1. Ellie continued her birthday party streak with a princess party a couple weeks ago and a party at Pump It Up in Urbandale last weekend. Good thing we have a Super Bowl party to attend this weekend, otherwise she would be in party withdrawal.
2. Last Saturday I had the pleasure to be there for the birth of our newest niece, I was honored to be a part of such a special occasion! Welcome to the family, Alida Kaye!
3. Sunday morning Ellie and I went to the hospital to pick up my nephew (and new big brother) so he could spend the day with us. Of course we got to see the baby as well, which was HUGE for Ellie! (The first thing she asked when she woke up was when she could go see the new baby.) Ellie smiled so big as she held Alida Kaye, it was adorable. On the way home she asked when we could have another baby (oh my!)
4. Liam hung out with us Sunday. Although Neve and him are 8 months apart in age, they are about the same size and when dressed in blue and pink matching PJs they sort of looked like twins- I loved it! It was really cute watching them play together and we loved having Liam join us for the day.
5. Do you ever look back and try to remember what you did over the past two weeks, only to draw a blank for the most part? I know we were busy, but I cannot remember what with. This is why I need to blog weekly--- otherwise I forget. Sorry for the slacking. I will try to do better next week. And maybe some day I will post a picture or two!
Friday, January 31, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
5 on Friday
1. Ellie kicked off birthday month with a party last Saturday night. She came home with lots of energy and full of sugar--- she loved it. Nick, Neve and I had a dinner date. I think Neve enjoyed the two-on-one attention she received.
2. I had LASIK surgery on Tuesday. And now I can see without the assistance of glasses or contacts! I love it! I still have to wear shields over my eyes when I sleep, but only for a few more days. All I can say is amazing and I wish I would have done it long ago.
3. Nick is on a biking trip near Branson. He left Thursday morning and will be back Sunday.
4. We were under a blizzard warning Thursday afternoon during the commute home. It took 1 hour to make it just over 4 miles home. See #3 and remember that Nick is our primary driver--- especially during snowy times. Although there was no blizzard, it took 1 1/2 hours to get to work due to slick roads and cars getting stuck going up a hill. It made me miss Nick and being able to sit in the passenger seat during times like this.
5. I am in charge of the inside of the house. Nick is in charge of the outside. This means I do not shovel the snow or mow the lawn. Prior to marrying Nick, I lived in a townhome which meant I didn't have to shovel snow. I do not remember the last time I shoveled snow.
Remember how Nick is gone and it snowed? That meant I got to shovel. Living with a three-car garage and corner lot is not fun when you have to shovel. Thank goodness for a kind neighbor who helped out (or did most of it). Although, in my defense- I could have done it all by myself, it just would have taken a lot longer. Thanks James!
2. I had LASIK surgery on Tuesday. And now I can see without the assistance of glasses or contacts! I love it! I still have to wear shields over my eyes when I sleep, but only for a few more days. All I can say is amazing and I wish I would have done it long ago.
3. Nick is on a biking trip near Branson. He left Thursday morning and will be back Sunday.
4. We were under a blizzard warning Thursday afternoon during the commute home. It took 1 hour to make it just over 4 miles home. See #3 and remember that Nick is our primary driver--- especially during snowy times. Although there was no blizzard, it took 1 1/2 hours to get to work due to slick roads and cars getting stuck going up a hill. It made me miss Nick and being able to sit in the passenger seat during times like this.
5. I am in charge of the inside of the house. Nick is in charge of the outside. This means I do not shovel the snow or mow the lawn. Prior to marrying Nick, I lived in a townhome which meant I didn't have to shovel snow. I do not remember the last time I shoveled snow.
Remember how Nick is gone and it snowed? That meant I got to shovel. Living with a three-car garage and corner lot is not fun when you have to shovel. Thank goodness for a kind neighbor who helped out (or did most of it). Although, in my defense- I could have done it all by myself, it just would have taken a lot longer. Thanks James!
Friday, January 10, 2014
5 on Friday
1. The girls were over the moon on Saturday when Miss Kaitlin from day-care came to babysit them. Nick had a bike ride and I had a baby brunch at the same time. The girls had a blast and Neve may have cried when I took her from Kaitlin's arms at the end of Kaitlin's babysitting.
