Merry Christmas

I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. this is the time of year to spend with your family and enjoy every minute of them. You can never redo any moment, so for this one time a year it is most important that everyone gets along and makes the most of what they have. It is not about the gifts, the amount of time that you are together, but it is about the quality of time.

Spread the Christmas cheer to everyone. And even if you can't get into the spirit of things, just take one look at a small child and see the joy and excitement that they see.

More Snow

So yesterday we got maybe another 7" of new snow. I really don't care how much we got because I think we have enough already and it sounds like more in on its way for later this week. I picked Devin up a little earlier than normal and him and I shoveled and played outside in the snow.

Ben and I found this Spiderman face mask last week in Mankato. I am so glad that he will wear it because his poor little checks got so cold last time we were outside.
This is the drift in front of our house. I really do think we have enough snow.

And Christmas has started

On Saturday we had Christmas at my mom's house. We had a fun time. We played, then went out for supper and then came home to over gifts. When we got to my mom's Austin and Alexis were already there and I thought it would be a good idea to get pictures done before we eat. Well, as you can see by the picture below, they weren't very happy with me.

So, after supper I thought I would try again. Just what, when you tell them they have to take a few pictures and then they can open presents, wow look at the difference. All smiles!
We got one of our family.

One with Grandma Diane and her three grandkids!

Pat's family!

Then it was time to open gifts. We let the kids open all of there presents before us adults even looked at ours.

Devin and Alexis wanted to help open more gifts once theirs were all opened. Austin was happy playing with his train all by himself. (I don't blame him)

Devin playing with one of his new toys on Sunday at home.

Baby it's cold outside

Devin really likes to play outside and this cold weather is making it really hard to get out. Last weekend we had a big blizzard and Devin and I didn't go anywhere. Ben had to work and there were a few issues so he got to work late on Saturday. But Sunday Devin really wanted to go out when Ben was going to blow out the driveway, so we all bundled up and headed out. It was below zero and windy so Devin and I didn't last long. Nut we at least got out.

Here is Devin and his rosy cheeks.

Man it is cold outside.

Christmas Cookies

This year I have been busy making a couple different batches of Christmas cookies. Devin even got to help me out out. I made one batch to take to the hospitals that I have students at for clinical and then I made some more this last Friday and Saturday. Devin at first just watched, then he just ate the peanut butter, then he needed a knife to help, then we got out the chocolate and he was done (or I should say that I was done with him helping)!!!!!

Working hard at putting peanut butter on the cracker.
What a good job!

Here is a sampling of what I did on Saturday. YUMMY!!!!!

Most of these went to work with Ben on Monday, to daycare and some went to my mom's, some went home with my brother and some went to the neighbors. I really enjoy making them, but the less I have in the house the better off I am.

Devin's 3rd Birthday

November 27th was Devin's 3rd Birthday!! Wow, the time sure does fly by fast. I can't believe he is 3 already. Sometimes I think he should still be a baby. We had a gathering at our house. We had all of the grandparents, great-grandparents, Pat, Robin and kids and even the Groe's were able to join the fun. Devin was is a great mood (which always makes for a better day) and did really well with all of the people in the house. We did a few photos with his birthday cake before everyone arrived. As you can tell we had a Spiderman theme. When we were in the Cities we let Devin pick out his theme for his party.

HE really didn't want to blow out his candles; which was a big change from last year where we had to relight them numerous times.
After a wonderful lunch and cake we started with presents. Devin had a blast opening his gifts.

He was SUPER excited about his new tools!!!!

We got him a suitcase and filled inside that suitcase was costumes. He wanted to wear his Darth Vader costume.

Our new flooring!!

Not only did we great a lot of snow on Saturday, but we also got new flooring. Patrick and his family made the trek over from Jackson that morning to install our new flooring. I am very happy with it and thank my brother and sister-inlaw sooo much. Patrick did a wonderful job.

We started with alot of help both big and small. Once we got going on getting the carpet up, I took the kids outside while I made trips to the garage with the old carpet. They had a lot of fun playing outside and helping inside.

