For more views of our Christmas, check out the Christmas 2010 photoset on flickr!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Penguins in the snow.
Taken by Jacob while shoveling the 17.20 inches of snow from our front walk Saturday night, December 11th, 2010.
We survived Snownami 2010. Here are some of the highlights:
* By 3 p.m Saturday., all Metro Transit buses had been called back to the garage; some 70 had bogged down in the snow.
* MNDOT pulled snow plows off the roads because the visibility was so bad.
* Flights in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were canceled - all four runways were closed.
* The Metrodome collapsed.
Snow up to Freddie's shoulders.
And Freddie is an unusually tall 3-year-old! The aftermath of the 5th largest blizzard in Minneapolis history. Dec 11, 2010.
Post-blizzard sledding attempt.
Sammy playing outside on his first school snow day.
Minneapolis Public Schools were closed last Monday and Tuesday, Dec 13-14
Eight Months Cute
Jack Jack is eight months old!
So, what are his latest baby tricks? He weighs 22lbs. His top two front teeth are on their way through his gums (sounds about as fun as it is, poor baby). He's had the bottom two since just after Halloween, I think. He can sit 100 percent on his own (finally!) and he can get up on hands and knees (with a little encouragement). His favorite things to do are to babble and eat. He also blows raspberries and frequently utters a word that sounds like, "LaBouf." He's a riot. He's been sick baby quite a bit (has been on many round of antibiotics for intense and persistent ear infections), probably from having an older brother is school, but he is so adorable that we'll forgive him for being a sick crab so much. He also continues to have the most beautiful, bluest eyes in the world.
We love you, Jack, and we are so excited to have you with us for Christmas this year! LaBouf.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Citizen of the Month Ceremony
Sammy was Citizen of the Month for November. He was one of three kids from his classroom honored at a ceremony on November 30.
This is what his teacher had to say about Sammy:
Sammy has been a very outstanding student in our class during November. He focuses on what he has been assigned to do and does not let distractions from others affect the quality of his work. Sammy is considerate and respectful to all of his classmates and teachers.
Way to go, Sammy! We are so proud of you.
Super Snowy Saturday
Our Winter Storm Warning. Snagged from weather.com.
Kind of fun. But I'm not the one shoveling.
... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.
* TIMING... SNOW CONTINUING TODAY WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW. SNOW WILL PERSIST INTO THE EVENING.
* MAIN IMPACT... 9 TO 16 INCHES OF SNOW... ARE LIKELY ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA.
* OTHER IMPACTS... HEAVY SNOW COMBINED WITH INCREASING WIND SPEEDS MAY RESULT IN NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS... ESPECIALLY IN OPEN COUNTRY. WIND CHILLS WILL PLUMMET TO AROUND 30 BELOW ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
Kind of fun. But I'm not the one shoveling.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Our Winter Wonderland
It started to snow around 3pm on Friday and it's been snowing on and off all weekend. It's hard to drive the Mazda5 in it but it sure it beautiful!
Pictures for those of you sweating it out down south.
Home, sweet home.
Sammy helped me put up a few more Christmas lights yesterday afternoon.
Our outside Christmas tree. Home to many squirrels and birds.
Pictures for those of you sweating it out down south.
Home, sweet home.
Sammy helped me put up a few more Christmas lights yesterday afternoon.
Our outside Christmas tree. Home to many squirrels and birds.
Christmas Tree Party 2010!
Our family was invited to the annual Coldwell-Banker Burnett Christmas party by our realtor friend Nick Archer. The party included a party favor of our choice: a wreath or 6-8' Christmas tree. It was a fun and festive good time for the whole family!
Partying with Santa's largest elf.
And Santa himself!
There were snacks for all (Actually, I brought the biscuit for Jack. There were cookies, cider and coffee for the rest of us.)
and face painting
and tattoos
And then we headed out back and found our tree!
Partying with Santa's largest elf.
And Santa himself!
There were snacks for all (Actually, I brought the biscuit for Jack. There were cookies, cider and coffee for the rest of us.)
and face painting
and tattoos
And then we headed out back and found our tree!
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Thanksgiving in Texas, full report.
The trip started off with us scoring the best parking space in the entire airport. 
Aside from the jerk who parked to the left of us - on the freaking sidewalk. Not even a real parking spot. Jacob took this picture to document both things. And for Miss Em, who was sweet enough to drive to MSP later that day, collect our car and tuck in into our garage for the duration of our trip. Thanks, Emily!
