Goofy Boy

Beckett has always loved music but the last few weeks he has started singing with such "passion".  The only thing I can attribute it to is that his big brother Alex has visited the last couple weekends and he LOVES to sit on his bed and listen to him play and sing.  

A Big Day For Walker (and Mommy too)!!!

I will never forget the day I found out I was pregnant with my Walker.  As many of you know I was more than a little surprised!  Raegan was 8 months old and I was on my way out the door to drop her at daycare and go to work.  I hadn't been feeling well for a few days and it finally dawned on me that it was a way too familiar feeling.  I reluctantly took one of the left over pregnancy tests from Raegan out of the drawer and to my shock it lit up like a christmas tree!  I really don't remember the rest of the day... it is somewhat of a blur.  I know I called Dave at work, called Tanya and then managed to get Raegan to daycare and find my way to work.  How could this have happened!!!!  I wasn't suppose to be able to have babies on my own!  I was breast feeding!  I just had a baby!  These were all thoughts that were circling in my head the next few days.  Dave was excited, I was horrified.  After a few tears it didn't take very long for me to get over the shock and realize that this little babe was a blessing and that this was just the way it was suppose to be.  Walker David joined us on March 10th 2004 (5 weeks early) weighing in at 6 lbs 4 ozs.

Just home from the hospital.
One of the few pics I have of Walker at this age without Raegan trying to pick him up, lay on him or smother him with kisses!

Such a serious look for such a little guy.

Hamming it up!

For 2 years you slept, ate and breathed spiderman.  Now you only breath him :)



The first fish you ever caught! You were so proud! You LOVE to fish and can't wait to teach your little brother this summer :)


You have loved Beckett from the time he was in my belly!  You are such an amazing big brother!

The night before his birthday day he reminded me that when he wakes up he was no longer "my little man" but "my big dude"!  The next morning when Dave asked him how it felt to be 5....he said very matter of factly, "It feels kinda the same."  He is just so pure and simple at heart.  And this is one of the many reasons I love him!  His request for his special birthday dinner was noodles and cheese and a rotissiere chicken from Costco.  And for breakfast...."I just want cereal Mom."  

Kindergarten registration happened to fall on the same day as his birthday this year.  It didn't really hit me until we were walking across the cafeteria to take our seats that my little man was 5 AND he was going to be in Kindergarten in the fall.  I teared up a little bit but quickly wiped them away because Walker was bursting at the seams....not to hear about school but to leave so we could have our special time at a special surprise place.  And he thought he was the lucky one!  It is a rare day that I get one on one time and on this special day Walker and I went to Grand Slam to ride the bumper cars, play a few games and go to lunch.  The day ended with noodles and cheese, chicken , presents and cake.

Your love never ceases to overwhelm me. Your incredible sense of humor can fix any bad day and I find the utmost joy in the sound of your laughter.  You are such a kind and gentle soul.  Sweet, smart, brave, loving and sensitive.  I am so glad you picked me to be your mommy!  I didn't know just how lucky I was at the time...but now I can't imagine it any other way.  I love you...my big dude!

FrEeDOm!!!

Alex recently tested out his new wings after his 18th birthday. He has a friend who works at a tattoo parlor in St. Paul so he made a trip down to get the tattoo he has been wanting for a couple of years.....A treble clef.  

The night before the big day.  
The very proud tattoo wearing 18 year old!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine Fun

I think next to Christmas, Valentine's Day is my new favorite holiday. Maybe because my hubby is not a big romantic or maybe just because the kids are at such a fun age and love all the crafts and treats :)








One of the fun new traditions I started this year and the kids absolutely LOVE is leaving a valentine and a little treat every morning in their own little mailboxes starting on February 1st. Dave and I have been taking turns writing something special on their valentines...and although they love the treat they seem more excited about finding out what their card says :)

Ok so maybe Beckett is more into the treats :)

I also have a special dinner planned for the family with foods that are only red, pink or white and for dessert we are going to chocolate fondue (thanks for the idea Tanya!).

Gorgeous weekend weather!

We took full advantage of the sunny weather we had this weekend. We sloshed around outside, built snowforts and had a family snowball fight and went sledding. On Saturday it was the perfect sticky snow for snowman building but Walker opted for the snow fort so he and daddy got to work.


A few of the neighborhood kids got in on the action

Daddy and Walker doing what they love best.  Building stuff together.

