Go Vikes!

We took the kids on a walk tonight and then played at the park. We had to get home in time to watch the Vikings Preseason game. The kids were excited to watch the game and wear their jerseys. Check out the red cheeks on those kids. We played hard outside! They sure look cute in their jerseys though!!

Jenny's Wedding

My cousin got married this past weekend. Patsy, Graham, Nick and I all drove up for the wedding on Saturday. We left with good intentions to make it to the ceremony. I guess we learned our lesson to check MNDOT before leaving Mankato and heading to the cities. We got on 494E only to find out that it was closed at 35W. We were stuck in traffic for over an hour and missed the ceremony. We did make it to the reception in time though. Better late than never I guess. It was so much fun to see all Aunts, Uncles and cousins. I really enjoyed being able to hang out with everyone without the kids! Dean and Mary kept our kids overnight and Patsy and Graham had a babysitter for Sean. We were able to enjoy some 'adult' time with everyone! We realized that we definitely need to do that more often ;)

White Coat Ceremony...

My mom and dad have been in Michigan this past week helping Alli get settled into her apartment. Tonight she had her white coat ceremony for Veterinary School and here are some pictures I took from her facebook page. She will graduate in 2013. She looks great! It has only been a week but I miss her like crazy!! Do you think we can skype long enough to watch a movie together???

Eye Update...

I had an eye appointment on Tuesday. The doctor said that everything looks great. I am healing really well and he is happy with my progress. He even said I don't have to come back for 3 months!! WAHOO...great news and I was able to get into Mankato for my next appointment with him. Now I won't have to make the trek to the cities so often. He did tell me that I can't have cataract surgery this year. He wants me to wait and let my eye heal some more. It was a little frustrating to hear but my sight is more important. I don't complications from another surgery to impact my site!

After my appointment Nick and I spent the day in the cities. We went shopping, out to supper and to the Twins Game. It was a great day! Nick and I don't get much time together anymore with 3 kids at home. It was so nice to have a day with him. We need to do that more often.

Good Bye Alli!!

Alli left for Michigan today. Good byes are awful!! It was so hard to say good bye to her last night. She came to my 'Girls Night In' party and I wish the night could've lasted forever. This past year and a few months she has been home in Mankato. We have grown so close and I truly love having her around. My kids just adore her and have gotten to do a lot of fun things with her. She has helped me out a ton with taking Braeden to TaeKwonDo to helping watch the daycare kids so I could go to an appointment. She has come over at least once a week for supper and we usually had movie night on Fridays. She is attending Michigan State for Veterinary School and we are so proud of her. She is fulfilling a dream of hers and I know that she will make an amazing Vet some day. I just wish she could live closer so we could still hang out. We might not see her until Christmas and that is a long time to wait! Might have to sneak away to visit before then!! Love you Alli and I will miss you so much!!

Girls Night

Last night I hosted a 'Girls Night In' party at my house. It was so much fun to have the girls over. I made lots of great food...at least I thought it was good and fabulous martinis! We all had a blast just hanging out and chatting about nothing. We need to do that more often. The pictures that I got of all of us girls has a blurry spot on them. Someone...not going to name any names ;)...spilt their martini and it got on my camera. There must have been a sticky spot on the lense. Oh well...it still is great to have a picture of all of us.

Yummy Coconut Cupcakes

Martini Cookies

15 Months...

Where does the time go? I can't believe C is 15 months already. I am a little late posting this but better late than never ;) C is growing up so fast. He runs all over and wants to be right in the middle of everything. He isn't talking yet and that is concerning to me. B and E were talking up a storm by 15 months and C doesn't say much of anything. He has gotten really good at signing but I would like to hear him talk. I mentioned my concerns to the pediatrician and he was also concerned. C use to say mama and dada and no longer even says that...well until yesterday! His pediatrician said that he would rather be proactive about it and get him in to see a Audiologist to make sure he is hearing okay. He is also having a nurse from the school district come out and make sure that he is developing where he should be. The doctor wasn't worried but wanted to make sure that we weren't missing something. He said that we could just let it go and see how he is in a few months but he would rather not wait. Most kids don't start talking as early as B and E so C isn't behind for the normal range just behind for my range ;) C also competes with 2 older siblings and 6 other daycare kids during the day. This might all be a factor in his talking. We shall see. He sees the Audiologist on September 14th. He is growing perfectly. We no longer have to be concerned with him not gaining enough weight. He has caught up and is doing great. Here are his statistics compared to E (I misplaced B's information :( ):

E Height: 30 1/2" - 70%
Weight: 25lbs 9oz - 85%
Head: 18" - 50%

C Height: 31 1/4" - 56%
Weight: 25lbs 6oz - 63%
Head: 19 1/2 " - 96% (big brains ;)

Cleanse....

