Can't forget the Grandma

So in looking at my last couple posts I noticed there aren't any pictures of my mom and of course she was here also to love on her grandkids. Sorry Mom! But as a mom she knows we are always overlooked!!!

Grandma, Grandpa, Brayden and Camden 'shoved' into the train at Mall of America's amusement park.

Brayden was a bat for Halloween, even though he said he wasn't!?!? Camden was a dragon.

Grandpa's Love

We are VERY lucky in that they have two sets of attentive, encouraging, spoiling (I always have to 'reprogram' my children after grandparents leave!) loving grandparents. But this post is dedicated to a man who by choice loves my children unconditionally and doesn't have a 'biological' reason to. Stan is a wonderful Grandpa to my children and we are lucky to have him in our lives. We love you Stan!

Apple Orchard

So this happened about a month ago....actually a little over! But I just downloaded them and found some cute ones that I had to post. So here they are.....better late than never I suppose!

Showing Cam how to 'twist' and pull the apples.

In the second picture I love the way Camden is looking at his brother......I don't know what Brayden was saying to him but it doesn't matter, Camden thinks the sun rises and sets with his big brother. Overall these two love each other and will make each other laugh those adorable belly laughs, I pray every day that they stay this way forever!

We couldn't keep apples away from this baby the whole time we were in the orchard. Brayden doesn't like apples at all! Amazing how these two have COMPLETELY different tastes, and I don't remember doing anything different with either!! Of course we fought diaper rash for awhile after this! Anytime you get an apple from the fridge (or any food from anywhere for that matter) he's right at your heels....it's a little freaky how he just comes out of nowhere!

No Title Needed

I just LOVE this picture. Don't get me wrong I love to see their adorable faces but there's something about them in this picture. When I saw it on the computer after I downloaded it I thought about how neat it would be to get them to do this 5, 10, 15.....years from now until I have pictures of my children walking with their children (now I'm starting to cry!!!) and then framing them in progression. Great in theory but I wonder how hard it will be to get a 16 year old and a 14 year old (plus possibly one more that would be around 11) to do this......IMPOSSIBLE unless I'm promising a car!!!!!
By the way they are both walking towards a friend of mines little girl!!! No fighting over her broke out.....this time!

Baby #3

No I'm not pregnant!!! We are just talking about 'if' we have another......but as my ob/gyn told me it's a good idea not to wait too much longer. So I am praying about this and need to keep praying. In the meantime, Jared would like a baby born in the Fall and I want to keep with the Springtime (to be practical I do have A LOT of clothes for boys born then). I need everyone who reads this to give me their opinion on Fall vs. Spring born babies. I do have Brayden who I have to take to school so one big worry for me is taking a 3 month old out in -20 degree weather!

Thanks for your input!

Prayer Request

So I went to my cousins blogs and found some headings regarding prayer requests (note: I will add them to my list of prayers). This gave me the same idea about a family I don't know but Jared does (he works with this womans husband).

About a month ago Jared told me about a woman who has cancer and she has two small children. Of course I felt bad for the family but when he brought home a picture of their little family it just stopped my heart. Her name is Jill Thompson she has been married to her husband Greg for 8 years and they have two little girls. Her first daughter was born within a few months of Brayden (Jared remembers having dinner with Greg and talking about the idea of going from a family of 2 to a family of 3). When she was pregnant for her second child (who just turned 1 on September 4th) her doctor found a tumor in her kidney. She was diagnosed with kidney cancer and has been undergoing medical treatment to fight tumors in her kidney, lymph nodes, lungs, liver and abdomen.

I want to help this woman whom I don't know but feel a sort of bond with since our children were born so close together. The only way I know how to help is to pray like crazy for their family and to ask whoever reads this to also pray for them.

According to the family updates on a site called Caring Bridge Jill is showing improvement. They have a strong faith in God. Please keep this family in your prayers, she is too young and has a husband and two babies that need her so much.

Brayden's 1st Field Trip

Brayden had his first school field trip this past Thursday and I am lucky enough to have great friends to watch Camden so I could chaperone. I really thought a lot about if I should go or not but decided this year I would go (there's only 2) and then next year I wouldn't (we'll see!!!!)