2. Birthday parties. Ellie has been invited to three of them over the next month. She is super excited and cannot wait. I am worried this is going to impact our plan for her to have a small party come November (yes, I have already started planting the idea-- she is my kid after all and likes to plan ahead) since some of these parties will be rather large and at super fun places (aka Pump It Up).
3. My neighbors and I decided to watch The Bachelor together each week. It is really fun and I love that week can walk to where we need to go. Oh, and I got lucky and hosted the first week which meant I did not have to walk in negative degree weather.
4. Global warming? Not in Iowa on January 6th. We were very lucky and our heater worked like a champ.
5. Since I am studying I convinced Nick I needed a house cleaner so I could devote more time to studying and family. I saved my birthday and Christmas money for it. They came on Thursday for the first time. I am already addicted.
2. Birthday parties. Ellie has been invited to three of them over the next month. She is super excited and cannot wait. I am worried this is going to impact our plan for her to have a small party come November (yes, I have already started planting the idea-- she is my kid after all and likes to plan ahead) since some of these parties will be rather large and at super fun places (aka Pump It Up).
3. My neighbors and I decided to watch The Bachelor together each week. It is really fun and I love that week can walk to where we need to go. Oh, and I got lucky and hosted the first week which meant I did not have to walk in negative degree weather.
4. Global warming? Not in Iowa on January 6th. We were very lucky and our heater worked like a champ.
5. Since I am studying I convinced Nick I needed a house cleaner so I could devote more time to studying and family. I saved my birthday and Christmas money for it. They came on Thursday for the first time. I am already addicted.
Friday, January 3, 2014
5 on Friday
1. 2013 in review: We had a lot of highs- I passed the CFA Level II exam, got promoted, Neve turned 1 and fell in love with anything baby related, Ellie turned 4 and started dance class, Nick continued to work on bikes, bike home from work/day-care with the girls and ride his bike every chance he got, and we lived in our house for an entire year! If the year would have ended on December 17th it would have been perfect. But 2013 also had a major low- the passing of Nick's Dad. I am trying to remind myself of all the positives of 2013, and not focus on the one sad part. Overall, we are very fortunate and I think it is important we do not forget that.
2. On Sunday we had the Celebration of Life in memory of Jim. It seemed like a lot of people were there and people seem to be making the best out of a sad situation. Ellie loved the sweets and both girls seemed to bring smiles to peoples faces during the event.
3. On Monday we had the burial at the Van Meter Veterans Cemetery. I had never been there before, it is a really beautiful place. Just the place where Jim would want his body to be for eternity.
4. We must be getting old (or just exhausted from the weeks prior), because Ellie was the most excited person in our house when New Year's Eve came around. Neve was sick, so our evening was pretty laid back. Ellie and I did stop over to the neighbors for an hour, just enough time for her to have some "champagne" aka sparkling grape juice with her friends and still make it home in time for her normal early bedtime.
5. Sadly, I will admit I was ready to go back to work on Thursday. I realize that I, like the girls, need a routine. I am glad we have that routine back.
2. On Sunday we had the Celebration of Life in memory of Jim. It seemed like a lot of people were there and people seem to be making the best out of a sad situation. Ellie loved the sweets and both girls seemed to bring smiles to peoples faces during the event.
3. On Monday we had the burial at the Van Meter Veterans Cemetery. I had never been there before, it is a really beautiful place. Just the place where Jim would want his body to be for eternity.
4. We must be getting old (or just exhausted from the weeks prior), because Ellie was the most excited person in our house when New Year's Eve came around. Neve was sick, so our evening was pretty laid back. Ellie and I did stop over to the neighbors for an hour, just enough time for her to have some "champagne" aka sparkling grape juice with her friends and still make it home in time for her normal early bedtime.
5. Sadly, I will admit I was ready to go back to work on Thursday. I realize that I, like the girls, need a routine. I am glad we have that routine back.
Friday, December 27, 2013
"done with blogging" aka 5 on Friday?