Do they ever work? Really as soon as you say you can't eat something you are twice as hungry! Nick and I had decided we would do a cleanse. We have eaten and drank a lot this summer and both just felt we needed something to feel better. I said lets start today. The cleanse consists of eating just fruits and vegetables and then drinking only water. It suggests to do it for at least 3 days but says that once you get the hang of it many people do it for a lot longer period of time. Nick and I were set this morning. I cut up 2 cantaloupe over the weekend and we had a ton of other fruit to pick from. We lacked in vegetables but thought if we could get through the day we would go to the store for veggies before supper. We both had big bowls of fruit for breakfast and lunch. We could snack on fruit or veggies if we needed to. NEEDED TO that is an understatement. When you eat an apple you are always hungry an hour later. Well I can promise you that it works for all fruit. Maybe it was the fact that we were only allowed to eat fruit and veggies but we were both starving by supper. We were doing great though. We got everyone in the van and headed to the grocery store. Too bad Applebee's is right next door. We were both easily convinced to eat at Applebee's for supper and forget the cleanse! Guess it isn't for us. We both said that if you could have some substance it would be better. We live for our carbs and if you take them all away we are not happy people! It was so energizing eating a salad from Applebee's with a diet pop. I don't think I would have made it through my workout tomorrow morning had I not had good food tonight. Maybe we will try again some other time but doubt it. We made it more than half the day so that is good enough for us. I don't think either one of us will be eating fruit any time soon!

Dancing Princess

Emma had her dance recital tonight. She did a great job and wasn't shy at all. We signed her up to continue dance throughout the school year. She has had so much fun this week and is looking forward to continuing.

Photographer

E got a hold of my camera and took a bunch of pictures. I had no idea she did this and the pictures are priceless!

Survived!

Yesterday the kids had their first hired babysitters. They all had a blast! B had a friend over who spent the night. Nick and I got home at midnight and B and J were still up watching a movie. I have to say that a nap is in B's future today! E and C had a great time too and went to bed great for the girls. E got her fingernails and toes painted and thought it was the best. It was great to go out and not have to worry. It is nice to have other options when it comes to someone watching our kids. Nick and I had a great night out with our friends. We don't see everyone enough and need to get out with them more often.

Tomorrow we start a new hectic schedule. B has camp all week from 9-4. It will be great for him to get out of the house and have something to do. He has been getting bored at home. E starts dance tomorrow night at 5. E and I went and bought her dance outfit yesterday. She looks so cute and I can't wait to see her in class tomorrow. I will definitely take lots of pictures and post them as soon as I can.

Congratulations to The Willsons!

One of my best friends had a baby girl yesterday. Miss K Willson was born at 4:59am. She weighed 6lbs 2oz and is 17in. long. We are so excited for your family and hope everything is going great!! Wish we lived closer so we could come visit you.

Fun times!

Wow...it has been a while since I have posted. We haven't been doing too much. This summer weather is a drag. I wish we had some hot sunny days to lay around the pool or hang outside. I took the day off today and it is raining. Go figure! That is what happens I guess. God must have thought I needed a day inside instead of playing with my kids outdoors.

We finally started the task of painting our house. Last weekend Dean and Nick started putting the first coat of paint on. I love it!! We are going from pale yellow to a mocha brown. It fits us a lot better and I can't wait until the second coat is complete.

Last night my sisters and I went to a Craig Morgan concert in Mankato. It was the first time the 4 of us have gone out together in a long time. My friend Rachel came too and we all had a blast. It was great to have some sister time and to just have fun. It was even better that it only cost $3 to get in to see the concert!

This weekend will be filled with birthday parties and a night out with some friends. Nick arranged for a couple of babysitters to come tomorrow night so that we can go out with some friends. It will be the first time the kids have had a babysitter. We have lots of family in town that are always willing to help with the kids but we thought it would be fun to try a babysitter. I know they will all have a blast.