THE VAN DAMS

We're Ready!

2011-12-22T10:40:00.003-06:00

The tree is up and decorated, presents wrapped, and Santa's been visited......we're ready for Christmas! The boys are so excited, Vince has been keeping a tally and marking off the days. Only 3 more to go!

Jack went and saw Santa last Friday at the ECFE. He was not scared AT ALL! He went right up to him and shook his hand when he came into the room. After he had sat on his lap and told him what he wanted (a BIG airplane), he kept wanting to go and talk to to him, but we had to let the other kids have a turn!

Telling Santa what he wants.

Excited about his book!

The boys were very proud of their hard work decorating the tree.

Vince went with Andy to Rotary on Tuesday and got to see Santa then. Pics won't load though.....maybe later. Have a Merry Christmas!

Jack turns 3!!!!!

2011-12-08T19:29:00.005-06:00

Three years ago.......

Jackson Ronald decided he needed to meet us a little earlier than expected (his due date was the 26th)!

His big brother Vince......see a resemblance?

One year old.....somebody needs a haircut!

Two!

And 3!!!!!! Opening gifts at G & G W's.

Auntie Megan made him a Spongebob cake.....he was so excited about it....she does a great job!

Jack with Vince and cousin Kenzie enjoying some yummy cake!

Opening presents at G & G V's

Batman cake!

We went out for a birthday supper.....he loves the Rainbow pancakes at Perkins!

Playing with his new computer.

Vince and I had a fun morning at his school last week.....we listened to Hansel & Gretel, and then made a Gingerbread House. It tasted as good as it looked!

Halloween! (2011)

2011-11-08T21:23:00.006-06:00

Painting pumpkins......

Vince was a Knight Warrior, and Jack was a skeleton! I was so glad that it was warm for Trick-or-Treating. The boys had a lot of fun and got more than enough candy and goodies.

Jack really liked helping Andy with passing out candy...

Trick-Or-Treating at G and G V's!

Trick-Or-Treating at G & G W's!

Duplicate pic.....can't figure out how to get it off...

Jack cuddling with Maddie....

Jack has really been into playing the game Operation lately......he has a lot of patience with it, but doesn't really get the fact that the nose is NOT supposed to buzz and light up. Man, it gets loud and annoying after a while! But, he loves it, so I may just have to invest in some ear plugs!

Concentrating.....

Got one!

Fall 2011

2011-10-24T20:22:00.006-05:00

Vince missed his first day of school last week :( He even took a nap....

But by Thursday he was feeling much better....we had a playdate over at his friend's (Isaac's) house to decorate Halloween cookies. They turned out really good! Vince also had his FIRST SLEEPOVER that night! Everything went great....no phone call during the middle of the night!

It was so nice this past weekend....we spent a lot of time outside. Jack has learned to peddle his trike, so is excited about practicing his new skill!

Vince started Tae Kwon Do on Friday! He loved it, and can't wait to go back!

The four of us went to Zorbaz for supper after Vince's class...he decided he wanted to sit at the bar....must have had a long day!

There were three deer right in a park in town....I took a pic but only their eyes showed up....kind of creepy!

On Saturday we had Isaac over for a playdate and a sleepover.....we went to some playgrounds,

had ice cream before going into the Backyard,

played in our backyard,

and had popcorn while watching a movie before bedtime.

It has been so much fun watching Vince and Isaac form a friendship. They get along really well, and he has a little brother that is Jack's age (perfect)! I feel like he's already learned so much since school started, growing up way too fast!

Busy, Busy!

2011-10-19T20:47:00.007-05:00

This Fall has started out pretty weird this year......temps warm enough for a few beach days in October (the boys and I loved it)! It's cooled down now, but still no snow yet.

We spent quite a bit of time at a new playground in September......

Jack absolutely loves this 'motorcycle'

Vince had a friend from school over to play a few Saturdays ago.....they had a great time!

Jack and I rode down with Auntie Megan and Cousin Kenzie for Cousin Owen's FIRST Birthday Party. The kids were sooooo good during the drive, I couldn't believe how well it went. Megan borrowed two portable dvd's that strapped to the headrests.....I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to be asking Santa for this year! I don't think I would do a long drive without them again!

Auntie Lisa reading to Jack before bedtime.....

Megan made two cakes for the party, one just for Owen......

and one for the guests......(as you can tell, it was a Dr. Seuss theme). They both looked great and tasted even better!

There were some cute and creative snacks and goodies......

Jack and Tonka.....

Owen wasn't too sure at first......

but it didn't take him too long to dig in!

This is the only pic I got with both Andy and I from our trip! (I thought I had lost this one, too.....a lesson learned :( Oh well, we both threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, so we'll have another chance, right?!

Potty Training 2

2011-09-20T21:10:00.004-05:00

Jack started potty training yesterday, and it has gone so well! He had one accident the first day, but kept dry all day today.....what a big boy he is! He has already used three public restrooms, and doesn't even need help at home. He was so excited to get to wear underpants like Vince, it is a big motivation for him. He looks so cute in them, too!

Just got done eating something chocolate and messy....but very proud!

Posing....

More posing.....

Jack likes to put on deodorant, just like mommy and daddy...

A BIG change!

2011-09-15T20:23:00.004-05:00

A HUGE milestone happened a week ago.....Vince had his first day of kindergarten! And he is loving it! His teacher said he is doing great.....likes the structure of it, and he even has a best friend already! Jack and I are adjusting well....I'm still not used to the fact that it's just the two of us during the day, but we're keeping busy, which makes the days go by so fast.

Ready for his first day!

Jack insisted on wearing a backpack, as well!

He was not excited to take this pic....

Saturday Andy ran the Dick Beardsley Half Marathon for the second year in a row. He ended up with a great time, and the boys and I are very proud of him!

We celebrated the run with pizza and movie night....

I signed Jack up for a Tumblers class....he absolutely loved it! We can't wait to go back next week.

Loved running on the long trampoline!

Waiting on the white line with his friend Dillon.

Not sure what he was doing....but he looks cute!

Balance beam...

Rings!

August 2011

2011-08-29T20:15:00.005-05:00

I thought I had lost my camera for about half the month of August, so not too many pics to post. Luckily, it was right on top of the fireplace mantel the whole time....oops!

Vince getting a ride at the Becker County Fair

Jack/Batman in mid-flight

Waiting for the turtle races to start in Perham.....every Wednesday and over 200 participants the week we went....who knew it was so popular?!?!

Vince and I went out on a date to the Chinese Dragon. I was so excited, but Vince took one bite, spit it out, and was done. I guess we'll stick to Perkins for now.....

We have been spending A LOT of time at The Backyard the past month (seriously, we go there almost every day)! The boys just love it, and so do I!

Now we are just going to enjoy the last week/weekend of the summer! Vince has all of his supplies and is excited to see his room and meet his teacher on Wednesday.....nine days to go!

JULY 2011

2011-07-28T19:42:00.010-05:00

July has been a busy, fun month! The weather has been really nice this month--hot and sunny most of the time, which is exactly what summer should be. We've been spending a lot of time outside, whether at the beach, in our backyard, at a playground, or at G&G V's or G&G W's. I can't believe there's only one month left, and I'm sure it will go by fast!

Me, the boys, and Grandma Rae went to the Wahpeton Zoo earlier this month. I had never been before, and was really impressed! My favorite was the monkeys....they were so active and cute!

This baby monkey was soooooo cute!

A very friendly peacock joined us for lunch....the boys even fed him french fries!

The boys were not scared of the animals in the petting section at all.....they both came right up and started petting them and feeding them without any hesitation.

I couldn't resist!

Painting birdhouses on a rainy day.

My niece, Kenzie turned 2!!!!!!!!! Her mom made her a really cute Minnie Mouse cake!

An indoor playland called the Backyard opened this month at our town's community center....and it is AWESOME! It's the second largest in MN! We've already spent quite a bit of time there....it is going to be so great to have this in the winter!