I'm so glad that I went because that morning I heard about moms that couldn't go crying while they dropped their little ones off. And as we loaded onto the bus (it was a 20 minute ride away) I understood because if I wouldn't have gone I don't think I could've sent him alone without having an anxiety attack. Funny thing is that morning I remember thinking this is no big deal and I shouldn't be going because all he'll do is want me to carry him. I didn't expect to get emotional (just tears in the eyes no one could see if they weren't looking) after all we've been to the zoo, beach, nature centers, etc....lots in his 3 1/2 years; but this was different. Seeing him sitting there in those HUGE bus seats looking out the window reminded me that my baby is growing up and soon I won't be there and that makes me sad. In theory I do want him to be independent and ask him all the time why he can't do more for himself (he's not even close to dressing himself!), but when it comes right down to it I am going to have A LOT of trouble when he does want the main ties cut! I joke with him and tell him he'll always be my baby....only I'm not really joking!

By the way he did great on the field trip to the nature center. He never once asked me to carry him and as you can see from the picture he even raised his hand (of course I don't think he knew why he was doing it other than he saw other kids with their hands up). His next field trip is in the spring and I think Jared is going to try to take a day off so he can go next time.

DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!!!!

So we went to the Minnesota Zoo since Jared hadn't seen the new exhibit. It gets you up close and personal with 3 grizzly bears. There is nothing between you and them except a VERY strong glass made up of about seven layers. The kids and I have been there a few times this summer but this is the first real close encounter we had. It was so neat and the kids were never scared at all.

More from the Jersey Shore

Here are a couple of my other favorite pictures. The first to me just shows Jared's devotion and happiness when it comes to his children. Camden looks like he's eyeing a seagull that he wants to go after but Jared has this huge smile on his face and it's all about his baby boy. The other picture is Jared and Brayden in action. Jared was throwing Brayden around in the air (we won't mention that there was lightning and thunder in the distance and I was throwing all of our stuff together so we could get off the beach and back to safety while he played). Brayden couldn't love his daddy more and this picture shows how safe and happy he feels with him, I love and cherish that look. Because Jared loves me and the kids with his whole heart and wears that on his sleeve is why I can forgive him for letting me do all the packing while he played on the beach with his boys......besides we did get back to the house safely, soaked but safe!

First Day of School

My little man is growing up so quickly, I try to remind myself of this everyday and hope it helps me put things into perspective. Most of the time it doesn't and I still take things for granted and just try to get through the day without going insane! This is one day I took in as much as I could and hope it will be burned into my brain and heart forever. I didn't get all 'emotional' so I guess some might say I was heartless (my words), but my heart was bursting with pride and I knew I had to hide any anxiety I felt about leaving him. He was in a safe and comfortable place (he goes to preschool at our church, the attached school goes to 8th grade). Three long hours later I went to pick him up where he beamed at me and stood up and said to anyone who would listen 'that's my mommy' and then jumped into my arms. The lump in my throat was huge!

He has been to school three times now and he loves it. His 'report' slip that I get every time has comments on it that my boy is 'happy, joyful, talkative, listens well, and enjoys playing with all the kids in his class'. Yesterday he was waiting for his lunch and was saying como te llamas. WHAT?!?!?! When I asked him what he said he replied very matter of factly, "I'm asking you what your name is". I ran to his stack of papers from school and sure enough there is a paper with Spanish words and translations on it. He had Spanish for the first time that day for 20 minutes. I took Spanish for a whole semester in high school and I didn't even know what he said!

Camden is a totally different child when his big brother is in school too. He is quiet, calm and less reactive. He takes in what's around him instead of just watching his brother. I see a lot of Brayden in him when it's just the two of us.

So I didn't cry, but I knew this was the best thing for us and that Brayden (and me) needed this. Besides he's only going two days a week......we'll see what happens when he starts kindergarten!!!!! Then I'll be the mom following the school bus with big sunglasses on so no one sees how red and puffy my eyes are!

Cool!!!!!!

