Just Saying...

I found this saying below while "blog hopping" through blogs this afternoon. You can check out the blog that I found this saying on by clicking on the following link kyleeannhutchinson.blogspot.com. I think this is such an inspirational thought to wake up to every morning...

WAKE UP every morning with

the thought that

something WONDERFUL

is about to happen..

Our Little Gymnast

Katelyn has been in gymnastics since we moved to Elk River in 2006. She is a very talented gymnast and I am always in awe of her when she is flipping, twirling, twisting and flying through the air without showing one ounce of fear! She just absolutely AMAZES me and I could watch her for hours!! In October 2010, she started having extreme pain in her heels. We took her to the doctor and they diagnosed her with Severe's Disease. She missed almost three months of P.E. at school and gymnastics practices and meets. She received the green light from the doctors to return to P.E. and gymnastics. She has gradually increased her practice times and felt good enough to compete in the final two gymnastics meets of the season. Here are some pictures of Katelyn doing what she LOVES most!!

Katelyn and her gymnastics team playing in the hotel pool the night before their Willmar, MN meet on 3-6-2011

Left to right: Megan Swanson, Katelyn, Maisey Peterson and Britney Knick

Big Lake Blue team and their awesome coach, Jesse, at Divisional Championships in Northfield, MN 3-12-2011

Katelyn's tuck jump on the beam.

Katelyn's Wolf jump on the beam.

Katelyn's back walk over on the beam.

The Big Lake Blue team took 3rd place in the Divisional Championships. Way to go BLB!!!

Failed

I have FAILED... I have failed at several of my goals that I set for myself this year. I have been feeling guilty about my failures which in a weird sort of way - has led to more failures. I need to look deep inside myself and find the strength to start over. I have decided that I'm not a complete failure unless I completely give up - right?? So, starting tomorrow, I am starting down the path that I laid out for myself this year with a new, positive attitude. Wish me luck!!

Jordan turns 17..Where did the time go???

I can't believe my baby boy (sorry Jordan) turned 17 this year! It seems like just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with him and excited to bring him into the world. We are so blessed to have Jordan in our lives! He is such an amazing son! Some qualities that I absolutely adore about Jordan are:

- he is very thoughtful

- he has a very calm disposition

- always steps up to help whenever it is needed without being asked

-has set high goals and standards for his life

-accepts everyone for who they are

- does not judge people

-still likes to cuddle with his old mom

-is a very musically talented young man

My list could go on and on and on...

(The pictures below ended up in the wrong order. Sorry!)

Here is Jordan flashing us a "17" with his fingers! Nice Jordan!

Not sure why Jordan is making that face but here he is getting birthday loves from Katelyn and Riley

Jordan wanted an Ipod cake this year for his birthday. I haven't found anyone in our town who makes cakes, so I attempt to do it myself. Here is my sad version of an Ipod! Sorry Jordan! I really tried.

Jordan posing with his cake and Mike in the background. Don't ask!

We went to Buffalo Wild Wings for Jordan's birthday dinner with our friends the Vinje's. Jordan loves BWW - especially their Blazzin' Challenge! Just kidding. After we got home and had cake and ice cream, the "men" finished off the night with a little Rock Band competition.

We surprised Jordan this year for his birthday by taking him to a Transiberian Orchestra Concert. We thought he'd enjoy it since he plays the Viola and is in the Orchestra in his high school. Here is Jordan waiting for the concert to start. We didn't know what to expect but it was a fabulous concert!

Being a good sport and posing with his ticket for me.

Happy 17th birthday Jordan!! We love you more than you will ever know!

Snow, snow and more snow!!!

*Sigh* Warning!!! This post is a little pity party for myself. I have officially self diagnosed myself with the "winter blues". It seems like it has been cold (or a better term would be frigid), white and gloomy for so LONG already this winter. We have had snow on the ground since November 13, 2010. Not only have we had snow, but we've also had consistent subzero temperatures with the occasional roller coaster ride to the teens, twenties and rare thirties. I am tired of being cold, bundling myself and the kids in multiple layers of clothes just to run a simple errand, driving fearful of wrecking the car or not being able to get through an intersection, WIND that cuts right through you, dirty cars, salt/sand being tracked into the garage from the cars and then into my house, not being able to go outside and enjoy the sledding hill in our neighborhood because it's too cold or there is a fresh coat of snow and you have to start the paths all over again and so on and so on and so on!! I do realize that Minnesota is not the only part of the country to experience "winter" but I have never felt so down before because of the weather. Yesterday the sun was shining for the majority of the day and it was amazing what it did for my attitude. I can't wait for the warmer weather and sunny days!!!