The part right after this was probably the most chaotic - checking in one huge bag of luggage and one huge car seat, then squeezing a high back booster into a spare kitchen trash bag and checking that. Then proceeding through security with two adults, two kids and one baby (excuse me, "infant-in-lap"); along with all of our shit, which included but wasn't limited to: one baby carseat, three backpacks and a big blue bag containing Jack's panda nebulizer and albuterol and a cooler bag with his and Freddie's amoxicillin. Security was fine, there were no body scans or riots or anything. It's just a PITA to take off shoes and backpacks and unpack half your crap to go through the x-ray machine while maintaining two small children and one infant-in-lap, then putting everything back to sorts while airport personnel isn't so patiently moving it down the belt. And the car seats were a fiasco that I didn't expect. We have two car seat bags but about 10 minutes before leaving for the airport I realized I could only find one and called my SIL frantically for help sorting out what to do (could we borrow, should we take?). Hence the trash bag and carry-on seat.
That was the worst part. Just getting in. From then on the trip was so much easier than expected, considering our traveling companions. Our plane out of MSP was delayed about an hour - with us on it - because the baggage crew found about 40 bags that didn't make it on to the plane, so we have to go back to the gate and load those. Took forever. Then we had to hit the de-icing station on the other side of the airport from the runway they were using that day. Then we were finally off. Jack did so well on his first flight! Zero fussiness despite a double ear infection and congested chest. He slept, he ate, he gnawed. The big guys ate snacks and watched a show on the laptop. I'm not even sure they noticed the huge delay.
On Tuesday the fun began. Jacob took the boys to the hotel pool and hot tub after breakfast. Then after Jack's nap we went out to lunch at Mother's Cafe and Garden. If you are a vegetarian and in Austin, go there. It's still one of my favorite places to eat, even after nearly a decade. We ended up getting our food to go because Freddie was so tired from the day before (and not going to bed Monday night in the "hometel") that he passed out in the car. Instead we had a picnic in an H.E.B parking lot. Total hillbillies. And here's the proof:
That's us. Parked in a Customer's Only parking spot. Eating on a median in a parking lot. Baby in nothing but a paper diaper. Using a (useless in Texas) winter coat as a picnic blanket. People were stopping to ask us directions.
Later that day Jacob met up with Jeff and William at Zilker Park. The boys *loved* it!
Then the whole fam met up with Kim and her sweet boy Henry for dinner and playtime at Phil's Ice House/Amy's Ice Cream. You saw the cow picture below. Here are a couple more. I wish I'd taken more pictures - I was kind of distracted wanted to catch up with Kim! - thankfully the kids asked me for these but I'm sad that I didn't get any with Kim and Henry! Sorry, guys.
Wednesday Jacob took the boys hiking up Mount Bonnell before breakfast (they were up early, thank you, "hometel"). After breakfast Jacob's aunt, uncle, Cousin Bonnie and Daniel came by the hotel to visit. They most likely came to see the newest Rod but of course he took a super nap during their entire visit. After they left, we forced Freddie to take a rare late-morning nap while Sammy and Jacob went on the Austin Duck Tour. Driving into Town Lake listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn was quite a way to show Sammy our old home.
Last but not least, we met up with Jacob's mom, dad, sister, BIL and Cousins William and Lily at Lakeline Mall to take family pictures at Picture People. The kids weren't so into the family photo, but they loved the big train that drove through the mall.
This train isn't on a track or anything. It literally drives around the mall and pedestrians have to move out of it's way or be run over. Pretty sweet, actually.
Here's a pic of Cousin William and Sammy playing while waiting on picture orders. They are obviously Future Longhorns.
What's weird about being back in Austin when you live so far away is that you get use to your kids being easy to spot because they are usually the only ones in burnt orange. This strategy didn't work so well in Austin.
After much playtime my boys begged their Papa for quarters for the gazillion mall rides. Then Grandma gave them more quarters for gum and candy! Dinner followed at Threadgill's.
Thursday (Thanksgiving) we hit the road for Victoria in our rental ride (a Chrysler Town and Country loaded with automatic sliding doors and a built-in DVD player -- sooo awesome for car trips). After this test drive I can see the merits of a minivan ownership while one's family is so young. I didn't love the handling of the T&C - it was kind of a beast compared to my Mazda5 - but it fit the five of us more comfortably for a road trip the the 5.
And, now, what you've been waiting for! Here are the babies.
Jack and Lily. (sung to the tune of Ben Fold's "Zak and Sara") "Jack-and-Lily..."
Aren't they the cutest things?!
They were born exactly - to the day exactly - two months apart. It was so fun to see them together. Their interaction was mostly limited to trying to gnaw on one another and/or grabbing at each other aimlessly in an attempt to grab and somehow chew the other. It was precious.
