Snow Day 11.23.10

There's nothin like the rosy cheecks of a little one having come in after an afternoon in the snow and sun. Now it's time for hot, er, warm chocolate. :o)

What a wonderful week!! We get back from Great Wolf Lodge. I go to work for one day. Then end up having six days off because we had a snow storm come through our area. Woohoo!!! Last winter we had basically no snow so what a treat to wake up to a winter wonderland in our backyard. So, after some breakfast we bundled up and headed out for a day of fun. It was just one of those awesome winter days when there's snow on the ground, the sun in the sky, and absolutely nothing on our plate! Then our good friends Kara and Jonathan invited us over for a dinner and a playdate. I said no at first on account of how much I hate driving in the snow, so those lovely little kids came and got us and then brought us home after. Life is good in the snow with great friends.

The Great Wolf Lodge Part I 11.20.10

Just one of the cool features of the water park.
Monica kept an eye on Logan for me while I went to the car to get all our stuff. When I came back she had coaxed him into the wave pool. Thanks Mon! :o)

Riley

Brady

Logan

Darrick and Anne had been talking about checking out the amazing waterpark called Great Wolf Lodge. Well, we all got to talking about it and thought what a great Harem event that would be. Monica and Jason had even been before and were able to get us a really good deal. So, after much planning and figuring of details, we got our rooms booked, arranged for doggy care, and all caravaned down to the park. As we were heade down we made a quick trip into Cabella's. I had never been to one before and let me tell you, it's quite the place. Logan was enthralled with the stuffed animals everywhere (and I don't mean like cute little stuffed animals that go on your bed, we're talking about taxidermy hear people) and the aquarium. I even let me use the "shooting range" where he got to "shoot" at tin cans and plates and such. Then it was off to the Lodge. I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I wanted, none of the outside and it's quite a site to see. Huge carved wolves stand as columns as you pull up and the place it's self is like the biggest log cabin you've ever seen. We checked in and headed right into the waterpark. I realized it was going to be really hard to get pictures in there as it's like a great big sauna so my camera was constantly fogging up and then those darn little kids kept moving around on me. But man, it's a fantastic park. I honestly wasn't sure how Logan was going to do as water is not his most favorite thing and he definitely does not like getting splashed. But, after a slow start and a lot of walking around checking the place out, he really started to have fun with it. He didn't go down any slides, but he really warmed up to the wave pool and even went up to his chest in the water. And in the kiddie pool he trusted himself and others around him enough to lay down in the water and try swimming. He also let me carry him into a bigger kid pool where I held him so he could shoot some baskets with the basketball. I was ever so proud of him. I saw him grow so much this weekend. Life is good when your son grows up before your very eyes. :o)

The Great Wolf Lodge Part II 11.21.10

The lights that lined the hallways all had different animal covers on them. It made for a very cool look.
Saturday night we ordered some pizza and the kids all gathered round to eat up. They were all pretty hungry after playing in the water for hours and hours.

The next morning we packed up and headed down to enjoy the water park for a few more hours before we had to go. Here Sophia, me, Anne, Monica, and Julie are ready for another day of fun.

The boys had to get their picture taken as well, but of course it wasn't just nice, sweet smiles from this tough group...Matt, Riley, Darrick, Tommy, Brady, Charlie, and Logan...I wouldn't mess with this lot. ;o) Well, except maybe Charlie.

The Harem kids from oldest to youngest...Tommy (9), Maya (6), Riley (6), Brady (5), Sophia (5), Logan (5), Clark (3), and Charlie (3).


That evening after a long day of playing in the water park, we all headed back up to our rooms to change and get some grub. Jason B. and Matt ran down to a local pizzaria and picked up a bunch of pizzas while the rest of us got beverages and such ready. We set up a kids room and a grown-ups room. The kids were all still bouncing off the walls a bit, but once the pizza arrived they all quieted down right quick and ate their dinner, drank their Capri-Suns, and had pudding for dessert. I figured we were done for the day, but it was only about 7:00pm. So, Matt, Darrick, Jason, Monica, and I headed back down to the water park while Julie and Anne stayed with the kids and Jason A. took care of Gina as she had come down with a horrible migrain. I have to say a huge thank you to Anne and Julie as it was so nice to be able to go on some of the bigger waterslides and not worry about Logan. The hour and a half we were down there went really quickly. Then we swung by the arcade for a bit of gaming before calling it a night. And it was only 9:30 when we returned to our rooms. All the kiddos were out cold. The next morning it was coffee {there's a Starbucks in the lobby :o)}, mimosas, and cereal before we packed up and headed down for more fun in the water park. It was one of our best events yet and I hope to go back again and again. Life is good with a Harem like ours.