So thank you to my cousins once again for giving me ideas for my blog! I went to check up on my cousins and found music when I got to their blogs.....what's this and how do I do it?!?!?! So I clicked on the playlist and found so many songs I love and started compiling. An hour later I found the easy instructions on how to add it to my blog. Now this is one reason I don't keep up with my blog, because it can be time consuming (for me) and I end up letting the house, kids, dog go. But I have found a way to update my blog while listening to my music picks which is waaaaay cool. Most of these songs that I have picked have a meaning to me behind them, some I just like a lot and there will be more added. The song 'Love is all around' is the first song Jared and I danced to after we got married, I still like the words, they fit, but wow does it sound dated (I guess that's to be expected we are approaching our 12 year anniversary). The song 'Boston' was on the Today show while I was starting my labor with Camden. Norah Jones 'Sunrise' is the song I'd listen to while I tried to relax and nurse Brayden those first trying weeks. The song 'Jersey Girl'....well it's Springsteen and while I don't agree with his political views he is one face of Jersey and I really have found how much I love and miss New Jersey. Michael Buble is one of my sister in law Dawn's favorite artists and when I hear his songs it reminds me of her....plus I do really like his voice and music too. Green Days 'Time of your life' is a song Jared and I hear a lot every time we get ready to make a big move. It's wild how we hear it so much right before we leave but it reminds us to look at all the positive that came from where we were living and to look for the positive with the next state. The spiritual songs remind me of God and how wonderful He has been to me, they are songs we sing at the contemporary service which I have really come to enjoy swaying and clapping with my boys to on Sunday mornings.

So I said I was going to keep my updates simple but with great music playing in the background flooding me with memories or just bouncey music I like (thanks for the Jason Mraz song title Jodi) I got caught up. And now my dinner is burning! Oh well!

Yes I Am Still Here

Okay, I think we all can see that I am not good at keeping this up to date. I have good intentions but then someone wakes up early from a nap, dishes need to be done, etc, etc, etc...... Most of the time I feel like I have to type a book, and who has time for that (reading or typing it!!)?!??!? So I will try to update keeping the captions short and see if that helps me keep this current. We'll see!!

Here are a couple of pictures from our family vacation to the Jersey Shore. We had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect, we saw lots of friends and met new ones. I found that 10 days on vacation is a bit long (the boys were completely off schedule by that point), but I also found that once we were home 10 days wasn't long enough!

I am really hoping that our vacation to New Jersey will become a tradition, not every year but maybe every couple of years. I really miss New Jersey and it's great to go back even if it's only for a short time.

This is one of my favorite pictures that I took at the beach. This is Brayden and Will just hanging out on the beach. The boys had a great time playing just like the 'old times'.

I'll TRY to post more pictures of our family vacation in the future.

Happy Fathers Day!

Sunday is Fathers Day as Jared keeps reminding all of us saying that everyone has to be nice to him because it's 'Daddys Day'. As he was saying this again tonight I thought to myself, what's with Fathers Day, after all he isn't here all the time like I am!!! He sees them for a few hours in the evening and then on the weekends. Well after I got past the 'make it about me' feelings I started to think about ALL the stuff Jared does and why he SOOOOO deserves 'Daddys Day'. Everyone always says they have the worlds best husband who is also the worlds best father.....well, I'm no exception because I do have the worlds best husband who doubles as the worlds best father! I will try to explain why my husband is so great but words really won't be enough. There is just a feeling I have in my heart when I think of him and how real he is, and know also in my heart that I just plain don't deserve him!

He truly LOVES spending time with his boys. He wants them to experience everything. He has taken Brayden to his 3rd or 4th major league baseball game (two weeks ago it was the Twins vs. Yankees). Last weekend he took both boys to a Blues Festival downtown (I would have gone but I really needed to have some uninterrupted time to get things done around here, which he completely understands). One huge reason we are going to NJ this summer is so Camden can see the ocean and so Brayden will remember the ocean, which is very important to Jared. In the evenings when Brayden wants to throw the baseball Jared ALWAYS makes time to do so even if it's only 5 times (Brayden's favorite number he just announced) because it is already past bedtime! He loves Saturday morning spending time with Brayden watching cartoons (even if it involves getting up early on his only morning to sleep in). And not only does Jared do all of this and much much more for and with his children, he truly wants to and gets as excited if not more excited than the boys.

