February

Whoa! Long time, no blog! And it doesn't even make sense, we have been staying home and not traveling as much lately....go figure. It will just be another random update of what we have been doing lately, let's see if I can remember...

We finished the sunroom! We had a three-season room off the great room and it has served as many things in the almost 2.5 years we have been here (stop for a minute to let that sink in....what?!) It has been a screened in deck, art studio, warm weather playroom, bedroom and mostly a catch-all. I was a little wishy-washy on finishing it but as we approached the winter with two kiddos in the house, I decided I wanted more space:) So, we worked toward getting it done late last fall, but blah, blah, blah...it got done in February:) Our crack home improvement team (Dad, Mom, Andrew and Kylie) came up to help and of course it was bitter cold out, but it seems that just couldn't be avoided this year! We had to replace the windows and door, all of which were basically "storm" versions. It already had HVAC and was insulated, so that made it easy (says the person who did no work toward this improvement:)! After our new windows and door were installed, we had carpet put in a few days later to make one cozy, soft and bright room! The toys (well, mostly Collin's) have been moved in and it is already a favorite play space. A little sewing table is in the corner where I hope to learn how to be crafty and the red hutch remains in there with the TV and art supplies. A huge thanks to our "crew" for helping us with this!! 

New windows!

Collin telling the guys how to do the door

Mom and I took Kate to get her first haircut the first day they were up to work on windows. I needed a trim and she finally said she wanted to come too. So, we dropped Collin at a friend's house and went to a new little salon in Reedsburg. She sat on Gma's lap to watch me and then it was her turn. I didn't let them cut much at all!! We are not anxious to cut her hair but I wanted her to try it out and see if she had any fear or whatever. No need to worry, she was perfect! I think she had fun and will be excited to get her hair cut again....eventually:) Unfortunately, the gal did a horrible job on my hair, we will not be going back! But we had a nice lunch date at Culver's to celebrate and then went home. Fun first for Kate. 

The before picture...

Did so good in the chair!

The "after" pic! Okay, I know it is hard to tell she even got it cut:)

Valentine's Day was fun for the family. We worked on our valentines since right after New Years (takes awhile to keep her focused on the task at hand and I always pick things that require too much work! Oh well, they were cute) so they were mailed and off. We dressed in red and played in the sunroom until Dave called and said that he was coming home early! Like really early (thank goodness they hired another anesthetist!) and so we ran down to Mauston and met him for lunch at Cinco de Mayo. The kids were great, we had a yummy lunch and some margaritas and then the nice gentleman who works there brought us each a shot. So ridiculous. They know us (okay, maybe we go there too much) and appreciate that we try to have Kate use Spanish when we are there, and you know, our kids are adorable, so they always treat us nice. I have never taken the proffered shots before, but on Valentine's Day, Dave made me do it. He changed mine from tequila to Rumchata (I had never had before!) and oh my...it was delicious. And ridiculous. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I stopped at the grocery store to pick up sometime nice to make at home that night. But we were so full from the late lunch that we just fed the kids and skipped supper. We did make time to go outside and snowshoe since it was, you know, super warm and probably 20 degrees? It was a lot of fun, Collin went in the backpack and Kate used her new snowshoes. We went out onto Castle Rock Lake for the first time and that was pretty cool, especially since the full moon was super low over the horizon. Love that!

Trouble in snowpants

After they were asleep we ate the cheesecake  - whoops! Guess we had room for our dessert:) - and then settled in to watch a movie. We ended up doing Good Night and Good Luck which was good but definitely not a Vday flick. I hadn't wanted a lovey, sappy movie but maybe next time it should be.

I can't remember what else we have been doing...hmmm..is that good or bad? Okay, here is a bit on each of the kids...

