The King Family

Big Boy Bed...

2012-02-16T22:52:00.002-06:00

I am finally getting a free minute to share some picture of our "big boys!"

This is them getting back into bed for the millionth time the first night...

Finally, they fell asleep after 1 1/2 hours of playing, knocking on the door, building forts, jumping on the bed, climbing into the window, etc...

Isaac was first and Andrew was second...

We have made progress in the last week and a half and are down to 30 minutes of play at bed time. Nap time is a whole other story...

Cracks us up how they love to be so close...I did move them after the pictures ;) They will love these pictures at their graduation party!
Sean LOVES sharing a room :) He is such a great big brother!

My sweet little buddy...he now has a loose tooth and is turning 5 on Saturday! Where does the time go?!

I am so blessed with such a beautiful family! They are very busy little guys and are making my hair turn gray early, but I wouldn't trade them for the world!

"Serenity Now!"

2012-02-07T19:13:00.003-06:00

I have 2 words for you...

TODDLER BEDS

Exhausting, Frustrating

No Naps

Crabby Kids

Second Winds

Blanket Forts (Blanket Mess)

Captain Morgans

Try Again!

Now you are caught up on our lives this week!

Pool Time in January...

2012-01-30T20:49:00.003-06:00

I have been looking for a kid friendly indoor swimming pool since we moved here. We joined the YMCA for a few months, but it was farther away and expensive. I drive by this hotel a few times a week and noticed the big water slide in the window, so I thought I should see if they let "locals" swim. To our amazement, they do!! It is very affordable, too, I might add :)

Big pool with water slide...Sean really wanted to go on it, that is until he climbed to the top and saw how fast the water was shooting down...He attempted 3 different times, but each time made his way back down the steps. It was pretty cute. I think if Daddy would've been with us, they would've done it together. We will try again!
The best part for me was that they had a "cat" pool!! And, yes, the babes stayed in it!! That was my one big fear was that they would try to get into the big pool the whole time. They had a ball going down the slide and playing in the pool :)

Here is my Sean!! Can you believe that he will be 5 in a few weeks?!

And Isaac! He took a tumble backwards down the steps of the slide :( He is such a tough little guy. After I snuggled him for a few minutes, he went right back and conquered the slide!

And Andrew! He was too busy collecting things and couldn't give me a smile. Such a little worker...He loved the slide as well :)

So glad that I called and asked! The Duluth hotels were much different and didn't let anyone except guests swim. I can understand, and I am so glad that we had the YMCA up there to cure our swimming needs! We truly are a water-loving family :)

Wintertime fun!!

2012-01-23T21:24:00.003-06:00

Who would've thought that they first time the twins were able to play in the snow would be January 22nd!! They sure had a blast outside these last two days!!

Sean loved teaching them how to shovel and eat snow ;)

They love watching Sean "work" at building a snow pile to jump in.

Andrew loves eating the snow...

and so does Mr. Isaac :)

So much fun!

Now if only they would all keep their mittens on...

and stay outside for longer than 30 minutes...

it takes me longer to get them all dressed up!

Job Time...

2012-01-23T21:19:00.002-06:00

'Tis that time in a child's life when responsibility has to be taught...

Doing "big kid" jobs has its benefits...

Gets dad and mom pretty pumped up, too!

Sean is enjoying his new "big kid" jobs, including; setting the table, loading the dishwasher, and feeding the dogs. "Jobs are fun!" I hope he keeps that attitude :)

Sharing a Room...

2012-01-15T20:36:00.003-06:00

Love sleeping babes!

Andrew

(can't help but notice how much the twins look alike in these pictures!)

Isaac

Sean (pretending...see the smile)

It was an idea that I thought of before we moved in...

But we wanted to give Sean his own room, and he did great in his basement bedroom.

Lately, he has been wanting to sleep upstairs, and we have let him "camp out" in the twins' room. We decided to give him the option of moving upstairs and sharing a room.

He was pumped! So, we (or should I say, Graham and Sean) spent the morning moving his bunk bed and dresser upstairs. The babes are still in their cribs, so everything looks a little crowded. But it is a sweet room, with three very precious little boys, and I am so excited to have them all close to me, too :)

Isaac's bed before...

Andrew's bed before...

Isaac's bed after...

Sean and Andrew's bed after...

Full but sweet :)

My Little Builder...

2012-01-14T15:02:00.003-06:00

I have heard about the Kids Builder Workshops for a little while now,

and today was our first time! They use real nails, wood, and hammers!

Sean was totally pumped! This is right up his alley :)

Before beginning the project of building a castle...

Starting to pound it out...

Finished project!!

He is currently playing with it in the kitchen! He loves it and wants to go back tomorrow ;)

They are building Dinosaurs in 2 weeks...sign up online...I highly recommend it!

Happy New Year! (a little late)

2012-01-10T19:42:00.003-06:00

We have been busy, busy, busy this month!

Nana and Papa bought all the boys hockey skates for Christmas this year.

We have been able to go 3 times so far. The first time was stressful as I was on skates for the first time in 15 years and Sean was like a floppy fish in my arms! We survived and by the 2nd time out, he was skating on his own! To be a kid again! Totally impressed!

Sean learning how to play hockey on his 3rd time out :)

Our adventures with the twins has been a little nuts...
Last Thursday, Andrew decided it was time to climb out of his crib! Scared the me silly when he walked out of his room at nap time!! So we had to improvise and have the boys share a crib that night as we tried to figure out what we were going to do! We ended up making a late night trip to mom and dad's to get our other crib that can be lowered. Now they are both safe in cribs that are lowered all way to the ground...next up is toddler beds...I am trying to get my head around that one!!

Sean started weekly swim lessons again!!
He is such a fish and just loves the water! The babes want to jump in so badly, too!

Me and my bud skating for the very first time :)

New Year's Eve with the cousins!

It doesn't get much better than that :) Amy and her family came up for the night, and we had a blast! Kids played and watched movies all night, as we toasted in the New Year watching the countdown. It even snowed!

Graham is back working at the hospital working crazy hours. He is working on his schedule for the remaining part of his schooling...it is so crazy to "see" the end in sight, but so stressful knowing what he has to do between now and then! So proud of him!!

I have been busy with my kids and watching a few others each day. We love the company and friends to play and learn with! Keeps me home and from spending money, which is always a good thing (at least Graham thinks so ;)

Christmas!!

2011-12-29T23:42:00.003-06:00

Santa was good to my boys once again :)

Notice the ornaments...

The trucks were put together by Sean and Graham on Christmas Eve!

Sean enjoys them as much as his brothers do :)

Always the big brother helper! New hats with cute pajamas!

Who is that Super Hero in my parents' living room?!
Boys like to dress up, too!

My mom got all the little boys these hats with matching mittens!

They are even cuter in person! Look at that smile!

Santa came to my parents' house again this year and the boys loved him!

So thankful to get a good picture of them with Santa, too!

We had a great Christmas this year! We started out on Friday night with an Ugly Sweater party with the Hoffmans! I couldn't imagine a better group to do this with! The time with them flew by, I didn't even get to talk with all of them, and I can't wait to see them again!

On Saturday, we went to Jason and Crystal's new house in Mapleton. They have done a beautiful job making it their home! Great company, great food, a great time had by all!

We celebrated Christmas morning at our house unwrapping presents and playing with new toys, oh what fun!

Then we packed up and headed south to my parents' to celebrate! A great time was had by all, we got spoiled by Nana and Papa, aunts and uncles...and Santa, of course!

We finished up the holiday with the stomach flu hitting us one by one. Not fun at all, and I wished it was just me the entire time. My boys are tough and very brave, and I am so thankful they are feeling better once again!

Now, bring on the New Year!!

And, just a side note to say I am sorry for not sending out cards this year...time got the best of me and I will put it on my "to do" list earlier next year! Hugs and love to you all!

Castle vs. House...

2011-12-17T19:57:00.004-06:00

Sean was helping Graham in the garage with insulating the garage door.

Graham cut up the scraps for Sean to play with, and he starting building right away!

"Mom, check out this huge castle I built!"

"See, this is Nana and Papa's house,
and they can drive down the road all the way to Shakopee and come to our house!"
I'll give you one guess as to which house is which!
Oh what fun it is to play :)

Boys Like to Play Dress Up, Too...

2011-12-17T19:45:00.003-06:00

Only their kind of dress up includes;

Andrew as Scooby Doo,

and Isaac as a doctor.
...

And Isaac as Scooby Doo,

and Andrew as a doctor.
(His leg really isn't "missing," it is just hidden under that long pant leg ;)

Oh what fun we have!

On a side note; my house does get pretty "tore up" when they dump all the toys out.

It only looks nice when the babes are sleeping and all the toys are put away in the right place!

Some fun this weekend :)

2011-12-11T20:24:00.003-06:00

Sean loved unwrapping and "moshing" the candies into the cookies :)

It was fun using the cookie cutters to cut out some cookies...

Then we got to decorate them :)

Isaac knows how to relax...

Andrew loves the chair, too :)

We had a great time this weekend! Ginger came on Thursday night for dinner, and we were highly entertained by Graham...we could just say he is a little stressed out at the moment!

Then, Amy and Emma came up on Saturday to bake. Graham was on call and at the hospital all day, so it was very nice to have some company and adult conversation :) Great time!

We spent a lazy Sunday at home and enjoyed making a messy in nearly every single room of the house! Ah, to be that free spirited...picking up is the pits ;)

We hope you have a great Monday! We plan too :)

Freddy the Elf...

2011-12-07T20:43:00.003-06:00

Freddy showed up on the Friday after Thanksgiving!

The boys woke up to find these new pajamas from Freddy the Elf...

(named last year after Freddy from Scooby Doo)

They absolutely LOVE them!
Sean gets up so early as he can't wait to figure out where Freddy moved to overnight!

He got spooked out last year when he thought Freddy could go in his room at night,

but we reassured him that Freddy has to "see" the Christmas Tree

in order to get his magical power. Same holds true this year, too :)

Freddy made breakfast and brought some new plates and new cups this past Sunday!

The note was written especially for our boys and gave them encouragement to behave...

Will it work? Only time will tell...
But the boys LOVE their new plates and cups :)

And the Elf Food..aka donuts :)

Hmmm...

2011-12-07T20:30:00.002-06:00

Is this the face of an innocent child?

Hmmm...I don't think so...

Yep...look at his missing bangs...good thing I know a great stylist!

My friend, Julie, was able to fix it up pretty nice the next day :)

He tries to be sneaky, but doesn't finish "hiding" his criminal activity.

Such as, I found the scissors and hair on top of the toothpaste before I went to bed ;)

I think he comes by this naturally, as I remember leaving "stuff" on the step in the garage and the trunk of my car growing up...I was always busted, too!

Lots to be thankful for...

2011-11-28T21:15:00.002-06:00

As I look back over this past year, all I can say is that we have a lot to be thankful for!

10. Selling our house in Duluth.
9. Finding, buying, and moving to a new place in Shakopee quickly.
8. Having a pool in our neighborhood :)
7. Friends moving into our town!
6. Being closer to family and old friends, making visits more frequent.
5. Super Target.
4. Vehicles that can be fixed by my hubby!
3. ebay sales ;)
2. My awesome, lovable, super smart hubby! We are so proud of you!
1. All three of my amazing little men; Sean, Isaac, and Andrew. I love you more than words.

We had a great Thanksgiving with both sides of the family. The Sunday before, we hosted Graham's side at our house. It was a great visit with lots of food! Thanks for coming up here, it meant a lot to us. Graham had to miss his first of many (unfortunately) holidays, but he was there in spirit. We went to my parents' on Thursday, and had a great time there, too! Great weather made it possible to spend lots of time outside, lots of great food to eat, and good company. We missed Alli, and we can't wait to see her at Christmas! Family gatherings are never the same when someone is missing...

I went Black Friday shopping at midnight with my good friend, Julie! We waited out the frenzy at Champs with a beer, then got rock star parking, and never had to wait in a line...awesome!! Can't wait until next year! We were home by 3:30am, and I was up by 7:00am with super excited little boys ready to put up the tree! Yipee!! It was a lot of fun.

On Saturday, the boys and I drove up to Cambridge to visit my old friend Sarah and her family. It was so great to see them and meet their newest addition, Betsy! She is beautiful, and I enjoyed being able to snuggle her! Sean loves playing with Annika and Sofie, and he always comments how beautiful they are when we get back in the car. I agree, her girls are beautiful inside and out, just like their mommy :) We are lucky to have them in our lives.

We ended the weekend with colds, laundry, and laziness...just what the doctor ordered :)

Need I Say More...

2011-11-19T19:40:00.002-06:00

No Comment :) Ugh!

Oh, Isaac!

