God must be a man...

I'm pretty sure God must be a man. If He is the one controlling Minnesota weather, then most definately He is a man.

Today it is a beautiful 65-70 degrees in Minnesota. And November is right around the corner.

And for the second weekend in a row, I've heard, 'It's going to be the last nice day. It would be a shame if I didn't play golf. And everyone else is doing it.'

I mean, how can I say no? It keeps me in 'best wife ever' status and allows me to take advantage of Scott's wallet after a good night of poker.

So he went to have his fun.

But we're fun people too!

And we enjoyed a most lovely Fall morning at Ammodts Apple Orchard in Stillwater.

And you might think pictures of kids at the orchard/hay maze/cow train could get boring and old. But they don't for this mom. I could just keep snappin' all day long.

The 'car' Jaxon and Kiley chose didn't have a working seatbelt, so I told Jaxon he needed to hang on to Kiley and make sure she didn't fall out. Even though the train went about two miles an hour. He immediately put his arms around her waist and didn't let go until it stopped.

 Such a good big brother. (Until he pushed her down the slide ten minutes later. But that's neither here nor there).

Then we had some fun in the hay maze, which wasn't so much a maze as it was just a bunch of hay bales to climb over and under. Jaxon had fun popping up here...

...and there...

 

 and here...

Kiley was zoning out with her paci...

 'till I asked to see her pretty smile... and she complied, for a nano-second.

Finally, we made our way to pick some apples. But the apples had all been picked. There were hardly any left on the trees. Until Jaxon found this one! He was quite excited...

 And then he made it his mission to find one for Kiley and me. So thoughtful.

Our little Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

 

 Thanks God. For the super awesome weather and the super fun day.

my biggest fan

Dear Jaxon and Kiley,

Usually I write about you two. How you're driving me crazy. How you won't go to bed at night. The endless questions, with no answers. The constant chatter. Those sweet little voices telling me, 'I love you' or 'I want to marry you'. I write about the adventures we have together. The stories you tell and the ones I make up because I don't know the answers to your many questions.

Today, I thought I'd share a story with you about your dad.

Just in case (this will never happen, but just in case) I forget to tell you, or show you, just how much he means to us, how important he is in our life and how much we love him.

This is a story about a summer of accomplishment and love. And how your dad helped me through it.

Sometime in the Spring, my friend Monica suggested we do a triathalon (400yd swim, 10m bike, 2m run). Sure, I thought. How hard can this be?

And so, I signed up for the race without even telling your dad. And I didn't even own a bike yet. Nor did I realize I had no clue how to swim. And that I was terrified of the water.

When I told Scott, I could almost hear him saying what was undoubtedly in his head at that time- 'Here we go again.'.

But he didn't say it.

He started researching bikes for me. And asking his friends which kind I should buy. He even returned my first one for me and let me buy a nicer, faster one (which I really love).

And then the training began.

Nearly every Saturday morning in July and August, Monica and I had a standing date at 7am to swim/bike/run (or whatever we could muster on those days).

And nearly every Saturday morning I'd come home to an egg skillet, a farmers' market omelet, or homemade waffles and a glass of water just waiting for me.

And even though he couldn't come watch me race, I knew he was worried about me. He texted me right after I was done to make sure I hadn't drowned. And he let me live on my 'high' for a couple days. What an amazing experience that was.

After the race, or sometime before, I think is when I told Scott about the Duathalon. I wanted to be called an Iron Girl. And so before i knew what i was doing, we had signed up for the Athleta Iron Girl Duathlon (2m run, 22m bike, 2m run).

And when I woke up at 4:45am to meet Monica at the start line, there were no grumbles. Just 'Good luck honey. See you at the finish line. You'll do great'. Your dad even loaned me his cold gear since it was freezing that day.

Finally, this past weekend, I completed my final distance event of the season- the Twin Cities 10 Miler. And at 5:30 in the morning your dad woke himself up and drove me to the start line. Then he got you all bundled up with Grandma and Grandpa and Zoe to get a spot at the finish line. And when I was done he bundled me with his cold gear.

I say all this, not to brag about my accomplishments (well, sort of). But to show you what a truly amazing dad you have. He's definately been my support, my motivator, and my confidante in all of this.

He's so much more than 'the best maker' or 'the greatest buddy'...

