Another Soggy Walk

We did the March for Babies yesterday in Minneapolis. Last time we walked in Minneapolis, it was rainy and yesterday we had 43 degrees and raining - not ideal conditions in which to walk, but Fred, my sister Adrea, Jacob and I all braved the elements. Jacob and I were well prepared in our boots, but Fred and Adrea walked most of the way in squishy tennis shoes - yuk! Jacob started out on foot, but we finally wore him down enough so he would ride in the stroller, which was good as we could eliminate the stops on the road to see if there were worms or read street signs.

We encountered an ill-prepared mom with a soaked 2 yr old and dry 6 month old, but both unhappy. We walked with her most of the walk. Adrea pushed her stroller so the mom could carry the baby. The 2 yr old cried the whole say, he was cold and tired - poor kid. Jacob was a trooper though and never complained, even though his pants legs were soaked through, his hair wet, and his hands cold. I think the crying kid with us distracted him or he may have thought of complaining too. They shortened the route so the short loop didn't even go around Lake of the Isle, just along the north shore, so I don't even think it was 3 miles. But it was long enough.

I did think at some point, why were walking in the rain when it really isn't about the walk. But you know, there is possibility for treats along the way and so we went. But there was only one pit stop and they just had apples and oranges. Humph. We were rewarded though by the babysitting team of Grandma and Grandpa Jeske and got to go to Laredo's in St Louis Park for mexican lunch and that was yummy.

The walkers, still dry.

Wet walkers and the babysitters.

Jacob and I with our wet hair after the walk.

March for Babies

We are doing the March for Babies on Sunday here in Minneapolis to raise money for the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes does research to help prevent preemie births, ensure that all babies are born healthy, and increase survival of preemies. Their lung surfactant research really helped Jacob when he was born at 29 weeks with immature lungs. If you want to donate, visit my walk page.

http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/cover-kid/725000051/

Thanks!

I think I have cute kids...

So I entered them in the Parents magazine photo contest, here are the links to their pics.

Gavin:
http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/cover-kid/725000051/

Jacob:
http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/cover-kid-1/725000056/

What we are up to...in pictures.

Right now, Jacob is napping with about 20 or so stuffed animals (or guys as he calls them). Yes, he is sleeping with his eyes half open - just like his mom does.

Jacob and Gavin spend a lot of time running back and forth in the living room. They fall at the one end on their couches, roll around and laugh.

The three of us at the Landscape Arboretum last week. We've really been enjoying the beautiful weather.

Jacob and his friend Kyle at the Arboretum.

Gavin and Avery (Kyle's little sister) at the Arboretum's maze.

Gavin and Jacob, still at the Arboretum.

Jacob and Kyle.

Fred and Gavin.

Gavin shooting hoops, not wanting to be the little guy.

Gavin slamming it in his little hoop.

Jacob shooting it up, he's a good shot.

Gavin on a push and ride toy. He loves to be outside, its no fun having to take him in these days.

Jacob is doing a lot of biking and scooting in front of our house these days. We are waiting for a cement patio to be poured in the back so he has more room to do these things.

My day...

I awake at 4 am with a sharp pain in my ear. This is very disappointing as it is a rare night lately that Gavin doesn't wake up crying about teeth or his cold, who knows? So he finally sleeps and I wake myself up. I get up and google a home remedy for an ear ache, after dropping warm garlic oil into my ear I take some Tylenol and try to get some more sleep. Not very successful.

At 6:20 am Jacob wakes up looking for me, but instead of coming into my bedroom goes into Gavin's and therefore waking him up.

At about 8 we are ready to head to MOPS and Gavin and Jacob are running around the kitchen while I tell Jacob (as usual) to not run so close to Gavin or push him. Well, he runs too close, pushes him over and trips onto him. Gavin ends up with a big egg on his head, just as the bruise from last week is almost gone.

We head to MOPS and soon a sherrif is there because of the alarms that went off earlier that moring, whatever. Gavin will have nothing to do with staying in the childcare room, so no break for me. He hangs out with me with the other moms in the room upstairs while we try to listen to the devotional and do the craft, But the craft is interupted by the fire alarm, someone in Jacob's group has pulled it in the gym, so we all file out until the fire dept arrives. Then its about time to go home.

