Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.

I can't believe that my baby is 2 years old.

     Lillian Grace.  At 2 years old you are SO incredible.  Incredibly busy, incredibly smart, beautiful, and in to EVERYTHING! Daddy says that you are a tornado.  You have recently figured out how to un-baby- proof some of our baby-proofing. You can unlock the refrigerator lock and are helping yourself to your favorite- "o-gurt and other foods that you like.  You thought it was a wonderful time to crack eggs open for fun and smash margeraine between your fingers when Mommy was in helping Ben with something the other day.  I was sure excited to find that mess! Yikes!

     You are saying sentences at 2 years old.  Working on singing songs. You love to play and sing itsy-bitsy spider with Grandma and then you ask for "apple-tree"- which is the song we call "Ce-Ce my playmate".  We are teaching you to count and say your A-B-C's.  Sometimes you pick something up to count it and count in a somewhat of a mixed-up pattern, "two, free, four, fif-teen,  welve.(twelve)"  You can repeat any word we say- (good or bad) . 

     You are very observant.  The other day while we were driving in the van you saw an airplane out your window and you yelled to me, "Air-pain! Air-pain! See Air-pain!  You are very sweet and loving.  If you are in the right mood, you will lay on the couch and cuddle with Mommy or Daddy.  You adore your brothers and sister.  You want to do everything that they do and more- and think that you should be able to! You test the boundries of right and wrong on a daily basis. If you should happen to be a bit naughty and hit Mommy, we talk about how you need to have gentle hands and then you reach up and stroke my cheeks and give me a kiss. It melts my heart.  You are a wonderful mix of my personality and Daddy's.  You have Daddy's stubborn streak. ( It is Daddy's and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!) You have my flair for the dramatic. You can throw a temper tantrum with the best of them. Maybe someday that all that drama will win you an award! 

Lillian Grace      minutes old

Lillian's first birthday

Lillian at her 2nd Birthday Party

You change and grow every day.  I can't wait to see who you become! Slow down a little though ok? You are my baby and I would like you to stay little just a bit longer! I am going to try and savor every moment! You are such a beautiful blessing from God and we thank Him for you every day.    

Dearest Katelyn.  Today you are 7 years old.  I cannot believe how fast you are growing up.  I know that everyone says that, but believe me, time has really gone by in what seems like the blink of an eye. You are my first-born daughter and second born child.  You have huge blue eyes that change a bit depending on your clothing color.  Your hair is long and it is wild- -and the winter makes it CRAZY staticky.  We usually put it back in a pony-tail or use a headband to keep your hair out of your face!  Here are just some of the things that I want to say about you at 7....

• * You are beautiful ( you always have been and ALWAYS will be!)
• * You make me laugh on a daily basis.
• * You are very unique.
• * You have a beautiful smile.
• * You are very talented at many things including- singing, whistling, coloring, painting and   drawing.
• * Your newest interest is in sewing.  We got you a sewing basket and box for Christmas filled to their brims with sewing doo-dads.  When you saw it you giggled like I had never heard you giggle before.  You love to sew with me now. I am using the word "sew" lightly- meaning we are stitching  and teaching you to sew on buttons. 
• * You are a DRAMA QUEEN.  I mean this in the most loving way possible- but when you are not in the mood to do what you are told do do (usually cleaning your room) you have a burst of attitude.  You are a really good girl and your attitude doesn't show up too often.  I'm glad that you have spunk. Try not to use your spunk against your mama.
• * I already mentioned singing- but as I am typing this you are:Dpicking up in your room and have the radio on and are listening to our favorite christian radio station KTIS.  It is so AWESOME to hear you singing along.
• * You are a caretaker of others.  If someone is sad, you comfort them.  If they aren't feeling well- you share your favorite blanket with them and bring them your pink heart pillow to rest on. If someone gets a little boo-boo- after telling Mommy- you know right where the band-aids are and have them ready when Mommy needs them.
• * Your heart for GOD is incredible. You love to tell and share with others about Jesus.

We love you so much sweet girl.  We are so BLESSED that God chose you for us and us for you.

Happy Birthday!

