Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Home for the Holidays

Our little vacation to Minnesota came to an end on Sunday. We had such a great time will all of our family, it was very, very hard to leave.

The kids were worn out with all the fun they had. They have 6 cousins on Buddy's side, all older than Hayden by two years or more and both Hayden and Maya kept up. From playing outside, inside with toys, all eating at the same table for dinners (not always all 8), up and down stairs, opening gift after gift, Monday morning was so lovely for me to have silence until after 8.

Sadness hit me a couple times at my family's home. It was the first year there that my Grandma wasn't present. I felt her in spirit and through food, but it tugged at my heart a couple times missing her.

Christmas Eve mass was eventful with Maya unable to once sit in the pew. She was on the kneeler, on the floor, in the aisle, in the pew ahead, grabbing hymnals one after the other, playing by her baby cousin, Maggie, and she even belted out a few notes singing along with a couple songs. Hayden fell asleep halfway through the homily (holy longness) and was a great boy the entire service.

Christmas Day was the traditional brunch and relaxation, followed by saying good by to my family and traveling to Buddy's. Caos, cooking, cards, laughter and fun were had by all.

Presents were aplenty and great, the kids had a blast and we are all thankful we were able to be HOME for the Holidays.

I am rambling all over, but I am tired and wanted to post my two favorite pics of the trip. Both are from Christmas Eve. We tried for a nice picture of the two kids by the tree....

Nothing says Merry Christmas that strangling your sister and, well I am not sure what Maya's hand is doing.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Baby it's cold outside, but they love it!

I made a trip to the Thrift store in Olivia today. I was on a hunt for boots for Hayden as he has been begging for some for three days! I lucked out and found some a little big, but he will be able to wear them next year, so all is good. I even picked up a pair of snowpants for Maya. $9 well spent.
After begging, whining, beggin some more, finally cleaning up toys and stopping whining, we broke out the sled. They loved it and I got a good workout in. Pulling over 70 pounds through snow covered streets isn't as easy as it may look. We had fun though. Totally worth it.
It's obviously not a fashion show here. Red jacket, light pink snowpants, dark pink boots. But do you see that smile?! She loves her little ensemble from head to toe!
Maya's hands were up like this through most of the ride. A few times I caught her with them on the ground shoveling through the snow.

See, I'm here too! Not quite the pic I was going for, but can you tell how cold it is? It was about 16 degrees when we were out. It's Christmastime and it's worth it.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Snowy Day

The kids literally begged me this morning to go and play in the snow! These two are born and raised Arizonans, but do have that Minnesota blood running through them. Hayden is pretty much begging for a pair of boots, but my little hometown has no clothing store and the little place that just might have them, does not. We may need to venture into "the city" (Willmar) to find some. :)
Surprisingly jackets, hats and gloves went on without a fuss and they could hardly wait for me to get my jacket on too. Both of them dove their hands into the white stuff. Their feet kicked at it and sprayed snow everywhere. They walked into the snow, threw it, jumped in, ran, and didn't want to go inside. I was freezing and they wanted to stay at it.
Then tonight, my dad had to do a little shoveling; he only had one foot in his boot when these two were standing next to him and begging to go watch. Bundled up again, they repeated what they did this morning. This was only day one. Tomorrow, we may take out the sled!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Traveling and backtracking

The kids and I took off to Minnesota today. I'm gonna back up just a hair here and give a slight rundown of the previous couple of weeks:

The floors were finished in the new house, I finally finished up all the painting of the 7 rooms I wanted to complete, and I took a load of boxes/stuff/crap on every run to the house. I had to meet cabinet guys/electricians/plumbers/flooring guys everyday at the house by 8 o'clock when most of the time they didn't show up til 9 or 10. (Although through all that, everything looks amazing!)

We moved out of storage and the rental on Thursday. Basically, not everything in the kitchen is done yet, so it is making it very hard to unpack because without counters and drawers, there are NO PLACES to put things.

I came down with a cold Sunday and my ability and desire to continue to put things away went to a halt. I had to clean out the rental and it took me about 4 hours. Although it was nice without the kids running amuck, I wasn't feeling great and really just wanted to be on my couch. And had to pick up the cooktop because the counters we being put in on Monday.

