Park pictures

Last week before we got dumped on it was alomst 65 degrees so Heather and I met at the park with the kiddos. I tried to take more pictures of Ethan since I hardly take any because he's in school. I told him that and so at EVERY piece of play equipment he wanted his picture taken, LOL.

Happy Half Birthday Abram!

Today marks the half way point of the terrible two's, only 6 more months to go, right? LOL In our family the kids get excited for their half birthday's and it's kinda fun to make it a big deal. Although Abram will get to celebrate his birthday during the school year with other classmates, we dont make it as big of a deal as we do with Ehtan, a summer birthday kiddo.
Abram, at 2.5 years old is...fully potty training, can sing many songs, says all the prayers in the family at every meal and at bed(NO one else is allowed to according to him, lol), gets into A LOT of trouble, can count, knows lots of colors but not what colors go with their name, kisses and loves his parents, is Ethan's best friend and enemy (brothers!) and is just a fun kid. He gives me a run for my money but I wouldn't trade him for nothing! I love every ounce of him!
Happy half birthday Abram!

Snow pics!!!

Here are some pictures of our lovely snow.

Our front walk way


My wheelbarrow and flower box


The drift on the neighbors garage


our backyard

Crocs, Chronicles of Narnia and SNOW!

~Yesterday I bought my first pair of Crocs, they are the chocolate Mary Janes...so cute and even better they were on clearance!
~Last night since we were pretty muched snowed in, we ordered pizza and watched the Chronicles of Narnia. Only Steven had seen it before so it was new to Ethan and I. It was AWESOME! I can't wait for the next one to come out in May! Ethan was in awe and believe it or not we didn't have to pause it for me to ask questions, LOL...Ethan and I did ask Steven a few questions but he'd say, "Just wait!" I'm glad I hadn't seen it 2.5 years ago or Abram might be Aslan, I LOVE that name but I would have spelled it Azlan and called him Az for short.
~And the SNOW! We have got about 18" already and it's suppose to snow until 1pm. Steven got up at 6:30am to snowblow us out so I could get to work(yes the bank is open today, GRRR!) and our blower died, he(the snowblower) told Steven he refuses to work this hard at the end of April. Thankfully he was able to get enough of it done behind my car so I could at least back out onto the unplowed street.
Can you see how bitter I am?!?!?
I'll update later with pictures, it's wicked out there.
Until then...

Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?!?

We are getting hit with SNOW! In the end of APRIL!!! We are expected to get 6-12" and wind, which means white out conditions, so not fun. I'm really sad as I was thinking spring was here...
Last weekend we grilled out, went to the park and my kiddos got some sun and now THIS?!?!?
I'm bitter! *shaking head*

Donuts for Dad

Yesterday at Ethan's school was "Donuts for Dad." Remember my "Muffins for Mom?" Same thing, but with the dads. Ethan got to make one of the same things about Steven as he did for me. He thinks Steven is 90 years old. His favorite thing to do is lay on the couch, (LOL!!! I haven't seen Steven lay on the couch since he was working two jobs and going to school FT, last year). His favorite thing to eat is EVERYTHING and what makes Steven special to Ethan is that they play vidoe games together. Steven said it was very cool to be apart of this special day.

He got to hold the A in father. A is for all the things you do for me.


There's a hole in the middle...


playing chef.

The other boy and HIS dog...

Goldy is really Ethan's dog, although Abram will tell you it's his.

He has been such a good companion to both boys although secretly he thinks he's MINE! He follows me everywhere, sits and my feet, by my chair at the table, computer, couch...he LOVES to be in the bathroom with me...LOL. I tried to tell him I dont really like animals and that he's NOT mine, but rather Ethan's and he just doesn't get it, silly dog.

I deserve...

"AUNTIE OF THE YEAR!"

My sister and her husband went out of town to a homeschool conference and left her FOUR girls with us. Now let me tell you, God gave me BOYS for a reason!!! Don't get me wrong I love my neices, but you see I am rotten at doing girls' hair and I DON'T DO BATHS either...well except for tonight. You see, I had to work today, ALL day from 10-5:45 so my wonderful husband watched all 6 kids. He decided after lunch to take them to my moms to play so he could take me out to lunch. While he was out to lunch with me, my mom thought it would be fun to let the kids play in the mud and then hose them off...well they were still dirty which meant baths were in order. Nice! I made 2 girls shower together, one older with one younger and then Ethan by himself and Steven with Abram. I got all 5 kids out, dressed and all the girl's hair combed and braided so it looks pretty tomorrow. I am SO proud of myself, I told my sister when she called I deserve an award! So here they are...all cleaned up and ready for bed! Abram wasn't bathed here yet, he decided to take a late nap at around 5, completely missed dinner and a bath with Ethan. All the kids got some serious sun today, I can't complain though they all look so darn cute and by golly we have waited for warm days for 8 stinkin' months!

Abram, Dani, Miranda, Kami, Madi, Ethan

Abram all tuckered out from the day before his bath.

Happy Birthday Madi!!!

Today is my neice's 7th birthday. Madi is her name and Ethan's BFF is her game, LOL! She and Ethan are the best of friends and it's just so fun to see them have such a fun (and sometmes get in trouble together) time. Tonight we went to Pizza Hut for dinner and had ice cream cake, then she and ALL her sisters (3 of them to be exact) got to spend the night and watch Snow Buddies. Happy Birthday Madi!!!

