Travel Often

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” — Rosalia de Castro

Love Deeply, but Laugh Along the Way

"Happiness is only real when shared." - Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

View Marriage as an Adventure

"Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage." ~Finnish Proverb

Fuel your body with GOOD (It's the only one you get)

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything. - Arabian Proverb

Open your Soul to Motherhood

A Grand Adventure is About to Begin - Winnie the Pooh

A New Kind of Love is Born

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.

Showing posts with label Birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birthday. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

FUN Birthday Weekend - Wheel of Fortune Style

High-Risk Mama Here

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — about the size of a carrot. It may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.
Just hanging with Pat and Vanna!


It’s been a super fun week over here, and a better weekend!!  Even with ALL the stress of moving, we’re still making plenty of time for fun! YAY! I have to or else I think my head would fall off.

I think picture-wise I have a couple weeks mushed together here, but oh well.

Of course we’ve been taking time to walk, run and ride over to all the construction zones around the area. All Jackson wants to do is climb up the steps and try to open the doors of construction vehicles so he can sit down and drive. He’s too cute. I found out though I can’t be in the sun and heat for too long being pregnant. I get SUPER dehydrated and worn out—I pretty much feel light headed and ill. So not sure how this summer is going to work out for me? I’ll have to figure out something though! The winters are WAY too long. I have to get outside!
Forklifts are called "Weave-Weaves" Did you know this?

You should have seen his shoes and socks after this "dirt" adventure:) 

Big boy!


Uncle Mike (my brother) came up for the weekend. Jackson ADORES him. He has no problem kissing and hugging him and jumping all over him. It’s WAY too cute. Makes me sad we don’t live next door to each other anymore, but we treasure his visits even more.



Uncle Mike’s friend Stephy J surprised us and mailed a super COOL John Deere tractor that Jackson is in love with. He was SO excited about this tractor. So nice and thoughtful of her to do this! We met Stephy J when Karl and I traveled to Greece a while back. Super cool chick. 
LOOK AT THE COOLEST TRACTORS EVER!!! Thanks, Stephy J!!!

OK. Can I just say moving stinks and is SO stressful?? I’ve really started to take everything in and am getting pretty sad and anxious about moving to a new town and place. I’m going to miss this beautiful pond view by our house.  I run or walk by it ALMOST every day in the spring, summer and fall, even winter when it’s bearable. I know Minnesota is the state of 10,000 lakes, but I’m SO comfortable with where we live now.
Going to miss this. A lot. 


Change is coming! Change scares me. I also know it’s SO great too. There is SO much work ahead of us. So much. And we don’t always agree on where things will be going in the new place. Yuck. Seriously all I can do is let go. I have to. There is no other way right now. Must keep going and SMILE. Throw in some silly too. 
Time for a work out!


Friday came and Jackson and I spent the morning packing up boxes the best we could. We had a maintenance man come over and fix up our pantry. Then we went for a long walk and checked out all the bulldozers in action and then played in the park. Then we hit up Costco during the lunch hour so we tasted plenty of delicious samples, or “treats” as Jackson calls them. I was also co-hosting my friend’s baby shower on Saturday so I had to buy plenty of snacks!
SOMEONE surprised MOMMY at work!!!! He was PRETTY excited about this ride!

Jackson was ready for his nap when we got home. His naps have been getting shorter so we were soon on our way to a SPLASH PAD!!!!!!!! Holy smokes. Last year the splash pads were EMPTY when we’d go. This year it was INSANE. Maybe we went on opening day? I have no idea. All I know is Jackson was so excited he was bouncing everywhere and slipping everywhere too. But he also wanted to do everything the bigger kids were doing. I was one stressed out mom! I can’t get to the point where I sit back on a park bench and watch just yet. Just can’t do it.
SPLASH PAD FUN!!!!