Our house is a mess.  I mean it.  A true mess and I am not too proud to say it- though I might not invite you over to show you!   I am struggling with balance in my life.  A headache and life balance. My headache is still with me on a daily basis from the time I wake until I go to sleep at night.  There are days when the headache is so all consuming that I can hardly manage to pull myself out of bed or up off of the couch but I do because my family needs me.    So with whatever I can muster up in my day- I give to my kids.  To play and read, and have fun with them because they will only be little and want to spend time with me for a short time.    To be honest though, I have always struggled with the up-keep of our house.   I go in spurts where I will do really well- and then not so well.  Add that to the constant headache pain- and I got stuck.   So in the struggle- my house has been lost, and I am trying to find it.  I came across something that spoke to my heart today and how I am feeling, so I wanted to post it....

Excuse this house

Some houses try to hide the fact

That children shelter there,

Ours boasts it quite openly,

The signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows,

Little smudges are on the doors.

I should apologize, I guess,

For toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with my children

And we played and laughed and read.

And if the doorbell doesn't shine,

Their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to choose

The one job or the other,

I'd like to cook and clean and scrub,

But first I'll be a mother.

Author Unknown

We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was truly blessed.

                                                           It snowed.       A LOT.   The roads were in pretty rough shape so Aaron kept the rest of the kids at home and Katelyn and I ventured out to St. Paul.     Katelyn (6) sang her very first solo at church.  She sang at  St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on Christmas Eve, and sang "Happy Birthday Jesus".  She was accompanied by Peggy on the piano, Diane directed her and Bruce, Ken, Lisa, and I were her "back-up singers".  She did a FANTASTIC job- and believe me- I would say that even if I wasn't her mom!  If I can figure out how to get the video off of my parent's video camera I will upload it.  It continued snowing.  It snowed so much that they cancelled one of the two Christmas Eve services at our church and Christmas day service as well.

      When we got home from singing at Christmas Eve Mass, Aaron had made potato casserole as we had planned.  He was very proud of himself.  He followed the recipe- and had it ready just as Kate and I got home.  We sat down to eat, said the prayer and all dug in to our dinner, excited to eat and then to get to presents!  I looked at Aaron and he looked back at me- both of us with slightly amused faces as we were trying to figure out exactly what was different with the casserole.  Then it hit me.  The casserole had a sweetness to it that it had never had before- a sweetness that Aaron thought was quite funny and I didn't- but I didn't say too much.  The man made dinner.  He doesn't do that too often.

The sweetness-  was because instead of buttered cornflakes on top of the casserole, he buttered frosted flakes!      Definetly interesting, but not a change I will be making to the recipe!

Because we found out that our church services were cancelled, after dinner, we let the kids open their gifts from one another and then we drove over to Dale and Sally's church for a 9pm Christmas Eve service.  The kids did really well for the late service- and I was quite pleased. 

The next morning-  they were up pretty early.  They couldn't wait to see what Santa had brought them! We ate breakfast, opened presents, and then went to my mom and dad's for the day.  We had a great day.    Then on Saturday we went over to Aaron's mom and dad's home for Christmas with them.  All of our Christmas celebrations were wonderful and truly blessed.

Here are some of our Christmas highlights....      

Lillian and Grandpa Terry

Christmas at Grammy Sally and Grandpa Dale's house

       This photo of them on the toboggan was the toboggans trial run- and one of the COLDEST days after Christmas.  Ben had been SO patient and wanted to try it - so we stuck the toboggan in the van and went down to our little neighborhood park...  It has a small hill- (but bigger than anything in our yard!)  and the kids had a GREAT time! We weren't out very long- but the toboggan is a huge hit and new family favorite!

   One other really fun thing that happened on Christmas break was because of all of our snowfall- Aaron was out with the shovel and snowblower a lot.  He  (with a little help from the boys) dug out a fort in the HUGE piles of snow towards the ends of our driveway.  Once they got it dug out- the boys had a great time hiding from Aaron who was up by the garage and taking chunks of snow in his lacrosse stick and throwing them at the boys.  They had SUCH fun playing with their daddy.  what special time.    Other special time recently has been one-on-one time with Daddy and each of his boys playing a video game of their choice.  REALLY fun- (if you are a boy I guess!   )  and Katelyn got to have some special time recently with Daddy when she went with him to his work holiday party.  She had a fun time and brought home a special photo of the two of them.  My scanner is being cranky though and I'm not sure why it's not uploading it.  I'll add it in later if I can.

I hope that you all are doing well.    take care.

I'll leave you with a recent quote from our DARLING Benjamin.

From 4 year old Ben's mouth just now with a HUGE sigh and lots of attitude, " WHY do I ALWAYS have to listen to you?!  My response, " Because I'm your mom- that's why."

