Merry Christmas!

Even with the snowstorm here in West Central MN, we made it to my mom and dad's. Ryan, my mom and I took the kids to the pool at the RFC and for the first time Teague was tall enough to use the slide! He LOVED it. And Lola LOVED "swimming" - she was putting her face in the water, kicking her legs and moving her arms (I am only KINDA hoping that one of my kids will do competitive swimming like I did growing up and into HS - Ryan I am sure hopes that kid will be Lola as the HS program for boys runs at the same time as the bball season)! Anyway, it was fun and the kids loved it. After that my parents took the kids for us so we could finally have our annual Christmas date (that's always our "present" to eachother - we just don't feel we "need" anything except some nice quality time together -AKA: ALONE!) Our original date was to be in Mpls the weekend of the snowstorm that torn the Metrodome to shreds, so we had to stay home. SO this was the next best opportunity. We enjoyed an awesome leisurely dinner at Bello Cucina.

Snowstorm all the way to Morris

Here Teague is taking another nap - just 2 hours after waking from his afternoon nap. He's definitely been our best sleeper. We brag his sleeping patterns up like crazy because Lola is so terrible!

And this would be Lola in the car - screaming is her typical way of traveling - or pointing and whining.

The Dusha family Christmas last Sunday. We had a yummy brunch and a good time with good family!

The best pic of us - Ryan's eyes are best closed as he has had a bout of pink eye that has left his eyes looking like he got the raw end of a bad fist fight!

My two swimming maniacs!

She loved floating around on her back and kicking her legs (future backstroker?!)

Here he comes for the 273rd time!

Waiting for the pool to open....how sweet and cute!

All butt and gut - as we refer to goo goo!

Hey cutie!

We hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Sassy

Oh all the words we have to describe Lola. She's sassy. She's busy. She's naughty. She's, well, Lola. She hits (Teague), she screams, she demands, she's just Lola - Lola or Taz (as in the Tazmanian Devil). She's a tornado as she goes through a room. If you take your eyes off of her for ONE second she will take everything that IS NOT a toy and throw it in the garbage or the toilet. And valuable, adult things - like remote controls, cameras, camera/cell phone/mp3 chargers. Last week I could hear her while I was upstairs and she was in the basement yelling, "MAMA, WHOA! MAMAMAMAMAMA! WWWWWHHHHHOOOAAAA"" (over and over) and when I got downstairs she had pulled the Christmas tree over on herself and was standing there pointing at it saying "Whoa Mama". And yet she is such a schmoozer. She KNOWS when you have reached your limit and then she will just reach out her arms and with the sweetest little baby voice and say "MAMA?" and want to be picked up to give you a hug and kiss. Oh Lord.

Even when you strap her into her high chair, she can still get out of it and onto the counter.

But man, she is cute!

And then there's Teague. Sweet Baby Teague. Ok, he has his moments - but man, what different personalities these two little people have! He has been home for the past two days with an ear infection and high fever - this is the first time he has been sick in over a year, so I think he has done well. Ryan said to me last night "See, breastfeeding did pay off with health benefits". I don't think that was what the "experts" had in mind when they state that infants will have a higher immunity when they are breastfed. Oh well. He seems to be rounding the corner, so hopefully back to daycare for both tomorrow (if one is sick, nobody goes to daycare - those are the rules of daycare). It's been a little hard to say the least - I am realizing that being home with both kids is WAY more work than being at my job all day (doesn't mean I don't miss my time at home though)!

Such sweet and innocent looking kids!

My parents came over for a couple of hours on Sunday to do some baking with the kids. Teague was interested only for about 10 minutes and then it was off to other things. He was starting to come down with his sickness then so I am sure that was part of it.

Winter Fun

We had a great Thanksgiving - I loved having some time off with my kids, though I am learning how quickly they love playing with each other and then fighting all within such a short time period. It was really cold there for a few days and I could tell they just wanted to get out of the house and get some fresh air. Luckily we were able to do that today.

Lola's ready to sled!

Sledding with the little amount of snow we have left!

Lola can't stay sitting up - she's too "stiff" in all her winter garb!

Thanksgiving was nice, but cold out! I went Black Friday shopping and had decent luck. I am all done with Christmas shopping (I am usually always done by Thanksgiving) and now I can just enjoy the Christmas season with the pressures of needing to buy anything! I am still on the hunt for a good priced laptop, but there is no hurry with that.