The DL Water Carnival Parade was a couple of weeks ago. Jack and I went and watched, while Andy and Jack got to be in it!

Jack watching....

You can just see Vince's head peeking above the door....Andy's driving.

Jack collecting candy!

We went down to Spirit Lake last weekend, and had so much fun! I really wish it was closer so that we could go more often. A six hour car ride gets looooooong!

The boys spent a lot of time jumping off of the dock.....

The water felt sooooo nice! And Vince learned to swim with his lifejacket on all by himself! YAY! It was a little scary at first, but now he LOVES it!

The boys stayed with G&G V for a couple of days while Andy and I came back home. Andy's cousin's son, Noah joined them as well. The three of them had a lot of fun together!

Oh, and they both got a new hairstyle.....buzzcuts! Just for the summer though!

YAY for SUMMER!

2011-07-06T08:55:00.008-05:00

It finally feels like summer around here! We've been spending a lot of time outside, preferably near water!

We went to Alexandria a few weekends ago....

Vince and Jack played some mini golf...

Having a snack on one of the hotel beds.

Time to go!

I was so excited to get a picture of Jack where he's smiling and his eyes are open!

Smoke balls!

Sparklers!

Smores are gooey....

......and yummy......

.....and very MESSY!

Vince at his first Golf Lesson!

Jack helping Andy steer G & G W's pontoon.

Vince's turn...

Maddie LOVED the water! She'd go for a swim about every half hour.

Taking Kenzie for a ride in his truck!

Showing her a water skiier.

Andy with nephew Owen.

Busy Week!

2011-06-07T19:46:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we went down to Hudson, WI for my nephew Owen's Baptism. He is growing so fast....it's amazing how much they change in the first year! The Baptism was on Sunday, but we left Sat. morning so we could go to the Como Zoo! The monkeys were everyone's favorite!

These monkeys were really friendly....

The boys on a turtle.....

I LOVE Hudson! It is such a cool town.....small town feel, but close to the big city. And it has some great parks for the kids.

This has got to be the best outdoor playground I have ever been to! (the picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice)I would love to have something like this in DL.

Another cool park....

Andy and I even got in on the fun....

Family pic!

Owen and mommy

Sisters!

Tonka, he is so gentle and laid back! The kids loved him!

Last week the boys and I went out to G & G V's and did some fishing off the dock. I could not believe how easy it was to catch one! The boys were so excited. Jack was very curious and really loved touching the fish!

Yesterday and today have been so nice....hot and sunny! The day goes by so much faster when we can spend it playing outside.

At the beach

Vince had his five year check-up today. He needed to get some shots before the school year started, which was not fun. But it was over pretty fast, and Vince did really well.

Waiting for the doctor to come in.

I promised Vince that if he was a brave boy, I'd take him out for his favorite meal....Perky Bear Pancakes at Perkins. He earned it!

All gone!

His stats:

46 inches........in the 95th percentile!

41 pounds.......in the 50th percentile!

He is a happy, healthy, TALL boy!

School's Out!

2011-05-30T20:25:00.011-05:00

Vincent had a great school year.....loves his teacher, made some good friends, and is learning to read! Wow! He's doing really well and is really proud of himself, and he should be!

His class in September.

Each month they focus on a different color, and one of the days everyone is supposed to wear that color....such a great idea!

Yellow!

Orange!

Brown!

Green!

Black & White!

Pink & Purple!

Red! (I can't get the second one off!)

Everyone in their costumes for the "Fall Party" on Halloween

Snow fight!

During Easter time they got to meet a lamb!

Indoor skating rink! (so graceful!)

Valentine's Day

Making cookies.....

Playing...

Pajama Day!

Prince Vince.....

End of Year Program....

Doing the "Robot Dance"

The boys have been able to play together pretty well lately.....the more Jack can talk the easier it gets. It's so nice when they can entertain each other!

Vince giving Jack a ride....

We started on the garage....and of course the boys wanted to help....didn't last long though, after about ten, fifteen minutes, they both realized it wasn't as much fun as it sounded, so they traded in their paint brushes for toy guns and grenades (I can't blame them!)

We needed to get out of the house last week on a crummy day, so decided to go swimming....they had a lot of fun!

I came in to the tv room and saw this! He said he was cold.

Helping G. V. mow.

We had U. Grant and A. Alissa's dog, Olive, over for a playdate with Maddie last week. Taking her home....

Andy and I.

2011-05-20T10:27:00.004-05:00

We had a great Mother's Day weekend.....on Saturday we went over to G & G V's so Andy could help George put the dock in. The boys, Grandma V and I played outside while the guys worked.....perfect! Then George made supper for us....with his homemade spaghetti sauce....yum!

On Sunday we went over to G & G W's for lunch. Jack and Kenzie decided to play a duet....

Auntie Nicole with Kenzie and Jack....

Vince with his SWAT Team outfit.

Jack in the Army outfit....trying out the new gun!

It has been soooo NICE out this week! The boys and I have had so much fun playing in the backyard, going to meet friends at the park, and even getting a tan (yes I put sunscreen on, but we still got some tan lines)! This week has gone by so fast, can't believe it's already Friday! Unfortunately, we're supposed to have rain today and the rest of the weekend, but hopefully Monday will be back to sun, sun, sun!

The boys wanted to try out their helmets.

Andy worked on (and finished!) a project Tuesday night. I guess I'm not going to try for a garden this summer! Thanks Austin and Heidi for the free sod! Now onto painting the garage to match the house....

The boys with their suckers!

April 2011

2011-05-06T20:02:00.003-05:00

The boys in their matching red shorts

Easter morning

Mustaches from Zorbaz

Vince's Mother's Day present he made in school

It's done! Looks sooo different!

Vincent is FIVE YEARS OLD!!!!!

2011-04-13T22:04:00.005-05:00

Vince got to start his birthday off at G & G V's....they took him and Jack out to Perkins for a Birthday Breakfast-He LOVES the Perky Bear Pancakes!

With Odie

Then the Windloss side came over to celebrate in the afternoon....

Vince wanted an Army themed cake...

He's been asking for grenades for months....and finally got them!

Jack trying out Vince's new scooter!

Jack and U. Chad having an after-dinner toast.

Family pic

Jack giving Cousin Kenzie hugs before she goes home....so cute!

Jack playing Pac Man the next morning

Camo cake at G & G V's

Blowing out the candles

Posing with his new golf clubs

Going to try them out with Daddy

Jack got some practice in too

Nice form!

It's been so exciting being able to play outside!

Spring!?!?

2011-04-04T10:08:00.006-05:00

The Groundhog was WRONG! It still looks and feels like winter, but hopefully that will be finally changing soon....forecast for later this week......40's! I'm really hoping the snow will be gone soon, and the yard ready to go out and play in. Right now it's just disgusting....we went and played in the backyard yesterday......gross. The boys don't seem to mind it, although Vince has been saying he's ready for the snow to be gone for quite a while now. He also would like to move to Hawaii (sounds good to me!).

We've been trying to keep entertained, but it's getting tough.....the boys and I have had quite the cold the past six weeks, so we've been stuck inside a lot. It goes away, then comes back, goes away, then back again.....very annoying! I finally got over mine, but now the boys just got theirs back this morning. Yikes!

Vince had Kindergarten Round-Up last week--very exciting! He is definitely ready!

Went to the circus last week......made it to intermission--not bad!

Jack not feeling very well : (

Souvenirs from the circus (neither work anymore)

Dance Party!

Airplane!

Winter...

2011-02-25T15:41:00.008-06:00

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted...oops! I wish I could say it's been due to the incredibly busy and fun winter we've been having, but that's not the case.....we have cabin fever so bad! Can't wait for Spring to come and be able to go and play outside. I think the fact that we had a week or so where we saw temps in the 40s....in February!, is making it worse.....we know what we're missing! But I'm hoping the Groundhog is right this year and Spring comes early.

