It's a BOY!

Here he is!


Here is the ultrasound picture - from two weeks ago! True, it is a not so great picture-of-a-picture but I was tired of waiting to figure out our scanning software. We have many more 3D pictures of our sweet baby, and I'll hopefully post whenever we can scan.

He is perfect, healthy and 100 percent precious. From the u/s pictures he looks a lot like his big brother Sammy! (so super cute!! !:) Jacob and I are thrilled beyond belief with our third baby boy, due in early April. Due date was April 13th, but the ultrasound tech said he is measuring for a due date around April 4, 2010. We think we have big boys, no surprise there!

My guys at the Holidazzle Parade

My guys at the Holidazzle Parade, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Talk about great timing! We were already downtown at Orchestra Hall for the General Mills Hispanic Network's Holiday Party and on our way out we noticed we were right along the route of the Holidazzle Parade - hooray! Luckily it was a balmy 30 degrees, too!

Sammy in the snow

Sammy in the snow, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

This is our first genuine snow of the year, meaning multiple inches sticking around on the ground. He is so excited to be out playing in the snow again!

A quality snow...

Snoooooow, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

A few pictures of our part in the Midwest's recent snow/blizzard activity. The snowdrifts were very impressive. The cold was, too, but nevertheless the boys couldn't wait to get out in it. Jacob took them sledding Tuesday and Wednesday nights and they all returned pink-faced and freezing - it's pretty and fun but it's single digits out there!

A joke Sammy thought was hilarious...

Q: Why did the banana go to the doctor?

A: He wasn't peeling well!

Family Christmas Photos - Thanks, Sonja!

Many thanks to my generous and talented friend Sonja for volunteering to take pictures of our boys for our Christmas card. Here is an example of her work - a rare family photo. She did a great job, especially considering she had some major crankiness and an uncooperative child to work with.

Look for a Christmas card coming to a mailbox near you!

Just for fun, here's another of my failed attempts at a decent picture of these guys:

ha! nice goggles, Sammy....

Our Christmas tree and little elf.

decorating the tree, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy did most of the tree decorating this year and did a very nice job. I think he was sad when we ran out of ornaments.

Silver Dollar City: An Old Time Christmas

Silver Dollar City Christmas Parade, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We took the kids to Silver Dollar City on Black Friday, which was the day before we flew out of Branson. I really wanted to see the park in all it's Christmas glory. It was beautifully festive, but very crowded. Sammy loved it, all of it - the rides, the light show, the parade, even the bus haul to our BFE parking, thanks to the crazy crowd. He kept asking when we could go back. Some year I would love to return to see An Old Time Christmas on a less popular day. Thanks to my parents for making the drive with us, even though they didn't have to. :)

Hayride

James hooked up this truck bed to a tractor and he and Sammy filled it with hay so the kids and other family visiting for Thanksgiving could go on a hayride. Sammy loved it. But he pretty much loved everything Ba did - as long as it was outside!

Arriving in Branson, MO

The Branson airport is a beautiful newly opened facility located about an hour and a half drive from my parents' place. It's not located on the Branson strip by any means, rather it's down a two-lane 5-mile curvy road carved out (exploded) of the side of a mountain with lovely, ear-popping views, but it makes for *much* quicker travel from Minneapolis to Monkey Run, Arkansas (1 hour 15 minute flight plus an easy - by AR standards - 1 hour 30 minute drive) and for that I love it!

The airport has tons of character - inside the terminal you'll find a Bass Pro Shop, hunting trophies and a Famous Dave's alongside the three (two?) gates. The airport crew greets you as you walk down the stairs and onto the runway to depart the airplane. The baggage crew basically hands you your bags. And much to our surprise upon arrival there is only one choice in rental car - Enterprise. Just an FYI for all you Avis members needing a rig.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We are heading to Arkansas to spend the week with my (Jess') side of the family. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Attempting a Christmas card picture.

Take IV, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Tricky. Very tricky with my two nutballs. Obviously there will be another photo shoot but here's one for your amusement.

Side note: we unknowingly stumbled into this Employees Only area at Bachman's and we all thought the giant wreaths were cool. I was really hoping for a card-worthy shot!

Sammy waiting for Santa

Sammy waiting for Santa, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We took the boys to the annual Holiday Open House featuring Santa's arrival at Bachman's , a local nursery. In addition to Santa, there were cookies, crafts and lots of beautiful Christmas displays. Check outFlickr for the full onslaught of photos. :)

Power Wheel!

Power Wheel!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Many MANY thanks to Cody and Ashley for making Sammy's 5th b-day more awesome than even a five-year-old could imagine. He LOVES this thing.

They gave it to him Saturday afternoon and he drove it around for about 45 minutes even though we were freezing! Then, Sunday morning he woke up ready to go out and ride, which Jacob obliged even though there was frost on the ground and he could only find one sock for Sammy (C & A were bunking up in Sammy's room). He went to the Vikings' game, then came home and rode for another hour or so. Today (Monday) is a glorious, perfect fall day and the boy drove from about 11 am - 1 pm, barely stopping to eat a few apple slices and a bar for lunch. He is thrilled, and as an added bonus, totally big stuff at the playground now. Thanks, guys!

Sammy's 5th Birthday Party

, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Held at Edinborough Park this morning. Thanks to Cody for taking ALL the pictures for us! :)

More pics can be found here!

It's my birthday!

, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy posing again with his birthday hat and mittens and in the outfit that Grandma and Papa sent - the greens match perfectly! More b-day pictures on Flickr... clicky clicky

Birthday hat and mittens!

Birthday hat and mittens!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Happy 5th birthday to our sweet Sammy boy! Sammy woke up about 45 minutes early this morning (around 6:30 am) and went to bed at least an hour late last night because he was so excited for his birthday to start. Look at that tired face! He happily obliged posing for a picture with the hat and mittens I knit for him - the first present he opened, his choice. :)

Pump It Up

Freddie, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Leah invited the boys and I to this giant bouncy house place called Pump It Up on Friday. There were two rooms of inflatables - including two HUGE slides that were the big hit of the trip. Sammy and Freddie LOVED it.

For his birthday...

Sammy would like a remote-control butt. Then he asks me, "But, where would we find one?" (uh, let's hope we never, ever can)

I have a feeling Sammy is going to be a bit like Jacob's Uncle Ramon when he's older.

This morning

Freddie: "Where's my candies?"