Camp week

For many years now, Regan has embarked on a week of camp songs, s'mores, lake swimming and making new friendships (ok, by now she is also enjoying the old friendships too!). This year, she convinced Sidney to join her and let's just say, those two had more fun in that 1 week doing all things camp related. This isn't a "sports practice" type camp. Nope, this is the true deal. 

They even spend a hot summer night in a tent!! 

Although apprehensive at first, knowing not one other kid who was going to camp, Sidney cannot wait to return! I am so proud of her (and thankful for Regan's brave lead) as she took the leap and signed up for the full camp experience. She made some great friends and had the time of her life. 

So proud of our girls, and secretly super happy that they get their "sleeping in a tent" fix so that I don't have to climb into one for a restless night! 

Summer fun: family style

I'm only moderately embarrassed by the number of pictures on my iPhone. But what's worse, is that I am keeping all of these great moments locked up on my phone! Life has just been so full for us that I'm having a hard time finding a quiet moment to share our memories and photos. But here we go....

A few weeks back, I took a week off from work to spend gallivanting around this wonderful metropolis, having a grand time with the kiddos.We saw some things new, experienced some things old but most importantly, made memories to last a lifetime. I love making the most of our days! 

We spent some time on the renovated Old Cedar Avenue bridge, a place that only Lincoln and I had visited last fall during the grand opening. Turns out, it makes a great location for some great pictures. 

And because it feels a bit like a hidden gem, it's a nice open spot for Regan to race along on her hoover board. Talk about perfect location! 

I get so happy when my kiddos oblige and let me take photo after photo without complaining (too much). 

I was blessed with a visit from my BFF and her adorable kiddos, sadly this was the only photo I took! I'm going to say we were simply too wrapped up in conversation to think about taking photos. 

The kids ask every summer if we can rent bikes at Minihaha Falls. We adore the falls in any season, but in summer they rent out bikes for a whole family. Let's just say Regan and I got worked that morning as we pedaled around the falls :) 

We had some time before the rental place opened so we hiked down to the bottom of the falls and around one of my most favorite places in the middle of the city. 

We're finally at a point in life where I don't have to carry a small (or big!) child up those stairs. I'm both happy and sad about that fact....

It was H.O.T. that morning and we got a workout! But we got many laughs as well! Lincoln refused to sit up front with Sidney, thinking he could instead "drive". Thankfully Regan's steering wheel didn't actually control anything; but when he hopped on her lap to "drive", it rendered her virtually useless to pedal. Yea that didn't last very long as I tried to move that thing on my own. I may have also driven us into a few tree branches which created belly laughs for all of us. Oh, and Sidney is a little long to be sitting up front and we had to enlist the help of some passer-bys to help free her from her perch! 

I think I've mentioned before that we used to take the girls to Como Park/Zoo several times every year. And by the time Lincoln came along, they were over the excitement of that place and it often feels like I'm dragging them along. However, Como opens up their ride/amusement park in the summer and our kids still enjoy going on rides (Ryan included  though he had to work). I'm so happy the girls take a break from the sole roller coaster for a few kiddie rides with their little bro. 

Helps that we added a few friends to the mix at Como. Each girl had a buddy join us and it meant I had an adult to chat the day away! 

And it worked out well that everyone wanted to take a ride break and walk around the zoo, checking out all the lazy animals, many of who were taking their afternoon nap. Boo :( 

Of course, there was plenty of time spent swimming in the backyard, on one of (what feels like) 100 inflatables. Seriously, we are busting at the seams with inflatable toys around here! Our pool shed is filled to the max and they keep wanting to add more! 

Summer is never complete without a trip to Wild Rumpus bookstore. Even if we don't purchase anything, the experience alone is one to write about. It reminds me of the family-owned book store in the movie "You've Got Mail'....

only better. 

Because Wild Rumpus has animals. Cats, tarantulas, chickens, all roaming free around the place! Yes, it's incredible!
And this picture below is in the bathroom mirror. When the lights are off, it glows a real fish tank. Turn the lights on, and you're staring at your reflection in the mirror. 

The kids (and adults!) just love it! 

Lincoln's balance bike abilities have soared this summer. He's so good and really fun to watch. Toss in a little commentary from me: "not so fast!", "be careful!", "watch out!" and you've got yourself some entertainment too. (Click HERE for a short video). He brought the bike around the nearby lake when we went for a walk, errr, I ended up running along side him. He's that good!

 I took this photo of Regan because I have the same photo of her as a little girl. And I just can't believe how grown up she is already. 

7 years ago already....how did that happen?!

