Fall Back

As I look out the window and see the blanket of snow on our yard, it is obvious that Fall has come and gone.  The last couple months have flown by at a crazy rate so I thought I would give a little recap.

Back to School
The kiddos got back to school in September.  Blake is now a 3rd grader and Paige is a 1st grader.  I was dreading my little gal going to school full-time for a couple years now, but it hasn't been as bad as I anticipated.  Like I said, the last couple months have gone by so fast that I haven't had time to reflect on my daytime empty nest.

1st Day of School

Notice the photography that captured this cold, wet, and windy moment.  I don't exactly recall but I'm sure it was preceded by "Quick get up on the steps so I can take your picture.  Why do you think, because we take your picture here every year.  Come on, let's go, quick, hurry, you're going to miss the bus!"

"Run, run, run!  Love you!"

Blake's Birthday

My baby boy is in his last year of single digits.  Half way to 18.  Wow.

Blake requested a hockey cake for his birthday.  I found amazing recipes for chocolate cake and chocolate frosting and chocolate glaze.  He loves chocolate.  He wanted chocolate.  He got chocolate!

I love when you capture a "moment" on camera.  For example, this is the exact moment that Blake realized those are trick candles on his cake.

Henry's Birthday
The kids were so excited for their Daddy's birthday.  They really love to give him gifts.  Hey look, we were wearing Vikings attire.  Henry's birthday fell on a Sunday this year,  a Sunday way back in September when we still had hope for the men in purple.

Halloween

Here we have the annual photo of Henry eating pumpkin guts.  The kids think this is hilarious.  I'm pretty sure this is what they will remember most about pumpkin carving from their childhood.

While we were working on the pumpkins, Jack was sitting outside with his nose pressed against the patio doors looking like he really wanted to come in and join the fun.  He never never never gets to come in the house, but he looked so cute that we had a moment of weakness.  Blake and Paige wanted to have their picture taken next to Jack in the house since it is such a rare occurrence.  How great is it that you can actually see the gentle giant licking Paige's ear...and of course seeing the giggle on her face!

Costume requests were very simple this year.  Blake wanted to be "something scary" and Paige wanted to be a werewolf (Blake's costume from last year...loooove to recycle costumes).  It took me a while to find a cape, but I completed that mission with a day to spare.  The cape and white face paint is all we bought for outfitting costumes this year.  Paige has already mentioned that she wants to be a girl vampire next year.  Yippee!

"Cotton Candy"

A group of friends and acquaintances of mine dress up for halloween on a massive scale every year.  This is the first year I joined them after some prodding from my hubby.  I will say that I was getting a bit apprehensive as Saturday approached.  I knew this was going to put me out of my comfort zone, but I wasn't about to back out.  Well, it turned out to be a super great time with just a little (ha ha ha) liquid courage and a great group of girls.  How could 14 identically dressed girls wearing hot pink wigs not have a good time?      

Just You Wake and Ski

Self-Portrait of Pure Happiness

We have been fortunate to have beautiful weather the last couple weekends at the cabin.  This has given us plenty of opportunity to get out on the water.  We have a constant rotation of double passenger tube, water skis, and wake board behind the jet ski.  Two weeks ago, I tried to ski for the first time in my life.  I failed.  Last weekend, I tried again.  I failed.  I tried both youth skis and adult skis.  I'm claiming that I am too heavy for the youth set and too short for the adult set so I'm holding out for the in-between junior set.  However, it is quite entirely possible that it is not the skis but rather the skier that is the hindrance to success.  But I did try...repeatedly.  I tried until I felt like my hip and shoulder were going to come out of their socket.  Then I figured, that was enough trying for one day.

