Happy Birthday, Cale!

Happy 5th Birthday, Buddy!

We had a party with the Olson side of the family on the night of Cale's birthday and another kid party/Wehrenberg family party at the bowling alley on a Saturday. Cale's friends that came were: Andrew, Tanner, Ethan, Ava, Connor, and cousins Jay, Grace, and Kaden and Jenna and Kendall. The theme was Vikings! We had pizza and pop...and ice cream for dessert.

He had Preschool on his birthday and also had the sharing bag that day. He took his best buddy/stuffed tiger "KC" that we got at the Kansas City zoo a few summers ago and his Viking football helmet. He also took fruit snacks for the kids.

Here are pictures from the two birthday parties, in no particular order (Sorry, it's getting late!)

I "heart" My Publisher

I'm not a "scrapbooker". I'm way too obsessive for that - it would take me FOREVER...but I do love how they look. I tried digital scrapbooking a little bit - still too much. So, I searched for the perfect photobook, and that's when I found My Publisher. I've been working on these books since summer, so I'm still working on that obsessive piece (and finding time!), but it was so easy and I'm relieved that we'll finally have some photos in print and organized!

Here are the books I made - Click on the images to view:

The obsession - attempting to recruit.

I received this e-mail from Vanessa (daycare) the other morning:

Cale to Ethan: "Do you want to know what teams I have helmets for?"

Ethan: "Sure."

Cale: "I have....... and, do you know what team I don't have? The Fighting Irish. They are the Fighting Irish, Ethan. Do you know the Fighting Irish?"

Watch out, Vanessa, he's going to try to get that farm boy addicted, too!

Our Football Star

I believe Cale was the Jacksonville Jaguars in this scene:

Of course, they won by 100 touchdowns!

Back on Campus

Inaugural game at TCF Bank Stadium

MN Golden Gophers 20
Air Force 13

The game was great - the atmosphere was Incredible!

Our boy is obsessed....

with FOOTBALL!

When he woke up this morning, he said:
Mom, 2 more days until...."Waitin' all day for Sunday night!"

He's been waiting patiently for his favorite song to come back on TV:


His next favorite song: The Star Spangled Banner

He learned all of the NFL teams from his football card collection and those darn helmets! Yes, our weak hearts caved for the sweet boy that "just wanted to learn all of the teams!"

He's spent countless HOURS looking at his football cards, and showing us his football cards, and asking us questions about his football cards, and asking to see Daddy's old football cards. He loves football, and we love him -- and I can't wait to show him this blog -- I can see him singing and dancing now! Any guesses to how many times we're going to watch that video?!

SuMmEr VaCaTiOn 2009!

We found a deal for a 3 night stay up North, at Chase on the Lake, that we couldn't pass up. One word: AWESOME!

First, we stopped at the MN Zoo with some old friends. Thanks for the fun, Stockdales & Charpentiers!

We arrived at our condotel on Sunday. The accomodations were well above our expectations, and this was the amazing view from our balcony.

While we were there, we enjoyed a morning out on the boat - although it was a bit chilly!

a lot of fishing - Ryan was a bit disappointed with the size, but we did catch quite a bit! Leech Lake is the 3rd largest lake in MN, so it's not real easy to go out on a boat and search for the best fishing spots.....without the fear of getting lost! We stuck pretty close to what we knew, and actually, Ryan's biggest catch was off the docks by the resort - of course, I didn't get a picture of that! Cale's favorite things were casting and throwing the fish back, but nothing is better than checking out Dad's tackle box - he could look in there for hours! I was constantly saying, be careful - those are SHARP!

In this picture, Cale is using Maren's Barbie fishing pole because he could cast that better. Towards the end of the trip, he was casting like a pro with his big SUPERman pole!

The kids had a blast on the beach...

...especially Maren - we made sure she wore her swimming suit after this!

We also enjoyed the indoor pool (the water was so warm!), city park & shops in Walker, and all of the beautiful scenery and wildlife. I especially enjoyed watching and listening to the Loons - a rare experience for this SE Minnesota girl! We hope we're lucky enough to return to Chase on the Lake next year -- and stay for a week!!

It only took 3 years to convince Ryan...,

but we finally have a play set. Cale is at the fair with Vanessa's Daycare, and Maren has been hanging with her Grammies all day. We're going to have some fun tonight!

July

That went fast!!

We had a lot of busy weekends in July - two golf tournaments each and an overnight in Eau Claire for Country Jam. This last weekend was nice and relaxing, minus the epic meltdown Cale displayed in Dick's Sporting Goods on Saturday - over mini NFL football helmets. At least we have an idea for a birthday gift!

I don't have a lot to write, so here are a few recent quotes:

Cale: "I have a lot of good ideas."

Cale: "Halle Berry Ranch?"
Me: "Say, H-i-d-d-e-n."
Cale: "Hidden."
Me: "V-a-l-l-e-y."
Cale: "Valley."
Me: "Ranch."
Cale: "Ranch."
Me: "Hidden Valley Ranch."
Cale: "Hidden Berry Vranch?"
(Giggles ensue.)

Maren: (In the Restroom at Dick's Sporting Goods.) "Mommy, me wipe you?"
Me: "No Thanks, Maren. Mommy will wipe."

August looks pretty clean so far. We're going to attend a Gopher scrimmage at the new stadium on the 22nd and we're planning a mini vacation in the cities during August 28-30. Then, football season will be sneaking upon us.

It's the simple things...

Yesterday I came home with a couple bags of new fall clothes for the kiddies. They are their mother's children - they love new clothes!

