A New Year Resolution!

I am going to try to be more committed to staying on top of writing updates!! This is crazy. No post for 3 months. I just got so behind. If for anything else, I hope to keep this up for the girls. I think it will be fun for them to go back and read about what they were doing when they were younger. It doesn't take long before we forgot some of the little details that made us laugh!!

So, let's take a look back...

In October, we went on an AMAZING vacation to Disneyworld. My mom, dad, Brother Dan, Tiffanie, Thea, Delila, Joe, Leah, Amber and I all went. My mom calls it her "retirement present" to herself! Everyone had a blast. The girls, of course, were blown away. We spent 3 days at Magic Kingdom (and maybe focused on 1/3 of the park). We spent 2 days at Animal Kingdom (and maybe saw 1/2 of the park)! We also spent some time at Downtown Disney. The girls had princess makeovers at Bippity Boppity Boo, had lunch at Cinderella's Castle with the princesses, and we all went to see Nouba (Cirque Du Soliel) which was amazing! We had fantastic weather. We stayed on park property at New Orleans - Riverside. The kid's had fun swimming in the pools, riding rides, meeting their favorite characters, and seeing lots of shows. It truly is a magical place! I can't wait to bring the kids back again. The girls talked for days about going back to Disney World when we got home. Amber even brought down a bag of change she had in her room. She told me she was going to give it to Daddy, so that we have money to go to Disney World again (As a joke, Daddy had told them on the last day of vacation that we had to go home because they spent all of our money). We certainly made memories that will last a lifetime on that vacation! Oh, it was also Amber's first plane ride. She was so excited. She did have difficulty sitting in the seat and staying buckled. As the plane landed in Orlando, she screamed "weeee" as if we were already on a park ride!

The girls are staying busy with dance, gymnastics and swimming. They both passed their swimming levels. Leah will now be on the junior swim team (if she decides to continue), and Amber is working on swimming all by herself - she no longer needs any floatation device! Leah is moving up to intermediate 1 in gymnastics. She is so excited. She works so hard at gymnastics. Leah will likely start guitar lessons this winter sometime as she got a grown up guitar from Mommy and Daddy for Christmas/birthday!

We had a busy December. We went to see the Wizard of Oz and Llama Llama Holiday Drama. We went to the final year of the Holidazzle parade (so sad). Amber had her daycare Christmas program. She was so adorable (of course) up on the stage. Leah and Daddy (with Mike and Michael) went to the Monster Truck Jam. Now we have 2 girls who love monster trucks! Amber is excited to go when it returns in 2016 (when the new stadium is built). We went to a 2nd (wow) birthday party for a handsome young man (Joshua who also happens to be our godson)! Hard to believe how fast they grow!!

The girls had fun with our Elf on the Shelf "Ralph" when he came back the day after Thanksgiving to help Santa keep on eye on them. They loved having Ralph back and looking for him every morning. Leah wrote him a goodbye note, and he wrote back. Love it!

The girls participated in the Christmas spirit by helping get items for the giving tree at church, donating their extra change to the ringers at stores, and helping mommy wrap presents for the adopt a family at work. So glad that they understand the importance of giving back.

We were very blessed at Christmas. We got to spend time with both sides of the family. Christmas eve with my family at my parents' house and Christmas Day with Joe's family at our house. Unfortunately, I had to leave that celebration a little early. My mom ended up taking me to the ER after I fell on the stairs. It turns out I cracked 4 ribs. Yup, I guess I know how to fall!

The girls have been playing steadily with their new toys. The girls both got the American Girl Doll, Saige, from Nonna. This was Amber's first "big girl" doll. She has played with Saige everyday since! The got lots of legos and have so much fun putting their sets together with their Daddy! It's fun to watch them all work together at the table. They got money, clothes, games, leotards, gift cards, shoes, books, photo albums, and more. Oh, and Leah got a loom and has been obsessed with making bracelets! They love all of their gifts. Thank you to all for your generosity! And to think, only 2 months until their birthdays!

I think that about wraps it up. I am sure I left out some fun details, but like I said earlier, that is why it is important to stay up to date!!

As Amber would say "I love you and I kiss you." She also sometimes adds "and I sing you a song" (which is usually followed by You Better Watch Out)!

Addendum: It has been brought to my attention that I missed one event! On 12/22/13 - Nonna, Grandma Mary, Dan, Thea, Delila, Amber, Leah and I went to Duluth. We went on the Christmas Express, explored Bentlyville (in the freeze of Duluth in late December) and we spent the night at the Edgewater hotel and water park. The girls had a blast (as they always do when they are together). Unfortunately, my mom was sick during most of the trip, so was not able to enjoy all the activities. This short trip has become a tradition and one that the girls really look forward to!

