Weekly Review... a little late

We have had crazy warm weather here. This is what is left of that amazing snow fort Chris put all of that hard work in to. It was 64 yesterday. We had a fun day playing at the ped mall and even getting ice cream with Gaga.



So for some reason I have not been able to keep my house clean the last week. I don't know if I just have no motivation or Nate is being really messy, but I can't keep ahead of it. Finally I had it. I had to do something. Nate was napping and Andy was up. He didn't want the exersaucer or to lay on his belly so I made a makeshift play pen. He can't sit up on his own yet so I wedged him between all of the cushions. Nate already had them on the floor (first thing he does EVERY morning is take all the cushions off to make an excavator, a space ship, a boat, you name it!).




The boys are starting to play together which is really fun. Nate tickles Andy. He likes me to hold Andy and bounce him on his bum while they bounce together in Andy's crib. He likes me to put a blanket over Andy's crib so they can have a fort- I think I already blogged about that.

Me, I am itching to start running out side. I am trying to find a way to finance a jogging stroller because I have to take the boys with me (aka I can't get up early enough to run before Chris goes to school!). I have been reading a ton (just finished So Brave, Young and Handsome), about a book a week. I feel guilty every night for something I didn't get "crossed off the list" that day. I am really fighting the urge to be "checked out" or start dejunking for the move. Chris and I started a ballroom dance class that meets every Thursday. Let's just say it has been a while since I danced. I thought rhythm was something you always would have if you had it once..... I really should practice tonight before lessons tomorrow. I will put it on my to do list:)

Week Review

Okay so I have been kind of slacking on the blogging bit, so I will just try to do highlights of the week each Sunday. Here were the best parts of this week:

Nate is still a Lego Maniac. It's been really fun because it is something that we can all do together, even Andy. Though Andy doesn't help, per say, he can play with the blocks while we all build. It's been really fun to have everyone playing together.

From now until March I can pretty much count on Chris watching college basketball at night. The last few nights Chris has let Nate stay up 15 minutes later and sit and watch some basketball with him. I don't know that Nate really cares about basketball all that much, but he gets a sense that this is a special Nate and Dad thing. The other night I was rocking Andy in the boys room and Nate climbed out of his bed and told me he was going "to watch a little basketball with Dad". Of course, Chris let him, and loved it.

The boys watching basketball. Wow, Andy looks chubby!

Andy rolled over in the tub last night. I had only a little water in there so I let him. He LOVED it! He loved to see the water, not just feel it. He kept moving his hand around in the water. I put Mac Duck (Dazi's gift to him from her semester in Scotland). He's getting so fun. I hope he crawls soon because I am going crazy hearing him whine all day while he pushes himself backward and cries because is moving away from his target. He is getting so close....

Andy found his toes last week. Every time I undress him, he quickly grabs them and enjoys pulling on them. I love watching this and wish it was warmer so I could leave him in a onesie and no socks all day so I could watch this.

I spy with my little eye.....

A healthy baby

Awesome Dad

Brothers

Buddies

A happy boy

As you can see, we are doing much better this week. Chris is back in school, we are getting back in to the swing of things and enjoying above zero temps once again. Last night when Nate was falling asleep he whispered to Chris, "Dad, I'm happy". And then rolled over and went to sleep. Can't beat that.

R S V

***Anyone who tried to link to the Chipmunk song down below, I have now linked it to the correct one. Sorry about that.

Rewind: New Year's Eve week Nate had an awful, awful cold. The following week Andy got it. He pretty much stopped nursing all together. I was pumping enough to releave the pressure, but not all of it. I got mastitis... again. I was complaining to my mom during our daily morning phone call that "when it rains, it pours". Nate was still sick. I was sick. Andrew was sick. And Chris started work that day too. A few hours later she showed up at my house with a treat for Nate, stuff to make homemade chicken noodle soup for me (my fav!) and magazines. I have never had more fun being sick! We watched movies, ate treats and hung out for 3 days! She convinced me to take Andy to the doctor where we found out he had rsv and an ear infection. She stayed over 2 nights to take care of Andy so I could sleep! And then completely redecorated my sorry little student housing apartment on top of it!! I will have to post picks of my new drapes, wall words, frames, etc. You are amazing Mom! Thank you! I am so lucky to have a mother like you.

Giving Andy his breathing treatment

Ever since I left for college whenever I miss my mom this song comes to mind. It was from the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie (click here) that had the hot air balloon race in it. And every time I watch that part of the movie I sob. Thanks for always being there when I need you, Mom.

It's hard to remember
Summer or winter
She hasn't been there for me
A friend and companion
I can always depend on
My mother...that's who I need
I've taken for granted
The seeds that she's planted
She's always behind everythig
A teacher, a seeker
I'll go far to reach her
My mother, that's who I need
I wish I could slow down
The hands of time
Keep things the way they are
If she said so, I would give her the world
If I could, I would
My love and my laughter
From here ever after
Is all that she says that she needs
A friend and companion
I could always depend on
My mother, that's who I need
My mother, that's who I need
That's who I need