I can't believe that it is almost 2010 and the last time I posted was the end of June.  I'm sorry that I missed posting lots of things.

We had a great busy summer. The weather was nice and the kids played outside a lot.  My summer was busy with the kids of course- and doctors.  I started a  new adventure as I started seeing a team of new doctors and therapists at a headache clinic not too far from us.  The physical therapy seemed to help, and a change in medication helped some, but no major change in the headache. We are now at seventeen months dealing with chronic headache.  I was recently blessed by my dear friends from my MOPS group with a gift certificate to a fantastic local Christian Chiropractor.  My neck x-ray shows that the curve in my neck is curving the opposite way that it should.  No wonder I have a headache!  I am praying for healing and and I am trusting God.  HIS will- will be done.

Now....

July through December in Pictures      

July

The kids at the lake

Mason with his awesome walleye! (Yes-  HE caught it! )

August

Ben and Kate at the lake.  They love the swingset!

Aaron and I- at our friend's, the Cloyd's Vow Renewal

Making cookies!  (Lillian's "Cheese-y" smile cracks me up!)

September      

First Day of School 2009! Mason 3rd Grade, Katelyn 1st Grade.

Benjamin turned 4 on September 20th!

Five friends and I at the MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers ) Convention in Nashville, TN

October

November

In Ohio to attend Jeff and Laura's goregous wedding.

We had safe travels, and the kids were GREAT in the van.

The kids going on wagon rides at Danny and Lorrie's house with their cousins!

December

I will update with our Christmas photos soon.  (Thank you to Dale and Sally for this Christmas photo of the kids!)

Wishing you the all best for a healthy and happy 2010!

Please stay in touch.  We would love to hear from you.

With friendship and love,

Jenni, Aaron and Kids

Alphabitty Moments..... the letter R.   For more info on Alphabitty Moments, please go visit 4 the love of Family. 

Please check back again in 2 weeks for the letters S and T! 

R... is for...Riot.  what a RIOT!   These kids are SO funny!        

     I spend a good portion of my day laughing at my kids.-  Not at them- with them or about the silly things they are doing.  I have to laugh about things or I will spend entirely too much time being serious and stern with the kids instead of taking the time to really enjoy them and their awesome personalities.

     So,  these photos don't really need any explanation.  Except for my little Lillian.  She was trying to decide which of those items in her hands tasted better than the other.  Hmmmmm.  The rock or the ball? The rock or the ball?    Please don't worry- I didn't let the tasting continue very long.  Just long enough to-  ahem ..... capture it in a photo.

I just need to keep laughing!   God is SO good.

~ Jenni

Alphabitty Moments..... the letter Q

PLease check back next thursday to see what new memories we have captured! For more info about Alphabitty Moments- please go visit this family.

This one was a tough one for me.  But it just popped in to my head- so here goes.  

These photos were taken this evening, and are the Quintissential "ok..... here. now- scoot over next to your brother, please everyone smile nice and look at the camera.  Ben- stand still.... OK!- look at mommy!  You-whoooooo!  Lillian!  Katelyn! smile!  " photos that I insist on having. I want to try and capture some of these fun times and memories with the kids playing together- and I need to just about start doing acrobatics to get everyone to behave and smile-  and oh yeah- look at the camera!

Q is also for Quintissential- summertime- activities....  water fun......

Here are a couple of new photos from the last week......

Me and my girls.    

  We are having a fun summer- now that it is starting to feel like summer.  The kids have all started some summer activities and are enjoying them.

All Katelyn "wants to do is DANCE".  So she has started her first dance class.  Ben (3) just finished a week long martial arts and self defense class. Mason and cousin Kamryn just finished a week long baseball camp.  Mason and Kamryn are also doing a 6 week long sports mania camp.  They were pooped out after their first 2 1/2 hour class- but enjoyed it very much. Lillian has gotten her 8th tooth in finally and enjoyed her first wading pool time of the summer tonight.  She was scolding me (in baby jabber) for dumping out the pool.  (Her fingers were pruny and her lips were starting to quiver- it was time!)

Yesterday, Aaron and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.  Last night we enjoyed a fantastic dinner at our favorite restaurant.  (Thank you to my mom and dad for taking care of the kids!)

Hope that all of you are doing well.   We love to hear from you- so please write us!

Take care and God Bless.

