Little Birthday Get-Away.

A couple of weeks ago my parents asked if we'd be interested in staying at a hotel/waterpark for a night with them, my sister, brother, and his family.  Of course we would!!!  My sister,  my brother, and I, all have birthdays around this time, so it was a fun little gathering to celebrate.  My kids have never experienced an indoor waterpark before, but after this weekend, we decided it's something we will need to do each winter.  We all had a blast!  Mommy wasn't able to do the slides or hot tub, so I just got to run around snapping fun pictures and recording cute videos.  Next year, though, I will try out those slides:)

This huge bucket started chiming when it was about to dump, and every child in the place came scrambling over for a shower! 

This little guy loved the hot tub, and was sure that's what gave him the 'coughs'.

I could hardly keep up to little Adi.  She was off and running the entire time.  At first I got a little panicked trying to find her.  I soon relaxed when I saw the amount of life guards around.  I was able to take a little break as she just made the rounds.

Her and Daddy were trying to squirt me- couldn't quite get close enough!

This red slide was her favorite!  I would bet she made at least 50 trips down in the 2 days we were there!

Happy as can be!

Eli was so adventurous.  Probably has something to do with being at the lake all summer.  He loved the big slides!  He would do them with a friend, or all on his own- He didn't even wait for someone to climb the steps to the top with him.  He and Daddy closed down the park on Saturday night...He couldn't get enough!

She enjoyed the hot tub, too!

He looked so tiny coming out of that big slide! 

The bucket was dumping again!

She put on many, many miles!

She looked so tiny in that big slide all by herself!

Cousin Wes had just as much fun!

Uncle Chad holding Wes up so he could get splashed.

Eli and Auntie Lori.

So. Much. Fun!

The bucket dumping again!

He was getting pretty adventurous, and was determined to master the floating turtle shells.  He did it!  Many times over!  I love the determination and athleticism that comes from this little guy!  

All smiles when he made it across!

Auntie Lori and Grandma made up for Mommy not being able to go down the slides, they both made many trips down this one with her.

And this smile sums up the weekend for us all!  What a great way to spend some cold, MN winter days!

She's a Big Girl!

We were getting to the point of wondering when/if we would ever be able to get rid of her nuk.  We passed by the magic window that it should have been taken away.  She was completely dependent on it.  We were kind of at a loss, after trying everything we could think of.  Luckily, our pediatrician has has a laid-back attitude and approach to these things, and would only tell us, "Don't worry about it, she won't go to school with it."  This temporarily made me feel better, but, even so- I was really beginning to wonder! 

For the past 3 1/2 years, many of my pictures of her looked like this:

 

 

She would have a big, 'ole smile behind her nuk.  She would talk with it in, laugh with it in, cry with it in.  She was pretty talented with that thing, and was even able to suck on 2 at one time!

And then, Daddy took care of the issue!!   Mommy was gone one Saturday evening at a work Christmas party, and Daddy decided it was time!  He "lost" the 3 that he could find, and convinced her she needed to go to bed without them.  It worked- she slept all night long.  

Well, we weren't going to give in after an entire night, so this continued for a few days and nights, and I told her that if she was a big girl without a nuk until Saturday, we would go to the store, and she could have some 'kid make-up'.  It was a deal!!!!

Saturday came- one whole week, and still no nuk.  We headed to the store where she found exactly what she wanted.  A complete set of Barbie make-up!  She was thrilled!

 

As soon as we got home, she dug right in.  I kept hearing her say, "Oh My!  This is awesome!  Oh, my goodness!"  She was thrilled!!!!

 

And then it was time for church, and debated just giving that nuk back...

The little old ladies probably questioned our parenting, but, we just passed through one major milestone that we didn't know we'd ever pass by, and we were willing to take her looking like this!

Little Wrestler

Our little town is known for it's wrestling program.  It's no surprise to see 4 year old's, on up in the wrestling room already starting practice.  Eli started last year when he was 4, but he only went a few times, and kinda decided that it really wasn't  his thing. 

He was excited to start again this year, though, and Daddy was happy about that!   Chad takes him every Monday and Wednesday night to practice, and then he helps with the coaching, also.  We debated about starting Eli in tournaments this year, but when he was asking to go, and showing and interest, we decided to take him.

His first tournament was right in Pierz.  It was pretty obvious that he was inexperienced as he would smile and wave to the crowd as he was being pinned, but our goal was for him to have fun.  He loved it, and was especially proud when he received his first medal to wear around his neck!

Two weeks later there was another tournament in a neighboring town.  Before the tournament started, they announced each town that was represented, and the kids came running out together.  It was so cute to watch his little legs try to keep up!

He's the 2nd in line with the red shirt over his singlet.

We were expecting a performance much like his first one, but again had the goal in mind that we just wanted him to have fun.  

This time he shocked us!  He won all 3 matches, and was so proud of himself!

And this is exactly the look we are going for!  All smiles!!

His bracket went up on the podium for pictures.  He earned a championship t-shirt, but it was still being customized with his name on the back.

Once his shirt was finished we had him jump back up for a few more shots!

We will see if this is something he continues to enjoy and sticks with.  For now, Daddy is remembering his old wrestling days, and the two of them are enjoying it together!  I think it was always a dream of Chad's to be able to coach his own little guy out there on the mat.

Curly Girl.

I put this off as long as I could.  Other than big brother cutting one big curl off the top of her head at Auntie's house when she was just little, it hadn't been touched.  I just couldn't bring myself to cut those beautiful curls.  It got to a point though, where it was a chore to comb through, and I just couldn't handle the thin and stringy ends anymore.  Luckily, Auntie Jess cuts hair, and it worked out perfectly for her to trim it up before our Christmas celebration right in Grandpa and Grandma's bathroom. 

This little lady couldn't have been more excited to finally be a big girl and get her hair cut!

When those curls were pulled straight they were so long!  But, at the same time, so uneven! 

And there it goes!

It instantly was fuller-looking, healthier-looking, and so much more even!

She was proud of the bag of curls Mommy swiped from the floor before they were vacuumed up.  

Her hair turned out so cute!  After I saw this I kept saying that I couldn't believe it took me this long to cut it!  I love this little shoulder-length mess of curls!  Lesson learned if the next one is a girl...She will be trimmed up much sooner than 3 1/2!

 

And, of course Big Brother had to jump up on the chair for a turn.  This is old hat to him.  He has such a thick head of hair, I feel like we are trimming it up at least every couple of months!