Saturday was Baby Shower day for my dear friend. I drove all the way to Rogers and got lost. Ufdah. That was a haul. But the baby shower was GREAT. I was able to see friends I haven’t seen in forever. It was SO nice not to have to chase a little dude around and just BE an adult and laugh my head off with my girlfriends. Karl took Jackson to the Mall of America ON A SATURDAY (can I just say BRAVE SOUL!?!?!). I’m seriously SO impressed with him. Sometimes I get frustrated (not mad) that he can just drop Jackson off at his parents whenever. I don’t always get that option with my family being 5 hours away. I will say we are VERY lucky that his parents are generous with their time and will watch Jackson so Karl and I do get some time to do what we need to do. But this time Karl spent the WHOLE day with Jackson!!!!!!!! I was SO happy about this!!!! I didn’t get home until dinner time! This was something VERY new for me.
LOVE THESE GIRLS!!!!!!!


Sunday was my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! I’m officially high-risk now when it comes to my pregnancy. Is that something to celebrate? Not sure. But hey, I’m alive and healthy!

Karl and I are HUGE Wheel Watchers and after catching a few commercials during our Wheel Watching last week, we saw the Wheel Mobile would be in Minnesota ON MY BIRTHDAY! Perfect! We made an entire day of it. We drove to the cabin and dropped Jackson off with Gpa and Gma. The weather was INCREDIBLE. Jackson was SO excited to be outside and in nature! I didn’t feel so bad leaving him AGAIN.
Call my name!!! Get me up there! (A little excited!)

Kisses for Pat!

Hey there, Vanna! Looking good!

BIG MONEY!!!!!!


When we arrived to Grand Casino, I was SO excited to have some adult time with Karl. I just had to share with the security people that it was my birthday! I received VIP treatment and we were able to cut in line at the buffet (we’re kind of a big deal) and I ate for FREE!!! We also were able to play with $10 FREE money. AND our names were thrown in a drawing to win some meat packages. OK. We SO need to get out more, don’t we?? LOL. We didn’t win, but our hearts were set on playing Wheel of Fortune. We had to fill out a card and stand in line. The line was NOT long at all and we got in right away. We dropped our cards in a huge basket.

Tractor fun for Jackson!

Lake is a little high these days!

BEAUTIFUL!

He still talks about this tractor! And the CABIN!

A fake Pat and Vanna were on the stage and would call 5 names at a time from the big basket. Those people had to stand on stage and share some information about themselves. Then the fake Pat spun the wheel and the contestants won promo items like hats and t-shirts. Ohhhhh. Then they tried to solve the puzzle. We were hoping to get called (well, Karl wasn’t) but no dice. SHOOT!!!!!!!! It was still FUN! SO much fun!

We might not have gotten on the show just yet, but Pat Sajak tweeted the both of usJ That counts for something, right?
What's that Pat? You tweeting us? :) 


Karl and Jackson also spoiled me with chocolates and a sweet card. Karl also spent the night before preparing cold-press coffee. I guess it takes 12 hours to make. It was SO good. I only can handle about 5 sips of coffee these days but those were the BEST 5 sips of my lifeJ

Can you believe Karl did all this for me even AFTER I accidentally put cumin in our yogurt treat? SO every morning I pack our lunches (I do this so Karl doesn't stop at the gas station and get some NASTY $2.22 meal.). Usually our snack is PLAIN Greek Yogurt, a little cottage cheese, frozen fruit, a little honey and cinnamon. Let's just say cumin doesn't taste very good in this mix. Eesh. Karl is such a champ!

After all the fun, we headed back to get Jackson. We talked about work and moving and all kinds of things. We held hands. I almost forgot HOW MUCH I LOVE DATING MY HUSBANDJ We need MORE date nights.

It was a GREAT birthday! Feeling SUPER blessed!!


Now…off to our ultrasound! And to pack a few more boxes… 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

My Birthday and the Horsetrack - 13.5 Months

Horsetrack Fun


Ask Jackson what a horse says, and he’ll tell you. He makes me laugh. He’s way too cute. He’s been to Canterbury twice in his young life and loves watching the horses and the tractors spray down and till the dirt after each race, and he loves watching and playing with all the kids. And of course, his favorite thing in the world – he gets to be outside.
At the horsetrack for mommy's bday!
 
I figured out a system by my second trip to the track so I was actually able to enjoy a beer or two. It helps meeting a good friend (Hoover!) and having a helpful brother! And thanks to our brewery tour last weekend, I enjoyed a Summit. Ahhh. Minnesota beer. My older brother spoiled me for my birthday and bought my ticket in and my beer. Win-Win for all. Karl was on call and had a slew of patients to attend to. Boo. At least he was able to experience Jackson’s love for horses the first time we went to the track.
 