Last weekend my mom asked if I was done with blogging... I guess that was her way of saying I was slacking in the on-line update department. I cannot argue, I am. So here it goes... again...
1. The girls day-care Holiday Program a few weeks ago was super cute. Neve stood on stage and looked semi-disgusted with the whole event (she was SO OVER all those people looking at her). Ellie loved it was so proud of herself. Liam was one of the girls' guests and he thought it was pretty cool (not sure which he liked more, eating treats with Grandpa or watching the girls on stage). Afterwards we all went out for dinner at Ellie's favorite place- Jethros. Should I be concerned that Ellie knows exactly what she wants to order from the moment she sits down?
2. On the morning of the 18th our lives changed. Nick and I both had vacation time to use up, so we took the day off to do 'fun things' (cardmaking for me and biking for Nick). We were not ready for what actually occurred. Nick hadn't heard from his dad in a few days, so he went to check up on him. Unfortunately, Nick found that his dad had passed away at the age of 64. The next few days were mentally and physically exhausting, and sort of a blur. We are currently learning more about funerals and estates than we were/are ready to learn at the age of 34. This weekend is Nick's Dad's Celebration of Life and on Monday he will be buried at the Van Meter Veteran's Cemetery. It is sure to be a rough weekend, and we are thankful for all the love and support we have received thus far. Keep sending the thoughts and prayers our way, we need them.
3. Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with my family. It was nice for that break and being able to think about something other than the loss of Nick's Dad. My brother and his family in Iowa City were not able to make it due to weather. They were missed, but we would rather they stay home and be safe then try to make it and have something happen on the way. We had fun and the girls loved the time they had with their cousins (even if Ellie did not last very long during Cousin Campout).
4. We started Christmas Eve with an afternoon trip to the bike shop for the bike shop Christmas party, and then headed onto Ames for Christmas with Nick's Mom. My plan to have the girls sleep on the way to Ames failed, although Neve did take a short nap at Grandma and Grandpa Thorson's house. The girls had a blast opening up gifts, even if Neve was done after two of them. I enjoyed the kumla and left stuffed! We put the PJ's Santa had brought the girls on and ventured back home, the plan being that they would fall asleep in the car... Once again, the plan failed as they were both awake when we got home. I guess they were showing me that they didn't want to miss a thing!
5. Christmas Day we opened Santa gifts and had our annual turnover breakfast. Then we headed to church for the quick and semi-empty 9AM Christmas Day service (love that we can show up at normal time and find amazing seats!). Although it is a rush between getting up, playing with toys, eating breakfast and getting to church, it really is nice to avoid the crowds and be able to focus on the real meaning of Christmas first thing Christmas morning. Nick's Dad was supposed to be with us Christmas afternoon, and I think he was in spirit. We had a few gifts we had purchased for him from our trip to MN, so the girls had one final thing to remember him by, including one of the few items Ellie really wanted (which she had told him when he visited a few weeks back and asked her what she wanted for Christmas). It was a rough day, but we made the most of it and Ellie's excitement helped more than she will ever know. Overall, we had a good Christmas. Not great like it was supposed to be, but good. It is fun to see Christmas through a child's eyes and I am so glad we have those two little ones to remind us of the magic that is Christmas. Looking at them makes everything better.
1. The girls day-care Holiday Program a few weeks ago was super cute. Neve stood on stage and looked semi-disgusted with the whole event (she was SO OVER all those people looking at her). Ellie loved it was so proud of herself. Liam was one of the girls' guests and he thought it was pretty cool (not sure which he liked more, eating treats with Grandpa or watching the girls on stage). Afterwards we all went out for dinner at Ellie's favorite place- Jethros. Should I be concerned that Ellie knows exactly what she wants to order from the moment she sits down?
2. On the morning of the 18th our lives changed. Nick and I both had vacation time to use up, so we took the day off to do 'fun things' (cardmaking for me and biking for Nick). We were not ready for what actually occurred. Nick hadn't heard from his dad in a few days, so he went to check up on him. Unfortunately, Nick found that his dad had passed away at the age of 64. The next few days were mentally and physically exhausting, and sort of a blur. We are currently learning more about funerals and estates than we were/are ready to learn at the age of 34. This weekend is Nick's Dad's Celebration of Life and on Monday he will be buried at the Van Meter Veteran's Cemetery. It is sure to be a rough weekend, and we are thankful for all the love and support we have received thus far. Keep sending the thoughts and prayers our way, we need them.
3. Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with my family. It was nice for that break and being able to think about something other than the loss of Nick's Dad. My brother and his family in Iowa City were not able to make it due to weather. They were missed, but we would rather they stay home and be safe then try to make it and have something happen on the way. We had fun and the girls loved the time they had with their cousins (even if Ellie did not last very long during Cousin Campout).
4. We started Christmas Eve with an afternoon trip to the bike shop for the bike shop Christmas party, and then headed onto Ames for Christmas with Nick's Mom. My plan to have the girls sleep on the way to Ames failed, although Neve did take a short nap at Grandma and Grandpa Thorson's house. The girls had a blast opening up gifts, even if Neve was done after two of them. I enjoyed the kumla and left stuffed! We put the PJ's Santa had brought the girls on and ventured back home, the plan being that they would fall asleep in the car... Once again, the plan failed as they were both awake when we got home. I guess they were showing me that they didn't want to miss a thing!
5. Christmas Day we opened Santa gifts and had our annual turnover breakfast. Then we headed to church for the quick and semi-empty 9AM Christmas Day service (love that we can show up at normal time and find amazing seats!). Although it is a rush between getting up, playing with toys, eating breakfast and getting to church, it really is nice to avoid the crowds and be able to focus on the real meaning of Christmas first thing Christmas morning. Nick's Dad was supposed to be with us Christmas afternoon, and I think he was in spirit. We had a few gifts we had purchased for him from our trip to MN, so the girls had one final thing to remember him by, including one of the few items Ellie really wanted (which she had told him when he visited a few weeks back and asked her what she wanted for Christmas). It was a rough day, but we made the most of it and Ellie's excitement helped more than she will ever know. Overall, we had a good Christmas. Not great like it was supposed to be, but good. It is fun to see Christmas through a child's eyes and I am so glad we have those two little ones to remind us of the magic that is Christmas. Looking at them makes everything better.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
5 on ... well, let's just say I am a little behind.
Or a lot behind considering the last "5 on Friday" was before Thanksgiving. I guess it looks like I have some catching up to do. So here it goes:
1. We battled Hand, Foot and Mouth with Neve prior to Thanksgiving. It was not fun and it forced us to cancel our "Thanksmas" with friends. But, Neve's attitude was amazing and there will be plenty of other get-togethers to be had.
2. The illness did not stop us from being able to take our family trip up to Minnesota (although it was undecided until the morning of!) the week of Thanksgiving. We drove up during nap-time and hit the Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America for dinner. Neve was not a fan of the thunderstorms, but Ellie thought it was pretty neat. Afterwards we went to the Disney Store and the girls got to pick out a toy (and we may have picked up a couple for Grandpa to give the girls for Christmas as well--- love the Toy Story toys they had there!). Then it was time for Neve to go to bed and Ellie to go swimming. The one downfall of the trip--- Neve STRONGLY DISLIKES (because we don't say hate in our house) her pack-n-play. For the first time EVER, we ended up with a child sleeping in bed with us. The next morning the girls and I went back to the mall, while Nick went mountain biking (win-win for both of us!). I picked up some Christmas presents, and the girls and I went to the American Girl restaurant for lunch. Our lunch adventure was amazing, I highly recommend for parents of young girls that love dolls! The girls each brought their Bitty Baby and the babies got to each lunch with us (complete with little highchairs for the dolls). Both girls loved it, as did I. We will be doing that again! Then we took the shuttle back to the hotel (shopping bags, kids, stroller and diaper bag in tow) and the girls went down for a nap. By the time they woke up Nick was back from his bike ride and we were ready to head back to the mall for dinner. Ellie informed her Daddy that we needed to go back to the American Girl store because she "needed a few more things for her baby." Super cute, even if Nick thinks I set her up to say it (which I did not!). We grabbed dinner at Crave (awesome food) and made a trip back to the American Girl store. The minute Neve saw the store she had to be out of the stroller-- she loved playing with the dolls and all of their toys. Then it was back to the hotel so Neve could go to sleep and Ellie could once again go swimming. The next morning we hit up a favorite breakfast place of mine from when I was younger, The Original Pancake House. We had a great time and it was fun to take a trip with just the 4 of us. I do hope Neve sleeps a little better on the next trip though.