So, Cale is digging through the bag on our way home from daycare. First he pulls out the dinosaur sweatshirts - sooo cool. Then, he finds the underwear.... Dinosaur and Baseball underwear!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I heard for the next 7 miles:

"Mom, I really like these underwear."
"This underwear is so cool."
"I have dinosaur underwear."
"Maren, look at my underwear. Aren't they cool?"
"Maren, Maren, Maren." She finally decides to listen, "Do you like my new underwear?"
"Can I wear these to Vanessa's tomorrow?"
"These baseball underwear are so cool."
"Mom, can I get more underwear like this?"
"I'm going to tell Andrew about my dinosaur underwear."
"I really like these, Mom."
"Thank you, Mom. I like my new underwear."

...then we arrived home. Cale walked in the door, dropped trou, and tried on his new dinosaur and baseball underwear -- fit like a glove! We promptly threw them in the washing machine so he could wear his new underwear to Vanessa's today.

Summer Photo Shoot 2009 - added commentary

We went back to Photography by Kari since she did such an awesome job last year! Here are the sneak peaks from her blog:

I added bit of commentary so you can really appreciate the experience along with us...

This picture is so sweet! Yeah? They're fighting. Cale is attempting to open the gate and Maren is pulling back and yelling, "Caaale, NO, Caaaale! No open Gate! NO!"
It would be interesting to see their faces - probably not as sweet!

This picture - well, this one is sweet.

This is our blood, sweat, and tears picture. After Cale catches Maren, Maren trips, Cale follows and nails his two front teeth on Maren's head! Instant tears. Maren's are quickly quieted with the offer of another fruit snack. Cale didn't get off so easily. His gums were bleeding and it hurt to chew - in fact it hurt all day. We had just started adding Cale into the pictures, and I had worries that he would be done. Luckily he pulled it back together, with minimal complaining, and Kari continued to work her magic.

His comment: "I look mad in that picture."
My thought: You're growing up too fast!

Evidence of my attempt at bribery: fruit snack in Maren's hand. She'd take a picture with her "cheese" smile and come back for another.. and another.. and another! I ran out of fruit snacks long before the shoot was over.

Thank you, Kari! And thank you, Paul and Pat, for letting us use your landscape for our pictures!!

What we've been up to...

In May, we went to Dora Live and spent a few nights at a Holiday Inn waterpark in Owatonna.





On June 1, Maren turned 2! TWO - ALREADY! She's not a baby anymore!
*She loves playing babies and polly pockets - polly pockies, in two year-old slang.
*She's really getting into pretend play with the play kitchen - her specialties are mac and cheese and coocoos (cookies)... and when she's the Mom, she always has plenty of Dora fruit snacks for everyone!
*She's very much into: "me, mine, myself, my do it!"
*She finally has hair so she's into ponies (pony tails) and pretties (barrettes). And she loves wearing her pretty dresses and sandals, too!
*Her favorite thing to do right now is probably copy her big brother -- good in some ways - not so good in others (see previous post).
*We've started potty training but haven't gotten too serious yet. We tried underwear one day - 15 minutes, 3 changes...I think it was too early! :-)




In July, we've been relaxing and having fun:






As of yet, we don't have any big summer vacation plans, but we've been tossing out a few possibilities. North Shore? Dells? Maybe we'll just stick around here and save up for another time? I've finally taken up golf again, and I'm loving it...so we've been on the course as often as we can - taking days off here and there to take advantage of the irresistably nice days. All in all - Life is good!

Yeah, we're still here...

So, it's been awhile. We've been busy trying to effectively discipline a 4 year old and trying to prevent a 2 year old from copying the aforementioned 4 year old. Seriously, Y'all (that's for you, my southern friends), Parenting is hard work! Cale's latest logic: since Grandma and Grandpa are my Mom and Dad, that means I'm still a kid.... so, he doesn't have to listen to me! HA - good try, Honeybun!!

My guess on the latest score:
4 year old - 50
Parents - 5, but those 5 victories are oh-so-sweet!

It's kinda like golf: total frustration one minute, and the next, utter satisfaction! One of these days, we'll consistently hit it in the fairway, figure out how to chip, and sink the putts....Right?? Practice makes perfect - and lately, we've had A LOT of practice!

So, needless to say, the kids are growing up way too fast!!

**Apologies to my husband & family for not keeping up with the posts. I will strive to do better, I promise!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

March 2009, in Pictures.

The kids and I went to AZ to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We went to the zoo, visited family, did some shopping, swimming, and managed to get in some putting practice. It was a great time, but it went by much too quickly!! The weekend after we got home was beautiful! The snow was melting and we had the perfect little mud puddle at the end of the driveway - right where our great snow hill was the month prior. The clothes went right into the washing machine!

Arizona (sneak peek) ...

We're having a lot of fun, but we also wish Daddy was here! Miss you, Daddy! Train Park tomorrow and then we're on our way home Tuesday afternoon.

I forgive you.

It's been awhile, please forgive me... Cale would.

Yesterday, Cale's Sunday School lesson was about forgiveness. After we got home, Cale bumped into Maren. I told him to say sorry.

He told her, "I forgive you, Maren. That's what we learned at Sunday School."

Nice, Cale, but you're the one who bumped her, she's supposed to forgive you.

"Oh yeah... Maren, say I forgive you."

Outside!

What a fantastic weekend with fantastic weather! We were able to get outside to play both yesterday and today. With all of the snow we've had the last few months, we have the perfect little sledding hill in the front yard.

We've been on the go lately - visiting with friends and family. We've had a lot of fun, but it was nice to be home for a weekend to get back on schedule and get to some high piling laundry!

We have some exciting things coming up in the next few weeks, too. Next weekend is Valentine's Day. The following weekend Ryan goes to Vegas with the boys, while the kids and I are going down to Iowa to visit my college roommate, Erin and family. A week and a half later, the kids and I are going to AZ to visit Grandma and Grandpa Olson. Woo-Hoo! We're excited for all the fun coming up!!