I head to Eden Prairie to meet Fred so he can watch the kids while someone at Target Clinic looks at my ear, or that is my plan, but the phone reminds me to call in about jury duty. Didn't have to go in at all last week, so I wasn't expecting them to call us in, which of course they did. And I was thinking that I was calling in at 11:30 am to know if I would have to go in the next day, but no. We had to be there at 1 pm. What? So I detour home and Fred has to leave work to come home to watch the kids, because my plan to call mom to come watch the kids for my jury duty does not work into the rediculous 1 and a half hour report time. Arg.

So I get to jury duty and sit around for over an hour waiting for jury selection to begin. We all go into the courtroom for jury selection and I see that the defense attorney is a friend from church. So after being called up and sworn in for the screening process, I am the first to get dismissed.

I come back home and have to battle Gavin to nap as he had a catnap in the car this morning and didn't really want to nap again. But after a half hour or so, I am victorious.

Then I head to Target to find out I do have an ear infection, so now Jacob and I both are on Amoxicillin. He too was diagnosed with his first ear infection yesterday.

Now I am off to dance, I hope I don't fall and break a leg or anything.

The bright point in the day was the weather. Wow! Shot some hoops with Jacob outside as he encouraged me "Let me see that pretty shot!".

Easter Recap

What a beautiful Easter weekend! We enjoyed the nice weather this weekend and lots of time outside including this year's first trip to the park.

Yesterday we hosted Easter at our house with my parents, my sister and my Grandma. Lots of good food, if I do say so myself - egg bake, ham, buns, carmel rolls, fruit parfaits, broccoli salad, cheesy potatoes and orange julius. Kind of nice to be at your own house on a holiday for once.

Jacob and Gavin with their Easter loot.

Jacob finding his last egg after many hints.

Gavin double fisting the eggs.

The cool dudes.

Jacob's modeling pose.

No time...

Just heard out in the backyard as Jacob was helping Fred cut down a tree to make room for a patio off the deck:

Jacob to Gavin, "Gavin, there is no time to play right now, there is work to be done."

Gavin's 15 month appt and a couple pics

I forgot to mention in yesterday's update, that Gavin had his 15 month Dr appt. Right before we left to bring Jacob to school and head to the Dr, Gavin tripped and hit his forehead on the wooden step between our living room and our kitchen. It looks terrible, but luckily we were headed to the Dr and he could detect no fractures or anything. With 2 little boys, I wish my whole house were made of rubber:)

Gavin's 15 month stats:
27 pounds, 13 ounces (87th percentile)
32.5 inches tall (87th percentile)
19.5 inch head (probably an extra .5 inch from the swelling on his bump, 96th percentile)

Gavin's goofy grin - he's eating a orange sherbert push 'em


Jacob and I went on a field trip with our church's COG Tots group to meet baby lambs.

So tired...

Fred has had a cold for about 2 weeks and Jacob and Gavin were pretty sick over the weekend. Jacob worse than Gavin, but with the addition of Gavin's teething it was Gavin whose sleep really was affected and therefore mine and so I am very tired (and writing horrible run on sentences). Jacob would cough so hard that it sounded as though a lung may come out and a couple times it did cause puking. Yuk! They are much better today, but they conitnue to cough - just not as hard. I did consider Jacob well enough to go to school and a birthday party. The party was for his good friend Kyle and I knew that if we didn't go it may just wreck Kyle's day, so cough and all we went.

I had conferences with Jacob's teacher last week. Nothing too interesting to report. She didn't sound too concerned about his lack of fine motor skills and you could see progress from his September attempt at writing his name to his current attempts. She does observe him usually using his left hand, so I really am at a loss at how to help him. Ms. Patti said Jacob is very social, he has a few really good friends, but is getting better at playing with the rest of the kids in his class too. She said he doesn't do much in the science and art stations, but they try to encourage him.

We went up to Melrose for the night on Friday and got our taxes done on Saturday. Got a few bucks back, which is good, but I hate having overpaid taxes. We'll make adjustments to try not to do that again.

Today Fred and I have been married 7 years. Wow! Fred had class tonight, so no big celebration planned. Maybe we'll break out the champagne and chocolates if I'm not too tired by the time he gets home.