Surviving SPRINter

I am finally back to blogging as I figured out how to load pictures, which wasn't working for a few months! Now, where to I begin. It's been a while!

Well, we are surviving SPRINter in Minnesota! SPRINter is new term they are using to describe what normally is Spring but yes, this year it feels more like winter in April. We had a couple of really  nice days and people instantly came out of the woodwork to take walks or ride bikes. It's amazing how long we go without seeing people out and about and the first nice days, everyone comes out of hiding. I am sure we have plenty of chilly days to come this month so I won't get excited. It is only April, which means up and down weather of course. 

We have been keeping busy the past few months. The boys are growing by leaps and bounds. I don't even know where to begin. I took them to Disney On Ice one night which they loved. It was fun to watch them sprint through the sky-ways just getting to the Target Center. :) We also had a fun time celebrating St. Patrick's Day- the boys woke up to green pee in the toilet and the same little leprechaun made a mess all over the kitchen. What a crazy guy that leprechaun. The boys also helped me hand out candy at the senior party that morning at the YMCA which they loved. They got to wear their fun St. Pat's outfits. Joe and I went out that weekend and didn't quite have green beer, but stopped at an Irish Pub for some drinks and live music with friends.  

This season in particular it seems as if the boys are growing up faster than ever. Liam is a big boy bed, cruises along on his bike and is potty-trained (for the most part). Woo-hoo! Braden can write his name, and just earned his "blue" wristband at the Y so he can swim in the kid-pool up to his chest without us right next to him. This is huge because if I ever take them swimming by myself there's no way I can stay with both of them as they are crazy in the pool and try to swim off.

This summer will be loads of fun watching these two run around. On the two couple of nice days they barely came in for lunch and were outside biking, collecting bugs, playing baseball, golf, frisbee, football and the list goes on. Braden will play soccer and T-ball this summer. Liam is only a couple months short of being able to play the littlest sports league, so we will have to wait until next year. He reminds me daily that he is "two-and-a-half" though and is a big boy! They are playing soccer on Friday mornings at the Y while I work and soon basketball starts. They are getting plenty of running around time on colder days and of course outside on  the nice days.

I am keeping very busy at the Y both with classes and gaining a lot of new clients. It's an exciting and fun time. Joe is also busy at work with some travel in there too. We are making time for our annual trip up north for our anniversary soon as a family and the boys cannot wait. Each year of travel and outings gets a bit easier and more fun. They keep us on our toes and constantly are in amazement at the things they say and do! Easter is upon us, they are pumped for the Easter bunny. I am running a 10k over the weekend and hope to break  some new records of my own- ha, not really. I have been training all winter, so it will just be nice to get outside and let the shoes cruise around the lakes instead of the treadmill.

Disney On Ice

My Little Leprachauns

Warm Day Outside= happy boys!

Puddle jumping!

Holiday Fun!

 The tree is up!

 Downtown at Macy's display

 

Liam loving the giant Target dog at Dad's work

 Date night:  Cross Country Skiing

Mom and Braden date: Giant pizza and Disney on Ice

 

Christmas Eve 2013

 

We sure kept busy this month, packing in all the holiday festivities and activities we could. We got the tree up right after Thanksgiving and set up all the holiday décor. I took the boys downtown Minneapolis to see the Macy's Christmas display and visit Joe at work. Braden and I got to see Disney on Ice one Sunday afternoon. We had the Johnson cousins over for a sleepover. We got in the van one night in our PJs and had hot cocoa and popcorn and drove around to see Christmas lights. We snowmobiled in the field behind our house. We went sledding. Joe and I dropped the boys off at the YMCA for Parent's Night Out and we went Cross Country Skiing in the woods on the lit up trails during a nice snowfall. (Next time, we will remember to wax the skis that have been sitting around for 20 years.) We spent Christmas Eve with the Sullivans and had a quiet day home on Christmas Day. We went to the movie Frozen on Christmas night and out to dinner (breaking out of the traditional Christmas norm). Post Christmas, Joe had a sleepover with the boys in the living room and took them to SkyZone for some jumping during his time off. Phew, did all that really happen in just one month? That wasn't even the normal day-to-day stuff like work, preschool, etc.. :)

Now we  are getting ready for a smaller Hammond celebration this weekend and then New Year's with some friends next week. What a busy and fun month! I have taught a bunch of classes to keep people moving all through the month. Joe has logged in lots of hours in his new job, in hopes that he is getting the hang of his new gig now. We are super blessed to be surrounded by good health, love, family, friends and happiness this holiday season. We also made new memories and kept old traditions going. This holiday season is a memorable one for us. The boys are a little bit older and can appreciate all the excitement and magic of Christmas. We have enjoyed watching them get involved in decorating, and just showing excitement for each and every holiday outing or activity.

We hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and that your New Year is filled with happiness, good health, and so many blessings for you and your families.

Circus Circus

A couple of weeks ago, the Personal Trainers at the Woodbury YMCA had our Holiday outing. Once I heard "Trapeze" as the theme of the outing, I knew I had to attend. I looked at the website that was sent to us and quickly glanced over the details. It sounded fun, adventurous and something I probably wouldn't do on my own (without a little nudging anyway).

Little did I know that I would be coached into a series of trapeze swings that would end with this as my grand finale! And boy, was it up a lot higher than I thought it would be. :) I accomplished some fears that night for sure! It was scary at first, but amazingly awesome and fun. What an adrenaline rush! This place is right in St. Paul if you want to try it out! It's called Twin Cities Trapeze.

 

 

Here's a picture of the stairs to get up to the "small" platform. :)

 

A picture of my entire Trapeze team that night.

 

Braden John: 4 years + 1 month & 4 years + 2 months

Braden is just a bit over four, but somedays I think he is about 10. He catches things that I miss, he remembers names really well (unlike me) and he also corrects me if I get a minor detail wrong. Sounds just like someone else in our household, hmmmm. :)

The best things about Braden (if I had to narrow it down) are the following: He has a pretty laid-back demeanor but likes to stay busy, he is always up for anything, he is easily excited about little things (I hope this lasts a bit longer), he listens fairly well, he doesn't typically put up a fight if he is mad about something (less tantrums for me and just a "oh man" instead). I also like that he likes to be challenged, choosing the seek-n-find books everynight for his bedtime book. I also love how he gets a big smile on his face when he is proud of himself - like when he writes his name right.

Even though Braden and Liam are now into a lot of the same things, Braden is a good big brother showing his little brother how to do things or helping him (and me) out. Of course there is plenty of fighting, but I am sure it's hard to have someone smaller taking all of your stuff. I laugh when I find "secret" stashes of toys around the house. The big milestone as of late, is Braden moved into n official big boy bed- a step up from his "little boy bed" (crib with the rails off). He now sleeps in a twin bed and looks like a tiny little boy. I prefer him this way than hanging off the crib size mattress! :)

Braden attends pre-school two days a week and loves it. He will have one more year of pre-school since he has a fall birthday and has to wait another year for Kindegarten. I hope to keep him challenged and busy that last year! Right now it's a bit hard when we have to be home for Liam's naps. I can't blame him as I like to be out and running around a lot too. Hopefully this winter I can keep him moving and busy despite the cold! (May not be a problem as you can see in the shoveling pic above).

We are super excited for Christmas this year. Braden is already picking out things he wants and he actually listens to me when I tell him that Santa is watching so we must be good! We love watching Braden grow and learn each month, he is slowly becoming a little man - one that makes us so proud to call our own.