~Jenni

Here is our latest edition of Alphabitty Moments!  Check back each Thursday to see what wonderful memories we have captured!  For more details about Alphabitty Moments check out this wonderful family's blog!

P is for Purposeful Posing.....  

We were at the lake last weekend, and while the guys were out fishing I was trying to distract Ben.  He really wanted to be out fishing with them.  I had my camera in hand and told Ben that I wanted to take his picture and he started posing  for every shot.  I had so much fun snapping photos of his handsome little personality!  Both of Ben's grandmas were in the cabin watching out the window at our mini photo shoot.  He would throw out his hip and put his hand on it and grin at me.  They both thought that he was a hoot!  Here are a few of my favorite Purposeful Poses......

Mason and Aaron had a wonderful Birthday day at Valleyfair last Thursday.  On Friday afternoon we went up to the lake.  On Saturday we celebrated Mason's birthday, and Grammy and Grandpa Dale were able to join us.  It was a really nice weekend having all of the Grandparents there to love on our kids.  The guys had an awesome fishing experience.  They brought home a LOT of wonderful fish!  We are going to be having a fish fry at Dale and Sally's this coming weekend.  Yum!

                                                                                            Mason with his birthday cake.

                                                       The guys in our fishing crew- (w/o Mason  because  he was already in bed!)

                                                Ben, Grammy, Katelyn, Mason and Grandma.    (Lilli was taking a nap!)

Today marks one week of summer vacation- and so far so good.  I would love some warm weather and sunshine so that the kids can be outside more.  Yesterday afternoon I really wanted to plant some rose "bushes" that I found on sale, and the weather was insistent about not cooperating! It was sprinkling off and on- but we planted anyway and the kids had a wonderful time running around the front yard with umbrellas.  I put "bushes" in quotes because I am hoping that some day they will actually start to look like bushes.  Right now they are teeny-tiny- but I will remain optimistic.  I hope that they will do great.  I am also hoping for lots of raspberries like last year.  This year we added a strawberry plant, watermelon, tomato, pumpkin and potatoes.  I would LOVE for these all to do wonderfully.  The kids are so excited and I think we actually have a shot at them eating these since they got to help tend and grow them. 

Today we spent a good chunk of the day inside watching the raindrops fall, and got lots of laundry done.  The big boys were great helpers- folding and sorting- and even putting away.  It feels good to have gotten a bit more caught up.  6 people generate a TON of dirty clothes. 

Lillian is growing and changing so fast.  She has 7 teeth- working on number 8.  She is stubborn- and can throw a temper tantrum with the best of them (she has been watching Katelyn!... ) but is also very sweet.  She has recently started giving "big squeezes"  - fantastic hugs where she makes a little grunty sound when she's squeezing your neck. She's still giving lots of love and big open mouth kisses.  Today she mimicked the dog's bark- and said "oof-oof  ake"  (woof-woof Jake).

She also was talking when Sarah was here picking up Kamryn and I'm pretty sure I heard her say Sarah. 

Katelyn's bangs are growing out- and looking better every day.  I always have a little vase on the counter with beautiful flowers (and weeds) that Kate brings me.  She LOVES to pick flowers and smell them.  We have taught Lillian to smell the flowers too- (instead of grabbing them and smashing them in her little fist).  She sticks her whole little face right in to the bloom and sniffs.  It is so cute.  Katelyn just giggles so hard when Lillian enjoys the flowers too. Katelyn is also my little artist.  She loves to draw and paint.  We should really buy stock in paper and crayons!

My headache is constant but manageable. The meds that I am on are helping so that I don't very often have a really bad day.   I had an appointment scheduled with a neurologist on Monday morning.  On my way there I got a flat tire.  I wasn't able to get there- and now I am re-scheduled with the same doctor- on July 17.  He is booked solid until then.  I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say. I am very thankful that Aaron was home and able to come to my rescue and change my flat tire.  Thanks Honey!

Hope that you are all doing well.  Take care!- and please say hi if you get a chance!

~ Jenni

*update* I just added a new photo album in the photo gallery.....

My Alphabitty posts have often been behind due to our major computer issues causing major frustration for us! But- this time running behind worked out great- because today is Mason's birthday- so he is my letter M!

M is for Mason-  magnanimous,marvelous, magnificent, magic-trick lover, mathmatician, Mommy's helper, miraculous gift from God! 

Happy Birthday my sweet first-born!  I cannot believe that you are 8 already! You are such an awesome boy and we love you so very much! You are caring, kind and  compassionate.  You are VERY smart and we are so proud of you.  We thank God for you every day!