Brayden's 1st Yankees game (there will be MANY more I'm sure of that!)

The boys at the Blues Fest after they ate all of Jareds cornbread!

Jared has known that he wanted to be a dad since before I even met him. He knew that he wanted kids before I was convinced. He was very involved with my pregnancies and very bummed that I never had cravings that sent him out at all hours of the night (he still brings this up.....maybe baby #3???).

Most of all he just loves us and wants the best for us, and while he may not be here 24/7 he works his butt off 24/7 to give us this wonderful life.

Happy Fathers Day Jared, you definately deserve this day and many others!

Moms Visit

Okay so my mom was here over a month ago and I had said I would post pictures. Well come to find out I really didn't take many with my digital camera! I really need a new camera like my cousins!

Well here is a couple of pictures from our visit to the gardens down the road from me. We went before any flowers were up but there were plenty of trees and shrubs. Mom and I were going around looking at markers and saying the name of trees, plants, etc. At one point Brayden knelt down in front of a little plant and said very matter of factly, "it's a shrub". Yes, it is a shrub it may have a long formal name but to Brayden it's just a shrub.

These last two pictures were from our trip to the Como Park Zoo. The first picture I love because it's just Grandma and Brayden spending time together looking and talking about whatever animal it was behind the glass. The last picture is of Camden attacking my moms apple pear (we had a picnic before going into the zoo). I think he is part vampire, he managed to drain that piece of fruit of all liquid! Sorry Mom!

No HOT WATER!

There isn't a picture to go with this (and if there was you'd all be very afraid!!!!). We knew our hot water heater was as old as the house and then about 4-5 months ago the relief valve started to leak. I was prepared, or so I thought, that we would go until the thing died and then we'd get a new one. That is fine except one thing......we REALLY should have had an idea of a replacement, where to get it, where the best deal was, etc....etc.....etc. We actually even talked on Monday about the fact that the thing was on it's last leg. Well I guess it overheard us because this morning (Wednesday) when we were washing hands before breakfast the water just wouldn't get warm. I went downstairs and the pilot light was out, okay I can handle this. Read directions to refresh memory and light the pilot. First attempt-failure; second attempt-failure; third attempt-yeah, success.....only to have it go out as I was putting the cover back on. The next 5-6 attempts throughout the day as I was calling Jared freaking out and then trying to call distributors (no one seems to want to replace water heaters, I guess it's not a big enough job?!?!) were all failures. I finally got the hint and left it only. So I finally got ahold of someone at 3pm and he was totally booked up but I guess he heard my frustration/panic and said he'd be here in 5 minutes (I also have this company service the furnace and A/C twice a year so I am a loyal customer, that should count for something!). The kids are napping so it's a perfect time. Well picture this.....Steven shows up and Camden starts to cry, he's in his crib safe so he'll have to stay there; he takes a look and finds out that it's not a 'standard' hot water heater hook up but not a problem it'll just cost a little more (of course, that is ALWAYS my luck!). I trust this company, Diane the receptionist is always soooo nice and so are the guys that come out here but I still feel a little uncomfortable going with the one and only estimate. So as I sit and try to figure all of this out, mind you I probably smell because I haven't showered and I have my hair up and no makeup and my face is really broke out right now, Brayden wakes and starts to cry and then comes out of his room with tears and snot streaming down his face in just his t-shirt and diaper. Camden is REALLY screaming now since I've ignored him for 5 minutes. The poor guy just couldn't get out fast enough!!! But I do think he felt sorry for me because he called me 15 minutes after he left and said he got his hands on the model we need and someone (he'll stay away I'm sure!) will be here to replace it at 8:30am tomorrow morning!!!!!! So still not feeling great about going with the first estimate, I searched more and got ahold of someone who could do it for around $300 less but not until next Tuesday. Lets see.....save $300 and go 5 more days without hot water; or pay and be able to take a hot shower tomorrow morning. Yeah, I guess I wouldn't have made it in the good ol days!

This IS RIDICULOUS!!!

