Elmo grows up!

For Christmas, the kids got some money from my aunt in New York. Because I knew we did NOT need anymore toys, I wondered what I could use the money for that would be fun! So, on Thursday we used the money to go see "Elmo Grows Up" at the Target Center in Minneapolis. It was so fun! We were on the side only 4 rows up, and the view was great! The kids seemed to really like the show and the characters. Isabelle kept asking when she could give Elmo a hug? This is because all the characters would walk around and hug the kids in the first couple of rows on the floor. Maybe next year- although I know if we were sitting there, she would be terrified of the characters and refuse to hug any of them. Thanks Terise, we had a blast!

Frosty

We made our snowman of the season and I think ever for the kids. They were loving it, everyone except Andrew that is, shocking. These are the days that I love winter- It is warm enough to play in the snow and not freeze our fannies off!

Day off

Brenton had Tuesday off this week. It was a beautiful sunny winter day, so we took a journey (.8 miles) over to my parents back yard where they have a little hill and thought we would see if the kids liked sledding. Last year it was not a big success, so we started at a little hill. There is a monster hill in Northfield that I can't wait to take them to.

My kind of art project

It's surprising that I was an elementary teacher because when it comes to doing art projects, I love to get them and I love making them, but I despise the cleaning up of the mess that comes from making the projects. On the goodyblog, I found my kind of art project. It's a virtual gingerbread house! I was really wanting to make a real gingerbread house with the kids, but after the mess that occurred from frosting cookies, I don't think we are ready to take on this challenge. But for this year, this will be a great activity for the kids. They can create and recreate new houses all the time, and I don't have to worry about them eating all the candy!

A day with mom

Yesterday was a fun & exhausting day for the kids and me. We headed up to Monticello to get some more things from the Town home, connected with some friends, went swimming, hit up Target and ran into some more friends, made a few more stops and finally headed home. They were beat! But we had a blast, everyone for Andrew that is! He is not a fan of water, so he and I stuck close together.

Winter Walk

Last night Northfield held a "Winter Walk" in the downtown. The streets were blocked off and it was filled with Christmas lights, carolers, a weak representation of Santa and Mrs Clause (I think they were both in their their 20s), Horses pulling wagons, reindeer, food, cider & cookies and more! It was a chilly night, but it was fun to walk around and enjoy winter a little. If you didn't have kids you were able to do some bargain shopping too, since all the stores had something special going on for just last night. Journeying into the store with the 3 kids was a little tricky since they were packed with people. It's so funny to see the kids get excited about Santa or the people walking around as Frosty and Rudolph. When they get the chance to go up and say hi, they make a quick run for mom or dad's leg with no more interest getting close. It was a fun family time out.

Celebration

Friends are awesome! We gathered in Albertville to celebrate Izzy's 3rd birthday with our friends from the north! It was so much fun to all be together again. Izzy had so much fun being the center of attention and soaked it all in. She requested during dinner that she was wanting eveyone to sing Happy Birthday. Thank you friends for loving us and our kids so much. Isabelle loves all of her presents (and Jake does too). You are all so important to us, and we look forward to getting together again!

Boo from the Balvin's

We started our festivities at Chipotle to get our FREE dinner for dressing up like a burrito (put Tin foil somewhere on our bodies). What a delicious start! Then we headed to church for a "Night in the Light". The church is filled with kids, costumes, games, and CANDY! Finally, the kids ventured out with Nana Kris to do a little trick or treating in her neighborhood and add to their mountain of sugar. It was a fun and exhausting few hours. The kids now sleep off all the sugar highs and adrenaline so they can start tomorrow with Snickers for breakfast (just kidding).

Family Fun day

Another catchup from the month...
Someone that I love blessed us with money and told me to make sure I did something fun with the kids with it. So, Brenton had a day off and we planned a family fun day! First we went to the Children's museum- Love it!!! One great thing about having all the kids close in age is that they are all interested in the same thing. The museum was featuring Curious George and all 3 kids love Curious George so we had a blast there, not to mention all of the other fun things to do. Then we drove down to Minneapolis where we could get on a train to the Mall of America. The kids also love trains, so they thought is was great that were really riding on one. We ate lunch at the mall and had a quick ice cream and cookie snack before getting back on the train and heading home. We were all exhausted! I love family days, even with the stress of keeping everyone together, I get recharged and realize why I love my husband and my family so much.

The great MN get together 2007

Who could pass up The great MN get together when you have FREE tickets!?
Last year after walking around the MN state fair my water broke and I had Andrew. This year, it was a fun day with family and friends (Daryl & Amy) being overstimulated with smells, odd fashion choices, and more options of anything you could think or dream of fried and on a stick. The fair is a little challenging with a 2 and 3 year old that think everything they see it the greatest thing they have ever seen and want to take off and run towards it- I conveniently had a sharpie in my purse and we wrote our phone number on each of the kids arms in the case that they got lost (good thinking babe). It brings Brenton and I great joy as parents to see their faces light up and to see their brains thinking about what they are experiencing. Kiki (Carrie-Brenton's sister) was so gracious to take Andrew so we didn't have to worry about him eating everything off the slimy ground, that was a huge relief.

We had a couple low moments in the evening as well. There were a few meltdowns from the darling Isabelle, there were some constant begging moments for a "Fair souvenir" from Jake, and there was an unfortunate bee sting to Brenton's face, just below his glasses. But the majority of the night was really fun, and I am sad to know that it will be another year before we can do again. The fair is always a mark that summer is over, and winter is just around the corner.

Here are some of the highlights- my favorite was going down the big slide as a family...

R & R

A few weeks back we got to enjoy 'The cabin'! Anyone that has been to the Balvin cabin knows how peaceful and relaxing it is. It sits on beautiful Lake Mary in Emily, MN. Nothing but God's amazing creation all around. We swam, played pinball, went paddle boating, got ice cream, laughed, played games, sat by the fire, and more. It's always a refreshing time to be up there. The kids are now at an age where they love to explore outside and enjoy all the different activities. Jacob got to experience a leech this summer- he was standing in the water and Papa Craig saw that it was enjoying a snack on Jake's foot. Thanks Craig and Kris for building the beautiful cabin for all of us to escape to- we love it, and can't wait to go again!