2011-11-18T21:45:00.003-06:00

Well, it all started about a week ago right after my mom and sister came to visit. Isaac climbed out of his crib for the first time. He only attempted it once last Sunday, then I caught him in the act again on Tuesday. Thursday morning, he surprised me during my morning workout in the basement...by climbing out of bed, opening his bedroom door, crawling down the stairs, and walking into the basement to find a VERY surprised mama!

With all these "minor" incidences, I guess we should have been prepared for tonight. The longest night of our lives. We went through our normal bedtime routine of a bath, snuggle, milk, and to bed. Only this time the door opened up behind me and out runs Mr. Isaac! I have to say it made us giggle. This repeated over and over again. We were concerned for his safety, so we took the front off his crib to make it more like a daybed and turned his door knob so the lock was on the outside. This was fun for a little while, then the crying started, and it was so heartbreaking! I went in to rub his back, and he just continued to sob :( We figured that he was just really scared about his bed being different, as here is our little cub without his den :(

So daddy to the rescue! He was able to take apart the bottom of his crib to make the mattress lay on the floor with all four sides of the crib in tact and still up! Hooray! The den is back, and the little cub is safe, happy, and finally asleep! He was not able to climb out as it lowered it a good amount! Buys us a little more time! Phew...my babies are growing up way too fast :(

Which one of these is not like the others?...

2011-11-18T21:33:00.003-06:00

Yup...

This explains everything...

Sean is our organized, friendly, clean little man.

Andrew is our organized, shy, neat, little man.

Isaac is NOT our organized, neat, clean, or shy little man...

more like our WILD little man!

Picture Wednesday...

2011-11-16T08:56:00.002-06:00

Sean and Isaac
Daddy and Sean
Mommy and the twins
Mommy and her boys
Daddy and his boys

Catch Up Time...

2011-11-14T22:07:00.002-06:00

It has been a fun and busy week at the King house, once again :)

Graham started a new rotation last Monday that has kept him very busy. He is in Med I, which is like Internal Medicine. He says that he is learning a ton, and he is also working a ton. He will have his first day off this Saturday...I can only imagine the spread he is going to be making for breakfast, as it is his favorite meal of the day...lucky us!

Sean has a preschool buddy that has started doing daycare with us. It has been a great addition to our routine. Sean loves having a playmate each day, and it is fun for me to do "school" with them. We love to go to parks and playing outside, so we really try to get out each day. He is excelling in school, and it is so fun to see what he is learning. Now, if I could just take the time to teach him how to tie his shoes...I always remember at 10pm...I need to add it to my "To Do" list!

Isaac is one determined little man. He just learned how to climb out of his crib on Sunday!! Yikes!! He has only done it that one time so far...I am waiting for the day he gets out of it all the time. I hope I have a little while yet! If I turn my back for a second, I can find him doing one of the following; climbing and dancing on the coffee table, climbing onto the kitchen table, opening the bathroom door and climbing into the tub/playing in the toilet, climbing Sean's bunk bed ladder, etc. (all things that we do not want him doing). This little guy makes our hearts stop often! He recently learned how to give kisses, and he still gives the biggest hugs.

Andrew loves building things with Lego's, and then loves taking them apart. He absolutely LOVES to be outside and hates having to come in (sorry neighbors). He will push a truck around outside forever, or until he sees something better that his brothers might have ;) He has a loud and contagious laugh, and he loves to be tickled and cuddled. He isn't that interested in climbing out of his crib...yet...I think he is waiting to see if it will hurt and/or if Isaac will get into trouble before he attempts it! He is our more cautious one.

Me, well, a friend and I are helping one another stay on track with working out. It feels so good to be on a routine. Now if I could get my diet under control...I often tease that maybe I should just workout harder so I don't have to worry about food...sometimes I think it would be easier! I love when we have visitors, and I have been blessed with some great ones this last week (Mandy, mom, and Molly). I did learn the importance of checking in on family and friends this week too, and I think that will be my New Year's Resolution this year. I need to be better at picking up the phone and planning spur of the moment visits...they mean so much.

Hug your babes today for me. I can't hug mine enough. I am so lucky and blessed.

Pictures!

2011-11-07T21:32:00.002-06:00

Here are some fun pictures from the weekend. We all had fun at the Zoo, look at all the pointing :) Also, notice where their new play area is now that we have opened up the twins' room for play...Yup, that is the closet! Enjoy :)

Fun Weekend!

2011-11-06T14:17:00.002-06:00

I love spur of the moment activities! They always seem to be the most fun :)

On Friday night, my friend Julie came over to cut my guys' hair. It was fun, not only because they all did awesome getting their hair cut, but because she brought her family. We hung out, had a few cocktails and snacks, and our kids always have a blast together.

Saturday, Graham worked on his car in the morning. It has had an engine light on for awhile now, and even after taking it in to have it looked at it, the light was still on. It has been frustrating, but Graham did some research online and discovered a common problem. The part cost $7, and it took him a only few hours. Now the light is off...Way to go, Babe!! Wish we wouldn't have paid for the computer diagnostic...waste of money!

We decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and took the kids to the Minnesota Zoo after lunch. They all had a blast! The twins really noticed everything and there were lots of oohs and ahhs and pointing :) Fun, fun, fun!!

Today, Sunday, has been a great, productive day, too! The time change really played with me all day, so I feel like it should be so much later than it really is. The kids got up at their normal time, only it was an hour early. We rearranged the kids' rooms so that they are more kid friendly. We are tired of having all the doors shut upstairs, and Sean really needed a dresser to organize his clothes. The babes sure love the freedom of being able to play in their room, now :) Then, we ran some errands, had a blast getting blown away at the school park, and treated ourselves to DQ for lunch (special treat these days, reminds me of when I was a kid).

It has been great having this quality time together :) We all needed it :)

8th Anniversary!

2011-11-02T20:45:00.003-05:00

Where did the 8 years go?! We sure have made a lot of great memories in our 8 years together...and we celebrated in the most perfect way...a dinner date for two! Perfect! Looking forward to many more to come, Love You Graham!

Halloween!!

2011-10-31T21:44:00.002-05:00

What a fun time of year to be a kid! We celebrated Halloween a few times this year and had a blast!
1. We went to Mankato to get pictures with our cousins in our costumes...super fun and totally adorable!
2. We had a fun Halloween Party at the Fellings on Saturday night where we made spooky food to eat and let the kids play their hearts out before crashing...I mean crashing literally here for Isaac as this is where he learned how to climb out of his pak-n-play!
3. The kids woke up this morning to "ghost waffles" and they hit the spot!
4. We made our "ghost bags" for our trick or treaters tonight :) It is a fun tradition that my mom started, and one that I love, too!
5. Sean had a Costume Party at school today, so he got to wear his costume there and be in a parade for the parents :) It was adorable, and I thought Sean looked so awesome!
6. We had a "pumpkin pizza" for dinner tonight before we headed out to trick or treat!
7. This year we went to the Fellings and walked their neighborhood. It is awesome to see all the lights on for the kids :) Their bags sure filled up fast! The twins really didn't know what to think and took turns crying :( Next year it will be more fun for them, too!
8. Enjoy the pictures! Notice that Isaac's socks and shoes are on and off throughout...this is an ongoing issue right now and one that I hope he outgrows very soon!! See if you notice Ron Jeremy...He celebrated Halloween with us a few years back and made a return tonight...and yes, I get to take him home each night...lucky, yes I am ;)

Some Firsts...

2011-10-30T20:39:00.002-05:00

We had a weekend of firsts...

Sean had his first sleep over at a friend's house! He had so much fun last night, and he was fast asleep by 7:30pm tonight ;)

Isaac climbed out of the pak-n-play! We put them to bed at our friends' house, and Graham heard a thud. He went to investigate and found Isaac running around the room! Yikes! This changes everything!

Andrew was very close to climbing out of the pak-n-play but was stopped in just the nick of time by Graham! He did figure out how to put puzzle pieces together, and we are way impressed!

Fun and exhausting weekend! Can't wait to trick or treat tomorrow night! I will be sure to post pictures!

Pumpkins...Take Two...

2011-10-28T20:16:00.003-05:00

Sean picked out a tiny one to color...
Graham cleaning out the guts while Sean waits...
Here are our NEW beautiful pumpkins :)

(The middle one is fading fast, good thing Halloween is days away!)

Poor Sean...

2011-10-27T19:26:00.002-05:00

When Sean went to turn on the lights in his pumpkins tonight, he found a sad sight. Someone destroyed 2 of the 3 by picking out the faces :( The middle one is the only one left tonight. Why do people/kids do things like this? Broke his heart and ours, too. We are going out tomorrow to find new pumpkins to carve again. :(

Pictures...Duluth, Peterson Leaf Pile, Pumpkin Fun, Scooby...

2011-10-24T21:14:00.004-05:00

Oops! I had the pictures locked by accident! Enjoy :)

Week Off...

2011-10-22T14:57:00.003-05:00

Graham had a week break from rotations, so we decided to take advantage of this time together.

We were able to go up to Duluth for a few days. We had dinner with our old neighbors, what a treat!! So fun to see them! Thanks for making us feel so at home :) We love going down to Canal Park to the Lake Walk. The kids had a blast climbing on the rocks, chasing the seagulls, and throwing rocks into the lake :) To top it off, we stayed at The Edgewater which has an indoor water park. All of us had a blast! Poor Isaac ended the trip with the flu, I guess he went down one too many slides...

We continued on and went to Mankato for a quick trip. We had dinner with some old friends at The Tav, and it was fun catching up on life! Doctor appointments kept us busy the entire next day before we headed home.

Unfortunately, Graham got sick once we got home and it continues to hang on even today :( Not the way we wanted to spend his time off, but thank goodness it happened while he was on break! So, the boys and I headed back to Mankato on Friday to play with cousins, and we had a blast! Leaf piles, Halloween pictures, and pizza...doesn't get much better than that for spur of the moment trip! Thanks, Jo! Can't wait to see the pics...the twins enjoyed sliding in their costumes more than anything, so cute!

We did go to a fun little Pumpkin Patch on Saturday. They had hayrides, pumpkin picking, face painting, and a corn maze. All the boys loved the hayride and couldn't get enough of the big tractor :) Sean picked out 3 pumpkins; 2 littles and 1 medium size. We couldn't wait to get home to carve them out! Graham got creative and used his Saws-All to carve the pumpkins this year...he is my tool guy at heart :)

We even cleaned/organized the garage and can finally fit both cars in!! Huge accomplishment for us, as we use our garage for storage...Just in time for frosty morning windows :)

We are counting sleeps until Halloween! Sean informed us it is only 7 more tonight at supper :) I just love holidays!! We decorate for each one, and the twins notice everything! Ohhs and Ahhs are adorable!

It's Been a Busy Month!

2011-10-12T20:25:00.002-05:00

Wow! I can't believe that it has been a month since I posted last! Let me catch you up on The Kings...

1. The boys and I have been spending as much time outside as possible trying to soak in all this beautiful fall weather and temps! Whether it is the park, going for a walk/bike ride, or just playing outside our house, we are happy as clams :)
2. The twins have learned a new trick...to climb as high as they can as fast as they can! This involves tables, chairs, toys, couches, stairs, gates...I am sure you get the picture! It has been a very stressful time for me, as I can't let them out of my sight! I am hoping the "new"ness will wear off...eventually!!
3. Sean is loving his school, his brothers, his friends, playing outside, watching cartoons, doing school work, books, and so much more! He is really loving life right now. Sometimes testing the limits...who am I kidding...this happens regularly ;) We are working hard at writing, coloring, and cutting! He does awesome.
4. Graham has been running all over the cities for his clinicals. Some have been more enjoyable than others. I guess that is a good thing, as it helps him narrow down all the choices of possible specialties. He leaves extremely early every morning and tries to come home for dinner, it just all depends on the rotation he is in.
5. I have kept myself busy playing with my boys, running errands, and the usual house work. A good friend of mine calls herself a "home manager"...I think that is a great title, and I am going to borrow it! Thanks, Julie! I have enjoyed seeing friends, long walks, and great talks :) I can't forget my Caribou fix every now and then.
6. We have had some fun visits this past month, too. Darlene and Ginger came for the afternoon and stayed for dinner. It was fun to catch up and see them play with the boys. They sure enjoyed the attention!
7. Then, we met Graham's sister Crystal and family at Emma Krumbee's for lunch and the apple orchard. It was a great way to catch up and to have them up to our house :) Sean loved the "candy store" on the way and tells me all about it every time we pass the big yellow barn on 169!
8. Some great friends, The Hansons, came up our way and spent the afternoon/evening with us. It was so fun to visit and let our kids play. They introduced Sean to the iPad...big mistake as now he wants one! They are pretty awesome and can do so much! I hope Santa can find one for a steal of a deal somewhere...
9. I was able to help Amy with The Chef's Auction in Mankato, and I had a blast! My sister works very hard and her business is incredible! I don't know how she ever keeps up!
10. We celebrated an old family friend's wedding this past weekend. Riley Hoffman married his long time sweetheart, Chelsea. It was a beautiful wedding and rockin' reception! Great to see our our friends/family. We had a lot of fun! Thanks, Ginger, for watching our crew!

