Riley's favorite pillow

Both little guys, soaking up the sun on a Saturday morning!

Sun-sational

Can you say "sunglasses?"  We can after a beautiful Sunday.  It was so nice out that we couldn't resist bathing Deuce so that he is all fresh before he goes to stay with his adopted family.  Deuce is going to live with Mike (a co-worker of D's) and his 3 kids who have already scheduled who gets to sleep wtih Deuce and on which nights...how cute is that?  Riley played with a golf-club and just enjoyed the fresh air so much that I could hear his squeals of joy from inside the house as I tried to lay down for a quick power nap.  We ran a few more last minute errands as a family and then took a leisurely 45 minute walk that was snow-free.  That's right, in a matter of days the trails went from snow covered and muddy to dry!  We so look forward to many more days/evenings playing outside.  Daddy hopes to get a shed built this summer and Riley and I are hoping for Daddy to seed and fertilize our grass and build us a playset so that we don't always have to go to the park.  (We would really like a sandbox too! : ) 

So long winter, you haven't been all bad but a little too long for us!  See ya next year!

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

So this Saturday is the long-awaited, much anticipated and flawlessly (ha) orchestrated wedding of Ben and Katie.  I cannot tell you how much we are looking forward to it.  A whole week's break from making dinner, washing dishes, folding laundry, getting up to an alarm clock at 4:15, changing diapers, eh...oops, we will still have to do that ; ).  On demand feeding sounds like so much fun right now!  Room service, 24 hour buffets and all that we can drink

Speaking of diapers~ Operation Potty Train the Tot will start up once we get back from Mexico.  We have noticed his diapers during the day being really dry inbetween when he would normally need a change so I figured it's a good time to see if we can get him on a "potty schedule!"  I am actually really looking forward to this and I can't wait to pick out a big boy potty chair for him! 

But for real, let's just get through the next 36 hours of last minute packing, house cleaning, very little sleeping (before Katie and Ben arrive at 3:15 in the a.m.) and document gathering all the while mourning the loss of that one precious hour that seems to have us so messed up!

Ughhh, who knew one little hour could turn your day into a spiral?  We woke up at 8:30 which was a welcome sight on the clock but at 11:00 (which was Riley's normal naptime) he obviously wasn't tired, and at 12:00 we were outside in the yard playing, still at 1:30 we were out bathing Deuce and playing so at 2:00 when we finally ate lunch our schedule was a royal mess.  After lunch we made Riley lay down and the poor guy cried for a good 10 minutes which he never, never, never does for us.  We take all the blame or at least half of it because messing with the time in the life of a toddler is not a good idea and this whole time change was indeed forced upon us as a whole, not just him (we feel it too Little Man!)

So when dinner wasn't done until 7:00 and 8:00 rolled around we knew after a 2 hour nap at 2:30 he was not going to bed at this new 8:00 which was the old 7:00 (are you following me?) so he stayed up until 8:55 and I have been working out after her goes to bed this last week so I in turn didn't start working out until 9:10 and that lasted until 9:50 and then a shower and blowdry brought me to 10:45!  Aggghh!  That is just ridiculous!  All because...WHY again do we mess with the time?  Good thing we get to sleep in after Wednesday for 7 fabulous, sun-filled, family gathering, sand walking, ocean swimming, buffet eating, plane riding, muscle resting days! 

Here's to my sister who I love and to our new Brother in law Ben who has always helped the family out with just about anything.  We can't wait to share your special day and remember to have some fun, RELAX and leave the stress behind here in MN for the April 30th reception!  ; ) 

Katie-I found these picture of us from back in the day.  I love these memories and sometimes wish I could go back to sharing a room with you if only to stay up laughing, playing games, jumping across the beds and getting my back scratched with a bedtime prayer before we shut the lights out for just a few more days.

Happy 21st Kyle!

Today marks 21 years for my little (actually rather tall) brother Kyle.  I hope you had a fabulous day and that you know how much we love you.  You were my first 'baby' and I remember actually thinking that you were mine.  All those years ago I was honing my 'mommy' skills on you Kyle and I now that I hold my own little man I can't help but think of you as a baby.  It makes me smile and I am a proud big sister today.  Happy 21 and we will buy you your present in Mexico ; )

March 1989