We had an incredible 10 days together; memories to last a lifetime. These 3 are our entire world and I'm so happy to find new adventures with them!

leaving a legacy

As I spend time reflecting on the last year with my dad, I can't help but come back to a few key themes. It seems that he may have had the foresight that his life was ending, and he spent the last 12 months ensuring that the legacy he left behind, would not only leave an imprint on me, but give me reminders on how to successfully parent our 3 children. It's as though he knew his days were numbered, though truly no one did, and let go of all the petty problems, and focused on what mattered most.

Gratitude:
I can't begin to count the number of times he would send a message of true appreciation. Whether it be a 'thank you' for a gift, or a message to tell me how much he loved seeing us over a holiday, though possibly for just a few short hours. He knew the effort that we took to ensure we spent time with all sides of the family, and was sincerely appreciative. He didn't focus on what he didn't receive, but rather, was completely thankful for what he did, even if it was only a few hours. The first time I saw one of those text messages from him, Ryan and I both had a little bit of a blank stare. But they became more frequent and I sensed he simply wanted to share his gratitude. And looking back now, it meant the world to me that he shared those feelings with us.

Proud:
I think every child grows up hoping to make their parents proud. I know I did. Throughout my upbringing, I got good grades, I hung out with the nice crowd, and I didn't get into (much) trouble. Sure my parents were proud of me. But over the last couple of years, dad really had a much more purposeful way of expressing this, particularly to me, with his words. He'd hear me talk about work, or watch me busily manage 3 kids and cook a meal (which sometimes feels like I'm standing on my head while juggling) and would comment "I'm proud of you". Just like that, he'd give me a simple reminder that what I was doing meant something, and he was proud to watch it all unfold.

Love: 
Let me preface this by saying we weren't the super affectionate family that you see in Hallmark cards. But over the last year, there was a feeling of deep caring and love. A true love for not only his own (now adult) kids, but for his grand-kids as well. He loved spending time with them and seeing them grow.

Happiness:
Oh let's be real, dad was always one to try to get a laugh out of people. And with the advancements in technology, his methods simply changed. Instead of being face to face and telling a joke (and he had many of them...some far more inappropriate than others!), he LOVED to send the .gif via text messages to all of us. He knew some would get more of a laugh than others but we all know he had his favorite ones. And then there was his beloved YouTube videos that would make him get up and dance....or just sit in the recliner and dance! He sure was happy :)

At the end of the day, when I think back to the last year, I take comfort in knowing how grateful he was to have his family, how proud he was to be a part of it, how much he loved us all and in doing all of that, how happy it made him feel.

Miss him daily, think of him hourly. Love you dad. 

Three year olds.

Three and a half. 

It's a tough age. 

Sometimes, Lincoln reminds me of this blurb I recently read: "...They behave like the drunk guy at the party: spilling shit everywhere, yelling belligerent nonsense at everyone in sight, and then passing out in the middle of the floor."

Yep, that about sums up Lincoln. 

But then, each  morning, I wake up as he wraps his arm around my neck and exclaims "I jus wuv you mommy". And my heart instantly melts. And all of those awful behaviors from the day prior are washed away. It gets better, after I tell him how much I love him too,  he then asks me "will you be my bes fweind?". Oh my goodness. I can't even stand it! I love this little boy so much! 

I do remember the girls at this stage, Sidney in particular, Regan was never much of a snuggler. But Sidney would give the best hugs on the planet! Somehow she lost that trait and now hers sadly match her older sisters most days. Lincoln still asks me to sit by him on the couch, "cwoser!", and will lay his head on my shoulder or hold my hand as we watch a show together. Yes, I'd be more productive if I were doing laundry or cleaning the bathroom, but I abide by his requests and take a seat next to my "bes fweind", because I know this stage won't last forever. And I sure love it (most of the time!). 

State softball 2017

As we hang up the softball cleats (sort of) for a few weeks before fall ball starts, let's take a peak at this weekend's amazing state experience. Both girls entered their tournaments with their heads held high, ready to play hard. Unfortunately, they played 40 minutes apart from each other, which meant a lot of back and forth or missed games as we tried our darndest to make it to as many of the games as possible. 

Lincoln spent his 12 hours on Saturday and another 6 hours on Sunday playing catch with me, drinking Gatorade, making new friends and playing with his cars.
Bless his heart for hanging in there with me (Ryan helps coach Sidney so it's just me and my buddy; thankfully toss in a little Grandma Jan for help!). Sunday as I packed up after Sidney's last game to finally head home for good, he joyfully asked "are we go back to Regan's ball game?"...seemingly ready for another round! 

