"pie-pie" love...

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand." 

~Author Unknown

Our little "pie-pie" is almost three!  It feels like he has been a part of our lives forever, but I know that life with little mister is only beginning.  "pie-pie" is our little charmer, and he captures the hearts of the people around him.  This year has been defined by potty training and watching "pie-pie" gain more independence everyday.  We adore you little guy!

"pie-pie"got down to business quickly when he learned how to potty train.  When he makes up his mind there is no stopping him!  "hubs" and I were dreading potty training, but it was a breeze for this determined little mister.  One day "tootsie" went into the bathroom while "pie-pie" was in there and I just had to eavesdrop.  I  heard "tootsie" say, "When you get bigger you can stand up and go potty... you just have to wait until your penis gets longer".  I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.  

"pie-pie at his first Twins game this Fall.  "hubs" is looking forward to having a little buddy to go to games with him.  Maybe "pie-pie" will be up for batting practice too?  Hopefully he inherited Daddy's sports watching abilities.

Chef in training?

Snow anyone?  "pie-pie" loves to sled, but we haven't had very much snow this year.  Thank goodness "hubs" is willing to brave the bumpy, grassy ride down the hill at Grandpa and Grandma's house.

"pie-pie" loves the MacBook as much as Mom.
Watch out buddy I'm willing to fight over it=).

Cheers!

"pie-pie" and Bear-Bear loving spending time together.  Watching "pie-pie" read to his stuffed animals is one of the most precious things.  When "tootsie" has homework, "pie-pie" immediately goes and gets a book to read too.  It is so amazing.  His favorite books at the moment are: Uh Oh! and My E Book.  

Thanks for being you "pie-pie"!  Best said by our pal Dr. Suess, "Today you are You, that is truer than true.  There is no one alive who is Youer than You."  

p.s. i love you

"tootsie" love...

"A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you". ~Author Unknown

Our little "tootsie" is growing up so quickly I hate to blink.  Kindergarten has been a year of excitement and growth, and I am amazed everyday by her charm and spunk.  She is more phenomenal than words can express.  From losing her first tooth to becoming the sleepover queen of Kindergarten I look forward to each and every milestone she encounters.

"tootsie" has become quite the smiley girl for photographs.  She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  "tootsie" is the most determined little girl I have ever know, and she is always willing to take on any challenges.  Her newest goal... travel to all 50 states (inspired by a Leap Frog map she got for Christmas).  I can't wait to take that challenge with her.

The culprit... an apple.  On January 3rd "tootsie" bit into an apple and she knocked her first tooth loose!  At first she was a little scared, but then she was so excited to have it fall out she couldn't stop wiggling it.  The next day she was at lunch and she bit into a hotdog and it fell out on her lunch tray.  She was thrilled it fell out in school because she got a treasure chest to put her tooth in from our school nurse.  News around school travels fast... in less than 10 minutes I had already heard the news from the students in my classroom and the lunchroom staff!  It was a very happy day for "tootsie" until our trip home from school.  She wanted to show "pie-pie" her tooth and as she opened her treasure chest the tooth fell out and we never found it.  "tootsie" was very sad and she said, "Now my treasure chest won't make that beautiful twinkle noise anymore when I shake it".   Luckily, the tooth fairy still managed to come to our house and she left "tootsie" $2.  

The giver... "tootsie" was determined to earn as much money as she could for our school's Pennies for Patients fundraiser.  She volunteered for endless jobs around the house and she even donated all the money in her piggybank for the cause.  She said, "I don't really need any more toys so I think I should give my piggybank money to someone who needs it."  
She is a gem.

Our 5 year old sleepover queen getting ready for her first sleepover at her Kelly's house.  

Our happy little girl!

Thank you for amazing me everyday "tootsie"!  
I can't wait to watch you take on the world.

p.s. i love you

Christmas 2011: Wordle Style

"Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real." 

 ~ Deepak Chopra

Christmas 2011: Wordle Style

Blessed... we began our Christmas extravaganza in Moose Lake with "hubs" family.  We spent time with some of our favorite people, and we shared a wonderful weekend filled with Christmas cheer.