3. We celebrated Thanksgiving at my parent's house in Ames. I think there were 34 people total in attendance, Neve being the youngest. Neve skipped a nap, so we ended up leaving a little early with a 'not-so-happy' 1-year old.
4. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nick's mom and her husband joined us for our annual kumla dinner. We had lots of leftovers and were very full afterwards.
5. Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with my Dad's side of the family. It was fun to see cousins that I haven't seen in years, meet new little ones (this was the first time they had met Neve), and talk to those with additions joining the family in the near future (weddings and babies!). If I am counting/remember correctly, there were 11 kids ages 5 and under. Ellie had a good dose of 'boy', as there were only three little girls in attendance, Neve and her being two of them. Given the seven girls on my side of the family, this is very rare.
6. Our tree is up and gifts are pretty much purchased. I think we have one more to pick out and a couple left to wrap. I love not having to shop (aka deal with crowds) during the Thanksgiving-Christmas period. I also love looking at the wrapped gifts under the tree, although I did tell Nick that next year all gifts much fit into a shirt size box because they are the easiest to wrap.
7. On Saturday Ellie and I helped play hostess at the day-care's annual staff dinner. Ellie had a blast escorting her teachers to their tables at the restaurant. She acted like she owned the place! It was great to organize such an event for the people that take such good care of our kids throughout the year.
8. Neve is really into hitting. Sometimes she does it for attention, sometimes because she wants her sister to give her space, and sometimes because I don't think she understands the difference between gentle touches and not gentle touches. We are working on it.
9. I am excited for Ellie and Neve's upcoming Holiday Program at day-care. She has been singing the songs for a few weeks and keeps talking about the stage she is going to be on. We will see how Neve does, since this will be the first year she is involved and she is the youngest kid in the room (and the youngest that will be in the program). I just hope she doesn't see Nick or I in the audience.
10. Ellie and Neve love the snow. As soon as it started snowing Ellie wanted to go outside and go sledding. When Neve went outside all she wanted to do was help shovel. Lucky Nick, he has two little helpers when it comes to shoveling. Why can't they feel the same way about folding laundry?
1. We battled Hand, Foot and Mouth with Neve prior to Thanksgiving. It was not fun and it forced us to cancel our "Thanksmas" with friends. But, Neve's attitude was amazing and there will be plenty of other get-togethers to be had.
2. The illness did not stop us from being able to take our family trip up to Minnesota (although it was undecided until the morning of!) the week of Thanksgiving. We drove up during nap-time and hit the Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America for dinner. Neve was not a fan of the thunderstorms, but Ellie thought it was pretty neat. Afterwards we went to the Disney Store and the girls got to pick out a toy (and we may have picked up a couple for Grandpa to give the girls for Christmas as well--- love the Toy Story toys they had there!). Then it was time for Neve to go to bed and Ellie to go swimming. The one downfall of the trip--- Neve STRONGLY DISLIKES (because we don't say hate in our house) her pack-n-play. For the first time EVER, we ended up with a child sleeping in bed with us. The next morning the girls and I went back to the mall, while Nick went mountain biking (win-win for both of us!). I picked up some Christmas presents, and the girls and I went to the American Girl restaurant for lunch. Our lunch adventure was amazing, I highly recommend for parents of young girls that love dolls! The girls each brought their Bitty Baby and the babies got to each lunch with us (complete with little highchairs for the dolls). Both girls loved it, as did I. We will be doing that again! Then we took the shuttle back to the hotel (shopping bags, kids, stroller and diaper bag in tow) and the girls went down for a nap. By the time they woke up Nick was back from his bike ride and we were ready to head back to the mall for dinner. Ellie informed her Daddy that we needed to go back to the American Girl store because she "needed a few more things for her baby." Super cute, even if Nick thinks I set her up to say it (which I did not!). We grabbed dinner at Crave (awesome food) and made a trip back to the American Girl store. The minute Neve saw the store she had to be out of the stroller-- she loved playing with the dolls and all of their toys. Then it was back to the hotel so Neve could go to sleep and Ellie could once again go swimming. The next morning we hit up a favorite breakfast place of mine from when I was younger, The Original Pancake House. We had a great time and it was fun to take a trip with just the 4 of us. I do hope Neve sleeps a little better on the next trip though.
