Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.

Alphabitty Moments..... the letter R.   For more info on Alphabitty Moments, please go visit 4 the love of Family. 

Please check back again in 2 weeks for the letters S and T! 

R... is for...Riot.  what a RIOT!   These kids are SO funny!        

     I spend a good portion of my day laughing at my kids.-  Not at them- with them or about the silly things they are doing.  I have to laugh about things or I will spend entirely too much time being serious and stern with the kids instead of taking the time to really enjoy them and their awesome personalities.

     So,  these photos don't really need any explanation.  Except for my little Lillian.  She was trying to decide which of those items in her hands tasted better than the other.  Hmmmmm.  The rock or the ball? The rock or the ball?    Please don't worry- I didn't let the tasting continue very long.  Just long enough to-  ahem ..... capture it in a photo.

I just need to keep laughing!   God is SO good.

~ Jenni

Alphabitty Moments..... the letter Q

PLease check back next thursday to see what new memories we have captured! For more info about Alphabitty Moments- please go visit this family.

This one was a tough one for me.  But it just popped in to my head- so here goes.  

These photos were taken this evening, and are the Quintissential "ok..... here. now- scoot over next to your brother, please everyone smile nice and look at the camera.  Ben- stand still.... OK!- look at mommy!  You-whoooooo!  Lillian!  Katelyn! smile!  " photos that I insist on having. I want to try and capture some of these fun times and memories with the kids playing together- and I need to just about start doing acrobatics to get everyone to behave and smile-  and oh yeah- look at the camera!

Q is also for Quintissential- summertime- activities....  water fun......

Here are a couple of new photos from the last week......

Me and my girls.    

  We are having a fun summer- now that it is starting to feel like summer.  The kids have all started some summer activities and are enjoying them.

All Katelyn "wants to do is DANCE".  So she has started her first dance class.  Ben (3) just finished a week long martial arts and self defense class. Mason and cousin Kamryn just finished a week long baseball camp.  Mason and Kamryn are also doing a 6 week long sports mania camp.  They were pooped out after their first 2 1/2 hour class- but enjoyed it very much. Lillian has gotten her 8th tooth in finally and enjoyed her first wading pool time of the summer tonight.  She was scolding me (in baby jabber) for dumping out the pool.  (Her fingers were pruny and her lips were starting to quiver- it was time!)

Yesterday, Aaron and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.  Last night we enjoyed a fantastic dinner at our favorite restaurant.  (Thank you to my mom and dad for taking care of the kids!)

Hope that all of you are doing well.   We love to hear from you- so please write us!

Take care and God Bless.

~Jenni

Here is our latest edition of Alphabitty Moments!  Check back each Thursday to see what wonderful memories we have captured!  For more details about Alphabitty Moments check out this wonderful family's blog!

P is for Purposeful Posing.....  

We were at the lake last weekend, and while the guys were out fishing I was trying to distract Ben.  He really wanted to be out fishing with them.  I had my camera in hand and told Ben that I wanted to take his picture and he started posing  for every shot.  I had so much fun snapping photos of his handsome little personality!  Both of Ben's grandmas were in the cabin watching out the window at our mini photo shoot.  He would throw out his hip and put his hand on it and grin at me.  They both thought that he was a hoot!  Here are a few of my favorite Purposeful Poses......

Mason and Aaron had a wonderful Birthday day at Valleyfair last Thursday.  On Friday afternoon we went up to the lake.  On Saturday we celebrated Mason's birthday, and Grammy and Grandpa Dale were able to join us.  It was a really nice weekend having all of the Grandparents there to love on our kids.  The guys had an awesome fishing experience.  They brought home a LOT of wonderful fish!  We are going to be having a fish fry at Dale and Sally's this coming weekend.  Yum!

                                                                                            Mason with his birthday cake.

                                                       The guys in our fishing crew- (w/o Mason  because  he was already in bed!)

                                                Ben, Grammy, Katelyn, Mason and Grandma.    (Lilli was taking a nap!)

