Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Grant turns 1

This past week has been quite busy with lots of celebrating. Tuesday evening Nate and I were able to go out for a nice dinner at Fogo de Chao with a couple of friends.  We got a sitter for the kids (a rare thing since it's not cheap) and went out with our friends Brian and Marissa.  We used our 6 year wedding anniversary as an excuse to go out.  I was working a 12 hr shift on our actual anniversary.  We had a great time and enjoyed some good food. 

Wednesday Grant turned 1.  I'm not going to lie, it was kind of an emotional day for me.  I'm excited to see him and grow and learn new things every day.  On the other hand, he's my baby and I can't believe that it's already been a year since he made our family complete.  The time is flying by, and although I know I'm being a bit dramatic, I feel like I'm going to blink my eyes and they'll be in high school.  So, for now I'll enjoy the snuggles, the "I love you's", the bedtime stories, playing catch, tea parties, the walks to the park, and oh so many things that bring joy to my daily life.  Nate and I are so blessed to have the family that we do.  We have so very much to be grateful for.

Nate and I both had Friday off work.  We ran errands all day long while the kids were at daycare.  Friday evening our company started to arrive.  Aunt Lori and Dave came for dinner and to help carve pumpkins.  Dave saved the day when he used his mad pumpkin carving skills to salvage a pumpkin that was not looking exactly as we had planned.  We had a great time with them and were so happy that they were able to come and spend some time with us.  We were especially happy since Grant was a bit overwhelmed on Saturday and wanted nothing to do with anybody except for me.  Around 10:00 Aunt Lisa, Uncle Brent, and their crew arrived.  Finally, after dealing with a blown out tire at 11 pm, Grandma and Grandpa arrived around 1:45 am after dropped Grandma Great off at her hotel. 

Saturday morning was a big day.  Not only did we have Grant's birthday party, but the Gophers won their football game.  Grandpa, Brent, and Daddy went to the game while all of us girls (as well as Zack and Reece) stayed back to get ready for the party.  It was a bit of a chaotic morning with going to get a new tire and running a few errands.  It didn't help that Grant cried unless I was carrying him with me.  Thankfully Ali volunteered to decorate 2 of Grant's 3 cakes (the 3rd one I ordered).  She did such an amazing job!  Grandma Great, Great Grandma, & Aunt Darlene joined us for lunch, and everybody else came around 4:30 for the party.  Other than Grant not wanting anything to do with anybody else besides me, I think the party was a success.  :)

This week will also be full of festivities.  Ava has a Halloween party at preschool tomorrow, and we'll go trick or treating on Thursday.  Friday we have rehearsal/dinner, and Saturday we get to help Uncle Wes and Aunt Janna celebrate their wedding day! 



Some of my favorite pictures from our photo shoot for Grant's 1 yr pictures/family pictures (taken by Angela Courtney Photography)






Grant has now outgrown his monthly pictures.  He is more interested in moving and eating the sign than anything else. 

Grant celebrated his birthday with his first (mini) cupcake

Pumpkin carving
Our high maintenance daughter refused to pull the guts out of the pumpkin
Grant just wanted to eat it (surprise, surprise)
Ali decorated the Gopher football helmet and Grant's "1" smash cake.  Very impressive!
Grant started by picking each little yellow dot off.  He finally got into it and didn't want to stop...
he even went digging in his trough for any accidental droppings
After the cake it was straight to the bath to get clean
Ava made sure to put Trusty her horse in the barn (her closet) at bedtime.  She also made sure he was covered up so he didn't get cold.  She cracks me up.

Ava riding Trusty.  Grandma brought Trusty up and gave her to Ava Saturday morning.  That child rode Trusty ALL weekend. 
When not riding Trusty, Ava took a ride on Uncle Brent with cousin Reece

Sunday, October 13, 2013

A great weekend!!!

We had a good week, followed up with a fabulous weekend. We could not have asked for nicer weather today, and we can't really complain about the weather yesterday. We were able to spend a lot of time outside together, which was great.  Sorry for the large amount of pictures, but I figured that nobody would mind looking at them. 

This week was a big week for Ava at preschool.  As I mentioned before, Monday not only pink day (her favorite color), but they also had a doughnut party.  Then on Wednesday it was her day to bring snack.  She was very excited about the pudding cups and vanilla wafers.  :)

Thursday we had ECFE ("special class").  I was worried that Grant would throw a fit when I left for the separation part.  He made it through the whole thing, which I was very grateful for and I got to enjoy the discussion with the other moms.  It was just me and the kiddos for most of the day/evening.  Daddy worked in St. Cloud that day so that he could participate in the 5K run that was put on by his company.  He ran the whole thing and made good time.  Good job Daddy!

Friday evening our friend Erin came from IA for a sleep over.  It was so nice to get to see her!  As always, it seemed like she wasn't here long enough.  She joined us at the zoo Saturday morning and then had to leave.  Thanks for coming Erin, can't wait to see you again!

As I said, we headed to the zoo Saturday morning.  They were having their fall festival there with some special activities for the kids.  Ava enjoyed the face painting the most.  Grant pretty much slept the whole time that we were there.  Pictures are below.