Right now we are sick. We went to McDonald's last Thursday and played at Playland, which I swear we get sick every time we go there! The next day Vince had a runny nose, and it's just progressed from there. I will swear off Playland, but from experience, we'll probably go back in a couple of months....and get sick again.....I'll let you know....

Both of the boys are growing up so fast.....tonight Jack graduated from liquid Tylenol to tablets. I know it shouldn't seem like a big deal, but for some reason it was for me tonight. He was a little hesitant to try one at first, but when he did, he said "I love them". That's one of his new phrases lately......he'll either say that, or "I don't like it". He's also started correcting me....when I tell him that he's "silly", he says "I'm not silly, I'm funny!". So cute! He is talking so well now, which makes things soooo much easier! He also started wearing Pull-Ups about a month ago. One day he just decided that he wanted to start going "potty" in his chair.....I didn't expect to start thinking about potty training until summer, but if he wants to, then we'll just go with it! I've heard that younger siblings often do things earlier than their oldest, and I've definitely found this to be true with Jack. He wants to be just like his big brother!

Vince is doing really well at school....loves going to play with his friends. I took him in for his Pre-K screening....so crazy that he'll be in Kindergarten in six months! And he'll be going to the same school that Andy and I went to. Even more crazy! And we have another big first.....he got invited to his first birthday party! It's tomorrow, so I'm really hoping that we'll be feeling good enough to go. He has also graduated to the 'Boys' section in clothes. No more Toddler sizes for him! Again, I don't know why it seems like such a big deal, but this one has hit hard. I just know I'm going to be a mess this fall on his first day of school....I hope I don't embarrass him.

Even though it's been a slow month, we have been able to fit some fun into it......

We went and stayed at a hotel for G V.'s birthday...it had a water park in it, so the boys had a lot of fun!

Ready to go swimming!

While we had warm temps we took advantage and got some outdoor playtime....

Jack and his "camera smile" face.

Last weekend we needed to get out of the house, so we decided to go up to Fargo and check out the Children's Museum.....

Jack brushing a big tooth.

Vince checking out the bees.

Jack milking a cow.

The boys were tuckered out....they both slept the whole way home.

Oh, and notice that the captions are all where they should be.....I've finally figured it out! Go me!

Jack 24 Month Appt

2011-01-10T19:43:00.005-06:00

Jack had his 24 month check up on Friday. His stats are:

Height = 33.5 in

Weight = 23 lb 11 oz

Head = 48 cm

Everything looks good--he's a healthy, growing boy!

I snuck some pictures of Jack napping....he now loves to take his naps in Andy and I's bed, which is fine, as long as he sleeps in his bed at night. The four essentials while sleeping: paci, blankie, pillow pet and Curious George.

The boys being silly with a couple of wigs left over from Halloween. Is it just me, or would Jack have made a pretty cute girl?

Vince all bundled up to go and play in the snow.

X-MAS 2010

2011-01-06T21:58:00.004-06:00

Since the boys had been soooo good, Santa decided to come a night early this year--unfortunately, we forgot to tell Vince the protocol of what should happen in the morning. Jack came and woke up Andy and I up, so I decided to go and wake up Vince while they were getting dressed....except he was up and downstairs already.....had moved all of the presents from under the tree to the tv room, and had opened most of them up already! I tried to be mad, but when I came in he was sooo excited, and genuinely did not know that he did anything wrong....oh well, Jack didn't seem to care one bit, and I didn't have a camera, so it's not like we missed any picture opportunities! Santa brought the boys what they asked for....binoculars and a pillow pet!

On Christmas Day, my side of the family came over to our house....lots of good food, presents, and fun!

The next day we went over to G and G V's to join them and Grant and Alissa (who just moved back from Utah!).

Daddy and his boys eating popcorn! Vince and Jack fingerpainting.

The Van Dam Band!

My cute nephew Owen!

It was a fun month, but I'm glad that the holidays are over, and things can get back to normal again. Vince went back to school this week, and Andy and I are starting our couples' curling league on Monday nights! We're on a team with Grant and Alissa--this should be interesting! I'm just excited to get out and socialize....wish us luck!

Santa!

2010-12-19T14:41:00.004-06:00

We went and saw Santa a week before Christmas.....both boys did great! Vince went right up and told him what he wanted (binoculars). Jack was a little shy at first, but once he saw the candy cane, he must have thought it was worth it! Jack told Santa what he wanted, as well-a pillow pet.

Happy Birthday Jack!

2010-12-08T10:52:00.010-06:00

Today Jack is 2 years old!!! He is really becoming a little boy now-definitely not a baby anymore! He is talking very well--we can understand a lot of what he is saying, but there are still words/phrases that we just have no clue, that's when we usually just nod and say 'yes'. He also LOVES to help!

A couple of weeks ago Jack started to climb out of his crib, so we set up a gate at his bedroom doorway and brought in Vince's old toddler bed. He's been sleeping in it pretty well, so I think we're going to take out the crib this weekend--this is going to be really weird for me, I didn't think we'd be doing this for at least another six months!

We're not doing anything special today---we celebrated with my side during Thanksgiving, and with G & G V on Sunday. Unfortunately, my camera finally died so I don't have any new pics : (

(The above pics are from G V's camera)

Our household has not been very much fun the past few days---Jack started it off with getting sick on Sat., Vince got it Sun., Andy on Monday, and I got it yesterday. It only lasts 24 hours, so we're pretty much back to normal today---Andy went back to work, and Vince back to school. We've heard of quite a few other people having the same thing. Hello flu season!

This school year has been going by so fast! Vince is having a great year so far--behaving very well and even has a best friend! His teacher says that he and one of the boys are pretty much glued at the hip.

Return to Snow

2010-11-24T15:23:00.004-06:00

Andy and I went to Mexico and had a great time.....mostly relaxing on the beach, which is exactly what we wanted to do! Glad to be home-I really missed the boys this time, but hard to come back to this weather.....why, why, WHY do we live here?!?! Every winter confirms more and more for me that Andy and I are going to be snowbirds as soon as we are able to (which is quite a ways away, but just thinking about it helps).

Vince and Jack decided to switch costumes.

Vince and Maddie cuddling. Makenzie and Jack playing.

Celebrating Andy's birthday!

Went exploring on our anniversary----8 YEARS!

Halloween!

2010-10-31T20:45:00.005-05:00

We had a busy, tiring, but fun Halloween! We headed over to the mall at 2:00 to kick off the day, then went to G. and G. W.'s, next over to G. and G. V.'s, then back home to go trick-or-treating. The boys were sooo tired by the end of the day, but had a lot of fun, and of course were excited about all of the goodies they got!

Vince ready for his costume party at school. Jack and Vince in their costumes!

Heading into the mall....

Trying to take pictures at G and G W's. Jack had his first sucker.....he loved it!

The boys with their suckers. Vince didn't want to smile for pictures.....he didn't think that "Sargeant Van Dam" would.

Trick-or-Treating!

Andy and I dressed up and went out on Saturday night.....we were Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction. We had never really done that since we've been married, so we were excited and had a lot of fun!

Cousin Owen came for a visit this weekend....he's smiling already!

Vince was talking with Uncle Greg about what he was going to be for Halloween on Monday night, and Greg asked if he was going to wear face paint. A few minutes later he went into the bathroom....I didn't think anything of it. When he emerged, he had colored his face with a blue crayon! Luckily, it was washable and came off very easily with a wipe!

Yeehaw!

2010-10-24T21:05:00.005-05:00

Jack sitting on the potty. The boys playing in the dirt.

More dirt... Jack watching Vince play a game on the computer.

Jack got quite the owie....he looked like he had been in a boxing match with a cut on the bridge of his nose, swollen up, and two black eyes! I was really worried that he had broken it, but it's healing well, and seems to be fine. We call him our little ER boy! He's very daring, but also clumsy, which doesn't make for the safest combination!

My niece Makenzie has been over this past week to play! I think it's been really good for Jack to interact with someone younger than him.....lots of learning to share and to take turns! Jack was so tuckered out that he fell asleep in Andy's chair while Vince was at school and Makenzie was taking her morning nap....he must have had too much fun!