That was basically it. It was so much more uneventful than I anticipated. Traveling with two kids and a baby is exhausting but I am so glad we went. It was a great time and the boys LOVED Texas.
Aside from the jerk who parked to the left of us - on the freaking sidewalk. Not even a real parking spot. Jacob took this picture to document both things. And for Miss Em, who was sweet enough to drive to MSP later that day, collect our car and tuck in into our garage for the duration of our trip. Thanks, Emily!
The part right after this was probably the most chaotic - checking in one huge bag of luggage and one huge car seat, then squeezing a high back booster into a spare kitchen trash bag and checking that. Then proceeding through security with two adults, two kids and one baby (excuse me, "infant-in-lap"); along with all of our shit, which included but wasn't limited to: one baby carseat, three backpacks and a big blue bag containing Jack's panda nebulizer and albuterol and a cooler bag with his and Freddie's amoxicillin. Security was fine, there were no body scans or riots or anything. It's just a PITA to take off shoes and backpacks and unpack half your crap to go through the x-ray machine while maintaining two small children and one infant-in-lap, then putting everything back to sorts while airport personnel isn't so patiently moving it down the belt. And the car seats were a fiasco that I didn't expect. We have two car seat bags but about 10 minutes before leaving for the airport I realized I could only find one and called my SIL frantically for help sorting out what to do (could we borrow, should we take?). Hence the trash bag and carry-on seat.
That was the worst part. Just getting in. From then on the trip was so much easier than expected, considering our traveling companions. Our plane out of MSP was delayed about an hour - with us on it - because the baggage crew found about 40 bags that didn't make it on to the plane, so we have to go back to the gate and load those. Took forever. Then we had to hit the de-icing station on the other side of the airport from the runway they were using that day. Then we were finally off. Jack did so well on his first flight! Zero fussiness despite a double ear infection and congested chest. He slept, he ate, he gnawed. The big guys ate snacks and watched a show on the laptop. I'm not even sure they noticed the huge delay.
On Tuesday the fun began. Jacob took the boys to the hotel pool and hot tub after breakfast. Then after Jack's nap we went out to lunch at Mother's Cafe and Garden. If you are a vegetarian and in Austin, go there. It's still one of my favorite places to eat, even after nearly a decade. We ended up getting our food to go because Freddie was so tired from the day before (and not going to bed Monday night in the "hometel") that he passed out in the car. Instead we had a picnic in an H.E.B parking lot. Total hillbillies. And here's the proof:
That's us. Parked in a Customer's Only parking spot. Eating on a median in a parking lot. Baby in nothing but a paper diaper. Using a (useless in Texas) winter coat as a picnic blanket. People were stopping to ask us directions.
Later that day Jacob met up with Jeff and William at Zilker Park. The boys *loved* it!
Then the whole fam met up with Kim and her sweet boy Henry for dinner and playtime at Phil's Ice House/Amy's Ice Cream. You saw the cow picture below. Here are a couple more. I wish I'd taken more pictures - I was kind of distracted wanted to catch up with Kim! - thankfully the kids asked me for these but I'm sad that I didn't get any with Kim and Henry! Sorry, guys.
Wednesday Jacob took the boys hiking up Mount Bonnell before breakfast (they were up early, thank you, "hometel"). After breakfast Jacob's aunt, uncle, Cousin Bonnie and Daniel came by the hotel to visit. They most likely came to see the newest Rod but of course he took a super nap during their entire visit. After they left, we forced Freddie to take a rare late-morning nap while Sammy and Jacob went on the Austin Duck Tour. Driving into Town Lake listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn was quite a way to show Sammy our old home.
Last but not least, we met up with Jacob's mom, dad, sister, BIL and Cousins William and Lily at Lakeline Mall to take family pictures at Picture People. The kids weren't so into the family photo, but they loved the big train that drove through the mall.
This train isn't on a track or anything. It literally drives around the mall and pedestrians have to move out of it's way or be run over. Pretty sweet, actually.
Here's a pic of Cousin William and Sammy playing while waiting on picture orders. They are obviously Future Longhorns.
What's weird about being back in Austin when you live so far away is that you get use to your kids being easy to spot because they are usually the only ones in burnt orange. This strategy didn't work so well in Austin.
After much playtime my boys begged their Papa for quarters for the gazillion mall rides. Then Grandma gave them more quarters for gum and candy! Dinner followed at Threadgill's.
