The summer has sure gone by quickly!  We have been spending most days at the local beach.   I ran my 2nd 5K, improved my time a little, but not as much as I had hoped.   I am planning to run another in September providing Eric is home from Mexico, another work trip.    Anthony turned 5!  Wow, where did all the time go?   We had a party with his friends at the bowling alley and then a party here at home.   Lego's are so big right now, Eric and I had lots of things to help him put together.   I just celebrated my birthday too.   Sure do not feel any older, expect the days when Nathaniel wanted to get up at 5:45. 

 

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and is as busy as we are!

Wow, where has the time gone?   Summer is just whizzing by!   Eric made it to Germany and back home safely.   Anthony had a great time in Tee-ball and loved the fact that Eric was his coach.  I think Eric had just as much fun as all the kids did.   We are gearing up for Anthony's 5th birthday!  Where did time go?  Seems like yesterday he was just a baby.   Now, he is learning to read, riding a bike with no training wheels, and picking his own clothes out for kindergarten!  AHHH!   Either way I have to embrace this time or I will miss all the excitement.  Nathaniel just goes along for the ride.  He is trying so hard each day to say more and more.   Sometimes we figure it out and well, other times he just has the coversation to himself.   I just signed up to run my 2nd 5K.   It will end up being amost a year from when I started running.  I just had to get my 2nd pair of shoes out.   Not too much else new here.  We are staying busy, trying to be thrifty people with the cost of everything going up.  Most days, you will find us as the beach!  

We had a wonderful time in Disney.  The looks on the boys' face were priceless.  They just loved it.   Anthony got to go on Space Mountain, which he really wanted to do.  We learned the Nathaniel's favorite character is Goofy.   As well, he got to go on many of the rides too.  The Playhouse Disney stage show was great!  As well, our friends put up having us crash at their home and run around crazy with us.   Just some pictures...

 

Since we will be in Florida for Eric's birthday so we celebrated yesterday.   The boys wanted to get him a baseball cake.  So we had a Twins cake and dinner at home. 

I got Eric the new Twins book the good, the bad and the ugly.  So far he says it is good.   As Anthony's count down goes 3 days until Florida.

 

 

Yesterday we had Anthony's last day of preschool.  They had a little party at school where got his portfolio from the past year.  So neat to see his handwriting change.  He told me after the party that he was now a Kindergartener.  He is excited for summer!  We leave in a week to visit our friends in Florida.  We are all looking forward to vacation.    It is really hot there.  So we went today to pick up some tank tops.  I usually do not buy them becauese it is not that warm here usually.   I found some for $5 so I was happy with that.   

 

Eric will be traveling to Germany again for work.  I am glad we have VBS that week at church.  That will help time go by faster.    I think Eric is bummed because he will miss 2 night of teeball.  He really likes coaching and we have great group of kids with really nice parents.   

 

Will try to bring the warm Florida weather back.  Happy Memorial Day!

 

 

Hard to beileve Nathaniel is 18 months.   He is still a peanut, at 22.11 pounds and is about 31.5 inches.    We are surely getting use out of 12-18 months clothes as no sign he is growing out of them.    He is also starting to have some fear of strangers.  I took him last week to get his pictures taken and he just threw a fit of lack of better words to describe.   So, I took his pictures.  

 

Anthony is enjoing his kindergartne readiness class.  He rode the school bus last night and was very exicted.    Also Tee-ball starts next week and Eric is his coach.   We will see how that goes. 

 

We are busier than ever.    I hope everyone is doing well.

 

Yeah, the snow is finally gone from our yard!   I have been so ready for spring.   My tulips are starting to come up too.  I was not sure if they would with all the crazy weather.    Things are in full swing here.  We signed Anthony up for Kindergarten last night.  He is very excited!  He can not wait to ride the bus everyday!  As well this will be Anthony's first year in Tee-ball.  Eric is going to coach his team.  We will see how that goes.  We are offically going to Florida to see our friends.  We are going for 5 days!   Nathaniel loves Mickey Mouse, so I think I am most excited to see the boys reaction to Walt Disney World and to see our friends. 