Well, I promise to update more often this month. Hope you are all well. I will post some pictures soon.

Fun Pictures From This Week..

2011-09-16T13:15:00.003-05:00

Andrew coloring for the first time! He loved it and was very focused.
Isaac also colored for the first time and discovered that crayons don't taste very good....
or do they?

Sean has always loved to color, so it is fun sharing this down time with his brothers.

Nice hair, bud!

Isaac says "cheese" now when he sees the camara...can you see him saying it?

He was using this calculator as a phone.

NEW SHOES!!

Today the twins got new shoes and Sean got new ones for school.

They all LOVE them and want to where them all the time :)

Preschool!!

2011-09-09T21:01:00.005-05:00

All ready to go!! Hard to wait until 12:30pm when you are SO excited!
Arriving on his first day!

Graham was even able to come with us today! What a treat that was!

Isaac and Andrew have to get used to their new schedule too,

as pick up time is in the middle of their naptime...they did great and were excited to see him! Time to go home! We'll be back on Monday with bells on...only 3 sleeps until he gets to go again!

The day has finally arrived...

Sean has been counting sleeps for about 3o nights now...

He was so excited and couldn't wait to go!

He had a great time, made a new friend, sang songs, painted, colored, read stories, and more!

Those that know Sean know that he LOVES to talk, and let me tell you...

he had a LOT to tell us today!

Graham and I keep asking ourselves, "Where did the last four years go??"

I had to choke back tears but was so happy to see him so happy. My heart is full.

Pool is Closed...Summer must be over :(

2011-09-08T20:43:00.005-05:00

Last Day :( Andrew didn't want to go...
I have a picture of Sean sweeping like this! Way to go, Andrew!
(Notice the new enclosure...freedom!)

What can I say? Like father, like son...nice one Isaac!

Scooter time!

How many one year olds can fit into the car...that would be two!

Wow! We sure enjoyed our neighborhood pool this summer!

Summer started with a bang with moving down here, and now it has ended with a bang with Sean starting Preschool tomorrow!!

We are so excited for our cousins and friends starting school this week,

and some good friends also welcomed a baby girl into their family, too!

What a great week! Enjoy some new pictures of our boys.

"Did you know..."

2011-08-28T21:35:00.004-05:00

"...that Sundays are Dairy Queen days?" Sean informs us during supper tonight, so

how could we resist a trip to DQ after that?! It was enjoyed by all :) Thanks, Sean!

Quick Catch Up:

This last week has flown by!

1. We had Ginger staying with us for a few days :) Sean loves having a roommate.

2. We went to Valleyfair with the Ottos, Alli, and Annie and had an awesome time!

Sean loved all the rides, the faster the better! I remembered quickly why I hate the ferris wheel...please remind me before I get on it next time!! Thanks Alli for doing the rides!!

3. We are trying to get in as many pool days as we can before it closes on Labor Day...that will be one sad day for my boys (and me)!

4. Pool time with the Fellings is always a great time!

5. Headed to Mankato on Friday for some family time and a surprise party for Molly!

Super fun day by the pool and partying with family,

but saying goodbye to Alli was tough...won't see her until Christmas :(

6. I had to clean out my old classroom on Friday, too.

It was nice seeing my old friends, and man, do I have a lot of stuff!!

Sean - can ride a 2 wheel bike all by himself and do a handstand in the pool!

Andrew - is learning how to share and give toys to his brothers,

loves books, shoveling sand, and says "thank you"!

Isaac - still wants to climb on everything, is getting 2 molars,

shovels sand, and loves the taste of sand from the sandbox!

Graham - is loving this rotation of Orthopedics,

fixed our garage door problem, and has bad allergies (poor guy)!

Me - same old, same old. Getting back on the diet/workout bandwagon tomorrow,

and I am totally enjoying all of my boys! I am one lucky lady :)

Family Date Night...

2011-08-13T09:17:00.002-05:00

As most of you know, going out to eat is not really in the Medical School family budget these days. We do treat ourselves out on special occasions. Last night was one of those!

I got flowers and a night off from cooking! We took the kids to BW3s...a family favorite. It is loud and kid friendly making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy some time out. Cold beer and hot wings, doesn't get much better than that! We ended our night with a movie we have had on our DVR for the last few weeks...The Last Three Days...great movie with an awesome cast.

This was much needed for us. Our kids were awesome and fun, and it was nice to escape for the night. Now we can look forward to the next time...down the road :)

Growing Up...

2011-08-11T21:39:00.003-05:00

My babies are growing up too fast :(

Sean can ride his big bike with no training wheels! He has done awesome and loves the speed and tricks that his dad has shown him...he has only fallen twice. Once was when we were first teaching him, and the second was when he was attempting to ride up the driveway bump...I got it all on video...gains speed, jumps the bump, and slams into my van. Somehow Graham made it "cool" so he recovered pretty quick. We have a tough boy! He thoroughly enjoys his little brothers and can't wait to begin preschool next month!! Where has the time gone?! :(

Isaac has nine lives! This kid is a climber, tries to balance on everything, and a dare-devil...if he isn't standing on his Zebra Jumpy thing, he is trying to balance on top of my plastic bowls that he pulled out of the cupboard (which are baby-proofed...Ahhh!!!). He cannot be left alone at any moment of the day right now. He is still my smiley boy who loves to engulf you in the biggest hug. Love those, but can't wait for the daring stage to be over...I pray he will get over it...I hope it is soon!

Andrew is my thinker and figures out how to do things by watching others. Last night, he climbed up on the couch to sit by me. This morning as I was quickly making my bed, my bedroom door opens (it was completely shut) and in walks Andrew...Now I need to really inspect all the closed off rooms to make sure they are baby-proofed and ready for my little explorers/investigators...He loves to snuggle and sit on your lap. This little man loves to talk, and I can't wait to figure out what he is really saying! So sweet and lovable!

Times are changing at the King House! Hope you are enjoying your summer. Someone at the pool told me today that we only have 3 weeks left until the pool is closed...3 weeks!! Where has the summer gone?! I haven't gotten to do everything I thought I would've. I still have the "back to school nerves" although I am not going back this year. This time of year always make me really miss getting my classroom ready, meeting my students, and seeing my old teaching friends...I am with you in spirit! Miss you all and can't wait to visit!

Fun Week!

2011-08-04T21:29:00.003-05:00

Isaac
Andrew

Rocket Arm Sean!!

The Crew at Camp

The 3 little ones

It has been a fun week at our house :)

Sunday - Ginger came to visit and stayed over, because she had an early interview. Sean loves when we have overnight visitors, as then he has a "roommate" in the basement with him.

Monday - Our friends, the Fellings, moved down from Duluth!! We have been waiting and waiting...Poor things had to deal with bad storms all day long...It sure made unloading their truck interesting. Ginger came back after her interview so I could go and help. Then Graham went later in the evening to help with the bigger things. It is nice to have them so close!

Tuesday - We had surprise visitors from Mankato! Amy and the kids came up for a visit, and she was able to pull off a great surprise for Sean. He loves his cousins and had so much fun playing, swimming, and playing so more! Sean also blocked 3 goals at his soccer game tonight!! Super cool to watch him! Cracked me up to see most of his team wanting to be goalie...it was a little hot and they were all so tired at the end. We also had Ginger over night again, aren't we lucky :)

Wednesday - My mom invited us to go to the Vikings Training Camp with her, the Ottos, and the Burgers. It was so much fun! We got up and on the road early, as we wanted to get there when it opened before the crowds got too big. They had so much for the kids to do! They just kept getting back in line over and over again. We even watched the Vikings practice for a little bit ;) Then the pool was calling our names, so we headed back to mom's for lunch, swimming, and naps. Great day! We even beat Graham home, not hard to do these days ;)

Thursday - Had a great talk with an old Duluth neighbor! I sure miss my old stomping ground. We really had it good up there. Sean has been working so hard at riding his bike without training wheels. We have only been practicing on the weekends, but today I was able to get him out to practice this afternoon. He is rockin' it!! I am so proud of him! He isn't so scared, can start by himself, and is gaining confidence. This afternoon some of our other friends from Duluth, the Quinns, came for awhile. We always have such a great time with them. The boys all play hard and have such great imaginations. Graham is oncall, so I should be getting things done but am feeling a little lazy tonight...

Tomorrow - We have a playdate with the Fellings and can't wait! I will also get all those things done on my list...or start too ;)

What a difference a day makes!

2011-07-25T21:12:00.003-05:00

My van needed some work done, so it was a great excuse to head to Mankato for the day. I was able to get some "mom time" with my mom, "dad time" with my dad, and watch my boys love them up! Then we went to the Golf Club to swim for the afternoon. I ran into a few old friends and had a blast catching up with everyone. It is so nice that the babes are still confined to the "cat pool" and that Sean is such a great swimmer, it totally makes my time at pools enjoyable! Sean was a diving board maniac today! He would give me a thumbs up before his big jump and again when he reached the ladder to get out :) He was so proud of himself! And I watched him from way on the other side! How cool is that?! Isaac and Andrew had a blast walking around, exploring, dunking their heads, and be "rescued" in the little pool. Great day!! I really, really needed that.

On a side note; my friend's dad and brother are both improving! They have a long road ahead of them, but they will make it! God is great!

What a week!

2011-07-22T21:48:00.005-05:00

It has been a week of highs and lows for me.

Amy and I were able to babysit Rylan while my parents were away. We split the time, but helped each other out as we hung out at the pool on those hot, hot days. It was fun to have sister and cousin time. We soak that up whenever we can.

I was able to spend some time with old friends, and isn't it awesome how you can just pick up where you left off?! We had so much fun catching up, that the time just slipped away from us. I really can't wait to see you again Kelly, Danny, Kari, and Tanna!! Awesome time!

I am trying...trying to make time for myself to work out. I was able to do it 3 times this week...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

The twins had their 15 month appointment and are doing great! Isaac is my peanut and in the 1st percentile in height and weight. Andrew is a little bigger and in the 25th percentile. Way to go boys...keep growing, growing, growing! I can already see that they WILL eat me out of house and home, as they are starting to do that now! How quickly I have had to increase my portions when cooking meals :) Isn't life great?!

Sean's soccer game was cancelled due to the heat...Thank goodness! I was going to have him miss it, and it was our turn for treats...I just will not subject my kids to playing in dangerous conditions, let alone sitting on the sidelines watching from a stroller! Looks like it will be cooling down for next week, phew!!

Graham's schedule is INSANE...that is the only word to describe it. We are trying to adjust to him being gone so much more, and we really try to make the best of what little time we get. It is like deja vu for me thinking back on growing up with my dad in school. It is hard...really hard.

A good friend's dad and brother were in a horrific head-on collision on Highway 14, and it is a miracle that they even survived. Her brother is going to be okay with a long recovery , and we are waiting to hear about her dad. He took the brunt of it, as he had to be cut from the car and then flown to Mayo. My heart is broken for her, and I pray that they both will heal quickly, so they can be together once again. I know her mom, an angel in heaven, will give them all the strength they need to pull through.

Lessons for the week;
1. Hug your loved ones. I can't seem to hug and kiss mine enough lately.
2. Call an old friend and reconnect. It really made me less lonely.
3. Don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy the time you have with each other.
4. Take some time out for yourself, you deserve it!

4th of July and More...

2011-07-09T21:02:00.003-05:00

"Cat Pool"
They love putting toys in the "garage" for me to scoop out.

Bonfire Fun...

Soccer fan club

Sean's first soccer experience.

We have had a fun filled week!

1. It started off with a fun trip down to Freeborn Lake to the Christensen's lake spot. Fun to see family, roast hot dogs, and swim in the lake.
2. Then we headed to my parents house the following day for some family and pool time. We had a blast with our boys in the water, grilled out, and had a bonfire to wrap up the day.
3. Sean was very curious about the fire and wanted to poke it with a long stick. After many warnings about it being extremely hot, his curiosity got the best of him. He touched the gray part thinking that it was not hot anymore as it wasn't red... :( Ouch! Tough lesson learned.
4. The 4th was spent as a quiet day at home. We were even able to watch the fireworks from our deck!
5. Graham started his first rotation on Tuesday. It is going to be an adjustment, as he has already had call and is on call tomorrow night again! Early mornings and late nights...Exciting and stressful all at the same time.
6. I spent the week getting ready for my garage sale...yuck! So much work to set up!
7. Molly, Nick, and Rylan came up on Wednesday, and we met them at the zoo. We had a great time and were able to see a lot of animals. The bear cracked us up, as he kept swimming back and forth in front of the glass :)
8. Ginger came up on Friday to help me with the garage sale and kiddos. I couldn't have done it without her! It was worth the work, but I still have a lot of stuff in my garage...takers...anyone?
9. Sean started soccer! We all had fun watching him learn something new.

