Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!
We did! It seems like we were counting down the days until it was here for forever, and now it has come and gone. Nolan was a monkey (or an "ah ooh ooh" like he calls it), I bought the costume at a rummage sale for $2.00. Jacob was a lion (or a "rrrrooarrrr" like Nolan calls it), Yaya made this costume for Connor a couple of years ago. Connor was a skeleton, Yaya made the costume for him this year - it was awesome! The boys got way too much candy, and ate a good amount of it tonight already. I'm surprised they went to bed before 9:30 with all of the sugar in them. Nolan got more chocolate on his costume than in his mouth I think. If you watchthe slideshow I think he has a piece of candy in his mouth or in his hands in EVERY picture - half the time it's the only way I could get him to take a picture. Connor had his school party yesterday, a small friend party last night, the boys had a party at daycare today, and Connor had another party tonight at a friend's house from 7-9pm. It was pretty cute, he was so excited about it, but bummed we didn't get too much trick -or -treating in. When I came to pick him up from the party he looked so exhausted and partied out.

Last night we made the candied pretzels you see in the slide show. It brought back many memories of when I used to make candy with mom for Christmas. Connor did a great job and Jacob actually wanted to help. We haven't tried them yet, we'll let you know the final verdict.

Halloween was definitely not the same without daddy.

Gotcha there mom!

I brought home a bunch of Halloween print outs for Connor to work on (coloring, mazes, match, etc...). I took them out of my bag and said, "Hey Connor, I brought home some cool Halloween sheets for you guys to work on". I gave them to Connor and they sat down at the table and started coloring.

I was helping Jacob in the bathroom and Connor shouts, "Mom, these sheets aren't cool".

"What?", I asked him confused and bummed because I thought they were cool. (The thought also crossed my mind that oh brother are we really already to that stage where what mom thinks is cool ....isn't??)

"These sheets aren't cool......they're AWEEEEESOOOOOME!", he shouts with a big smile on his face.

"I gotcha there didn't I mom?" HeHeHe

Carving Pumpkins and Missing daddy

Here are pictures of the boys watching Matt read a story to them on the video he made. They always yell "Daddy" when it first comes on, and Jacob sits there and says "Hi daddy!". They also say "Love you daddy" at the end. It's pretty cute.


Uncle Natey gave the boys a little Halloween package and in it were these monster stickers. The boys were obsessed with them. As you can see they put them on their bellies and wouldn't let me take them off.


So Connor has been sleeping in our bed with me the last couple of nights. He gets into bed last night and says, "Normally when daddy's home I still have to help out, but only a little bit. Now that it's just you mommy, I have to help out with the two boys alot more!". He has been a great help!

We carved pumpkins tonight. It's always so much fun, but man, a lot of work (and I didn't even do a lot of it). We also made our witch punch, Connor insisted on it. We can't wait until Halloween!

We miss you daddy!!

Kelsey's Baptism and China bound daddy

We had a busy weekend.
Saturday Connor woke up throwing up, so he was in bed all morning. He was feeling much better by the afternoon. Matt took Jacob and Nolan to his work gathering at the Oakview Nursery. The boys loved the leaf jump. Then the boys and I met my parents and uncle Natey at the St. Mary's carnival. We came home with many lovely treasures! Saturday night the Huskies played Lakeville North and unfortunately lost. Kelsey, Kristin's sister, Jolene, and kids and sister in law, Molly, and kids came over to hang out with us while everyone else went to the game.

Today we had Kelsey's baptism. Matt and Kristin were great hosts for all of us. It was a house full! Kelsey was such a good girl. Besides being a little startled with the holy water, she didn't make a peep.

Matt left for China right after church today. We already miss him. Connor and I made a countdown for daddy coming home chain(in the picture). I was trying to get Matt to let me tape him reading a book for us to watch at night, but we never got to it. However, when the boys and I came home from Matt and Kristin's the video camera was on the counter. He taped himself before he headed out and we watched it tonight - the boys loved it.
One day down, 13 days more to go!

Fun Filled MEA

What a great MEA weekend we had. We were busy the whole time. I wanted to do as much as we could (while also relaxing) together.

In addition to some of the pictures and stories below we also read so many books, planted apple trees in our yard (well, actually we started them in a pot becuase who knows where we'll want them when they eventually get bigger), and we watched the movie Waterhorse.

Thursday morning we made ghost pancakes for breakfast. Connor was snuggling with me watching cartoons and I asked him if he could move for just a minute while I used the bathroom before I made breakfast. I came back to find Connor walking around the living room. I asked him what he was doing and he said "you told me to move for a minute while you went to the bathroom". I couldn't help it but I started laughing and he got all embarassed and a little angry. He had a very confused look on his face. It was too funny - he took me literally. All I wanted him to do was move off of my lap.

After we ate the pancakes Connor said to Jacob, "Jacob the ghosts are saying...leeeetttt mmmmeeeee ouuuuuttt oooofffff heeeerrrreeee!" Jacob thought it was hilarious and laughed for quite awhile. Connor is so amazing with Jacob and Nolan. He is constantly helping them out, translating sometimes for us when Jacob is talking, he gives in to their "toddler" tantrums, ...I could go on and on. Now, what Jacob and Nolan will be like as 5 year olds is a whole different story! Can't wait to see....Jacob's new thing is when you ask him any question he has to add this "ummmm ahhhhh...." before his answer like he's really contemplating what to do. Nolan's new thing is when he wants my attention, and really wants it, he pushes on my legs yelling "MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA". It's pretty funny.



We did a few science experiements and we worked on some crystal projects. Here are some before and after pictures of the crystal jungle that we made.