Jack ate yogurt last week! Twice! He would never even try it until Makenzie was eating it...now he loves it! Yay! I was so excited!

Owen!

2010-10-10T21:47:00.004-05:00

This weekend my sister and I went down to see our new nephew! He is so cute and loves to cuddle (which suited me just fine)!

Jack hanging out in his bathrobe after a bath.

Jack fell asleep...I had to wake him up to go get Vince from school!

Vince burying his gun in a big pile of leaves. The boys watching Andy use the leaf blower.

Cute little Owen!

Owen and Auntie Nicole.

I'm an Auntie again!

2010-09-28T19:55:00.004-05:00

First of all, my first nephew was born today! Today was his due date, which I think is very rare! He's such a punctual boy already. Owen Ryan, 7 lbs, 12 oz. He is VERY cute and has a lot of hair! Both mommy and Owen are doing great. Can't wait to meet him next weekend!

Grandpa G. took Vince and I for our first sailboat ride. Vince was pretending he was a pirate.

I got flowers for my birthday....Jack with his "smiley camera face"

Andy decided to tear down the playhouse in our backyard. He's been working really hard this weekend to get it done. Luckily, some friends came and helped. He took what could be saved up to the hunting land to hopefully use to build something up there. I think I'm going to start a garden next spring where it was...we'll see how it goes!

We also have had someone over replacing some siding (the black is where new siding is going on). It turned out to be a bigger project than expected, but we're really glad we did it. Now we need to have someone come and paint it, and we should be done with outside projects for a while. We're excited to see the end result!

We also have our first cold of the school year right now. Vince is coughing a lot today, and has a rash, which he's never had before. A trip to the doctor might be happening later this week, we'll just have to see how it goes. The only bad thing about Vince being in school is all of the germs that he picks up! It's going great, though. He really loves school.

Back To School!

2010-09-12T20:52:00.002-05:00

Vince has finished his first week of school already! His teacher said he's been doing really well. I was looking back at some older pictures and can't believe how much he's changed in a year. He is growing up so fast, and has learned so much (too much, sometimes)! He is such a smart and outgoing boy, and quite the charmer!

Vince on the first day of school last year.

This year....

The boys got Happy Meals for a treat.

Andy ran the Dick Beardsley Half Marathon on Saturday! It was his first, and he did really well. His time was 1:41 (which is very good, I guess). Luckily, their route went down our street, so we got to go out and cheer him on from our front yard. We are very proud of him!

Today we out to the land and did a little exploring. Jack and Vince really loved it....they are definitely outdoor boys!

Goodbye August!

2010-09-01T20:07:00.003-05:00

We've had a fun August! Spent as much time outside as we could. School starts in one week....and we are all very excited! It will be nice to get back into a schedule again.

Took the boys puddle jumping! They needed to break in their golashes(sp?) from G. W.!

The whole family went for a walk at the Sucker Creek Preserve.

Riding in the new toy from G. and G. W! In the second picture I asked Jack to smile...and that's what I got!

Cute Pic...

2010-08-11T21:03:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to post this for a while.....I don't think I have to explain why.

We Fest

2010-08-09T19:49:00.004-05:00

Andy and I decided to go all out for We Fest this year, which we've never done. We went in on a campsite with some friends, so was able to have a place to go and hang out, which was perfect for us because neither of us likes country music. We had a lot of fun....and really enjoyed a 'staycation' while the boys went and stayed at G and G W's and G and G V's. Thank you so much for taking the boys! It sounds like they both had a ton of fun!

Andy took Jack and Vince tubing for the first time....

Vince and Andy made a pizza.... Jack really enjoying a piece of chocolate cake!

The boys wiping up some water (is it just me, or is Jack's expression a little creepy?)

Vince cleaned his plate! (of green beans, of all things!) G and G V made a great sandbox for the boys to play in.

Birthday Party and the Fair!

2010-07-28T21:53:00.004-05:00

This past week my niece Makenzie turned one! Her parents had a fun party with lots of family, friends, food and cake.

Me and the birthday girl! She did NOT enjoy wearing her party hat.

But she did enjoy the cake! Post-cake bath.

Jack took a little nap while grandpa pushed him in the swing. Both of the boys were so tuckered out that they slept on the way home....

The Becker County Fair started today, so we went and had a great time.....both of the boys

LOVED the pony rides...Jack thought they were pretty funny! Vince and daddy on a bumper car.

Vince on some of the rides.

More rides......

Jack loved his balloon.

Jack...

2010-07-23T19:48:00.003-05:00

Jack is getting to be such a big boy! He can repeat almost any word, especially 'no'! He has been using it A LOT this past week. It's cute the first ten, maybe even fifteen times, but after that-not so much. He is developing quite an attitude already, definitely has his own ideas of what he wants and how things should be.

Snuggling with daddy after a bath

Clapping! He just fed Maddie.

He started doing this today-grabbing the counter and swinging...such a little monkey!

Vince joining in.

Jack LOVES to brush his teeth.

Iowa

2010-07-18T20:40:00.005-05:00

The four of us went down to Andy's family's cabin (or "cottage", as Iowans say) in Spirit Lake this past weekend. We had a lot of fun and perfect weather (hot and sunny). The last night was interesting-at about ten o'clock the tornado siren went off, which freaked me out. It's a one floor cabin without a basement, so we ended up going over to the neighbor's while the storm passed through. There was quite a lot of damage in the morning-a lot of trees were knocked down and the neighbors had some holes in their roof, but for some reason we got really lucky-all of the trees survived, just a lot of branches on the ground.

G & G V got Vince a compound bow-he loves it! He spends most of his time in the backyard hunting now.

They also got Jack a pop gun....the boys with their weapons!

Playing at Spirit Lake!

June?!

2010-07-02T20:41:00.004-05:00

Wow, the first month of summer has gone by so fast! We've been spending most of our time outside, and the boys have tan lines to prove it! Playing in the backyard, going to the beach, the park, or one of the many playgrounds in town have kept us busy.

Our first ride on the pontoon this year.....Jack sat in one of the chairs for the longest time and almost fell asleep!

The boys getting clean. Vince making sure all of the mud is off Jack's foot.

BIG NEWS! Vince caught his first fish!! We were so excited! It was a pretty good size sunny off of G & G V's dock. One of many to come, I'm sure!

Vince feeding a chipmunk and ducks.

Last weekend we had Andy's company's annual meeting at Arrowhead in Alexandria. We decided to just take Vince this year, and had Jack spend a fun weekend with G & G W. Good decision! It was so much easier. We had a lot of fun....Vince loved hanging out with the other kids. We also had fun at the indoor water park, swimming pool (Vince was very excited that he could touch the bottom), playing A LOT of mini golf, and just having some quality time with Vince. Maybe we'll make it tradition to just take one, and rotate every year. I guess we'll see next June!

Let's see....what else....Vince starts summer school next week. We're all excited for that. He misses seeing all of the kids.

Jack had his eighteen month check-up. Everything looks good......20.6 lbs and 30.25". Had his last round of shots until kindergarten. I think he knew it was coming....he wanted out of the room pretty much as soon as we got in! Poor guy.

Spring!

2010-05-24T19:55:00.005-05:00

Vincent had his preschool Spring Program last week. This time he participated-yea! They sang eight songs, each about a different color. Can't believe this school year is almost over already-only two days left!

After the program, we had sundaes-yum!

We've been spending a lot of time outside, which we all love!

This past week, Jack has really been able to say a lot of words clearly-kitty, hi, bye, mommy, bubble. He is growing so fast!

Mother's Day and Bismarck

2010-05-14T23:17:00.006-05:00

We had a fun and busy Mother's Day! We had the Windloss side over for lunch, and then headed out to Andy's parents after a much needed nap for supper.

Jack has recently decided that he is too big for his high chair, and insists on sitting in a big chair to eat. Which is usually fine, but then he likes to get up on the table, which is not. So that is an issue right now.........on the table with cousin Makenzie, Auntie Megan and Auntie Shannyn.

