8 years...

Happy Anniversary babe! Can you believe it has been 8 years already? I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures of September, 23rd 2000. It really stinks we didn't get to be together today. So, these are for you: (note: this picture was taken at my grandparent's house that happened to be 2 houses away from the church we got married in. when I was growing up, I was a typical little girl that dreamed of my wedding with the big white dress, etc. and I always told my grandma I would get married at her house in their yard by her flowers. my grandma was always a super gardener and I grew to love her flowers as much as she did. however, I did not get married in their backyard, but we did get lots of pictures taken on their property. now that they are both gone and the house no longer is in the family, these pictures taken at their house mean even more to me today than I would ever know.)

Wow! Don't we look SO young!?!? I guess probably because we WERE!

What a fun day...

Potty Training...part 2

Well, my husband is a genius. On Saturday, we were talking about Hudsen's constant potty problems. Jeremy said, "He always poops when he is playing in the toy closet, why not put a potty in there?" I laughed, but he actually got up and took it from the upstairs bathroom and put in smack in the middle of the toy closet. Jeremy got him naked and gave him a few storm troopers to play with and wouldn't you know it...HE POOPED IN THE POTTY! YYYEEEEAAAHHH!!! He has done it now everyday since. Only in the toy closet though! So, we will have to take baby steps to get it moved to a bathroom somewhere!

My 31st Birthday!

My birthday was last week. It is so funny how when you are a mom, your birthday just is so normal! My day consisted of asking Hudsen about 100 times if he needed to go potty (yes, we are still potty training!). However, it did change when Jeremy got home. I got my favorite cake in the whole wide world...Daube's carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Yes, the numbers on the cake say "35". I am NOT 35!!! Jeremy was laughing when he presented me with my cake and I couldn't figure out why until I saw the numbers! He said he couldn't find a one! :0 And, I should probably brag about what else I got...diamond earrings! He was so proud, he picked them out all by himself (well, with Jess' help on the phone!) and I love them! Thanks Jeremy!

First Day of School!

Kaden's first day of 1st grade!
First day of school! New backpacks!

"Goodbye little brother, I'll miss you"Walking down the street to the bus stop

Kaden all ready for his big day!

Hudsen going to preschool!

Hudsen had to show Mrs. Kelly his bear, "Stinky" As you can tell, he adjusted very well!

Kaden and Hudsen both had their first day of school today! Kaden started 1st grade and Hudsen is now in preschool. Both of them did an amazing job on their first day (I wish I could say the same for myself!). As much as I thought I was ready for Kaden to start school and be gone all day, I really had a hard time this morning seeing him go. I actually broke down in tears when his bus drove off. I guess after being together everyday, all day for almost 7 years, I have grown pretty attached to the kid!

He did great today. When he got off the bus this afternoon, his first word to me was, "finally". Does that mean he had a long day? I think so! He also described school as "awesome", so that was a relief! He has two teachers this year who team teach, so that will be different but also so cool! They are both very young, energetic and moms themselves that have found a way to be home with their small children AND teach 1st graders. For that, I admire the heck out of them! Kaden says he thinks he is going to like them better than his teacher last year (and she is pretty hard to beat...award winning. No, really!). He had art today and also computer lab. He liked art better than computer. Will he take after his mommy? :) Oh! And I was pretty worried about lunch with my picky eater, but he said the popcorn chicken "rocked"! So, overall everything went very well! We couldn't be happier!

As far as Hudsen's first day went...well, he was only there for an hour. He really wanted me to stay, so I stuck around for about 5 minutes until he found a sand table and then play-doh. Then he could care less what I did. I told him I would be back to get him and he said, "o.k." O.K.? O.K.!!!! I drove around and didn't know what to do with myself! I was kidless! Wow! He had a great time and when he was done we went out for pizza. It was fun to just have it be him and me, but also in another way, kind of weird! I felt like there was a missing link. Hudsen must have felt it too because all morning he asked me, "where is Kaden" and "are we going to go pick up Kaden now?".

That is about enough for a pregnant gal to take!

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!