N is for NEVER having a scizzors within a childs reach.  EVEN if you think that the child knows better.   Katelyn sure did her bangs up good!    She came home from school the next day and said, "Mommy! guess what! No one even made fun of my bangs at school today! Isn't that great!?! "    This was over a week ago now- and her bangs are thankfully starting to grow out. 

N is also for NEVER letting the swings stop swinging! I took this photo over Memorial Day weekend.  We were at the cabin and the kids were having a BLAST swinging on the swingset.  They enjoy swinging and playing outside so much!  The weather was beautiful.

O is for Opportunity.  As in photo opportunities! 

Mother's Day 2009

Grandpa's College Graduation !

Katelyn's Kindergarten graduation 6/3/2009

     I'm really good at playing catch-up because I do it often when it comes to this blog and keeping it updated!  May was good!  We had a lovely Mother's Day.  We hosted a Mother's Day brunch and had Aaron's  parents Sally and Dale over.  We also hosted a Mother's Day Dinner and had  Mom and Dad and Sarah, Jason and Kamryn over.  It was a really nice day, and fun to have everyone over to our house!  

Dad graduated from Hennepin Technical College with a degree in HVAC.  The ceremony was on May 20, 2009 and was held at the Metrodome.  After the ceremony, the graduates and guests were invited to a reception being held on the field.  It was really cool to be on the field where the Twims play.  Congratulations Dad!  We are very proud of you!   

     We went to the cabin over the Memorial Day weekend to get everything opened up for the season.  The weather was pretty nice- and water was very expectedly cold.  Our kids are very unique- up for anything types- and they decided that they wanted to go swimming.  So-  I let them.  Their swim wasn't as brief as I expected it to be.  Katelyn didn't want to get out of the water.  She loves to  doggie paddle!  Mason was working on his cannonball technique.  Ben just wanted to do what his big brother and sister were doing.   They had a blast in a very short amount of time.  I think that the ice had only been off of the lake for a couple of weeks.  Brrrrrrr!...  But they had fun!

     Yesterday Katelyn graduated from Kindergarten!  It was the last day of school.  We now have a first grader and a third grader!  Oh my goodness where does the time go?!?    Katelyn's class had a cute graduation program with poems and songs that they learned, and then each child received a graduation certificate.  Katelyn is a member of the class of 2021!  In the afternoon, Katelyn and I went back to school and brought Mason's birthday treat, and the birthday  book.  The birthday book is one where parents can write about the child and the day that they were born.  It is really neat.  He wanted to bring rootbeer floats for his friends so that's what we did.  The kids were so excited and said that it was the best birthday treat ever!  Mason's teacher is so sweet and wrote the kids each a special letter and told them how special they are to her, and what great kids they are.  She is sad to see this special class of kids go because she's been their teacher for 2 years.  We are so thankful to her. Mason just loves her and will miss her.  Maybe Katelyn will have her for a teacher next year!  

     Mason and Aaron are leaving soon  this morning to go on a special birthday day.  They are going to Valleyfair for the day.  I know that they'll have  a blast!  I'm going to be working on the laundry and getting us ready to go to the cabin tomorrow.  We are planning to head up right after lunchtime.  

Hope you all are doing well!  Take care!

K is for our kind kindred-spirit kindergartener  Katelyn.  . 

L is for our laughing lovely loving lass Lillian.  

Many computer problems are bothering us.  The computer will go back again to the shop. 

Mason's room is all finished being repaired after our frozen pipe bursting.  New walls, paint and carpeting.  We got bunk beds for his room- and eventually he'll have a roommate in brother Ben. 

Headache wise- I'm not sure what's going on with me.  I was doing fine - headache not gone but the medication was preventing bad headaches. But at my last doctor visit- we decided to try and make it go away the rest of the way- by adding a new medication to my exsisting ones.  I only took the new medication for 2 days because it was having the opposite effect and causing horrible headaches.  I am still struggling now with worse headaches- possibly residual medication?   If you would be willing to pray for healing from this misery- I would be so thankful!..

The kids are very excited because they only have a couple of weeks left of school, and Mason will turn 8.  The weather has been nice - and we've gotten out and taken some family bike rides.  Haven't been able to the last couple of days because the wind has been terrible.  Hoping to get another bike ride in today if the wind stops. 

Hope that you all are doing well.  Thoughts and prayers to you!