Snowboarding..

This is Jason's second week of snowboarding lessons. He's a pro. Already would like his own board. Last week, he didn't use a helmet, but as his craziness confidence improves, a helmet seemed like a good idea. I have posted 20 photos on flickr and you can see them, without logging in, just follow the link.. Snowboarding. These were all from his Saturday session yesterday, the 18th.

THREE! Happy Birthday Lincoln.

Project Life 2012.

This year, I'm changing up my scrapbooking. Instead of traditional pages with pictures and products, I'm doing a week at a time with all the events of that week.. I'm saving papers, printing photos and journaling, then adding it all together. It's all move around-able, so it's an ever changing album. I am excited to see what each week looks like once it's complete. I have all 5 weeks complete already. It's something I can work on, walk away from and go back to.

February.

I am so excited for this month.. the month of love. I am volunteering at the twins Valentines Day party, making their boxes and doing their valentines with them, baking some homemade cookies for gifts, and doing Jason's valentines too. I even have a new fingernail painting technique for valentines.

This week I went to the twins conference and BOTH boys are excelling amazingly. They are both, shockingly, well behaved, courteous and were they should be age wise.

Next week, Jason starts snowboaring lessons and has also decided to enter the science fair.

Lincoln will be celebrating his birthday this month.

Tomorrow Dake has a MRI on his arm. I can't wait to see him tonight as he has been outta town the last two nights.

Next week I have an eye exam. I am also studying for a Minnesota written drivers test.

The twins swim tomorrow at preschool and I am looking forward to my 2.5 hour break. I think that time out will include a latte, and some errands. Definitely a latte.

My reading has been slow this year.. I only read 4 or 5 novels last month, less than half my normal reading. Geeze.

Zachary has learned to play checkers and is really good.. when he asks if I wanna play he says, "I'll go easy on you."

I have a new scrap project to share on flickr sometime.

2012 Preschool Photos.

The boys had photos at school last week, and while I didn't order any because of we had just got all our portraits, I did order this memory keeper. But it turns out, the photos were so good, especially Ryan's, that I'm going to go ahead and order 5x7s of each. Turns out, they are actually cheaper when placing a re-order than during the original order. Odd.

Nine.

We celebrated Jason's 9th birthday today with a secret, simple surprise party! This year he just wanted to have 2 friends sleepover and go to The Wow Zone. But since we aren't able to schedule that anytime in the next few weeks, I thru together a party for after school today. I had Becca pick up Jason, then we surprised him when they got here.. He said, "I can't believe you guys did this for me."

Jacques was unable to be in town today. So we took Jason to dinner last night to Famous Daves and they came out and sang with a desert and candles! He was also able to open his gift last night.. a huge 1,254 piece Lego set. He had been talking about it for weeks.. and was convinced he wasn't getting it. But Momma Bear (with a few extra shifts at the Y) came threw..

It's been an amazing nine years.

Love You Always, Momma

Twelve Days of 2012

Zachary's already had an ear infection. He was sick for 4 days and on antibiotics.

Ryan started preschool. He has been for 3 days now. He is thriving and loves it.

I love the 5 hours a week to be just me, even though it just flies by. Today I came home, climbed back in bed with a book, coffee and season two Tru Blood.

Jason will be 9 next week.

Tomorrow night is Date Night with Dake. We are going to see Mark Walhberg's new flick. I love that man. Jessica is watching the boys. (Side Note: Last time we went out, we got home at 8:30 and Zach was mad because Jessica wouldn't give him cookies, "because it was late at night." Daddy said, "You wouldn't give him cookies? Come on Zach, I'll get you some." And that's how we roll..)

My reading is really sluggish so far this year..

I hate winter. It's cold.

We spent New Years Day at Mall of America. Shopping, Lego land and Nickelodeon Universe.

Ordered Jason's spring soccer uniforms $110 plus enrollment was $185. Ouch.

And A Happy New Year.

Updates.

We had a very Merry Christmas. No traveling. Up early for stockings and presents. Then assembling said presents.. We had lunch out on Christmas Day.. I finished a book, read another.
Life is Good, Busy.

I have rearranged 3 rooms.. I purged a ton of junk, organized toys, totes and everything else.

Today is Dake's 1st day back to work in 10 days. I'm sort of lost without him. Today is also the first day in weeks, that I have no where to be, nothing to do. And I'm rocking yoga pants because of it.

Jason went to Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe last Friday with a batch of the Y kids. He rode every ride there! Even the biggest, scariest.. SO proud of him.

Other Big News. Last week Jason was having a terrible time with a loose tooth causing him pain. I got him into the dentist, and it was infected, his gums, not the tooth. He had it pulled (We did it with him numb and not knowing.. I knew his fear would be greater if he heard the words "Pulls It" so we said the dentist was "gonna work on it.") But it was awful to see him upset by the pressure of the work. It was BY FAR the hardest mommy moment I've had so far.. When he was done, I told him the dentist pulled it out.. He didn't even know!! The dentist said it was one of those random things. The tooth was perfectly healthy, so she didn't know why his gums got an infection. The Tooth Fairy left him a $20 that night.

Ryan starts preschool January 3rd. He's in Zach's class and I am super nervous for him! I also have them enrolled in preschool for Fall 2012-Spring 2013.. Then they are off to Kindergarten! FYI- I think they are class of 2027.

I'm on my 96th or 97th book of the year.. I'll have the official tally once the year is over.

I am sooooo ready for 2012. Twenty-eleven was great!!

I celebrated my birthday last week with almost 30 guests!! I got a ton of amazing gifts, not to mention, had a TWILIGHT cake..

I'm not sure if I will keep the blog running much longer. Seems like I have less time, less readers.

I  didn't send out Christmas cards, but I do have some that I will still mail out with photos for my most favorite families.. and if I have those favorite families addresses.

A BIG Thanks to all those who sent us Christmas cards, and gifts for the boys. We love you all, M

Time to PARTY!