KA RA TAY!

At least that is what Spongebob calls it. Luke started Karate lessons this afternoon. I am a terrible mommy & didn't take the camera with so I could blog about it. DUH! So, we decided to put Luke into Karate class after we talked to his Pre-school teacher a few weeks ago. She told us that Luke needs help with his confidence & to be able to stick up for himself. She said that there was a classmate that was picking at him...Luke just took it & didn't say anything. Now Ben & I have discussed our thoughts about school many, many times. I really didn't like anything about school. I wasn't picked on but I was so painfully shy that I didn't make many friends & had a really hard time in class...not wanting to be called on, etc. Ben was pretty much the same way. So, we really don't want Luke to have to go through what we both did. I did a little bit of research on the Internet & asked a few people their opinions. Everything pointed to Karate. It isn't a team sport, it helps with self confidence, self defence, discipline, etc.

In his class tonight, he wore his cute little white Karate uniform *I'll get a picture, I promise! He is in a class called the Mighty Dragons, there are 15 or so 4 & 5 year olds in the class. They were all so darn cute. They learned some kicks, chops, & how to bow to their teachers. I think this is going to be so wonderful for Luke. He is already really enjoying it & I am SO happy we did this for him.

Kurt had fun watching his "brobber" through the glass. He looked very proud of him. It is funny, Kurt doesn't call Luke by his name but he calls him "brobber" for brother. Too cute.

I have such wonderful boys. I am one lucky girl.

What a fun day!

Today started out kind of rainy looking. We were expecting to have a 70 degree day so waking up to clouds & cold wasn't what we wanted to see. But around 1 p.m. the sun came out & we headed outside to explore. Ben was working so he missed our fun but I took plenty of pictures to document the day for him.

First we went down to Luke & Kurt's "secret" hideout. I was told that since I'm mommy I can know where it is. Awwww how sweet! I wasn't expecting it to be Gramps' plowed field though! LOL...how funny!

I got some really cute pictures of the boys. They are the classic boys being boys pictures. You can tell that they both love dirt. Their faces were pretty dirty by the time we got done with this day.

So we spent some time in the "secret" hideout. The boys had so much fun maneuvering through the big clumps of soil. Kurt had an extra tough time with it since he is Mr. Shorty. Next the boys decided they wanted to go see Gramps' Big Red Tractor. Let me tell you, I'm in REALLY bad shape! I was huffing & puffin' by the time we walked up that big hill! I need to start walking again.

Granny & Gramps weren't home so we took it upon ourselves to do a little "farmin" without them. Kurt really loves to ride in the tractor. Gramps has taken him for a few rides already this spring & he is always so excited. Luke is the same way. I'm wondering if they are going to be farmers when they grow up? Anyway, Kurt & Luke played farmer in the tractor for a little while. After 10 minutes or more, I decided enough of that. I was getting bored standing outside the tractor, smelling the poo from the cows. BARF!! Well, Kurt was NOT having me telling him it was time to get out of the tractor. He had a full blown temper tantrum! Can you say NO NAP? He was screaming & kicking...I've never seen him this bad before. I'm thinking about how I supposed to bring a kicking & screaming kid back to our house?!?! I know it is only about 1/2 mile but with a kid having a tantrum it might as well be 10 miles! I then spotted the 4-wheeler of Gramps. WHEW! I jumped on it with the boys & roared up to the house. I guess Kurt might just be a farmer...

For the rest of the day we played some more outside in the sandbox, then Luke went over to his best buddy Kade's house to play for a little while. Now Kurt is sleeping soundly (5:45 p.m.), Luke is outside putting rocks in his wheelbarrow, & I'm blogging about this wonderful day. Even with the temper tantrum. :o)

AMAZING!!!

Last night Luke & I watched the movie Transformers. He was transfixed with this movie...I mean the way he is while watching Spongebob on Nick...yes, that transfixed! The movie wasn't done when American Idol started so I went to watch that in the bedroom & left Luke to watch the rest of Transformers by himself. It only had about 20 minutes left. So when it was over he comes into the bedroom & says to me. "Mommy, That....was....AMAZING!!!" He was over the moon. Too funny!

After that I asked him if he likes Transformers more then he likes Spongebob now? He looks straight face at me & says, "Mom, things change you know!" I guess that mean yes. LOL

I love the things that comes out of that boys mouth. He has his Daddy's sense of humor, that's for sure!!!