Kate
We were talking about babies and I asked if she wanted Mommy to have another (I keep asking not because we are expecting but because I'm very curious how she feels about it and with the exciting news of her cousin coming, it is just something we talk about a lot!) well...she broke my heart when she said she didn't want me to have another baby because then Daddy and I will have to take care of the baby all the time and not have time to play with her. Oh my gosh. I felt so awful. So.....needless to say, we have been trying to really make sure she doesn't feel neglected these days. She plays so well on her own, I'm sure there are times that I think she is doing just great by herself when she really wants me to be more involved. Once Dave gets home, I'm trying to dedicate myself to her more and let the boys worry about themselves:) (press time note, she was singing/praying this morning at breakfast and she asked God for a baby sister in Mommy's tummy, so maybe she is not completely traumatized!) 

Lots of interesting conversation during our breakfasts:)

She is still singing Christmas songs...

When we are somewhere in public or if someone sees Kate and they do the, "Aww..hi! What is your name?" She will reply with, "Kate. 4 years old." So many people ask how old she is next, that she just states it right after her name, before they even ask. 

I'm thinking she may be a song-writer when she grows up. She is constantly singing and usually changing songs or making them up entirely, but it is not just silly (all of the time) it kind of makes sense and one day I told her that I really liked that song. At this point, she is more of a talented lyricist than hitting the perfect pitch:) I think she takes after her mother in her obvious love for music and dancing but somewhat lacks the talent to use it beyond the shower/car, etc... Another part of this that I love... I remember making up songs as a child. This one is for you, Dad - "I'm getting a suntan....with the trees with no leaves and snowflakes on the window...I"m getting a suntan." I can still sing it in the way I did when I was about six, I was sitting at Grandma and Grandpa's in the dining room chair looking out the window...wow:)

Kate is still an amazing helper and as she is able to do more and more, it gets even better! And scarier. Apparently, she thinks she can get my coffee in the morning. Not very keen on that, but she is loving adding chores to her list. She makes her bed, helps load the dishwasher, wants to set the table (though we eat at the kitchen island most nights). She helps to feed Collin. And I think she is wanting these more challenging tasks. She is getting less and less enthused with the same ol' "Hey, Kate can you get Collin a diaper?!" As she always tells me, she is a mother too, and wants "mother" kinds of things to do. 

She had her own little knife and helped chop up veggies for the soup

She wants her new soccer net up. And so does Mommy! I can't wait to go out and play with the net and ball. We are using the ball a little bit inside, but as everyone knows, we are starting to have a bit of cabin fever these days. I swear I almost considered putting the darn thing up in the house. Came to my senses, though:) No worries. 

When Kate is playing with barbies, she refers to herself as a giant:) She has a Barbie that has a figure skating outfit (how timely) and she show us her "freeskate" on the train table in Collin's room. "Watch her do this super duper leap, Mom! Don't worry, if she falls down her giant will pick her up" (pointing to herself). It has happened a few other times, so funny! 

Lately, Dave and I both get "Mom/Dad, you are the best mom/dad I ever got!" I always say, wow thanks! or something. Dave likes to point out that she has no other dad:) She also will say that we are the "best cooker ever" during supper:) One of Kate's amazing traits is how complimentary she is of others and how encouraging. If you are struggling or working hard, she will say "Good job, you can do it, way to go, thank you so much, etc." All the time. She is acutely aware of emotions. We were watching Kung Fu Panda 2 the other night while Dave was gone and I was getting Collin to bed. I had her changed into jammies and was cuddled on the couch waiting for me. I had wrongly assumed that since it was animated, she could watch it no problem. Of course, the movie has a part (pretty long) where the mean peacock is being truly awful and saying to the panda  that his parents abandoned him and never wanted him. He flashes back to a baby panda that sounds like a baby and they burn down the village and the wolves chase them, the mommy panda hides the baby panda and then distracts the wolves away. Kate. was. a. sobbing. mess. She was wailing, "Collin!" when the baby panda sounded like a real baby. She didn't understand why the mommy panda left him there. Oh my gosh, we were both upset and I was trying to calm her down. She can take all the scary scenes out there, but if it is sad...she can't handle it. By the way, what is with these movies?!!!

