while mom's away, the kids play!

Eden & I had a great trip to see my family. E did awesome on the airplanes, praise God.

After one flight, someone in front of us stood up & said, I didn't even know there was a baby on this flight!

That is what I like to hear!

I have found with a small child that my favorite spot to sit is in the very last row, on the aisle. It's loudest back there, you bother the least amount of people, and you can easily stand in the galley & rock them if needed.

Thankfully, when people see a baby they avoid sitting by you at.all.costs. :)

So we had an empty middle seat for all 4 of our flights! I will say it's exhausting though! Keeping little one entertained when her attention span is appr. 30 seconds makes for a lot of juggling. And unfotunately, she was not interested in sleeping! My arms were so sore after holding her for about 4 hours straight!

But all in all, I couldn't be more thankful for smooth travel.

In the airport in Minne

It was fun to spend the weekend with just my girl! 

I am so thankful to Andrew for allowing me to go!

 It was his first weekend by himself with Graham, and he was a great superdad!

Also, very thankful that his job allows him to work from home when needed, so we only needed to impose on our neighbor for one morning of childcare.

We had a great snow, so they were thrilled to spend some sled time!

Andrew's makeshift firepit (also doubles as a grill). :)  

 Sledding with his friend Avalon!

 haircut 

 Fun Fore All is a fun family center with tons to do.

This is a 4-story sets of tunnels & mazes with big guns that shoot nerf balls.

Basically a boy's dream. :) 

 Must be nap time. :)

 Popcorn & movie night

"mall park" as we call them

 

hanging out at IKEA, what? you went there without me?! 

And Andrew admitted....he snapped this picture because G DID wear this sweatshirt for 3 straight days. :)

So all in all, they had a FUN boys weekend!

Graham did have a couple of nights where he was having a hard time with missing me.

I talked to him on the phone one day and he asked me when I was going to come back to earth.

Apparently he had this vision that we were circling in an airplane all weekend.

He asked Andrew if they should bring rope to the airport to help us get down from the plane.

I can see how that would make sense in his little head. :)

And the moment of being reunited......................

oh my.

it was seriously a chariots of fire moment.

How we wished we had it on video.

He spotted me a ways down in the airport. He had a bouquet of flowers in one hand and was running as fast as he could, weaving in & out of people, shouting mom, mom, with the hugest smile on his face. He leaped into my arms & gave me the hugest bear hug ever.

That child knows how to be a welcome committee!

 Probably will be one of my sweetest memories.

I've never had so many hugs & I love you's the rest of the night!

So it's very good to be home.

From Super Grover to the flu + more

Through the Momtourage, we were able to see Sesame Street Live last week.

Let's just say there were a LOT of celebrity-crazed toddlers there. :)

Graham loved it.

Planning, planning............

Graham loves red.

His latest red craze is to color a picture solid red.

He thinks it's the greatest thing!

He was describing to me each part that he was coloring, then he said he was coloring the underwear red....I thought huh???? Well, yep, I guess that is like underwear. :)

I did not do a lot of holiday baking.

Kudos to those with 10 children that still manage to turn out 30 dozen cookies during the holidays.

Anyone??? ok, maybe not. :)

But I did find these 2 tasty and EASY treats that were big hits to several gatherings that we attended.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

A peanutbutter ball, sandwiched between 2 pretzels, dipped in chocolate.

Yes, I'll take 1.........or 5. =)

Holiday Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows

These were also very popular, much more tasty that I was envisioning. If you like the mint/chocolate combo, these are the best. Marshmallows dipped in chocolate, sprinked with crushed candy cane. Loved them.  

Where was I at 6am this morning?

That would be the grocery store picking up some items to help settle a very sick hubby's stomach. He (we) were up half the night. It was not good.

Praying he feels better soon.

Especially since Eden & I are leaving on a jet place on Wednesday, heading to see my family! Our flight leaves at 5:30 pm, we have a  4 hour plane ride, followed by a 4 hour car ride. You do the math...it will be one late night!! Appreciate much prayers, especially for a certain little girl on a loooooooong flight. Oh boy, I hope we have friendly fellow travelers!

Speaking of little girl, she is a climb-er. Let the fun begin!

11.

Slightly belated as I've been trying to get this done all week...but...ya know that's how life is.

*

We do have an official walker on own hands!

She is still using crawling as her primary way of getting around. But she is getting braver and every day she's venturing a little more on her own!

When she goes from a sitting position to standing, she discovered how to do this little pose.

Downward-bending dog? =)

She loves to drink from big cups (that are conveniently empty).

Her brother is very sweet to her. He is SO excited that she is finally getting big enough to play with him. Of course, she's more interested in playing on her own and isn't always a willing a participant. :)

She loves to walk holding things.

Which usually puts her off balance, especially when she insists on carrying items that are almost as big as her!

Her new favorite thing is handing us items. Sometimes she will pick up my hand and put something in it. She loves to wave bye-bye.

She babbles mama & dada, but I don't know if I can be sure that she knows what she's saying. 

I can still pretend, can't I?

And oh yes, she does not like it when mommy walks away (i.e. church  nursery or friend's house!)

She's giving us lots of cuddles and gives squeezes around the neck.

Doesn't get much sweeter than that.

Steeler girl!

Graham likes to hold her by the hand and drag help her along.

She's not quite up to his speed yet. :)

And yes, we are mourning a tough Steeler loss and the end of a season!

 A cozy new blanket for Christmas!

Everywhere we go people comment on

what a happy, smiley baby she is.

Thankful for this sweet girl!

Less than a month until the double birthday bash!

Because I conveniently birthed my children 7 days apart. =)

*

But don't let me forget that a certain *someone* is turning thir-tay only 5 days before that.

*

Yep, there's going to be a lot of partying around here over the next few weeks.

As Graham says, Let's have cake!

fun in the snow (for some of us).

I'll admit.....I hate the cold. And carting around kiddos and all the layers is not my idea of fun.

However, I do love snow. It's probably my Minnesota upbringing, but when there's a good snowfall I can't wait to bundle up and head out!

My daughter does not yet share my joy.

Literally she cried for about 20 straight minutes over just being put in her snowpants while I was getting us all ready. Oh.the.drama. :)

Graham, on the other hand, loves.loves.loves.

 Here he is happy just to make footprints in the snow. :)

I knew once she got outside she would be fine. :)

We are so thankful that we have a small hill right in our backyard.

It's perfect for a little fun sledding!

I don't know if you can see....but there's a big snow angel & a baby one. :)

We've pretty much worn through all the snow in our entire yard, so we now need some more!

If it's going to be cold, I say we might as well have snow. :)



a few snapshots

love this pic!

 and this one.

 Everything was way too quiet as I came to peak on the munchkins.

But whadd'ya know, they were reading together.

 I must capture this!

 A favorite Christmas gift from Mama & Papa.

I know you gals are so jealous of having a basketball hoop in your living room.

It's moving. :)

Less than a month from turning 3! 

 Graham also received 2 remote-controlled cars.

Let's just say daddy is having just as much fun with them. =)

walkin' in a winter wonderland {finally}

We had a great New Year's weekend across the state with Andrew's family.

As we drove home we started seeing some of the white stuff and drove in & out of snow. We were happy to see that some of it had stuck when we arrived home. Though it IS pretty freezing in the 20's!! Graham has been dying to have some snow, so even though Andrew was not feeling well, he was such a good daddy to take him to play in it!

And what a sweet message they made. =)