First time we went to the horsetrack! Jackson LOVED the horsies
Petting the sweet horse!
 
 
I turned 34! How am I in my 30s? I can’t even comprehend this. I had a great birthday. The sun was SHINING. F-I-N-A-L-L-Y. I swear I feel like we live in London. It was sunnier in Seattle when Karl and I visited. This spring has been so depressing. But my bday came and the sun was out. I saw the darker clouds coming so maybe it was a good thing we were up at 5:00 a.m. So we had a delicious breakfast and went on a walk. Then headed to the park where Karl got paged. Boo. We headed back so Jackson could go down for his morning nap and Karl could get ready. I quickly escaped and ran 2.5 miles. It felt SO good. Sun on my face, music in my ears, fresh air filling my lungs. It’s been awhile since I ran by myself and it was just what I needed. I quickly hopped in the shower and Jackson was up!
Playing with water on the deck. Loves drinking the water.
 
Karl and Jackson made me a special birthday cake bread. Get this: banana, zucchini, carrot, coconut, almond, oats and oat flour birthday bread. Can I say it was excellent? It really was. They sang to me and Karl was off working the rest of the day.
The masterpiece birthday bread daddy and Jackson made for mommy!
 
Jackson and I played. We mowed the grass. Ha. We walked more. And then we went to the horsetrack. I was WIPED by the end of the day, but overall…GREAT birthday!
Jackson and his g-friend, Hoover


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Jackson's One Year Photos

One-Year Photos

Here's how this went down. A month before Jackson's birthday I asked Karl if we should get professional pics done. I knew we'd be getting pictures for the church directory. What I didn't realize is $90 and ONLY THREE pictures later, we'd only have one good shot of Jackson to choose from. I thought that was good enough, especially on our wallet after throwing that crazy, HUGE birthday bash. But they only turn one once...right?

As crazy as things get, I love this family of mine.

I had heard of Be Creations Photography from a friend I took a Baby and Me class with. I knew this photographer was located right in town and was fairly reasonable, but wasn't sure when we'd be able to fit in pictures with Karl's crazy work schedule.

I sent a text asking Karl if there was a day that worked better out of two days available the week after Jackson's bday. Never got a response from hubby. All I got was an email saying J.C. Penny had a Groupon for $20 pics. I figured that's the route he wanted to go and so that was that. And clearly I was supposed to purchase the Groupon, but I was at work and thinking of 500 other things that pictures quickly slipped my mind before I did anything. I mean, the church picture we did get of Jackson was SUPER CUTE.

Fast forward to the week after Jackson's birthday. I was getting ready for bed when hubby says, "So I'm leaving two hours early for those pictures tomorrow."

SAY WHA!?!?!?

What pictures????

It is now Wednesday and I'm at work trying to set up these one year pictures...not looking cute...nor am I sure what the heck to put us all in.

As God would have it, the time was still open and we MADE it. I do not know how. Sometimes I do not know how I make it at all with everything going on all the time.

Anyway... Here are some of our faves. Oh, and if you're looking for a photographer, check out BeCreationsPhotography.com. Jolene is awesome. AND she has dimples:)
Smooches all around

How is my lil boy ONE???

Happy family
YAY!!!
This candy looks GOOD!!
Heck yah, I'm diggin in
Wait...there is more?
GO TWINS!!!
Where is all started:) LOVE.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Jackson’s First Birthday Party with 70 of His Closest Friends


Big or Small Party? Which way to go?
Happy Birthday Jackson James

I’m officially a mom of a one year old!!!! There are so many emotions going through my head and heart today. First and foremost I wanted to recap Jackson’s first birthday party.
Jackson's 1 year Birthday Invite
 

Karl and I went back and forth on the size of the party. We first settled on small because we didn’t have a whole lot of time to devote to planning, and well…space was a huge issue too. We still live in a town home and there was no way we could invite everyone we wanted to. Weather is always sketchy in Minnesota in the spring (hello snow). We knew our families wanted to be included, but that meant inviting EVERYONE on all both sides. Right there, we were already at 60+ some family members.  There was no way our house could hold that many people – not even our garage.

