The Y.

For the last 3 years

I have been going to the Y in Elk River.

It is so motivating, inspirational, energetic & happy 

(just to name a few!).

I love being able to get out of the house to see other moms

& for my kids to play & run around & do crafts at kids stuff.

We pay a lot for it,

but we get a lot out of it.

I have a set schedule of classes I like to attend every week

& just as of lately I signed up for a little personal training

so I could get myself back into more weight lifting!

My first session with Muggs was grueling.
She is like the 'old time' real lifter.
She told me to eat lots of protein, lots of eggs
(So you know she's hard core).
Just what I needed, even though I don't eat plain eggs & I limit my meat consumption!
Anyway.
She has arms bigger than most guys
& raised some hard core athlete's too
(Her son plays for the Wild).

I could barely use the stick shift to get myself home

because my arms hurt so bad and were still SHAKING!

Needless to say

I couldn't move for 2 days.

But today I'm better & I got right back into the routine.

Today was turbokick

& that too kicked my butt.

(Here's part of our group today.  There was 50+ people in class today.

Talk about motivating!)

Ohh the Y.

I love you!

p.s. Adler just received his blue band in swimming lessons. 

Meaning he can swim by himself.

& I don't have to be in the water with him.

Thanks Y swim club.

Facts.

The fact is...

the more cute little kids you have,

the more sickness they will be exposed to,

which leads to more kids being sick in the house.

The one major downfall to a full house.

This past week our house has been the worst this mother has known.

3 kids sick

& myself included.

Yep, our house was an absolute fiasco while dad was at work.

The only thing I can say is that I'm very thankful

it's over.

Thank you Jesus. Amen!

Mail.

Adler has never been one to talk to people on the phone.

He's typically shy when it comes to, "hey do you want to talk to grandma."

 (or anyone for that matter)

But last week he did talk to Grandma Glad & asked her to send him some the mail.

He waited & waited & when it finally showed up there was something for everyone

& they were thrilled.

Suckers, tattoos, letters & stickers.

It couldn't get any better for them!  

p.s. Here's how we found Brock sleeping the other night. 

Using his big John Deere pillow as his blanket!

He never fails to make us laugh, even when he's sleeping.

Big weekend.

Big weekend for Vance that is.

Luke & the boys were using their tools to lower Vance's crib

& while we were all in his room looking at him, he started crawling!

It was great, we all got to see it happen for the first time.

Ever since then we can't keep up with him

& his brothers had a crash course in keeping their things picked up.

We've already found several not-good things in his mouth.

Vance also popped another tooth.

Our little man looks so old with his 5 teeth!

Those teeth sure make for cute smiles.

From here on out I'll be quite a bit busier with him all over the house.

Typical life in the day of being dad!

(Vance was watching the big football game & didn't move an inch)

When we sit him up (to get some more sitting practice) he pushes back all the time,

so this is how he always ends up.

Vance loves to play peek-a-boo.

He loves soft cuddly blankets

& smooshing them up to his face

& when he pulls them off his face he waits for someone to say peek-a-boo

so we can start it all over again!

Here he is caught in the action.

The weekend for the rest of us consisted of Adler having a fever & then myself having a fever.

We were supposed to have Mike, Em, & Levi over for the night too,

so when you finally have some fun plans & then it doesn't work out

it makes for a crabby, uneventful, wasted weekend.

How charming.

I'm just hoping that no one else gets sick.

Field trip.

Sesame Street Live!

This past Thursday our whole family took a field trip.

It consisted of a bus ride (which is always a highlight for the boys, Luke included!),

too many mini donuts, sour patch kids & nerds,

lots of smiles, clapping & singing

& an exhausting rest of the day when we got back.

We were all wiped out & ready for naps.

Meet Alex.

A good friend had her 3rd baby! ALEX. 

There are so many kids when we all get together, it's wonderful.

Joy had a few moms over so we could meet the new little one.

It was a great time.

My kids actually ran downstairs when we got there & didn't hang on my legs.

So us moms & babies could enjoy each others company

without the wild ones!

Vance & Ethan playing together (almost 7 months).

Momma Maggs with Alex! (2 weeks old & so sweet)

New room.

Luke & I decided in the Fall that we would look into the possibility 

of building a new living room onto our house (where the existing deck was).

We stopped by Becker Country Lumber yard

because we bought a door from them for the new addition knowing that some day we

wanted to add on & while we were there we asked for builder contacts,

just to get a couple quotes so we knew what it might potentially cost.

We called Randy Dale & he stopped over to take a look & give us an estimate.

Then Luke & I talked over our options... 

1.  would he build it, 

2.  build some of it 

3.  or would we pay someone else to do the work (the cold, hard work anyway!).

