*2012 Wrap Up*

Well we made it. Despite the Mayans, despite the terrorists, despite the flu, we made it. December ended up being a VERY busy month for us! Not super surprised, as it always seems to be a busy month, but wow, it is January 1 already.

Here are the highlights from the month (with photos... of course!):

Christmas at the Verdons

Hunter received a Nintendo 3DS, Mario game for it, Legos, and a new Vikings Jersey

Abby received a Bitty Baby crib and crib mobile, matching pajamas with the bitty baby, and a single bitty baby stroller

Christmas with the Lemke's

Sorry... I don't have photos of the Christmas at my sisters house... but we DID have a great time with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Lori... Hunter got a dress up horse, matching pajamas with his bear, and a new truck and trailer. Abby received matching pajamas with her bear, barbie mustang, and new books

Making Christmas Cookies

This was a lot of fun... my favorite part? Abby frosting the bottom of the cookies and then sticking them bottom down on the table... more than once too! By the way, Hunter is convinced that Santa has bad manners, he doesn't eat all of the cookie, he just takes bites. Maybe next year we should leave a message to have Santa eat ALL of the cookie!

 

Christmas Morning

  This was a fun year opening gifts. The kids are older, understand so much more and get very excited about gifts. It was great to see the smiles and hear the excitement.

Hunter got some legos from Santa!

Abby got licorice and a new Ariel doll! (maybe we should get a Little Mermaid movie...)

He sure loves her!

Her "new" face... she does this a lot now!

Her favorite gift was the aqua doodle!

Playing with her new doll crib!

My silly little boy! Loves to make faces and then look at the camera to see what it looks like!

Christmas at the Cooks

We had our first year at Grandpa Dana and Grandma Julie's new house. It was a fun Christmas... other than Hunter and Abby did not feel well. Hunter sat on Dad or Mom's lap the whole night, but besides coughing and a runny nose, nothing was going to slow Abby down! They enjoyed opening gifts, but we did have to leave a bit early due to the crummy feelings of both of them. Hunter got a Bubble Guppies DS game, new Jammies, and the whole collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures! Abby got a baby high chair, dress up shoes and clothes, and new Jammies as well.

 

Looking for trouble...

Oh Man he loved jumping in the wrapping paper pile!

Sick.

And then they were sick... we stayed home almost all weekend (other than the Cook Christmas) to do some R & R on these two. Hunter had cough, runny nose, fever and vomiting. Abby had fever, runny nose and cough. Hunter has an unusually sensitive stomach, so I am not convinced that this is much more than a cold, but there are lots of bad things going around for viruses... so it could have been a lot of things! Good news is, 18 hours of sleep, lots of cuddles, and some of Nana's home made soup and they are both on the mend!

~* Fun with Friends*~

The other night we made last minute plans to hang out with some friends of ours. Jake and Aaron work together, and all of our kids are similar in age. We love to hang out with them and see the kids having a good time. Their third daughter, Eilyn is the same age as Abigail (a few weeks apart). So it is fun to see the girls having a good time together. Hunter loves their middle child, Kaylin, and they were often found running around the halls and playing the leap frog toy together. It is nice when we can get out of the house and enjoy the company of others. I can tell we will all be friends for a long time and will enjoy watching our kids grow up together!

These two just love to play together!

All the pretty girls! *yes... Abby does not have her pants on...

Ring around the rosie was the game of the night!

~So Much To Be Thankful For~

                          What Abby is thankful for


                             What Hunter is thankful for

This Thanksgiving I again reflect on all of the blessings we have in our life. I could list everything (I won't), but I am thankful for it everyday. This year especially I have been thankful for the lessons learned in being joyful for what we have and treasuring everyday to the most possible. I will never know when our lives will change on a dime, but eventually I'm sure that it will and we will have a stronger family to get through it.