Being consoled by A. Shannyn (he hit his head with a toy). Vince was VERY sad when everyone left : (

The boys and I went for a visit to a friend's in Bismarck earlier this week. We rode over on Tuesday with another friend (who also has two kids), so we had six kids in one house! It was a lot of fun to see everyone, and hope to make it back this fall.

Jack LOVES going down slides! Trying to help out with the wheelbarrow.

Playing in the sandbox. All six of them....not an easy task to get a good picture!

Eating breakfast. Vince and Tanner watching a dvd and eating a snack.

And this is what we came home to. Needless to say, I was not expecting to see one of our friends, in our tree, with a chainsaw, at 8:30 pm. (I suspect beer played a role in this). Luckily, no one got hurt, and you can imagine how excited Vince was!

Backyard Fun!

2010-04-22T22:06:00.004-05:00

We've had a lot of fun in the backyard the past couple of days....

Vince on the rope swing.......

Andy took a turn, too. Jack playing in the sandbox.

Jack has inherited Vince's car.....it's too small for his big brother, but it's perfect for Jack.

Jack loves to run it into things.......a tree, the slide,

the shed. And he loves to ride on it backwards! Tonight Andy and I were just talking about how Vince is our cautious boy and Jack is the daredevil.....we're hoping we won't have too many injuries down the line!

Happy 4th Birthday Vince!

2010-04-11T21:30:00.006-05:00

We are sooo excited that the weather's finally nice enough to go outside. Vince and Jack just love being outdoors.

It was a little windy.... Jack's first trip to a playground....he loved it, especially the slide!

Vince wasn't scared at all to go down the big slide...big change from last fall.

Jack wanted to swing, too. Relaxing in a chair after a fun day outside.

Jack has no fear....he loves to jump off things!

Vince turned 4 yesterday! We had my family over for lunch. Grilled burgers and brats, opened presents, and ate cake. After a nap, we headed over to G.V. and G.V.'s for supper, presents and more cake! Vince got a lot of cool stuff, and had a fun, busy day!

Vince has been saying he wants a Blues Brothers' cake for months....we had Central Market make it, and it turned out great! Vince's second cake (G. V.'s birthday is on the 14th). Both were delicious.

Blowing out the candles. Devouring his piece.

A happy, messy birthday boy. On his new bike!

Jack wanted a turn.

Back Home

2010-03-26T23:01:00.004-05:00

Andy and I are back from a trip to Mexico. We had such a great time....we spent most of it on the the beach relaxing, which is exactly what we wanted! It was nice to get away, but it's nice to be home, too. The boys were soooo excited to see us, they gave us a great welcoming. There was lots of squealing and hugging.

On the wonderful beach.

Maracas for Jack (he loves to shake things that make noise)

Andy and I walked into a leather store there, and in the back room they had bullwhips! Vince has been asking for 'a real whip like Indiana Jones has', so we just couldn't resist. It didn't take him long to learn how to crack it....he's a natural! (FYI: there are many rules with the whip for safety reasons, so don't worry!)

Cracking the whip. Practicing golf so they're ready this spring.

Vince got a Smokey the Bear tattoo.

G. V. took this cute picture.....

While we were gone, G.W. and G.V. took care of the boys....a HUGE THANK YOU to both of them! The boys had a lot of fun!

Jack had his 15-month check-up today. He is doing great.....18.6 lbs and 30.75 inches!

Fun with Chase, guns and a piano!

2010-03-06T21:06:00.002-06:00

Jack cuddling and playing with Chase.

Jack on his tippy toes. Vince and Chase.

Vince with his Valentine's present from G & G W! Jack had a wild hair day.

Jack loves Vince to feed him. And the big news.....we got a piano! Jack and Vince were trying it out this morning (yes, Vince is naked).

Not too much.....

2010-02-10T03:00:00.003-06:00

Not too much going on the past month.....we threw G.W. a surprise birthday party! She had no idea.....we had a great lunch, opened presents, and just hung out for the day.

All four of us have been sick lately...boo! A couple of us have a little cough left, but it seems to be gone now. I'm really hoping that this was the last round before Spring comes....we definitely notice a difference with Vince going to school this year-a lot of germs to bring home!

Helping Andy blow out the sidewalk. Playing with a HUGE icicle!

Vince pretending he's Jack's 'daddy'-pushing him in a doll stroller. Jack loves it!

Vince with his treasured gun, holster, and hunting bag.

3 Great Christmases

2010-01-07T15:50:00.007-06:00

We had a fun week over Christmas break. We had three Christmases, one on Christmas morning, just the four of us, the next at G. and G. W's on the 27th, and at G. and G. V's on New Year's Day! We all must have been very good last year, because we got some great presents!

Jack LOVES Santa, especially this one. It is usually hanging on the wall, and he would just stare at it, smile and say 'kitty'. I think his beard confuses him.

Andy showing Vince how to use his cap gun........he has been obsessed with it-even taking naps with it!

Jack got a car! He loves to sit in it. He loves to push Vince around, too (what a strong boy!)

Vince fooling around with Andy.

Jack loves kitties!

Makenzie in her Christmas dress-so cute! Jack trying to figure out the golf game Vince got-he soon decided that he was too big to fit into the hole!

With Auntie Alissa (Yes, Jack is in a big purse!) Jack and Uncle Grant-we hadn't seen them for a year!

Santa, Haircut

2009-12-23T19:47:00.005-06:00

Vince went to go see Santa! He knew exactly what he was going to ask for, and loved his beard!

Jack all bundled up. Checking out the tree.

Vince's preschool class had a Christmas program on Monday. I was so excited to see his first school performance! Unfortunately, he was not so excited......

Vince with all of his classmates before the program.....Vince's class singing Jingle Bells.....

Vince singing Jingle Bells on my lap. Oh well, there's always next year.

Jack got his very first haircut today! He did so well....sat in the booster all by himself! Such a big boy!

Before...... What is this lady doing? After!

Jack discovered magnets today!

Happy Birthday Jack!

2009-12-08T16:43:00.006-06:00

Jack is ONE year old! This past year has gone by soooo fast. Jack has learned a lot of new tricks lately. He can say mama and dada, and was close to saying kitty the other day. He can wave, hold his own bottle and eats lots of new foods.

Playing Batman and Superman

Me, Andy and Makenzie at her baptism Sleeping on the way home

We celebrated Thanksgiving and Jack's bday with my side of the family a little early this year.

Jack liked the icing Wearing one of his presents from G. and G. W

Vince helping Jack open his presents

G. V. helped Vince make a gingerbread house.....it turned out really cute!

We went over to G. and G. V's tonight for Jack's bday.....

Andy and Vince helping Jack open his presents. Jack's cake

Vince helped Jack blow out the candle.

October...

2009-11-07T19:15:00.006-06:00

It's been a long three weeks......All four of us have gotten sick the past three weeks. Jack got sick on the 13th, and STILL has a pretty bad cough. He seems to feel okay though, so hopefully it will clear up soon. Andy and I were sick soon after Jack, and Vince was sick last week. I think Vince had it the worst though, he had 104 temp for a few days, could barely talk, didn't have any appetite, and had a sore throat.

He missed his Harvest Party at school, and couldn't go trick-or-treating, poor guy! But we had our own little Halloween on Tuesday night and put his costume on and went out to G. and G. W's, G. and G. V's, and some of our friends' houses. He got quite a haul! Jack and I had to stay home because of his cough, and Andy was in charge of taking pictures.....SO, there are no pictures of him collecting his candy. Lesson learned! Next time I go and Andy stays home. Anyway, Jack is getting pretty good at walking, he rarely crawls anymore. He's also sleeping very well (about 12 hours) at night, and loves to babble.

Friday I got to go spend some time with my niece, Makenzie. She was so easy to watch. I felt like I was on a little vacation! She is getting so big, and loves to watch tv!

Jack is very patriotic! He's been getting into this position lately....yoga??