 

Not too much else is new here.  Hope everyone is getting outside to experience spring!!

I hope this finds that everyone had a safe and fun Easter.  So different having Easter so early in the year.  Anthony has been on spring break this week, but he is calling it winter break because we still have snow!    We are decided that we are going to take the boys to Florida to see our friends at the end of May.   Nathaniel just loves Mickey Mouse and Anthony just wants to ride a roller coaster.  I am sure we will have a great time.   Not much else new here...just going to finish our inside projects before spring comes.   Happy Easter! 

I  have been tagged to list 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on my blog.  

 

1. Growing up I never wanted to get married or have children.

2. I never screw the cover on the toothpaste.

3. My favorite color is purple. 

4. I would prefer to drink water vs anything else.

5. I still love quaker apple instant oatmeal.  I grew up on it. 

6. I love to run and that is weird to my husband.

7. I wear slippers all year long, even in the summer.

 

Did you have some laughs on me?

We have a few things coming up that I made some cards for.  A wedding and 2 birthdays.  Not much new here.   Just hoping for spring!

I hope everyone had a great Valentines day.    We have had a busy couple of weeks.  We had Anthony's conference at school and signed the forms for kindergraten that we are planning to send him.   Jackie, his teacher, said he has done very well and will do great next year.  I just ordered him some step 2 reading books since he seems to have most of the sight words down.   Man the grow up so fast!!!   Nathaniel is a just a little dare devil.  Daily I am amazed at the things he get into.   He is still just a little peanut which is good, since we go back and forth about a 3rd.   Maybe I will have some stronger convictions when I hear my friend who is pregnant with her 3rd is having a boy, they have 2 adorable girls.

 

We survived Eric's first trip away to Houston.    He comes home and the boys have sick with the stomach flu since Saturday.  At least they waited for Daddy to come home.    We should know in a week or so where Eric will be off too.   We are still planning taken the boys to Disney to see our old neighbor in the end of May or early June.   I am looking forward to going somewhere.  

 

My sad news is my brother got a job in Bismark, ND.  I am so happy for him, but sad he and my SIL will be 7 hours away.  So Congratulations D! 

 

I wish everyone well!         

I wanted to post my mom's birthday card and the Valentines that Anthony and I made for our families.  He is getting better with his coloring.  Art is just not his strong skill!

  

I have come to the conclusion that I do not know where all my time goes.   We have been so busy!   The boys and I went to Sesame Street live on the school bus.   Anthony is so excited for school next year to ride the bus every day.    We had lots of fun.  Anthony is back at school and Nathaniel is back at babies class.  We have Anthony's conference coming up in a few weeks.  We are hoping that his teacher says he will be ok to start kindergarten in the fall.   Nathaniel had is 15 month check-up last week.  He is still only saying Mama and Dada.  So the Dr. was concerned that he did not have 1 more word.    He is still a peanut at 21.6 pounds and 30 inches.  I actually dug out his 6-12 month shorts out for this summer and they still fit!   We will see how far he gets into the summer in them.   He had a horrible reaction to his 15 month shots.   So was sick for 3 days.  It is so hard when your child is sick.

 

Eric will start his traveling after Valentines day.  Sounds like he will be making the trip to Mexico City.   He will find out for sure in a couple weeks.  He might end up in Germany too.   I won't be traveling anywhere!   Just traveling on my treadmill!  

 

I wanted to attach the Valentines that Anthony made for this class.  His coloring is slowly getting better.  He kept wanting to color the Valentines black.  Not sure, not to excited about valentine maybe?  Anyway, he colored!! That is a success for him.   

 

Eric's brother Kevin got engaged on New year's.  Here is the congratulions card that we sent them.  Eric got me my large tag punch for Christmas and I just love it!! 