Lola. Oh Lola. She is apparently a very normal toddler. I am now realizing what a laid back and easy going child Teague was as a toddler. Yes, he had a month or two of naughty toddler-hood hitting, etc., but seriously, overall he hardly did any of the normal stuff that is driving me crazy with Lola - like: he never touched my Christmas decorations ever. I never had to put the nice ornaments up high. Lola won't stop touching them. Teague never stood in his chair. Lola knows how to climb out of the chair and onto the coutertop in 30 second flat - so you can NEVER take your eyes off of her. Teague never touched my wine bottle assortment/wine bottle holder. Lola has broke a wine bottle or two. Teague never cried in the car. EVER. Lola has screamed and cried in the car since the day she was brought home from the hospital. We rarely ever had to tell Teague no and if we did, his feelings were very hurt. Lola is told "no" quite often and while it used to hurt her feelings she now has taken to a very evil laugh when told "no". Teague never threw anything into the toilet/bath tub. Lola throws any and everything in sight in there. Tonight it was my brand new (still with the tags on) bathroom rugs (that I wasn't sure if I was even going to keep - guess that answered that). So as you can see I have my hands full. And I know she is normal, but she is giving me SUCH a run for my money. Ryan said tonight "Well I can see how this is going to be in about 13 years." Yes, this is my daughter. And I love her. Because for every grimace I have she makes me laugh and smile 100 times over. So I will live and try to learn better patience.

Ryan's ball season is in full swing. And it's been a long week. We had conferences both Monday and Tuesday evening from 5-8 so we essentially did not see the kids those two nights. Ryan had morning (before school) practice and then evening after conferences practice (8-10pm). Then he had a scrimmage, more practice, etc - you get the idea. We are both tired from traveling this weekend and just the daily dealings of normal life. Hopefully that the first week of the season is over we will fall into a new, normal routine!

Today we got the whole house decorated for Christmas! What a big job, but so much fun to have it all decorated! I had lots of "help", Teague sure is into it this year. It's so fun to see how he "gets" holidays now.

It was a BLAST!

NYC was a blast. We had an awesome time. We saw ALMOST everything one would need to see, including a NYC rat. Ok, so maybe that was not the highlight of the trip, but spending the quality time with my mom and sister was awesome. We went on a city lights dinner cruise around the Hudson River, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Canal Street, Soho, Seaport, Battery Park, Time Square, Jersey Boys, ate good food and drank some good wine! We also got tickets to be in the Martha Stewart audience. And she gave the entire audience a gelato (Italian ice cream) maker and a set of spices from Spice Island!!! Luckily we didn't have worry about how we were going to get those items home as they are being shipped to us on Martha! All in all, it was great.

Favorite TV Show - Kardashian's...it just wouldn't be right to go to the city without going to their new store. I didn't buy the $450 sweater, however.

Out to dinner to celebrate mom's birthday before going to the Broadway show.

What a good musical!

Ha ha! What's NYC if you don't hail a taxi?!

The Statue of Liberty and the NYC Skyline.

Our Gelato Maker!!

Some of our spices! =)

The kids and Ryan did well while I was gone as well. I knew I had nothing to worry about and being so busy while we were in NYC helped me not have to think about how much I missed them. I do think it helped knowing they were home at their own house and with Ryan. It's a little different when both Ry and I take off somewhere and have to leave them somewhere other than their own house. By the time I got home you could tell that Lola was glad to have me home. I usually rock and sing to her at bedtime for about 10 minutes and then just lay her down to go to sleep. The night I got home she definitely wanted me to rock and hold her more than that 10 minutes - I was happy to oblige and just snuggle my baby.

He just had to go outside to get his lawn mower. I almost sent him out in just his bare feet thinking he would grab it and come right back. Well good thing he put on his jacket and boots - he took one step outside and fell right on his butt-ski thanks to the ice on the ground! Here he is jumping on the trampoline - he loved watching all the ice crack and break off of it!

We don't get it. But, Teague refers to all the pillows from the couches on the ground in the living room as his "restaurant". He lays there and just plays with his mimi and relaxes. Ok, whatever!

Lola trying on her high heels!

Teague liked them as well!

Ryan's ball season started last night (officially) at 8pm. We had conferences from 5-8pm so that was the first chance for the gym to open. He was back there again this morning with practice at 7 am and then practice again tonight after conferences at 8 pm. Yuck.

We are off to Morris (the kids and I) for a few days over Thanksgiving. I will take call for work and Ryan will be with us when he can between practice and scrimmages. Safe travels!

Lola can say "Hi there!" and "Papa" now! But...

Here is a cute video of Lola saying her favorite MN word: "YEAH!"

Exciting!

I am off to NYC today with my mom and sister! I am so excited. It's my first trip away from both kids without Ryan - ever. I have been away overnight from the kids, but always with Ryan - so this is my first time alone. And I am so looking forward to it. Don't get me wrong, I know I will miss the kids (and Ryan) a lot, but I know it will be fun. I am hoping that this will be the start to an annual Mohr Girl trip (the furthest we have traveled together is Minneapolis for shopping)!

The second bit of exciting news is we have a new niece! Kianna (Key-Ah-nah) Annlee was born on 11-11-10 to my sister in law, Dana, and brother-in-law, Ken. We are so excited to meet her someday since they live in Seattle. Here's a pic of her - I think she has the "Dusha" look to her as Teague looked a bit like that when he was first born as well!