Dirt Bike

I think I told everyone that Gates really, really wanted a dirt bike for Christmas.. A real dirt bike, not battery operated, a real vroom vroom dirt bike. Well, he did't get it, so he has decided to settle for the next best thing.... Gunnar's motor scooter for her American Girl Dolls:) This kid is just too funny. No wonder everyone says I don't look 37, it's because I'm always laughing!!!!!!

PICTURES FINALLY!!!!!

Thought I would just throw a couple of pictures up from past post that I was unable to publish due to camera issues....






Rock climbing....




Marbles Museum....

Blame it on the Rain.....

Well it's not actually raining, but my kids don't know the difference, apparently...





So tonight I was cleaning up dinner dishes and Todd had the kids in the shower and Gates came running down stairs asking for an umbrella. Initially I said no way!! Then I thought for a moment, why? What was wrong with letting my kids play in the rain---SHOWER! Not a darn thing;) So out Gates went to grab his spider man umbrella. I ran up quickly behind him and snapped a few pictures. Moments like these don't come often so you have to grab them while you can, because tomorrow I'm gonna turn around and find my kids all grown up. These are the moments that you remember forever..... Two sweet little kids, playing in the shower with an umbrella, giggling, then fighting on who gets to hold the thing, then bursting out in laughter as they realize I'm snapping a pic...

First in Fitness

Let me brag just a bit..... We found out that Gunnar made the First In Fitness team!!! Apparently a few kids from each grade get selected to compete for our school in several events. Gunnar had the most pull ups for third grade girls, so now she will get to go compete county wide!!!! Pretty awesome if you ask me. She will begin training in two weeks and then on March 12th, she will go to North Raleigh to compete. We are super excited for her. What great athletes we have produced in this house!!!!(: Let's just hope they can keep up the good work and their interest in these activities.

Back To School

After 5 long weeks out of school Gunnar tracked back in last Thursday.. She was NOT excited. She tried every excuse the night before of why I should let her stay home just one more day. Once she was up and moving, she seemed ok. A few tears were shed, by her, oh and me. It's hard to send them back to school when you've enjoyed your time together.

After school, she came in and said it was the same old thing as before... BORING!! She did enjoy seeing some friends she had missed. Honestly, I think she likes being back on a schedule too. It will take a few days of adjusting, but we will all survive and be better for it in the end. Track out again in April, who knows what those 3 weeks will bring...

Birthday Girl

Well, I just celebrated yet another birthday... I thought they were suppose to stop once you reached 30. Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature, I'm past that age now, because the birthdays just keep on coming. I guess I would rather be here celebrating them than not here at all tho;) My sweet hubby got me a group gift, well kind of.. He got Gunnar and I a day at the SPA!!! I can't wait to use the gift certificate. We were going to use it before she tracked back in to school, but decided we would wait til next track out because it will be warmer and we will be able to show off our manicures and pedicures.

Today was a nice relaxing day... hmmm did I just say that?? Todd took Gates to the NC State basketball game and Gunnar and I cleaned her room!!! We totally rearranged her room and scrubbed it from top to bottom. Back to the word RELAXING---NOT!!!! I worked my buns off as she reminisced through all her belongings. Of course she had to tell me every detail of every little thing she picked up, why I couldn't throw this away, or that away.. Does that sound familiar, mom and dad??? I think I use to keep everything! I can remember having straw paper from a first date. I did finally toss that stuff, but at the time it had such memories. Todd and I have been together for I think 15/16 years now and I still have my fortune from the cookie at Wongs Palace, which was our first date. Keeping those things just make me smile. It brings the memories flooding back and reminds me why I like him soooo much, because there are those days I want to wring his neck!!

So I'm older, but my life is awesome... I'm just gonna keep making memories and keeping my little treasures...straw paper, movie tickets, gum wrappers etc... if that's all it takes to make me smile, why not stash them away....

NC STATE VS RUTGERS

We hosted Rutgers University on January 15th in our first meet of the season.... It started off a little shaky but we ended with a fantastic overall score. The best NC State has ever had in 30 years of competing. What does that tell ya???? My hubby must be doing something right in the recruiting department:) This was also a weekend of celebration for Todd's boss Mark. He has been coaching at NC State for 30 years now... WOW, that's a lot of coaching. Many Alumni from the team came to help celebrate the occasion. After the meet we went to the Sheraton (kid free) for a reception to honor Mark. It was really nice to chat and catch up with some of the past gymnast. Congratulations to Mark for all of his years and dedication to NC State Gymnastics.

Skating Update

Well, everyone survived!!!! Todd said the kids did great! Not that I'm surprised by that. Gunnar and Bailey love to skate, so there was no question about them. Gates the dare devil was apparently determined to do it all alone. He is quite the little athlete. Todd didn't even have to put skates on this time, which normally we do. Most of the time we go out with Gates, and hold his hand, or completely hold him up til he gets the hang of it. Not this time though. Gunnar and Bailey took him under their wing and helped him out. Todd said they were wonderful with him. Gates came home roaring with excitement about how much fun he had. The girls were pooped so the mission was accomplished!!!!

