and a great time with friends!! Here is a picture of them singing to us (not sure why I was included in on this since it was Jamey's birthday)...

It was hilarious!! Thanks for a good time Kel and Happy Birthday Jamey!!!

Baptism

God bless Tyler James as he was baptized on 9/20/09!! He did great throughout the church service and even gave Godmother Megan some smiles while he was being baptized :) We are very honored to have Megan as Tyler's Godmother and Kenny as his Godfather - Thank you both!!



After church we headed to our house for lunch and to celebrate his baptism along with Abby's birthday. It was a beautiful day and it was wonderful to be surrounded by our families. Thank you to everyone!!!





We thank God every day for three healthy, beautiful children!!! God bless you Tyler...We love you!!!

Happy 5th Birthday to My Baby Girl!!

Hard to believe my baby girl turned five last week, but I couldn't be more proud of the little girl she has grown into!! She is a very sweet and caring person,she loves to be with her family and is enjoying preschool and dance with her friends, she is just thrilled to make new friends, and she is into ANYTHING girly :)

After being invited to some of her preschool friends' birthday parties last year she really wanted to have one of her own. So a couple Saturdays ago she had eight school friends over to celebrate her birthday. They played "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" which was very funny to watch!! They ran around outside, had lunch, opened presents, had cake and ice cream. We also had a pinata which was very comical as well :) I thought three hours with that many 5-year olds might be a little long but the time went by very fast and ALL the kids were very well behaved. It was a lot of fun for her!!




On her actual birthday we told her we could do whatever she wanted, within reason of course. She wanted to have a picnic at the park and go to the football game to see her buddies Jayden and Jami. Easy enough and it was fun for all of us!!



Then on Sunday we had her party with our families along with Tyler's baptism. We hung out with everyone, opened presents, and had cake. It was a fun day!


She was thrilled when uncle snitch showed up on Megan's pink scooter!! She has wanted a ride on that thing for a while now and she told me for her birthday she wanted a ride on the pink scooter :)


Thank you to everyone for making Abby's day so very special. She one lucky girl to have such wonderful friends and family!!! Happy 5th Birthday Abby...I love you!!!

Kids Update...

Abby had her first day of 4-year preschool this past week. Hard to believe she is almost five already...Where does the time go??? I couldn't be more proud of her...No tears this year...YAY!!! It is differnt, quieter having her gone a couple hours in the mornings, but it is good for her, although I do miss her. She also started dance this week and will start Sunday here soon. She absolutely loves doing her thing and meeting new friends :)


Jack had his first class of ECFE this week. He thought he was pretty smart going to school and had to bring his backpack with just like his big sister :) He enjoyed it till it was time for the parents to go to their own room. He cried and cried so once again mom doesn't get to go to the parenting side of ECFE...A repeat from when Abby went. He misses his sister when she is at school but it gives mom some more one-on-one time with him (and Tyler)!! Jack is quite a funny little guy and he sure knows how to push everyones' buttons!!


Tyler is growing like crazy...Almost ten weeks already!! He is getting much better at night, going to bed around nine and only waking up once. It is taking some getting used to getting all three of them up and ready in the morning. Abby is so not a morning person so it helps when Tyler is not fussy or still sleeping. He smiles and is starting to "talk"...It is so cute!! I've tried many times to capture him smiling but have not gotten a real good one. We go in tomorrow for his two-month check up and shots...YUCK!! Here are some pics of our growing boy...


Funny story...Abby and Jack were upstairs playing and they come down and say "Look mom, we are getting married!"


They sure are funny and have quite the imaginations!! I absolutely love every minute I get to spend with my children and I am truly blessed!!!

Vacation and Baseball!!!

The last week in August we went up north with the Burr's...It was great!!! We went for four days which was just perfect with Tyler being so little. He was good, but didn't have much time to just lay and relax...He was constantly being carted somewhere in his carseat. The other kids loved every minute of it and played very well together. We spent a lot of time at the pool as the lake was a little rocky, we fished, played mini golf, went go carting, took nightly trips to the game room and just hung out.

The kids loved catching fish and sure caught a lot of them!!

Abby is a little fish...

Jack held on to daddy tight :)

The kids mini golfing...

So excited she got to drive all by herself!!

Mom and Jack raced too :)

Fighting off those darn mosquitos!

"Roasting" marshmallows...

Tyler hanging out with daddy...

The kids playing in the cabin :)

It really was a lot of fun...Thank you Rich and Michelle for a fun time!! We are hoping to do it again next summer :)

Saturday morning we left early and headed to Gaylord. The Bears made it to the state baseball tournament this year so we spent a few weekends there. It was a great (long) season and very fun to watch!! The Bears took third place...YAY!! Congratulations honey you did great...I am very proud of you and your team :)

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Wow, hard to believe it is August already...Where did the summer go?? And Tyler is already three weeks old!! Things are going well and we have been busy. Besides adjusting to life with a little one and little to no sleep, Abby has completed swimming lessons and has been playing soccer. Jack has been busy being a typical silly two year old boy, always running and playing ball. Keith is of course busy with baseball. They are in playoffs now so there is somewhat of an end in sight...Yay!! And me, I am home with the kids and loving it!! It is an adjustment for sure. It is tough to keep Abby and Jack entertained while taking care of Tyler but we are getting the hang of it. Tyler seems to have his days and nights mixed up...He sleeps a lot during the day and is up till about midnight and wakes up every couple hours to eat. I think it is because we are running so much during the day and he sleeps so this week we are trying to get that straightened out...Wish me luck. It is amazing how little sleep you need to survive :) He really is a good baby though and we are all loving him to pieces!!!

Abby passed swimming lessons this year and she could not have not been more proud!!! She did really well and is quite the little fish these days!!

She has been enjoying soccer as well. Last Tuesday after soccer we went over to my dad's to celebrate his birthday. It is always fun to hang out at grandpa's :) Happy Birthday dad...We love you!!!

Auntie Sara has been a big help since Tyler was born...She is the best!! She helped me take all the kids to the doctor for Tyler's check up. She has taken Abby swimming, and she has come over to watch Abby and Jack for me. Thanks Sara...I appreciate all your help!!! Here are the kids and her at the park before Tyler's appointment. The kids love her and sure have a lot of fun with her...

Last weekend we spent the weekend at the Holiday Inn for "Family Affair," a fun weekend that Keith's company provided for us. Friday night the kids swam, they had a pizza party for us, and after dinner there was a dance, where they did the hokey pokey, the chicken dance, had a limbo contest and played simon says. Abby enjoyed it, especially all the High School Musical Songs but Jack was more interested in hanging out in the hall playing ball :)

Saturday the provided us with passed to the park at the MOA. Keith had a game so he came back and my mom came up with Kenny and Blake to help. I am so glad they did or we would not have enjoyed it nearly as much. Thank you!!!

While we were there Abby decided to get her ears pierced!! She was nervous after the girl before her screamed and cried, but when they did it all she said was "that didn't hurt." We were very proud of her and she is pretty proud of herself. Jack tried on glasses while we were waiting :)

My mom offered to take Tyler home that night since I didn't sleep at all Friday night. I didn't really want him to go, but we had fun swimming with Abby and Jack, having a few cocktails and getting a full nights sleep. So at three weeks Tyler had his first sleepover at grandma's. Thank you and sorry you didn't get much sleep.

And here we are at the ball field where we spend many summer nights!!! It gets to be long, but the kids sure enjoy watching their daddy...

So that has been our life for the past three weeks...We are busy but loving every minute of it!!!