10. Pool Time! We have really enjoyed our neighborhood pool and are so glad to see the forecast for the week. I really have little fish for little boys! It seems like we have a private pool most days.

Notice the new picture at the very top...
Isaac is starting to get a top tooth, so he will no longer be our vampire :(
Sean is always laughing and working hard to get his brothers' attention :)
Andrew bumped his head running into a table on my parents' deck last weekend, and we are just praying the bump will go away soon :(

Bunk Bed!!

2011-07-01T13:25:00.004-05:00

Last night in "old" bed...Graham building away...

Sean "checking" on his bed in progress...

Finally testing out his "new" bed...

Look at that smile!! What an amazing and exciting experience!

It has been a great week for one little boy...

Sean and his daddy built his new bunk bed from scratch! Graham went and purchased the lumber on Monday night. Then surprised Sean with his very own Tool Box on Tuesday morning before the building began :) They both worked hard and long days...measuring, cutting, building, taking it apart (Sean was devastated!), sanding, staining, varnishing, moving it inside, and building again. Awesome job, King Men!! This bunk bed rocks and is super special :) Memories were made that will never be forgotten...

Wow! Time flies!

2011-06-23T20:49:00.002-05:00

We have been busy these last two weeks! Here is a quick "catch up" from the King household:

1. Graham spent last week painting the entire inside of our new home, so the boys and I spent a few days at my mom and dads staying out of the way :) Looks beautiful!!

2. Sean took swim lessons with his Auntie Alli while we were there, and he has literally turned into a fish!! He now swims in the deep end, and he can even get things off the bottom of the deep end, too!! Wow!

3. We came home on the 16th to celebrate Graham's birthday. We took him out to his favorite restaurant, BW3s, for some wings and beer. What a fun night out with our family!

4. Friday was spent hanging up our pictures on our newly painted walls. It is amazing how that really turns a house into a home in an instant.

5. We finally got all the remaining things out of the "Peterson Storage" on Saturday. It is soooo nice having our bed back! We have been sleeping on an old mattress for two years, because there was no way our bed was going to fit up the stairs in Duluth! We had to get creative with the one we had ;)

6. Ginger came home from Texas, so we spent Saturday night out on the farm catching up. Fun night and great food!

7. Father's Day!! Early Tee time in Mankato and a beautiful, warm, sunny pool day made it great!

8. Monday had Graham ripping up the old floors and laying tile. Wow! Another awesome change! We got creative with blocking off areas from the kids while he busted his hump all week. Isaac is one determined little man...sneaky, too! I think he is going to be a Navy Seal when he grows up! It is finally done tonight and we are moving things back into place.

9. Twins both have double ear infections :( They seemed "off" yesterday, then Andrew woke up during the night...that is his clue of pain. So I took them in today, and we tried the St. Peter Clinic. It was fabulous and quick! I will do that again for sure :)

10. We met Amy and her kids at the St. Peter McDonald's Play Place for lunch. They all had fun, and we brought Braeden home with us.

11. I am sitting here while they are watching a movie before going to bed. I am thankful for the few minutes to update my blog. :) We are hoping the weather starts to improve tomorrow. We need a warm summer day soon!

12. Some Medical School friends are moving down this weekend, and we are super excited to see them and have them close again! Our other friends will be moving down August 1st and that date can't come fast enough, either! It is amazing how close you become with your friends going through the same life experiences you are. I am so lucky to have them!

Sorry for the "book!" Hope you are all doing well :)

Quality Time

2011-06-09T06:40:00.005-05:00

Sean the Shark

Vampire Isaac
Sleepy Andrew

1. Graham survived his test, and that is all he can say about it. It was tough and long, and he is exhausted! We are glad to have him home and not "worrying" about studying for a few weeks.

2. We went to the Minnesota Zoo yesterday. We got there just in time to be ushered into the main building due to an animal escaping! They were pretty mum about where, what, and how. We later found out it was a wolf! Cool story, that is until we got home and watched the news...they had to shoot the poor wolf as they were worried about public safety. :(

3. House projects begin today!!! Paint, tile, lights, door handles, deck, and cement slab...ahhh...it is going to be a busy few weeks.

4. We tried out our neighborhood pool on Monday with Mandy, Noelle, and their boys. What a blast!

5. As Sean was talking to Graham on Monday night about the day at the pool, he told him, "they even have a CAT pool!" As I sat there listening to this...I started to giggle..."kitty" pool...."kiddie" pool...same difference, right?! So funny!!

6. Isaac loves to play the chase game, as he loves to be chased!! At my parents' last week, I had just picked up the Tupperware for the millionth time and Isaac would head right back to play. He would get as far as taking the top bowl out before I would see him, and he would take off running! His little laugh made this little game so much fun!

7. Andrew loves to wrap himself into Sean's comfy blankets, and I found him falling asleep in the living room recently. Too cute for words...

8. Finally got a picture of the Vampire ;)

9. Graham fed a homeless man last week...While walking to school from the "free lot" (about a 15 minute walk), he dropped his lunch bag along the way. He was all the way to school by the time he noticed it, so he started to retrace his steps. No luck, until he got back to campus and noticed a homeless man with his lunch sack hanging from his bike. He talked to the man who was hungry and enjoyed every bite of food. It was interesting because he returned his lunch bag, but had thrown all the Tupperware and silverware away...

10. The Ottos got moved into their new old home. We are excited for them and can't wait to see it!

Enjoy the pictures!

Test...

2011-06-05T22:10:00.002-05:00

Wishing my hubby lots of Good Luck on his big Board Test, not that he needs it ;) It is an 8 hour timed test...ugh!!! He tells me that he gets about 90 seconds per question, on average...now if only it didn't take 60 seconds to just read the question...yikes!! Can't imagine! He has been studying so hard and has sacrificed so much, and we can't wait to enjoy the time he will have off before it all starts again :) I am so proud of you, honey!! Love you!

Too funny not to share...

2011-05-28T22:02:00.002-05:00

Isaac:
1. Molly, Nick, and Rylan came up to visit us today. We were supposed to go to the Zoo, but when they got here the weather turned stormy. We decided to hang out here and go to Chucky Cheese for dinner. It was our first time going there, and Sean had a blast! The rest of us had fun watching him try everything out. When it was time to go, I got the babes out of the highchairs and into their stroller...only Isaac's pants were soaked to the bone! I know his bottle didn't leak, so I went to check his diaper...only I FORGOT to put one on him!!! I have NEVER done that before! I just about peed my pants, I was laughing so hard! So glad that Molly and Nick got to share in my "moment!" Poor Isaac had to ride home in his T-shirt and diaper, and he took a nice warm bath once we got home!

2. He also looks like a vampire, as his Eye Teeth have come in but not his front teeth! I am trying to get a picture of and am failing. Molly got one tonight, so I hope to post it soon! Soooo adorable!

3. He "roars" when playing with dinosaurs and monsters! Cutest thing ever!

Sean:
I had gotten him jean shorts for this summer and had him wear them last weekend with his Minnesota Twins shirt. He played for a little while in the morning before we went to Home Depot to get some house things. When we were getting out of the car, he didn't want to come in. We asked him why, and he responded that he was embarrassed about his shorts...he didn't like them and wanted to change. :( Poor kid!! I told him he could change as soon as we got home, and he did! I guess those shorts will be going in the "sell" pile. He is a kid that knows what he likes!

Andrew:
1. He notices everything, especially everything Sean does. Sean loves to put blankets over his head and walk around...so Andrew has started to do the same! Funny thing is, he is using his little "lovey" to do this! So perfect because he can't trip on it, and can see under it...He thinks he is one funny kid!

2. He can quack like a duck! We play with rubber duckies in the tub, and that's where he shows off his new skill! Cute!!

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend and remembers why we are able to celebrate it! Thank you to our military men, women, and families. You have given us so much to be thankful for! When Graham and I see military people in uniform when we are out for dinner, we like to buy them a drink to show our appreciation. We heard about someone that did that on a plane and thought it was the most amazing gesture. Wish we could do it more often.

Cousins and Aunties...

2011-05-24T21:27:00.004-05:00

Emma and Sean at Lego Land.
Isaac and Andrew worn out from shopping :)
Building is so much fun!
Andrew was totally in love with Emma, and he watched

me brush her hair and couldn't wait to touch it! What a love bug!!

Sean and Emma getting ready to watch a show before bed.

It is so fun to be closer to family! Last week, Darlene visited us for the afternoon and took us out for supper. This past weekend, we celebrated my Grandma's 90th Birthday with my dad's side of the family. Today, we were fortunate enough to have Amy, Alli, Emma, and Charlie (we missed you, Braeden...next time) come up for the day. We went to the Mall of America to shop and have lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. Lots of fun! Then, on a whim, we thought it would be fun if Emma spent the night. Sean and Emma were on cloud 9! They are camping out on Sean's floor and laughing away as I type :) Oh what fun!! We were also lucky to have Alli join us for supper. She leaves on Thursday to head Rhode Island for her AquaVet School.

Last Minute...

2011-05-22T21:37:00.002-05:00

I am a planner...I like to know when, what, who, and for how long...So that is why our "spur of the moment trip to Duluth" was totally out of the ordinary for me!

Friday was a rainy day in Shakopee, and the plans I had for the day were put on hold due to the rain. (It is too hard to get two babes and Sean in and out of the car without them getting drenched! As one babe always has to "wait" in the stroller or cart for me to get the other two out...) So, we were just being bums at home. Then I talked to Graham at lunch, and he seemed a little down. It had been a long week of studying, and we weren't going to see him until Saturday night. Long, long week apart for us. So, I just threw an idea out to him...How about the kids and I come up for the night, and we play at the waterpark?...At first he said no, that he would study and come home Saturday...then he called me right back and said go for it! What a fun call! Within an hour, I had all of us packed up, gased up, and on 35 heading up to our old stomping ground :)

Originally, we were supposed to go to Duluth for the weekend, but with Graham's class coming to an end, he was more than ready to move back home. So we bailed on that plan and looked forward to having him here for good!

Needless to say, we had an AWESOME time! All five of us enjoyed the slides, water sprays, lazy river, and hot tub. We ordered dinner poolside and stayed out late. It was just what the doctor ordered for all of us...some fun family time together. It was only for the night, as we headed back home on Saturday morning. Graham finished his last day of school and came home late on Saturday. We enjoyed our quick trip, and we can't wait to do that again!

Wish I would've taken pictures, but our hands were very full with excited little boys :)

Friday the 13th

2011-05-13T14:17:00.002-05:00

Started out with me taking a shower with an incredibly large spider!!! Ugh!!! I was shampooing my hair and opened my eyes to find it running across the wall!! I had to catch my breath and think about how to get rid of it...Graham wouldn't be coming home until late tonight, and I didn't want that monster loose in the house...a kleenex would not work, as I didn't want to "feel" it being squished...thank goodness for Sean's bath toys! I was able to squish it and clean it up, but I don't think I will get over my bad case of "hebe-jebes" anytime soon!

On a fun note; I was able to have lunch with a old friend, Tiffany, and her little girl. Now we are only 10 minutes away! Super fun :) Alli comes home today, and we will see her tonight at Braeden and Charlie's birthday party! Graham will be home when we get back later tonight!! Great, great day :)

Here are some fun pictures from Easter, to our last time at Bay Front Park in Duluth, a carnival at Emma's school, and fun at Target. Great memories!

Moved!!

2011-05-09T22:46:00.003-05:00

We survived our move! We are officially Shakopee"ians." It has been eventful, stressful, exciting, and sad all at the same time.

Eventful:
We bought a Bank Owned home...not recommended! Many problems finalizing the sale, and the "Bank" didn't seem to care or want to sell. Totally opposite of what one hears in the news! Freddy Mac is not easy to deal with and the realtors they list with are awful, too! But, we are here and dealing.

Stressful:
1. Uhaul didn't have the truck size we reserved, and we had to go with a smaller one...let's just say we had to go back and get a trailer to fill to the brim...ugh...didn't make it easy, but we managed.
2. Graham loaded us up and helped drop the truck and trailer off at the new place the day before closing, and then had to return to Duluth for his Board Study Program. So, my dad and I hired some guys to meet us at the new place to unload. They were lifesavers!
3. I think that I am a little spoiled when it comes to moving, as my husband has always made such beautiful homes for us. This time, I had to move into someone else's home. On the surface, it looked fine. Close up, it was another story! I am a VERY clean and picky person, so it was very overwhelming when I first started to clean! After a few days of scrubbing and Graham coming to my rescue, the stress has lifted :)
4. Unpacking...need I say more!

Exciting:
1. We have more space here, and we no longer share walls with neighbors. That means we can be loud without worry, and let me tell you, my boys are loud!
2. We are closer to family and old friends.
3. Love being close to the cities, too :)
4. Graham came and made everything better beginning Friday night...new water heater, water softener, appliances, and washer/dryer...along with scrubbing skills...he makes everything better!
5. My mom and dad helped us out so much with their time and talents. We couldn't have done it without them!