Collin
He has started roaring again:) Though this probably has more to do with the fact that Kate is always "roaring!" I don't know what it is, but she is always a monster or tiger or something and if she is playing with him, she is chasing him and roaring. And he does it right back. Then they usually start giggling. Super cute. Still my favoritist thing ever...the two of them playing and giggling. 

Collin is eating better, though still not great in our opinion:) I want him to be eating more finger foods, but since he was delayed in just eating purees, I'm trying to be patient. He doesn't like Cheerios or those little puffs! He liked the yogurt bites for about a week. He likes his purees now:) and loves toast and pancakes:) He likes much of what we are eating, but if I cut up some fruit or put cereal on his tray, he just frantically sweeps them off the tray. Oh, he loves graham crackers too. We'll see if he likes cake this weekend! 

He is cruising and crawling faster these days, starting to stand alone for a few seconds, but not walking and not really trying:) He likes to push his walker around and climb up on the rail. Actually, I have noticed him trying to crawl up or climb lots of things lately. That little foot just hikes up and he sees if he can get up. Sheesh! No thank you! Kate never was into climbing things too much, but I know that will not be the case with Mr. C. 

Trouble...

Oops!

Speaking of, he gets lots of boo boos! Already probably has more than Kate has to date. Nothing terrible to speak of, though the scar on his cheek from something I didn't see isn't fading very fast! Still see it. He gets his fingers pinched and face scratched more than I ever expected and he is starting to take his little tumbles better and not cry, but look hurt for a second and then move on. Tonight, Dave said he almost tumbled head first into the tub while it was filling and Dave was undressing him. My response was, "We will be visiting the ER with this one, won't we?" Yup. 

He loves to put things on his head. This one has us stumped, sometimes it is like he is trying to tell us something, but we don't know what. We do sign things like "more" "all done" "milk" etc., but I have never patted my head! Sometimes it is like he is putting something to his ear like a phone or on his head like a hat...I don't know. Kind of cute though! He still puts everything in his mouth and sometimes will bite down on something and just leave it there. Crawl or cruise around, play with something else with that toy still in his mouth. My little weirdo:) 

He also likes to sing. I keep hoping he will have a voice like Dave's! If others are singing, he kind of sings along, it can be loud (if we are in church:) but is pretty sweet and I want to encourage it. A favorite of all of ours is when we have our little dance parties...put on the music loud(ish) and sing and dance around. It's the best! Another favorite (okay, I know, I have a million favorite things:) is when he makes the tractor and truck sounds! How are they born knowing how to do this? He makes airplane and tractor sounds when he plays with them. Oh, also, he loves his airplanes and tractors, really anything with wheels. Kate and him like to race things, okay, mostly Kate racing them and Collin trying to get them, but they both have fun!

Lately, we have been over to friends' houses for birthday parties, Superbowl party, etc. and we are always so proud of how the kids behave. It does seem to differ which side of the age bracket Kate lands on, if she is the older one, I do see her bossy side come out. If she isn't, she will follow just as much. She is pretty warm with the adults right away (most of whom she knows or has met) She listens pretty well to us, throws no fits (unless it is super late past her bedtime) and uses manners and shares from what I can tell. She will roughhouse with the boys one minute and show us her ballet dance the next (did a special birthday dance for Clara after most of the others had left). She can be pretty protective of Collin and is interested in other babies that are around. She is adventurous, will sit for movies/TV and will usually eat plenty, though sometimes is too distracted to eat a whole lot (she's burning up the calories!).

Playing together at Clara's party

Collin behaves well too. He really is a super content guy, especially when there is a lot going on around him. He will just sit or stand and play/take it all in. I will usually sit near him for awhile and then if I get up to get some food or do something with Kate, he is fine. Dave or I keep an eye on him, but he just plays, cruises around. At Clara's birthday party, he was in the middle of the room with toys and other little ones and pretty soon a grandma was over playing with him. It was so adorable, she reminded me of Grandma Rosendahl and she was just playing ball with him and talking to him. I'm not sure if she got many smiles, but he just played right with her. He never made a fuss even though we couldn't get him down for the afternoon nap. (side note - I like having him nap twice a day when I am at home:) but when we are busy with other things, it sure does make it harder!) 