Thursday evening we set up our big tent in the living room. Matt was working late so I put it up all by myself -it was a pain in the butt. What we do for our children! ;) We even set up our "campfire" and everything. All three of the boys fell asleep in it, however when Matt came home we moved Nolan to his crib. I was in the tent when they all fell asleep, but went to bed in our bed when Matt came home. However, Connor woke up in the middle of the night and came into our room, "Mommy, why aren't you out sleeping in the tent with us? I thought we were camping out together". So, I headed back out there - needless to say I did not get a very good night of sleep! But it was fun!!!!!!!!


This is either a really cute picture or a really sad and pathetic one. The boys were all playing on their computers. ;)


Matt spoiled me and bought a mantle for our fireplace for my birthday. I am so excited to finally have a place to hang our stockings from this Christmas! We haven't decided what exactly to put on in yet. I'm sure it will be filled with pictures like everything else in our house!

We went to the apple orchard this afternoon. What a beautiful day. It was kind of a spur of the moment trip, fortunately grandma was able to join us. We had a blast and ate our fill of apples, and a carmel apple. The boys love apples and will eat them whole anytime.

After the orchard Connor made us homemade pizzas for dinner.

Matt has had to work a ton this past week and this week. He had to work all weekend. Fortunately for us my parents watched the boys Friday night, so we could go out together. Something that hasn't happened in awhile! We went out to eat at Torrey's and had a great meal and great conversation. It was very nice. He leaves for a 2 week trip to China and Hong Kong on Sunday and has to get the pricing done for the catalog before he leaves. He's feeling pretty stressed out right now. He also has OBA (the traveling baskeball team) tryouts this week Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evening. We miss daddy alot right now and will miss him a ton while he's gone on his trip. Two weeks is a very long time....especially for 3 little boys and a mommy. Even his trip to Europe last winter wasn't that long. It will be interesting. I'm extremely jealous that he gets to take these trips (that are mostly work) to these great places in the world and I don't get to go with him!

It is Kristin's first day back to school tomorrow and Kelsey's first day at daycare. She is going to the same one that the boys go to. The boys were so excited for that. Connor said he was going to help take good care of her. Yesterday he told me "It's a good thing that I'm at school during nap time (as if a baby was going to be on the same schedule as all of the toddlers there) because then I'll be gone while Kelsey is sleeping and won't miss her."

Here are a few of Connor's made up jokes to leave you with for a great week. He gets on a role and thinks he's so funny!

Why did the donkey go camping? Because there was no power in his house.

Why did the watch talk to the wallet? Because he wanted some money.

Why did the blueberries talk to the blueberry bush? Because they were both blue.

Why didn't the skeleton cross the road on the green light? Because it didn't have any legs.

Whether you laughed or rolled your eyes...have a great week!

Homecoming, Wedding, Hands Down Pants!

Jacob is very curious and obsessed lately with putting his hand down his pants and Matt and I are constantly pulling it out and telling him no! Connor found Jacob with his hands down his pants and said "Jacob, your penis is not a toy! Your penis is not a toy! No playing!" I asked Connor where he had heard that from and he said he made it up.


Connor asked Mattey if he knew that God and Jesus were stronger and tougher than superheroes. He thought that was pretty amazing.


Thurday night Matt gave the boys a major bubble bath. It looked like they had a blast.




The boys and I, Natey, and Mattey, Kristin, and Kelsey went to the Homecoming parade Friday afternoon. All the schools have early dismissal at 12:40, so that everyone can go to the parade. That night we went to the football game. Our goal is always to make it passed half time and we made it part way into the third quarter. Jacob is really good at saying Go Hussies (Huskies)! Our babysitter Megan was crowned Homecoming queen and we were so excited for her. We love her!









Saturday we had my cousin Shalena's wedding. Shalena and her newly married husband had a beautiful day and we had a great time. It's always fun when family gets together we have quite the bunch when everyone is there. The dance got pretty crazy by the end of the night

I caught Jacob singing with the microphone, but as soon as he saw I was watching he stopped. If anyone knows the solution to my sideways problem....please help! I have no idea what is going on. It doesn't start sideways.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking... and Dress up Days for Homecoming

I got this forward from Mattey this morning and loved it....

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing,and I learned that those who have something shouldgive to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,"Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking".

FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO SO MUCH, BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES. LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT .
Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

It's homecoming this week in Owatonna and Willow Creek (where I work) is following the highschool dress up days. Monday was Pajama day, yesterday was Rockstar day, today was Mismatch day, tomorrow is Superhero day, and Friday is Blue and Silver Pride day. Here are some pictures of my team having fun with the days. The students are having a blast also!

I Love the Fall

On our way home from daycare on Thursday night Jacob and Connor asked if we could go play at a park. We pulled into the driveway and I asked Connor if he wanted to drive there or if he wanted to ride bike (I think I added a little "it's so nice and a perfect day for a bike ride, but whatever you would like to do" - nothing like trying to persuade) and he chose bike ride. Matt met us there after work. Here are some pictures.

This is the view we had from our front door/porch that same night.

The boys got their hair cuts earlier last week and the girl put some gel in Jacob's hair sticking the front up. He thought he was pretty cute! I did too I guess!

We have some Halloween M&Ms on our counter right now - we are all suckers for M&Ms in our house. It's funny though, Jacob will only eat the brown ones.

We had my cousin Patrick and his newly bride Arianna's wedding on Saturday and had a wonderful time. During the ceremony Connor leans over to me and says, "Mommy, the guy up there like the priest is going bald." Isn't funny what they notice, or at least say out loud! Here are some pictures of all the second cousins and the boys and the video is of Connor doing the Sprinkler and Lawn Mower. He was a maniac on the dance floor! Sorry about it being sideways AGAIN. I will figure it out eventually - I use my digital camera right now to video tape, so I'm not sure what I am doing wrong.