Sad:
1. Having to say goodbye to Graham early this morning was really hard. We will see him on Friday night, can't wait!
2. Having to say goodbye to our new friends up in Duluth. Some will be moving down this way in the next few months, which cannot come soon enough! Others, we will have to make sure we visit when we make the trek back up. Soon Ladies!! :)
3. Wednesdays were our YMCA days, and I got a little choked up thinking about it last week. We miss our Gym/Swim friends and fun! I have already looked into the Y here, but it will never be the same.
4. Our neighbors...we had the best neighbors. They took us in like we were part of their families when we moved up there. They were so sweet to our boys and dogs, so loving, and we will really miss them. I can't wait to drop in on them, too!

We are so blessed to have such special people in our lives. Thank you.

I want to wish my nephew, Charlie, a very Happy 3rd Birthday today, too!!

Birthday Pictures...

2011-04-21T07:55:00.003-05:00

I am not a photographer by any means! Once again, thanks to my photographer friends for helping me capture their milestones!! You are amazing!!

We sang "Happy Birthday" four times today...once to each of them when they woke up with donuts and once to each of them at their party! I think it is important for them each to get a song for themselves :) They loved all the attention and songs!

First Birthday Blast!

2011-04-15T21:46:00.003-05:00

Wow! What a great first birthday for Andrew and Isaac! They had a great day of celebration and are currently zonked out!

1. Their day started with a song and a candle in their donut made with love from their Nana!

2. They played their little hearts out with all of Nana's toys and cupboard items ;) They are great at taking everything out...haven't gotten them to pick up yet...

3. Poor buddies had to go to their one year appointment...what a mean mom! I forgot how torturous that one was!! 3 shots and 1 finger prick later, they couldn't wait to get home!

4. Thought for sure that they would nap...nope...now they are going on NO NAPs for their big party...yikes!

5. We had a Minnesota Twins party for them! They wore their new shirts from the Fellings, and we borrowed baseball serving wear from the Jacobys. We made baseball cakes and had baseball balloons to help us decorate. Fun times!

6. Andrew feel asleep pretty quickly after the festivities began, sitting in his highchair eating a cracker. Good thing for Auntie Amy, she held him tight while we got everyone else fed.

7. Isaac enjoyed every bite of food, all the excitement of the kids, and all the attention.

8. Andrew woke up just in time for cake and presents. They did awesome! Enjoyed their first taste of cake and all the wrap, tags, and paper that came with their awesome gifts!

9. They continued to party with the rest of them, but started to get tired...

10. So, it was bath and bedtime for all...

Great day! We are so blessed! Pictures will be posted once I get home. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and gifts. We are lucky to have all of you in our life :)

Look Who Turned One!!

2011-04-13T22:34:00.008-05:00

Wow! Where has this year gone?!

Our baby boys are turning one and have quite the little personalities, too!

Check out our "Minnesota Twins!"

Isaac

1. He has always been the easy going guy.

2. Loves to snuggle and hold onto you.

3. His smile will melt your heart.

4. He is a thinker and planner, and he is very successful when he tries something new.

5. He adores his brothers and wants to be where ever they are.

6. Has a contagious giggle.

7. Seems to be a little accident prone...ugh!

8. Loves the tub, pool, being outside, splashing in the dog dish,

making a break for it when he notices the gate is open, strings...

9. Can be found wrestling with daddy, Sean, and Andrew.

10. Loves to play "tug of war" with toys that Andrew has...

he giggles while Andrew (tough guy) cries...

priceless!

Andrew

1. He is our attention loving boy.

2. His volume seems to be the loudest of the 3.

3. He isn't afraid to try new things like; crawling, walking, stairs, climbing...

4. When he lays his head on my shoulder, I just can't get enough.

5. He adores his brothers, too, and wants to be where ever they are.

6. Loves to chase the dogs, take baths, swim...

7. Can be found wrestling with daddy, Sean, and Isaac.

8. Loves to pull on the drapes, stand up in his crib, bite anything that he can,

remotes/phones of any kind...

9. Has adoring eyes that sparkle when he smiles.

10. Prefers to WALK!

We feel so blessed to have been given such amazing miracles.

Our hearts are filled with so much love and joy.

Now, if we could convince them to sleep... ;)

Scooter Time...Finally!

2011-04-08T07:59:00.002-05:00

He finally got to test out his new birthday scooter! Already the pro...holes in jeans and all ;)

Andrew wishing he could try it...

Isaac thinking his big bro is pretty talented...

I was even given the chance to show my skills :)

It has been an exciting couple weeks!

2011-04-05T18:35:00.004-05:00

Sean and his new friends. Sunset at the beach. Isaac and Andrew in their boats.

Sean getting ready to go down the slide.

The twins in their "jeep."

We have had some exciting things happen for us in the last few weeks! We hesitated to "talk" about it, as we didn't want to jinx anything until we knew it was official...So let me catch you up!

1. About 3 weeks ago we got an offer on our townhome! We had to counter back and forth a few times...that is so stressful!! It is a done deal, and they take possession of our home on May 2nd.

2. Yes, I said "May 2nd!!" I was freaking out, too, thinking about finding a place to move into that quick. The stars have aligned, and we were able to find a great place after only 2 days of looking. We will be moving to Shakopee on May 2nd :) We are buying a detached townhome in a family friendly neighbor with a pool and park. It really couldn't be better for us at this time. The detached let's us have all four walls to ourselves, so we don't have to worry about noise...not that we are loud ;)

3. We went on vacation to Marco Island, Florida last week, and we all had a blast! Sean spent the entire time in the pool or ocean swimming, going down the slide, jumping off the side, diving for rings, playing with his torpedo, finding cool shells, and making new friends. The babes LOVED the water! They floated around in their boats, splashing, laughing, and having fun. Graham and I were busy the entire time and had a blast! We all crashed early every night, as that sun and heat took a lot out of us! The flights were good, we saw some dolphins, starfish, and conc shells, and we got over our fear of hotel floors... ;) We made some new friends, and wouldn't you know they are from Mankato!! Talk about a small world!

4. Now, we are back, and I am lining up our move, planning out my strategy/schedule, making lots of phone calls, and everything else that needs to be done on a regular basis :)

5. It is going to be an extremely busy month for us, and we feel so blessed that it is working out. Graham will have to stay up here for an addition 6 weeks to finish up. There is a local hotel, The Edgewater, that provides rooms to college students on a long term basis for a discounted price. It will be worth it for him to have the space to study and relax. It also allows for us to come up and visit him whenever we want. Fun place for the kids, too!

Enjoy our pictures! Wish I could've taken more, but believe it or not, my hands were full the entire time!

It's Official...

2011-03-25T21:02:00.003-05:00

We are now "mom" and "dad," no longer "mommy" and "daddy." Makes me feel sad inside, but he feels so big saying it. Just another reminder of how big our Sean is getting! Gotta love him ;)

St. Patrick's Day Fun...

2011-03-17T21:50:00.003-05:00

2 out of 3...
Sean trying not to blink ;)

Whoa...loosing one...

Breaking free :)

I don't know how my photographer friends get them to sit still,

get the best shots, and stay sane...I gave up...

But they had fun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Time Flies!

2011-03-15T14:37:00.002-05:00

We have been busy so far this month!

1. We went to Mankato for a few days at the beginning of the month. It was fun to see Auntie Alli who was home on Spring Break! We also loved the time spent with family and friends. It never seems like our trips are long enough to see everyone, though.
2. Sean had his preschool screening and rocked it!! So proud to watch him go through all the stations! He can't wait to go to school :) Of course he wants to go to "my" school (Franklin). I told him we'd work on that one ;)
3. We left a day early as Sean was starting to get a bad cold. It turned into a double ear infection by Saturday morning. Poor thing! We have never heard him cry in pain like that before and hope it never happens again! Thank goodness for medicine...once it finally kicks in and starts eliminating the pain!
4. By Saturday afternoon, Isaac wasn't feeling well either. So, needless to say, all 3 boys are on medicine, and I am waiting patiently (or trying) for them to feel like their old selves again. It has been a LONG week!
5. Andrew has been taking up to 2 steps at a time for the last week or so. He stands there and thinks a lot, so I have a feeling he is planning his next move.
6. Isaac is determined to crawl up on everything! Watch out, he loves to tackle! He doesn't have time for you to change his pants, so that is becoming increasingly difficult ;) He has things to do!
7. It is raining today, and I must say it fits our moods. The cold has hit me, so it is nice just "chillin'" at home. I also can't help but get excited at the prospect of the rain melting the snow...green grass...
8. Graham has stayed healthy (knock on wood). It is amazing to think that he only has a few weeks of classes left, then a month or so to study for his Boards! Wow!
9. We are praying for the people of Japan, as it is so hard to watch the devastation unfold before our eyes. It is amazing to see the grace and patience they have while enduring such awfulness.

New Skills...

2011-03-02T21:50:00.002-06:00

It is so fun to learn something new...

1. Sean followed a pole down to the bottom of the YMCA's swimming pool today! He took a big breath and descended...it was awesome to watch! He wanted to do it over and over, and his teacher would try to make it tricky by going deeper...didn't phase him!
2. Sean also ate a chicken leg tonight! He would normally have us cut the meat off of it. Amazing what you can do when you are four ;)
3. Isaac can stand up in his crib! And let me tell you, he LOVES it! He loves it so much, that he stands up in the middle of the night and can't lay back down...fun for all ;)
4. Isaac has also found the dog's water dish, and he has a hay day if I don't beat him to it!
5. Andrew is now walking between furniture! I think we will have a walker soon!
6. Andrew is also my shy one...I just learned this today...a neighbor stopped over to visit, and when she bent down to say hello, Isaac crawled right over and Andrew hid behind my leg. Ahhh, my tough guy has a soft spot, and I have to admit I enjoyed the extra cuddle from him.
7. I am an ebay selling maniac...
8. Graham continues to study hard every day, even on the weekends :(, but always makes time for us. They can't get enough of him and can be found crawling all over him the second he gets home...all 3 of them!

Hope you are having a great week!

Quick Catch Up!

2011-02-25T07:23:00.006-06:00

Andrew

Isaac under the table :)
Monster Car Cake
Playing at McDonalds with Annika and Sofie.
Sean being "Papa"

Sean:
The birthday boy had a great birthday this year! Thanks to everyone for making it so special! Graham and I make a cake every year for his birthday. This year he wanted a Monster Truck cake. I found a great pan and followed a picture online...didn't turn out as a truck, more like a Monster Car. Thank goodness for Auntie Amy and her skills! She made him the biggest and best Monster Truck Cookies and Cupcakes! She was able to save the day :)

He loves being 4, and loves telling everyone that he is "bigger now!" I woke him up that morning telling him I think that he grew...his legs and arms looked bigger, and his teeth looked sharper...Now he tells this to everyone he meets ;) Still can't believe he is 4!! I look back at pictures and remember holding him like it were yesterday. Now, he tries to rationalize with us and says the cutest things. Here are a few famous Sean phrases;

1. "Why don't you think about it, Mom."
2. "Oh, rabbits!" (instead of 'darn it')
3. "You're going down, and I'm going to the top!" (when wrestling with Daddy)
4. "Isaac Jones" or "Andrew Jones" (after one of his favorite books 'Skippyjon Jones')

Isaac:
Loves to be able to climb and stand on anything and everyone. Loves to be under tables and pounding with his hammer on the wall and/or floor. He has two teeth and the best smile! Loves to cuddle and explore!

Andrew:
He is standing on his own and letting go of things. I really think he will be walking soon! His cousin said his teeth look like "Mator teeth," and we think he is right! He is so cute and loves to "talk" and chase his puppies! He just sits and laughs at them as they chase around the room.

Hoping there are no more snow storms! We want to visit Mankato and see all our family and friends again soon :) Spring can't get here fast enough!

Happy 4th Birthday Sean!!

2011-02-17T23:37:00.004-06:00

Sean's Top Ten:
10. Loves to talk!
9. Can play outside for hours.
8. Builds robots, buildings, forts, boats, trucks, (you name it) out of legos.
7. Loves to watch "long" movies and snuggle on the couch.
6. Is a fish in the water!
5. Is a great friend to others.
4. Is an artist! Whether he is coloring or drawing a picture, he takes his time and wants it to be perfect!
3. Has giggles that are contagious!
2. Loves his brothers and constantly wants to be playing with them or helping me with them.
1. Is our perfect little miracle who enriches our lives everyday with his adoring heart, inquisitive mind, and caring soul.

Life is good!

2011-02-14T18:47:00.004-06:00

Andrew is finally feeling better after being sick this last week!

Amazing how they can still play and smile when they feel so crummy.
Isaac loves to bang his hammer on the tile floor!
We think he has a natural talent inherited from his daddy!