Monday, had to sign H up for preschool, run to the bank/Lowe's/carwash, get gas, feed children, fight a cold all before 1 so the counter guys could put in the countertops. They show up close to 2 and low and behold, they cut the hole wrong for the cooktop and have to redo the dang thing! Still no drawers or doors on the cabinets. Oh and I don't have a sink!

I still have to pack for Minnesota for me and the kids, fight the flipping cold and clean up as best I can, which is very little considering every thing is just boxes and pictures and stuff thrown about.

Tuesday arrives and I am up at four for a 7:50am flight. Buddy gets the kids up around 4:30 and gets them dressed and we are ready to roll right when I wanted at 5:15am. I grab the computer to check the flight status and make sure all is good with weather and all. Then I realize what the *&#@ I have just done. I had looked at Buddy's itinerary the night before, thinking it was odd because I thought I had a 9 something flight but remembered looking at a 7 something flight when I booked.

Our flight was at 9:45! I was up a whole frigging 2 hours early FOR NO REASON! I am thinking I totally need this vacation...

We stayed at home for another hour and got to the airport in plenty of time. The kids ran amuck basically at the gate. I couldn't fight them feeling like crap. Hayden wasn't too bad, just pushing his cars everywhere and going a little to far at times. Maya, she is perpetual motion. Seriously, if anyone knows of something I can give her to just make her pause at times, I will pay good money.

Maya pooped right before take off. The one thing I dread on a flight most is this. Luckily we were in the very last row, so I just changed her there. Thankfully she fell asleep just after takeoff and slept for an hour and a half. She would not sit still in her seat at all. Up, down, up, down, seatbelt on, seatbelt off, slink out of the seat and get seatbelt stuck under her arms and freak, repeat, repeat, repeat, poop again (did she not realize where we were or what?!), and repeat the first parts over.

Hayden was awesome. Best flight with him, ever. He sat great, played, talked, slept the last 20 minutes, just was great.

Anyway, we made it. It's frigging cold here, there is snow over everything and it finally feels like Christmas!! I am feeling better too, the cold is making its way out just in time.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Ya, stop it.

See that face? That sweet looking, adorable round face with the blue eyes and Shirley Temple curls? Well, that little face is about all that is saving her from being shipped UPS to Minnesota early!
I used the "b" word to describe her a couple times in the past week. Demanding, crabby, whiney, intolerable and annoying. That about sums it up. Maya's 2 year molars have decided to come at an inopportune time: moving/packing/painting/stressfilled time.
Hayden was never a bad teether. I hardly knew he was teething until I realized he wasn't quite himself, not crabby, just a little off and bam, there was a tooth. This girl is a bear (not the "b" word I used). She is constantly demanding gum or her NUK and I realize why, but if you could hear it, you would understand. And when you're driving and cannot find a darn thing or reach a thing, it's worse.
I know this phase will pass, as they all do, but this one is dragging on a bit too long for my taste. The only good thing that has come out of this week is she does want to snuggle at bedtime. She gets on the couch and says, "Snuggle Mama." I love when she calls me "Mama", she says it so cute. For Maya, who never, I repeat, never sits still, this is amazing. I am eating that up. The rest of the bitchiness can go back into hiding.
Oops, did I just say that?!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Things are coming along!

Just wanted to do a quick house update since Facebook status is a little limited in space. :)
In November we (finally) closed on our new home! I think it was the 17th. It's been a long few weeks, hardly remember what I ate yesterday. Anyway, starting on the day of close, we started gutting the kitchen, painting, removing flooring and baseboards and knocking out a closet to make the laundry room bigger.
And wouldn't you know?! It's starting to look like a home again. No, we have nothing in the kitchen but a stud wall and the oven we have yet to get out. And the majority of the floor upstairs is dirty concrete and carpet pad. BUT, the wood floors were started yesterday, I finished painting both kids' rooms, the office, the hall, the upstairs living space, the kitchen and the entry; and I am almost done with the guest room, just started the craft room and have paint for the laundry when it's complete!
Buddy has gotten the laundry room wall built and is finishing up the sheetrock on the inside this weekend. He demoed the entire kitchen, so he has done more than just the laundry room walls. :)
Wood laying continues, carpet starts Friday, cabinets start Friday, countertops, not sure when but...
With the way things are heading, we'll be moving in next Thursday!!! Merry Christmas to The Blattner Family! We are two days ahead of when we thought we'd be moving. We just wanted to be in before we left for Minnesota and woo hoo we will be!
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