Thursday (Thanksgiving) we hit the road for Victoria in our rental ride (a Chrysler Town and Country loaded with automatic sliding doors and a built-in DVD player -- sooo awesome for car trips). After this test drive I can see the merits of a minivan ownership while one's family is so young. I didn't love the handling of the T&C - it was kind of a beast compared to my Mazda5 - but it fit the five of us more comfortably for a road trip the the 5.
And, now, what you've been waiting for! Here are the babies.
Jack and Lily. (sung to the tune of Ben Fold's "Zak and Sara") "Jack-and-Lily..."
Aren't they the cutest things?!
They were born exactly - to the day exactly - two months apart. It was so fun to see them together. Their interaction was mostly limited to trying to gnaw on one another and/or grabbing at each other aimlessly in an attempt to grab and somehow chew the other. It was precious.
That was basically it. It was so much more uneventful than I anticipated. Traveling with two kids and a baby is exhausting but I am so glad we went. It was a great time and the boys LOVED Texas.
Thirteen years ago today...
I met the boy who would be my husband. He was silent, wearing a baseball cap and eating Subway sitting on a bed in my guy friends' dorm room. The guys were about to go to an Aerosmith concert, some friends and I were there to borrow a movie. Jacob barely glanced at me. And he has no memory of this meeting. So romantic.
But we are even because two months later he claims to have danced with me at an A.L.A.S. barn party. I have no memory of this.
And here we are now, raising three boys in the Frozen Tundra, grateful we met about four times for us to finally click. We are no Bella and Edward but whatevs. Love is romantic even if it comes about after wondering who the strange guy eating apple pie in front of your closet is :)
But we are even because two months later he claims to have danced with me at an A.L.A.S. barn party. I have no memory of this.
And here we are now, raising three boys in the Frozen Tundra, grateful we met about four times for us to finally click. We are no Bella and Edward but whatevs. Love is romantic even if it comes about after wondering who the strange guy eating apple pie in front of your closet is :)
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Thanksgiving in Texas
Much more to say and share about this trip. But in the meantime here is an amusing photo to hold you over!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Modeling his Birthday Sweater!
This is the sweater I made Sammy for his birthday. He asked to wear it to school today. He is so utterly sweet and adorable!
Sammy's Sixth Birthday!
For Sammy's birthday party we invited eight of his friends over to celebrate with us (yes, we had 10 boys in total at our house all afternoon. Many many thanks to Mo and her daughters for caring for baby Jack during the party. It was much more fun - and possible to handle 10 energetic boys! - without a baby around).
Despite the heavy first snow fall of the season we had a very bright colorful party!
Sammy wore a clown tie and nose, and is showing off the Spongebob wristband covered lollipop from the favor bag. He and Freddie also wore matching "party shirts" as they call them.
As the kids arrived Jacob led them in a Rock Band contest to the Beatles' Birthday, then once everyone was here Oscar the Clown arrived.
(Please excuse the support pole in the way. And the blurry pictures. It's hard to take good pictures of active children in a basement!)
Everyone was falling over with laughter. Really.
Sammy got to be the helper. He also chose a few of his friends to help out, too.
Oscar had the kids cracking up.
It was almost as fun to watch the kids watching Oscar. Sammy's friend, Drew, in particular was adorable. He could barely sit up right. And Calvin kept falling off the back of the couch (I think on purpose, though!). That's Drew in the bottom right of the photo. And I think Cal was actually behind the couch in this picture!
Sammy and the hilarious Oscar at cake time.
The cake!
The cookies!
Quiet kiddos eating cake and donuts and cookies! (yep, that's right. Jacob even gave some of the kids seconds of cake.)
Clockwise from top left: Sammy, Brian, Calvin, Zander, Gus, Aleksander
Clockwise from left: Drew, Freddie, Will, Henry
After cake, we went downstairs and Sammy opened presents.
After presents the kids had about 20ish minutes to play. I furiously built a Hot Wheels set with a rotation of five or so boys breathing down my neck. Surprisingly no pieces were missing and it was put together for them to play with for a little bit, too. Whew!
Happy Birthday, Sammy! We love you so much!
xo, Mom and Dad
Despite the heavy first snow fall of the season we had a very bright colorful party!
Sammy wore a clown tie and nose, and is showing off the Spongebob wristband covered lollipop from the favor bag. He and Freddie also wore matching "party shirts" as they call them.
As the kids arrived Jacob led them in a Rock Band contest to the Beatles' Birthday, then once everyone was here Oscar the Clown arrived.
(Please excuse the support pole in the way. And the blurry pictures. It's hard to take good pictures of active children in a basement!)