We told Karl’s parents the dilemma and they offered up their home. Did they know what they were in for??? Karl’s sister offered helping, which was HUGE for me. HUGE. We ran with it. We kept the list down as much as we could.

The day of the party 70 family and friends showed up to Karl’s parent’s house. Holy PARTY. Can you feel my stress level? But this wasn't about me...
Birthday boy!!
 

This is when my mantra became: Go big, or go home. They only turn one once. Right??? Are you laughing at me yet?

In attendance? The oldest guest: 86 years old. The youngest: 10 days old. The variety of people was insane, but we loved every single one of them. And we KNOW they love the three of us. A pretty overwhelming feeling if you ask me.

We could not have done ANY of this without the help of Karl’s sister. She is crazy AMAZING at planning, organizing and setting up parties. She rocked the show. When I think about all she did for us, I get choked up. Party planning does not come easy for most of us. But I know she did this because she loves Jackson [that much]. I’m not an aunt so I don’t know how that feels just yet, but Kelly has taught me a lot about love. She has a LOT of it and shows it better than anyone I know.
Kelly's stellar party planning skills

Jackson, Kelly and Ben

My older brother supplied all the burgers thanks to his sweet discount from Cargill! I mean, these were the burgers they send to places like Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebees. YUMMY!

My friend Kimbra worked feverishly on making the YUMMIEST carrot cake of all times. Not just one, but a smash cake for Jackson that looked like a puppy bowl (since he LOVES puppies) and a sheet cake and 100 mini cupcakes!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I haven’t had a cake that good…well, since…ever.
Front of the smash cake
Back of smash cake
Adorable puppy sheet cake!
 

My grandma supplied some entertainment. A Polish tradition is to set four objects in front of Jackson and whatever he reached for would be his destiny…. A shot glass, a rosary, a golf ball and coins. Jackson selected the golf ball right away and then the whiskey glass. Hmmmm. The next Adam Scott (2013 Masters winner)?
My grandma supplying some entertainment through a Polish Tradition
 

And the gifts!! WHOA!!! Jackson is SET!!! And now he has some really awesome toys to keep at grandma and grandpa’s when they watch him! Jackson was spoiled though. My brothers and sis in law found a really cool bike I've never seen before!! Jackson is so lucky to have such neat uncles and aunts on BOTH sides!
Jackson's cool bike!
 

Yes, the house was PACKED and there were around 10-15 little adorable energetic people running around and it felt like I was back in college at an awesome keg party trying to slide my way through a ton of people (minus the kids). But these were all people we love and who love Jackson. I looked around. I soaked it in and saw how happy Jackson was and how many people adore him. It was pretty cool and insane all rolled into one. Jackson had no problem going to other people and loving them up. I LOVED THIS!!! He impresses me EVERY SINGLE DAY so much.
The little people
 

We stripped Jackson down, stuck him in Grandma Judy’s highchair from when she was a little girl, and everyone sung Happy Birthday to Jackson and he rocked back and forth before his cake came. He was so sweet. He IS sweet. He quite didn’t know what to do with the cake and gagged on it a little. Then cried. We tried. But that’s OK. He made our hearts smile.
Our little man getting ready to dive in
 
What is this? Sugar?
Wait, they are all singing for me!!
I'm not sure my mom will be OK with me eating sugar... Guys, I'm serious here...
Maybe just a little taste...
Don't make me!
It is pretty....
Nope. Not my thing, mom.
 

I created a photobook last week of a bunch of pictures I took over the year, but it didn’t arrive in time, so I also whipped together a video slideshow of Jackson in a matter of a day. I have no idea how I did this or when. I really don’t. But it has brought me to tears every time I’ve watched it.

A whole year whizzed by in the 12 minute video – and that’s exactly how time feels right now. Time and life is cruising by so fast. So much has changed in such a little of time, but for the first time I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be and I’m doing exactly what I should be doing. I am happy. Busy. Challenged. Tired. Amazed. Every single moment of the day. Pushed beyond my limits. But I come out stronger every time. The craziest part of it all is I am happy. Happy. So very happy. And I feel incredibly blessed.