Helping daddy rake leaves. Wearing Andy's 'Indiana Jones' hat

Vince the pirate! Makenzie in her puppy costume!

10 MONTHS!!

2009-10-08T17:16:00.005-05:00

(I started writing this on the 8th, but am finishing it tonight, the 12th)

Jack is 10 months! We're thinking he might need to go in for a trim soon....he's got quite a tail! And for the BIG news tonight.......Jack started walking! He took a good five or six steps during one of his tries. He was VERY proud of himself! I don't know if I'm ready for this yet, but I guess I don't have a choice!

Jack's tail!

Vince and Jack waiting for Grandma!

2009-10-03T07:07:00.007-05:00

School is going just great! Vince loves to go, and is learning so much already. He was so excited on Friday-if the class is good, a gumball goes into a jar, and when they get five, each student gets to go to the "treasure chest". Well, they finally got five, and Vince picked out a snake. He was so proud, and we were as well. He comes home with projects every day, and I'm saving them all. His teacher is just great-so patient and fun. We really like her. Andy and I agree that she has a really tough job, but she really enjoys it.

Now to Mr. Jack. He can do so much-stand on his own, loves to clap, play ball, say mama, climb stairs, starting to cruise and wave, loves bath time, looking at books, grocery shopping, and thinks Maddie is pretty funny! He is also quite the mama's boy. I left to run some errands Thursday night, and he was not a happy boy while I was gone. But as soon as I got home he was all smiles! Poor Andy!

Vince and I carved a couple of pumpkins last week.

Vince and Jack playing with the Ball Popper!

9 Month Check-Up

2009-09-28T20:39:00.003-05:00

Jack had his nine month check-up today. He weighs 17.8 lbs and is 28.5 inches! It was just a fun visit-no shots. He's getting his two bottom front teeth, we can see just the very tips poking out from his gums.

Naked Jack. He loves to look out the front window.

Jack wearing Vince's green hat. He claps when he's excited.

Vince caught a cold last week.

School!

2009-09-17T21:41:00.004-05:00

Vince has already finished his second week of school! It is still so weird to me, but it's going great. Such a big boy!

Waiting to leave.... I want to go in already!

Jack tried chocolate for the first time...he seemed to really like it.

Jack with his buddy Dillon.

Nine Months!

2009-09-08T08:25:00.007-05:00

Jack is NINE months old today!

He loves his toys!

Yesterday we went to Itasca State Park. The road there was a little too much for Vince-he got car sick about half way there! Luckily I decided to grab an extra outfit at the last minute, just in case. We took a long walk in the woods, ate lunch, and visited the start of the Mississippi River! We had a lot of fun-and the boys were so worn out they both napped most of the way home.

Going for a walk. Stopping for a snack.

Family picture. Crossing the Mississippi.

What We've Been Up To....

2009-09-06T20:53:00.003-05:00

Since the weather has been so nice lately, we've been spending a lot of time outside. Vince has been wanting to go and play tennis. Jack likes to watch.

G. True and A. Bev came up for a visit this weekend.

Jack and I went to see my niece yesterday.

Home Sweet Home....

2009-08-08T09:32:00.009-05:00

Jack is EIGHT months old! He loves to stand, and is VERY proud of himself. He also loves to feed himself....puffs are his favorite.

G.V. and G.V. took Vince to Spirit Lake, where they were joined by cousin Noah. Vince absolutely loves it there, and had a great time!

Andy and I are back from a much needed vacation. We had a great time exploring the area, eating some delicious (and not so delicious) food, shopping, and relaxing by the pool! A HUGE

thank you to G.W., G.W., G.V. and G.V. for watching the boys!

Port Hurcule. The shiek(?) of Dubai's yacht....ridiculous!

Out to dinner in Monaco. At the beach in Cannes.

Chuck Norris's handprint! The view from the train to Italy.

A very old church in San Remo.

Daddy and Vince in their matching golf shirts. Vince had been asking for an 'alligator shirt like daddy's' for months, and we were able to find one while on vacation. Yea! He has been wearing it every day since we've been back!

I'm An Auntie!

2009-07-23T20:48:00.005-05:00

I am officially Auntie Nicole! Makenzie Rae was born on July 21st at 7:14 pm, weighing 8 lbs, 4oz and 20 inches long! After a very long day of labor, and pushing for THREE hours, she was finally delivered by a c-section. Vince and I went for a visit yesterday to meet his new cousin. Mommy and baby are doing great.

Auntie Nicole and Makenzie!

We went to the DL Water Carnival Parade on Sunday. Vince got A LOT of candy!

Jack has sure changed in the past couple of weeks.....he is an expert at crawling and sitting up! He can really get around now. Time to Jack-proof the house!

He also loves playing with toys. He gets so excited, and can entertain himself for quite a while now. My life has become much easier the past month!

Spirit Lake!

2009-07-14T09:23:00.007-05:00

This past weekend we had our first family vacation with Jack. We went to Andy's family's cabin in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The weather was perfect-hot and sunny! Maddie even got to come, too. We all had a great time!

Jack is SEVEN months old!

The Carousel. The 'Water Ride'

On the kiddie roller coaster....Vince was a little scared. He told the operator to turn it off when he would go by, but he made it through and thought it was fun afterward.

Vince's favorite ride...the fishes! Jack hanging out in his Pack 'n' Play outside.

Relaxing on a raft.

Long Time, No Blog!

2009-07-05T21:55:00.006-05:00

A couple of weekends ago we went to the EJ Reg. at Maddens. The first night they had a bouncy, slide and foam party. Vince loved it, he had so much fun! The weather was great, and we had fun swimming, going for walks and eating! Jack was so tired out he took a nap in one the the beds.

One of Jack's funny faces while eating.... Jack fed himself for the first time! It's kind of like a rice cake-he seemed to enjoy it, a little.

Jack loves playing with his toys! Vince reading Jack a book. He is such a great big brother!

Thursday we had a play date with a friend I went to school with, and her two girls. They just loved doting over Jack. Vincent's first sparkler!

Friday we got to see A. Lisa! We had fun swimming, riding on the Jet Skis, and going for a pontoon ride. This was Jack's very first boat ride! He really liked the steering wheel.

Jack can sit up on his own! Yay! He seems pretty proud of himself. Love that smirk!

G. V. made Vincent a fancy drink with an umbrella in it. He thought it was pretty cool.

Six Month Check-Up

2009-06-19T08:39:00.001-05:00

Jack had his six month check-up yesterday. He weighs 15 lbs, 10 oz and is 25 inches! Growing, growing boy!

Lots Of Pictures....

2009-06-17T20:53:00.005-05:00

I think Jack's going to be crawling soon....he's been getting up on his knees and rocking back and forth. Shouldn't be long now!

Jack smiles...A LOT!

Huh?

Daddy helping Vince fish.

Jack's first time in a swing! I think he was more excited about chewing on the strap.

Playing in the lake.

Daddy and Jack watching Vince.

Maddie thought Jack would make a good foot rest...Jack didn't seem to mind.

Six Months! Part II

2009-06-09T08:37:00.003-05:00

I meant to write more, but got interrupted! Anyway, Jack is at such a fun age right now. Loves to play(chew) with his toys. He's very interested in watching Vince play...I can just tell he cannot wait until he's able to join him! Loves his feet! Usually sleeps about ten hours a night...last night 9:30 to 7:30....no complaints here! The past six months have gone by so fast...I'm sure the next six will too!

Six Months!

2009-06-08T16:06:00.004-05:00

Jack is 6 months old today! He is really loving the baby food-sometimes I can't get him a bite fast enough. He is an expert at rolling over, both from back to tummy and tummy to back. Still enjoys the Jumperoo. Always a happy boy, unless he's tired.

Maddie the Hunter

2009-06-04T21:59:00.005-05:00

Our dog Maddie has been quite the hunter lately. Last week she caught a mole, and this week she's caught two chipmunks. Our yard is not safe for little varments!

