Introducing... #3!

Well, here is the newest addition to our family! I had an early ultrasound today to determine my actual due date. We weren't too far off with the original due date of Feb. 27th. Today the ultrasound read March 3rd. I went 3 days early with Hudsen (and at 9 lbs. 6 oz and 21 1/2 inches long...I would have been happy with 3 weeks early!) so this one could end up being a Feb. baby after all. It was fun to go today and see him/her and hear the heartbeat. Even the third time is exciting! Not quite like the first, but still fun! If I could find out the gender today, I would! I am just dying to know. I used to be one of those moms that didn't want to know. But, I have experienced both ways and I do love knowing! That must be the planner in me! :)

Sioux Falls

A few weeks ago we had a family wedding in Sioux Falls. Jeremy's cousin, Janelle got married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at a park. They had a perfect evening weather-wise and the wedding was real SHORT! Our boys didn't even have time to get naughty! We stayed overnight at a nice hotel with a small waterpark. We all had a blast! We liked it so much we have made plans to go back there for Christmas instead of going to Wagner. Funny how traditions change and new ones are made. Seems like that is the way it goes...

Hudsen and I before the wedding

The gang

Kaden, Easton and Sonja

Cute flowergirls, Reagan and Lauren

Amazing! A picture of the four of us!

Griffin loves to stop and smell the flowers!

Jess, Griffin and Kelly (see what Griffin is doing? That is what he does when he gets tired! He usually pulls at his own hair, but his mommy's was more fun to pull! He is so darn cute!)

Griffin loves his Bompa Horner

Jeremy and Huddy in the "hot pool"

Fourth of July at the lake

LIFE IS BETTER AT THE LAKE!

This is one of my favorite memories from my childhood...the ice cream truck! This is the same lady that drove the truck (and the same truck!) when I was little. She is still at it, now her grandkids help her. The Sanderson kids and us always had "radar" for the little songs her truck sang while driving down the road. Can't resist a "Crazy Kate"....yummy!

Grandma and Huddy on the North Shore!

LOVE this picture! We had so much fun that day!

"Sharks in the ocean, not in the lake. Sharks in the ocean, not in the lake. No sharks here, no sharks here!"

Hudsen liked the sand.

Sometimes we all need a little downtime at the lake.

Hello? Hudsen looked at me after I took this picture and said, "Mommy you're silly"

Naps are always better at the lake.

Tired boys with Grandpa

Tired boys and Grandma!

Goodbye Grandpa

After a long week back in Iowa, we are finally home. It was a very bittersweet week. Grandma Blum came to Rochester last Tuesday the 1st and stayed overnight with us. Then, Wednesday we woke up early and took off for the lake. The boys rode well and we finally made it to the lake at 2:00 after many stops in Estherville! On Thursday a .m. Grandpa watched the boys while my mom, and family friends (and lake neighbors!) Kathy and Carol and I went to some garage sales. It was a blast! I picked up 40 dollars worth at one garage sale just for the boys. Toys, clothes, etc. They had so much fun when we got back playing with all their new "treasures"! Kaden has so much fun there. He met some little kids two houses down that kept him entertained for most of the week! So, for the bittersweet part...Jeremy's grandfather became very ill with pneumonia and was sent to the hospital. He had been in the nursing home after a few months of living with Jeremy's parents. He lived with macular degeneration and then in Feb. '08 was diagnosed with Lou Gherig's Disease (ALS) at the age of 89. He was dealt quite a hand, but through it all he seemed to keep his spirits up. Jeremy's dad is a superhero. What a son! If my boys grow up to be like Ken, I will be the happiest woman alive. What an inspiration and also such a good example for my boys. Ken took care of grandpa better than he took care of himself at times. When grandpa lived alone after grandma died in Sept. '06, Ken would call him EVERY night and talk to him before he went to bed. Then, when he went into the nursing home this past spring, Ken would go every day at least 3 times to see grandpa. Another neat thing is that grandpa was in the room right next to my Grandma Blum and he would visit her also. It was such a comfort to me to know that Ken was there to not only see grandpa, but also my grandma! Anyway, Grandpa got real sick and was sent to the hospital. He had a choice to treat his pneumonia or to make him comfortable. He was ready to "go and see Dorothy in heaven." So, that he did. Saturday, July 5th, 2008 grandpa got his wish. I like to believe he is up there with grandma dancing, playing cards, playing his harmonica for her and just telling her all about what she has missed for the last few years. That is what we told the boys. I'm not sure how much they understand (especially Hudsen), but I am so thankful that they got as many years as they did with him.

PEACE!

I finally talked Jeremy into getting a dual-dvd player for the truck. Our boys aren't the best riders at times (what kids are?), so on a recent trip to SuperTarget, we picked them up on sale. I LOVE THEM. I am so envious of those people that have them built into the back of their vans/trucks (you know who you are!). I always say that is why I want those cool new vans with the satellite tv in the back. How cool is that? Anyway, we got them hooked up and strapped to the back of the headrests and then put a Spongebob DVD in. HEAVEN. Jeremy and I actually got to finish a conversation for the first time in 6 1/2 years! Yesterday on the way back from berry picking, I turned them on and they were quiet for the ride home. Ahhh....

Potty Training....Ugh!

We are in the process of potty training Huddy. He isn't as easy as Kaden was (four days...start to finish!). So much for everyone telling me that the 2nd is easier since they watch their older sibling do it! Yeah right! We have had our ups and downs, but for the most part he is getting it!
I told him a few weeks ago that we are not buying any more diapers. It is nice to not have to buy those anymore! When he goes in the potty, we give him "potty candy" and say "we are so proud of you Hudsen". Sometimes he'll sit in there for an hour. I just go on my merry little way and pick up, put laundry away, etc. upstairs while he is doing his thing! Finally, he'll start screaming, "I went in the potty" and then says "you are so proud of me!" It is extremely cute!

Hudsen spends a lot of time in this spot! (I know he will kill me for taking these pictures someday!)

Strawberry picking at Sterling Berry Farm

My "little" boy (notice to Kaden's right there are grapes...we will go back to pick them in Sept.!)

Walking down to the strawberry field

Hudsen Lee (notice the small lake behind him, their property is really beautiful)

He was a good "picker"!

So intense!

All smiles! Hudsen said to me, "Mommy, you are a good picker" :)

Happy boy!

Kaden did a GREAT job "berry hunting!" A fun morning!

Yesterday we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and go strawberry picking. There is a berry farm about a mile or so from our house. We went there last year to pick raspberries with our friends Kayla, Autumn, and Alec and had a blast. Unfortunately, this year they had an awful crop of raspberries. However, despite the large amounts of rain, hail and now draught we have had this year, the strawberries are ready and perfect! The boys and I had a great time. We picked about 9 lbs. of berries! This morning I got up early to clean the berries and then made jam. I hope the boys like it as much as their daddy and mommy do!