Merry Christmas

I hope all of you Have a very Blessed Holiday.  Cherish the family time you have, you never know when that can be taken away from you.

As I sit here in a dead quiet house, I am trying to count my blessings and not sulk to be alone this day.  I won't lie, it's going to be a hard day...but I am hoping to keep busy.
I think I am going to join some coworkers at a movie this afternoon.  I have had a couple of invites to friends for dinner, but not so wanting to do that.  I know they have extended offer to me, but I don't want to impose on their Christmas time.

So, looking back over the past year especially here are my blessings
1) I have a beautiful house and have been able to maintain that stability in my children's lives.

2) My 3 beautiful, healthy children.  I can't imagine life without them.
Audrey: is becoming so mature.  She is a big help to me most of the time....when her and Em are not tattling and fighting!!  She is my quiet one, she is home alone a lot after school, etc and is just growing up so fast.  She enjoys dance, reading, loves singing and piano.

Emersyn:  She is a lover.  Loves my attention.  She also can be naughty at times for attention.  Her teacher labeled her as painfully shy, but I think she is improving as the school year goes on.  She loves playing with her baby dolls.  Intermittently this year has been a struggle to get her to school...she cries not wanting to go.  It seems to be decreasing over time.  She is my emotionally labile child and the one that causes me most concern through this nasty thing called divorce!!!  She is growing so quickly in her reading skills.  She is enjoying being a girl scout this year.  She will re join gymnastics this Spring.

Wrigley: Where do I start?? He is such a momma's boy.  He loves and kisses on me ALL the time. He LOVES snuggling with me in my bed.  He ends up in my bed every night before morning!!!  He loves to be funny and have attention.  He loves Elmo, Little Einsteins, trucks, LOVES Maisy Books.  Thank goodness Santa brought 3 new Maisy books so we don't have to read the same ones over and over from the library!! He loves his sisters and they are still CRAZY about him.  And of course some of the typical boy behavior; he loves to hit and throw.  He spends much time in timeouts due to this!!!  He often tells me "I am his favorite momma!!!"  He knows how to pull those heartstrings!!!  The hardest part is when he cries and wants to stay with me and not go to Troy's.

3) Supportive family. Since my dad's retirement last year, my parents come up more frequently.  They love to help me around the house and their support means the world to me.

4)Friends.  I truely feel God has blessed me with some of the greatest friendships the past couple of years.  Sam and Mona in particular. Sam I met in Divorce Care.  She has 3 boys and it's so nice to have someone who can relate and knows what the single parent life is like!!!!  Mona I met at the same church as Divorce Care in a Women's Bible Study.  She is the one who encouraged me to do ths triathalons.  I can't say enough about these two women who will help me at the drop of a hat!!! I also have many great "older" friends who have supported me also in many ways through the difficult times.  Janet helps me so much with the kids.  She is also a Godsend!!!!

5) I am blessed with a job I truely enjoy.  It couldn't be better hours and with better people.  I have so many great friends at work also.  I enjoy being a nurse and taking care of people.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I don't have any intent to change jobs for many, many years!!!

6) Health:  I count my blessings that I have been healthy.  I am once again setting a New Years Resolution.  Although I have maintained my weight loss and I keep my motivation of working out (3-6 times per week...my diet has really fallen off track!! I am starting up again the New Year and my goal is to lose 25 more pounds.  I plan to buy a road bike this Spring and train for more triathalons!!! 

7) Almost forgot AWESOME neighbors.....in particular, Steve across the street who has snow blown my drive way every time though this 40 inches or how ever much snow we have had.  This is the 3rd winter I have had neighbors who continue to help me....it really means the world to me!!!!  Whenever I thank him he just says "it's really not a big deal", "it only takes me an extra 10 minutes"!!!!
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE  A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!We all have much to be thankful for!!!

Christmas Eve 2010

 This will be a Christmas Eve I won't forget.  I had to scoop about 4 feet of snow off deck to get the the grill, but it was worth it.
My dear friend Sam asked me couple days ago if we could use my grill and make steaks for dinner and I totally laughed.  I honestly thought she was crazy.!!!

With friends Sam and Phil, we had Ribeyes, mashed potatoes, rolls and salad.  It was sooo yummy.  We also had some great appetizers.  I feel like I don't need to eat for days!!!
We played trip around the world (I think that is what it was called) fun game...and I enjoyed a little too much wine.
I again count my blessings of such great friends.  Sam and I went to Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester and I really enjoyed their service.

Santa came early

 Since the kids are not with me for the Christmas Holiday, we asked Santa to come last Sunday afternoon.  We went sledding in Rochester and he came while we were gone.  This was them by tree waiting to open gifts.

 Audrey excited by the Book light in her stocking. This was one of the both of the girl's favorites!!! They love to read in bed with their lights!

 Emerysn's only big request this year a pillow pet. Her first wish was a frog, but Santa couldn't locate any, so she got her 2nd choice a Unicorn.

 Wrigley opening.  He was excited to open, but the excitement of his gifts seemed short lived!!

 A couple weeks ago we went to Color Me Mine on Pajama night (which was so crazy I would not do again) and they eah made a Christmas plate.  As you can see Em was mad at the time of this pic!!

Eating their choice of Chinese food after we opened gifts on their plates.

Church Christmas Program

 Audrey was a proud Angel at our Church Christmas Program.  We heard several compliments on how she was not shy and did great speaking and singing.