Blake has learned how to ski, but what he really loves is wake boarding.  Henry bought him a board at the beginning of the summer.  Blake was beyond excited.  And then he tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, but could not get up.  And once he got up, he wiped out, and wiped out, and wiped out.  He begged for us to buy him the wake board which means he was not allowed to give up.  Henry kept asking around for advice on how to both get up and how to pull someone up.  After many attempts, they both figured out what they needed to do.  Now, Blake is tireless out there cutting through the wake and even getting a little air.  I am so happy that he kept trying because it is so great to see him out there grinning from ear to ear!

Paige is our little 'Ski Cat' and has improved greatly since her first attempt earlier this summer.  She did not get up the first time she strapped on skis, but our fearless little dare-devil didn't let go of the rope either.  I'm sure it was only a second or two that she held that rope in a death grip, but for a mother watching helplessly from the dock, it felt like an eternity.  I doubt she could hear our screams of "Let go of the Rope!  Let go now!" while her head was submerged under water and still being pulled behind the jet ski.  It would have actually looked quite humorous had it not been my baby girl.  So did this deter her from giving it another try?  This is Paige we are talking about, it didn't even phase her.  It has only been a month since her first attempt, yet she pops right out of the water with ease, waves as she sails past the dock, and cuts back and forth through the wake.  So awesome!  

Life is Good!

9th Inning Stretch

Baseball season ended last week for Blake.  It was a great season and he is pretty excited for next summer when he moves up to the next level and the game structure is more true.  Blake knew most of the kids on his team from school and activities.  They were a great group of kids that tried their best and had a great time.  I love watching Henry and Blake play catch in the backyard and to see how much he has improved since last summer.  And is there a better way to spend a summer weekday evening than watching a youth baseball game?  Notice I clarified weekday...

...because this is how I like to spend the weekends!  The kids had the chance to play a handful of backyard games this summer and always have a fantastic time.  This is a game from last weekend when we had 18 people (10 kids) up at the cabin.  We have officially changed gear to whiffle balls and plastic bats to make it more friendly since the kids range in age from 3 to 13.  This welcome change also greatly reduced the number of times we had to go lost ball hunting in the trees.  Paige said she wants to give softball a try next summer.  We may have to have a little conversation about appropriate attire/uniform!

4th Time is a Charm?

I have had the opportunity to go to 3 Twins games in the new stadium.  I have also been rained on at 3 Twins games in the new stadium.  Don't get me wrong, I see the big picture...a beautiful day, 75 degrees, the sun is shining, a cold beer in my hand, watching the Twins win big.  I guess I am just going to have to wait to experience it!  This fair-weather fan just needs a little fair weather.  I'm sure I'll get to at least one more game this season...here's hoping that the fourth time will be the charm. 

Game #1 - wet and freezing!

Game #2 - really really wet, game was canceled.

Game #3 - chilly and a few sprinkles, guess I can't complain!

Summer Time!

Just got off the bus on the last day of school!

The kids began counting down the days 'til summer vacation in the beginning of May.  Paige even made a chain of paper loops to help keep track.  It was bittersweet for me, as usual.  The realization hits that the kids are another year older.

It was a wonderful school year for both of the kids.  Blake was a rock star at reading and math.  He made it to the highest AR level that they have for the elementary school kids and was making awesome progress on his times tables.  He also earned the Presidential Physical Fitness Award which is pretty cool.  Paige is starting to get the hang of reading and likes to read out loud, but still loves being read to.  I had the greatest time volunteering in her classroom every week.  I cannot put into words how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to stay home and experience this part of their childhood.  It goes by so fast!

Summer break is now here and so begins the new routine.  We have a schedule jam packed with activities, many of which are already in full swing.  Our activities include softball league, golf league, baseball, soccer, tumbling, golf, park activities, swimming lessons, and hockey camps.  The summer will also be filled with friends coming over here and the kids going to a friend's house.  It is nice for them to be able to play with other kids and stay busy.  Yesterday, there were 5 kids here and it was definitely more calm than with just the two!  Today the kids are at a friend's house for the day, and I get a little time to catch up on the blog.  One week into summer vacation and I'm lovin' it!