Of course Mike doesn't mind it too much when it snows. He loves his snow blower!!

I wish I had pictures of the kids to post outside in the snow building snowmen, making snow angels, sledding or ice skating on the pond but they just don't want to be outside this year and I can't really blame them. I don't want to be out there either!!

Just Dance...

At our house we are addicted to the dance games that Wii has. We have Just Dance, Just Dance 2 and Michael Jackson - The Experience. Mike and I love music and love to dance around the house. On the weekends, we love to kick back and relax, turn on some tunes and hang out with our kids. We either have the Ipod playing or playing Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Rock Band or Just Dance. The kids have grown up listening to the music and watching us get our "groove" on. All three of them have developed a love for music and dancing too! The downside to them getting older, they don't our moves are as "cool" as we think we are.

A little bit before Christmas, Katelyn, Riley and Kaitlyn Dhooge (Katelyn's BFF) were playing Just Dance 2. I decided to finally grab the camera and catch a few shots of them doing "The Monster Mash". Sad to say, but I had a very hard time keeping a straight face while watching them. They were so serious and the facial expressions were just killing me!!

Katelyn and Kaitlyn (two peas in a pod)...

Don't ask me what she was doing here...

Kaitlyn being serious about her dance game...

For being 4 years old, Riley can hold his own - he has skills!!

New Year's Resolutions!!!

So, one of my resolutions this year was to post on my blog every day or at least every other day. I am horrible at keeping this up to date!!! Well, here it is February 1, 2011 and I am just starting to work on this resolution. I decided that I really need to do this on a regular basis to help document my family and our journey through life. I am also planning on using this as a journal since I rarely have time to sit and handwrite my thoughts down. I am sure that once I get into the habit of doing it daily, it will become much easier and seem less tedious, just like any other habit or routine that you have in your life. First goal, to post later today with pictures and the story behind them. Right now I have to leave to start the morning routine of getting children up and out the door for school.

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve is always a day that is feel with excitement and anticipation. I swear Riley must have thought this night would never arrive. He was so much fun this year to watch and listen to since it is the first year he really understood what Christmas is about. I especially love Christmas time because Jordan comes to spend time with us. Grampy and Grammy Sampson spent Christmas with us this year too. It is a tradition for Grammy Sampson to give the kids one gift they can open on Christmas Eve. Of course they already know what they are getting, Christmas PJ's, but for them it's about unwrapping the gift and anticipating what fun new PJ's they are getting. It's also a sign that bedtime is close and Santa will be coming soon. This year Katelyn and Riley were the only one's who opened PJ's. Jordan opened a box that contained a cool, crisp $20.00 bill. I guess since he was almost 17, he has graduated from PJ's to money. I think deep down inside, he was hoping for some fun PJ's but he was grateful for the money too. Above is a the last picture of the night before we put everyone to bed in their Christmas jammies and $20.00 tucked away safely in Jordan's wallet. Merry Christmas Jordan, Katelyn and Riley!! I love you!!

Katelyn's Christmas Stocking

When we moved to Minnesota in February 2006, I decided that since I was going to be at home with Jordan, Katelyn and our soon to be born bundle of joy, Riley, I would have plenty of time to work on craft projects, scrap booking, home decorating, etc. Well, I was WRONG!!! Katelyn has been patiently waiting for me to finish cross stitching her stocking for four LONG years. Every Christmas she would ask if it was going to be ready for Santa to use and every year I would have to look at her shining, hopeful eyes and say no. Earlier in the year (2010) I decided it was time to get serious and complete this project in time for Christmas. I spent MANY hours cross stitching, outlining and adding the final details to this stocking. I completed my portion about one week, yes I said ONE WEEK before Christmas. I ran it over to the seamstress, acting calm and collected, asking if it would be possible to get the back sewn on before Christmas. Secretly, I was dying inside! How would I be able to tell Katelyn her stocking would not be ready for the 5th year in a row when we were this close??? She smiled and said - YES!!! I think the smile on my face said it all. If I could have done a cart wheel right there and then, I would have. Katelyn was very excited and pleased that her stocking was hanging above the fireplace this year for Christmas. My mom made me, my three brothers and my sister a cross stitched Christmas stocking and it is a something I am passing onto my children. It is just one thing they can keep for years to come and hopefully know how much love was put into it.

Halloween 2010

Sandy from Grease and Mario

Sandy

Mario

Katelyn and Mike before eating our yummy Pepperoni pizza from Papa Murphy's (above)

The pizza below is a Pepperoni pizza from Papa Murphy's that is supposed to look like a pumpkin. There are two black olives for the eyes and a pepperoni smile right below. It didn't really look like a pumpkin but it tasted yummy!!!