Updating Blog finally!

The past couple of months have been interesting to say the least. However, I have new pics up and we've got a couple of birthdays + Valentine's under the belt. Gavin has played soccer for the YMCA and finished his last game this weekend. He and Taten are now in gymnastics. I think they enjoy it but we'll see. The boys have said they'd like to learn to do flips someday. We'll see. Brad turned 35 on 2/18 and mine is 3/1. I made Brad a low-carb peanut butter pie which he thoroughly enjoyed. He's not a big chocolate eater but when you mix up sugar-free triple-fudge ice-cream with a cup full of peanut butter, he's good to go. We missed a huge snow opportunity last week. It hit my home area of Western Illinois of 7-9 inches and everything we got in Champaign was all rain. What nasty weather. We all have spring fever bad and I know the boys are just itching to get outside and stay there. However, with spring will be the lawn-mowing season so I'm apprehensive about that. Our family enjoys having Brad around more and he has accomplished a lot this winter with getting organized for the new season. We're also looking forward to some boating opportunities, too. Oh spring/summer, come soon! I have been reading Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France." It's great and I'm trying to brush up a little on my French from high school and college. There's different areas of the book where she used French and I can't remember some of the words. Oh well. Loved the movie Julie and Julia and highly recommend to everyone. Yes, even the men. On another note, Taten has been challenging our authority to extremes lately and we've been having to take away things. Unfortunately spanking the child doesn't work so we're having to find other ways to get our message across. Right now, I'm blaming his tantrums on the full moon coming up (ha ha). Just ready for him to calm down a bit. Taking away video games, though, seems to hit him hard enough that he straightens up. We have to stay strong. I'm off to bed . . .

A New Year

Many of you know by now that Brad and I had our van broken into while visiting the Kleinmans' in MN. Very frustrating and disappointing. The latest is we have taken all the measures we can so far to repair things on our end. However, today's latest development is another check came through on our account. Now, I had the account closed on Monday (or so I thought) and it's still active. After speaking with the fraud dept. at the bank, they were going to handle some things on their end and of course, I have to go in to fill out affidavits for forgeries. In the meantime, we've had some money credited back which is a relief, but doesn't do much good if the bank isn't going to follow through on closing our account properly. Let's just say we're not going to be working with them as much anymore. And, can I just put this note in here, too? If people working at banks or retail stores ask you for id, do not get angry or irritated. I get so mad when I hear people complain about this. The bottom-line is you could be going through this garbage like ourselves and many others just because someone didn't request id. There.

I've definitely learned a few lessons of my own through this whole thing, if you can believe that. Ha! And, I'm continuously praying for this person that they will somehow come to God and repent. Hopefully they've kept the bible that was in my purse or it at least pricked their conscience when they saw it. I've also been praying for my ability to forgive, which seems to come up more and more these days. But if God finds me worthy, I have to say that I have to find this person worthy, too.

Whew! That being said, MN was excellent. It was so much fun to be back with the Kleinman's and Brad got to see their new home and stomping ground. We had a great time visiting and look forward to it again. Despite the break-in, the sledding (or sliding) hill we went on was a blast. Taten had a close-call accident, but he made it through and of course loves the excitement. Can't wait to find out what "flavor" KK and RK are having from the ultrasound this month and of course, another visit later in the summer.

Hope everyone is having a great new year, so far, and just remember to enjoy life and not put stock in the material stuff. :o)

Thanksgiving Fun! Whoo hoo!

 
 
 
 
Them boys. Takin' risks for the sake of fun. Ha!

I will get there someday!

http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/

Gavin's Birthday party

 
 
 
 
A good time was had by all. Gavin celebrated his 7th birthday with 10-11 other friends and us family, too. Speed Racer was the theme. Our boy is growing up so fast!

Trick or Treat!

 
 
 
 
The boys really scored on the candy!! Gavin was dressed as Optimus Prime and Taten as Bumblebee from the Transformers' movie. Not sure about Brad.

Fun fall trip to the country

 
 
 
 
Had so much fun hanging out with Gramps at the farm. We visited a pumpkin patch. Then we spent a lot of time 4-wheeling around the fields and Great-Grandma's house. The boys didn't want to leave.

Walking for Westview

 
 
 
 
Had a great day at Gavin's school during their big fundraiser event. Celebrated music, art, and theater.

Happy Birthday Taten!

 
 
 
 
Taten is the big 4 today! Congrats big kid! I'm sure no one is surprised he had a Thomas birthday. :o)

more pics

 
 
 
 

Clinton Lake Camping Moments/Labor Day Weekend

 
 
 
 
So great hanging out with the Amjads Labor Day Weekend. A few of us walked away with poison ivy but survived. And, since the trip Brad got us a boat. Our kids are wondering when we're going camping again. Surprising since they weren't excited about the bathrooms.

The boys' first day of school.

 
 
 
 
Monday, the 17th, Taten went to his first day of preschool at Judah Christian. He had a great time and really feels like a big boy now that he has his own school to go to. Today we took Gavin to his first day. Although he's in a class with different kids (with a few from last year's class), he really liked it and I think it will shape up to be a great year. Next Monday will be my first morning w/out both of the kids here. It will be different but an adjustment I'm sure I'll sink into. Brad and I are so proud of them!

Some Taten moments

 
 
 
Taten starts preschool this Monday. Cannot believe it. Here he is getting his first dental checkup. He did really good. And, he's taken up a new love for fishing especially when he's with his Daddy. Our baby's growin' up!

Minnesota or Bust!

 
 
 
 
We had so much fun in the St. Paul area! We did as much as we could in such little time. The joy was definitely reuniting with the Kleinman clan and getting to hang out. Didn't get much sleep while we were there; just too much to do. The kids played great together and it was so fun to see them enjoying it. We surprised Karen with a little bit of an early arrival and she spoiled us with everything. The kids enjoyed a great park where we picnicked, we went to Lake Minnetonka where the kids swam and we had great ice cream, of course we got to Mall of America and IKEA (loved it!!), and then it was finally rest day on Wednesday before the trip home. That came at a good time because the kids were finally on meltdown mode. The weather was so wonderful up there and we even picked raspberries at their house. OFF bug spray was our best friend. The mosquitoes love the weather up there and get pretty huge. Whew! What a fun stay and can't wait to go back sometime.