Sunday, January 20, 2013

Healthy (finally!!) and 4th annual party

Knock on wood...but I think we might finally be healthy.  Well, except for a nagging cough for Claire, but other than that.  It's been a really rough two full weeks.  First both kids had a nasty cold for an entire week.  On the week anniversary of his cold, Max got croup (and he gets bad cases of croup).  As croup runs its course, it turns into a nasty cold.  Meanwhile, Claire maintained her nasty cold.  Then, last Thursday Max got a stomach bug.  On Friday I got the same thing and also came down with a fever.  I had to go to work for a few hours on Friday, and I tried to not tell anyone I was there with a nearly 101 degree fever because surely they would kill me.  I would, if I were them.  I pretty much broke the golden rule of don't-you-dare-go-to-work-sick-and-get-me-sick-too, but sometimes duty calls! So it's been a very sleepless two full weeks in our household and I'm praying we're finally over it!

In other news, Max decided he wasn't quite tall enough on the stool so he went on his tippy toes too.

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This evening I hosted the 4th annual family (including spouses and children!) get together for my "mom and baby class" friends.  Over 3 1/2 years ago, our babies looked like this.
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And now they, and their siblings, look like this!!  Sadly, three of the seven moms couldn't make it tonight, so below are only 8 of the 14 children we have combined.
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In 2009 we looked like this...
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And now we (at least four of us) look like this!  A little more tired, seasoned, and happy.
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You've heard me say it before, but I am so very thankful for these ladies and their children.  I am thankful that we continue to get together on a monthly basis to talk motherhood, family, marriage, and the Bachelor.  Life is good.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Busy times

Whew, it's been a busy last week and a half.  Last week we had something going on in the evening every night, which is partially why I was so glad to have Friday off from work.  The kids and I met up with Ashley and Melissa and their children at the zoo.  We were supposed to go to Ami's for a playdate and pizza dinner after nap but poor Briggsy had to go to the doctor to get stitches instead!

Friday night Josh left at bedtime to go to a bar to see his cousin Scott (Ami's husband) play with his band.  Saturday I spent a large portion of the day at a photography editing class in Albertville.  Last night we woke up around 2:00AM hearing the all-too-familiar seal bark coming from Max's room.

I didn't fall back asleep after that and was up with him (and Claire woke up too, of course) at 5:00AM in the bathroom downstairs with the water running as hot as it could in the shower (that felt less torturous than bringing him outside in the below zero weather, although the cold air is more effective at opening up the airway than the hot).  I took him to urgent care later in the morning and he got a shot of steroids.  Hopefully he will sleep much better tonight!  After rushing home from urgent care, I picked up Claire and we went to Minnetonka for a 1 year old's birthday party.  We got home by 4:00PM and went to get groceries.  Whew.  This coming week we only have one obligation in the evening (gymnastics on Tuesday) and I am excited to have time at home so I can feel more caught up with life!

So I typed all of that while I was waiting for my photos to upload into Photobucket. Just to kill time.  Hopefully I didn't bore you in the process. :)

Tonight Max made me dinner.
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As I took this photo, he handed me the dish (containing a hotdog bun and half a kiwi) and said, "Mommy, I made you SOUP. Be nummy! Be nummy!"
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Get-caught-up-on-life, exhibit A, below.
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They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but I think it's just par for the course for a three year old girl.  Claire tries to copy EVERYTHING I do.  That means putting dinner on the table and trying to get as close as she can to what I served (one of those play dishes has a pear in it and I also served a pear with dinner tonight).  She gets so excited to cook her dinner at her play kitchen.  She constantly yells at me and asks which step I am on and then excitedly says she's doing the same thing too ("I'm cooking my hamburger TOO!").
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When we got home from the birthday party, I changed into sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Claire immediately ran to her room and found a sweatshirt, that also had a hood and zipper, just like me.  After dinner was cleaned up, I had to do some work in preparation for tomorrow. Claire got out her calculator and said, "I'm texting and doing my work emails too, Mommy".
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Have a good week!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

The start of January

It was tough to go back to work. The first morning Claire said to me, "Do you have to start going to work EVERY DAY again?!".  Now I'm looking forward to a week off with the kids in February.  Omi, the Parks and the Hebels will all have warm vacations and we'll have a super fun staycation!

Friday night I went out to dinner with Sarah and Amy, at a nice restaurant with a professional staff.  Sarah and I both ordered a glass of wine and he didn't ask for either of our IDs.  He returned a couple minutes later, looked at both of us, looked back at Sarah and said, "I need to see your ID".  What?!  We laughed so hard and couldn't believe he'd single her out and not ask for MY ID.  I don't think I easily look over 35! (right?!)

On Saturday we had Bailey's baptism. Josh and I are honored to be her Godparents.  Max got a cold the night before and was so sleepy during the service that he actually fell asleep!  It was sweet for this mama's heart to cuddle with him in church.  Hosanna baptized 36 children that morning! Photobucket

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Saturday night my dad and his new puppy, Scout, came over to watch the Vikings playoff game.  I love, love watching football games with my dad. And Scout is beyond adorable.

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The kids were so pumped up for the game too! We practiced our celebration dance before kickoff, to make sure we were prepared to SKOL!
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Ever since I could talk, "42" has been my absolute favorite number.  I was so excited when a Vikings player with the number 42 was FINALLY good enough to have a jersey made.  And then I found a child's 42 jersey at Marshall's for $4.99.  Score! Now I have my own little mini-me Viking fan in matching 42 jerseys.  Could life get any better?
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Tuesday, January 1, 2013