On Sunday we loaded up and went to the local sledding hill. After Saturdays warm weather the hill was probably similar to an olympic ice luge! We had so much fun.  And I got such a work out hauling kids up the hill in the sleds! Toward the end of the adventure after Dave had taken Beckett back to the van and the kids were given two more runs, I was hauling both of them up the hill!  I was the horse and dad was the donkey. Go figure :) We also checked out the ice rink at the bottom of the hill and the kids had fun "skating" around. I see ice skating lessons in the near future!

Daddy and Beckett's first run.


Beckett very insistent on pulling his own sled up the hill.  He didn't make it very far :)

Before you freak out Grandma...we never sent Beckett down the big hill by himself!

Raegan on her way down.  We had a hard time keeping her on the "safe"side of the hill.  She really wanted to go on the "bumpy" side.  They were more like JUMPS!


Walker "skating" 

My two big loves.

Cold weather fun

We have made playdoh before but tried something new...Kept the kids busy for a long time :) All you need is school glue, borax and water.

Glurch Recipe

2 cups Elmers school glue
1 1/2 cup hot water
Mix in large bowl

In 3 small bowls put 1/3 cup hot water and 1 tsp Borax
Dump 1 Bowl in with the glue mix, stir, add 2nd bowl, stir, then add 3rd bowl

Have Fun!

Can you feel the love...

This picture was taken a few weeks ago...they were all upstairs playing VERY well. I peeked in on them and they had set up a photo shoot. They were pretending that they were a family getting their picture taken...props, stools, blankets and all. It was pretty darn cute. Beckett was actually a willing participant and sitting on the stool saying cheese! So I quick snapped this picture with Raegan's camera. When opportunity knocks and you have 3 kids that WANT there picture taken....take it!

A couple funny stories from the mouth of a 6 year old.

On the way home from dropping Walker off at preschool Raegan was reading one of his dinosaur books.  We were talking about how funny looking some of them were and I commented, "I am sure glad those dinosaurs aren't around anymore."  She asked what I meant and I said they were all dead, they were not in this world anymore.  Of course the inquisitive little girl I have couldn't leave it at that and before you know it I was trying to explain cavemen and The Ice Age.  And we weren't even half way home!  Just when I thought I had satisfied her curious little brain...she asked me if there are two God's.  I had no idea where she was headed with this one so I took the bait. 
"No, I believe there is just one."   
"Well isn't there one for animals and one for people?" 
"No."
"Well is there two heaven's?  One for animals and one for people?"
"No, they all go to the same place."
"Well what about Grandma Dorothy.  Isn't she scared?
"Scared of what?"
"All those dinosaurs."
 
Geez, why isn't there a book somewhere that I can reference when things like this come up!  Should I have said all the scary animals go to a different place?  Because as soon as I said all the animals go to the same place, she was worried about the tigers and lions being up there with the kitties and puppies.  The other thing I found so sweet about this was that she never got the opportunity to meet Grandma Dorothy.  She died several years before she was born and yet she was as concerned as if it were someone she knew very well.  So sweet.
 

 
 
 
Another funny moment was the other day when I told Raegan it was naptime.  She can't help herself...whenever it is naptime she has to tell me how much she doesn't like nap.  Somedays to avoid some drama I cut her off before she can get in a word edwise. I say, "It's time for nap and yes I know you don't like naps."   That day I forgot...
She gave me the biggest groan and said, "I wish I was 18."  I smiled very big and said, "Well I guess that means you are ready to move out too."  She quickly replied, "Well maybe 16 then."
If she only knew how much I dread the thought of a 14-16 year old hormonal teenage girl....

A visit from the tooth fairy

                                                  
                 


Tee Hee...I'm sure glad it's not me!

Finally a toothless smile amidst the puffy eyes and snotty nose!

My sweet Walker has lost his first tooth. It was barely hanging on and with a little help it was out. There was a fair amount of tears....mostly because he was conflicted. The feeling of the really loose tooth verses letting me pull it out. After all was calm and tears were wiped he says "Will the tooth fairy still come even though I wasn't brave." I assured him she would come and off to bed he went. Little did I know what the rest of the night would bring.

Beckett started coughing before Dave and I had made it to bed. We got him up, nebbed him, and cuddled. Those sleepy late night cuddles are the best! He then proceeded to puke. And as only a mom would do I cupped my hands and waited. Dave came with the bucket and after a few more rounds we all settled in on the floor for a long night. I woke up sometime around 3 am and told Dave I was going up to bed.
Morning came and Walker came running downstairs to show us what the tooth fairy had left him. I am glad Walker is not good at reading faces because the look on my face was probably a combination of horror that I had forgotten, puzzled that she had come and finally relief that Dave had remembered. I think this was God's way of reminding me how much Dave does and that I don't give him near enough credit. I LOVE YOU BABE!!! You are an awesome daddy and a wonderful husband!

