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)!!

Cruise in Review

·         Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

·         Fort Lauderdale, FL : Philipsburg, St. Maarten : Basseterre, St. Kitts : San Juan, PR : Labadee, Haiti

·         16 friends from all of the USA along with quality time together as a couple

·         8 days/nights

·         Ocean View Room

·         Thousands of photos (photo award to Jenny Benz)

·         St. Maarten Maho Beach (by the airport)

·         Hard Rock Cafe

·         Dancing

·         Adult beverage consumption

·         St. Kitts Catamaran Sail and Snorkel

·         Monkeys in St. Kitts

·         Pool time

·         Harlem Shake

·         Labadee Jet Ski Tour

·         SANDBAR Island ADULT getaway

·         Shopping

·         Sorrento’s Pizza

·         2 formal nights

·         Joe’s All Access Tour

·         SUN, SUN and more SUN

·         Labadoozies

·         Quest Champions

·         Video Scavenger Hunt Champions: #icantbelieveweallfitinhere

·         Robe time

·         Raj: Always there for us when it was time for a drink

·         Santana and Angelie- Dining Room

·         “I am thankful for…” everynight at dinner

All About Amber, Age 3

*She is loveable and sweet
*She is stubborn and strong
*She is independent
*She loves to take baths, but hates to have her hair washed
*She loves her big sister and wants to be with her, always!
*She has to pick out her own clothes (Clothes- 4T, shoes - 10)!
*She has a new bedtime book: "The Great Train Ride."
*She still loves her white blanket
*She knows her colors, basic shapes, alphabet, and can almost count to 20
*She has great speaking skills
*She is extremely social and will start conversations with anyone
*She is doing gymnastics class at daycare
*She just finished her first session of skating lessons and can skate (slowly) on her own
*She will start swimming lessons in March
*She is very active, she does not like to sit still!
*She always wants the t.v. on, but she doesn't sit and watch t.v
*She loves her sweets
*She loves to be tickled (and we love to tickle her because a child's laughter is such a great sound)
*I call her baby still! 

Amber's Age 3 interview

Name? Amber     

Age? 2 (really 3, but you are still saying 2)

School? Krayola Kids

Grade? Pre 1

Favorite thing to do at daycare? Sing

What is your favorite color? Pink

What is your favorite song? Jingle Bells

What is your favorite food? Hamburger

What is your favorite thing to do at home? Watch t.v

What is your favorite animal? Giraffe

Why do you like giraffes? Cuz I want giraffes at our house

What is your favorite number? 2

What is your favorite book? The Big Big Train Ride (The Great Train Ride)

Hugs or kisses? Both

What is your favorite movie? Santa Paws

Who do you like to play with? Ella

All About Leah, age 8

Hard to believe she is already 8. She started out so very small and fragile, and now she is tween! Wow, how fast the time as gone. I love the person she is becoming. She is loving, caring, empathic, and giving. She is a good friend and she is kind. Don't get me wrong, she also can whine a throw a fit, but I think her good qualities really show who she is becoming!!

For her birthday this year, she told me that she didn't want presents because she already had enough stuff and she wanted to something for people who don't have stuff. So, I helped her find an organization and Leah collected donations instead of gifts (yes, she did get some gifts) for her birthday. She donated 10 boxed of personal hygiene items to New Pathways in Cambridge, MN (an organization that helps homeless families)! We are so very proud of her! What an amazing thing for an 8 year old to do!!
 
Leah is very active. If we would let her, she would do something every night, but we try to keep her activities to 2 nights each week. This year she is doing dance and gymnastics weekly. She has also done cheerleading and ice skating lessons. She will be starting swimming lessons in March. She loves being busy.

She continues to be an awesome big sister, but she is starting to get annoyed by the fact that Amber wants to be with her all of the time!! 

She works hard in school and is right where she should be in academics. She seems to do best in spelling and math. She does like to read, but she still struggles with comprehension.

Oh, and she got her ears pieced this month!  A very exciting event for a young girl. She is now anxious to take the starter earrings out, so she can start to wear some of the earrings she has already collected!

Leah's 8 year Interview:

Name? Leah

Age? 8

School? Isanti Primary 

Grade? 2

Favorite thing to do at school? Play outside

What is your favorite color? Purple

What is your favorite song? We are Never, Ever Getting Back Together

What is your favorite thing to do? Color

What is your favorite food? Waffles

Where is your favorite place to go? Cabin

What is your favorite sport? Gymnastics

What is your favorite thing to do at home? Watch t.v

What is your favorite animal? Lion

Why do you like lions? Because I like the babies

What is your favorite letter? L

What is your favorite number? 100

What is your favorite day of the week? Thursday

Would you rather color a picture or read a book? color

What is your favorite book? Junie B. Jones

Hugs or kisses? kisses

What is your favorite movie? Tangled

What is your favorite time of the year? Summer

Who do you like to play with? Haley, Kylie, Kaylee, Thea, Delila, Michael

What is your favorite restaurant? McDonald's

What is your favorite game? Connect 4 Launchers

Who is your favorite singer? Taylor Swift

What is your favorite memory of the last year? Fishing at the Cabin

What do you want to be when you grow up? Teacher

Oh, January!

January, January, January. Oh, January was a fun and troubling month! We had a fun trip to the Mall of America to start out the month, the girls are both having fun with skating lesson, we had Leah’s first Reconciliation, Brunswick Zone, and Pump it Up. But, then there was influenza (Joe, Leah, and Amber), sinus infection (Andrea) and fractured fibula (Andrea) to add some spice to the month!

The girls had a trip to the Mall of America on 1/5/13! My mom, mom-in-law Mary, Leah, Amber, my sis in law Tiff, Thea, Delila, Jamie and Myself all went to the Mall for lunch at the American Girl Store where each girl got to have their doll’s hair done (Amber’s bitty baby got a bath)! Well, and we can’t go to the Mall of America without a visit to Nickelodeon Universe and Lego Land!! The girls had such a fun day with their cousins and grandmas and aunties!! Amber really came out with a bonus – she got bitty baby twins who she named Andrea (AWWW) and Rachel (one of her daycare teachers who she absolutely adores)!

Leah had her First Reconciliation at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Oak Grove, MN on 1/12/13! She is growing up.

 Skating is going so well for both girls. I, on the other hand, did not have a good time on skates! Leah and I were at open skate when I lost my concentration and fell on a twisted ankle. The fall caused 2 fractures in my fibula (which I didn’t go in for until 3 days later – oops)! Leah just loves to skate! She is trying to take in everything at her lesson, but there is so much going on, and she is an easily distracted girl!! Amber is doing well also. We were signed up for a beginner parent and child class, however, we had only had one class before I hurt myself. Nonna filled in at the 2^nd lesson, and Amber skated on her own for the first time today!!

It was a day off for the entire family on Monday 1/21, so we decided to take the girls bowling. It might not have been the best timing – afternoon with no nap for Amber! They really had a great time, but we did have quite a melt down from Amber when it was time to leave.

 That night, the girls and I met Sara, Michael and Joshua for some jumping fun at Pump it Up for Michael, Leah and Amber! They had so much fun. 

SISTER LOVE!!