Here is our artist working hard on his Valentines!

He loves to draw, color, write letters, and numbers! Learning is so fun!

Took the boys for a Valentine treat at DQ today! Sean and Isaac LOVED it! Andrew, on the other hand, gave a sour puss look at how cold it was!

Now, date at home tonight with my hubby now that the kiddos are all tucked in, can't wait :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's a...

2011-02-08T09:20:00.002-06:00

BOY!!! Rylan Michael Burger
Weight: 9 lbs. 10.8 oz.
Length: 22 inches

Way to go, Molly and Nick! We are so excited for you and can't wait to snuggle him!! Love you!

Just a few new pictures...

2011-01-30T19:43:00.003-06:00

Andrew recently learned how to "climb" and loves to watch out the window.
Isaac is always happy and smiling! He also loves to watch out the window,
especially when Sean is playing outside :) Hi, Nala...totally afraid of anything the moves...

Sean loves to pose for the camera!

He is quite the Big Man of the house, and is excited for his birthday coming up soon!

Our Week...

2011-01-26T15:23:00.004-06:00

Isaac and Sean
Andrew and Sean

Sean and all his tickets!!

It has been a busy week!

1. First of all...ISAAC IS A CRAWLER!! He is now moving forward and no longer the "guy in reverse!" He is very proud of himself, and we can't stop watching him try :) Way to go!

2. Sean got to go to Adventure Zone with me last Friday. This place is awesome! It has an indoor jungle gym, a big blow-up slide, arcade games, food, climbing wall, and more. For $5 he got to play for 2 whole hours. He learned how to play "skeet ball" (?) and won tickets! Indoor fun on a frigid cold Duluth day. Thanks, Cathy, for taking us!

3. Andrew is cutting more teeth! He now has both his top "I" teeth coming through. It has been a little rough going; runny nose, sore teeth, and chapped mouth :( Hope that he gets over this hump fast!

4. We officially put our house on the market Monday! Yikes! Keep us in your prayers, as we are hoping for the right buyer to walk through the door! We are looking at moving to the cities at the beginning of June.

5. I have learned how to sell things on eBay! It is a cool way of having a "garage sale" without all the work. I hope to avoid the real thing by doing this...we will see ;)

6. Graham is busting hard at school. He is studying day and night preparing for course work/tests and his Board Test coming up in May.

Shoveling the Roof...

2011-01-20T20:22:00.004-06:00

Imagine this:

The boys and I leave the house at 9:15am to take Sean to his YMCA class,

and we come home to find this...

4 Feet of snow filling all of the sidewalks that lead up to our house!

(Our HOA decided it was time to shovel the roof, as they got a call of a leaky roof.)

So, I try the back door...

Yup...4+ Feet of snow filling the nice path that Graham shovels for us.

Sean loved the "mountains" of snow that he got to climb!

I plowed through carrying one baby at a time into the house.
A warning would have been nice, but we managed. It was lunch time
and (more importantly) it was nap time. I wasn't going to let them miss it :)

I should note that the guys did shovel out the sidewalks
and Graham's path before leaving, so that was nice... ;)

News...

2011-01-08T21:11:00.002-06:00

1. Isaac got his first tooth today!! He is so excited and loves to show it off :) It is just a ripple, but oh, so sweet.

2. Andrew stands in his crib now! Ugh! He is growing up too fast!

3. First night of trying to sleep train the twins...NOT looking forward to it :( But we all need sleep.

4. Sean is loving his new color books; trucks and dinosaurs. He colors and then hangs it on the fridge with tape. Very cute :)

5. Making lists of things to do before selling this place. Closets and paint touch ups are next. Great place, if you know of anyone wanting a new house or rental ;)

New Boots!

2011-01-06T14:26:00.004-06:00

Check out these cutie-pa-tuties!

Isaac with his Moose Boots!
Andrew with his Monster Boots!

Sean, striking a pose...he wants new shoes ;)

Holidays

2011-01-01T21:02:00.003-06:00

Here's our "Top 10" of this holiday season!

10. Organizing our house! We will be putting it on the market in the next few weeks, and I need to make sure it is in tip top shape!
9. Alli visited us up here! She came to visit us and some of her old friends on her way to a wedding. We had a blast hanging out, swimming, and going out to eat! Thanks, Alli! (Don't you just love wet socks...NOT!)
8. Andrew is now pulling himself up on things and standing...it is all going way too fast!
7. Isaac is clapping his little heart out and rocking back and forth on his knees. His first tooth looks like it is about to appear any day, too!
6. Sean is in toy heaven :) Monster trucks, motorcycles, Scooby Doo, Playmobile, Pillowpet, dinosaurs, remote cars, light saber...
5. New Year's Eve was spent with a great family at our home. Adults and kids had a blast :)
4. Gave Molly a really fun baby shower with my sisters!
3. Had a great night out at the Jacoby house! We sure have missed them and enjoyed our time.
2. We were so lucky to have been able to spend the holidays with our families! Our kids were showered with lots of love and lots of gifts :) Very magical! Thanks everyone!
1. We started our family tradition of waking up Christmas morning at our house to open Santa's presents and have breakfast! Rocked!

Life as we know it...now :)

2010-12-24T14:19:00.006-06:00

Sean loves "cleaning" the deck of snow.

Baby Gates are a MUST!
Andrew enjoys exploring...everything!

Isaac's smile lights up the room!
They all love to play together.

Daddy Time :)

2010-12-19T14:45:00.002-06:00

Wow! It is so awesome having Graham around! He cooks, cleans, does laundry, plays with the boys, and still has time to watch a movie with me! I am wondering how I got stuff done without him ;) We are enjoying this time while he is on a break from school. Next semester will be tougher yet, as he will not only be studying for regular classes, but also studying for his first set of boards. Crazy!

We have a CRAWLER!

2010-12-13T21:39:00.002-06:00

Yup...Andrew showed us his new trick while Graham was feeding our dogs :) He made his way right to Gus's food dish! Sean, Graham, Isaac, and I were all able to witness this awesome event, which makes it even better! Watch out world!!

Let's Catch Up :)

2010-12-12T20:37:00.004-06:00

Wow! What an eventful few weeks we have had!

10. Went to Bentleyville (city of lights). Thought we picked a warm night, turns out the wind was blowing off the lake...NOT warm! We "ran" through the exhibit and were back home in less than an hour ;)
9. That night, Sean woke up sick with the flu :( I have never seen him so sick! It was scary and heartbreaking, Graham and I were up all night with him wishing it were one of us. Thank goodness the twins didn't get it.
8. Snow, snow, and more snow! Sean had fun shoveling and playing with dadddy. His cheeks were blazing red for a long while. The twins have had to buddle up, too. They have gotten some use out of their snowsuits, and hats and mittens!
7. Freddy the Elf came to visit for the month...we spotted some reindeer tracks outside one morning, so now we know how Freddy reports to Santa each night!
6. The twins have learned how to wrestle...thanks to watching the nightly match between Sean and daddy!
5. Andrew now has 6 teeth, sits, and claps!
4. Isaac is toothless, sits, and can really get around a room! He loves to make his way to the tree...
3. Sean entertains his babies by singing, dancing, and bringing them toys.
2. Sean does exercises with me...thanks Jillian Michaels for trying to wear him out...works for me, not for him ;)
1. Coloring, drawing, counting, cutting, and wrapping are new skills added to Sean's resume! He does an awesome job and gets to work on our Christmas calendar every day!
1/2. How could I not mention the Gingerbread Houses! We had some friends over on Friday, and the kids made these houses. Not sure who had more fun...daddy or Sean :)

We are enjoying this time of year and are excited for Graham to be done on Friday for a few weeks! We also can't wait for Christmas!!

Thanks, Auntie Alli!

2010-11-29T23:06:00.002-06:00

We love our new PJs! I wanted to get the perfect picture of them tonight...easier said than done!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-29T21:42:00.005-06:00

We were all able to come down to Mankato for a few days. It was so nice to have Graham with us, we usually have to leave him home in Duluth! We were able to enjoy 2 Thanksgiving celebrations, too. We went to Jason and Crystal's for a lunch of great food and great company! Then, it was home to Mankato for dinner with my family. My mom is a fabulous cook, and we all indulged once again! Sean had fun playing his heart out with all his cousins, and he even wore his first hole in his jeans. Isaac and Andrew got lots of love from Nana, Papa, Grandma, Aunties, Uncles, and cousins.

Amy and I attempted to shop Black Friday starting at 3am...We couldn't believe the people out! The parking lots were packed, the lines were extreme, and there was not much Christmas spirit going on! We walked into and right back out of Kohls...it was a zoo. Then, we headed to Herbergers where the shopping was more enjoyable, we found a few things on our lists, and we didn't have to wait in line long as they had an abundance of checkouts! Way to go, Herbergers! Next, it was time for coffee before heading to Target...but then Graham called and the twins needed me. (They had been sick with colds and not sleeping well.) Oh, well. I was able to get them settled and go back to bed :)

We ended the weekend with sickness, once again. My dad came down with the flu and the boys were all still sick with colds, so we headed out a day early. Unfortunately, Graham caught the flu bug last night, and he has been down and out since. I am hoping he is back among the living tomorrow. I have never seen him this sick! I am also praying that the boys and I don't get it!

We have so much to be thankful for this year. We have 3 beautiful and healthy boys, Graham is doing great in school, and we are all together as a family. I am so thankful for this time I have to raise our boys, too. I never dreamt it could be like this!

Best Birthday Ever!

2010-11-17T19:54:00.003-06:00

Wow! I am so overwhelmed with how wonderful my birthday was this year! First of all, thanks for all the wishes, calls, notes and cards. I loved them all, and it felt good to think of you today, too.

My day started out like usual; coffee, Andrew, and Good Morning America. Then one by one the other 2 woke up to snuggle with me. Awesome! Then, we were off and running to the YMCA for Sean's Gym/Swim program and to Target quick for a few things. When I got home, there was a gift on my front step from my friend Julie! Yummy cupcakes and a Caribou card...guilt free coffee drinking for me :) Next, as I was getting lunch ready for my boys, the doorbell ran. It was a delivery girl from Erbert-n-Gerberts, I told her it must be some kind of mistake as I hadn't ordered anything. Come to find out that Amy and my mom had ordered me lunch! Awesome! About 30 minutes later, the Fed Ex guy delivered an awesome birthday package from the Ottos and my parents! Big box full of goodies...Wow! I wrapped up my day making a cake with Sean and having pizza with my family. I can't remember a time when I have ever had so much fun or felt so special! Thanks again and I love you all.

Max

2010-11-15T20:49:00.003-06:00

Today, our Max went to heaven. Heaven is a lucky place.

I will never forget the day we brought him home. My parents took me to a tiny town in SW Minnesota to pick up my new dog. When we got there, there were two left. How do you pick? Well, we left there with two! Amy's birthday was coming up, and what a great surprise! We lived together at the time and often helped each other out with dog watching duty. Gus (mine) and Max (Amy's) were not only brothers, but best friends. They did everything together, and I will especially remember our nice long walks to the park and back.

Then, Graham came along and we decided to move in together. The hardest part in this decision was the fact that we'd be splitting up our "boys." Broke my heart. So, we decided to get them each a new "buddy." We got our little "ladies" on November 17th eight years ago. When we brought Nala and Bella home, the boys were not to thrilled. Especially Max. He would not look at the pups, Gus, or us! It was so funny and sad at the same time. It was like he knew what was going to happen. We did many, many sleepovers with all four dogs. They always did a great job when they were all together, and we'd laugh at how our laps were always so full. Taking them for walks was fun, too, although I know I got a lot of stares!

We got to live together once again when we moved into my parents' house in May of 2009, as Max and Bella had moved in with my parents. What a fun thing to have all four dogs together again! Max and Bella were able to show my dogs the art of escape and gave me many heart attacks! They spent the majority of their time together with us in the basement until the twins came. Again we moved, this time farther away, so no more sleepovers...but this is also when Max started to get sick.

My mom tried everything, bless her heart, but nothing was helping. Even though he wasn't doing well, he was still able to enjoy the pets and loves, and he always managed a wag of his tail when you'd come around. Blessed dog. He was a lover, and Heaven is a better place today because Max is there.

It is truly amazing how attached one gets to their pets. He was one of our first "kids," and has always held a big spot in my heart. I wish I could have given him one last love. Goodbye, my Max. I love you and miss you tons.

Let's Play Catch Up!