I am still trying...

So, it seems these posts keeps getting further and further apart., but I keep trying!! I actually started writing this post on 9/21…and I am just finishing it up now!

Since the last post:

7/12/13 – Joe and I got a night out in Minneapolis! We went to the Kenny Chesney Concert at Target Field. It was an amazing night. We enjoyed fantastic music with fantastic weather! Great time. I was even able to catch up (briefly) with a friend from long ago! Glad we were able to meet up Dawn!

7/18-21/13 – The girls got to have some cabin time with Nonna and Grandpa. Lucky girls. They so love to be at the cabin!! Both of them love to be in the lake and play outside. Leah is still too nervous to try tubing, but she is now navigating the kayak by herself!

7/22-26/13 – Leah got to go to gymnastic camp at Jam Hops. It is a day camp. She just loves gymnastics. She works so hard. She has made so much progress in the last year.

7/29/13 – We went to the 4^th birthday party of my beautiful goddaughter, Kaysee. I love how Kaysee and Amber and Kaylee (her older sister) and Leah are such good friends even though they don’t see each other often! Kaysee was not happy when we were going to bring Kaylee home for a sleepover, so it turned out that I just had to bring her home too!:) So, Amber had her first sleepover. They just played so well together.

7/30/13 –Leah, Kaylee, Amber, Kaysee and I along with Sara, Michael, and Joshua went to Bunker Beach. It was not the nicest day – chilly and cloudy, but not raining – so we decided to brave it and go anyway! The nice thing was that since the weather wasn’t great, we nearly had the place to ourselves. The kids didn’t care, they enjoyed playing in the water and going down the slides! Leah, however, was not fond of the wave pool this year. Fun summer memories!!

8/2-6/13 – The girls and I headed up for more cabin fun. This is the place the girls most like to be during the summer. We also go to see Blake and Drew- my cousins who live in Colorado. We even met Drew’s girlfriend, Stephanie. We had fun visiting with them, and they both are just fabulous with the girls! Delila joined us on 8/4. Her first time at the cabin without Mom and Dad and she did great.

8/9/13 – The girls headed back to the cabin! Can we say that my mom spoiled them a bit this summer. Amber came home on 8/11 and Leah got to stay until 8/15!! They have both gotten to know the neighbors on both sides of my parent’s cabin, that I think they now think they have 3 cabins!! The kids all play so well together. It is so great that they have get to have that experience.  

8/13/13- Amber and I headed to Chippewa Falls to visit my friend Beth and her little cutie Noah. We had a fun day at Irvine Park.

8/15/13 – Leah and Joe had a date night – to the Twins Game. They had a great time. Front row seats, can’t beat that!

8/17/13 – Michael turns 9! So hard to believe that the little man is already 9! He is the son of my great friend, Sara, as well as one of Leah’s best friends. We spent the day helping him celebrate his special day! The weather was perfect for an outdoor party.

8/18/13 – The girls and I went to Duluth to visit Aunt Vicky and Uncle Jim and bonus – we also got to see John and Chris! The girls are just drawn to John and Chris (just like they are with Blake and Drew). I have to say that these young men will all make great fathers someday as they are absolutely wonderful with my girls! We spent the day on the lake. It was a perfect day –boating (both girls loved), trampoline (both LOVED), Jet Ski (Amber loved, Leah not so much), and hot tub (both loved). They were tired souls when we left and it didn’t take long for them to fall asleep on our way home!

8/24/13 – MN Science Museum for the Mayan Ruins exhibit. Amber was a bit young for this experience, lesson learned!!

8/25/13 – MN Zoo – much more pleasant day for both girls. Hot day, but very fun.

8/28/13 – Joe, Leah, Nonna and I went to the Twins game. These tickets were courtesy of Joe’s boss, Thanks Mark! It was fun to take Nonna to her first Twins game at Target Field. They played awful and lost, but we had a fun evening anyway!!

8/30/13- 9/2/13 – Cabin time for Labor Day weekend/ Joe’s Bday.

-We had a beautiful Saturday which was spent enjoying the lake and being outside. Steve, Linda, Kris, Nico and Reese came to visit. We had such a fun day.

-Sunday we decided to head up to Lake Itasca and bring the girls to the start of the Mississippi. It was cold and cloudy. I didn’t pack a change of clothes (I always pack a change of clothes for the girls, not sure why I didn’t). Instead of walking, they decided to swim in the Mississippi! But, remember, it was cold, so their lovely Nonna bought them new clothes because they were freezing! Thanks Nonna!! It really was a fun day shared by Nonna, Grandpa, Joe, Leah, Amber and I with some great memories…including dirty looks from other parents because we allowed the girls to get so wet. They were enjoying it, and I couldn’t tell them no!!

