Desert Fun

We took off in search of warmer weather, and Arizona was perfect!!

Ben's parents are snowbirds, and surrounded by mountains, so we did some hiking.

And had a little fun with the cacti!

I made Ben a little nervous. He kept telling me to get down, he afraid of heights...

This Saguaro was quite a character!

On our last day, we took the boys hiking, or "mountain climbing" as they called it.

We were pretty impressed on how well they did. They went a lot further than we thought!

Miles taking a look around.

Me with the Superstition Mountains in the background.

Awwww...

Our wonderful guide, Bob (Ben's dad).

Miles REALLY close to the edge of a cliff, Ben would have had a heart attack if he hadn't been back in the car!

Crazy Miles and Crabby James.

We got a kick out of the Phoenix weather reports telling us a cool down was coming (a high of 74!)

More to come!!!

Time for a Change

We're tired of the cold and snow!

It's making us all a little crazy...

So we're off to find some warmth,

and sunshine!

Lots of changes, again! Itching for spring, and just a wee bit worried about the thaw (praying it's a slow one).

Lots of new posts soon!!

A Relaxing Holiday

Usually the holidays are are too busy. We're rushed, running around from celebration to celebration. This year was so relaxing!It helped that we spread the family get togethers out throughout the month. Lists were made, shopping started before Thanksgiving. It just felt sane.
We even managed pictures!

The it was a great family holiday, family month.

Come to think of it, why should any other month be different? I'm not saying the whole gift thing, more the relaxing family weekends.

Good food, games, playing. What were we doing before?

Here's to 2011, I'm calling it a year of family firsts. We have a lot we want to do!

Have a fabulous year!!

Holiday Fun!

I can't believe I've never made a Gingerbread house.

James made one at preschool yesterday. They used a milk carton underneath to shape it.Since he's such a huge candy lover, he would stop talking about eating it. He shared with his brother, they got to pick off 2 candies after supper. We'll definitely have to try this at home next year!

And last weekend, when we were supposed to be celebrating Christmas in St. Cloud with the Ben's family, we got snowed in at home. Quite the blizzard here. Miles, our snow lover, lasted 10 minutes before the wind got to him.

Ben's parents made it up just in time, so we had a little Christmas with them. It was kind of fun getting snowed in.

Another little Christmas with just us four this weekend, and then off to my parents next weekend.

I like spreading out the holiday!

Macy's

After Thanksgiving we went to Macy's to see, A Day In The Life Of An Elf, and of course, Santa!

The guys were in awe. Miles rushed through, pointing at EVERYTHING. He was in a rush to see Santa.

James was was amazed! There were a couple elves nearby and he was REALLY nervous to let go of my hand for this picture.

Miles decided to draw Santa a picture.

James was stressed trying to sign his name on his letter to Santa.

These doors and the many escalator rides were a HUGE highlight of downtown.

Happy Holidays!

Sledding

No more excuses! We have a new computer at home and internet!

So I WILL post regularly again!

We went out sledding for the first time this year. Definitely need new sleds, or at least one to fit an adult and child.
Miles had to walk up the hill himself this year, so he only went down a handful of times. Apparently it's a lot of work to climb the hill!

They also had a great time playing on the playground equipment. There was a thick coating of ice on the slides, so they flew down fast and landed in puffs of powdery snow.

Unfortunately, they both have low grade temps tonight, Miles has a headache, otherwise to other symptoms. Blah! They have a week to get better, then we're off to celebrate Christmas with Ben's family!

My Super Heroes

Miles has a great imagination.

A while back he created a super hero alter-ego, Super Volcano Boy.

(He watched a National Geographic show on volcanoes)

He has hot lava (or "laba" as he says it), fire, and sting powers.

For a while it was a secret we couldn't tell anyone about. But he decided to let the cat out of the bag for Halloween.I used my Red Riding hood cape from last year. Took off the hood, made some alterations, added the "V", and WALLA, a super hero cape!
Miles was made sure to let me know what colors volcanoes are. He was pretty excited!

James loves Superman, but we decided to make him his own super hero identity as well. He likes Superman's ability to blow cold air and freeze the bad guys, so we went with it.

Introducing, Super Cool Boy!

They look a little Super Goofy and Confused in this photo!

Ben and I went out Saturday. Lots of fun. I had a little trouble fitting through doorways with my giant wings though...

Due to a technical glitch I didn't post my little secret yesterday. I didn't forget! Check back this evening, and I'll finally be out with it!!

Funny Little People

The little people in my life have been extra funny lately.

James is obsessed with wearing, "man shirts." Those would be button down shirts in case you didn't know. We restrict him from wearing "man shirts" every day; preschool is a little messy. And if he's wearing a "man shirt," he would like me not to call him James, insists I call him a MAN!