 Emersyn with her classmates.

 Emersyn in Chrstmas Dress and her black boots I got her for Christmas that she LOVES!!!

This one of Wrigley in his Christmas Best Cracks me up.  Doesn't he look so big???

Audrey's Just For Kix Winter Show

 Audrey has really enjoyed Just For Kix This year.

Wizard Of Oz

Audrey absolutely loved being a Munchkin in the Wizard of Oz.  She has a passion for theatre and music in general.  I am so glad she likes it.  She had a big smile on her face the whole time and was so proud!!!  They did a fantastic job.  I was sooo impressed with the main actors/actresses....such talent!!!

Wrigley and Mason

I just had to grab this sweet pic of Wrigley sound asleep with this stuffed alligator his cousin Mason gave him.  He calls it "Mason".

I only wish he would stay in his bed like this!!  We have been trying to transition out of naps at daycare so that he goes to bed easier, but many days he falls asleep anyhow.  So, some nights getting him to sleep is still a struggle.  He also ends up coming to my bed EVERY night and sleeps with me a good portion of the night.  It got to the point I couldn't fight him to go back to his bed anymore as I just need my sleep.  He knows he has to stay on his pillow and his side of the bed!!!  And I must admit I do enjoy snuggling with him in the morning.  He is such a lovey!!!I LOVE HAVING A LITTLE MOMMAS BOY!!!

Audrey's First Piano Recital

 Audrey with instructor Cheryl

Audrey recently had her first piano recital at Petit Music in Eyota.  This is her first year taking lessons and for only doing in a few months, her instructor says she has caught on very quickly.  Audrey really likes it.
This is something I have wanted to do my whole life, and think that some day I will reach this goal!!!

Mall of America

Last week over MEA, I took the girls and each had a friend to the MOA. 

Emersyn and Ava

Audrey and Emma

Audrey and Emma coming out of Log Ride.  Audrey's face is priceless.  They were pretty wet!!

We had lunch at Rainforest, they loved it and both girls want to go back for their Birthdays!!

Best buds!!!  Audrey and Emma became friends at school last year.  They seem to get along very well and are mature for their ages.
We really had an awesome day!!!  It made me feel so good to see their ecstatic faces on the rides!!!

Harvest Day

Last weekend we spent a beautiful day in Forrestville for Harvest Day with some great friends.  The first pic is the boys and Sam walking through the woods to get there.

The kids loved taking turns with the corn sheller.

Audrey looks so grown in this pic!!!

The end result....

They also helped this man make fresh apple cider.  It was yummy!!

Audrey wanted a pic on the porch of this colonial house.

Big Boy!!!

Just wanted to share a few recent pics of Wrigley.  It's so hard to believe he will be 3 before too long...(4 mos)  Where did my baby go???  He bring so much joy and stress to my life at the same time, although I am so thankful God put him in my life!!!!  He loves to be the center of attention.  Is such a momma's boy when with me and hardly will leave my side.  His favorite thing to eat is a sucker as you see in this bottom picture. 
Since changing him to a twin bed, sleeping has been a nightmere.  He will not stay in there to go to sleep and always begs to sleep in my bed.....
I try to stick to my guns, but he is always in bed with me before morning....It's so hard because I just need sleep also......
He is all boy in that he loves balls, throwing, hitting, etc...He has many timeouts at daycare for stealing toys and throwing toys lately.  I talk to him each day before he goes.....I hope I survive this little guy!!!He recently got bright red nail polish on my bedroom carpet and then shortly later bright red bug juice!!!

1st day of School....only a couple of months late!!!

 Big 4th grader with Wrigley who didn't want to miss out!!!

 So hard to believe Audrey is in 4th grade and now at Central.  She is in one of the classes with notebook computers.  They are doing 90% of class work on it!!! Makes me feel old.  She does so well.  I am so proud of her.  She is still a great help to me at home and with Wrigley.

 Big 1st grader.  I still can't believe how cold it was the first day of school this year!!

1st grade has been a bit of an adjustment for Em.  Many mornings she has gone to school crying.  She says she doesn't like some of the math and spelling things they are working on.  She has a great teacher, Mr. Vandeloo...he says she is "painfully shy" and seems to lack self confidence.  I have a feeling school is not going to be easy for her....it has always seems a piece of cake with Audrey.  The past 2 weeks have been better...Em is just not a morning person at all and very crabby when has to be woke up......She has many friends and seems very social at home.....

I am Back!!!

 Post 2nd Tri.  In Prairie River Wisconsin (near Chicago)

 This is the group of gals I went with.  Mona, Joyce, and Patty.  I really can't wait to do some tri's again next year.  I really can now understand how it is addicting.

 We went to my parents around Labor Day weekend.  The weather was great and we visited Niabi Zoo.

 Audrey feeding Goat.

 Em also feeding goat.  A lady there shared her bags of feed with us.  The goats were quite greedy, but kids enjoyed it.

 Wrigley and I with birds.  You could buy a cup of nectar and the birds would flock to you.  Was cool and a little scarey!!!  Their claws were shap!!

 Proud Audrey...before she got peed on by one and thought she would die!!!  Was pretty funny!!

On train....

So, I FINALLY Broke down and bought a lap top!!!  I am so excited that I can now download pictures quickly again!! I hope to be a better blogger again!!!  My desktop was 8 years old...I couldn't stand it anymore.   Lovin the wireless net!!!