    We decided it was not worth Luke being stressed for time,

 having the project take twice as long if he built it,

a few marital disagreements (!),

& cold weather to work in while not having some of the right tools.

SO...we hired Randy & his team!

We wrote a check & sat back & watched the guys go to work.

Luke didn't know what to think.

He couldn't believe he was not out there.

And he loved it!

Keeping in mind we only hired them to complete the outer shell of the room

& shingle the backside of our house.

Then it's our turn to finish it.

They started construction Wednesday, January 2

& were done within a week!

Here's the first day action.

The boys loved watching the boom truck unload all the materials.

Day 1: work with the footings & secure the posts that the room will sit on.

Day 2: they had the platform done & we could see the actual size of the room.

Day 3: walls & rafters went up.

The workers had a great view of my older boys running around in their undies all day.

I'm sure it was a good laugh for them.

We made goodies for them everyday they were here.

I'm sure they loved that too!

Day 4 & 5: reshingle the existing backside of our house & shingle the new addition.

Day 6: install the windows & door.

Day 7: clean-up.

Day 8: they are done & the boys & I miss watching them.

Day 9: Luke stares at the new room,

then starts working on electrical!

The boys had to bundle up & get their tools to help dad.

This should make for a very busy winter & spring for us.

But we are quite excited to have more room in our house.

Vikings vs. Packers.

Sunday was a big day.

The Vikings played the Packers.

We had a house full of little men.

Half Vikings fans & the other half Packers fans.

It was an afternoon of appetizers, pizza, sundaes,

& lots of cheering.

We ended the night downstairs having a nerf gun battle.

It was Dads vs. 6 of their boys! 

I think the kids won....ohh yeah & the Vikings too!

Fun with friends & family.

After Christmas at my parents we left for home 

only to return a day later

for some fun with friends 

& to see my cousins Kris & Kim.

Look at all those kids!

It was a fun crazy morning.

That evening a few of us moms hit the town to celebrate Katie's birthday.

Her present from me came complete with used shower curtain hooks, 

a water conserving shower head (free from Excel energy), 

a front yard home sweet home sign (re-gifted from grandma Elois)

& a 'Our first Christmas' ornament! 

The boys relaxing with grandma. 

Grandma Elois decided to plan a surprise get together

since Kris (& Adam & new baby Hudson) & Kim were going to be in Litchfield.

She took us all out to Peter's to eat & so we could chat with our cousins

we don't get to see too often.

It was very nice.

Thanks grandma! 

Adler ordered the kids ribs! (can't believe him sometimes) 

Grandma getting some good snuggle time with her newest grandson Hudson. 

Cousins.

(Me, Angela, Lauren, Kim, Erin, Kris)  

Grandma with her kids.

(Dan, Camy, Mike, Wayne)

Mike's family. 

Grandma & I.

(p.s. you looked beautiful grandma) 

Grandma & all of her grandsons.

(Gabe 6, Hudson 1 1/2 months, Vance 6 months, Adler 5, Brock 3)

Hudson chillin with his great grandma. 

It was a very busy couple days back at Litchfield.

I had so much fun (even though my hubbs was at home working).

I got to see a lot of people I rarely see,

I got to hit the downtown with Vance & check out some stores,

I got some good finds & ate some good food.

Ahhh what an outing with just mom & her boys. 

Christmas 2012.

Christmas officially began on Sunday with the Johnson Family gathering.

It was great because we were at Camy's this year,

which meant we only had to drive into town!

Everyone was there except Kris & Kim (who were arriving later in the week).

It's great to chat with 1st cousins & to see aunts & uncles & grandma.

Waiting patiently to open their gifts.

They were so excited to put their Thomas & Cars watch on from great grandma!

Giving cousin Chaddy the run around

& drinking fuzzy navels.

The next day was Christmas Eve day & we ventured out to the Herdina's.

Luke's parents house keeps getting smaller & smaller

with more babies just about every time we visit!

Sweet little Aubrea. (1 month old).

After church we all tried to cram into one room to open gifts.

It was quite the time!

Here's some proof of how tight it was, but ohh so fun!

Later that night we drove to G & G Johnson's house 

to spend the night & have a Christmas Day brunch

before going back home for our own Christmas.

The boys helping grandma hand out the gifts.

Joe took the boys for a 6-wheeler ride while sledding.

In the afternoon we left for home & had relaxing night

opening up Santa's gifts & the gifts under our tree.

Then we all decided we were tired & went to bed early!

Someone got candy cane candies!

Ahh I used to LOVE those.

The boys couldn't wait to assemble their Polar Express Lionel Train

from G & G Herdina.

Mom & dad went WAY overboard on gifts (like they always do)

And because their son-in-laws love Peter's ribs

Luke & Joe each got a couple racks.

Luckily Luke shared with me & they were TO-DIE-FOR!

Merry Christmas

Jesus is born!