Holiday Season!

Who doesn’t love all the build up to Christmas??!!  This year with Thanksgiving being some late I feel like we have been running around like mad to squeeze everything in.  We are finally en route to spend the holiday in NC so I thought I’d post a few photos of our holiday happenings.  

Everyone helped get our decorations up over Thanksgiving weekend.  I love having the tree up so I don’t ever take it down right away.

Zach did a great job in his school music performance!  We found out that he never does any of the hand motions that go with the songs.  He thinks it’s too much to focus on.

Hazel finally had her first haircut and she said it didn’t hurt one bit.  I think she was nervous about the scissors.

Rich and I were proud parents as we got to watch Hazel (and her best friend James) be a Star in the preschool Nativity play.  She’s the best star I’ve ever seen!  When I asked her beforehand what she would have to do to be a star she told me “be very still and very very quiet”.  Ha!  She actually sang all the songs too.








And a couple of days ago we hit the light display at the Botanic Gardens with some friends.  










We’ve had a lot of fun but we are excited to have a few days away.  If you are reading this from the southeast we hope to see you over the holiday!  Merry Christmas!

NINE!!

What were you doing 9 years ago?  Rich and I had just become parents and were freaking out over every little sound our newborn was making.  Seriously....some of those sounds were scary when we were trying to sleep yet didn’t know a little baby could make so many strange noises.  Needless to say we figured out how to survive.   We blinked and now Zach is 9!!

Zach has become such a great boy.  He is quite smart and loves math and reading in both English and Spanish.  Baseball, soccer, swimming and scouts often fill up his time but he really excels on the swim team.  He loves Harry Potter, Pokémon cards, tacos and his friends.  We hosted his first birthday sleepover last weekend and while there was very little sleep to be had, I think all four of the boys had a blast.

I couldn’t be happier that this boy was the one that made me a mom.  Now, how much longer will he actually think I’m cool enough to hang around?

Oh how he’s grown!

Gunnar seems thrilled with Zach in this one.



Happy 9th Birthday Zach!


Proud parent moment.....Zach's first swim meet.  (This video won't play in the email preview so you will have to go to the actual blog to view).  Zach is in lane 1 at the "top" of the pool.

Happy Halloween and a Couple Other Things

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN from our Harry Potter, Raptor, and Dragon!  And yes.....it snowed today.

 A couple other October updates...

Scouts is in full swing and Rich has taken on the Cubmaster duties.


Zach broke his thumb playing baseball.  He took a fast pitch right to his top knuckle.  ouch!


The team still won their bottom bracket championship game.


And the team gave Zach a signed ball since he broke his thumb in the playoff game.


The boys are in ice skating lessons because God knows I can’t help them.  After Rich tried to help them at a ice skating party Gunnar decided he would like a lesson.  Great idea!


Got to see Elton John in concert!


Zach and his buddy Gael went to the NU vs Iow game with Rich.  I think they were wet and cold but had a lot of fun.


We had an afternoon of fall fun....




And I had some great seats for a Carrie Underwood concert.  


Busy month!  

Time Doesn’t Slow Down Does It?

School is in full swing and so are kid activities.  September flew by and had us trying to learn how to juggle all the work, life and kid schedules.  We seem to be doing more than ever so the timing and handoffs took some getting used to.  We managed to get in one last day at the pool and then jumped right into soccer, swim lessons, gymnastics, baseball and Cub Scouts.  Yep....all of those things.  Our Saturday mornings consist of 4 different activities within 4 hours.  It’s hectic but it’s fun!

And on to sports.....

Had our annual block party and wore out our little diva boys.  Ha!


Cow or Kiss band member?






Hazel has a big month!  She earned her mermaid for getting full on potty trained and no more accidents.  Plus she had her first trip to the dentist.  She’s getting big and sassy!

And as of today, we can now play basketball at home!  I’m not sure who is more excited....me or Zach?