Lola's 1 year, Teague's 3 year and a few Family Pictures

Finally.

Finally. An update. I know you have all been on your toes just waiting for it. Sorry for the delay. Life's been chaotic and throwing a few curveballs my way!

Sept 11th: Teague started kickball for 3-6 year olds. Hmmm, let's just say he is not quite ready yet for organized sports. He is very interested in and plays sports a lot at home (he is QUITE good at hitting the baseball - lefthanded even and not on the 'T") but having to play kickball with about 40 other preschool age kids proved a little more difficult! Maybe next year!!

Sept 18th: My precious "baby's" 1st birthday. I cannot believe that a year has passed. It was the most fun filled and precious year of my life. I have no regrets and can't believe I even questioned taking the year off! Lola thoroughly enjoyed her day and was so spoiled by all who love her! We love you Goo Goo!!!

The two birthday girls! My sister and Lola share a birthday.

The Table of 4

I thought this one was so funny because Aaron was trying to get Lola to smile and he was off to the side and kept saying "HI LOLA! HI LOLA!" - what a great help he was, this is her looking away from the camera waving at him!

Lola showing off the money she got from Nana and Papa!

She sure is excited about her new Dora phone and Elmo the talking doll!

Hmmm, not too sure of this singing Happy Birthday business (I opted to leave the video footage out of this post as Teague had a minor meltdown in which I got a two handed shove on camera...the whole thing horrified me for nearly 24 hours...he never acts like that)!

Still scared - even at the Dusha party!

Sept 20th: My first day back at work. It was hard. Very hard. I cried on and off for over a week (at appropriate times of course). It was just very tough and continues to be tough. I try to look at the bright side of things (like I have a job in these tough economic times) - but I still can't help to feel like I am missing out on my kids growing up. But, I am fortunate working in education that we do have so many days off (even if they are unpaid)! So I am looking forward to break in a few weeks. The kids adapted PERFECTLY to being back and I have to sometimes coax them back down the hallway to give me a kiss good-bye. So essentially it is tough for mom and nobody else - the best way I suppose!

Sept 22nd: Was going to update the blog only to find that I had NO PICTURES on my camera any longer (which included ALL of Lola's 1st bday party pictures). After much debate over what happened, it was determined that my camera's memory card died (who knew that happened??) and to recover them will cost me near $500. Ouch. And there were only 50 or less pictures on there. So luckily Esther took a couple and my mom took some, so between the two we got a few at least. It's better than nothing. However, with my return to work I was in a very easily-breakdown-type of state emotionally....so I just avoided the blog until I felt "strong enough" to update without wanting to cry over losing the pictures!! =(

Sept 26th: We visited the Collegeville Orchards. We had the perfect weather and the kids loved the animals the best. Next weekend we are planning to go to Hidden Cove near Avon since they also have a corn maze and pony rides. I love doing these kinds of things with my kids now - I just think it's so fun to build these memories that they will have forever!

Sweet! Both of my kids are looking - but who is the creeper kid on the side in the green shirt?? Thanks buddy.

PUMPKIN PATCH!!

Table of 4!

Sept 27-Oct 1st: Second week back at work. I only cried on Monday this week.

Oct 3rd: We celebrated my dad's birthday. It was great to celebrate this birthday and pray that this year will be a much better year for him. For those who follow his Caringbridge site you already know this, but he is an avid bowhunter. He was very excited to get out this year but learned very quickly that he doesn't have the strength required for the sport right now. So he is in PT gaining that strength back and will hopefully be ready next fall.

Teague: he can now write his whole name and is learning a lot in Tina's preschool program. We are so impressed with all she does with the 4 preschool aged kids while still having 4 other that are little. He is always so proud to show us his work and what letter they learned about for the day. Tina is quick to point out how impressed she is at his ability to recognize letters and tell her "A is for armadillo" or "C is for Chameleon"! Of course all the letter coorespond to animals except some family names. We are very proud of him...he is learning and growing so quickly!

We went to a wellness fair that our chiro put on in St Cloud on Saturday. The highlight was Teague getting his face painted. He loved it! I think he makes a very adorable tiger cub!

Teague's 1st "non-family" birthday party experience. He did so well socializing with all the other 5 and 6 year olds! Here he is with Paige (my Goddaughter) at Bounce Depot.

Seriously, how adorable is this picture?! First thing in the morning while we were getting ready for work. The kids always lay in bed and watch cartoons until it's time to go.

