The first week of school for the boys and workshops for us went very well. Both boys have been excited to go to school everyday. Matt already seems like he has matured a little bit. I had asked Ben to walk Matt to his room each morning, and after the 2nd day Matt said, "Mom, Ben can just run on ahead because I know what I'm doing." My little boys are growing up!
On to Labor Day...not sure how the holiday ever came to be, but I thought about all the different jobs I've had in my life. I'm sure this makes for interesting reading for everyone!
babysitter
DQ
grocery store cashier
personal care attendant for child with severe disabilities
book store cashier
bank teller
cashier in Nordstrom's shoe department
ran the Corkscrew at Valleyfair
danceline community ed coach and high school asst. coach
substitute teacher grades K-8
classroom teacher grades 1,3,5,6
Enjoy your Labor Day!
8.30.2008
8.25.2008
1st Day of School
The first day of school arrived today for Ben~2nd gr. and Matt~K!! Overall, the boys had fantastic first days! There were a few MINOR glitches, but we made it. Ben couldn't sleep last night. He came into our room a couple of times crying because he hadn't fallen alseep yet. I sat with him and told him that I used to be the same way, but that his body will be full of adrenaline and excitement on the first day.
Matt woke up excited and happy. I thought to myself, this is the kid who had numerous ear infections, didn't walk until he was 18 months, had tough transitions at daycare, and likes to have all his ducks in a row! I was unsure how the school transition would go for him. Just before we headed to the car, Matt asked what he would do with the folder in his backpack, and he burst into tears! I think the emotions of the day overwhelmed him and it was a chance to let it out. I assured him that his teacher would help him with everything he needed to know. When I picked Matt up from school today, he was all smiles and said he was excited to go back for his 2nd day! Hopefully this trend will continue for the next 13 years!
**Now that we are all back to school, my time to blog and comment on blogs will need to be limited. I'll try to write new posts once a week or so. I'll miss it, but I need to devote my time to other things besides blogging. : )
Matt woke up excited and happy. I thought to myself, this is the kid who had numerous ear infections, didn't walk until he was 18 months, had tough transitions at daycare, and likes to have all his ducks in a row! I was unsure how the school transition would go for him. Just before we headed to the car, Matt asked what he would do with the folder in his backpack, and he burst into tears! I think the emotions of the day overwhelmed him and it was a chance to let it out. I assured him that his teacher would help him with everything he needed to know. When I picked Matt up from school today, he was all smiles and said he was excited to go back for his 2nd day! Hopefully this trend will continue for the next 13 years!
**Now that we are all back to school, my time to blog and comment on blogs will need to be limited. I'll try to write new posts once a week or so. I'll miss it, but I need to devote my time to other things besides blogging. : )
8.22.2008
Mrs. Monday Night Football
If Brian could change something about me, I'm guessing that near the top of his list would be increasing my love of sports. I do enjoy watching and participating in sports, but usually not to the degree that Brian enjoys them.
While we were at the zoo one day last week, Brian looked over, and without any hesitation said, "Hey, that's Michele Tafoya from Monday Night Football." Sure enough, it was, and we forever have a picture to prove it!
While we were at the zoo one day last week, Brian looked over, and without any hesitation said, "Hey, that's Michele Tafoya from Monday Night Football." Sure enough, it was, and we forever have a picture to prove it!
8.19.2008
Yee-Haw Luke Skywalker!
My sister commented on her blog about the funny stage of childhood when kids love to dress up. Since we don't have princesses or fluffy kittens at our house, we have to make-do with cowboy wranglin' Star Wars stormtroopers instead!
8.15.2008
Childlike Faith
Matt was eating strawberries tonight when he innocently said, "Mom, how can we eat our food, it goes down our throats then into our stomachs, and it doesn't bump into God who is living in our hearts?" After smiling to myself I came up with the best answer I could. "God can move in time and not let the food bump him."
8.13.2008
The Rockies
No, I'm not referring to the beautiful mountain range west of the Mississippi. If you know Brian, you know he loves baseball. He looks at the Twins web-cam of their new outdoor stadium being built MULTIPLE times a day, and is aware when one new steel beam is added to the structure.
He was so excited to head to Denver for the Rockies game. Unfortunately, the night game was rained out and he never saw one pitch. I felt horribly for him, knowing how excited he was to be at the game.
Luckily, the Rockies ended up playing a double-header the next day. Brian and the crew stayed for BOTH games. That is a lot of baseball!
He was so excited to head to Denver for the Rockies game. Unfortunately, the night game was rained out and he never saw one pitch. I felt horribly for him, knowing how excited he was to be at the game.
Luckily, the Rockies ended up playing a double-header the next day. Brian and the crew stayed for BOTH games. That is a lot of baseball!
Having Fun!
