Thawing out

Last weekend we were up in Waterloo. We went up Friday after Chris's intramural basketball game (he plays with some guys from law school). I think he has played on a team since we have been married. I remember one year he played on a dental school team with Ezra C.... I think he will be sad to have this be his last "season". Anyway, we spent the evening talking it up with a childhood friend of mine and her husband that live up there now. Saturday morning I spent at a baby shower for SIL Erica while Chris and Nate were at Chuck E Cheese and Saturday night was spent at Lauren's 3rd birthday. I forgot my camera. I know, serious sin. So anyone who knows my fam with have to rely on Erica's blog for pictures of these events.


Anyone who has been to the mall with me in the last 6 months knows how disenchanted I have been with my sit and stand stroller. I thought I would love it, hence the reason I bought it, but have not liked it since the first time I used it.

So.... I sold it and bought a new one! Lalalalove it! I bought a Kolcraft Contours tandem stroller. Last summer when I was shopping in the mall in Milwaukee I saw I lady with one of these and her kids were sharing snacks since the seats can be positioned to face each other. My heart melted (okay, I WAS pregnant at the time so the emotional moment might have been a little over the top) and I thought it would be so fun to have a stroller like that.

Then when it was actually time to buy a stroller I was too cheap. Big mistake. I have decided it is worth spending good money on big things like this that I will use all of the time instead of just getting something because it is cheap- but that could just be the tax refund talking.
Anyway, I ordered the stroller last week. Set it up Monday and we took it for a stroll today. Loved it. Andy is still in his infant carrier so he was in that facing Nate instead of in the seat as pictured, but the boys still loved to see each other. Great stroller. Probably the nicest quality I have owned. And I love that there are so many options: seats can face forward, backward, face each other, recline to differnt positions, adjustable foot rest... Soooo glad I did this.



The high has been above 20 pretty much all week. Today we even reached in to the 50's. Chris was able to golf with his dad today. We all went out this afternoon.
I didn't know people could feel this happy. Feel this much love. I know I keep saying that, but it keeps getting better.

Nate got new rain boots (thanks, Gaga!)

I'm so glad.

Not so weekly update

Last week was a busy one. I went up and ran some errand for my dad's gym while the boys played with mom, did an FHE lesson group for church, dance lessons, Chris basketball game and then every day madness mixed in.


Oh yeah, and Valentine's Day.



We are so terrible about gift giving. Chris's gift came in the mail on Wednesday and that was the same day he bought my gift.



He went with Nate to the movie store with Nate.... which happens to be next to Chris's favorite jeweler... and came home with a Valentine's gift!

Of course he gave it to me immediately. So then I gave him his. Terrible, I know.

Dance lessons were sooo much better this week. Chris did great and we had a lot of fun getting into it. We actually could dance without looking at our feet:)

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.