We love our Vikings!

We love our Minnesota Vikings (except last Sunday)! Every Sunday the whole household, including the kids, get excited for "game day." It's been fun this year to watch the kids even look forward to the big game. These outfits are compliments of Uncle Mike from California. Looking forward to the rest of the season!

Monster Truck Jam

Last weekend, Drew took Alex to a Monster Truck Jam at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. It was a daddy-son date. Alex was excited to hang out with dad one-on-one as was Drew. It is a huge understatement to say that Alex had the time of his life. They had pit passes so they were able to go down on the track before the exhibition and see the trucks up close and meet the drivers. Then he was able to see some of the races before he pooped out at the end of the evening. And to top it all off, he was able to ride the lightrail downtown or a "train" as Alex called it. It was a day to remember. He fell asleep on the way home and Drew carried him inside and as soon as he heard my voice, he opened his eyes and woke right up and said, "Mom, can I tell you all about it?" He was thrilled. And dad had a great time too!

Getting ready for Xmas

This year on the day after Thanksgiving, Drew and I and the kids went and cut down our Xmas tree. We haven't had one in a couple of year for fears that one of our young kids would eat the needles. But they are old enough this year, that we could do a real tree again - no more artificial. So, we bundled up and headed out to pick out a Xmas tree at a tree farm and cut it down. The kids were so excited to pick out the perfect tree. It was a beautiful day and we had so much fun. Then that evening once the tree was up in our living room, the kids helped decorate it. It was a riot. They were so incredibly excited this year, it made it so much more fun. Each and every ornament that they took out of our storage bin was "the best ornament ever"
And also this year, the kids wanted to decorate a gingerbread house. So we made that last weekend. They were so excited and had a blast putting frosting all over it and little candies. Now of course, they want to demolish it and eat it, but we're still holding out a couple more days.
This year, it has been even more fun than usual to get into the Christmas spirit. The kids make it very easy to get caught up in all the holiday joy. They are so excited about Santa, reindeer, snow, Xmas cookies, and of course - presents. They also know that it's Baby Jesus' birthday. We're definitely looking forward for the next couple of weeks. It's a lot of fun around here!

The things kids say are priceless!

Alex and Lauren, like most kids, say some of the funniest and hilarious things. Here is a recent recap of the things that I can remember. I know that I need to be better about writing them down as they happen. And of course, they are always funnier in person when you can actually hear them say these things, but this will have to do!

Alex is so logical and so rationale that sometimes when he says funny things, it reminds me that he is a kid. Sometimes he seems like an old soul in a kid's body!
- The other day, it was freezing outside, our first real winter day. Alex looked out the window and said, "Mom, i just love being in a cozy home." What 4-year old says cozy?
- And the other day, he said as watching some squirrels play in a tree in our yard, "Mom, is that our tree?" I let him know that yes, the tree was in our yard. Then he said, "I just love having pet squirrels."
- He is currently sick with a cold and kind of an sourpuss about it. He lamented, "Mom, why do I always get sick and have fevers?" Keep in mind, this is a minor cold and no fever. Then he said, "It's going to take me years to get better. You and Lauren better stay away - I don't want you to get sick." "Lauren - STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

Lauren, on the other hand, is a total spitfire. She currently will display some attitude and put her hands on her hips and say, "I am mad at you. Stop doing things that make me mad at you." And she puts her best mad face on her face. It's actually hard to not laugh at her.
- She also is totally into pretending and using her imagination, thanks to her brother I'm sure. But lately, she uses her "magic wand" (totally pretend, when actually she is holding nothing) and tries to turn her dad, her brother and myself into "happy princesses." She is overjoyed when we allow ourselves to be turned into happy princesses.
- Yesterday she gave me a huge grin and a big hug after her gymnastics class and told me that I'm her "best buddy." Then when we got home and she rememebered that Alex is actually her best buddy, she looked at me and said, "You know what mom, you are my best girl."
She is so funny, it's hard to remember that she is only 2 years old. She's definitely 2 going on 5!