The kids rooms

So, we've done some switching around in the kids rooms. Emma & Sophia really wanted to each have their own rooms. So the playroom has now become Sophia's room, and Emma has the big room to herself (since she's the oldest). We split up the toys and now everybody has their own rooms.

Here are Emma & Sophia fast asleep in their new rooms. They share a Jill and Jill bath.

The cutest thing though is that when we went to check on them that first night, they weren't sleeping like the above pictures. They were sleeping like this.....

Here's Jacob's room.

And this is Olivia's room.

Happy Father's Day!

Father’s Day Prayer

Lord, please bless our fathers, these men who mean so much to us,
who are greatly responsible for who we are
and who we are becoming.
Bless them for having the courage
to do what’s necessary to keep us out of trouble,
for making us do the right thing, for helping us build our character,
even when it makes us angry;
and bless them for pushing us to do our best,
even when they just want to love us.
Bless our fathers for being our protectors,
for leading us through stormy times to safety,
for making us believe that everything will be all right
and for making it so.
Bless our fathers for quietly making a living
to provide for those they love most,
for giving us food, clothing, shelter
and the other material things that really matter,
for unselfishly investing time and money in us
that they could have spent on themselves.
Bless our fathers, Lord, for saving some energy for fun,
for leading us on adventures
to explore the outer reaches of ourselves,
for making us laugh, for being our playmates and our friends.
Bless them for being our secure foundation, our rock,
for holding on tight to us...until it’s time to let us go
Lord, bless these men we look up to, our role models, our heroes,
our fathers.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

By Joanna Fuchs

I am so thankful for the husband I have. Our children are truly blessed to have a father like him.


Daddy's Footsteps
~Author Unknown~

“Walk a little slower, Daddy”,
Said a little child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps,
And I don’t want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they’re hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I’m all grown up,
You’re what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who’ll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.”

The new me

Baby Freebie!

Just found out about a freebie that I thought I'd pass along. If you call Johnson & Johnson at 1-866-565-2229 and request their New Parent Package they will send it to you free of charge as long as you have a valid street address (no PO Boxes). The sample pack includes stuff like moisturizer, face wash, baby lotion, nursing pads, etc. I just "ordered" mine today, they said I should get it in 7 - 10 days. Just thought I'd pass it on...

The Various Hairstyles of Me

Over the years I have changed my hairstyle a lot. And that's probably an understatement. Thankfully Nathan's aunt is a hairdresser!

For the most part I've had short hair - after Olivia was born is the first time I've grown it out since graduating high school.

I've gone red, blonde, dark brown and everything in between!

I'm thinking of cutting and colouring it again, so if you have any favorites, feel free to comment.

Here's a few pictures of the various hairstyles of me....

Pregnancy Photo Shoot

Here are some more pictures from the pregnancy photo shoot my cousin(inlaw) did for me. (Nathan took the ones of Emma & Sophia with me because they weren't there for the photoshoot)

One Last Disney Post

OK, this is the last Disney post - bear with me!

Our last days at Disney.....

Friday Mom and Dad babysat the kids while we went to Disney Hollywood Studios (previously called MGM) with Shaun & Lynn in the morning so we could ride the Tower of Terror and the Rock N Roller Coaster. They were so much fun! We also took in a stunt show called Lights, Camera, Action!

In Rock N Roller Coaster you are literally launched from the start of the ride - you go from 0 to 58 mph in 2.8 seconds, experiencing 4.5g which is more than astronauts experience on liftoff! The coaster is a limo on it's way to an Aerosmith concert - music plays in the coaster as you ride it which is pretty cool. Check out this link for an excellent description of this ride!

We went back to the house for lunch and did a little shopping and swimming the rest of the day. We went back to Uno's for supper.

Close to Uno's is a little amusement park called Old Town. They have this Slingshot ride where a bungy cord slingshot catapults you 365' in the air! Nathan and Shaun rode this crazy thing - the one ride they were actually a little scared to go on - and it was amazing, or so they said. I'm not gettin on that thing!

We had planned to go see the fireworks at Magic Kingdom the last night we were there because we didn't have to get up early the next day. They start at 10 so we figured we'd cross on the ferry and then watch from there instead of actually going in to the park and fighting the crowds. We were so excited! When we got there however, we discovered that it was grad night and there were no fireworks. The tears flowed let me tell ya! They girls were so disappointed. And since it was close to 10, the Epcot show was over already so we had no other options. And it was our last day so it was our last chance. Next time we go, we'll definitely be checking out the fireworks schedule much more closely!

Saturday was the day we left - we were all sad to go and wished we were staying 2 weeks instead. Next time! Because we had to return the rental vehicles at 1 we had to kill 5 hrs in the airport before our flight left, but that actually went much better than I thought it would. The flight back was good and we ate at the Green Mill for supper close by the Staybridge Suites in Minneapolis.

Sunday we drove to Albertville and did a little shopping there. Then Mom & Dad, Shaun & Lynn went straight home while we decided to stop in the City 3 hrs from home for night. I'm glad we did - they had to wait at the border for 2 hrs Sunday! We stayed at the Staybridge there too, and they gave us a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite for $99! It had a big livingroom area with a full kitchen and there are 2 bedrooms off the living room, one on either side. One with a king bed and a bathroom, the other with 2 double beds and a bathroom. Again the amazing continental breakfast. The regular rate for this room is almost $190. I'm not sure why they gave us such a great deal, but they did! We told the manager how we come down to the Smaller City a few times a year, but we'd consider coming down farther just for this hotel. She said we'd get the same rate every time if we did and that any friends we recommended would get the same rate. FYI!

So, Monday we drove to the Smaller City and did a bit of shopping there yet before heading home - with only a 10 min border wait.

It was such a fabulous vacation, we're tentatively planning to do it again in 1 1/2 years! Can't wait!!!!

Here's a few pics of Hollywood Studios...