Our boys have never been on an open-air chair lift. There were some nerves to work through for Ben as he approached the alpine slide, but it didn't take long for him to decide that this was a lot of fun! It took quite a bit more convincing, and working through a few tears, to get Matt to give it a try, but after we made our way down, he proudly said, "This slide rocks!"
Ben and Jake
Matt and Mom
Ben and Jake
Matt and Mom
8.12.2008
Let It Be Forever...in the Yampa
Are you confused? When Brian and I were married, "Let It Be Forever" was engraved into his platinum wedding band. While he was tubing with Matt on the Yampa River in Steamboat, their tube flipped, and while scooping Matt out of the water, the wedding ring came off and was never recovered. I guess that's the disadvantage to losing 50 pounds in the last 8 months! The ring will be replaced...eventually.
FORGOT TO MENTION: After Matt settled down from being so scared, he was quite concerned that Brian and I would not be married anymore. We assured him that we were. Later that evening, just the moms went tubing, and before we left I asked Matt if he had any advice. He said, "Yep...look for the ring!"
Last photo with the wedding ring on.
Big kids tubing
FORGOT TO MENTION: After Matt settled down from being so scared, he was quite concerned that Brian and I would not be married anymore. We assured him that we were. Later that evening, just the moms went tubing, and before we left I asked Matt if he had any advice. He said, "Yep...look for the ring!"
Last photo with the wedding ring on.
Big kids tubing
8.11.2008
Steamboat Springs, CO
**Lots of pictures included in this post!**
The drive from the Denver area to Steamboat Springs is absolutely beautiful! We drove through some amazing mountain passes, the long Eishenhower tunnel, and eventually down an eight mile hill into the valley. The condo we stayed at was great for our group of 14! 3 large, separated bedrooms with their own bathrooms,and a large common kitchen, living room, loft, and hot tub. It worked out much better than I could have expected.
We took the crew up the Gondola ride for a spectaclar view of Steamboat Springs. Uncle Brian also took some great pictures. It's hard to choose which pictures to post here and order for ourselves! After afternoon naps, we all headed on an easy hike at Fish Creek Falls. The kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and climbing over the large rocks in the river. It was so much fun to see all of the cousins interacting with each other and playing well together.
Alpine slide and tubing were the highlights of our second day in Steamboat. More on that in tomorrow's post!
Okay pictures by HM:
Awesome bday cake for Uncle B's 36th...I mean 35th!
Yes, there are "time-outs" in Steamboat
Gameboys got a good workout
Gondola ride
View from the top
The girls...except for T
Too cute!
Big kids climbing rocks
AWESOME pictures by BD:
The Whole Crew
Total Chaos
Serious Baseball Discussion
2008 Christmas Card?
Not many views like this in MN!
My Baby
Superstar!
Peaceful Walk
**Those of us who were there know that all 3 boys were actually VERY CRABY at this point!**
The drive from the Denver area to Steamboat Springs is absolutely beautiful! We drove through some amazing mountain passes, the long Eishenhower tunnel, and eventually down an eight mile hill into the valley. The condo we stayed at was great for our group of 14! 3 large, separated bedrooms with their own bathrooms,and a large common kitchen, living room, loft, and hot tub. It worked out much better than I could have expected.
We took the crew up the Gondola ride for a spectaclar view of Steamboat Springs. Uncle Brian also took some great pictures. It's hard to choose which pictures to post here and order for ourselves! After afternoon naps, we all headed on an easy hike at Fish Creek Falls. The kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and climbing over the large rocks in the river. It was so much fun to see all of the cousins interacting with each other and playing well together.
Alpine slide and tubing were the highlights of our second day in Steamboat. More on that in tomorrow's post!
Okay pictures by HM:
Awesome bday cake for Uncle B's 36th...I mean 35th!
Yes, there are "time-outs" in Steamboat
Gameboys got a good workout
Gondola ride
View from the top
The girls...except for T
Too cute!
Big kids climbing rocks
AWESOME pictures by BD:
The Whole Crew
Total Chaos
Serious Baseball Discussion
2008 Christmas Card?
Not many views like this in MN!
My Baby
Superstar!
Peaceful Walk
**Those of us who were there know that all 3 boys were actually VERY CRABY at this point!**
Lil' Smiths
Our first night in CO was spent with my brother, his wife, and their 4 month old baby boy. This was the first time our family has met little Charlie. He is adorable and Adam enjoyed being around someone smaller than himself!
L + K, thanks so much for tripling the size of your family for the night and for putting up with our craziness. It was fun to watch you be parents...the lil' man is lucky to have you as his mom and dad.
Loving Lil' C
Loving Buddy (or is it Bitsy...I can't tell!)
