A Survey

My sister-in-law sent this survey to me, so I thought I'd fill it in and post it here.

Two Names you go by:
Beth and Buffy

Two things you are wearing right now: Jammies and makeup

Two of your favorite things to do:
Read and go on long walks

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
sleep (Hunter woke up at 1 a.m. and we haven't slept since) and money (who doesn't want more money?)

Two favorite pets you have had/have:
Duchess and Bruiser

Two things you did last night:

Went to kickboxing and drank a beer after kickboxing (I'm sooooo healthy!)


Two things you have eaten today:

Oatmeal and a cookie (yep, I needed some comfort after being awake all night)


Two people you last talked to:
Mitch and my mom

Two places you have been in the past year:
Beulah and Duluth (we're wild and crazy people, I tell ya)


Two favorite beverages: Blue moon and diet coke

Here's hoping

One thing I failed to mention in my previous entry is that Hunter did get sick on Christmas eve. Over the past 2-3 years, Hunter has gotten sick on every major holiday or family get together. Here's hoping that he does not get sick this New Years Eve. Fingers are crossed. Sending a prayer up as I type this very brief entry.

Proud of myself- I graded ten essays this evening, just as I promised myself I would. Trying to grade in small doses. I'm trying to avoid that overwhelmed feeling I get before I head back to work after a break.

Today we played at Edinborough Park with my sister-in-law Doreen and her kids, Anamaria and Henry. Clare stayed home with Joe.

Tomorrow, we are heading to the pediatrician at 8:45 am. Mason has been a bear for the last few days and I fear that his most recent ear infection did not clear up.

Tomorrow, I get to visit the LifeSpa at Lifetime Fitness! I will have "new" hair for the new year!

Christmas in North Dakota

Hunter, as a baby, was a wonderful traveler.... He slept often and amused himself with books and toys. Mason and Hunter do NOT have this quality in common, much to our dismay! If Mason had not mastered his high-pitched, blood curdling scream before our trip to Beulah, North Dakota (eight hours west of the Twin Cities), then he definitely did so during this particular car ride. What is typically an eight hour trip became a ten hour trip easy because of our frequent stops. We actually stopped in Fargo, North Dakota and let the boys run free for about an hour at Dinosaur Land at West Acres. About a half hour after we left Dinosaur Land, Mason was screaming once again.

We did make it to Beulah, in time for dinner, thank goodness. We also knew going into the trip that my mom had purchased a Wii play system for my father. Hunter knew this as well and headed straight to the downstairs television for bowling and boxing, etc. Hunter was so excited to play with his cousin Hudson, who is a year younger than Hunter. They got along swimmingly this year. I think I can say with confidence that there was only one crabby exchange between the two boys.

We decided not to attend the Christmas Eve church service as it was at 7:30 p.m. which is an hour past Mason's bedtime and Hunter's actual bedtime. We did not think the boys would really appreciate having to sit still in dress clothes for over an hour. I was sad to miss church but also felt like we made a wise decision (for the sake of the little ones). After the three little boys fell asleep, the adults exchanged gifts! We were given very generous gifts- gift cards, pajamas, Chanel perfume, a North Face fleece, Vikings sweatshirt, etc. I truly felt spoiled.

Christmas morning was very special. Because Hunter was highly aware of Christmas and Santa this year, I really went overboard in the gift department. I was so excited to see his excitement. On top of that, my family also treated the boys very generously. The highlight for Mason was his fourwheeler. The highlight for Hunter was pretty much everything he opened! He truly reacts the "right way" during gift giving. He is very thankful and excited.

My two sisters left with their families on Christmas day and traveled to their in-laws. We stayed and enjoyed a dinner of Prime Rib and lots of wine (for me) with my parents. I sat on the floor pretty much all day with the two boys and played with toys. So much fun!

We played a ton of Wii at my parents' house. I was actually sore the next day, after having played tennis and boxing. Hunter built his first snow fort. My parents have drifts as high as their back windows!

We left mid-day on the 26th for Wadena, Minnesota. Mason screaming started about a half hour into the trip....

Coming soon- a post on our "Christmas at the Farm and Golf Course House"

My own personal hell.....

....is an hour-long wait in a 3x5 room waiting for the veterinarian with two screaming boys and a pissed off and freaked out dog. Mason might as well have been licking his hands after touching the floor and garbage can, etc. and Hunter was basically throwing himself off of the exam table. To top it off, I took the boys to McDonalds following this disastrous trip....what kind of a mother am I?

First Haircut

After listening to Mitch complain about the length of Mason's hair for months now, I finally agreed to the first haircut. I almost cried as she snipped his curls... Mitch tried to assure me that they will grow back, but I agreed with the hairdresser who told him they probably will not. I was sure to take a ton of pictures- befores and afters, etc. Mason was a good little customer. He sat very still and looked worried but did not cry. He was fearful of the blow dryer and reached out for me as she did that.


We do have an envelope of curls from this first trip to Kids Hair.

Congratulations to Mason, the boy with the "world's softest hair" (this fact confirmed by multiple teachers at daycare).