We have really enjoyed getting together with friends and the bonus of feeling proud of our kiddos and being able to relax at the same time! The birthday party I mentioned was at our good friends' house on Saturday, Clara turned two and she is just the sweetest little girl. She was born right after we moved up here and it has been a joy watching her grow up. They live up on a hill overlooking the whole county and they had a sledding party complete with hot cocoa and a bonfire. Super fun. It was about 20 degrees that day. Cold, but of course we all thought felt just fine, at least it was above zero! Kate was amazing, she was the first one out there with Clara and they were champs, heading down the hill a million times and never complaining. She had two little cups of cocoa and had endless energy. Dave and I had fun sledding too:) Collin stayed inside hoping for a nap, but alas, just getting snuggles and snacks. I had plugged in my camera battery to make sure I had enough juice to take a ton of photos and of course, promptly forgot to grab the battery before leaving the house, so I have zero pictures of the fun sledding day:(

I've gotten out skiing more this year, love it so much. Sunday was the first day I've wiped out since I can remember! I was on a trail that someone else cut around our pond out back and they tended to veer down towards the water more than I usually go. Admittedly, when listening to my workout playlist, I can sometimes start to do a weird mix of skiing and dancing...it is never a good idea, I've almost wiped out on an elliptical machine at the gym doing the same thing, but anyway...I don't think it was the music, but I started going down the slope of the beach and couldn't stop. Went down hard on my backside. I was surprised at the yelp that came out of me and then when I could barely get up, I definitely started laughing. I have not been laughing, however, these last few days as I have been super sore and my back is hurt! In addition to the ski wipeout, I had a scary fall on some ice outside Kate's dance studio last week. I was carrying Collin in his car seat and fell, never letting go of the seat but it crashed to the ground and I landed half on top of it. I scraped my knee and felt bruised and embarrassed. Collin was screaming - I felt SO bad. Kate was worried and came rushing over, nearly falling on the ice as well. Uff da. 

Many people have commented on my still carrying him around in that heavy seat. I do so for a couple reasons. 1) He will oftentimes stay content in the seat for errands and doesn't fuss when I just snap him back into the car. If I take him physically out and then have to put him back in the car seat at the car, he fights it more. 1a) it has been so cold! Standing with the van door open while I get him in freezes us all! 2) If I am just running into the post office/gas station, etc. I can put him down and use both my hands. If I hold him, I have one hand [or possibly no hands to complete the errand if he is being mischievous] 3) it has been so cold!! I can keep him warmer in the seat. If I carry him, he is pulling off his hat, mittens and dropping them on the floor or parking lot. 4) if I fall on the ice, it is safer!! Okay, this last one I just added, oh my gosh, when I think what could have happened if I had been carrying him without the seat...I get super scared. Basically, it just needs to hurry up and warm up. 

Well, as many of you know, Collin's birthday is approaching....Friday! I am trying to really enjoy it but have been super sentimental about it. I have basically planned nothing for his party, as we decided to have it this weekend kind of last minute. We tend to have lots of little celebrations these days with the logistics of coordinating everyone. Dave is on call and so I was sort of avoiding a party but we will do the best we can and hope that he doesn't get called in to the hospital. It feels like yesterday I was starting to get anxious about the baby coming....my doc was going to Aruba a few days after he was born, I thought it would be awesome if the baby came on Tony's or Dad's birthday...I was enormous and having a lot of back pain and was ready to have the babe here! So, I'll post again soon about Collin's first birthday!

Only for your eyes:)...uff da, this was me a year ago! 

To see more photos from February, click here! I take way too many and don't put them all on the blog:)