Patrick showing off his wonderful job!!!
Trying to decided at 9pm where to stop for the night. Right around half way there. It did go faster once we brought the kids to Grandma's to play so the adults could work without having to watch them.

Almost finished floor on Sunday morning.

The flooring is all in now and I will post some photos once I get things put back and my new rugs down!!

First snow fall of the season

Friday night and into Saturday we had our first snow and boy was it a big one. I think we got somewhere around 10'' of snow and it was thick and heavy. When Devin woke up I showed him outside and he wanted to get boots on and head right out. We wait about an hour or so before we actually headed out.

This is looking South on Main Street around 8:30 in the morning.

My Birthday Weekend

The first weekend of November we took a little vacation. Not only was it long over due, but it was my birthday. We headed to the cities Friday morning and made our way to the Mall Of America. We ate at Rainforest Cafe, hit Underwater World, did some shopping and just hung out.

Devin really enjoyed watching all of the fish. He was really excited about the sharks.

Devin and Ben watching the turtle swim above them.
On Saturday, my friend Pam's sister got married and we were invited to the wedding. I even got a quick picture with my wonderful son before heading to the reception in downtown Stillwater.

Pam and I at the reception. I was very excited to extend my congratulations in person to both her and Rob on their engagement!!!! I am sooo happy for them!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!!!!!!

For Halloween Devin was Spiderman and he picked it out all by himself. He only kept the mask on for a little while and we ended up having to put a coat on, but in the end we all had a great time and got lots of candy.

Going to Kayla's house

Devin and his vampire teeth!
Devin and Chloe. They were Trick-or-Treating buddies.

And we are off!!!

Look at all of that candy!!

A Month in review

Wow, it has been crazy at our house lately, or maybe it is just me. With the new school year starting back up meant that I had a more normal schedule. which seemed even busier than normal. Life at work for has been good, I finally feel like a teacher this year, but I have more classes that I teach along with having to drive between Mankato and Fairmont. Oh, well I get use to it after the first month. I decided to take on another part time job. I am selling Premier Design Jewelry. Have been to a few parties and have had one myself and I really like the jewelry, so why not! It is a why to bring a little fun money for myself. The only bad thing is that end of August beginning of September is not the best time for me to start something new. Only bad thing is that I have been really busy and not home a lot. That is not just because of selling jewelry, but because of my full time job. Last weekend I was gone to an MSRT Conference in the cities. We (3 senior students and myself) had a good time, but we were all ready to get home. We made it home late Saturday afternoon before any of the roads were closed due to the flooding.

Here is a photo of my set-up for my jewelry shows. Looks like fun doesn't it!!!

Over Labor Day weekend, we went to Mankato for the day and stopped at the Falls and walked around and took pictures.
Devin really liked this spot!

Devin would rather drive his gator than ride his bike, but he is getting the whole peddling thing down.

Towards the end of September a bunch of us girls went to the Twins game. We were able to fly, and yes that is me riding shotgun on the way up to the cities.

We had great seats. They were in the Legends Club and right behind home plate. The weather was perfect and the company was good. Couldn't get any better.

On Friday this month Ben and I along with another couple went to the cities for the day. Melissa and I went and checked out Scrapfest at the Mall of America while the boys just wondered around. Mandy picked Devin up for us and I met them at the football game. He really liked the football game and even has been asking to go again.

The Farm

Last Friday Devin and I headed to Jackson for the morning. We took corn out to the farm so that they could freeze some. He was all excited about being out on the farm. He helped the guys husk the corn and even stayed outside with them while I went in with Grandma to clean the corn. He would husk and then hand it to Grandpa to finish getting all of the silk off of it. What a big helper he was.

Afterwards Tim took him for a tractor ride and he was so excited!!! He even got to drive it. I think he would have stayed on the tractor all day if you let him.
Devin also helped cut corn, well he tried but wasn't very successful. Butter knives don't cut corn very well, but they don't cut little boys fingers either!!

We had a great day with great-grandma and great-grandpa and Tim.