This is what we woke up to Saturday morning (that would be 4/28)?!?!?!? At least it was gone (mostly) by the afternoon! I have given up hope of Spring and pulled out the winter coats again (did that the night of the other post about not wearing jackets anymore!). This is what they mean when they say Minnesota only has about a week of summer!!!!! This year I'm thinking it could be!!! The funny (???) thing is Brayden got a virus the night before my mom left (I will post a pic later from her visit) and the doctor said it is a 'summer' virus that he has?!?!?! SUMMER virus.....pleeeeaaaase! He spiked a high fever (104.4) and it lasted about 4 days, varying from normal to 103 after that first day. I guess that is what a 'summer' virus is; a high fever and not much else. Well today is sunny and close to 60 degrees, the boys just woke up and we are headed out! We have to find a green soccer ball for Brayden. He starts soccer camp this Saturday.....of course they are calling for rain and cold, at least they aren't saying snow, yet!!!!!

Mom's On the Plane

My mom comes to visit for a week starting today. She'd be here in about 15 minutes if she hadn't missed her flight! Not her fault, the plane left Detroit late. She got in and ran like crazy in O'Hare but had to get to another terminal so she made it just as they were shutting the doors. She got on the next flight and will leave Chicago in about 15 minutes and get in around 2:45pm. Brayden and I keep clapping and singing 'Grandma's coming to visit'; Camden just grins and claps his hands at our singing and jumping around like loons. We'll see if Cam gives her the evil eye like he did in the car last fall after I picked them up at the airport!

I will try to post pictures of moms visit but don't want to take away too much precious short time we have with her so don't be upset if pics don't get posted until after she leaves!

Everyone have a great week; I know we will!!!!!!!!!

My 3 Year Old

Here is Brayden's 3rd birthday cake. Yes, I made it myself. I had this crazy idea that I needed to start making my kids their birthday cakes (after their 1st). After all my mom made mine when I was little and I have wonderful memories from that. Well it started out pretty bad but it is amazing how much those 'stars' cover! I let Brayden pick out the colors, so of course it had to be a green race car. Why blue wheels?!?!? I have no idea but he was set on that color. I have to say I sort of had fun doing this and I don't think it turned out half bad. So maybe I will do it again next year?!?!








When we asked Brayden what he wanted for his birthday he said, "a big bad race car". So after much searching for something that we didn't have to take a small loan out on (amazing how much kids cars are, even the pedal kind!), I found this. Yes, MOMMY found this. I think he liked it! Daddy and Brayden were 'racing' in the driveway right after he got it.

Just feel sorry for me.....

So there is no picture with this post, just wanted everyone to know that it snowed here yesterday. Gratefully it didn't stick for long, but it is supposed to snow again on Thursday. The sun is not shining and it is lucky to get to 40 degrees lately. The weatherman says they don't see it warming up for awhile. Well I have boycotted winter coats and I am just wearing sweatshirts and so are the boys.....we will probably all get colds but I am done!!!! I am trying to look on the bright side; it's not -40 degrees or even close. In New Jersey we never experienced such loooooong winters so I normally took spring for granted, I've learned my lesson and will be outside enjoying spring with my boys as soon as it gets here......whenever that is?!?!?!

Camden's 1st Haircut

As you can see Camden needed a haircut! Just needed to be trimmed around his ears and in the back. I had vowed never to touch his hair with the scissors. I made that mistake with Brayden when he was a baby and tried trimming around his ears.....he looked like he had mange.




















If I would have had to bet on it I would have lost. I never thought this little man would sit still and do so good getting his hair cut. Unfortunately she didn't take enough off the back, not her fault I was just so nervous that he was going to lose it at any moment I didn't look close enough. So.....Jared trimmed him up at home. Like I said I wasn't going to touch his hair, Jared still gives me a hard time about Brayden's hair (well, not anymore because I've got this on him). Jared has these trimmers that have a guard on them so you can't cut too short. Well for some reason that I still don't understand he took the guard off. All I know is Camden moved and I heard 'zip' and Jared said 'oops'. I almost dropped Camden because I was laughing so hard.....what else was I supposed to do???? Jared 'fixed' his mistake the best he could and we prayed that his hair would grow in the next 2 days before his birthday party!?!?!? The unfair thing is that Camdens hair is so light that you couldn't even see the mistake unless I pointed it out....which I did!!!!! Now we are even!!!