Today marks one week of summer vacation- and so far so good.  I would love some warm weather and sunshine so that the kids can be outside more.  Yesterday afternoon I really wanted to plant some rose "bushes" that I found on sale, and the weather was insistent about not cooperating! It was sprinkling off and on- but we planted anyway and the kids had a wonderful time running around the front yard with umbrellas.  I put "bushes" in quotes because I am hoping that some day they will actually start to look like bushes.  Right now they are teeny-tiny- but I will remain optimistic.  I hope that they will do great.  I am also hoping for lots of raspberries like last year.  This year we added a strawberry plant, watermelon, tomato, pumpkin and potatoes.  I would LOVE for these all to do wonderfully.  The kids are so excited and I think we actually have a shot at them eating these since they got to help tend and grow them. 

Today we spent a good chunk of the day inside watching the raindrops fall, and got lots of laundry done.  The big boys were great helpers- folding and sorting- and even putting away.  It feels good to have gotten a bit more caught up.  6 people generate a TON of dirty clothes. 

Lillian is growing and changing so fast.  She has 7 teeth- working on number 8.  She is stubborn- and can throw a temper tantrum with the best of them (she has been watching Katelyn!... ) but is also very sweet.  She has recently started giving "big squeezes"  - fantastic hugs where she makes a little grunty sound when she's squeezing your neck. She's still giving lots of love and big open mouth kisses.  Today she mimicked the dog's bark- and said "oof-oof  ake"  (woof-woof Jake).

She also was talking when Sarah was here picking up Kamryn and I'm pretty sure I heard her say Sarah. 

Katelyn's bangs are growing out- and looking better every day.  I always have a little vase on the counter with beautiful flowers (and weeds) that Kate brings me.  She LOVES to pick flowers and smell them.  We have taught Lillian to smell the flowers too- (instead of grabbing them and smashing them in her little fist).  She sticks her whole little face right in to the bloom and sniffs.  It is so cute.  Katelyn just giggles so hard when Lillian enjoys the flowers too. Katelyn is also my little artist.  She loves to draw and paint.  We should really buy stock in paper and crayons!

My headache is constant but manageable. The meds that I am on are helping so that I don't very often have a really bad day.   I had an appointment scheduled with a neurologist on Monday morning.  On my way there I got a flat tire.  I wasn't able to get there- and now I am re-scheduled with the same doctor- on July 17.  He is booked solid until then.  I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say. I am very thankful that Aaron was home and able to come to my rescue and change my flat tire.  Thanks Honey!

Hope that you are all doing well.  Take care!- and please say hi if you get a chance!

~ Jenni

*update* I just added a new photo album in the photo gallery.....

My Alphabitty posts have often been behind due to our major computer issues causing major frustration for us! But- this time running behind worked out great- because today is Mason's birthday- so he is my letter M!

M is for Mason-  magnanimous,marvelous, magnificent, magic-trick lover, mathmatician, Mommy's helper, miraculous gift from God! 

Happy Birthday my sweet first-born!  I cannot believe that you are 8 already! You are such an awesome boy and we love you so very much! You are caring, kind and  compassionate.  You are VERY smart and we are so proud of you.  We thank God for you every day!

N is for NEVER having a scizzors within a childs reach.  EVEN if you think that the child knows better.   Katelyn sure did her bangs up good!    She came home from school the next day and said, "Mommy! guess what! No one even made fun of my bangs at school today! Isn't that great!?! "    This was over a week ago now- and her bangs are thankfully starting to grow out. 

N is also for NEVER letting the swings stop swinging! I took this photo over Memorial Day weekend.  We were at the cabin and the kids were having a BLAST swinging on the swingset.  They enjoy swinging and playing outside so much!  The weather was beautiful.

O is for Opportunity.  As in photo opportunities! 

Mother's Day 2009

Grandpa's College Graduation !

Katelyn's Kindergarten graduation 6/3/2009

     I'm really good at playing catch-up because I do it often when it comes to this blog and keeping it updated!  May was good!  We had a lovely Mother's Day.  We hosted a Mother's Day brunch and had Aaron's  parents Sally and Dale over.  We also hosted a Mother's Day Dinner and had  Mom and Dad and Sarah, Jason and Kamryn over.  It was a really nice day, and fun to have everyone over to our house!  