Speaking of Maddie, she just loves hanging out with Jack, and Jack loves to stare at her-he thinks she is quite fascinating!

Jack is quite the seasoned veteran with food now. He's tried prunes, peaches, applesauce, pears, peas, carrots, squash and sweet potatoes! He seems to enjoy all of it, especially the fruit.

Vince had his first Push-Up last weekend! I used to love the Flinstone ones. We all took a walk to the park, and Andy told Vince if he went down the big slide alone he would get him some ice cream on the way home. Big mistake! It was a warm day, and by the time we got home Vince had Push-Up everywhere! We went straight to the backyard so Vince could strip and we could get him cleaned up. He was a happy boy!

Bananers!

2009-05-26T12:53:00.003-05:00

Vince helping daddy mow.

Jack showing off his flexibility.

My big brother is so funny!

Jack tried bananas for the first time last night...he really liked them! Such a big boy!

This Week....

2009-05-18T20:54:00.007-05:00

Andy, Vince and I went to the Fargo Zoo on Sunday! Jack got to spend the afternoon with A. Shannyn and U. Chad. Everyone had a fun day!

Posing with the camels.

Vince rode the Carousel...he loved it and wanted to go faster!

Vince trying to move a huge rock. It wouldn't budge.

Daddy and Vince petting a mini pony.

G.V. took this picture of Vince...I just love it! He looks so sweet!

Jack is an expert on rolling over from his back to his tummy, but can't quite get from his tummy to his back yet, which is a problem in his crib....he rolls onto his stomach and wakes up NOT happy.

Taking a nap on daddy.

Jack likes to stick his tongue out....a lot!

This is why one of Jack's nicknames is 'Fuzzy Head'.

5 Months!

2009-05-08T08:24:00.007-05:00

Jack is 5 months old today! He is such a happy guy-always smiling and giggling.

The weather's been so nice this week-we were able to get to the park on Wednesday. Vince loved playing with the kids, and even went down the big slide. He's had a cold this week, so Andy and I have been teasing him, telling him he has the 'Pig Flu'. Big mistake-he told one of the parents at the park that he had it! Luckily, the mom just laughed.

This and That....

2009-05-01T21:35:00.004-05:00

Not much going on this week. We've been able to get out and play in the backyard quite a bit, which is so nice. Vincent and I went out to rake the front yard tonight, and there were some neighborhood kids out playing, so of course Vince wanted to join in on the fun. He was soooo excited. At one point we had 9 kids in our backyard! I think it's going to be a fun summer!

We picked a preschool for Vince to go to next fall! Andy and I went and checked it out earlier this week, and we really liked what we saw. Plus, we know the teacher-she is a friend of a friend-so we know he'll be in good hands. I'm really excited for both Vince and I. I know he's just going to love it, and it will be nice having a little time to spend with Jack, just the two of us. I'm also a little sad about it. This is the first step of him going off on his own-it won't be long until he's ready to move out (a little dramatic, I know)!

So excited that Jack likes Effie! When Vince was a baby, he would take him everywhere.

In his new outfit from A. Lisa and U. Matt! Playing in his Bumbo-love the tray!

Love his pose!

Basketball Player?

2009-04-25T09:30:00.004-05:00

Vincent had his 36 month checkup on Thursday. 29.6 lbs, 39 inches. His height is in the 83%! What a tall boy! He charmed the nurses and doctor-they thought he was pretty amusing.

Vince with his new remote control jeep!

Jack in his carrier-looking cute.

Birthday Boy! (again)

2009-04-20T10:20:00.006-05:00

We celebrated Vince's birthday with my side of the family on Saturday. We opened presents and had a great lunch. He got lots of cute clothes from his aunties and uncles, and a swingset from G. W. and G. W. !

Jack tried some cereal today! During lunch on Saturday he was looking at everyone eating and was VERY interested, so I decided to give it a try. He did really well! Since we've gotten back from Iowa Jack has not been sleeping as well as he used to-he wakes up between 4:30 and 5:00 to eat, which is way too early for me, so I'm hoping this will help.

Jack also found his feet!

Now that Vince is three, we have taken his paci away. He is NOT happy about it, and is very concerned that it is at 'the dump'. (we told him we had to throw it away and the garbage man took it to the dump) He does not like the fact that it is going to get dirty and garbage is going to get thrown on top of it, but he'll survive. He's actually handling it pretty well-last night was the first night without it, and he slept the whole night.

He Did It!

2009-04-16T21:04:00.007-05:00

Jack's appt. went well today. He did NOT like the shots, but other than that he was a happy, smiley boy. I even overheard his doctor commenting to his nurse on what a cute and happy baby he is! He weighed in at 13 lbs 3 oz, and 24 inches. He's over twice the weight of when he was born! After we came home he took a much needed long nap.

Smiling at daddy. Taking his nap.

And for the big news today.....Jack rolled over! Twice! He is growing way too fast...

Almost... Yea! Vince is cheering him on (he likes to be naked)

We spent some time out in the yard today, cleaning it up and bringing out the toys. Vince was so excited! Jack seemed to really enjoy it as well. He even tolerated the carrier.

Our First Walk!

2009-04-15T14:05:00.005-05:00

Vincent, Jackson and I took our first trike/stroller ride yesterday! Vince did great on the trike, but on the way back he said that he had "run out of gas". He was a pretty tired boy when we got home. It was Jack's first stroller ride, and he seemed to enjoy it. He fell asleep about five minutes into it and didn't wake up until we got home. Along the way Vince picked up some souvenirs....

Speaking of souvenirs, this is one Vince picked up on the way home from Iowa....

We stopped at a rest stop. Vince had his hands in his pockets, tripped, and as you can see his chin took the brunt of the fall....poor guy.

Jack playing. He loves to reach up and bat/try to grab Tigger. He must have worn himself out! He's trying so hard to rollover, but just can't quite get all the way. I thought he had this morning, but I think he had help from his big brother. (I'm sure Vince was very gentle) I noticed a tooth coming in on the top already! Let's see how long it takes to break through. Vince never had issues with teething...I remember being up with him only one night, so I'm hoping it will go the same with Jack. Not looking forward to his four month check up tomorrow...I think the shots are more traumatic for me than for the boys.

We're Home!

2009-04-13T14:32:00.006-05:00

We are home from a fun weekend down in Iowa. It was great seeing everyone, some for the first time! The boys did really well, especially during the long ride. They were very patient. The only issue we had was with Jack having trouble falling asleep for naps. He's used to taking naps in his swing at home, so a few times we had to resort to taking him for a drive, which worked like a charm. Vince had a lot of fun playing with his cousins. We got to meet Noah for the first time (he turned two in December) and they enjoyed playing the organ at G. G. V.'s and exploring the woods at Uncle Ed and Aunt Jana's on Friday.

On Saturday we went to G. G. T.'s to have a great Easter lunch, and as you can see, it was a big group! We took a picture very similar to this one about five years ago, and it's fun to see how much the family has grown since then.

Emery helping Vince blow out the candles on his, G. V.'s and Bev's birthday cake. Emery and Vince were so cute together-I caught them holding hands more than once!

Vince and Emery playing a fun game-they were the winners!

Alec helping Vince with the Easter Egg Hunt!

Jenny and Jackson!

Vince has already said that he wants to go back more than once today. It's been a pretty quiet day with Jack catching up on sleep in his swing and me doing LOTS of laundry. It's a good thing it's warming up so we can start going outside to play. The snow in our yard is almost gone-yea! Spring is finally here!

4 Months!

2009-04-08T15:13:00.003-05:00

Jackson is four months old today! He is growing so fast. Such a happy baby-all you have to do is look at him and he gives you a huge grin! And he loves playing patty-cake. I've even gotten him to giggle a few times this past week.

We celebrated Vince's birthday with G. V. and G. V. on Sunday. He got his very own camera! He loves using mine to take pictures with, so now he'll be able to take his own! He also got some cute clothes for Spring and Summer. Thank you G. V. and G. V.!