I hope this finds that everyone had a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends.  It all goes by so fast!  We are finally recovered.  The boys have gotten caught up on their sleep.  Anthony actually hung out in his PJ's and GAP sweatshirt all day.  Yes, at 4 he asked for a GAP sweatshirt and lots of legos.    I had a wonderful holiday, besides all the craziness.  I hope everyone got what was on their list.  I got a ton of new stamp pads and some other new stamping stuff.   We have a relaxing weekend at home, well I warned Eric that we had to go to Cub this weekend.      

 

Nathaniel had his 1st eye exam last week and he does not have the same issue that Anthony does, which is great.  One less person in glasses.    Anthony's left eye, which was his bad on is now 20/35.  The eye doctor seemed very surprised at how fast it is improving.   We now only have to do his eye drop 3 days a week.    Other than that not too much new.  I am not sure if I mentioned I got a treadmill around thanksgiving and I just love it.   It is not as nice a running outside, but it is still a great work out.  Maybe once the Christmas treats are gone, I can start working really hard on the last 15 pounds.   

 

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year.  We are celebrating with our friends, the Kersteter's, at our home.   Just a relaxing night with friends.  Thank you to everyone who sent such great Christmas cards, we enjoyed them.     

I had Anthony help me make the cards for his teachers this year.  I used my frosty stamp set, which is one of my favorite christmas sets.  Eric's sister is graduating from River Falls next weekend so here is the card I make her as well as the card I made for my neighbors who move to Florida next week.  

I hope this finds everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving.  We did.  It was nice to have a relaxing weekend.   For the 2nd year in a row I did not get up super early and go shopping.  Instead I shopped at home on Thanksgiving.   The deals did not strike me as outstanding.  Maybe because I was not looking for some electronic device or something.   I am sure my time is coming when the boys will want that.   Either I am almost done shopping. 

 

Nathaniel finally hit the 20 pound mark!   He is 20.3 pounds.  I never thought I would have a baby so low on the weight scale.   He is walking everywhere.  I think Anthony is now thinking that maybe that is not so cool.    We put our tree up and surprisely he has stayed away from it.   Now, if he would leave the presents alone!.   

 

We are getting into the full swing of the holidays and hope you are too!  Remember to take some time to enjoy them too!

Some of you know that our neighbors across the street are moving to Florida.  Just last week I sterted to tell Anthony that Jack was moving to Florida to live by Mickey's castle.  (They will be about 45 mins from Orlando.)  And as I was explaining why he could not go or see Jack everyweek, I was getting sad and a little weepy knowing that I will miss them too.   At the end of my conversation with Anthony he simply looked at me and said "Mommy it will be a very sad day when moves away.  I will sure miss him.  Will it be ok to be sad?"  I just totally lost it!   He said it in the most simple way.    We have surely been blessed to have such great neighbors. 

 

On a more upbeat note, Nathaniel is walking about 75% of the time.  He still has the wobble with hands up the air at times.  It sure is cute.  So hard to believe how quick he as caught on.   We also turned his car seat around and he is loving that!   We got Anthony's 1st set of school pictures back and we got the cheesy smile.  It is pretty bad.  But, we thought rather than risk retakes, we are going to live with the picture.  

 

Not much else new with us.  Just getting ready for Thanksgiving and getting the Christmas shopping done.  

Hello!

 

I just wanted to share a picture of the clock I made as a gift for someone this Christmas.   Do you think it is missing anything?

 

I hope this finds everyone had a great halloween!   Anthony had a lot of fun.    He was not ready to come in, he Eric brought him home.    

Now hopefully he doesn't want to eat all his candy!   Nathaniel 1 year check up was good, he had not hit the 20 pund mark yet!  He is in the 5% for his weight.  So different than Anthony who was always in the 85 to 95% range.  All is well here,hope all is well with you!