Dad graduated from Hennepin Technical College with a degree in HVAC.  The ceremony was on May 20, 2009 and was held at the Metrodome.  After the ceremony, the graduates and guests were invited to a reception being held on the field.  It was really cool to be on the field where the Twims play.  Congratulations Dad!  We are very proud of you!   

     We went to the cabin over the Memorial Day weekend to get everything opened up for the season.  The weather was pretty nice- and water was very expectedly cold.  Our kids are very unique- up for anything types- and they decided that they wanted to go swimming.  So-  I let them.  Their swim wasn't as brief as I expected it to be.  Katelyn didn't want to get out of the water.  She loves to  doggie paddle!  Mason was working on his cannonball technique.  Ben just wanted to do what his big brother and sister were doing.   They had a blast in a very short amount of time.  I think that the ice had only been off of the lake for a couple of weeks.  Brrrrrrr!...  But they had fun!

     Yesterday Katelyn graduated from Kindergarten!  It was the last day of school.  We now have a first grader and a third grader!  Oh my goodness where does the time go?!?    Katelyn's class had a cute graduation program with poems and songs that they learned, and then each child received a graduation certificate.  Katelyn is a member of the class of 2021!  In the afternoon, Katelyn and I went back to school and brought Mason's birthday treat, and the birthday  book.  The birthday book is one where parents can write about the child and the day that they were born.  It is really neat.  He wanted to bring rootbeer floats for his friends so that's what we did.  The kids were so excited and said that it was the best birthday treat ever!  Mason's teacher is so sweet and wrote the kids each a special letter and told them how special they are to her, and what great kids they are.  She is sad to see this special class of kids go because she's been their teacher for 2 years.  We are so thankful to her. Mason just loves her and will miss her.  Maybe Katelyn will have her for a teacher next year!  

     Mason and Aaron are leaving soon  this morning to go on a special birthday day.  They are going to Valleyfair for the day.  I know that they'll have  a blast!  I'm going to be working on the laundry and getting us ready to go to the cabin tomorrow.  We are planning to head up right after lunchtime.  

Hope you all are doing well!  Take care!

K is for our kind kindred-spirit kindergartener  Katelyn.  . 

L is for our laughing lovely loving lass Lillian.  

Many computer problems are bothering us.  The computer will go back again to the shop. 

Mason's room is all finished being repaired after our frozen pipe bursting.  New walls, paint and carpeting.  We got bunk beds for his room- and eventually he'll have a roommate in brother Ben. 

Headache wise- I'm not sure what's going on with me.  I was doing fine - headache not gone but the medication was preventing bad headaches. But at my last doctor visit- we decided to try and make it go away the rest of the way- by adding a new medication to my exsisting ones.  I only took the new medication for 2 days because it was having the opposite effect and causing horrible headaches.  I am still struggling now with worse headaches- possibly residual medication?   If you would be willing to pray for healing from this misery- I would be so thankful!..

The kids are very excited because they only have a couple of weeks left of school, and Mason will turn 8.  The weather has been nice - and we've gotten out and taken some family bike rides.  Haven't been able to the last couple of days because the wind has been terrible.  Hoping to get another bike ride in today if the wind stops. 

Hope that you all are doing well.  Thoughts and prayers to you!

Welcome to Alphabitty Moments, a fun way to preserve the little things about our children's childhood! (Click here for the specifics on the carnival.) Be sure to check in each Thursday to see the next letter in the alphabet, and what memories we have captured.   

We have been having major computer issues.  So I am playing Alphabitty- catch-up today!  

H is for HANDSOME HUSBAND and HAPPY HONEY.  

Aaron is the Handsome Husband and I am the Happy Honey.  I am so very happy because God blessed my with my wonderful husband and love of my life.  I am very blessed.

I is for Insurance Issue.  Last thursday we were shocked to find out that we had a pipe freeze over the winter.  We were greatful to know that the insurance would cover said pipe freeze- because Mason's room now looks like this.....