Spring is here (I think!!?!?)

So the first picture is at an Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter. It snowed on and off that day and into the night. Like I said before we woke up on Easter morning to the sound of a snowplow! Then it warmed slightly and most of the snow melted. Could it be, could Spring actually be coming?!?! Then April Fools! The second picture; the one with Murphy wading through the snow is on April 1st! The snow started on March 31st and came down quite hard at times. It was pretty watching it fall and seeing it stuck to all the bare trees......but pretty for December or January NOT MARCH/APRIL!!!!! At this point all I can do is laugh!

Well today it finally happened, we pulled out the spring jackets. I even got a little warm in mine! Oh please let it be so! I can honestly say I have no idea what the weather is supposed to be like for tomorrow or the rest of the week, I am too afraid to look! But I will be adding my hope for the weather to keep improving in my prayers tonight!

Such a good big brother

I have wondered why God gave me the boys in the order that He did!?

Brayden was the 'easy' child, I baby proofed but really didn't have to. Brayden never messed with buttons on the tv, he never paid any attention to cords, he never played in the dog dishes and they were in a place he crawled by a few times/day, he never ate my lipstick....not that he didn't get into any trouble but overall he was just a very well behaved baby. Then came Camden and he is to put it mildly; my handful. I just wasn't prepared for a child that would get into so much AND think it was funny. Camden has this smile that is VERY devilish; it announces he is up to no good but it is a smile that makes you want to laugh too! He will pull himself up to the tv and push the buttons (I have tested the tv for a tipping hazard, it passed, but still makes me nervous), but as he's aiming with his index finger at a button he is looking over his shoulder giving his award winning smile and shaking his little booty. HOW CAN A PERSON NOT LAUGH?!!?!? So why wasn't he my first????? I think the answer to that can be summed up with the above picture.

This toy crate was in the corner of the room, that's where I put it but it kept being moved over about 3 feet!?!? So for about a week I kept moving it back wondering why on earth Brayden kept moving the darn thing. Then one day it hit me; he was moving it to keep Camden from playing with the carbon monoxide detector that has buttons and will let out a loud screech when the button is pushed (we know this thanks to Camden). You can see the crate covers the buttons perfectly. So I ask Brayden if this is why he keeps moving it to which he replies very simply, "yes, Camden kept pushing the buttons Mom"

This is why God gave me Brayden first, without him Camden might not have survived with only me watching over him.

Pretty......but not on a boy!

So I don't have a picture to go along with this post, wish I did but my panic mode took over a little. This could also be titled 'My 1st call to poison control' (Debbie I thought of you when I was calling). My first call and it wasn't about the child that's been in my care for 3 years!

So this is what happened; I needed to get in the shower and Camden woke up from his nap. Normally this is no big deal, Brayden plays with him in my room (which is baby proofed or so I thought). Well Brayden decided that he wanted to stay on the main floor while I took my shower so that left Camden upstairs with me. I brought in plenty of toys, books, etc.....and I didn't have plans to shave my legs (sorry Jared!) so I would be in and out of the shower in 10 minutes tops. I used to shower all the time with Brayden playing outside the door and NEVER did I have ANY problem/issue. I got in the shower looking at Cam and there he was playing with his activity table (which keeps his attention the longest), I take a quick shower and then as I'm getting out I just get this feeling as I look and don't see Camden. No biggie, he's probably playing with the stuffed animals in the corner of the room. But I quick wrap a towel around me and look out into the room to see my 1 year old little boy holding a lipstick cap with berry color all around his mouth and on his teeth! My makeup that I use is locked up in my bathroom, I had forgotten in my vanity there was a couple tubes of lipsticks that I don't wear anymore and really don't know why I hadn't thrown out (they are in the garbage now!). I scream NO, to which he starts crying and drops the lipstick (which he had obviously done before because there are a few berry spots on the off white carpeting!!!!). How much did he eat....is he going to be sick.....WHY!?!!??! I'm thinking this as I'm wiping out his mouth. Turns out he only ate a little and I think most was probably stuck to his teeth. But I called poison control anyway just to be safe; I think the woman was trying not to laugh but she was very reassuring to a mom who was on the brink of bawling. He was fine, not even a tummy ache....but after I got off the phone with poison control I gave him a sippy with water (to help dilute the lipstick I guess) and he left berry colored lipstick on the mouth of the sippy, what a girl!?!?