Sunday Sunday

Happy Sunday!!! I'm enjoying a nice quiet day at home while Todd has the kiddos out to skate. He took Gunnar, Gates and Bailey(a friend of Gunnars) skating at Jelly Beans. What a good dad he is! The girls came down and ask me to go and I said "No Way". I was tired after being out a little late Saturday night, baby shower then out for dinner with some friends... Anyway, I have to work tonight and I need to lay low, so Todd being the good dad he is jumped out of bed, threw some clothes on and out the door he went with all the kids in tow. I will update later on how everyone did at the skating rink. Maybe I will even have some pictures to include. Todd is usually pretty good about taking pics....

Track Out

Gunnar doesn't go back to school til the 21st of January. She's tracked out and enjoying every minute of it. We are trying to find lots of fun stuff to occupy our time. I think we've seen almost every movie thats out, (Princess and the Frog, Chipmunks, Blind Side, Fantastic Mr. Fox)we've been to Bounce U--which is a great inflatable bounce house just down the road. While my mom was here we went to Marbles Kids Museum--it was a MAD house!!!! It isn't usually so busy but I think everyone had the same idea as us that day. It was still fun tho. In the coming week and a half we are planning to Ice skate and Roller skate and who knows what else we will get into. Gunnar is still going to jump rope and swim practice several days a week. She has a jump rope show next Friday for some preschools. That should be fun. Then as I said in my last post, we have our first gymnastics meet Friday the 15th.. I can tell Todd is getting a little nervous, but he is definately ready for the season to get under way!!!! Until next time...

It's 2010

Christmas has come and gone and a New Year is here.... So hard to believe. We had a wonderful holiday season. Todds family came for a night a few days before Christmas. I was working for half a shift, but the minute we woke up the kids were dying to get started opening their gifts!!! Gates was most excited about his racing dirt bikes--AGHHHHH, they now zoom all around my house. Gunnar of course loved all her artsy stuff--such a girlie girl. Christmas Eve, we went to church with some friends in the neighborhood, then out for our traditional Mexican Fiesta... Yes, Mexican.. Todd and I started this tradition when we lived in Massachusetts??? No idea why, maybe because they were the only restraunt open on Christmas Eve, anyway, we've stuck to it and we like it;) We included our friends in on this tradition this year too, they thought it was a little crazy, but seem to enjoy it as much as we did. After dinner it was back home to wait for Santa. Thankfully both kids were on the GOOD list! Christmas morning is always so much fun. My kids are amazing!!! They slept til 8:30 then dashed out of bed to find that Santa had been there. Todd and I jumped up and headed down stairs to see if we too had been good;0) Apparently Todd was pretty good as Santa left him a new bike---that was a hoot. He was totally not expecting it--his jaw hit the floor. I love those kinds of surprises. The kids got so much stuff I can't even remember, they loved everything, and had a great morning playing and spending time together. I worked Christmas night, yup, that's right, had to work--I guess someone has to do it. Honestly it wasn't too bad. I was at work with some good company. My mom came on the 26th. The kids were anxiously awaiting her arrival, as they knew that meant more PRESENTS!!!! How much more can two kids get? Mom brought Mario Kart for the Wii and Guitar Hero, that kept us all entertained for days and still is. Mom, Gunnar and I enjoyed a girlie day, getting our nails done, shopping and then dinner at the Melting Pot. Yummo!! It was a great night. Mom and Gunnar had never been there, so I stepped in as the expert--NOT. We ate wwwwwaaaayyyy to much. We all would have been happy with just the Chocolate. Mom left on New Years Eve and we headed to a neighorhood party. We rung in the New Year with friends and the kiddos. New Years Day it was off to another neighbors house for more festivites. The Rose Bowl--yes, and now The Ohio State University holds the title. We were all dressed in our Scarlet and Gray, and we were cheering for them all the way!!!!! So as you can see we have been busy, busy, busy..... WE are still looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my dad in a few weeks..... Next weekend is our first gymnastics meet of the season and ugh, my b-day... 37 where has the time gone. I still feel 20!!! Now that I've gotten everyone caught up with our life I will check out for now, but look for more updates.. I'm planning on doing a good job this year....

Where has the Time Gone???

So my last few post have been pictureless;( for some reason I'm having difficulty getting my camera to download.. I am working on it. I've actually had these post written for some time but wanted to include pictures. I realized that was going to take forever so I decided to go ahead and post them anyway. Pictures just say it all, they seem to make the story and I love to include them. Sorry;( I will get it fixed so you can share in the joys of my life......