-Monday was Joe’s birthday. Nonna, the girls and I made cupcakes and the girls decorated them. Fun! Joe and Grandpa took the girls out fishing. Amber lost her Barbie Pole to the lake. Oops. Guess she will get a new one next year.

9/3/13 – Leah’s first day of 3^rd grade, plus a new school (East Bethel Community School). We had open enrolled Leah in the school district north of us as it was easier for us for K-2, but we decided this would be the best year to make the transition to our school district. I think I was more nervous for Leah than Leah was about starting a new school. She made friends and likes her teacher, so far so good! She has even gotten 2 birthday party invites since school started. She does miss a few close friends from her old school, but we are trying to make sure that she doesn’t lose touch with them. What I wasn’t prepared for is the reaction Amber would have. She so misses having Leah at daycare. She mentions to me almost daily when we drop of Leah at the before school care that she missed Leah and doesn’t like daycare now that Leah isn’t there. Funny thing is, Amber rarely saw Leah. But, like Joe said, it is all Amber knows to have her big sister there with her!

Through the first week of September – Leah and Amber start Dance class, continued with gymnastics and started swimming lessons. They love to be active and Amber wants to do everything her big sister does. Amber is also enrolled in Soccer Shots at Daycare. She calls all soccer, “soccer shots.” So, if we go by a park where kids are playing soccer, it “soccer shots.”

9/8/13 – Leah finally gets to use her birthday present from Feb 10, 2013! Taylor Swift Concert tickets! I took her to the concert, Joe made her an amazing t-shirt, and Leah and I made a sign. We did the t-shirt and sign to capture the attention of a certain radio station, only to get to the concert and realize that they were not there (they had been at the concert the night before). Oh, well. We had pretty good seats- side of stage, front row of upper deck. Leah was able to see everything and had an amazing time. She sang along with every song. It was a great night.

9/12/13 – We got to spend an evening visiting with some of my extended family – Aunt Susan and Uncle Joel, Aunt Sara, Aunt Linda and Uncle Steve – at dinner at my parent’s house. It was fun to see everyone.

9/21/13 – Leah had 2 friends from her “old” daycare spend the night – Abby and Ava. The three have been buddies since preschool days. Amber got to have a sleepover too – at Grandma Mary’s house (to avoid the “she won’t leave us alone” whine). The girls started out at open gym, then I took them to our house (Joe was gone – painting at the cabin), so it was a girls’ night. We baked cookies, the girls sang and played dress up, and did what 7 and 8 year old girls do! Lucky for me, they crashed by 10:45! I think they all had a really good time.

9/28/13- Nonna, Leah, Amber and I went to Stages Theater to see “Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse.” It was a cute production. Amber struggled to stay still, well, she didn’t stay still. I guess she was paying attention though because she knew what happened during the show.

So, that is July, August and September in a nutshell. I am sure I left out something, but I think that is most of it. Crazy, busy life we have but I wouldn’t have it any other way!! Of course, we have to thank Nonna and Grandma Mary for all they do for us. As a working mom, I can’t always get the kids to their activities , and they help us so much and for that we are so grateful!

Trying...

We have been so busy, it is hard to keep this up. I am still trying,though, as it is a good record for the girls!!

Since my last post...

Leah had her very busy weekend. She did well in everything of course. She had her Dance Recital on Saturday, May 18. She was in 3 dances- tap, jazz and ballet. It was not hard to determine that her favorite dance was jazz and her least favorite was tap! We loved watching her. Amber did yell out “Hi sissy” and “Leah” a few times from the audience!! Next up was her gymnastics show also on Saturday, May 18. She always has a smile on when she does gymnastics. She just loves it. She is always doing gymnastics! Then, on Sunday May 19, Leah had her First Communion. She was so beautiful and looked so grown up. Hard to believe that she is already 8! Vicky, Jim, Steve, Linda traveled down to help her celebrate her day along with Grandma Mary, Nonna, Grandpa Jim, Dan, Tiffanie, Thea and Delila. It was a lovely day.

The girls both got to go up to the cabin and enjoy Memorial Weekend. Joe and I stayed home as I had to work and we had lots of yard work to do. I was bummed not to go, but glad the girls got to go and that they just had a blast!

Amber had her daycare Spring Program on Saturday June 3. She got up on stage and sang her little heart out!! She was a rock star. She is very outgoing and it is fun to watch her grow.

Leah helped her good friend Kaylee celebrate her 9^th birthday at Sky Zone (a trampoline park). I love how they are still great friends even though they live an hour from each other and don’t get to see each other as often as they would like!

Leah had her last day of 2^nd grade on Friday June 7. She had a make up day added to the end of the year due to snow days! Boo. She didn’t seem to mind. She did so well in 2^nd grade. She loved her teacher and classmates. She was very excited for summer to start!