After nearly 18 years of being together, he is my best friend. My biggest fan. My one true love.

I couldn't ask for much more (except for maybe some more of those omelets on Saturday mornings?).

missed me, missed me, now you gotta kiss me

Ah, to see life through childrens' eyes...


On the way home today:

Jaxon: Mom, do you know what Savannah did today?
Me: No, what?
Jaxon: She kissed me. On the belly.
Me: Oh, that's funny. What did you do?
Jaxon: I kissed her belly.
Me: Hmmm. So why do you think she did that?
Jaxon: I think we're going to get married someday.

In the car yesterday:
Listening to a pop song (could be anything really), but something about men and women not getting along and sounded like Kesha...
Jaxon: Mom, why does she keep saying 'mmmmph' (sort of a grunting sound).
Me: Hm, I don't know. Maybe she's frustrated.
Jaxon: I just don't know why she does that.
Me; Yeah, I'm not sure.
Jaxon: I guess she's mad that he won't play with her.
Me: Right. Something like that.

I can't keep up really. These kids are growing so quickly, I just don't even have time to research what to say. I need some guidance sometimes... the questions are starting to get more complicated. Things like, why doesn't so and so play with me? And when are you ever gonig to marry me mommy? And can't I have the same shoes as Devin?

Things really do seem to be moving so fast lately. I find one of my favorite times of the day is at night when the kids are in bed- for obvious reasons- but also because they are just so innocent. And sweet.

They don't talk back. They don't hit or kick their emotions out. They are peaceful. Serene. Recharging their batteries for the next day. I love to watch them and just take a few moments to capture their faces. Their features. Their crazy bedtime routines and rituals (no ice, just water; over here, not there; this blanket, not that one, etc.)

And I love that Jaxon falls asleep almost every night reading the book that Grandma made for him- Jaxon's ABC's and the one I made for Scott. He often has it opened at one of the pages or it's fallen on his face, taking in all the memories and pictures of family...

If only we coul keep them small and innocent like this for just a little bit longer. But instead, I know tomorrow I'll be faced with 'Missed Me, Missed Me, now you gotta Kiss Me, and 'Mom, stop staring at me and smiling, I know you love me' (with a big eye roll). We'll go to Target and he'll sing the entire Taylor Swift chorus to 'Never get back together'. He'll climb the tallest slide at Lookout Bridge and make best new friends in two minutes or run around the store with a kid he just met. We'll walk in to his classroom and I'll watch the girls giggle and flirt with him and I'll notice the cool, macho look he gives them. He'll ask harder questions and challenge me in ways I'm not sure I'm ready for...

Feels like some kind of adventure ride we're on... can't wait for the next part.



"I always wanted to invent something that would move around & make funny noises & would change the world as we know it & I forgot all about that until we had kids & now I see I came pretty close." -Brian Andreas, Story People

preschool and polar bears

Change is certainly in the air... you can feel it. And we've felt it in our house.

Earlier this month, Scott raised some questions about the care our children were receiving at their in-home daycare. Not to get into too many details, but we ended up moving to a center-based program. While it was a tough transition at first, it has been so wonderful for our kids--they really seem to love it so far, even Kiley has warmed up to the idea after crying her first week there.

Here's a picture of their first day of preschool (Jaxon) and preschool discovery (Kiley).

 

Jaxon has been chasing girls there too. Yesterday when I picked him up from school, there was another little girl being picked up- she was cute, blond, and wearing a Vikings Cheerleader outfit.

 

Jaxon just looked at me as she was leaving, and said, "mom, there's something I need to do. Okay, I said. I need to give someone a hug so I'll be right back." The girl, who I would later find out was Audrey, had already made it to the front of the school with her mom. Jaxon ran through the halls chasing her with teachers telling him to stop, wait for your mom. 'Oh, it's okay, I said. He's chasing a girl'. They all just looked at me and shook their heads. Good luck they said.

 

School has made Kiley exhausted every night. She is out within minutes of her head hitting the pillow. And she takes close to three hour naps on the weekends. But I think even she is learning a lot so far. She's been singing songs and has started using a big girl cup without a lid at home. She wants to everything herself- not like she didn't before, but even moreso now. And she went potty on the potty chair! The past few weeks she's been sitting on the potty chair after she goes in her diaper. Last night, she actually went in the potty!