Baby + Baseball = Brian's Heaven
Making Tacos
Lil' Smiths
L + K, thanks so much for tripling the size of your family for the night and for putting up with our craziness. It was fun to watch you be parents...the lil' man is lucky to have you as his mom and dad.
Loving Lil' C
Loving Buddy (or is it Bitsy...I can't tell!)
Baby + Baseball = Brian's Heaven
Making Tacos
Lil' Smiths
8.10.2008
Olympic Tragedy
The attack on the American family in China is so sad. When we returned from CO, the news came out with who the family is. I graduated with the middle daughter of this family. I didn't know her all that well, but I remember her being very nice and very smart.
I don't often find myself praying for families I don't know well, but I've said several prayers for the Bachman family.
I don't often find myself praying for families I don't know well, but I've said several prayers for the Bachman family.
8.09.2008
Home from CO
We are home safely after a busy and fun week in Colorado! It's too late to blog much right now, but I promise, details and pictures will be coming soon!
In the meantime, check out my brother-in-law's blog. He is an amazing photographer and did a couple of photo shoots with our family while we were in CO. His posts "Invasion of the Moors" and "More Moors" highlight some of his favorite pictures of our family. Awesome pictures, Brian! Thank you!
We've made some wonderful memories for years to come!
In the meantime, check out my brother-in-law's blog. He is an amazing photographer and did a couple of photo shoots with our family while we were in CO. His posts "Invasion of the Moors" and "More Moors" highlight some of his favorite pictures of our family. Awesome pictures, Brian! Thank you!
We've made some wonderful memories for years to come!
8.04.2008
Our First 3 Days
We arrived safely in CO on Saturday afternoon. The flight with the boys went well...nobody slept, but nobody cried! We headed down to Lil' Smith's house to meet lil' C for the first time. What a cutie!
On Sunday we caravaned on up to Steamboat Springs. We are staying in a beautiful condo, and with 14 people here, we actually don't feel all that crowded! The cousins are having a great time playing together.
Monday was our first full day to enjoy. We headed up the ski hill on a gondola ride for a spectactular view of the mountains. This city is beautiful! The kids all enjoyed the ride up, and the MN parents were slightly nervous.
After some afternoon naps, we went as an entire group on a hike at Fish Creek Falls. Another beautiful place! Rock throwing and climbing were favorites of the kids...they could have stayed for hours!
We're having some slow interent connections, and that is why we're not able to blog as often as we'd like. Because of the slow speed, we'll have to wait to post pictures until we are back in MN.
The week is going fast, we're all doing well, and we're having a wonderful time!
On Sunday we caravaned on up to Steamboat Springs. We are staying in a beautiful condo, and with 14 people here, we actually don't feel all that crowded! The cousins are having a great time playing together.
Monday was our first full day to enjoy. We headed up the ski hill on a gondola ride for a spectactular view of the mountains. This city is beautiful! The kids all enjoyed the ride up, and the MN parents were slightly nervous.
After some afternoon naps, we went as an entire group on a hike at Fish Creek Falls. Another beautiful place! Rock throwing and climbing were favorites of the kids...they could have stayed for hours!
We're having some slow interent connections, and that is why we're not able to blog as often as we'd like. Because of the slow speed, we'll have to wait to post pictures until we are back in MN.
The week is going fast, we're all doing well, and we're having a wonderful time!
8.02.2008
We're on Our Way!
Feeling much better today! Brian took the boys to Barnes & Noble while I packed, and we'll be leaving home soon!
We'll be blogging along the way!
8.01.2008
Killer Headache!
I spent much of the day today cleaning the house and doing laundry, trying to get ready to leave for CO tomorrow. Around 3:30 or so, I got one of the WORST headaches I can ever remember having. It got to the point where I was very nauseous and was in tears! Fortunately, the church VBS carnival was tonight, so Brian took all 3 boys on his own to that. On their way over, he called my sister and my mom to tell them I was not doing too well.
THANK GOODNESS my sister and my mom were able to come over tonight. They got me to eat and drink a little, kept the warm packs coming for my head, massaged my neck, helped Brian with the boys when they got home, etc... THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU!!
About 9:30 or so, I finally started to feel better. I'm wiped out now, but off to bed. I'll need to pack for all of us in the morning, but at least we don't leave our house until noon!
We're looking forward to a great time in CO with everyone...and praying that everyone stays healthy!
THANK GOODNESS my sister and my mom were able to come over tonight. They got me to eat and drink a little, kept the warm packs coming for my head, massaged my neck, helped Brian with the boys when they got home, etc... THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU!!
About 9:30 or so, I finally started to feel better. I'm wiped out now, but off to bed. I'll need to pack for all of us in the morning, but at least we don't leave our house until noon!
We're looking forward to a great time in CO with everyone...and praying that everyone stays healthy!
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