Family Vacation

So I have posted a countdown (got the idea from my cousin, thank you!) to our first official Gehle Family Vacation! We have the airline tickets and will be leaving for the Jersey Shore on Thursday, July 31st for nine days. My most super wonderful friend Sadie has offered us their family bungalow to stay in.

Our reasons to take this trip are so we can:
1-see friends (we lived there for 8 years);
2-Jared can take Brayden to a Yankees game (last year playing in the old stadium);
3-visit N.Y.C
4-so we can get some decent Chinese take out (Jared also wants his deli)!

I have to admit at first I was hesitant (who, me?!!?!). I just didn't know about spending the money on plane tickets, etc....since now we need to buy 3 tickets! But we found a great price on tickets, my super wonderful friend offered us the bungalow, and Jared got a great price on the Yankees tickets. So I guess it was just meant to be!!! I am getting pretty excited about going, since I realized today is exactly 4 months from when we leave! Obviously since there is still 4 months to go I haven't thought about the dreaded part.....packing!!!!!!

Explanation

So I've posted a couple of times and was going to try to explain why it had been so long since I had posted any pics in one of those postings but it didn't seem to fit with the topic. So I am going to just post an explanation all by itself.


As you can see I didn't post one thing in the month of February. If I would have posted it would have gone something like this........


Posting option #1: It is so freakin' cold in the d--- state. Why did my husband move us here. I am going INSANE sitting in this house because the high today is -10 degrees!


Posting option #2: Well they are sick AGAIN! That makes it almost 3 straight weeks of runny noses, ear infections, inhalation treatments, etc..... I don't leave the house except in the evening after Jared is home and we've put the kids to bed. Does anyone have a guess to what the temp is AFTER the sun goes down when the high for the day was 1 degree??!?!? It's the kind of cold that makes your jeans feel like they might shatter if you hit them with a grocery bag hard enough! Yes, I unloaded plenty of groceries many different times during these frigid nights! One thing I learned about myself, when I've been shut in with 2 sick whiney kids all day, I have no problem being outside in
-20 degrees loading groceries in my car. I even take the time to return the cart to the store or coral just so I can spend a few extra minutes away from my house! The following is the ONLY picture I took the WHOLE month of February! Note: he is smiling!

Posting option #3: I was sitting in my living room on one of the first nights where the temps were going way down and I hear a really loud bang. The kind of bang that makes you jump and freeze up at the same time. I look over at Jared who's asleep on the couch thinking he had to wake up with that noise; he didn't! So I woke him up and said "I think a deer just ran into the back of our house". I know it sounds silly, but I couldn't think of any other explanation (besides I was exhausted from the sick kids). He finds nothing but announces how cold it is outside! I didn't hear the noise every night but when the temps really dropped I would hear it. Turns out when it gets that cold out, houses will 'pop'. Again, where the h--- did my husband move me to where house 'complain' because it is so cold!!!!! The scientific reason; the wood contracts and the water in the wood expands and where two pieces of wood meet they will move and pop. Doesn't do any damage but it is unnerving to hear. On one of the record days/nights for cold (-40 degrees) I had to turn the radio up just to cover all the noise so my poor dog would stop hiding! By the way on that record cold night Jared was out of town (probably in Texas!!!) and I had to take the dog out. Yes -40 degrees does feel A LOT colder than -20 degrees, even though Minnesotans say it doesn't.

So as you can see if I would have posted it wouldn't have been very pleasant. I can look back and laugh and make jokes but at the time I really was just plain fed up!!!!! So for future reference, I hear Minnesota is brutal in February (this was the worse it had been in 7 years) so don't plan on hearing much from me during that month. Or if you do just remember I'm going through a BAD case of cabin fever and don't hold it against me!

Watch out for the 2 year old!!!

