Chop, Chop

For some reason, I'm struggling this year to get in to the Christmas spirit. This is very unlike me. I really wanted this Christmas season to be peaceful. It hasn't been hectic, but I just haven't accomplished things I wanted to in the time frame I had envisioned.

On Friday, we headed out around Perham, MN to chop down our Christmas tree. We've done this the past 4 or 5 years. It's a tradition now. This was Alex's 2nd year of getting to go. He was psyched! He's very outdoorsy and couldn't wait to wander in the woods. He's a little tree hugger...literally. Alex even picked the tree out. We decided we didn't care if he picked the ugliest tree ever. As long as we could get it in our car and in the living room, we'd cut it down. He did pretty well.

This is the one!

Helping Dad carry the tree! Riding home with the tree!

I finally got to start some baking this weekend, and we also went to Christmas party on Saturday night which was a lot of fun. I hope this was just what I needed to start relishing in the Christmas season.

keeping up!

As I write this, I'm debating on whether to continue blogging. I don't seem to be doing a very good job. However, I'd like to have a "journal" for the kids to read. I think I'll give myself until the New Year. If I can't be more diligent with the entries, I think I'll abandon the chronicles.

The biggest changes for us lately have been:
Aaron started whole milk and went strictly to table foods in Sept. He also ditched the pacifier and bottles this summer. He has been cruising the furniture and can stand alone. However, he shows no interest in venturing any further than that! Climbing the stairs is a lot of fun...hasn't quite figured out going down. Alex has tried "helping" him. :) Unlike his big brother, Aaron is a big eater. He also loves initiating games : peekaboo and this noise game we play (not sure how to describe it.)

Alex is EXTREMELY observant which has caused many discussions which I didn't think I'd be having until he was 13! He's a typical 3 year old. Tons of fun and infuriating all at the same time. He loved the garden this year. Too bad, he wouldn't eat anything out of it!

We plan on taking the boys to the pumpkin patch this weekend. This will be a good opportunity to get me back into the blogging world.

Lazy Days of Summer???

I've never really understood the lazy part. I've yet to have a summer where all I do is lounge around in the sun sipping lemonade. As far as I know, the start of summer doesn't magically stop dust from collecting or keep the the toilets sparkling.

Here's what's been happening on our end:

We celebrated Alex's 3rd birthday the end of May. He requested a Mickey Mouse cake. I quickly found that the cake pans that are supposed to outline the designs are anything but easy. Thankfully I was able to free-hand most of the design. My aunt was able to fly up for Alex's birthday and meet Aaron for the first time. We don't get to see my family too often. It's always bittersweet when they come to visit.

June's big event was-- Aaron decided to crawl.

July was very eventful:

Alex and Aaron got to meet the M&M's from WY and see Grandpa Bede and Grandma Rose. He's yet to stop talking about his cousins.

My aunt and uncle from AR came up.

We went to the fair. Alex LOVED feeding the animals. He was disappointed he couldn't pet a turkey!?

I turned 30 on the 11th. It's something I had been dreading for over a year. I'm not really sure why. I guess I figured I'd no longer be able to relate to young people. 29 sounds so much younger than 30. Paul made the transition very easy for me. On Friday he brought home chippers and a chocolate rose. Saturday morning he gave me a really cool necklace. On Saturday night he surprised me with dinner and play. I knew something was going on that night, but I didn't know the specifics. Nancy and Todd were at Toscana to surprise me. It was pretty neat. Then they treated me to dessert. You should have seen us eat our way through over $4o worth of dessert....yum, yum. Sunday was my actual b-day. I woke up to a fresh chocolate chip pancakes and a mocha. The boys got me an MP3 player and arm band for the gym. I was finally able to get rid of my junky radio that didn't work most of the time! That days we smoked ribs. Monday came and it was like the day after Christmas. I guess I'll have to wait until my 40th for another b-day celebration like that....AHHHH.

Towards the end of July we headed out to MN to pick wild blueberries and raspberries. It was so peaceful. We even stayed out through a pretty strong t-storm. We ended up with a bountiful harvest and fairly tick free.

I'm pretty sure August will be just as busy. Maybe some day I'll find those lazy days.

weak stomach??...don't read!

I debated on whether or not I should post this. However, reflecting on the moment, I decided that this must be archived!

