Let's G.O!

I am so lucky to have met other moms around town with the same passion for getting kids outdoors. It was spurred by our ECFE (Early Childhood & Family Education) teacher. She talked about the importance of getting kids outdoors, which also began my research for my Master's Degree in Health Education. It's amazing what reseach has found nature and time outdoors can do for people. Reduce stress, increase physical activity, reduce the need for medication for those with ADHD, improve mood, confidence, social skills and the list continues! If you want to learn more, check out Children & Nature Network.

As part of Let's G.O. (Get Outside), a couple of mom's and I scheduled some park dates and invited other families. Here are pics of our first gathering of 12 kids (ranging from 6 mo. to 5 year-olds) and 4 moms. We had a blast at a local nature center.

Next we are bird watching, then picking up around the neighborhood & then hunting for bugs! I can't wait!

Go Twins!

We are excited the Twins' baseball season has begun.  I ran across this video from last year of E cheering for Joe Mauer.... with no prompting.  She's back at it this year rooting for her favorite Twin!

new baby

We were able to meet the new baby of the family this weekend! 

 I had one of those baby moments you dream about.  He opened his eyes for a few minutes and just looked at me while I talked to him. I love those special moments.  Melts your heart.

Here's Luke with his big cousins.  He's also wearing his new rockin' onesie that I made him.  It's so fun to make gifts.  I feel I can put a little extra love into it & it means so much more to me than giving something from the store.  E & G sure like him too.  They are already making plans for when he's older and can play with them.  G was asking when that will be.  It's hard to explain what a year is to a four year old.

Congrats family!  Thanks for brining this special little boy into our lives.

playing in warmer weather

Yes, it's finally above zero, so we can get outside and play again.  This week brought trips to the rink and building a new friend named Frosty.

Here's Griffin's first drawing of a snowman.  He likes drawing maps, not much else, so I was happy to get this out of him!

Griffin started doing a hockey-stop at the rink last weekend.  Mama can't even do a hockey-stop!

Griffin's Pursuit of a Happy Birthday

Griffin turned 4 this week and because we have such great family and friends,
we had to invite them over to celebrate with our little boy!
He has been waiting for this party day. Mama started planning a few months ago.

Griffin's invitation read like this:
Calling all Superheroes! We must unite to defeat the super villain! Please meet at headquarters to prepare for the invasion. We must defend our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of a happy birthday! If you can join with us to defeat this villain and eat lunch & cake, please respond as soon as possible with the following top secret information: 1. Your secret identity (your name.) 2. Your superhero name. 3. Your superpower. 4. Your super color. No special equipment will be needed, just wear clothing that is appropriate for outdoor superhero training. Your participation is vital to the success of this mission!
I found much of the superhero party ideas here. The cake pops I found on bakearella.com. Thanks to so many people who helped make this day possible and a success! My helpers around the house... big and small, those who play with my kids so I can shop in peace & get things done in large chunks around the house, you who came dressed for the party, those who helped with the skit and of course all of you who came and made Griffin achieve his pursuit of a happy birthday. We love you!

Birthday Boy

Our BIG guy turns 4 today!

WE LOVE YOU, GRIFFIN!

{Four Things We Love About YOU}

1. You jump your highest, run your fastest... every time
2. You get so excited to do almost everything
3. The way you say, "I love you, Mama/Daddy"
4. You love the little things (bugs, playing, being outside, pools, sand, etc)

{Four Things YOU Love}

1. Skating/Hockey
2. Being a Superhero
3. Riding Bike
4. Playing Cars

 {Four things you said this year that I never want to forget}

1. This is so good, can you make it again?
2. Mom, come in here, I have three things to tell you.
3. Will you check on me?
4. You are so nice!

{Four things YOU put on the menu for your ultra special BIRTHDAY meal}

1. Mac n Cheese
2. Scones
3. Blueberries
4. Hot Chocolate 

What four things do you love about Griffin?

The Little Elves have been busy

Today the temps finally rose above 25 degrees in Central MN, so we ventured to the park with the neighborhood kids.  I failed to get a video of the kids going down the covered slide.  It had ice at the end so the kids shot right out of it into a soft pile of snow.  So much fun!

On our way home, we found this great-big pile of snow to climb and have snowball fights!

The elves love all the snow we've had these past two months!  Have you been playing outside?

The week before Christmas

 Eme found JOY in un-decorating and re-decorating the Christmas tree.

 Griffin had a chat with Santa.

The kids had Santa on the brain.

My cup runneth over.... Psalm 23:5

Our Holidays have been very full this year.