Everyone was falling over with laughter. Really.
Sammy got to be the helper. He also chose a few of his friends to help out, too.
Oscar had the kids cracking up.
It was almost as fun to watch the kids watching Oscar. Sammy's friend, Drew, in particular was adorable. He could barely sit up right. And Calvin kept falling off the back of the couch (I think on purpose, though!). That's Drew in the bottom right of the photo. And I think Cal was actually behind the couch in this picture!
Sammy and the hilarious Oscar at cake time.
The cake!
The cookies!
Quiet kiddos eating cake and donuts and cookies! (yep, that's right. Jacob even gave some of the kids seconds of cake.)
Clockwise from top left: Sammy, Brian, Calvin, Zander, Gus, Aleksander
Clockwise from left: Drew, Freddie, Will, Henry
After cake, we went downstairs and Sammy opened presents.
After presents the kids had about 20ish minutes to play. I furiously built a Hot Wheels set with a rotation of five or so boys breathing down my neck. Surprisingly no pieces were missing and it was put together for them to play with for a little bit, too. Whew!
Happy Birthday, Sammy! We love you so much!
xo, Mom and Dad
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Yesterday was a day of much celebration.
More pictures to come!
Click here for a few more pictures of the [edible] sweet stuff. :)Thursday, November 11, 2010
Gold standard of soakers.
Long time no cloth diapering post, huh?
Have I mentioned how much I love Wild Child Woolies soakers? There aren't many things that I've saved and loved over the span of three kids but these are top of the list. They are made out of the softest, thickest (well, the double-layer) and stretchiest interlock wool. They fit for a loooong time and they contort to fit baby's ever-changing shape. They cover even the most generously cut (ie notoriously large and equally wonderful) Motherease One-Size and are uber trim over a snappied prefold.
Now, to convince you with cuteness, here's Jack Jack.
SO soft on the World's Chubbiest Legs.
As you can see it covers the badonkadonk very well.
Convince you?
Splurge on these soakers. You won't be sorry!
Have I mentioned how much I love Wild Child Woolies soakers? There aren't many things that I've saved and loved over the span of three kids but these are top of the list. They are made out of the softest, thickest (well, the double-layer) and stretchiest interlock wool. They fit for a loooong time and they contort to fit baby's ever-changing shape. They cover even the most generously cut (ie notoriously large and equally wonderful) Motherease One-Size and are uber trim over a snappied prefold.
Now, to convince you with cuteness, here's Jack Jack.
SO soft on the World's Chubbiest Legs.
As you can see it covers the badonkadonk very well.
Convince you?
Splurge on these soakers. You won't be sorry!
Monday, November 08, 2010
Thank you, Mother Nature for blowing down my neighbor's fence.
Here is Mr. Glowing Blue Eyes looking Super Cute
In addition to the gaping hole (we'll get to that), did you notice the sockless, coatless - no - hoodieless state of Babycakes? I love seeing his nibbleable (word? should be) toes. It's been a very mild fall here in Minneapolis! (except for that incredibly gusty day that took out the fence)
Now you can turn your attention to the fallen fence behind my lovely child. That's right, I used my children as a cover to photograph my neighbor's destroyed and fallen fence. A fence that didn't have long for this world a good two years ago when he TIED [part of] IT TO HIS FREAKIN' HOUSE to keep it from falling down on my children.
So, I thank you, Mother Nature, for taking down part of that fence and for depositing it in his yard. Downside is that now we have to interact MORE with said neighbor and his FREAKIN' DOG is now depositing our backyard. The other downside is that our mild fall is coming to an abrupt end this weekend and the ground may freeze before a new privacy fence is installed.
Can you believe this?
Neither can we.
In addition to the gaping hole (we'll get to that), did you notice the sockless, coatless - no - hoodieless state of Babycakes? I love seeing his nibbleable (word? should be) toes. It's been a very mild fall here in Minneapolis! (except for that incredibly gusty day that took out the fence)
Now you can turn your attention to the fallen fence behind my lovely child. That's right, I used my children as a cover to photograph my neighbor's destroyed and fallen fence. A fence that didn't have long for this world a good two years ago when he TIED [part of] IT TO HIS FREAKIN' HOUSE to keep it from falling down on my children.
So, I thank you, Mother Nature, for taking down part of that fence and for depositing it in his yard. Downside is that now we have to interact MORE with said neighbor and his FREAKIN' DOG is now depositing our backyard. The other downside is that our mild fall is coming to an abrupt end this weekend and the ground may freeze before a new privacy fence is installed.
Can you believe this?
Neither can we.
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