Fall 2011

A glimpse of our annual Family Pics I have been trying to do each Fall...

I can't believe how much the kids change each year.

A Magical Vacation

 On Airplane, kids were so excited and did quite well on plane..

 On bed as we arrived at our Resort, Port Orleans..French Quarters

 Waterslide at resort pool

 Magic Kingdom

 This was on a boat type ride, but I don't remember the details!!Thought this was great pic..

 Enjoying Mickey ice cream bar in the heat

 Cousins

 Wrigley loved this character lunch at Hollywood Studios...He was dancing with Ozo and June

As you can tell by Wrigleys face, he loved the characters at Chef Mickey!!

Audrey's 10th Bday

 On Audrey's Bday, March 5th, she had a dance competition in Twin Cities.  We stayed overnight the night before and then after dance, spent the Day celebrating with some friends at MOA.

 Audrey with her very dear friend Madison.

 Audrey's Just For Kix Group

 At Underwater Adventures.  Audrey took friends Emma and Madison and Elise (Madison's sister) went as friend for Emersyn.

 Big Girls

We had Lunch at Rainforest and this was the Volcano Cake.

 Outside Rainforest Cafe:  Elise, Emersyn, Madison, Audrey, and Emma

 Audrey got ears double pierced for her 10th Bday.

She was Brave...this may seem young, but she has been asking for a couple of years, so we agreed she could do it for 10th Bday.  She got her first earrings for her 5th Bday.

Random WInter PIcs

 In Illinois, Wrigley and Audrey with Great Grandma Martha

 Cousins Bowling in Illinois

 Wrigley especially loved bowling and jumped up and down when knocked pins down.  It was hilarious.

Wrigley making dinosaur at Apache Mall on his Birthday.

 Dinosaur he named Timmy.  He sleeps with it every night.

 Cousins at RainForest Cafe at MOA

 3rd Bday party at Chuck E.Cheese... Football Cake

 Horse at Chuck E Cheese

 At Olmsted Historical Society for WinterFest

 Fun times sledding

 Em at 1st Grade Christmas Concert at School

Wrigley

Wrigley recently changed back to his old daycare Lori and she was kind enough to include him in some pictures when she took her kids.

It's so hard to believe he is 3.  He is so much busier in many ways than the girls, but he is also such a lover boy.  He loves to just sit on my lap and snuggle.

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.