Christmas time is here.....and gone.

WARNING!!! This may be the longest post to date!

Grab a cup of hot cocoa (or wine), a blanket to snuggle and enjoy :)

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of frantic last minute shopping, packing, unpacking, packing, unpacking....oh and packing and unpacking. It is always sooo worth it, just a lot of work!

We were lucky to have my mom, step dad Les and my older brother Troy here with us on Christmas Eve.  After a wonderful dinner, opening gifts, sprinkling reindeer food in the driveway (they wouldn't be able to find us if we didn't), leaving cookies and milk and a fruit cup for Santa, we tucked three very excited and extremely tired kids into bed.
Raegan was up at 4:30am ready to go...trying to convince us it was time to get up and wanting to just "peek" under the tree.  We managed to convince her to snuggle with us and luckily she went back to sleep.  I'm sure the days of her coming in our room and asking to go downstairs are soon to come to a screeching halt.  Back in the day my brother's and I would wake each other up way before any person in there right mind would get up, take flashlights and tippy toe to check out the Christmas tree.  Then we would head back to bed and wait for mom and dad to wake us up (pretending to be surprised!)  Sorry mom and dad!  Ahhhh....memories.

Christmas Day was spent lounging in our jammies playing with all the new toys. It meant so much to have Ahma and Ahpa here Christmas Eve and morning to take part in old and new family traditions.

Christmas Eve Pictures
                Raegan in her apron from Ahma & Ahpa
     Walker and his new leapster
           Beckett and his tricycle

Alex and Beckett Singing Christmas Eve

             Christmas morning!

I spent the later part of the Christmas day packing up all of us for a week up north. Our goal or should I say my goal was to leave by 10am the next morning. By 2pm we were on the road with everything but the kitchen sink! The first few days were spent at Auntie Jo's and Uncle Ricks. The Jokela's and Dave's dad and Joyce were there to enjoy all the chaos that three little ones create. We built a gingerbread house, sang Christmas carols (Jo on piano, Rick on bass and Alex playing guitar), we convinced Alex to sing a few solo, broke a few laws sledding down the middle of an icy dirt road, went to the animal humane society to drop off donations and "help" with the kitties, played countless games...some of which seemed more like torture but the kids couldn't get enough (see pics below). Oh....and we ate and ate and ate some more. There is no such thing as less is more at the Ziemann's when it comes to food! I even missed out on the annual lefse making this year! (Good thing I'm getting my own grill so this DOESN"T happen again) So many wonderful memories made.

Christmas at the Ziemanns

Singing Christmas Carols

You can pause the blogs music at the bottom of the page


Building (and eating) the gingerbread house
with cousin Sibee



The masterpiece



Animal Shelter






"Clothes Pin Game" Made up by the aunties..."let's see if this hurts?"

"See it doesn't hurt!"




Daddy and Beckett

Walker


Auntie Jamie & Rae Shae



Not only did we tell the kids to go play in the road....we joined them!

Only up north!

The gift that somehow finds it way to Alex EVERY year!(He's gotten these every year since he was 5)


We packed up and headed to my Mom and Les's for a quick overnight. We had a nice supper played mexican train (dominos) and called it a night. The next morning we had every intention of going into town with the kids and doing some shopping but when my mom offered to keep the kids Dave and I ran to the local sporting goods store to look for some winter gear for me. It was nice to do a little shopping by ourselves. Thanks Mom! It was a short but sweet visit. We got to relax and unwind a bit, I jumped on the elliptical a few times to try to undo the prior few days and the kids managed to tear up Ahma and Ahpa's in the short time we were there. 

Our final stop was at my Dad and Barb's. We continued eating until we were miserable, opened gifts, played on the snowmobiles, had a turkey dinner with my grandma, met my cousin and her husband and kids at my grandma and grandpa's, went out to pizza with them, played countless games of phase 10 and dominos, hit the local Target for some after Christmas deals and just hung out. There may have been a few margaritas involved  also. Oh yeah and Beckett also flooded grandmas kitchen (see video)

Loving on Grandpa

He refused to take the helmet off!
Splish Splash!

Raegan playing Santa...Beckett refused to sit on her lap!

Crafting 

 

Our yearly after Christmas trip up north is always jam packed with laughter, fun and food. It is nice not to be on the run all the time and keeping up the house. Errands, groceries, preschool, work and all that grown up stuff.  Despite the packing... I can't wait to make more memories next year!