Christmas Round #1

Every year, sometime between Christmas and Thanksgiving, my brother and Jon return to MN for a Christmas celebration. This year it happened to fall on their birthday weekend, and we did all we could to pack some fun and celebrating into our time together. 

We started off with a big Christmas ham dinner at our place the night they arrived. The meal was yummy but the time together was even better. I sat at the table extra long that night, taking it all in and enjoying the moment rather than rushing to clean up. I can tell that Regan is getting older, because she too sat around the table, catching up, listening to stories and simply conversing with the family. 

My mom and Lincoln had a mean game of Laser Tag going on, and I came around the corner only to catch this quick photo of my mom :) 

Go mom go! 

Early the next morning we ventured to the big Mall of America where my brother was waiting with his "Birthday outfit". I had no idea what to expect when he let us know the night prior that he had a special gift for all of us....look at him! 

I may have given him grief more than once as he showed up multiple places (all day!) in that silly outfit. Apparently this is what you can wear when you don't care at all what anyone thinks of you :) 

It was a day of "yes", and very little "no". Instead of buying Christmas gifts, Ben and Jon requested to take the kids on a shopping spree. Oh they loved it! The only request was for the kids to pick out things that they wouldn't normally purchase. And we did just that! Sidney found a stupidly expensive squishy and their reply "SURE!". 

Although we didn't come home with these ride-on toys, the kids sure had fun scooting around the toy store, which was packed with people....

Both girls wanted to check out some make up stores so we went into more than one of them. Ryan and Sidney had us all buckled over in laughter when they came across this fun mirror allowing the buyer to test lip colors before buying. 

Ryan looks like he's done this before! 

This is the result of not wanting to try on clothes, and then in putting back on your own sweatshirt, you do so backwards. We made her pose for us with the hood up. 

After a full day at the Mall, both girls had double header dome ball games so we spent the evening cheering them on and entertaining Lincoln while dodging foul balls.
Can't get enough of watching them play. 

They're both continuing to work on their skills in this "off season" and I'm proud of how hard they are working. It was fun to have a little bigger fan club this weekend. 

The next day we went back to MOA and spent the morning at Crayola Experience thanks to some gifted tickets by a dear family friend. The kids played to their heart's content, as did the adults :) We crafted and molded and created for close to two hours. Eventually we walked over to the attached hotel and the kids took advantage of the swimming pool in hopes of wearing out Lincoln for a nice afternoon nap. 

It worked! And when he woke up, he was a TIGER! 

Ha! 

This cutie cracks us up. Whenever we take a picture, we always have to do one of just him. Acting like a tiger. 

It was a delightfully wonderful weekend where memories were built and good times were had. Just what Christmas celebrations should be. 

I'm sad that Hope had to work the night of this family picture.....I might have to figure out how to crop her in! 

Snuggly little boy

As the girls get bigger and their snuggles less frequent (or non-existent from the oldest), I am forever grateful that Lincoln wants nothing more than for someone to "sit by me". Each night he snuggles into my shoulder as he gets a few minutes on his iPad. 

And I love every second of his affection. 

I also love that he willingly shares his snuggles with his favorite Godmother, who happens also to be one of my favorites too :) He doesn't shy away from her tight hugs either! 

Or another one of my favorites....some time with Hope. She helps us out with a few hours of watching him and I got this quick photo while I was at work one day :) I'm pretty sure it was another "sit with me" moment. This boy sure loves to love. 

Love you my snuggly little boy, never stop snuggling. 

Winter wedding

We were fortunate enough to be able to spend a most lovely evening with my best friend and some 100 of her closest friends and families as she got married this December. The kids can only ever remember being at outdoor weddings (something my great aunt scowls at...."weddings should be done in the church!"), so when I told the kids that Kari's wedding was at a hotel, they were utterly confused. Sidney swore she was getting married in an apartment! You know, hotels---apartments, they're all the same ;) 

It was a beautiful evening and we had an awesome time slowing down and enjoying the night. The kiddos danced the night away, having a great time with the friends we love like family. 

Congrats Kari and Lyle! We are so excited for your family! 

Summer fun and the 4th of July

We had a pretty busy 4th of July weekend that started out several days before the actual 4th. With the recent craziness at the hospital where I work, my vacation time was shuffled around to accommodate for the nurses strike. That meant in 19 days, I will have only worked 3! We took full advantage of the long weekend touring around our lovely city and checking out all sorts of sights.