Of course "tootsie" and "pie-pie" loved opening presents, but the highlight of the trip was spending time with their cousins, and hanging out with Nana, Papa, and Grandpa Happy.

Joy...10 days of vacation with "hubs","tootsie" and 
"pie-pie".  I can't imagine a better gift!

A Scavenger Hunt... on Christmas Eve?  We couldn't go sledding or build a snow fort so we had to be more creative.  
It was a beautiful day!

 Projects galore!

All dressed up... no where to go.  We attempted to go to Christmas Eve Mass at our church, but even arriving 30 minutes early didn't work.  When we got there we couldn't even find a place to stand, so we decided to celebrate at home.  We read The Christmas Story and had a wonderful chat about the true meaning of Christmas. 
 It was magical!

Presents!

Santa found us!

Trampoline fun... we had to wait until the next day to put this one together.  3 hours later... terrible directions, but the kids love it!

Bliss...time with my side of the family.  We spent one night at a hotel enjoying ourselves at a water park.  The kids had so much fun!  "pie-pie" is Mr. Fearless, and "toostie" showed us how much she loved posing for the camera.  What a wonderful way to end December!

Good times!

Swimming bliss!

Ode to breadsticks... Reggie and Bauer did we order enough?  Bucko this picture is a tribute to you!

Ringing in the New Year...back to our house to celebrate New Year's Eve.  I adore my family!

Cheese!

"pie-pie" really wanted Auntie YaYa to give him a mustache.

Pictionary

Grandma, Grandpa and the Crazy 8!  


2011 and was filled with happiness and joy.  2012 here we come!


p.s. i love you

The Magic of Socks

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and    behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
~Norman Vincent Peale

Our Christmas season wouldn't be complete without our annual visit from Socks the elf sent to us via Santa Claus.  Socks is a resident of our abode from December 1st-23rd, and "tootsie" and "pie-pie" can't wait to wake up every morning to see what kind of shenanigans Socks has gotten into.  The only thing we need to do in order for Socks to perform his tricks is to provide him with a magic jellybean each night before we go to bed. 

**Note: The name that Santa Claus gave our special little house guest was a bit confusing for "pie-pie" this year.  He has no memories of Socks last year therefore, when we would ask him where Socks was he would literally go into his bedroom and dig through his sock drawer.  Luckily after a few days he caught on.

Socks: Best of 2011

This is where we found Socks on December 1st.  He had a note for us that said, "Need Jellybeans".

Unfortunately "hubs" and I forgot to plan accordingly and we didn't have a chance to get jellybeans the first night.  Socks was a gracious guest and raided our candy jar instead.  Needless to say right after work that day "tootsie" and "pie-pie" insisted we hightail it to Target to pick out the yummiest, most magical jellybeans we could find.

Marshmallow people...what a handsome family!
(l to r "hubs", "pie-pie", Socks, "tootsie" and me)

A friendly game of Hungry-Hungry Hippo

A message from Santa

Apparently Socks wanted an upgrade in his living conditions.

Socks was feeling a little homesick for Santa and the reindeers.

Socks reenacting family fun time.  Every night the kids get to take turns picking an activity we do together.  One night "tootsie" wanted our whole family to have pedicures so we all soaked our feet in special bath salts and painted our toes ("hubs" and "pie-pie" were amazing sports).  The next morning we woke up to a very relaxed Socks soaking his feet in his own foot bath with some of his closest new friends from our playroom. 

Fishing... for goldfish.

Every year Socks brings his loyal subjects their Christmas outfits.  He is mighty fashionable. 

Taa-dah!  "tootsie" couldn't wait to put on her new outfit.

A dapper looking young "pie-pie"(every time he sees a camera he yells "CHEESE!").

December 23rd is a sad day for "tootsie" and "pie-pie" because they know they won't see Socks until next December.  Every year Socks teaches our family the power of magic and imagination.  

"tootsie" and "pie-pie" we cherish and adore you!

p.s. i love you