We pulled out the ruined carpeting and pad as well as the queen mattress and box spring.  The demo crew that the insurance company sent tore out wet drywall and insulation. The contractor will be coming next week to start the repairs.  It will probably be the middle of may before we can return Mason to his room.

J is forJOYFUL.  My heart is so full of love and joy for these beautiful children that God gave us.

I am feeling better.  My new doc has me on a combo of meds that is helping control my pain level.  It is really nice to not have a pounding head each day.  The kids are growing and changing so much.  They are all so smart and we are very proud of them.  Aaron is on a vacation from work and got back last night from a short trip to Vegas with one of his buddies.  They had a good time.

We are having a neighborhood garage sale starting tomorrow.  I hope the weather is nice! 

Take care!

Welcome to Alphabitty Moments, a fun way to preserve the little things about our children's childhood! (Click here for the specifics on the carnival.)

Be sure to check in each Thursday to see the next letter in the alphabet, and what memories we have captured.                                                                                     We've been having computer trouble- so I am once again putting 2 weeks together in this one post!  We will be offline for the next week while our computer gets fixed! We are doing ok here. I have a new doctor and we are trying to get my chronic headache figured out.  It is really bad right now- but we are praying that it will all be resolved and healed soon! Aaron and the kids are doing well.  The kids are growing and getting so big- and smart!  They are looking forward to Easter and to spring coming soon!  They can't wait to be outside more!  (And neither can I!  ;)  Hope everyone is doing well!  Take care!

F.............is for FABULOUS! 

F... is for a Fantastic FINDER! look who found the golden egg at our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt?!

G is for Girly-Girls!    

I love to dress our girls up with bows and lots of cuteness.  The first photo shows Lillian wearing a bow and pony for the first time. 

 The next photo is just the Girly-Girls being good friends. 

Hope you all have a BLESSED Easter!  Hope to "see" you all back here next week! 

  Hi there!  This is my 4th and 5th installment of Alphabitty Moments - the letters D and E.   Last week we were traveling- and I was unable to post.  

So this week I am doing last weeks post and this weeks combined.  

 Go on over to 4 the Love of Family for more information about Alphabitty Moments! Please check back next week to see the next letter and the special moments that we have captured! 

D... is for......... DVD's while Driving.  Lots of DVD's and lots of Driving!     

                             Last week we had the opportunity to go on a road trip with my mom and dad to Texas.  We went to visit my grandparents.  It is a 1500 mile drive- approximately 24 hours.  Here is Benjamin enjoying the car ride with DVD's to watch.

E................. is for.................... Exploring, Excitement, Excercise and Exaustion.....

We all had a wonderful visit in Texas visiting my Grandpa and Grandma.  Whether in their golf cart, on foot, Ben on his borrowed bike, Lillian in the stroller- we  had lots of fun exploring  around their neighborhood. Ben told me that he was getting excercise when we went out to play or go on a walk.  He was definetly very excited to go up to the pool and had a wonderful time swimming.  When the day was done- we were all exhausted!    Thank you again Grandma and Grandpa for allowing us to come visit and see you!  We made lots of great memories!

     Welcome!  I am participating in a blog carnival called Alphabitty Moments created by Carrie at 4 the Love of Family.  Click over to her site for all of the details.  Check back every Thursday for the next letter in the alphabet to see that moments we have captured!

        C.......................... is for................................... a Cheerios Cutie! 

  Our Grandpa Dale works for General Mills (the company that makes Cheerios).  The kids understand it to mean that Grandpa Dale actually MAKES the cheerios- but he is actually an engineer with the company.  He loves for us to have and try all kinds of products that they make.  Recently Grandpa picked out this awesome shirt for Lillian that proudly proclaims her  love of cheerios-  especially the honey or banana flavored ones.   Mason does too- he's pictured with Lillian in the middle photo above.  We all do like Cheerios-  but we LOVE our Grandpa Dale!   (Happy 60th Birthday yesterday Dale!)

Can you find me with these California Dreamin Girls? 

Tammy, Sarah and I -  "Mighty to Save"