PillowPet 11.1.10

One of the gifts I gave Logan this year for his birthday was a turtle PillowPet. You see he had been asking for a dolphin PillowPet for a while and I was under the impression that you could only get them online or from a PillowPet vendor in the mall. So, I jumped online to order one and sure enough they were sold out of the dolphin. So, step two I send my lovely TA Karissa down to the closest mall over the weekend to get this special pet. Unfortunately, she was unable to get a dolphin because they were also sold out, so she got a turtle instead and it was most expensive than the price I was quoted. I wasn't too happy, but what are you gonna do. I figured if he really didn't like it, we'd take it back. But, lo and behold, he couldn't have been happier and has since slept with it every night. And I have to say, they really are quite soft. (And I won't focus on the fact that the day after I gave it to Logan I was at Target, about ten minutes from my house where I found none other than a dolphin PillowPet and it was about ten dollars cheaper than what I spent. Oh balls!) Life is good with a cozy pet....even if it didn't turn out quite the way I had originally planned.

Happy Halloween 10.31.10

As Logan and I were waiting for Karen and the boys to meet us, he started playing around with his Wolverine mask. Ah, my boy. You bring me such joy. :o) I simply love your sense of humor.
Logan and Gigi.

We were able to take some pictures by these great trees outside of Grandma Claire's place. I love the fall leaves on the ground.

When we got to Jack and Elsie's we were happy to see our friends, Phoebe, Everett, and Simon there as well. I grew up with their dad and their mom is Logan's daycare provider's (Mari) sister. Such a small world.

Logan as Wolverine. Craig as Captain America. Shane as Luigi. Such fantastic costumes with great colors this year.

Happy Halloween everyone! Logan and I started our day by meeting Karen, Craig, and Brett at a local church where they do a "Trunk or Treat" extravaganza. Everyone who wants to makes a big circle with the trunks of their cars and decorates them in any and every fashion. It was a wonderful way to start our Halloween and I'm so grateful for everyone who took so much time and effort to dec their trunks out. I was really quite impressed with all the decorations. And how great was it that they seemed to be having just as much fun, if not more, than all the kids. Logan sure got a kick out of it. From there it was off to Grandma Claire's, then to Elsie and Jack's, then to my parents, and finally to Mick and Cheryl's. It was a very fun evening. I simply love Halloween. Life is good when you're haunted!!! :o)

School Halloween Party 10.30.10

Superheroes ready for action.
Brave boys reaching their hands into a haunted house for a prize.

Logan fishing for a treat.

Karen and her boys.

Me and my super boy. (Oh, and Starbucks of course.) :o)

This evening Logan and I joined up with Karen and Craig and Brett to go to what will hopefully be Logan's school next year. Every year they host a terribly terrific Halloween party for the kids. There are games and prizes and food and fun and a haunted house. The boys were very excited to get in their costumes and show off their super hero skills. Logan had a blast playing all the games. We even ventured into the haunted house. I wasn't sure if Logan would be up for it, but he was very excited, until the end when "a ghost" grabbed his ankle and that pretty much freaked him out for good. They also had a haunted Scooby-Doo bus, but once we got in it and he heard Karen give a little scream, he was outta there! Next year we'll try again. It was a great evening and the boys walked away with loads of goodies in their buckets. A big thank you to all the volunteers and kids who put in so much time and work to put together such a fun evening for everyone. Life is good.

The Big 5 10.29.10

Dear Logan,

How is it possible that you are already 5? They say time flies when you're having fun, and baby, that's got to be what's happening. Raising you has been by far the most fun, most challenging, most rewarding experience of my life. You make me so proud every day with your kindness, your huge heart, and your love of life. This year you have become such an independent little boy. I hear, "I can do it." all the time now and while this makes me very proud, I find that a little part of me misses the little boy that you were and how you needed me more. Umm, some stats about you right now...you are 3 feet 8 inches tall. You weigh 37 pounds. You're right between sizes 4T and 5T with size 12 shoes. I wish I could report that there have been great strides in what you're willing to eat, unfortunately that is simply not the case. I fear we're getting to a point where I'll have to lay down the law and really get strict with you on what you're trying. (maybe in the new year) :0) You're in your second year of preschool and loving every minute of it. Every morning as we drive to daycare, you look over and proclaim with such pride, "There's my school!" You're writing your name like a pro and learning your letters more and more each day. You're an awfully kind boy telling me all the time how much you love me and showering Norman with hugs and kisses at every chance you get. Your latest thing that just brings me joy is as we're walking out the door, you will pause and gesture with your hand and say, "After you Momma." What a little gentleman. When asked who your best friends are, you say Craig, Pierce, Luke, Brody, and Shaneo. You're down to taking naps maybe twice a week. Overall Logan, you are simply the best little boy I could have ever asked for and I know with all my heart that God shined down on me with such blessings the day you were born. I've loved the last five years and am so excited to see what you have in store for me next. I love you Logan. Happy Birthday my little man.

Love, Momma