Regan's team worked hard all day on Saturday, winning game after game. She played catcher and third for most of the games; they were short on players but thankfully we didn't have any injuries. 

I adore how these girls bond together each season. We happen to play for an association who places girls on teams not by school, but rather by another method. Which means, we get to make a lot of new friends each year. For example, Regan doesn't go to school with any of these girls in this photo but you wouldn't know they just met each other a few months ago! 

After a couple of losses on Sunday, they walked away with 3rd place! Regan made me immensely proud when she excitedly told me just how proud she was of her team. This sport is so much a team effort and she gets that. Her and another girl were able to get an opposing girl out during a 'hot-box' between home and third base; the excitement in the face of the entire team was picture worthy! They were so proud! 

I love how hard they play and how much they cheer each other on!

Following Regan's 3rd place, we raced down to watch Sidney also play for the third place win. 8U is run a bit differently so the winner of Sidney's game would earn 3rd place. We drove as fast as we could through the terribly-timed Minneapolis construction and made it just as the game began. Sidney had an incredible  tournament and I was so happy to be able to catch a few glimpses each day. That girl ripped more doubles than I can count! Those batting cages sure paid off (even though she will disagree after taking a wild batting cage pitch to the thigh recently). 

Her tiny 8U team stood tall and proud after pulling in 3rd place! These girls are a very young team and many girls are still learning the fundamentals of the game. Only a few are actually old enough to be moving up to 10U in the fall (Sidney being one of them). 

Sidney and her idol-Lexi (an older sister of a teammate); she plays for the 12A team who are super fun to watch because they win almost every game! 

And Sidney adores her like none other. 

Grandma Jan couldn't get enough ball on Saturday, and although certainly didn't plan on coming to all the games Sunday, couldn't pull herself away and found herself right back at all of the fields again. 

(I know she loves it just as much as I do; we had one of Regan's game that went into International Rules and was so intense we couldn't even sit down!).

Sidney and Coach Daddy, errr, I mean Coach Ryan :) He put on his patience hat 4 days/week with this team as he helped them all season long. 

These two are my most favorite ball players to watch. I love that they have so much fun on and off the field!

---and giggled like mad as I tried to take a decent picture of them---

Here's to another super fun softball season! 

Lincoln lately

Life with Lincoln is one that never has a dull moment. This little boy is constantly on the go. People ask if raising boys is really that much different than girls. My response is always a resounding YES! There couldn't be anything more different. I think the biggest thing is that Lincoln is always moving. I tell people he is a large motor type boy. Sure, I can get him to sit with a scissors or a marker (for 2-3 minutes at a time), but he'd much rather race around playing "run get me"...his version of tag. It's no wonder he still naps 2-3 hours/day, he is honestly physically exhausted! The boy needs to rest up to make it through the day.

 

 

 

He loves to swim, to swing, ride his bike and RUN! Taking him on errands is a complete nightmare, seeing as though he is not opposed to dashing off in the opposite direction while I reach for an item on the shelf. Sometimes I wonder if he has "oppositional defiant disorder", yes, I know, don't diagnose your own kid :) But seriously, he is a handful.

 

 

 

But amid all of this energy, is the sweetest boy on the face of this planet. His hourly unprecedented "I love you mommy" melts my heart. The way he reaches around my neck in the morning to wake me up (at 5:50am some days) just to tell me he loves me.... How he affectionately lays his head on my shoulder and asks me to sit by him as he watches a movie. I always say I'm working on raising a good husband. He's on the right path!

 

 

 

And he is still my right hand man when there's any work to be done around the house. Hands down, he prefers if there is a tool involved (like today when I was fixing the bikes) but he hops right in at dinner prep too. I love him for that.

 

 

I love how he is passionate about things, like the color orange for example. Everything has to be orange, always has been that way. Today when I took him on a bike ride, he told me he wants to paint our mailbox orange..."because orange is a nice color". Where does he come up with that?!

 

 

 

His current favorite movie is Titanic. I know, he's too young. But somehow he saw a clip of it and now he can't get enough. We turn on a few minutes almost daily. Favorite toy?, hard to say as it depends on the day. He still loves balls and cars and trains but none of them more than another. Favorite sport: I'd have to say baseball right now, but that kid is a basketball dribbler like no other! I happened to catch a quick video of him part-way through a dribbling session. He can go over 30 bounces without losing control! Click HERE to see for yourself.

 

 

 

Life with this little sweet boy is amazing and busy and sweet and tender, all wrapped in to one. I love you Lincoln!