Monday, March 11, 2013

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


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

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

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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 2nd 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!!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas in a flash!



Christmas Season has come and gone! It always seems to be anticipated for so long, and then is over in a flash! The girls both enjoyed having “Ralph” their Elf visit for the month of December. Finding Ralph was the first thing that needed to be done upon waking up! Amber loved learning all the favorite Christmas Carols and found a new favorite book, “The Night Before Christmas.” And, even though Christmas is over, we still are reading “The Night Before Christmas” and we have to sing “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” every night before bed!!

12/13/12: Leah’s 2nd grade program. This was a big deal! Leah’s school is K-2, and only the 2nd graders do a program. This is something that they are looking forward to doing from the time they are in Kindergarten! Leah was especially excited as she was chosen to play the part of the Grandma in her class’ song, “Grandma’s Chicken Soup.” She was so excited, she practiced her songs all of the time. During the program, she sang every word! She did so well. The program was very nice. I was very impressed how the kid’s did, they definitely worked hard to do well!

12/14/12: Joe and I got all dress up for his work’s holiday party. It was held at Tria Restaurant. We had a great time!

12/20/12: Grandpa Shorty came from Michigan to spend Christmas with us. The girls were so excited to see him. Amber did need some time to warm up, but it didn’t take long!

12/21/12: The girls both got a message from Santa!! It turns out both of them are on the Nice List. Way to go girls!!

12/22/12: Dance Dynamics Holiday Recital! Leah always is excited to perform and today was no different. She was even more excited as all of her grandparents were there to watch her!

12/22/12: Joshua’s first birthday (our Godson). Wow, hard to believe my little buddy is already 1! He is so darn precious. Unfortunately, he wasn’t feeling so great on his first birthday, turns out he had double ear infections. Poor little guy. I did get to snuggle him, though, so that was a bonus for me!

12/24/12: We hosted Christmas Eve for Joe’s side of the family. We had a total of 24 people! We had some issues with desserts that wanted to fall to the ground (Aunt Karen and Grama Mary both dropped a cake), but other than that it was a pretty smooth event, and I think most had a good time, at least I hope they did. Amber was really into the opening of presents this year. In fact, I don’t know if she really looked at what she was opening as she just wanted to move on to the next present to rip the paper off! Both girls were excited to get their Dream Lite Pillow Pets from Grama Mary!! They were given so many nice gifts. Everyone was so very generous and thoughtful! Our girls are so loved and blessed. It makes me so very happy! I got an underwater camera which will certainly come in handy for our Cruise in March! Thanks Joe!! Oh, and Miss Amber had such an adorable new red dress, but she refused to wear it. Apparently it was itchy! So, luckily we had another dress she could wear! Oh, she is so very stubborn!!

A fun memory: Everyone stayed late on Christmas Eve- which is great, because that means they were having a great time! We tried to get Amber to put on her PJs, but she just kept saying "I don't go to bed." So, around 10:30, Joe said, "well, if you don't put on your PJs, then Santa can't come." To which Amber slid off the couch, looked at her cousin and said, "I go put on my jammies now." Oh, love it.

12/25/12:
Santa Came!  The first thing Amber said when she got up, "Santa come?" Leah was up first, and she sat patiently next to her bundle playing her DS until the rest of us got up!! Amber was super excited as Santa brought what she had asked for – Tootsie rolls, suckers, and candy canes! Yes, it is pretty obvious that she has a sweet tooth!!  Santa also brought a new pillow pet for both girls. Also, they each got some nice, warm blankets to cuddle with, clothes and games.

After Church, we went to Nonna and Grandpa’s house to continue the festivities. We did our traditional Ravioli making which makes for such a yummy dinner. The girls participated some, but more to play with flour than to help make ravioli! We opened presents throughout the day. More clothes, games and toys for the girls! Leah scores a Nook Tablet from my parents which she has been playing nonstop since we had a chance to put some books and apps on it! I got a new Sony Cyber Shot camera with a 20x zoom which is so nice. I have been enjoying using it already! My parents are so very generous at Christmas (an always really), and I can’t thank them enough for all they do for us! Thanks mom and dad!!

12/26/12: The girls, Joe and Grandpa Shorty stayed home while Mommy had to work! The girls spent the afternoon at Nonna’s house making sugar cookies with Tiffanie, Thea and Delila while the boys went to lunch. It sounds like they had a lot of fun! The evening was spent enjoying some time with Grandpa Shorty as he had to leave the next day! Amber is still asking where he is as she thinks that he is still here! Both girls so did enjoy having him here and it was so nice that he was able to stay for a week. 
She was so worn out from the activites of the last few days, she slept like this for and hour - coat still on!
So, we took off Amber booster seat when we had company, and realized that she really doesn't need it anymore!!

12/29/12: We went to get Amber’s haircut, then Leah also got one while we were there. Amber got a super cute bob which was much needed as she does not like having her hair combed and she really has only had one trim in her life! She was very serious during most of the haircut, I think she was unsure of what was happening!! Leah got 2 hair pieces- pink and purple- yes, such a girly girl she is!!