This morning we got up and headed out the door right after breakfast.  For the past two years we have taken Ava to Emma Krumbees in Belle Plaine.  It takes us about 50 minutes to get there.  Are there other orchards and pumpkin patches closer to us?  Absolutely!  However, I'm kind of attached to this one since Ava has been going there for the past two years and we have made some great memories there.  So, we got there at 9:00 this morning, and then realized that they don't open until 10:00...oops!  Thankfully the orchard was open already.  So, Ava and Grant enjoyed a muffin and then we all headed out to the orchard to pick our apples.  Mema and Boppa met us down there, which was nice since they have been there the other two years as well. 

After picking our apples at the orchard Ava finally got to ride the ponies.  She has been waiting for this for so long.  She loves horses (hence why she wants to be a cowgirl not only for halloween, but when she grows up as well).  She got to ride on "Buddy" and thought it was great.  We then went inside and enjoyed the train, playground, goats, etc.  We had a nice little picnic for lunch, played on a playground, picked out our pumpkins, and headed home.  Ava also found a gourd that she believes is a microphone.  She kept singing "I Rock" into the gourd.  The lady at the store was laughing and loved it so much that she told Ava she could bring it home for free.  Ava was very grateful!

Since the kids slept in the car on the way home they had no interest in taking a nap once we were home.  So we decided to take a walk to Target.  We brought the double stroller even though Ava said she wanted to ride her bike.  It's about a 1/2 mile to Target.  She rode all the way there and then halfway around the lake (a little more than a mile total) before she finally got in the stroller.  I was amazed that she made it that far.  It was such a beautiful day, and I'm so grateful that we were able to enjoy it together as a family outside!

Nate and I both have tomorrow off work so Daddy gets to take Ava to preschool and pick her up for the first time.  They may even do a little lunch date afterwards.  I then get to go and get my hair done.  What a treat!  We then have Grant's 1 year pictures and our family pictures on Thursday.  I'm hoping that the extended forecast is correct with sun and mid 50's.  I really want some outdoor pictures!

I hope that you were able to get outside and enjoy a beautiful weekend!   
My little man, happy as can be on Friday

Ava & Daddy at the farm
Ava getting her face painted
She loved it, and it actually stayed on her face rather than getting smeared everywhere
Grant was not impressed with the fall festival at the zoo
If I had a dollar for every picture I have of Ava on the wolf I would be rich.  Every time we pass by it she insists on getting her picture taken on it.
Grant decided on Saturday to start taking some real steps.  He's now pushing this stroller everywhere around the house. 

The pumpkin patch/apple orchard


Picking apples


Grant somehow was able to dig into this apple.  This kid eats anything and everything
Ava riding "Buddy"
Going on our train ride


What do you think the chances of anybody buying them are?  They don't look very tame!



Sunday, October 6, 2013

Vomit, diarrhea, bloody nose, hives...what's next?

What a week it's been here at the Veldman residence. If I were you, I wouldn't get to close. In the past week we've had the Ava's vomit episode (thankfully a one time deal), diarrhea from both kids (which I think has finally subsided today), blood noses from Ava on Tuesday, and now hives.  On Thursday Ava's face and arms had hives on them before bed.  She didn't eat anything new so I wasn't sure what was going on.  Needless to say, I was up almost on the hour to go and check on her to make sure that her airway wasn't closing up from hives (obviously she was fine).  The hives went away on their own and were completely gone by Friday morning when she woke up.  I then get a phone call from Cyndi Friday mid-morning saying that Ava's face and hands/wrists are covered with hives.  I called our pediatrician and she said it's probably caused by a virus and to just give her benadryl every 6 hours.  Well by the time that Cyndi got home with the kids the hives were gone.  They made another appearance Saturday around noon, and then a few popped up again this afternoon.  I'm hoping she doesn't get them again tomorrow for preschool.  I would hate for them to kick her out on "pink day, doughnut party day, and her share day".  Big day at preschool I'd say.  :)

In spite of all the ailments going through this house, we had a good weekend.  Nate was gone this weekend, drinking his way through Chicago with his brother and friends for Wes's bachelor party.  So it was the kids and me.  Ava and I got some extra snuggle time during Grant's naps which I loved.  We also go to go to Janna's bridal shower on Saturday.  It was great to see everybody.  Unfortunately Grant isn't quite the social butterfly that Ava was at his age.  He clung to me most of the time.  Hopefully this is a short stage!

Nate got home this afternoon.  Unfortunately it was rainy and cold out so we didn't get to spend anytime outside after naptime.  It was nice to have everybody home again.  Hope that you all had a great weekend!
Saturday morning was definitely a robe and fireplace kind of morning.  Ava (and Teddy of course) snuggled into mommy and daddy's bed for some cartoons before breakfast. 
Happy, especially when he's eating
Our little photographer Ava took this picture of Grant on my phone.  She is obsessed with taking pictures.
At the bridal shower
Aunt Carolyn getting an upper body workout holding Grant
Nana had her hands full with these two little monkeys