I do have to continue to be thankful for the wonderful marriage I have. Jake and I have shared and individual dreams, individual and shared frustrations, and work towards a happier family everyday. We don't have the perfect marriage, I can't say we don't fight, but we can work things out. This relationship gives our lives the platform to move forward with our hopes and dreams. I am so grateful for him.

Thank you for enjoying our lives with us and continuing to follow this blog. I don't write as much as I wish I did, but I hope that looking back I am able to show my kids that our lives that they don't remember were filled with laughter, fun, and challenges that we overcame together.

Looking forward to the holidays and a New Year, I'm sure we will have more stories to share!

~Verdon Kid Debate 2012~ The voters choice

 

He's a little right, she is a little left, and I'm not referring to political parties! 

My friend said she had a dream that there was a debate on, and it was between Hunter and Abigail... which got me to the cute idea of what it would look like to have these two debating right now and what would be said and who would win. Granted, Abigail cannot talk a whole lot yet, so some of the things she may say in this blog, would obviously be implied. 

So here are the topics:  WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET IN TROUBLE, WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON EATING YOUR VEGETABLES, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR STANCE ON EQUALITY

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET IN TROUBLE: 

Hunter- When I get in trouble, the first thing I do is: ------------------------ I never get in trouble! I just know how to make it seem like my reaction is worse than my offense... so really, I manipulate how to get my way...

Abby- When I get in trouble, the first thing I do is: Give my award winning smile, laugh, and do it again. 

WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON EATING YOUR VEGETABLES:

Hunter- If it is green beans, I'm all for it. Green beans are the only vegetable worth growing. Lets use all of that energy of producing other vegetables towards greater good like growing sugar cane.

Abigail- The true question here is whether I feel vegetables or fruit is more superior, which I would have to explain to you after I finish eating my grapes, strawberries, and oranges. 

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR STANCE ON EQUALITY:

Hunter- Well, most of the time I feel all people are equal, except when it comes to sharing my legos, which then makes me believe that not all people can play with them. Does this mean I have to share in order to run for president?

Abigail- I don't mind all things being equal, especially when it is with Hunter. However, some times I think that I am persuasive in arguments which cause me to scream at him. He then makes sure I get equal time playing with something, so I feel it is fair. At least my voice can be heard and I can use my assets to my benefit. 

Have fun at the polls everyone! If you can't make a decision, write in Hunter or Abigail... it might work better anyway!

~The Best of Friends~

I've been told many times about how siblings do not get along, how they end up hating each other most of the time while growing up... so for now, I'm going to enjoy where my kids are at (and HOPE that it won't change!). Hunter and Abby love each other so much and really enjoy being around each other. They are independent enough to leave each other alone but yet, still enjoy doing things together. They share pretty well (Hunter gives into her cries), and she will give up when he is stubborn about giving in. I find it interesting watching the two of them and how much they interact together. I'm sure things will start to change a bit when she is talking more... and I know that is right around the corner! She seems to be SO wanting to say more, but has a hard time coming up with the words. It is a matter of time... and that goes so quickly.

So today, we got home from a trip to Eau Claire, and we all went out to pick our pumpkins since it froze hard last night and killed the plant. We had a great time all together getting the pumpkins on the wagon. I enjoyed getting some time to take photos of my kiddos. They turned out great, and I would be tempted to use them as Christmas photos. The kids love getting their picture taken together, but Abby... oh Abby... she will NOT look at me when I want to take a picture of just her! Most of the time when I get one of just her, all I get is her attitude. But I remember this phase with Hunter, and the more acts like a ham for the camera, the more she will too. He loves getting his picture taken, just so he can look at it. Goof ball!

After we picked our pumpkins, we walked around the yard picking up "Fall things" for Hunter's classroom. This kid gets a lot of homework. Almost every night we have to do something different for the next day. I also have to keep on top of what letter he is learning in school now. This will be difficult just staying ahead of what he needs for each class! Oh well, good thing I'm done with classes now, just in time for him to start! Enjoy this fall weather... I know we are happy for the change of the season, but yet, like every year, where did the time go? In just a few short months, the snow will be falling, the kids will be stuck inside, and we will be enjoying getting ready for the holidays. Stay warm everyone!

