Like mother, like daughter, like......

Like mother, like daughter, like uncle, like grandma! 

There's a definite Bruce theme amongst the group. 

Josie already loves his music, and now she's been interested in watching him on TV. 

Up next- concert DVD's over Christmas break! 

Reading through the River boxed set

Elf of the year!

Santa must have received Josie's letter about Christopher. 

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

The annual bell ringing tradition continues! 

This is the third year that these kids have rang and sang and entertained! 

Christmas lights!

We saw this beauty at a local country club. Makes me want one in my back yard! 

Christopher the elf brought Josie some special glasses which turn Christmas lights into Snowmen! 

It was fun to take a walk (yes, a walk, in Minnesota, in December) and enjoy all of the lights!

In the picture they look a little more like ghosts, but you get the idea. 

Throwback Thursday

Bringing you all the way back to November 26, 2015. 

Chef Tim and Chef Josie prepared a yummy turkey. 

All the other little chefs brought other goodies to share. 

We missed Brent but he got a special delivery at work. 

It was a great day with family! 

You missed a spot! 

Massaging the turkey

Holiday Spirit

Our friendly elf, Christopher, has been back in the house since the day after Thanksgiving. While Josie has truly enjoyed his daily hi-jinks it was the rest of us that have been truly touched this year.

The other day Josie handed me this letter and asked if I could get it in the mail for her. She prepared the envelop and its enclosed letter all by herself.

Before I slipped it in the mail I took a peek inside to see what she had written. I was expecting a lengthy list of toys she wanted for Christmas but what I saw put a smile in my heart.

We are anxiously awaiting a response from Santa. Hopefully he's as proud of Josie as we are. 

Happy Birthday Teddy!

I know these things to be true.....

1. Once upon a time Ted knew how to clean

2. Ted enjoys Christmas

3. Someone said something funny and Grandma is having none of it! 

4. Again, Grandma does not think its funny! 

5. Ted likes soccer

6. We all like soccer. And denim. 

7. Chicks dig him

Muffin the cat

Daycare kids

Miss Josie

 8. He can occasionally catch fish

9. He drives a boat (with a Kool Aid mustache) like no man's business

10. He wears crazy costumes

11. Correction- Ted AND his friends wear crazy costumes

12. He can rock the bed head

13. He enjoys a good pair of Alf underwear

14. He is my most favorite brother

15. We all love this guy! 

Cream and sugar?

My personal barista! 

Crossing the line

Josie came home this week excited about an assignment she completed. 

"Mom! I wrote a letter about Uranus. Don't worry, I wrote to Dad about Uranus too."

Luckily she is still on the innocent side of the line. Brent, however, started giggling and had to walk away. 

Can't wait for my Uranus letter to come home! 

Thank you for your service

To all the Veterans, especially those I know and love.....

Algebra and Monkey in the Middle

Josie and a couple of friends chose an interesting mix of activities to keep themselves busy yesterday. 

Activity 1: Monkey in the Middle

Activity 2: Algebra! 

Seriously- they came up with this on their own and played school multiple times! 

All in all a fun day with a couple of fun kids! 

Portrait by Josie

She asked me to sit still for a portrait. 

I'm certain she meant WINNER! 

Fool me once

Josie is becoming a "tween". Or at least that's what she tells me. All. The. Time. 

Apparently part of tweendom is hibernating in one's bedroom and screaming if a parent enters. Josie also assures me that tweens sleep in a lot. She's hadn't quite mastered that skill yet...

So my little "tween" has been insisting that she can't always pick up her toys in a timely manner because:

1. She worked hard to get things set up the right way

2. It's not my stuff so I shouldn't care

And 

3. The mess is in her room and it's HER space 

Needless to say, this logic has not gone over well with Brent and I. We finally put on our big kid undies and got the kahones to set a time limit and prepare to toss anything left out into the garbage. 

Last night when the limit was reached I was shocked to find her room in very good shape. Garbage bag avoided! Proud parent moment! 

Then, tonight, I opened the closet door.....

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice and you're grounded for life! 

6th time is a charm?

Labor Day weekend I somehow broke off a 1.7 x 1.4 cm piece of cartilage/bone. 

Yesterday they went in to fetch it! 

They had to add an extra hole in the back of my knee to get this thing out! 

I didn't get to keep this little nugget but I'm glad to say its gone. Now I'm on a 4-6 week recovery course and hopeful that my knee is back to normal (or at least my kind of normal) soon. 

After 6 surgeries this knee is anything but normal! 

Luckily I have a wonderful family, great group of supportive friends, and cat that likes to snuggle so I'm well taken care of. Oh, and a 20 page paper to write for my Master's class......

I think I'll wait until I'm off the narcotics to get going on that one! 

Deep thoughts

Deep thoughts by Josie

I found her sleeping last night in her graduation gown. Asked her this morning what that was all about. 

"It's comfortable and you don't like it when I sleep naked."

Then she informed me that she had an awesome breakfast planned. I turned around to find 3 pancakes with 2 pieces of a chocolate bar on each pancake. Naturally, I asked what was going on. 

"I had to do it this way- I couldn't find the chocolate chips."

Pots of gold

Children are the rainbow of life.....

Grandparents are the pot of gold! 

Josie is so lucky to have such caring grandparents and great-grandparents!

Her love for life, learning, reading, laughing, gardening, fishing and fun come from them. 

10 years!

Happy 10th Anniversary, Brent! 

You are my friend, my partner in crime, my own personal comedian and a wonderful father. 

I am so proud to call you mine!