Once the 4th finally rolled around, the weather cooled off (sad I know!) but we had fun anyway. Grandma Sheri brought up this boat that kept me dry with clothes on so of course, Papa had to try it and the kids thought it was hilarious! The best part was watching him try to get in and out of it....we were all waiting for him to topple into the pool :)

As scared as this always makes me, I do love to take action shots of Ryan doing back-flips into the pool.

Lincoln's favorite part of the swing set lately is the glider, and he insists someone should give him an 'under-dog'; yea that hasn't happened yet. Keep tryin' kiddo!

When Uncle Shane lived with us for a summer 3 years ago, he babysat the kids and together, they tossed pancakes into the street to watch cars drive over them.

Why?

I have no idea.

Because he's Uncle Shane.

And ever since then, he has told the girls (+Lincoln now) that they could toss sausage into the street some day. Well, the day finally arrived and the kids were ecstatic! Those sausage links turned immediately into patties each time they were crushed by a car. And everyone thought it was pretty funny.

Not sure what they'll think of next!?

We had a great 4th of July weekend....only 3 short days of work and I'm off for another stretch of fun!

Party day round 2

The older kids have been blessed to have both a friend and a family birthday party. And this year, Regan asked to wait on her family party so Grandma Jan and Papa would be back from Texas. She was so happy with her decision; and to be reunited after 2 l---o--n--g months apart.

And seeing as though they were coming from a warm(er) location, they brought some decorations back that just happened to fit with her luau theme....leis, flower clips and fancy surfboard shirts! 

She is pretty lucky to have had a houseful of guests all ready to celebrate her big day. More grandparents, 

a set of Godparents, 

a wild group of cousins, 

(sorry Ash, but isn't this a perfect depiction of the chaos at these parties!)

and let's not forget, a picture with mom and dad. 

We can't believe how fast she is growing up and are thankful to everyone who came to celebrate!

Grandma's house

We have some pretty crazy schedules these days and getting out of town hasn't been easy. But this weekend we were invited to my cousin's graduation party and were able to double the fun with an overnight at grandma Jan and Papa's.

The girls were pretty excited...partly because of those bunk beds with the built-in  ladder.  

While Ryan and my parents went golfing, the kids and I were lucky enough to hang out with my dearest friend and Lincoln's Godmother-Kari and her kids. It's never long enough but it's always fun to catch up in person. The kids all played at the park and were filthy when we left; a sign of a FUN playdate! Lincoln took a turn swinging too, giggling away at the fun.

My parents brought the girls up to Herman Monument, a favorite of theirs. Grandma promised them she would climb to the tippy-top (freakishly afraid of heights), but chickened out while visibly shaking on the way up.

I think she much preferred to play trucks with Lincoln instead, safely on solid ground.

Regan cried her eyes out at bedtime that she forgot her chapter book at home. Among the 3 + bags of items packed, seems like everyone forgot something! It's becoming challenging to leave home.

I would say Lincoln did fair-to-good on his first overnighter. He travels well in the car, much better than his sisters at this age. But he matches them in overnight sleeping while away from home. To put it in perspective, at home he wakes for his pacifier one time (on a bad night). At my parents house, he was up 10 times.

TEN

I'm surprised that I didn't have bags under my eyes here!

Between the tears of forgetting things and the lack of sleep, might be a while before another overnighter.

First Communion

Regan celebrated her First Communion last weekend with a wonderful mass and a gathering at our home. 

She looked gorgeous in her long white dress. The little boy standing behind us as we lined up had a father who chuckled and commented to Ryan that she looks like a bride. Ryan laughed and then wanted to cry as the father asked him if we were saving up :)

Goodness does this little sister look up to her. Sidney was in awe at how pretty her big sis was, and admired all of her bling: a real pearl necklace from Uncle Ben, gold cross earrings and a birthstone ring. She's one lucky girl in Sidney's eyes.  

We seized the opportunity to quick take a family picture before church. 

Our little family sure has grown since Regan's baptism nearly 8 years ago. 

Our church celebrates First Communion on both Saturday and Sunday so here's the smaller of the group from Sunday. 

Regan perked up when she found out that getting a First Communion meant a party, and CAKE!

We are so proud of her and all the work she has done to prepare for this special day. She was nervous the night before and anxiety continued til the moment she walked up for her communion. In a last minute decision, and only after verifying that "taking wine in church isn't bad, right mom?" (she didn't want any jail time), she tried the wine. Pretty disgusting evidently as shown across her face!

Congrats Regan. We love you!