Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Graduation

Unphotogenic

Is a little cooperation too much to ask for??  All I asked for is one decent picture.  This is the stuff I got.  

Bitch, please.

She has the camera.  RUN!!!!

It's a fine line between smile and silly

Pretty sure those are reindeer tracks

Ask all you want.  You're not getting a smile from me.  

Isaac

As you can see, he loves Aunt April.

The mummy and the scarecrow

The scarecrow is not to be confused with a cowboy.  Or a farmer.

First day of Pre-K

Brendan started school last week.  He goes two days a week and LOVES it.  We weren't quite sure how it was going to go because before he started he didn't want to even talk about anything school related because he was so nervous.  We expected the first day to be terrible.  I walked in to wake him up and he popped out of bed and was ready to go.  We all piled in the car and took him to school his first day.  Owen was especially excited because he was convinced he got to go to school too.

Ready to go!!

SMILE!!!!  Oh dear God, I changed my mind.  Don't smile!

When I say don't smile I don't mean this!  There has to be a happy medium.  

Off to class!!

After school bike ride

Gone Fishin'

Brendan has been asking all summer to go fishing.  He got a taste of it a few weeks ago on our boat trip.  So, we grabbed out poles and headed out.  Needless to say, we didn't catch a thing but he had fun.  

Fishing is serious stuff.

You do what to the worm?!?

Getting bored

Zen

This is how Owen spent the entire evening.  There was sand in places I never knew there could be.  

Smile!  Not sure what is happening to Owen in the background.  

Peace and quiet

After a long, exhausting day.

Meow

Still BFF's...

A new addition

Our almost 16 year old dog, Mulder, disappeared in late May.  He went outside one afternoon with Amos and never came home.  We never figured out what happened.  Most people guess coyotes, but I guess we'll never know.  Amos became an only dog for the first time in his life.  He seemed a bit lost for awhile but got used to it, I think.  

Amos

So, what do you do once the only dog gets used to his new, single life?  You bring home a three month old bundle of energy.  We got a pomeranian/chihuahua mix who should grow to be a whopping 5 lbs.  Amos seems indifferent about his new mate.  He doesn't dislike her, but he doesn't seem fully convinced by her yet either.  After a couple days of contemplating, we named her Gertie.  The kids love her.  She isn't a fan of Owen most of the time but tolerates Brendan pretty well.

Gertie

Just a swingin'

I think we spent hours swinging on the tire swing at the park.  

A weekend road trip

We went to Minnesota last weekend for my uncle's wedding.  This is the first time that both boys stayed in a hotel.  I wasn't sure how that would go because Owen generally won't sleep anywhere but his own bed (except the car).  He was fine.  We spent the weekend swimming and I showed all of them some of the places I spent a lot of time at growing up.  They went amused me by riding along but no one really cared.  We drove up to my grandparents old farm, stalked out old house, drove around Wabasha, and ate pizza at Papa Tronnio's which I hadn't had in probably 25 years.  That was probably the one thing they all enjoyed.  

Lake Pepin

Hanging out at the wedding

My new trick when Owen isn't listening is to pretend to cry.  It usually gets his attention and makes him nervous.  He comes over, hugs me, pats my back, and says "it's ok, my Mama".  Mean, yes, but effective.

Chipmunk cheeks

Water break

Chillin' at the hotel

Three year old party

Saturday we had Owen's birthday party.  This is the first year that he actually grasps the concept of a birthday.  When you ask, he tells you he is going to be FREE this year and holds up one finger.  Ok, so he hasn't perfected it but he tries.  He had to practice blowing out candles the night before his party.  There was cake and presents and a pinata and tons of people.  What more could he ask for??

cake from Jossabean Sweets

Blow!!

Uncle Tony got me a cool new bike!

Note to self: next time make pinata a bit easier to break.

Amos guarding his pinata prize!

He's "free" years old



From THIS



To THIS







In three short years.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our chatty, spunky, mischievous, lovable, live-wire, Owen.  Look how far he's come!

Fireworks

After a fun-filled day at the pool we settled in for an evening of fireworks.  

Beatin' the heat

Last weekend we packed up all the kids, except Isaac, and headed to the pool.   I'm not sure who had the most fun.  They are all a bunch little fish in the water.  

Joey

Brendan

Owen

Cole

Maddy