Most of the time I get to do very little in the garden. Someone is either sleeping, eating or I don't take the time to get every coated in bug repellent. Tonight I decided that even with the mosquitoes being nasty, I would lather everyone up and we'd all go outside to pick veggies. As Aaron is getting more mobile, I worry about him launching himself over the edge of the wagon. I decided to spread out our picnic blanket instead. This usually works well because he isn't a fan of the grass just yet. We were happily pulling carrots and conptemplating picking the beans when I heard, "Ack! Ack!" I looked back and noticed something in front of him on the blanket. I thought Alex had put something in front of him, and he was chewing on it. I scurried over only to be completely mortified. My sweet baby was playing/eating dog poop!!! I thought I was going to barf. I quietly but sternly yelled, "Paul, Paul get over here!" Laid back Paul didn't move too quickly but there was no way I was yelling, "Get over here. Aaron's eating dog shit!" for the whole neighborhood to hear. Paul picked him up and hauled him in. We quickly got him cleaned up. He's now squeaky clean! We think Gus is to blame.

What a day!

Garden Party

This weekend Fargo Parks put on a garden party at Rheault Farm. Alex was very excited and kept saying he was going to the party garden. Not quite!

It turned out to be really neat. Each kid was given a passport to be stamped at each station. The zoo from Wahpeton was there. They had a tortoise just wandering around for kids to touch, a big python, a ferret and a vulture (not for petting). There was a station to plant flowers seeds for the kids to take home, a plant walk (Alex won a flower pack), bug hunt, smell and feel plants, 3 crafts, the bug man (didn't get to see his table) and face painting. Plus, they provided free snacks. Alex really enjoys smelling flowers, so this was a blast for him. When we are at the grocery store it isn't the candy or cookie aisle we have to drag him away from, but the floral department!

Sunday morning we were greeted by our annual visitors. The mallard ducks are back! They were in the front yard this time. Usually they meander about the back. This is the 3rd year we've had ducks. I guess it's the female returning, but I'm going to check with my buddy, Mike, in fish and wildlife to see if that's correct. I remember that ducks are monogamous for a season, so that's why I think it's the same female. I hope to see them more through the summer!

..that's what we've been up to!

It's been a rocky month or so. Alex is having some issues with being a sibling. I thought this sort of acting out would have happened back 5 months ago. It seems like we've regressed. I think it could be a combination of many things, but he is really struggling to gain independence. I'm more than happy to let him spread his wings, but he gets a little to big for his britches. I try to give him little decisions to make like what to wear, lunch choice, he gets to help with chores and dinner (this might seem nice but it makes these tasks take way longer) and such. Our biggest obstacle has been revenge. He has decided that if he's mad about something like having a time out or not being able to watch tv, for example, then he will pee in the floor. It's by no means an accident....just an "I'll show you!" It's pure craziness! I've tried every solution I can think of. It's slowly getting better, but it's not solved.

Yesterday was another one my worst mom of the year moments. Usually we keep the gates to the fence chained and locked due to them mysteriously opening. We think it's the little neighbor girl. Anyway, we are getting a sprinkler system put in, so we've left the gate unlocked because there are people coming everyday to mark with flags. Well, yesterday afternoon the doorbell was going crazy and the neighbor tells me that the dogs are running around and headed for the main street! I had to think fast. They may be bassets, but I had no idea how long they had been out. So I decided that it would take too long to put Aaron in his seat and Alex in his seat. I chose to put Aaron in the crib and take Alex with me. Also, Alex had no pants on...a totally different story involving chaffing. I barely turned around the block and saw the dogs. I breathed a sigh of relief, got them in the car, and drove back around the block. I wasn't even gone 3 minutes. So I close the gate and unload everyone. I go to open the door to the house...hmm..it's LOCKED! Ok, we've got an extra key...no big deal. Our door knob isn't one I'd suggest on buying. This happens all the time. Well, there's no extra key. Panic is now setting in. So, I go over to the crazy neighbors house with my pant less kiddo and ask to use the phone. I explain that the baby is locked in the house. They start chattering whatever language they speak, and I knew it was in astonishment. I wanted to tell them not to judge me since they let their 4-5 year old drive cars and never have put her in a car seat. I finally get a hold of Paul and he tries to tell me that there is a key and what it looks like...blah, blah, blah....as if I know none of this. I hang up on him and go back thinking maybe I totally over looked this stupid key. Nope! I haul Alex back over to the crazy house and use the phone again. Thankfully Paul was smart enough to get his hind end in the car and head home! Of course, we know what really happened to the gate. It wasn't the wind like the neighbors claimed. It was helluva windy day, but it doesn't lift the gate thingy, swing against that strong of wind, and lower the gate thingy back down.

Chocolate & Storms

Two of my favorite things and also words that come to mind when I look at my boy's eyes.

Alex: eyes like chocolate. Not deep like dark chocolate but more like creamy milk chocolate.

Aaron: sometimes bright and blue and other times blue/grey... just like storm clouds rolling in on a summer's eve.

I don't know if either will retain these beautiful colors, but, for now, I'll enjoy each moment of them.