2010-11-15T15:24:00.002-06:00

Wow! I can't believe 2 weeks can go by so fast without me even posting a thing! I guess that is because I rarely have down time. And when I do, there is laundry, cleaning, cooking, organizing...all kinds of "fun" stuff :)

10. Graham and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary on the 1st! We even had a date...thanks, Julie!
9. Isaac and Andrew are 7 months old today! I know I keep saying this, but really, WHERE did that time go?!
8. Isaac is our Johnny Jump Up King! He LOVES it and could be in there all day, if I left him!
7. Andrew is getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth...only a matter of time now! Look out!
6. Sean has really enjoyed the snow and goes out numerous times a day to play. I have begun to teach him "how" to get his snow stuff on by himself, as it is quite the workout!
5. The van has officially found its new home in our little garage. My husband is such a gentleman and doesn't want me to worry about cleaning off the snow.
4. Isaac still hates wearing hats, socks, jackets, etc. He will be my beach bum someday.
3. Andrew LOVES teething biscuits! If we forget to give him one before lunch or supper, he will remind us.
2. Sean has new "roommates." The dogs have now officially moved into his room. He loves it, and even made their "bed."
1. The Christmas music and movies have begun...Sean and I are watching Frosty the Snowman as I write this.

That's it in a nutshell!

Halloween!

2010-11-01T14:10:00.003-05:00

Andrew and Isaac

Sean helping with moon pies.
Moon Pies

Isaac, Sean, and Andrew

What a fun day! My mom was up visiting us and made it even more special! She made us a spooky dinner of bugs (croissants and little wieners), brains (pumpkin mac-n-cheese), guts (fruit salad), and home-made moon pies (made with Sean earlier) while we were out trick or treating with Sean. The twins stayed with mom to keep her company :) and pass out candy.

We took Sean to the dorms on UMD's campus. They do a big bash for Halloween. We went to the check-in area, got our map, met our friends, and we were off on the hunt for candy! Many, many dorm rooms handed out treats...I am talking good treats! We walked until we wore out Scooby Doo, then headed home for our spooky dinner with Nana. Now that Sean has been Scooby Doo for 2 years in a row...I wonder what he'll want to be next year?

Week of Firsts...

2010-10-27T07:50:00.003-05:00

Twins slept in their OWN cribs...exciting and sad all at the same time.

We can clearly say that the room is full :)
Andrew

Isaac

First snowfall of the season and Sean is over the moon!

Today we woke up to a covering of snow and school cancelled (for kids, that is).

He is trying to talk me into letting him outside to play.

It is only 7:30am...

First Tooth!

2010-10-20T07:34:00.003-05:00

After a lot of work, drooling and chewing on anything and everything, Andrew's first tooth has finally broken through! So sweet to see the little ruffles :) He is so proud and loves to rub his tongue over it, and that makes for great pictures.

Isaac is now rolling around rooms! He is proud of himself, too! I used to be able to put him in one spot and know he'd still be there, those days are no longer. He also loves to stay up late and cuddle with me. Here are some pictures from last night.

Sean loves to be outside! He wakes up wanting to go out and play, and I have to tell him "no!" It is still dark out and we are in our pajamas...not good enough, but he concedes knowing he can go out after breakfast. A neighbor lady is letting him borrow a rake for the season, and he is in hog heaven!

We can't wait to see our family and friends this weekend! Sean packed himself on Monday...

Molly and Nick's Visit...

2010-10-13T07:20:00.002-05:00

We had so much fun with Molly and Nick when they came up last weekend! We waited up for them to arrive, anxiously watching out the door for their car to pull up. It was fun to see them and catch up a bit before heading to bed.

Saturday started out with a flat tire for Nick and Molly...they came out of their hotel to find it was completely flat! So, Nick started his day on the cold ground changing his tire...turned out to be just a nail that was able to be patched. Note to self...Tires Plus in Duluth is not the place to go for customer service...

We decided to check out a Fall Festival close by. It was a fun kid place with a hay-barrel maze, corn pit, face painting, mini donuts, hay rides, and pumpkin patch. Sean had a blast with each activity and LOVED the face painting the most! We were surprised, as the line was long and we almost didn't do it! He couldn't stop checking himself out in the mirror! He was careful not to touch it, and he would show it off to everyone he met :) It lasted for most of the day, and he was very disappointed to see it wearing off before his bath. I think that has to be part of our Halloween costume some how!

We bravely took all the kids to Old Chicago for a late lunch of very yummy pizza. 2pm is the time to go! The place was quiet and the babes were good. We ended the day making our "pumpkin with fire in it," as Sean says :) We got help from the pros, as Nick and Molly enjoy carving their pumpkins every year.

We ended our weekend with them at the park by the lake. Sean got to show off his "skills," and we all got to enjoy the beautiful weather once more. The time went too fast! Thanks for making the trip!

Otherwise, the "colds" have hit our house pretty hard. We are hoping to get over it soon. Hope you are all healthy and happy. Can't believe it is already October!

A little of this, a little of that...

2010-10-07T14:13:00.006-05:00

Andrew fell asleep eating.

Sean helped feed Isaac.

Preschool is fun!
Sean's new favorite treat...rootbeer floats!
Climbing trees is a blast! Braeden taught him how :)

Routines are a necessity in our life. Without them, we are lost, crabby, tired, and miserable! We spend our mornings doing a variety of different things;

1. I make sure I am up, showered, and ready to go before 8am...I know, I know, luxury right?! If you only knew...
2. I like to start Sean's daily Preschool by 9am. He only lasts about an hour, so I have a lot to squeeze into that time. We work on the alphabet, numbers, cutting, coloring, painting, songs and much more! He is so smart!
3. Next, it is time to get out of the house. This is where our "variety" comes in every day. Sometimes we take a nice long walk. Other days, we can be found at Barnes-n-Noble for story/activity hour. We like to meet our friends at the parks, and occasionally we'll meet at the McDonalds that has a play place. That is a special treat :) Of course, we can be found at Target or Cub sometimes, too.
4. We try to have lunch completed by 1pm and off for naps and rest time. The twins do a great job napping. I love listening to them "talk" to each other as they are settling down. Sean has a rest time. He gets to pick out a movie and watch it in my room. He loves this and sometimes even falls asleep! That's when I get to pick up, switch laundry, pay bills, check the mail, and sit for 5.
5. Then the movie is over, and we start to play again. While the babes are sleeping, Sean likes to go out back and play. He will climb trees, play in the sand, make piles of leaves, and get dirty.

Then daddy comes home and our evening starts...which is full of more routines...

Hope your days are fun and full of excitement!

And for those of you that are wondering...the Y parking went much better this week! 3rd times a charm :)

Bananas...

2010-09-29T13:57:00.002-05:00

It is official, all three kids love bananas!

Yesterday I decided it was time to jazz up the twins' mealtime and add bananas along with their rice cereal. They loved it! I can't get them the next bite quick enough, so cute! Still hard to believe they are old enough to eat baby food! Time goes by way too fast.

Sean likes his bananas cut up in his cereal like his parents. Imagine...Cookie Crisp cereal with sliced bananas, doesn't it sound fabulous?! Cutie pie!

Week 2 at the Y...

2010-09-29T13:45:00.002-05:00

The YMCA went much better today for Sean. I didn't stay to "watch" his gym time. Instead, I walked the track and only watched his swimming. They bumped him up a level at swimming, so that was encouraging. Note to self: remind him that he can put his face in right away! He looked like a little puppy swimming across the pool for the first half :)

Parking has been a different story though. The Y is in downtown Duluth, so they "let" you park in the Holiday Inn parking ramp for free. Well, here is how the last 2 times have gone parking there.
1. Last week, without knowing, I went up the down ramp and never got a parking ticket. When leaving I realized my mistake and was laughing at myself telling the old gal at the pay booth. She didn't think it was funny and charged me $6.50 for a lost ticket. I tried to explain it was a mistake...as I didn't think I should have to pay and showed her my Y pass...no go. I paid up begrudgingly.
2. Today, I went up the ramp the right way and got my parking ticket. When leaving, I handed her my ticket and showed my Y pass totally expecting to go. Nope...needs to be validated at the Y! Are you kidding me?! I was never told this, and I will do it next time. She wanted to charge me, but I didn't bring my wallet so I got away this time. So frustrating!

Hope you all have sunshine. It was raining here earlier, but now it is beautiful out. We'll be heading out to take a walk/bike ride when everyone gets up.

YMCA and more...

2010-09-22T15:38:00.003-05:00

Isaac and Andrew sporting new duds :)
Sean (far left) at first Y swimming.
They made all the kids wear the floaty, he didn't need it and proved it to his teacher :)

Sean playing games in the gym.

We had our very first YMCA experience today...

He loved it! They played games in the gym for the first 30 minutes. I thought the games were a little hard and confusing, but he will catch on. Today, he was the kid just running around with a huge smile on his face :) Then they hit the pool for the last 30 minutes. He was able to show off his new swim skills. I got to watch from the observation window...hard not to be right there, but it was super fun to watch him interact.

The twins have been sporting their new outfits from Nana! They look so cute! Thanks, Mom. They are just perfect!

Finally!

2010-09-21T21:02:00.002-05:00

All I can say is that I am so glad that all my favorite shows are returning! Love my DVR, as I have to DVR every show I want to watch. For some reason when our TV is on, it has some kind of cartoon on...Scooby Doo is a household favorite...ahh.

This morning, I took the boys to story hour at Barnes-n-Noble. There is a huge following up here, so I try to get there early to get a decent spot to sit. Just so happened I sat next to a friendly gal who was starting a New Mom's Club! She was new to town, too. There were 5 of us newbies, and we are already meeting again on Friday. I can't wait! There is even a 3 year old little boy for Sean...my prayers have been answered, as his buddies up here are now in school so we aren't able to meet up regularly anymore.

Tomorrow, Sean starts his first YMCA program. It is called Gym/Swim. I guess they learn/play games in the gym to begin, then head to the pool for some swim lessons. I can't wait for him to have this time, too. He is a little nervous and wants me there, so of course I will be. I am just looking forward to him having something fun for himself. I will take some pictures and share tomorrow.

Otherwise, we are all doing well. Graham is busy and in a good routine. He leaves Sean a note on a white board every morning. Sean loves to run downstairs to see what it says :) We then write/draw a note back to daddy. It is a great way for Sean to begin learning his letters, writing, and words! Sean is doing awesome. He loves telling stories, playing, reading books, and watching Scooby Doo. The twins are doing better. I think this new medicine is helping with reflux, so they are not as fussy and sleeping better. They are growing up so fast and learning something new everyday. Time for me just flies by. I am so thankful to be able to be home with my kids and enjoy being a mom.

Growing Up

2010-09-13T08:17:00.004-05:00

Andrew, Graham, and Isaac
Isaac, Sean, and Andrew
Isaac (loving every bite)
Andrew (not quite sure if he likes it)
Mandy and me at Tim McGraw :)

It has been awhile since I posted, but we have been busy!

We went to the State Fair with our good friends, The Jacobys. Our families hit the fair during the day, then we headed to the hotel for the night. Mandy and I left our boys, husbands and sons, at the hotel as we went to see our favorite...Tim McGraw! We had a blast! Our boys survived and have some fun stories to tell ;)

Over Labor Day Weekend, my sister Amy and her family came up to visit us. We had a blast going to parks, to the canal, out to eat, grilling, and just being together.

Then school started for Graham. We are getting into our new routine of having daddy home less often. We make the best of the time that he is home. Sean loves to tackle and to play rough. I think I am in for it when the twins get better! They love watching the action, so I know that they will want to be in the middle of it soon! He is a great dad. He is studying hard and making us proud. We are looking forward to our future.

Sean is missing his friends. He talks about his Mankato friends all the time. His new Duluth friends have started school, so we are not able to meet at the parks like we used to. We are going to be signing up at the Y today and get him into some fun programs.

The twins are changing by the day. They just started to eat cereal yesterday! Crazy! My babies are not babies anymore :( They love it! I couldn't feed Isaac fast enough, and Andrew just spit it out at first. So cute! They are teething, so they have been a little "out of sorts" lately. We are hoping that they feel better soon.

Enjoy these new pictures!

Whirlwind Trip Home!

2010-08-25T08:18:00.002-05:00

We had such a great trip home! I thought one week would be plenty of time, but I didn't get to see everyone I had hoped to or do everything that I wanted. I guess that is why I will need to come back soon ;) Week in review...

1. Sean had swimming lessons with Alli all week! He is a fish and can barely keep his head above water. I used to worry about him at my parents' pool, as he struggled to touch. Now, he touches on the very tip tops of his toes and is able to swim and get breaths...HUGE accomplishment!
2. The babies got spoiled by everyone holding and playing with them. They love all the cuddles and attention.
3. We crashed a birthday party that had a pony there! Sean got to ride it and loved every second of it! Thanks DeMars Family :)
4. Isaac went swimming for the first time! He loved it and smiled ear to ear! Andrew, on the other hand, hated it. Next year, buddy!
5. We were able to celebrate my dad's birthday and had dinner at his favorite place...Charlie's! Fun times, funny faces, and lots of snuggles with family.
6. We had to pack up our "nest" in the basement and move upstairs to make room for my sister's family as they moved back to Mankato! Sean was a little confused, but had so much fun playing with his "friends," and he enjoyed sleeping with mom. We are so glad to have them closer! Love, love, love having them home.
7. Sean got to visit his old hangout, Lisa's house. He enjoyed playing with his old buddies and came home telling big tales!
8. We hit one of our favorite family spots, Westwood, for dinner. The kids love playing on the beach and the adults love the relaxed atmosphere.
9. I was able to get a pedicure in with my best friend, Mandy. Throw a baby shower for a special friend, Andrea. Have coffee with one of my favorite co-workers, Linda. Take my babies in for their 4 month appointment. Hang out with my sisters and parents. I loved every second.
10. Had to say goodbye" to Auntie Alli. We won't see her until Christmas :( Way too long, but we are so proud of her. She is an amazing person and has gotten to do lots of great things so far, and this is only the beginning.