So we made our first snowman of the season (on March 9th), it finally got warm enough (above 0 degrees) so the snow would stick. As I was working on the head of my sons snowman he was standing beside me and asked if I would make him a snowball. Of course, not a problem! Never did I imagine that he would take the snowball and proceed to throw it at ME!!!!! He thought it was hilarious! This is a picture of him throwing one at me.

Here is a picture of Brayden with his snowman; just his size! This snowman has melted and we could even see grass and the start of the tulips last week. However, Easter weekend we got a new 'dusting' of 10 inches of the white stuff! We woke up Easter morning to the sound of the snowplow!

1st Birthday!

Just wanted to share a picture of Camden at his 1st birthday party! It was a really nice day spent with friends and family. Camden didn't dive into his cake but he still managed to get messy which is all I wanted! The bigger kids helped to show him what to do. And believe it or not, after all that sugar they still took great naps!

My Boys are Growing Up

We have had some big changes in the Gehle house in the past two weeks. Starting with Camden, as you can see from the picture he is feeding himself. I was telling a friend how I didn't think he would ever give up baby food one day and then the next day he shut his mouth and turned his head every time it was offered to him. Of course I had just stocked up with about 20 jars the day before!!!!! Now he doesn't even want me to feed him! If I put food on a fork and try to give it to him he turns his head and then gets another piece from his tray and feeds it to himself. So now I can actually maybe eat while my food is still hot?!??!?! The other big change for Camden is that he is crawling and pulling himself up to standing. He started with a military crawl and I liked this, he wasn't too fast. Well he graduated up to traditional crawling and has been VERY busy!!! His first day crawling he made it into the laundry room with the dog bowl. Next thing I know Brayden is asking for a paper towel to which I ask why and he replies, "to clean up my brother". He was wet up to his elbows and having a great time!

The next BIG change here is that Brayden is using the big boy potty!!!!!!!! He is very excited about the stickers that he gets to stick to a chart; 1 for just trying, 2 for going pee and 3 for going poopy. He anounced today that he is going for 3 stickers but will be happy with 2!!! I am trying to make this as positive for him as possible. He asked for a Diego potty seat to go on the big potty, not a potty chair he has one of those but he wanted just the small seat. First off I can't believe he remembered, I showed him that months ago! Well I went to find it and didn't remember where I saw it so 4 stores later we found it, thank goodness!!! He also got race car underwear but he only wants to wear them for the walk down the hall to his potty and then for the walk back to his room after he uses the potty. He still finds comfort in his diaper, and I have to admit so do I!!!!!

Finally an Update!!!

So I can't believe it has been a month since I updated this! It hasn't been because I wasn't thinking about it. I've taken plenty of pictures with the idea that I am going to post it, but then something happens. For starters we were in Michigan for a week and a half the beginning of January. It was great being back and seeing everyone! My cousin Debbie, Bob and my Aunt Dee made the trip down to Jackson to see us, thank you again! I missed seeing my cousin Kristin and her family but have definite plans to see them this summer. It is stressful being away from home but it is also stressful coming back home. The first week or so after we get back from Michigan; lets just say I'm moody! This is something I have come to terms with since I've felt this way since the very first visit back after moving away. It's very hard wanting to be back home with our own routine but not wanting to leave family. That is the first reason I neglected this blog, the second is that I got sick. We left Michigan and it was 62 degrees we get back to Minnesota where it is not bad at 32 degrees until a few days later when IT HIT!!! IT being the typical MN winter cold, we dropped down to -4 degrees on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Now that is -4 WITHOUT factoring windchill, add that it and that brings us to a wonderful -20 or so degrees. Lets just say they warned us that more than 9 minutes out in the elements, exposed skin would start to freeze. And it got worse!!!!! This past Thursday morning it was -18 again without wind chill. My sinuses HATED this! So now I am on the better side and of course we warmed up to +30 degrees; it's amazing how warm 30 degrees can feel!!! Of course we are expecting a high of -1 by Wednesday??!?!?!?!? Where in the heck did my husband move me to?!?!?!?! So enough with excuses, I will be posting some pictures to this blog this week, we have had many big changes that I am very excited to share (NO I'M NOT PREGNANT!!!!)