January 2010 Daddy returns!

A funny thing happens around this house. As soon as there is a boy in the picture, my free time to scrapbook disappears. If you were to take a look at my scrapbooks, you would see they all but disappear when I started dating Kevin. The blogging ended shortly after he returned from Iraq. Here are a few pictures on the day of his arrival home. If you heard our 3 seconds of fame on MPR, you would know he didn't recognize little Lucy. If you were there when he got off the bus at the Armory, you know I had him reunite with his little son with immediate diapering duties!

Kevin wasn't home long before we took a road trip to Disney with the 5 of us. It was shortly after our arrival back home to Prescott, after a snowstorm blocked us at the end of the driveway, that I put the idea into his head that we should move back closer to the cities. By May, Kevin began working for the SSA in St. Paul. The following winter we took a family vacation with Carolyn and Jeff to Maui. The house hunting process was underway, along with the home showing craziness. We eventually ended up renting our country home to a Military family. That gave us the opportunity to get our new home in Mahtomedi built. May 2011, we shacked up at the Syndicate house for 2 months. Elena spent her last 6 weeks of 2nd grade at Wildwood Elementary, sadly leaving her Prescott friends. Lucy graduated early from Preschool at Heart, Hands, and Mind. At this time, I was getting the planning done for my new home daycare business. In July 2011, we had Carolyn and Jeff's wedding, our big move to our Forever home, and my Lactation Boards. I opened The Complete Child, LLC, the next month, was Licensed by October, and had a full crew of 6 kids under 4 years old! In November, I went to casual status at Childen's. I'm now working one day per month for the Lactation Department, and one day as a bedside RN in the NICU. The '11-12 school year has been an adjustment for the whole family. The girls have participated in dance, swimming, and soccer. Kevin and I returned to Hawaii in January 2012, this time leaving the kids home and traveling with the Chans and newly pregnant Zerwas'. I am finally feeling settled enough to breathe a little!

Mr. Handsome

After coming across some great blog posts from a friend, I decided it's about time I update ours! I'll start with a few PICS of Ike when he was a wee little one. These show off his baby blues, and his golfing abilities at 10 mos of age.

Our best shots at Breezy

 

 

 

 

Triple Vision at Breezy Point

 

 

 

 

My Favorite Breezy Pics

 

 

 

 

Breezy Point 2010

Carolyn is such a baby person...

 

 

 

 

Smudge, the foster kitty.

 

Nana and Papa had a late in the season drop off and she has been spending her time at their place instead of the farm since it was so cold. I had a weak moment and said out loud to the girls "Maybe Nana and Papa would let you do foster care for their kitty during their winter stay in Mexico." Not more than a week later, little smudge arrived. She was so good on the car ride home, sat with both girls and didn't make a peep. Awesome, our veteran cat, wasn't too pleased at first, but seems to have given in to her presence. She hasn't gotten into too much trouble, except for climbing the curtains from time to time. The girls have taken care of her for the most part. They are monitoring her food/water/litter, and I've hardly had to step in-that should last about another week, right?! She sleeps with them every night. This picture is right after we got home with her, Lucy crashed and I guess little Smudge knew her place in the household...

Sock Hop 2010

 

 

 

All Dolled Up

 

 

 

The kids looked much cooler than I did. But some of the other Girl Scout moms and I decided we are all going to dress up as different characters from Grease next year. I did grease what little hair Isaac has left... Elena is wearing the Carlson's poodle skirt from their elementary days, I'll have to get mine from mom's house for next year.

The Bunny Hop

Prescott knows how to put on a Sock Hop! The live band and Elvis appearance were great. The girls spent most of the time on the dance floor. I had to resist my temptation to join them, since the floor was packed already. Guess I'll get my chance in February at the Caves. There was also a carnival in the classrooms. I gave each of them 10 tickets. Lucy spent all of hers immediately. Elena spent 4 and saved the rest...for a rainy day I guess?? Apparently that "Spend, Save, Share" Piggy bank is having an effect. 1 out of 2 ain't bad.

 

 

 

Big Sisters, Little Brother

 

Sweet!

More excersaucer pics

 

 

 

Tummy Time