...and Happy New Year

My family minus a few at Rain Forest Cafe in MOA, New Year's Eve

Growing up, my family celebrated every New Year's Eve at Mall of America with my dad's sister and her family that live in Minneapolis. We stopped when Ben and I were in high school and I have always missed it. This year we made a big effort to celebrate Brian's return from his mission and start the tradition again! When we first started going, my baby brother was not much older than Nate and Lauren. Now he's a junior in high school! Nickelodeon owns the amusement park in the mall (that is where the party is) and so the kids got to meet a lot of Nickelodeon stars. There were just as many rides for kids as there were for adults and at 10 pm they did a big countdown and balloon drop. They had so many activities that we didn't get to: a huge sand box (since the party this year was beach themed), sharks to pet,
face painting, hula dancing, etc.
The kids were still riding rides at 9:40 and didn't even get to ride all of them (because they rode their favorites 2 or 3 times in a row!). I thought they would get tired by 8ish and we would have to drag them to stay til 10. They were partying hard all the way to the end. After the balloon drop, my parents and Erica took the kids back to the hotel while my brothers, Chris and I rode rides until the midnight countdown. You would have thought we were 10 years old again, running from ride to ride, arguing over who gets what seat. It was so much fun. But I will say, I was glad to climb into my bed at 12:15, completely exhausted, dreading getting up with a nursing baby in a few hours. I hope we can keep this as an annual tradition again. Hope you had a Happy New Year as well.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Polar Express

December 6th we traveled south to Mt. Pleasant to visit Santa's workshop and ride the Polar Express. Nate is crazy about trains and I was happy to spend the money to buy some family time. Magical? Maybe for Nate. They put this coating on the windows so you couldn't see out clearly and realize we just lapped the track 3 times to get to "The North Pole". After we arrived, we stepped out basically into a shed (so cold!) that had a gift shop, a craft room, a bar they were serving hot cocoa and cookies from and a red caboose where Santa was. There were people dressed in pretty weak imitations of elves and the places wasn't really decorated at all. I was kinda bummed, but Nate didn't seem to notice. He loved it. After I ate 3 sugar cookies I started to feel better about it. There were some major highlights: the conductors that rode in each train car were dressed up perfectly, just like the guy from the book- hat and all. Santa was perfect with a real white beard (but Nate still wouldn't sit on his lap or even give him a high five), they gave us really cool jingle bells (like from the book), the gift shop was super cheap, they took a free family photo, and the unlimited cookies were quite good. So it wasn't exactly a winter wonderland, but it was still worth going. Here is the link for all you locals to check out next year. It is Midwest Central Railroad. Tickets go on sale in October and you HAVE to buy your tickets the day they go on sale. We did take Andy even though he isn't pictured. He slept the whole time (thank goodness because it was so cold and he stayed bundled in his car seat.) Oh and the whistle on the train was really cool, not ear splitting like most. And the steam that came out made it feel magical. I have heard if you go on one of the night rides it is really cool. The only do it the first 2 weekends in December (that is why tickets are so hard to get).

Waiting for them to shout "All Aboard!"

Next in line to see Santa inside the red caboose

Eating sprinkles off the sugar cookies


Nate kept saying "chuggachugga"

Blessed Baby

Russell Men
Great Grandpa Rich, Chris, Nate, Uncle Jon, Andrew and Kapka (Grandpa Steve)

My family
Uncle Ben, Aunt Erica (and 5 mo. baby bump), Cousin Lauren
Grandpa Harold, Grandma Amy, Nate
Chris, me, Andrew

November 30th Chris blessed Andrew. We were lucky enough to have family join us, including Chris's grandparents from Atlanta and Chris's brother home from California. Though I could not hear it, Chris said Andrew was cooing and laughing during the blessing. Thank goodness because I couldn't get him to sleep before that so he was very tired. Doesn't that always happen? Thanks for making the effort to join us family. We sure love you.

True story- When we were saying goodbye to Chris's grandparents the night before they flew home I told Nate to give Grandpa Rich a hug and Nate said, in front of Rich, "No, he's grouchy!" I was so embarrassed, but Rich only replied, "Perceptive!" Thank goodness he has a sense of humor!

Brothers

He'll be my buddy for all of time,
My fellow conspirator in many a crime,
A willing participant in messes of slime,
And be worth more than Scrooge's #1 Dime;

We'll play pirate ships on the couches,
And jump on Daddy until he slouches,
We'll fight when we are grouches,
But share each other's lunch pouches;

And when life threatens to smother,
And there's help from not one other,
We'll remember these words from our Mother:
You'll always have your brother.

One way to clean your purse

Comic Relief

My mother-in-law just sent this to me. I thought it was too funny not to share. It's kinda long- 3.5 minutes- but you get the idea of it in just a minute. THis is one of the funniest ward talent show acts I have ever seen

Halloween Recap and A request for advice

We had AMAZING weather on Halloween- at least 75 all day and then 60's at night while we were out trick or treating. AMAZING. I pushed Andrew in the stroller while Chris took Nate door to door. He did great. He would yell trick or treat at every door and even meowed for them! One lady gave him a toy mouse! He did not want to stop, but his paws were dragging and head was flopped to the side- we knew it was time to stop. Can't wait for next year when Andy can go too.



I need any suggestions from you guys on how to teach your kids about the true meaning of Christmas and how to keep Christmas Christ centered. This is our first CHristmas that Nate will really understand what is going on and so I want to start it off right and start some good traditions. PLEASE PLEASE give me some ideas!
Love, jen

Happy Halloween

THANKS GRANDMA AMY FOR THE AMAZING COSTUME!

My littlest pet shop
Puppy Dog Andy
Kitty Cat Nate

October

Andrew's 2 months!
14 lbs, 23 inches
Can hold his head up and look side to side
Coos non-stop
Smiles all the time this huge, open mouth smile
Sweetest, chubbiest little baby



Annual trip to the pumpkin farm with Chris's mom




Enjoyed our last few days of warm weather





And a trip to Wilson's Apple Orchard
I promise they like each other... they just don't like the camera

Where's my camera when I need it?

Oh well, at least I had a cell phone to capture the moment!
p.s. yes, Andy HAS doubled in size!

Startin' 'em young

Nate too is displeased with how his stocks are doing