Both girls finished a session of swimming at Foss Swim School. This was Amber’s first session and she came a long way from start to finish. I am amazed at the strength Leah is showing in the pool. She was in a class of all boys and kept up with them!!

On June 9, Nonna, Renate, Tiffanie, Jamie, Thea, Delila, Leah and I went to Chanhassen Dinner Theater to see “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” It was excellent. The girls really enjoyed it.

The girls and I went to the Mall of America on Tuesday June 11 with Nonna, Tiffanie, Thea and Delila for lunch at the American Girl Store. They just love going to lunch and taking their dolls! It is chaotic, but they love it! Of course, since we were there, the girls all got to go on some rides as well. Nonna just spoils them so!!:)

We celebrated Father’s Day weekend with a trip up to the cabin. The first trip for Joe and I this year. Crazy that it was already in the middle of June!! Even though it was a bit cold, all the girls got in the water. Love that they don’t care, but dang it was cold!!

On Tuesday June 25, I took the girls to Como Zoo. What a fun and hot day! They enjoyed time watching the animals (including the Sparky the sea lion show), then time at Como Town on the rides and at the splash zone to cool off!

We spent 4^th of July weekend up at the cabin. We watched fireworks from the pontoon, had a couple of sunny days and a couple of rainy days. It didn’t matter to the girls, they still went swimming in the rain!! Joe and I took Leah and Amber to see Despicable Me 2 on Friday. It was Amber’s first movie. She sat and ate popcorn for about 20 min, but then she couldn’t sit still for the rest of the movie and wanted to keep talking. I guess she just is not ready yet! Leah loved the movie though. Now Joe and I are back, but the girls get to stay up one more night and come back with my folks tomorrow. Work really gets in the way of summer fun!

Summer (as far as weather) started really late this year, we are now enjoying some good MN summer days.

All about Leah:

She is always doing gymnastics – in the house, in the yard, wherever! She did manage to break the glass of the entertainment center with a knee while doing gymnastics (luckily no cuts)

She is lovely and helpful at times and difficult at times (sounds like she is entering the tween stage)

She loves being in the water

All about Amber:

She plays air guitar and says “I’m a rock starrrr”

She is working on writing her name

She counts to 20

She doesn’t like to sit still

She is stubborn

She is so animated in facial expression and how she talks

She loves gymnastics and swimming just like her big sister

She is 3 – sometimes it is terrific 3s, sometimes it is terrible 3s!

Trying to catch up...

I can’t believe how long it has been since I have posted an update! Wow, what a busy few months.

We had a wonderful Easter day spent with family and friends which was held at my parent’s house. It was a very cold day, so the Easter Bunny hid the Easter eggs inside Nonna and Grandpa’s house so that the girls would not have to search for eggs in the cold and snow! Yup, snow!! We didn’t attempt to bring Amber to Church, she just doesn’t sit well. So, Joe and Amber stayed at my parent’s house on food duty. The girls were lucky to have the Easter Bunny bring them 2 baskets- one at home and one to Nonna and Grandpa’s house! Such lucky girls. 

Nonna, Grammy, Tiffanie, Thea, Delila, Leah and I all went to see Mary Poppins at the Orpheum. What a fantastic show. The girls loved it, though Leah was the only one to see it through the end as the other 2 fell asleep (the show started at 8, ended at 10:30). I did have to poke her a few times to keep her awake! Leah is still talking about it and singing the songs.

We had such a gorgeous day for March for Babies. THANK YOU to all of you who supported babies!! It was one of the first nice days we had! I didn’t bring the stroller and Amber did walk a majority of the 2 miles, but I did end up carrying her in the final stretch! I love that we do this together, and I think it is important that the girls are a part of something as amazing as this.

 

Leah has been busy with dance, gymnastics, swimming, Girl Scouts, and school (of course)! She is also preparing for her First Communion. Oh, and another big milestone- she got braces, yup braces at the young age of 8. She has a very busy weekend coming up- Dance Recital, Gymnastic Show and First Communion. It is going to be a crazy weekend!

Amber is doing soccer and gymnastics at daycare. She is also taking swimming lessons. She is so very energetic that we are going to need to keep her busy! She loves to copy her big sister. She has even started to copy her when Leah is practicing her dances. I must say, Amber is catching on. I guess we will have another one in dance next year!!

 

We had a fun day over at Dan and Tiff’s house celebrating Delila’s 5^th birthday! The girls always enjoy spending time together!!

 

We are so happy that Spring is finally here as we have had a severe case of Cabin Fever over this very long Winter. So, it is not always warm around here yet, at least all of the snow has melted and we have had some great weather days with more to come (we hope)!!