Family Game Time!

The boys had their first experience playing a board game with Mama and Daddy. It was a fierce competition but Daddy was the winner at the end. Everyone was happy - Quinn liked just moving his game piece anywhere on the board!

We're back!!

Go Wild!

The past year and a half have been beyond crazy and I had let the blog go for a little bit. I've decided it's time to come back - not everyone is on Facebook that we want to keep in touch with too!

Here is a quick recap of the past 18 months since my last post:

Ben will be 4 in December and started pre-school this September at our church. He LOVES it and likes his friends that he has made. He will be having a baseball-themed birthday party this December and CANNOT wait. Chris told him a few weeks ago that his birthday will be after the snow comes and now he gets excited EVERYTIME it snows. He is such a sweet boy and had a really tight bond with his Mama (Grandma Sharon). Just to clarify, he calls me Mommy and my mom is Mama. We got the boys John Deere 12 volt tractors this past summer and Ben has become a pretty good driver! Quinn, not so much...

Speaking of Quinn: he will turn 3 in April 2012. He continues his journey with Transverse Myelitis but does NOT let that slow him down. He is amazing to watch, he can figure out a way to do things that we never thought he would be able to do. We are about to start PT again, Gillette Children's has been amazing and we are excited to work with our favorite PT, Melissa, again! Quinn is always on the go, it tires me out just to watch him! Quinn is now a part of HopeKids which is a program for kids with serious illnesses that provides fun activities and outings. So far we have been to the circus and a Wild hockey game. The boys are going to the MN Children's Museum with my parents on Thursday night. It will be only open to HoepKids and their families. It is a very wonderful program to be a part of, it gives us something to look forward to instead of hospital visits and doctor appointments!

Bella (the dog) just had her 2nd ACL surgery and is currently recuperating at home. She is now 5 years old - time flies.

Gaby (the cat) is still holding his own with the boys - he likes to remind them that he has claws and teeth every now and then.

We are very excited to be taking our first "real" vacation this winter. We are heading to Orlando to Disney World for 5 days! Cannot wait!!

I am making a pledge to keep this updated, I am starting my New Years Resolutions early!

Take care everyone!

Happy Guys!

A rare picture of the boys smiling together!

Giddy-Up!

Ben and Papa going for a ride.

Quinn and Dad having a good time!

Big smiles!

The boys waiting in line.

Quinn dancing with Mama.

We went to the Crow Wing Power Company picnic while we were up visiting my parents last weekend. They had free horse rides and the boys loved it. Ben went twice - smiling the whole time. Quinn looked like such a little man - so cute!

Summer's Here - Out Comes the Pool!

Going down the elephant slide.

Quinn taking in the action from his chair.

Running through the sprinkler with Dad.

Quinn kept getting closer and closer to the water but never actually got wet - maybe next time!

All done - time for a nap!

I bought a pool on clearance last fall with the hopes that we would be able to use it this summer now that Quinn is a bit older. Thankfully we have had nice weather and decided to try it out one Sunday afternoon. Ben had a blast - running through the sprinklers and sliding down the slide. Quinn took a while to warm up to it, but eventually had some fun once he got used to the water. Hopefully we will be able to use it a lot more!!

Mr. Baseball

Here's the pitch!

Nice form!

Getting ready to throw right at Mom!

Ben LOVES baseball. He loves to pitch the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball, anything with a baseball. We have tons of baseballs around the house and in the garage - all different sizes. We also have baseball hats, he has one in particular that he loves and wears even though he outgrew it a while ago. He pitches right but can also throw left and bats right and left - he only likes to hit pitched balls though, not a fan of hitting off a tee. His favorite player is Jo Mauer (or is that Mom's favorite...) and his favorite team is the MN Twins of course!

Mama & Papa's - the New Weekend Retreat

View from the porch of some of the trees Chris and my Dad have cleared out. They now have a better view of the lake.

Ben and Quinn on horse rides at the Crow Wing Power Picnic.

The boys on Paul Bunyon's footprint in Breezy Point, MN

Ben giving Quinn a ride at Aunt Susan's & Uncle Al's in Breezy Point

One of my parent's "neighbors", a friendly snapping turtle that is looking to bury her eggs on my parent's yard.

My parents have moved out of our basement and are now in their BEAUTIFUL new home in Breezy Point, MN. Ben refers to it as "Papa's House" implying that Papa lives there, but Mama still lives with him. He has definitely formed a very strong bond with his Mama (that's what Ben calls Grandma)! We have spent a few weekends at the new place and LOVE it. Chris has been clearing dead trees and brush with my dad and Bella spends all day wandering the woods. She is one tired puppy by Sunday! I have been collecting some toys for the boys to keep there and they even have thier own room. We are so blessed to have my parents back in MN and close enough to visit as much as we want. I hope someday the boys will be able to look back and cherish all the wonderful memories that they will have of spending time with Mama and Papa.