First Swimming Lessons.

Landon and Kadence started swimming lessons this week.  They have never had lessons and I was very excited for them to start.  They are in a preschool class with just the two of them and one other child.  Their teacher is actually training another teacher in, so they have two instructors for the three of them.  The other little girl had a hard time with getting in, so Landon and Kadence essentially had their entire first lesson with one on one teaching.

I was a little worried about Landon as he is the one who is a little reluctant about the water.  Kadence usually loves swimming and has no problem submerging her entire head in the water.  She was a little distraught when she realized that I wasn't getting in the water with her, but she toughened up and was just fine.  I am not sure she would have gotten in the water without big brother at her side.  He totally surprised me and loved swimming lessons.  He was freezing cold by the end of the 40 minute session, but asked when he could go back as soon as he warmed up.

Waiting for their teacher.

 

 Landon looking a little nervous with his hand in his mouth.

This cracks me up.  I can just imagine what is going through her head, "Mama, what are you making me do?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So fun!  Glad they liked their first swimming lesson and are excited for the next!  I can't wait to see how they progress over the next month!

GO TYLER!!

Ryan has downloaded an app on our ipad where he can watch Tyler's football games.  It is pretty cute, Ryan watches the plays in detail (often replaying the really good ones to show me) and critiques the whole thing.  This is usually followed up with a conversation with Tyler on the phone.  It cracks me up and I seriously can not believe the time Ryan devotes to watching the footage.  He just has such a great love for football and a special bond with Tyler, it's pretty neat really.  I wish we lived closer so he could actually go watch the games.

Anyhow, Landon is obsessed with our ipad-I mean really why wouldn't he be?  He usually plays some games, but was watching Tyler's football and getting really in to it (not sure where he'd get that from).  He had actually been watching about 5 minutes before I realized I should grab my camera.  Too funny.

29.

Today marks the start to my last year of my twenties.  It is hard to believe I am already that old when I simply feel so young at heart.  It seems like just yesterday that I was anticipating the start of a new school year at Cloquet Senior High.  I often step outside and smell the fresh fall air and think of volleyball practice, football games, the abundance of beautiful changing leaves, and the smell of my mom's home-cooked dinner after a long day of school and practice.  I seem to have so many great fall memories and I truly think that is why it is my favorite season.

This fall has been equally exciting but in very different ways.  I have experienced the excitement of Landon and Kadence as they have started their preschool year.  I have watched Landon's fall soccer practices and taken Kadence to dance each week.  I have watched Kenzie develop her own personality and meet milestones.  And, Ryan and I have bought our very first home together!

So, as I reflect upon my growing old I realize that I shouldn't be sad.  Not only do I have all the wonderful memories of the past 28 years of my life, I have the making of present and future memories with my beautiful family to look forward to.  I am so blessed to have met the love of my life and best friend at such a young age.  I look forward to the rest of our lives together and it just keeps getting better each day.  I am  also beyond blessed with my 3 beautiful, happy, and healthy children.  Although our lives seem like utter chaos most of the time, I would never trade it in for the simplicity of life without children.

With Ryan having a crazy busy work week this past week, I have had some time to reflect on the past year of my life...

~My baby boy turning 4.  Wow.

~A difficult, long 5 week stretch of single parenting (35+weeks pregnant).

~The birth of my 3rd (and most likely last) child.

~Many restless nights with a cranky newborn.

~My hubby turning 30.  Wow.

~Ryan's completion of CRNA school.

~The process of finding temporary housing in Fargo.

~My princess Kadence turning 3.

~ The 260 mile move back to Fargo and all it entailed.

~My first marathon relay.

~Purchasing our new Honda Pilot SUV which we absolutely love (we are so not minivan people).

~A summer filled with traveling to see family.

~Being offered a great part-time RN position and turning it down because my kids mean the world to me.

~Braces.  Really at 28?!

~The fun and stressful search for a house to finally call our own.

~5 years of marriage to the best man in the world.

I know I am missing many things that have occurred this past year.  How can you possibly remember and write everything down you have done for an entire year?  These are just some major, new things that have happened.  I can not believe how many transitions our little family has made over the span of just a year and we are stronger than ever!  So here's to staying positive about growing old when you have the best man in the world to do it with!

Happy Birthday to me!  I can not believe I will be 30 in just one short year.

A Tiring Time Out.

This little love bug sure keeps my life interesting.  She has turned into a very independent and strong-willed preschooler.  She has not been napping every day since preschool began and has been doing pretty well.  Earlier today, the kids and I were on our way back from a picnic at the park and Kadence decided to turn very feisty.  Have you ever tried to get your children to stop fighting and listen when you are driving?  It is not an easy or safe task.  I had had enough when I looked in my mirror and saw her pulling on Landon's ear extremely hard and than smiling when I attempted to reprimand her.  So, needless to say the minute we entered our home, she headed to her room for a time out.  I was doing some things around the house and purposely left her in her room a little longer than normal.  When I entered her room after no more than 10 minutes this is what I found...

My little princess had managed to fall asleep all curled up on her chair.  I couldn't help but smile.  I just felt bad we didn't get to have the time out "discussion" so that she would learn something from her punishment.  I was proud of her as she did not leave the chair, as she was told.  So I snapped a photo and moved her to her bed where she proceeded to take a much needed nap.  I guess I know why she was misbehaving...she was simply exhausted.

