Izzy's Haircut and Videos!

This past weekend when we needed to be out of the house for more showings we took the kids in for haircuts. Robert has the process down pat and enjoyed watching Boots (aka Dora) while getting his trimmed. Izzy, being the princess that she is, wasn't as into the process. This was her first haircut and as you can see from the pictures she wasn't too happy to be there. She didn't get much done...just shortened the back to minimize her mullett, which also makes for springier curls, and got some of her baby hairs cut off in hopes that the top will grow out better and faster! She did make it through, despite the tears and pouty lip!

Really mom? You're not going to save me???

A few nights later they are showing off their new hairdos and enjoying playtime!

Izzy had a diaper leak and was put into her pjs early. Unfortunately the feet in the pjs were a little too slippery but once she put her polka-dotted shoes on to match the polka-dotted pjs she was quite happy!

Robert's a Dancing Machine!



Finally!!! We got Izzy's tickle~tickle~tickle on video!!

This picture is from the other night. Eric and I were having a late dinner of soup with crackers while the kids had a snack of cinnamon-sugar toast. Eric and I were busy talking and didn't pay much attention to Robert when he asked for some crackers. A few minutes later I glanced at his plate to see he had copied us by crumbling his crackers on top of his food. So cute!!!

Robert's week with Grandma!

While I was gone in the Bahamas Robert spent most of the time in Red Wing with my mom. He had a great time and got to do lots of fun things. His favorite memories include going to the chipmunk movie, singing at church, pancakes, playing with the Otteson girls who babysat him, and helping Grandma. My mom also enjoyed having him there and was really sad to give him back. We're also not sure if it was the week away, getting spoiled by santa, or just getting a little older but his tantrums have definitely decreased and he is becoming our sweet little boy again. He loves helping, sharing his love with lots of hugs~kisses~giggles, and is even being a nice big brother!!

Here are some pictures from his time in Red Wing!

Tracing/coloring fun! As you can see he still likes to use both his right and left hand to write. His right hand is definitely better though!
Pancakes!!! Made the cereal we give him most mornings not very exciting.

His own tent in the kitchen!

My trip was good as well. The first few days we were there weren't the best due to cold, windy weather and having to train in a pool that didn't have a working heater. Low 70 degree water temps mixed with high 60, but windy, air temps did not make for happy swimmers! Luckily the cold front passed and we moved to a different pool so the rest of the trip was a lot a better. We were on Paradise Island, near the Atlantis resort, and enjoyed walking to the shopping area for gifts and ice cream. I was able to keep in touch with the family through skype. The first time skyping with both kids was hard because they were both very sad and had a hard time understanding why I wasn't with them. Luckily after that they enjoyed seeing me and had lots to share with me. I have to leave again this weekend (Thursday-Saturday) for a meet in Iowa so hopefully that goes okay and that Eric doesn't completely lose his mind. :)

This weekend we celebrated my mom's birthday on Friday with Nick & Tori and had a great time. We all stayed up way too late but had a good time talking and hopefully not scaring Tori too much with stories about our family. On Saturday my mom and Robert came with me to a Wildcat Hockey game and Robert had a lot of fun watching the game and the Zamboni!

And to not leave Izzy out of this post here is a picture of her in her new high chair/booster seat. She is on her 3rd one...she broke the one we used for Robert, could get out of her straps in the new one I bought her a few months ago, and so Eric had enough while I was gone and got her a top end model that should keep her in. She loves it so all is good so far! She is at a fussy stage right now so it wasn't the easiest of weeks on dad. It helped that she didn't have her brother around for most of it to pester her but she now knows what she wants but can't always communicate with us so that she can get it...or when we do figure out what she's asking for and it's something she can't have she doesn't like being told NO. We're hoping this is a quick stage and are happy to see her vocab progressing so that she can tell and/or show us what she needs.

Happy New Year!

Every year at this time I leave with my team for our annual training trip. I still enjoy leaving the cold but it does get harder to leave the kids each year. This year I'll be going to the Bahamas and it should be a great trip and while I'm gone Robert will spend a good portion of the time in Red Wing with my mom. Leaving Eric and Izzy for some father-daughter bonding time...and what I hope for some good blogposts to be put up by Eric.

Before I left I wanted to do a post with some of the pictures that got overlooked, or rather I was too busy with other things to post earlier, so that everyone can enjoy them as much as we do and update you all with our life.

Robert is slowly (and I mean slowly!) coming out of his tantrum phase but is still very independent. He is talking more and more each day and always wants to know where everyone is. Izzy has now become "baby" to him and he refuses to call her by anything else. For the most part he has a love-hate relationship with her. Loves to talk about her when she's not around but hates that she is so mobile and into all of "his" toys. It is a challenge to keep track of who starts which fights and timeouts are becoming more common but hoping this phase doesn't last too long.

Izzy is growing up quite quickly and has become our little princess. She's at that awkward age of wanting to be able to do all her brother is doing but can't quite do it all. She also is trying to communicate with us but with her limited vocabulary this is often a challenge and usually ends in a tantrum...sometimes by her and sometimes by Eric and me! She does have some words she uses that include mama, dada, go, and tickle. She loves tickling people and when she says tickle,tickle,tickle it is honestly the cutest thing you've ever heard. We keep trying to get it on video but being the princess that she is, refuses to do it! While she started talking much earlier her brother she definitely is not as eager to get moving as quickly. She just started walking over the holidays. She's been able to do it for months but was too stubborn to do it, unless it was on the couch, not safe but she thought she was so funny and cute doing it.

Eric and I are both busy with work and finding time for each other and the family is sometimes a challenge but having the last week off and a slow week for Eric allowed for some great bonding and a chance just to relax and enjoy everyone. Our house has had a few offers but for various reasons they fell through on the buyer's end. We think we finally have found a legit buyer and are looking forward to moving closer to work and family in the next few months. Well I should say being closer...the move is not exactly something we're looking forward too!!

Here are the pictures and hope to share more with you once I return!

What is it about oven drawers that is so exciting?!

Her new way of eating! Got to be relaxed around here!
Enjoying his book while his sister is distracted with something else!

Princess throwing a tantrum! Getting along and probably plotting against Eric & I

Reading in Mom & Dad's bed is the best!

Happy New Year Everyone!