Spring has FINALLY Sprung!

And the boys couldn't be more excited!!. As you have noticed by my previous posts about the MN weather, we have had a crappy time of it this winter. We had another major winter storm this past weekend. It was so bad that I couldn't even get into work. Okay, so I guess I probably could have at least tried but I just stayed home & worked on my laptop. Anyway, Luke & Kurt are so happy to have spring...today was in the 60s! WOOHOO! Ben & the boys played outside all day today. Luke rode his 4-wheeler, Kurt rode his trike, & Ben watched. They have needed this nice weather so badly. Both of them have had cabin fever since January...let me tell you...they have been CRABBY! I noticed a big change in both of them today...especially Kurt. He was so happy. We are all really looking forward to this spring/summer. This year Kurt can walk so he can do so many more things. We are planning on putting on our deck & then putting a huge sandbox under the deck for the boys. We also have a couple trips in the works, which will be so fun for us all.

On another note...today we took Kurt to see his allergist, Dr. Helm. Kurt has had really bad eczema since he was around 6 months old. We first took Kurt to Dr. Helm over 1 year ago & found that he had a little bit of an egg allergy. So for the past year we have been keeping Kurt away from eggs, putting tons & tons of lotions on him, & watching him scratch his poor little hands, legs, & ankles. Today Dr. Helm told us he had a couple more things for us to try on Kurt & that we just have to keep doing what we are doing with him. He didn't think that the eggs were the cause of his eczema, it is just that he has really sensitive skin. I am so proud of my little guy. Let me tell you, he has been a champ through all of this. You wouldn't know that he itches all the time, he is so mellow about it. It is only when you see him scratch until he bleeds, that you know that he is hurting. It makes me so sad that he has this, but also makes me thankful that he only has this...it could be much worse.

I'm going to have to download some pictures for next time.

WHY oh WHY do we live in Minnesota??

We are getting MORE snow today...they say 8-10 inches. WTH? I am sick to death of it...the kids are sick to death of it. Why do we live here?

Luke still had school today but they say that 115 schools in the area were closed or were closing early.

I think the only reason we live here is because both of our families live here...if they didn't I'd be in Maui for sure!!! :)

Mommy's Weekend Away...

It seems like forever since I've blogged. Oops! I'm trying!
This past weekend I went away on a Scrapbooking retreat. Ohhhh was it wonderful to get away. Don't get me wrong I LOVE being with my boys....but every now & then it is fun to have some "me" time. I have been scrapbooking for about 2 years now. I've done a scrapbook on kurt's birth - 1 year, a book for Luke (the ABC's), & the one I worked on this weekend was a family one. Now scrapping isn't the only fun thing about the weekend. There are about 23 women that come along & spend 2 nights in a hotel. I was excited about this one because it was only 15 minutes from my house...just right. :) My sister was along for the ride & finished her very first book. My sister also had some of her work buddies along, what fun they are! If we didn't want to scrap we would do a little shopping, or eating, talking, or drinking. I think my sister & I did more shopping & eating then scrapping. Sorry honey!

Ben & I are pretty good about letting each other get away for weekends once in awhile. Ben goes away for fishing & duck hunting openers. I get scrapbooking weekends. We both think that it is good for us to get away from the kids & each other every now & then...it makes us appreciate what we have & know how happy we are. After hearing about other peoples lives, we are pretty tame.
So, next is a Daddy's weekend in May.... Hope you have as much fun as I did Benny!!!!!

Kindergarten

Last night Luke had Kindergarten Round-up. I can't even tell you how sad I am to even think about him going off to school! I know I shouldn't be because he has been in Pre-School for 2 years now & even rides the school bus. But I am so sad. My "baby" is going off into the BIG BAD WORLD. I mean the past 5 years have gone so fast, how quick are another 5 years going to go? Woosh...just like that he will be 10! He'll start liking girls!! NOOO!!! Okay, so I am making it sound horrible. It isn't. He is going to start learning...not that he hasn't been learning for 5 years but he is going to start learning to write & read. then he's going to start learning math! He is already so darn smart, I really hope that he has it easy in school. Ben & I are so proud of him...he has been such a good kid. I just hope that going to Kindergarten doesn't change him...or I hope that it changes him for the better.

I have 5 more months to think about this. that first day of school is going to be a big ol cry fest.

Don't even get me started on Kurt....3 more years....