We are resting up, getting back into our routine, and looking forward to coming home again! Oh, and Isaac can ROLL OVER! So proud!

Activity Box

2010-08-09T08:40:00.003-05:00

I took some advice from my sister, Amy, and made Sean an Activity Box. This is a box full of fun, new things for him to play with after lunch. Instead of fighting the nap time battles, he gets to paint, draw, use stickers, work on puzzles, and read new books. He wants to play with these things all the time, and it is becoming a good new routine for him. He could paint for hours, loves putting his new puzzles together, and enjoys taking his stickers off and on their respective sheets. Super fun and much less stress on my end! I do want to keep it special, so I only get this box down after lunch. I am hoping it lasts, and I am planning on getting new things to add to it once and awhile. Thanks, Amy!

New Table

2010-08-09T08:12:00.004-05:00

Gus and Nala "relaxing."
Turned furniture around.

New table! Extra chairs are downstairs for now :)

Well, we finally broke down and bought a new kitchen table yesterday. We have been enjoying our time eating around our coffee table, but we were getting sick of sitting on the floor...When we were younger, before kids, we always ate in the living room with our feet up. The kitchen table was used to "look pretty" or hold stuff. Now with kids, times are changing.

Here are some pictures of our new set up. Not only did it take forever to put the table and chairs together, we needed to rearrange our entire "great room" area. (I say "great room" only as a term for living/dining area...this room is not great in size :) This involved moving the TV from one side to the other, turning the furniture, and figuring out where to put all the "kid stuff." Still not sure about the "kid stuff," but so far so good. Also, now Sean is unable to sneak up behind us! Bonus!

I should also note that we didn't spend a lot on this set. We searched the Internet and found some good deals at Shopko. So, we went to our local store to find the price even lower! We also needed to purchase an extra chair, since there are 5 of us now. The man helping us just gave us the additional chair! $40 value! Wow, thank you so much! Because of that, I got to get the table set I wanted, stayed under budget with little guilt.

Sneaky...

2010-08-07T08:03:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was quite a day at the King house. We had a busy morning of cleaning, organizing, planning, etc. I had totally planned on a trip to the park before lunch, but I just ran out of time. So we fixed lunch, and I put Sean down for his nap. A little while later (maybe 5-10 minutes), I decided to see if he was awake. I thought we'd just skip a nap and go to the park, because he was such a good boy.

As I am walking up the stairs to his room, I start to smell something VERY familiar...NAIL POLISH! I run into his room and immediately start looking for it. He has been sneaky lately and enjoys taking my things. At first I couldn't find it and am asking him frantically where it is. "Under my bed," says the sneaky boy. Found the bottle with the cover on, but where oh where was the smell coming from. "By my window," he says. And there, on the floor hidden by his drape is two lovely bright pink spots on his new carpet. I must say that the Cajun Shrimp color looks a lot better on my toes!

Now our house still smells like nail polish remover a day later, and I have to go get more remover to work on the stain again. Slowly but surely it is coming up. God Bless Graham. He really worked hard on it. (As I had to take the twins to Urgent Care, because I thought Andrew had another ear infection...no infection, must be teeth.)

I have to find more hiding spots even higher than before. Sometimes it feels like I need a secret door where I can hide all my treasures...

It's HOT in Duluth!

2010-08-03T14:06:00.005-05:00

We are in the 90's today, rare for up here! I decided to get out of the house and took the boys down to Canal Park by myself. It was crazy down there! It was hard to find a place to park and people were everywhere. We saw the pirate ships (tall ships) leaving, which was a pretty cool sight. Sean got to go swimming, although the spot I picked wasn't ideal. He didn't care, he just loves the water.

We found a new park to play at close to our house. It is at our neighborhood school, and Sean loves it! He learns to do something new everyday. It makes me miss my school and school friends.

Andrew can roll over! He loves to show off his new trick and constantly needs to be rolled back to his back...only to roll over right away again. Super cute. He also has his first tooth bud, so it could be any day!

Isaac is my little lover. He is always smiling and recently figured out how to suck his thumb! It is a game now with me pulling it out and giving him his nuk instead. So cute. They are all growing up so fast!

Oh, and Graham groomed our dogs on Sunday! They look "cute" and did a great job for Graham. We are trying to buy time before taking them to the professionals... ;)

Too Quiet!

2010-07-27T08:47:00.002-05:00

Lately, Sean has been sneaking up on us. He isn't trying to scare us, he just doesn't want us to know he is awake. He will sneak down during nap time or after we put him to bed. He will be behind the couch or over our shoulder...YIKES! Freaks me out, I am just glad that I don't scream...I am close, but don't want to scare him or the neighbors!

Last night, he had his first bad dream where he came into our room to wake us up (in the past he would just cry for us). Once again, he was silent and Graham woke up to him staring at him from the side of our bed! He jumped, then I jumped! Wow! Not quite the way I am used to waking up in the middle of the night! He had a dream about "bugs in his bed." Graham had to take him back into his room, turn on the light, and look under everything to make sure there wasn't any in there. Then, they both crawled into his bed and fell asleep. What a great dad!

I thought I put you to bed...

2010-07-24T20:54:00.003-05:00

As I am taking the dogs out 30 minutes after putting Sean to bed,

I think I see something or someone looking out the upstairs window...
Yup. That looks like my Sean.
Hi, Buddy! Shouldn't you be sleeping?!

On a side note, Sean and I got stuck in a torrential rain storm as we were taking
our dogs for a walk to get our mail. We got soaked to the bone, had fun running in the rain,
and my side still hurts from laughing!

Love you Little Man!

Firsts (Take 2)...

2010-07-23T17:36:00.004-05:00

How could I forget one very important milestone...

Sean can SWIM! Last Friday, we were swimming at the Golf Club. He loves it there because he can touch. Towards the end, my friend Tiffany and her kids joined us. They love to go underwater. I suggested Sean give it a try...low and behold he did! Now, I can't get him to keep his head above water! He has even pushed himself further and has begun "turtle swimming" (underwater swimming)! It is amazing, and we are so proud!

Now, if only we could find a pool in Duluth to practice. For some reason they think it is too cold to have an outdoor public pool. Hmmm.

Firsts...

2010-07-23T08:13:00.002-05:00

It has been a time of "firsts" at our house lately.

1. Sean, Isaac, and Andrew made it all the way from Mankato to Duluth without stopping! Four hours of no potty breaks or feedings...yahoo!
2. It was also the first time we rode as a family to Mankato and back! Yeah...finally we didn't have to take 2 cars...gas bill is much better.
3. Andrew has gotten his first ear infection :( After going to Duluth's Urgent Care, I so appreciate the Mankato one! The cleanliness and professionalism and wait time in Mankato are top notch...and if you have ever been to Mankato's, you know that Duluth's must be bad...
4. I just took Andrew to Urgent Care, and that is a first to have only ONE child with me! Felt strange, but the cuddle time was oh so nice.
5. Time for the Bumbo seats! Andrew is ready, Isaac is almost ready! But man, they are expensive! They have begun to learn what "sharing" is all about :)
6. The basement is finally organized, and now Sean has a fun play space and I have a great workout area.
7. The twins are days away from switching into size 3-6 months! Where does the time go?! They are healthy and strong little boys.
8. Sean ate tuna fish!
9. Sean can also put the soap in the dishwasher and start it.
10. He also learned not to draw with pen on his Pottery Barn quilt! Ugh! I did get it all out. Thank goodness for Dawn dish soap, it takes everything out!

I am sure there will be many, many more of these to come and I can't wait!

Como Zoo and More!

2010-07-10T06:42:00.004-05:00

We had the pleasure of meeting Sean's (old) daycare at Como Zoo yesterday! It was a little longer of a trip for us to "meet" there, as we left at 7:30am and they left at 8:30am, but it was totally worth it! My kids are good little travelers :)

We got there a little early, which was my plan. I needed to feed the babes and get my stroller set...lunch, water, camera, phone, umbrella for shade, blankets, baby borne, sunscreen, etc...and don't forget the babies and Sean...

We connected with our friends at a cool picnic area away from the swarms of people. We learned quickly that it is hard to eat lunch when you are so excited to see your friends! I was even able to see my friend, Mandy, as she took the day off to travel with her young ones, too!

To our surprise, a firetruck shows up and parks right next to our picnic table! They were there for another party, but welcomed everyone to come and check out their truck. Then 2 canine units pulled up and show us their dogs! It was awesome! Sean was over the moon! He talked with the firemen, checked out their truck, pet Cody the police dog, and visited with an officer. He had a great time! The men were so incredibly nice! Thank you St. Paul firefighters and police officers! You made my son's day!

We finally hit the Zoo and had a great time. It was hot, and my goal was to keep the sun off the babes. They are still too little for sunscreen, so I had to be strategic. Sean loved seeing all the animals and running around with his friends. A little bit of chaos, a lot of green shirts (Sean in his fav "Toy Story" shirt), and a huge amount of excitement! It was a great time. Thanks, Lisa, for setting it up and inviting us to join you! What a wonderful day! Check out our pics!

Mankato...

2010-07-06T21:44:00.004-05:00

We just got back from a week in Mankato. It is amazing how fast a week can go by and how I didn't do as much or see as many people as I wanted/planned. I have put all 4 of my boys to bed, so now it is time to catch up!

Sean had swimming lessons with my sister and his friend every day. We lucked out on weather this year! It was hot and sunny all 5 days, hooray! Last year, it would get cold and rain every time he got into the pool.

My sister-in-law, Ginger, came home on Tuesday. We were able to spend some good quality time with her, too.

I did squeeze in a pedicure and a dinner out, but that is about it! The rest of my time was spent with family. With my sister living in Kansas, it is hard to not spend as much time as possible with her and the kids. We never know when we will see each other again.

We had the twins' baptism on Saturday morning with a lunch at my parents following. Such a special milestone, but we were extremely disappointed with the priest. Amazing how much words can hurt and can't be taken back. He is not the compassionate and loving man like Father Colletti is. We sure were spoiled with him! I wish, and still might, have the service redone. On a positive note, we were thankful to have our family and friends there to support our babes.

The 4th was fun, and we celebrated it on the 3rd. Tradition has us at Westwood for dinner, then on the boat for fireworks. I had to sit in the house for the fireworks this year, but Sean sure had fun! Crazy thing was, he started telling me about the boat/fireworks a few weeks ago! I couldn't believe that he remembered from last year.

Graham ran the "fun run" 8K in St. Peter on Sunday morning with my sister, Amy. They both did an awesome job, and it was so fun to see them come through the finish line. They both set goals and achieved them. I am so proud! When asked if I would run it next year, I replied, "I only run when I am being chased!"

Our nephew, Braeden, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday afternoon. He had been having flu-like symptoms for a couple days and wasn't getting better. Things got really bad in the hospital, and they even talked about shipping him. Thank goodness, things have started to improve (as of tonight), and he even called me tonight which brought tears to my eyes. I love all my nephews and nieces so much!

We are now back home in Duluth. Sean had T-Ball tonight and enjoyed playing in the dirt more than the game itself :) The twins are playing "catch up" and needing a little extra lovin' which is fine with me! Graham is back to construction and remodeling a neighbor's bathroom. I just hope to straighten things up and take a long walk tomorrow...we will see!

Father's Day and T-Ball!

2010-06-23T07:13:00.004-05:00

Graham had a great Father's Day with his boys! He spent most of the day at school studying (not the fun part), but then came home to make home-made pizza with Sean! They had a blast, and it tasted surprisingly good!

Last night, Sean had his first T-Ball game! It was adorable! When he was playing in the field, everyone chased after the "hit." When he was up to bat, he put on the helmet and hit the ball on his first try. Then he stood there (I guess I forgot to teach him how to run the bases!), so his coach got him running. He ran and ran, past first base and into right field :) Needless to say, he wasn't sure what to do when he was told to run, and I have it all recorded. You have to love the innocence of it! He was so excited and had a blast with his new buddy, Tytan. The twins had fun watching him, too. Andrew even got held by his new buddy, Chloe. Fun times!

Two Months Old!

2010-06-15T08:27:00.001-05:00

The above picture was taken this morning! This is the first time I got them all to smile at the same time!