Sweet Pea.

This little lady love love loves to eat-real food.  I am just glad she is finally eating!  She pretty much eats anything we eat and/or the kids eat (with a few exceptions, unless daddy's on duty).  I finally got her to eat some food off a spoon tonight and was ecstatic!  She ate some very berry greek yogurt and loved it!  She was so happy and I just had to snap of few shots of her eating.  I forgot how messy babies are when they eat!  She was eating pizza and I would have to say, she absolutely loves it.  It is the thing that she has eaten best thus far and even slept through the night (which is a rarity) the last time she had pizza!  She has also figured out her sippy cup already!  Love love love her!

 

 

 

 

Fall Soccer.

Landon had such a great time playing soccer this summer (even with a broken hand) that we decided to enroll him in the fall soccer program.  He is having a great time and it amazes me to see that his skills have definitely improved since the beginning of summer soccer.  I got some good shots of him and we all enjoyed a beautiful evening watching soccer.

Look at how hard he was working!!

She does not sit still!!!!!

Neither does she!
What a great night!

Cloquet.

We decided to make a last minute trip to Cloquet for the weekend.  I love going home and we hadn't been there in awhile.  We had a very relaxing weekend and didn't do a whole lot.  We attended family breakfast, had a camp fire, made a trip to Duluth, watched some bad football (well the guys anyway), and most importantly just spent some good times all together.  I only took a couple pictures the whole weekend-I hate when I do that.  Kenzie wasn't feeling well and I was up with her most of the night Friday, so I was pretty tired.  Anyhow, it amazes me when I look at pictures of the 5 kids-that's a lot of little people!  So fun!

My mom and Jill played a game of Disney Monopoly with Landon and Kadence while Annabelle and AJ were at Sunday school.  They had a blast.  I love this shot of Landon poking his head up.

I love love love playing games and have a ton of memories of playing games while growing up.  Monopoly was one of my favorites and I wish I would have had the Disney version when I was young!  Another great weekend in Cloquet!  I love time spent at home.

A Beautiful Ballerina.

My little dancing girl is sure having a good time at dance class.  She is always excited for Thursday night class and loves to put her pretty leotards on and dance around the house before we leave.  It is absolutely killing me that I can not watch her practice.  I am so excited for the day I get to see her dance with her class.  Until then I will keep on treasuring her sprinting out of her practice room-always first-with the biggest smile on her face.  She does this both when she comes out to change in to her tap shoes and also when class is done.  Love her!  Have I mentioned she says dance "class" in the cutest, most unique way I have ever heard!
And then....

I had emailed this video to several of you, because it is seriously the funniest video ever.  I know that someday my oldest daughter may be very mad at me for this, but since she is only 3, it is adorable.  Listen carefully when Kadence has a guilty look on her face.  Hope this gives you all as many laughs as it has us :)

9 Month Stats

This little love bug had her 9 month well check up last week.  She is at a very fun age right now.  I will also say she is the busiest of my 3 babies and is getting into everything right now.  When you tell her "no" she giggles and then claps.  I love her so much and am enjoying the "Kenzie" time I am getting while big brother and sister are at school.  Here are her stats from her check up:

Height:  28 inches-57th Percentile

Weight:  18 pounds 13 ounces- 43rd Percentile

Head: 45.1 centimeters-77th Percentile

Hemoglobin: 11.9 (they check this on all babies and the nurse in me feels the need to record it.)

This is Kenzie's new favorite thing to do.  She is walking around everything and loves to push her  baby stroller around the house.  I am guessing she will be walking on her own by the end of this month-would be my earliest walker.  She has also learned to wave and I think it is absolutely adorable!! Enjoy!  Love her to pieces!

Preschool 2011

Today the kids had their very first day of preschool.  We spent a good portion of yesterday talking all about school.  Landon was very excited and Kadence was pretty quiet about it which made me sort of nervous.  I had a hard time with my little boy adjusting to preschool last year and was wondering if I would have the same issue with Kadence this year.  Here are a couple of things my protective little boy said yesterday:

To Kadence:

"If you are sad at school, then your teacher will read you a book.  When I was sad at school that's what my teacher did."

To Me:

"If I hear Kadence crying upstairs, I will go up there and she won't be sad anymore.  So, don't worry."

So, after a chaotic morning of getting everyone ready, we made it.  We took Landon downstairs to his classroom first and dropped him off.  He was so excited to finally be at school and was not one bit sad when I left.  Then, I brought Kadence up to her room to drop her off.  She asked me to stay and play for a "little bit" so I did.  Then I told her I was going to leave and gave her a kiss and she was just fine! I even peaked in the window and saw her playing and happy.

Phew!  They were pooped when they came home but had many stories to share about school.  They saw each other on the playground and thought that was pretty neat.  Kadence said, "mom, I saw Landon and he said Hi to me, what a good brother."  Love these two little people so much!

Kenzie and I enjoyed our first quiet morning alone.  We made a trip to Target and then came home and played.  I don't even remember what it is like to have just one child. I never experienced that for very long.  It is amazing how much easier and quieter life seems.  I guess I kind of have grown accustomed to the chaos of 3.  With that said, I'll take the couple hour break as long as I know the older 2 are having a blast, too!