These pictures speak for themselves...(that's a walnut)

Miles told James that he can swim underwater. James, "oh wow, how do you do that?" Miles, "well, I go in the water and try to swim, but I always sink to the bottom. So I swim under water." James, "oh..." And this is true, Miles is in swim lessons, and loves it, but the kid is solid and heavy and has to work extra hard to keep his head up.

I'm planning to FINALLY come out with my new little endeavor on November 1!

Eeeee!!! So excited! Til then mum's the word!

Where've ya been??

So much has happened since February.

My camera had broken and it was going to cost more than its' worth to fix. And prior to that our laptop had hit the dust, so I was using my work laptop to continue blogging when I had time at home. My job at the time was sucking the life out of me. Seriously. I was working almost 50 hours/week, and it was stressful work. I was loosing weight (not the right way), having a ton of stomach pain, sleeping whenever I could and not eating. Ended up with ulcers. We decided my job was not worth the stress and strain on my health. I interviewed and was offered a position at the clinic in town with the OB/GYN. I had to take a huge pay cut, but my health and sanity were well worth it. I was so excited to get back to OB! Lovely clinic hours, plus I have Monday mornings and Friday afternoons off, very nice. Of course I then had no computer at home.

Our other stressor at the time was selling our house back in Blue Earth. We had been trying to sell it for almost 2 years, and were living and paying rent in another town. Things had a wonderful way of working out, because within 2 weeks of my new job we got an offer on our house! And have sold it!! WAHOO!!

So since then, I've been enjoying my family, friends, health, and my new job.

Time certainly doesn't stand still.

Miles turned 5 in August. We decided to wait 1 more year until kindergarten. But he's already started reading Bob Books, and loves math. He thought he was pretty hot stuff when he realized 1 plus any number equals the next number. He is a very sweet and helpful boy. And getting tall!

James turned 3 in March, and I'm telling you, age 2 has nothing on 3! This kid has inherited his mother's stubbornness on top of it. Don't get me wrong, he is VERY charming. Quite a ladies man. Really, he was hitting on teenage girls at the pool this summer. But we have had quite the battles lately. More on that at another time. I'm sure I'll be asking for advice.

Ben and I have had some wonderful weekends away. I am blessed to have a husband that likes to shop. We've been working on the yard and house. And he is very supportive in my newest endeavor, to be announced in a month. So excited. I am REALLY bad at keeping secrets, so if I can manage not to spill the beans early I think there will be a lot of amazed people.

WHOA! I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you!

I got a new camera!! A beautiful Canon Rebel T1i, with a Tamron lens. I'm still learning about it, and need to learn more on editing. But it is really, well, it makes me tear up with happiness.

I'm Baaack!

Wow!

It's been a while! But I'm back!

I have tons of photos, lots of news and a new little adventure! So stay tuned!

For today I'll keep it short and sweet.

I'll be updating the blog in the coming week.

SO EXCITED!!

Snow!

We are in the middle of a blizzard. More snow!! It has been so unbelievably cold here in MN, -25 air temperature last Saturday, the boys have been stuck in the house until tonight.

Miles got to work shoveling off the deck!

And James ate some bird seed. (he also attempted to climb a massive pile of snow a few times.

After hanging out in the house for 3 days, we've all managed to catch a cold. Miles just has a stuffy nose at night (I swear that kids immune system has super powers!), James has his ever persistent runny nose and cough, while Ben and I have sore throats and stuffy noses. Tis' the season I guess. Great day to be home sick though!

A Whole Lotta Christmas Fun!

Miles set up this little tree in his room. He did a lot of other rearranging to prepare for Santa as well! AND he decorated his tree...

...all by himself! Very proud!

James and Grandma Mary. His baby, which he has named "Grandpa Paul baby," and Miles' guitar, which James has taken over.

Miles got these great blocks. He loves them, builds garages for his police trucks!

We got an amazing amount of snow over Christmas! The heavy wet stuff. So James and I made a snowman!

Unfortunately the snow was a little too wet and he fell over. So he became a little shorter!

Miles made some reindeer food in preschool, so he sprinkled it out back so they would know to stop here!

Milk and cookies for Santa.

A carrot for the reindeer (there was food outside so one would do).

And some truffles for Mrs. Claus!!!

After Santa arrived!

I informed the boys Santa wouldn't come until they were REALLY asleep. Miles decided he didn't want a bath, he just wanted to go to sleep!

The next morning he forgot all about Santa.

He came into our room to snuggle with his mama until I said, "Merry Christmas Miles." Then snuggling was over and he went down to see his presents. All was quiet until he got to the bottom of the stairs and peaked in the living room.

"WOW!"

And back up the stairs he ran to wake his brother!

I think James was a little disappointed Santa ate all the cookies!

Oh and I here's a picture of the quilt I made my mom!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!!!