 

I feel like we're in for a lot more changes in the near future... I can hardly believe some of the things Jaxon is saying and asking us...

 

This morning we went to the zoo with our good friends Abby, Calvin and Audra while the dads golfed together.

 

We were at the polar bear exhibit when Abby and I started talking about what it would be like to have another one (kid, not polar bear).

 

And that's when it really hit me.

 

I don't so much want another one as I don't want to lose these ones. I'm scared of them growing up. Of them not needing me anymore. Scared that I'll never have that little baby to take care of anymore. No more sweet little bear hugs and nose kisses. Holding hands and picking them up when they fall... The more independent they get, the easier it gets. And the harder it gets. It's like being in a pit of joy and sorrow all at the same time.  How can that possibly be?

 

 And what sucks, really sucks? Is that according to my mom, that feeling doesn't go away for a really long time, if ever.

Ugh. Who knew polar bear exhibits could be so powerful. Thanks Como Zoo. 

 

apple of my eye

Not sure what that saying means, really.

 

But we sure did find some apples this weekend.

 

And raspberries.

 

That's all I can come up with this morning. Enjoy the cute kid pics...

 

 

a warm blanket

Most people know I grew up in West Fargo, North Dakota. We call it Fargo for short. And some people just call it the flyover state. Others make fun of it because everyone says 'oh ya, you betcha.'

To me, it is home.

It doesn't take the place of my current home and family, because that is everything to me. But it certainly has a special place in my heart and every time I go there, it feels like home. You know that feeling? When you drive into town and it just feels like someone gave you a hug...or wrapped a warm blanket around you... comforting, familiar, and full of family.

I love it and cherish the time we get when we go home for simple days, simple pleasures.

Like shucking corn. 

We went 'home' a couple weekends ago for what I anticipate will become an annual venture. Nearly 300 ears of corn were shucked, blanched, bagged and frozen for the winter.

 

The kids had a blast, even though they arrived for the last five minutes...

How can you not have fun when everyone is focused on you. And you have a paper towel holder to use as a bat to practice your t-ball?

And you get to spend quality time with your mommy?

And examine those little green things called vegetables!

And pose in a picture where you pretend to eat those little green things called vegetables?

 

Looking forward to next year's Walker Schuckfest...

 

 

pee wee

I'm not sure what we'll do with our Monday and Wednesday nights anymore. The last few weeks have been so much fun watching Jaxon begin his pee-wee sports adventures. I can't believe he is at the age when they start organized sports! Where did the time go?

From the first night when he got his t-shirt and met his team, this kid was looking forward to Mondays and Wednesdays, counting the days in between...

They started with soccer.

Jaxon learned all his trapping and kicking skills from Scott. They sure had fun, enjoying time together and feeling like a 'big boy'. Jaxon too.

After they 'mastered' soccer, they had two weeks of t-ball. His team wasn't the brightest. Most of them hit the ball and then ran after it instead of toward the base. But then, this is pee-wee sports.

Jaxon saw this baseball hat in the store and just had to have it. He wants to be just like his dad. Too bad this isn't silver and black. Then he would have really been bringing it.

I mean, can we say pee-wee again? Jaxon was swimming in his t-shirt and that batting helmet never did quite get above his eyebrows... but he sure ran as fast as he could in those crocs.

The Blue Buejays, named by none other than the kids themselves.

 The biggest fan. Kiley and I would go and watch Jaxon play. She would sit on the sidelines with her goldfish or fruit snacks and cheer for Jaxon. It wasn't until the last night that she started goofing around and thought she should be able to play too...

 She loved to sit on the bench with all the kids, right next to her big brother Jaxon.

 They even let Scottie play and gave him some pointers.

It's been a fun summer, watching Jaxon change so much. He now rolls his eyes at us, as if we are 'like, so dumb.' And he wants to do everything himself, make his own decisions, and he's decided that Dora is for little babies and that Spider Man and Super Hero shows are where it's at for him. Our little man is growing up. It is scary, yet somewhat exciting. I can't wait to see all the good things he is going to do someday. He's terribly smart, handsome, funny, and has such a big heart. Sounds kinda like his dad. Ahh, both of my boys are growing up! Could I be any luckier?