Fall

No excuses.  It has been too long since I have updated this thing.  I hope I can remember most of our lives since July!

In August, Tom and I jetted off with some friends to Vegas for a long weekend.  While Vegas might not be my dream vacation, it was nice to get away with people our own age, leave the kids at home, and relax.  We didn't see any shows, or even gamble that much, but opted to spend quality time with some of our dearest friends.  I am happy to report that I came back a winner (a whopping $60) and managed to carry the team for my Hubby as well (thanks for all the Blackjack advice, Tom!). 

We also went up to the lake for a week to spend some quality time together as a family.  Tom and Sam joined Michael and I part way through the week, since he was in the beginning phases of his new job.  I have to admit, as much as I love my boys equally, it was really nice to be able to spend some one-on-one time with Michael.  It seems that he is changing before our eyes and continuously surprising me with his intelligence and humor that it was nice to take it all in for a few days.  I loved every minute of it. 

We have managed to squeeze a few neighborhood events in during the fall months as well.  It is nice to get to know the people that will be involved in our lives for many years to come.  Tom and I hosted a movie night in our back yard, that I think might need to become a "thing" for us.  It was the perfect way for the adults to all get together, get to know one another, and for the kids to be calm and in one spot for 2 hours.  Ha!  Tom joined the church choir with the men in the 2 houses next to us, and they even coordinated their own carpool (is it so that 2 of the 3 can drink at the bar afterwards?)- I am loving the involvement.  We have a couple other neighborhood parties coming up and I am looking forward to many, many years of this to come.  This is what I had hoped for when we bought our house.

Last weekend, we loaded up the boys and headed to the local pumpkin patch right by our house.  Michael is at such a fun age to do these activities, as he now fully understands them and gets excited for them.  He was such a trooper to pick out one for his little brother, since "he is just a baby."  We also went to Afton Alps and bought Michael his very first set of skis.  He tells us that winter is his favorite season, so lets hope that is true!

Sam is such a joy and blessing in our lives as well.  He is fully on the move, and curious about everything.  3 weeks ago he started crawling, and just this week he has started pulling himself up on anything possible.  I fear walking is not far behind...  While I should be celebrating these milestones, I find myself a bit sad when they happen.  The last 9 months have gone by in the blink of an eye and I wish things would slow down just a bit. 

We are gearing up for Halloween and the holiday season, since it will be here before I know it.   It is hard to imagine that Sam will be one in just 3 months and that we will have a toddler and a preschooler.  How can time keep speeding up when I feel it is already going so fast?!

 The Bellagio

 The volcano outside of the Mirage

 His favorite was to wind himself up and then spin uncontrollably

 The dirtier, the better

 "This sand doesn't taste so good... but I can't stop eating it"

 Michael now loves fishing

 Woodbury Big Truck Day

 Afton Alps Fall Festival

Michael rolling down the "Bowl" at Afton

Summer

Oops.  It was an entire season ago that I last wrote...

Let's see.  Life has been a bit of a whirlwind, so I will try to remember everything.  In May, Tom lost his job.  He had known for a while that the day would eventually come, but it was a big punch to our stomachs nonetheless.  He negotiated some terms for his departure, and was able to secure some pay so that we weren't left out to dry.  It was tense around here- we bought our "forever" house with 2 incomes.  We have 2 children that we need to provide basic needs for.  We need them both to be in daycare so that I can work and so that Tom can find work... It seemed very daunting.  Fortunately, Tom found another job and started 1 day after his pay ended from Cars.  He is now gainfully employed and things don't seem so dim anymore.  He has a strenuous training schedule that takes him on the road for the next 5 weeks, which leaves this girl as a single mom.  To make things more complicated, I also work on the road so managing our schedules has been a bit of a nightmare.  Somehow it will work out, as it always does.  Tom and I have experienced more in our 20's than most people experience by 50, if ever.  I keep saying that maybe we are getting all the gunk out of the way early in our lives so that we can just coast and relax later- we'll see if that holds any truth as time goes on.  :)

Michael is keeping us on our toes.  Everyone mentions the "terrible twos," but why does no one mention the threes?  Holy smokes- attitude, sass, opinions, and knowing exactly which buttons to push to make parents the most frustrated.  Overall he is a great kid, with more love and kindness that I could have ever imagined, but those days when he decides to be a stinker, he makes them count!  He is loving our neighborhood with all of its offerings- parks, splash pad, and his new friends, Parker and Callan.  Its times when he is out running around with the neighborhood kids that I sit back and think of all the struggles we have had.  This is why.  So that we can give our children this life and these opportunities. 

He just completed his first sports season- the Woodbury PeeWee 3's.  3 weeks of soccer and t-ball combined.  It was adorable to watch, and if he doesn't love sports, I hope he learns to love being involved in something.  I think his skills lie more in soccer than in t-ball, but we will see where the wind blows him. 

Sam is wonderful.  6 months old and a hoot to be around.  He currently thinks that he tells the world's funniest jokes, and is a very happy baby.  He is on the move, rolling around and I feel that crawling is not far away.  It is crazy to think that soon the baby gates will be back up.  Where is the time going?!

We Baptized him two weeks ago and it was a wonderful day filled with love, laughter and friendship.  We could not be more blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives, who welcome our children into their lives as well, with open arms.  I hope that our children grow up knowing how loved they are, and never for a moment take it for granted. 

As for Tom and I.  Now that a job is secured, it is time for us to relax a bit.  We are headed to Vegas with some friends and we are so excited.  While being in the desert in the middle of August might not be ideal, it will be nice to get away with some friends, enjoy their company, and forget about the stresses of life for 3 days.  Not long after, we are on our family vacation at the cabin.  Tom won't be able to go the entire week, but is hoping to make a couple of days up there so that we can all unwind together as a family. 

Spring?

Could it be?!  Is it really Spring?  I feel like every time we get excited about Spring in our house, it snows again.  I am cautiously optimistic these days. 

Michael celebrated his 3rd Birthday and everything went off without a hitch.  He tells us weekly that "being 3 is really hard."  He is very into reading, figuring out puzzles, and cooking.  He is also an amazing helper for his little brother.  He had his check up and he is as healthy as can be.  He is 3 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 36 pounds.  Based on the projections (and the size of his feet) we can expect him to be somewhere around 6 feet 1 inch when he is fully grown.   I guess he really does take after his Daddy. 

Sam is also doing great.  He is finally starting to fill out, and is making up for all of the spitting up and puking that he is doing.  He is such a happy baby, and is only crying these days if he is hungry or tired.  He has doubled his weight and grown a few inches.  He took his first round of shots like a champ! Sam even gave us our first real taste at a normal sleep schedule and slept from 8pm - 4am last night.  These two children are nothing short of amazing and I am so blessed to have them in my life. 

As summer approaches, we are finding our calendar is already starting to fill up.  It is amazing how quickly time flies, and I feel like it speeds up even more now with children involved. 

Easter 2014

Brothers

Mall of America- Michael didn't like this ride by the end...

What's up?