3. We celebrated Thanksgiving at my parent's house in Ames. I think there were 34 people total in attendance, Neve being the youngest. Neve skipped a nap, so we ended up leaving a little early with a 'not-so-happy' 1-year old.
4. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nick's mom and her husband joined us for our annual kumla dinner. We had lots of leftovers and were very full afterwards.
5. Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with my Dad's side of the family. It was fun to see cousins that I haven't seen in years, meet new little ones (this was the first time they had met Neve), and talk to those with additions joining the family in the near future (weddings and babies!). If I am counting/remember correctly, there were 11 kids ages 5 and under. Ellie had a good dose of 'boy', as there were only three little girls in attendance, Neve and her being two of them. Given the seven girls on my side of the family, this is very rare.
6. Our tree is up and gifts are pretty much purchased. I think we have one more to pick out and a couple left to wrap. I love not having to shop (aka deal with crowds) during the Thanksgiving-Christmas period. I also love looking at the wrapped gifts under the tree, although I did tell Nick that next year all gifts much fit into a shirt size box because they are the easiest to wrap.
7. On Saturday Ellie and I helped play hostess at the day-care's annual staff dinner. Ellie had a blast escorting her teachers to their tables at the restaurant. She acted like she owned the place! It was great to organize such an event for the people that take such good care of our kids throughout the year.
8. Neve is really into hitting. Sometimes she does it for attention, sometimes because she wants her sister to give her space, and sometimes because I don't think she understands the difference between gentle touches and not gentle touches. We are working on it.
9. I am excited for Ellie and Neve's upcoming Holiday Program at day-care. She has been singing the songs for a few weeks and keeps talking about the stage she is going to be on. We will see how Neve does, since this will be the first year she is involved and she is the youngest kid in the room (and the youngest that will be in the program). I just hope she doesn't see Nick or I in the audience.
10. Ellie and Neve love the snow. As soon as it started snowing Ellie wanted to go outside and go sledding. When Neve went outside all she wanted to do was help shovel. Lucky Nick, he has two little helpers when it comes to shoveling. Why can't they feel the same way about folding laundry?
Friday, November 22, 2013
5 on Friday
1. On Saturday we hosted a House Party sponsored by Lego Duplos. For more information on House Party, check out their website: http://www.houseparty.com/
2. Monday night we had the neighborhood families over. Ellie has been have withdrawl since she is not able to play with the kids outside each night.
3. On Wednesday Neve came down with Hand, Foot and Mouth. She had this once before, it is not fun--- but it could be a lot worse.
4. We took advantage of the beautiful weather last weekend and put up the outside Christmas lights! With the weather we are having today and looking at the forecast, I think it was a very smart move on our part!
5. We decorated the inside of the house this week as well. We are scheduled (pending healthy children) to host Thanks-mas with some of our friends tomorrow and we wanted it to be festive. I love the holiday season!
2. Monday night we had the neighborhood families over. Ellie has been have withdrawl since she is not able to play with the kids outside each night.
3. On Wednesday Neve came down with Hand, Foot and Mouth. She had this once before, it is not fun--- but it could be a lot worse.
4. We took advantage of the beautiful weather last weekend and put up the outside Christmas lights! With the weather we are having today and looking at the forecast, I think it was a very smart move on our part!
5. We decorated the inside of the house this week as well. We are scheduled (pending healthy children) to host Thanks-mas with some of our friends tomorrow and we wanted it to be festive. I love the holiday season!
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