***Hunter's First Day of School***

Hunter- First day of pre-k 3

Checking out the little sink!

So I had myself completely convinced that 3k was not really school, that he really was just doing more of a 'playdate' type thing twice a week for a few hours... that was until I saw the entire set up on the first day of school! We went to see the classroom last week Tuesday. We met the teacher, took his picture, talked to the principal, everything a normal student does on the first meet and greet day of the year. Tuesday was a breeze, the kids were fun, we were all smiles. But then, for me, there was Thursday.

Hunter was pretty excited for school. He wasn't overjoyed, but I don't think he really knew what to expect. I was not sure how he was going to take it. For a long time he told me he wasn't going to school this fall, that he would go when he gets older, and then I had to convince him he really was signed up for school. After meeting his teacher on Tuesday, he really relaxed about it all and even at the open house he was pretty casual with having his parents there. He was running up and down the halls and talking to everyone who would look at him (yes, my "I'm shy" boy!). So by the first real day on Thursday, he was humming to himself "Mrs. Canfield, Mrs. Canfield, Mrs. Canfield" on the way out to the car.

We got to drop off and we walked up to the school. We went in the side door, and there it was... it was real. There were kids and tables and worksheets with their names on them, and hooks with his name on it... I helped him with his assigned duties of signing in at the board and answering the question of the day (again, another thing with his OWN name on it... the name I gave him 3 short years ago...). Then he sat down at the table where the sheet had his name, and that was it. He was set, the time was for me to go. I looked at him, he was calm, waiting for the next direction from one of the aids. I told him to have fun, he said ok, and looked back to his work. It hit me like a brick in the throat and I had to get out of the room. Luckily, his friend Ed was there so I could say hi to him and get my mind off the intense feelings I was having! I walked out of the room... thinking to myself that there really wasn't anyone I could talk to after his school day besides for him to find out what happens. I wouldn't know the little details of what he learned, the songs he sung, the friends he made, the toys they played, the little things he will pick up on. I now need to realize that he can do these types of things in the hands of others and that from this point forward a school will be a part of my life with my son. Even if for now it is just two days a week for a few hours...

*Summer Fun*

Wow, this summer sure has flown by! Between parties, and finishing up college, and chasing two kids, we haven't had much time to sit and relax much! We did however get away for a little bit a few weeks ago. Jake and I were hoping to get to Yellowstone this year, but with a job offer coming the week we were planning on possibly going, it just wasn't feasible. But we did the next best thing, we went to the zoo! We were not planning on going on our vacation with the kids, but things worked out perfectly for us to have a mini vacation with them.
We got a reservation at the doubletree in Minneapolis. We spent the first day at Mall of America, the kids rode rides, we went to underwater world (disappointed as always!) And then went back to the hotel to get some swimming in. I was fighting a stomach bug the whole day, so it could have been better for me, but the kids had fun. The next day we spent at the Minnesota zoo from 9-5pm! We were VERY impressed with the renovations that they have done there. Much nicer than it ever has been. We took two tired kids to dinner at which Abby had a melt down and Hunter literally slept the entire time in Jake's arms. It was a long day for them! On our final day of vacation, we just went to the machine shed to eat and then headed home. It was so much fun to take the kids out, however, at this age they are a lot of work to take anywhere let alone on a vacation at a hotel!
I started my new job as Administrator at a Nursing Home in Strum two weeks ago. I am loving it so far, although I'm still in a sharp learning curve and my head is spinning most of the time when I go home!
We are planning on enjoying the rest of the summer that mother nature will give us and hoping that we can continue to play outside in the evenings for a while longer. We are also getting excited as we are now in the real planning stages of our house that will be built in a year. Hunter states that it is to be a red house. Today he was curious if it would have a roof. Very cute talking to him about it!
Until next time!