Full of PEACE

Full of JOY

Full of LOVE

Hope your has been too!

Our 2010 Christmas Letter

Christmas Greetings!  We have enjoyed getting your Christmas greetings in the mail.  Going to the mailbox is the motivation Eme needs to go outside these bitterly cold days.  Your pictures and cards are well studied and throughly enjoyed.  Thanks!  As for us, this is our Christmas letter while we try to save a few resources this year.  Thanks for tuning in!  This is what 2010 brought for us:

Griffin turned 3 (he'll officially be 4 January 1011).

He's our energetic boy who loves playing outside.
He learned to ride a two-wheeler this summer, 
took ice skating lessons, goes to Sunday School and has preschool two mornings a week. He changes into a new superhero by the hour and loves to play cars.

Eme turned 2 in August.

 She keeps us laughing with her pronunciation and exploration of words ("This is calicious!" (delicious)

Emerson loves reading, animals, playing dollies, having tea time and any new adventure (camping, hiking, parks & zoo). 
She loves being around babies (luckily she'll have a new cousin come March).  You'll find her pushing around a doll stroller and being a very attentive Mama.    

Going to our first Twins game at Target Stadium was a hit!

  We went with a group of 16 and sported Pavano mustaches.  

One of my favorite moments of the year was having a few date nights with my husband.   

I took on a new adventure this fall with starting my own Norwex business.  It's the perfect compliment to being home with the kids.  I also got back on the volleyball court in the Lanesboro Tournament this summer and play league this winter. I continue to enjoy gardening, sewing, walking and now knitting!

Keir continues work at Brown Printing as a Technical Analyst.  He plays hockey during the week and continued showcasing his handy-man skills (and building his tool collection) while building a shed in the backyard this summer.  Recently he raised funds & awareness for cancers affecting men by participating in Movember.

Our Christmas card gives you a shot of our family favorite event of the year- vacationing for two weeks up North.  We spent time with both sides of the family, camped, swam, walked across the Mississippi, 

hiked, and played on the beach.  It was ideal and we cherished our time as a family.  

Our Christmas wish is that you, our friends and family, to be happy, healthy and enjoy life.  We feel blessed to have you in our lives and hope we can find special moments to spend with you in 2011.

You can always find us here on our blog to keep an eye on what we're up to.  Don't forget to leave a post so we know you are visiting us!

Preparing for Christmas- day 5

Oh, oh making Gingerbread Cookies is fun!

We used the recipe from our Gingerbread Mouse book.  It's yummier than I expected!

2 2/3 cups of flour

1/2 t. baking soda

2 1/2 t ground ginger

1 1/2t cinnamon

1 3/4 c packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla

Sift dry ing. in large bowl

Beat butter and sugar until creamy.  Add egg and vanilla, beat until bleanded.

Stir in flour mixture, blending well.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 9ish minutes.  

Prepping for Christmas- Day 4

We merrily went to pick out a tree at the Y's Club.  The proceeds go to scholarships at the YMCA for children. What a great cause!  We easily picked out a tree while the kids had fun skidding on the ice.  We were able to decorate the next day.  First I thought we had to trim the bottom branch as it hung to low, then I realized it was because it's the only place Eme and Griffin were hanging ornaments!

Preparing for Christmas- day 3

 Today brought the trimming of Grandma's tree.  Griffin loved "decorating" and Eme loves to look.  When she went into Grandma's house and saw all the Christmas decorations, she took her time and studied each one intensly.

Here, Grandma and Eme went outside to see the Christmas lights once it was dark.  Notice, no snow.  Now, 24 hours later (11/29/10 @ 7pm), a blizzard.

Preparing for Christmas- day 2

Baking with Grandma & cousins is extra special

Preparing for Christmas- day 1

 It is official, we can enjoy the holiday season... the sounds of jingle bells and Christmas carols.  

Hang Christmas lights, trim the tree, send cards and bake cookies.

 We rode on a horse drawn wagon at the annual "Lighting of the Lights" Celebration

It's one of my favorite "firsts" of the season.

Eme enjoyed it especially this year.  

She sat watching the horses the whole ride.

 I love that we can share these moments with our family.

A Wintery Trend

There appears to be a trend early this winter.  Everytime we see my parents there is a snow storm (or at least the last 3 times) and it's not even December yet.  Happy Snow!

In Thanksgiving

This is such an amazing time of year. 

Gratitude swirls all around us.  

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We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.  Cynthia Odic 

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Thank you God for the everyday joy of childhood and

Enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Thank You for every part of this life and all the special people we have swirling around us. 

We are so blessed.