Santa 2010

Instead of paying $20+ for a picture and waiting in line for 1+ hours at the mall (my kids don't do lines...), we decided to take the kids to Pump it Up this year for a Santa visit. It was $22 total for both kids (and us), we played on the slides (and wore out the kids) for 2 hours, made a craft, ate donuts and cupcakes, got a grab bag and got to visit with the jolly old man and take as many free pictures as I wanted. It was awesome! The kids loved it!

Fall Pics

We had fall pics done in October with Buena Farrell and I think they turned out great. Here are a few of my favorites!

October

Our October was quite eventful! We did the usual fall activities, dressed up for Halloween and celebrated my brother Eddie's wedding. Overall, we are doing well! Brayden is absolutely LOVING Kindergarten and started basketball this past week. He is really enjoying that. He chose to play basketball this year instead of hockey and so far, he's happy with his decision. And Burke, well, he's being his adventurous self. He's very into Special Agent Oso right now and he LOVES trucks, cars and anything boy. We're working on giving up the Nuk. He's is accepting the fact that he's "giving it to Santa for the babies" in exchange for what he says will be "Oso toys and cars." We'll see.

Here are some pics from October...

At Sever's corn maze...(SO fun!)

In the corn pit at Severs....the kids LOVED this.

We went to the Fire Station Open House. The kids got to shoot the water from the hose. They could have sat and did that ALL day I think.

My Brother's wedding...my mom and I

My dad and I...

Me and Steve

Brayden's pic of me and Steve....Not too bad!

The lovely bride and groom!

At the daycare Harvest party..Burke with Buzz! (aka Ben)

Carving pumpkins with dad

On Halloween- Burke was loving the green hair!

We trick or treated with a few kids in the neighborhood that go to our daycare. The kids (and parents) had a blast!

Overall, it was a very good October. Exhausting, but fun! It's almost time to trim the tree! I can't believe how fast the holidays are approaching.

We can't wait!

1st day of Kindergarten

I can't even believe my baby went to Kindergarten today. He's such a big boy- we are so proud of him! Today was pretty much like an orientation day and the parents got to come along for the ride. Here are a few pics from our day! Only a few tears shed (mostly from Steve! lol) today. Tomorrow is his first official day by himself, and his first day riding the bus by himself, so more tears to come tomorrow. :)

Dad and Brayden near the Koi Pand.

Before School, with Max

Looking for my classroom

The Kindergarteners had to draw a picture of their family. This was Brayden's:

Building blocks and playing with some toys from the room

Steve's tower...

Ms. VonBank, reading a story about the 1st day of school to the class. (where most of the tears were shed...)

Overall, it was a fun, very exciting day! We went to lunch after and Brayden chose Osaka (of course.) We are sooo proud of our little Kindergartener.

Summer!

I have been a BAD blogger this summer...we've just been WAY too busy! We started out the summer with a very special birthday... Brayden turned 5! It's so hard to believe he is 5. We had a party for him at Brunswick lanes and he (and the other kids) LOVED it!

I'm 5!

We also made our annual 4th of July trip to the Sicklers.

And got to spend some time in the pool.

And grandma got the boys some really cool bubble guns!

We also got to attend the Leprechaun (sp?) Days carnival in Rosemount. Here's Steve and the boys on the slide.

Ben and Burke on the cars.

We also spent A LOT of time outside this summer. Seemed like the boys wanted to be out there every minute possible!

They LOVED the slip n slide.

We also attended a "couple's shower" for my brother and his fiance.

And cheered on the Vikings...

But overall, the boys spent most of their time just being cute... (and growing up WAY too fast...)

The MN State fair was fun...Again, Steve and the boys on the slide...

The boys got to touch some baby animals.

OOPS...Sheep Barn melt-down time!!!

And, of course, we had some play dates. Our favorite is when Ben comes over.

Ben

I can't believe this boy is 5...He is SO excited for school to start and met his teacher (LOVE HER!), toured his school and got all his school stuff. He will be attending Diamond Path Elementary- the School of International Studies. He's pumped! We're pumped! We couldn't be prouder of this little 5 year old.

This little boy is 2 and a half already!! My baby is not a baby anymore! He's talking more than ever and the tantrums are getting less and less. He's also doing very well with potty training. We still have a ways to go, but he's doing well and goes several times on the toilet a day. Now, if we could just get rid of that Nuk...we're working on it...(I swear!). He's just the cutest little guy. If he could follow and mimic his big brother all day, he would. We just love him to pieces.

We had a great summer. And, now the countdown is officially on for Kindergarten. Only 4 more sleeps! Bring on the Kleenex!