Lola: She is definitely NOT a baby any longer. She is all toddler with an attitude to go along with it. Sheesh! She has a lot to say quite frequently! She says mama, dada, WHOA! (when she falls), YEAH! (whenever she is asked a question), Teeet (Teague) and does a few different signs as well. Tina also praises how smart she is saying that when they have circle time to sing songs and the kids do the actions she attempts to do the actions right along with them! I wish I had a picture of that! She definitely loves to dance and play peek a boo with her blanket.

Hangin' out and eatin' popsicles on the porch...a favorite thing to do!

Just playing at Bounce Depot!

They both wanted a ride in the wheelbarrow so bad. Teague was still loving it here (even though it doesn't really look like it) and Lola.....hmmmm, not so much.

Yep, another break for popsicles.

Lola digging around in the back garage. So cute.

Mommy and Lola before the Dusha bday party!

Her cuteness showing off.....awww, such a precious goo goo!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Baby Lola!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What was I waiting for??

Yes, leave it to me to wait until the last week before I head back to work to realize I have a ton of things on the list to get done. You know, the list I had in my head of all the things I would do when I had a year off of work. However, mothering two children tended to take up a lot of my time. Who knew?? So in between naps and bedtime I have been grocery shopping, browning 10 pounds of hamburger, roasting chicken and making and freezing meals like crazy. This time my making 14 meals is not because I am having a baby, but instead I am back to work. Add to that I am doing some painting in the kid's rooms and planning two first birthday parties for Lola - all before Monday! AHH!

I am not ready to go back. I don't think I would ever be ready to go back. I love, LOVE my time at home. There is nothing better than playing with my kids all day. But I suppose it is time to get back to the structure of life. I think the kids will fare better at the transition than I will. But man, I will miss them. A lot. And I think I will cry at going back to work this time. Sad, sad, sad..... But soon we will have MEA, Thanksgiving and Christmas break. And hopefully the winter won't be horrible (aka: bball season) and before we know it summer will be back.

So this weekend my baby turns 1! 1!!!! Can you even believe it? It's been a fast and fantastic year! She has definitely grown into a sassy little toddler with an attitude to boot. She doesn't say many words at all besides, "grrr" (when she plays with Teague's dinosaurs), "da da" and "ma ma". Mostly she just screams and screeches - see pictures below. Her favorite thing to do - climb up on the step stool in the bathroom and SCREAM for help because she doesn't know how to go down - only up.




This past Saturday Teague started kickball! I wish I could say that he loves it - but it's definitely a new experience for him. He didn't do very well participating, but was interested in playing in the dirt and passing the ball back and forth to Grandma. Lola loved laying in and eating the dirt. We'll see - hopefully he'll do better this Saturday! He already told us last night "I am NOT getting my picture taken at kickball". Ok then.

This past weekend my friend Beth and I ran in the Blubber Run in Mpls! It was SO fun! A lot of people dress up and at the 2 mile mark you can stop and have a beer. Of course you can wait and drink the beer afterwards (which is what we did - if I would have stopped for a beer I would have not been able to finish the race)!! A lot of people dress up for the race and being that it was 9/11 and Beth's brother is currently serving in Afganistan, we wore our military shirts and hats.


Other news, Ryan's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and today had a double mastectomy. This is all on the heels of my dad's own recovery. From the sounds of it the surgery went well and the results of the mastectomy (stage of cancer and follow up treatment) will be available on Friday. I will keep you posted.

Some of (Lola's) Favorite Things!

Good-bye August, hello September. Don't like that AT. ALL. Last year it was so exciting because I was about to have a baby and take a year off of work, this year it means returning to work! As much as I feel somewhat ready for that - and knowing my kids are probably ready for that structure as well - I still feel sad about this year going so fast.

Lola has 4 teeth now! She essentially runs everywhere she goes - the only way I slow her down is by putting shoes on her - which she is getting good at as well.


Here are a few pictures of the last few weeks.

Lola's most favorite thing - eating. She takes after me.

Yep, playin' some hopscotch...a FAV pastime around here!

Practicing his pedaling skills....they're coming along.....slowly (he does really well when he can just pedal downhill from the garage out the driveway!)

Dirty face - what else is new when we are outside near the flower garden?!

Mini-Golfing, a last hurrah excursion as a family before Daddy went back to work!

Showing off his mad golf skillz...

How cute is this? All 3 looking into the hole!

Mom and Teague on the bumper boats!

Lola checking out all of the rocks while Daddy and Teague were on the go karts!

Hey guys!

One of Lola's favs - playing and pushing Teague's cars up and down the hallway...I think she likes them more than Teague ever has!

Lola's other fav - carrying her baby doll around! It's super sweet!

Just trying on Lola's sunglasses!


Hangin' out in her sunglasses!

My two babies just watchin' some Nick Jr. together!