Sad morning

As we woke up this morning the boys asked, "Is it Thursday?" They know that Thursdays we get our dairy products delivered and they would be in our milk box outside our back door waiting. We hurried downstairs so the boys could each grab a few items to hand me through the torn screen, they love this Thursday morning ritual. As Ethan was closing the lid he handed me a letter that was inside the box. At first I thought it was our bill thinking Brian had left it early this month, instead to our sadden dissapointment the letter stated that "As of April 30, 2008 the dairy service will no longer be in service." My eyes welled up with tears.
For those that know me, first know I love food and better yet, food that is delivered to my door step in the wee early hours of the morning just waiting to be consumed. When we started our service with them Steven told me to blog about it and post a picture of our milk box. He was so excited to have a "milk man" and "milk box."
Second, you see it makes me sad to see a business close after many years of dedicated service to our community. Brian's dad started the dairy business in 1952 and Brian started the route when he was just 12. He dreamed of taking over the business and in 1986 had the opportunity. We met Brian at church. He and his family are the most wonderful people; kind, loving, generous and just all around incredible God loving and serving people. We have seen their children grow and it just saddens me to no end to see them have to close their business. The letter states that, "We have tried our hardest to keep the business going but with the ever increasing cost of milk and gas prices...we know that it is time to be done."
So with this being said, Brian and Lisa...we wish you all the best in the future and what God has planned for your lives. May you be blessed beyond meausre.

Look at my castle mom!

Usually while I shower Abram does naughty things like smear blueberry yogurt all over my house, or try to pour himself some Sunny Delight, or comb Goldy with MY comb, or squirt whip cream in his mouth and other places, or eat 42 Hershey Kisses and Rolo's and leave Easter colored foils all over the counter....but yesterday he was an angel! He built this castle and when I got out of the shower he exclaimed, "MOM, COME LOOK AT MY CASTLE!!!" I just knew it was going to involve cheese or some other form of food but I was wrong. He did indeed build this cool castle!

Abram's signature pose...

He loves to pose for pictures like this, cracks us up!

Quiet as a church mouse

Is what Abram is! Today we were just about to leave to pick Ethan up from school and my sister called so I sat down for 2 seconds to chat with her when I hear Abram say, "Look mom, my nail pawish!" At first I was like, "yeah ok, he got it to bring to me." Until I saw him....


Abram was so sad he missed that thumb nail, he begged me to let him polish it. I said NO WAY DUDE, it's coming off anyway...AFTER your daddy see's it, LOL!!!



He was so proud of his job well done without mom finding out until he was finished.


He actually didn't make a mess, I did. I ran into the bathroom to see the horible mess I was going to come upon and saw nothing! I picked up the bottle of MK Signature nail polish and the lid wasn't screwed on all the way and it fell and spilled in the drawer(now don't say a word about my drawer! For those that know me, know this is not how I keep things but living with 3 boys things aren't ALWAYS kept up to *my* standard), can you see those 2 little dots of it?

A boy and his dog

Are just so cute together. Goldy is such a good dog and friend to his boys and very protective. He'll bark at me if i'm discilping them or if anyone, especially another dog comes near them. Goldy is really Ethan's dog but Abram loves to taunt Ethan with "No, he's MY dog!!!" and all day when Ethan's at school he wants me to take pictures of him and Goldy, lol.

Snow pics!

And Al Gore believes in Global Warming...HA!
Steven's friend Joe called yesterday when Steven was outside snowblowing and asked what he was doing. I explained he was "trying" to snow blow but our snow blower was acting up and kept shutting down so Joe loaded up his blower and came down to help him. Now THAT'S an awesome friend! Thanks Joe!

Someone needs to have a talk with...

MOTHER NATURE!!!
It's April 6th and we got dumped on, at least 6" if not more! This bites. This morning when we woke up there was NO snow left in our yard, the rain last night washed it all away and then today at about noon it hit us. We knew it was coming but...it still bites to have to go through the thawing out process all over again.
Steven and the boys are outside snow blowing the driveway and walks. When Steven got home from work this afternoon he didn't quite make it up the driveway, instead his car is parked on our lawn, nice huh?!?! That's as far as he slid...hahaha.
I will upload some pictures of our dumping after a bit, until then...bundle up!

Happy Birthday Dad Steve

Today is my father in law's birthday. You see though, I have never met my father in law. He died of cancer 21 years and 7 days ago. I was never blessed with his company, wit or love but if he's anything like my husband, which we're told all the time, "You're just like your father was!" what an amazing man he was. It saddens me to know that he will never meet his grandchildren, his son in law or me but I couldn't be happier with the mother in law I do have. She is a tremendously strong woman who has fought hard to make her children's and grandchildren's life nothing less than wonderfully blessed! So, as we reflect today on his birthday I hope he knows how much he was loved and is missed!!! Happy Birthday Dad Steve!!!

These are a few of my favorite things...

1. caramel mochas
2. PB Twix candy bars
3. my Reef flip flops
4. my bed and pillow
5. SLEEP
6. four full seasons
7. the internet
8. SUNSHINE!!!
9. my wedding ring that was my grandmothers and my great grandmothers before her.
10. working at the bank

Now...my challenge to you, yes even your lurkers out there that read my blog but dont comment like Toni, Samantha, Rachel and Lexie is to sign up and get an account so you can leave me comments and tell me what some of YOUR favorite *things*.
(Not including your family or friends)

more park pictures

And yes, Abram is in his jammies...I told you...AT LEAST HE IS DRESSED!!!

Ethan on the digger.

Abram doing anything Ethan does.

Abram, he's such a ham.

Ethan's shadow

Ethan

Only in Minnesota

Do we get excited when hits 40 degrees. So what do we do...we head to the park, WHERE THERE IS STILL SNOW!!!

On our way...

Steven with his "why are you taking *my* picture?" look.

Abram

Ethan

Abram, check out his hair