We are off to Iowa tomorrow! Me, Andy, Vince, Jack, G. V. and G. V. all in one vehicle for an eight hour ride-this will be interesting! The last time we made the trek Vince was only two months old and it went great. He pretty much slept the whole ride. We are really excited to see everyone, it has been way too long.

Hats!

2009-04-04T14:06:00.003-05:00

I ordered these cute hats for the boys-I love them!

Vince and I went to the circus on Thursday! We saw tigers, elephants, a tightrope walker, clown, and grizzly bears! Vince was more interested in the souvenirs though. As soon as he saw this gun, he became obsessed! They were set up right behind us, and I told him we could get the gun after the show. Every time the audience clapped he'd ask if it was over yet. Instead of watching the acts he would just stare longingly back at the gun, so I caved and got it for him thinking then he would be able to watch the show, but about five minutes after he asked if we could go home! So we left at intermission. Good thing he got in free!

I got Jack a Bumbo! I never had one for Vince, but a few girlfriends with little ones have raved about it, so I decided to give it a try. It is great! He still loves his Jumperoo (he fell asleep in it again today), but I think he feels like he's a part of the action when he's sitting with us when Vince and I are playing. Thank you Emily, Amy and Meg!

Doesn't Jack look cozy? G. W. went to the cities and went on a little (okay big) shopping spree for the boys. Thank you G.W. for all of the cute clothes! This outfit is so warm and comfy-I bet he's going to sleep really well tonight! Why don't they make clothes this comfortable for adults? I often wonder that.

Giddy Up!

2009-03-31T23:16:00.003-05:00

I was so excited when I looked in the mailbox today-I ordered these cute cowboy boots for Jack last week. They're a little big right now, but should fit in a couple of months. I love them!

Jack must have really tired himself out today-he fell asleep in his Jumperoo!

Vince and Jack hanging out in their bouncers together.

Haircut

2009-03-28T18:23:00.001-05:00

Andy took Vince to get a haircut today. Such a handsome boy!

Grrrrrr......

This is what Andy and I do for entertainment-poor Jack!

Tennis anyone?

2009-03-26T08:44:00.009-05:00

Vince loves to play tennis. I can't wait to get him onto a real court this summer.

Maddie got a haircut yesterday-no more mohawk! She seems to really enjoy being shaved, and I love it because there's a lot less shedding. When we made the appt. last week we were thinking it would be nice out, but NO-it's been snowing all day today! Come on Spring...where are you?

Vince is doing great with the potty training! I don't even have to remind him to go anymore...he just goes when he needs to on his own. We haven't had an accident since Friday! His Pull-Ups are even dry when he gets up in the morning or from a nap most of the time. What a big boy!

Doctor, bath and underpants.

2009-03-23T13:43:00.002-05:00

Jack's cough doesn't seem to be getting any better, so we took a trip to the doctor's office today. Everything looks good-we just have to wait it out. Same with Vincent. So I'm hoping that by the end of the week both of the boys will be sounding a lot better. This bug will just not go away!

I started taking Jack into the bath, and he just loves it! It's so much easier and takes a lot less time than using his tub. He likes to hang around in his robe after...

I came downstairs and this is what I found....

apparently Andy thought that Jack needed to wear Vincent's underpants as a hat. Poor Jack....

Coughs and Runny Noses

2009-03-20T13:18:00.006-05:00

This week has been full of runny noses and coughs! Vincent is feeling a lot better, but has quite a cough. Jack has a cough, as well, but no fever and seems to be in good spirits. I talked to the phone nurse yesterday, and she said this is what's going around, with a cough usually hanging around for a couple of weeks. I think we'll stay inside next week until it completely passes, and then hopefully it will be nice enough to start going for walks. Yea! Vincent is ready to get his trike out, and I think Jack will really enjoy getting out, too. Vince used to love going for a ride in the stroller.

Jack seemed to be getting a little bored of his playmat and bouncer, so I dusted off the Jumperoo, and it was a hit. Jack seemd to really like standing in it and watching the lights. Of course Vince had to try it out first.

Vince has quite an imagination....this is him playing Little Red Riding Hood. Andy or I pretend to be the wolf and chase him around.

Hello Hands!

2009-03-15T21:58:00.005-05:00

Jack has discovered his hands! He loves to look at and chew on them. Next stop....his feet!

Last Friday Vince went and spent the day with G. W. so I could start working on his birthday presents-I'm making him a Superman cape and Batman cape! He likes to pretend that he's Superman and fly around the room, using one of his blankies as a cape. He also likes Andy or I to wear his other blankie and fly with him. I hope they'll be a big hit. I got the patterns cut out and the Batman logo applied, but that's about it so far....Jack did NOT want to cooperate that day. He didn't sleep much, and didn't like his bouncer. I even tried the Bjorn front carrier, but he didn't like that either. Soooo much different from when Vince was a baby...he loved being in the carrier!

I took a picture of Chase tonight....he looks evil! He really is a very sweet cat.

Happy (early) St Patrick's Day!

2009-03-14T15:27:00.002-05:00

Andy and I are so excited to go to our friends' the Rufers to celebrate St. Patty's Day tonight! Last year they had a great party, and we hope the tradition continues. Grandma V. is kind (or brave) enough to take both boys overnight tonight. Jack has been sleeping through the night the past week, going to bed between ten and eleven and waking up between eight and nine, so I'm hoping they won't wear G.V. and G.V. out too much! Vince is felling much better-just a little bit of a cough left, however, Andy came down with a bug on Thursday, and found out today that he has bronchitis-yuck. But he got on some good meds today, and will hopefully be feeling a lot better by tomorrow. He says he's going to take it easy tonight (we'll see).

Sick Boy

2009-03-11T15:11:00.003-05:00

Well, yesterday the potty training went so well--not one accident! But today we've suffered a setback-Vince came down at about 10:00 last night saying that his 'tummy felt icky'. He's been feeling under the weather all day, poor guy. This morning his temp was 101.7, but I just took it again, and it's down to 100.1. Hopefully, he'll have a quick recovery and be back to his normal, energetic self tomorrow. Jack went to spend the day with G. V.-she had a snow day because of the blizzard. He's been a happy, smiley guy all day, so I'm crossing my fingers that he doesn't catch it, too. I hate when kids are sick, especially babies-it's so sad.

No More Diapers!

2009-03-10T10:32:00.005-05:00

Potty training is in full force starting today! So far it's been going really well. Vince loves wearing his new underpants!

We set the kitchen timer for forty-five minutes, and when the timer goes off, it's time to sit on the potty. And of course, candy is involved....one for dry pants, two for going!

Three Months!

2009-03-08T15:51:00.005-05:00

Jack is three months today! Such a big boy.....

Andy, Vince and I went to the Sportsman's Show in Fargo yesterday (I still don't know how Andy talked me into it). While we were there we met someone else with the name Andy.......

For me, this was the highlight of the Show, but Vince liked exploring the RVs and Boats the best!

Holy Hair!

2009-03-05T13:57:00.014-06:00

I came across these pictures on a photographer's blog. I laughed so hard when I saw them--I've never seen so much hair on a newborn. His mom must have had the worst case of heartburn ever. Very cute!

12 Weeks!

2009-03-03T15:28:00.003-06:00

Jack was 12 weeks yesterday! The past three months have just flown by. He is such a good baby-loves to be talked to and smiles so easily now. Vince is a great big brother and is looking forward to when Jack can play with him. For now, he just likes to watch. I'm so excited that it's starting to warm up-Vince and I have a huge case of Spring Fever!

Welcome!

2009-03-02T11:43:00.000-06:00

Hello and Welcome! I decided to create this blog after seeing how neat it was to be able to watch friends' little ones grow and change through their blogs. I also thought it would be cool to have a record for ourselves, as well. It doesn't take long to forget when a milestone happened, and Vincent and Jackson are growing so fast, it truly amazes me! To have started this when Vincent was born, and to have his life documented would have been wonderful, but better late than never, right! Hope you enjoy......