Christmas Tree "Shopping"

Thanks to my Uncle Bob for planting some great trees some 15 years ago, because we are now benefiting! Brian and I had previously had an artificial pre-lit tree that he had for a few years, but last year we decided to sell it and start getting real trees. Since it was Blake's first Christmas last year we had our tree on an end table. Considering he is much more curious and on the move this year we decided to do it again. Although we have vaulted ceilings in our house, you'd think this would be a perfect time to get a 10 ft tree. BUT we'll settle with our little 4 ft tree on the table. Last year we got a short needle tree and was able to cover it with all our ornaments, lights and decorations. This year we opted for a long needle tree, something different. However due to our little Curious George we omitted most of the ornaments and just did lights and a few garlands.He just loves it. Every morning we make sure it's lit before he comes out of his room. It's the first thing he runs over to, he loves the lights. He had a little lawn chair that he pulls up to each night with his snack and cup and has a little "time under the tree." Here are some of the pictures that capture our day at the tree farm and us enjoying the tree. [Scroll down for Tree Farm Info]

Blake likes to do things in style

Loves the lights

Bringing in my parents tree

If you would like to venture out to the Quady Tree farm, just google Quady Tree Farm Buffalo and you'll see a link with directions and hours. Basically it's out in Maple Lake, and they are cut your own untrimmed trees. Open weekends, noon to dusk, until the December 18th.

Thanksgiving at the Vriesen's

This year we went down to Blue Earth for Thanksgiving. We knew it was going to be horrible weather so we took off early and got down there Wednesday night. Blake was sporting his John Deere shirt just for Grandpa V.

We decided to give Husker a "vacation" back at my mom's since she has been constantly chased for the last few weeks since Blake figured out how to "kiss her." She loves staying there because she can sleep all day after longs walks with Grandpa Q. She gets more exercise on "vacation" than she does at home. Anyhoots, while she was there it left the Vriesen house open for their cat to come out of hiding. Ususally we NEVER see her the second she knows a dog is in the house. So we were only there a couple hours before Blake decided that he wanted to "kiss" the cat. He hasn't had much interaction with animals that have cat-like reflexes since he's always around dogs. Zima [the cat] also wasn't too sure about him either, but Blake tried to make her feel at home!

He did finally kiss the cat, and she went into hiding for most of the weekend.
The Oian's arrived on Thankgiving and we all headed out to Brian's aunt's house for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. It was quite chatoic with about 20 adults and 2 toddlers. Needless to say there was never a dull moment. The wind was horrendous, but that didn't stop Grandpa Jeff from taking each of the kids out to see the horses. [I would have tried to get a picture, but it was too danm cold!] I'm sure they enjoyed it, but I think we'll try another visit in the spring or summer when it's a little warmer.

Once we returned home the Oian's started plotting out their Blake Friday shopping plan. Some of which involved looking online. As you know Blake is obsessed with computers, and it just turns out that Grandpa Jeff has some spare parts that he was able to create a little workspace for Blake.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving...until next time!

November is a great month

As most of you know we have a very busy November. Every year we are busy with my birthday, our anniversary and both of my parents birthdays and their wedding anniversary! Well now we have another fun birthday to add, Blake's friend Jaleah. A few weekends ago we went to her birthday party at Edina Adventure Park. It was one of the first days it was REALLY cold in MN, so of course the place was packed. We had a great time and here are some of the pictures.

I was lucky enough to get a new camera for my birthday, so I was able to take much better pictures than before. We also had a great Thanksgiving...more posting to come!

Second Haircut

So it was only a few weeks ago that I posted about Blake's first haircut. Little did I know that I would be posting about his second haircut so soon. Last week I got the call from daycare that Blake had lice. Ugh. At this age? I thought we would at least have to wait until he was school age, but I guess we'll tackle it early. So I stopped at Walgreen's on the way there to pick up a clippers and some lice treatment. With his hair so blond and long, I wasn't going to see these things...so we we're going to have to give him a haircut!
Luckily my mom and dad happened to be taking the day off to celebrate their wedding annivesary and were headed in to watch Gopher basketball, so they came in early to assist in the "procedure." I have never used a clippers before, and according to everyone I know "it's easy" "it's fool proof", yet I was still scared.

Once I read the directions and took the longest clipper guard, we were set. I told my mom to put on one of my necklaces in hopes that he would want to play with it and wouldn't mind me clipping off all of his hair. Well that worked for about 20 seconds and when he heard the clippers he got really scared. So we made it very quick and tried to make it as even as possible. Here are a few pictures during the process. You can't see it too well in the second picture, but he has long hair in the front and short in the back. If I would have been thinking about it I would have done it opposite and given him a mullet :) By the end of this he was quite upset and ready to be done.

 Although I was nervous to see what he would look like with short hair, I absolutely love it. He looks so much older. Here is a picture from last week...

So after a day home with Dad he went back to daycare and both of the kids were back to normal...lice free. Here are some other good pictures of Blake eating his cereal like a "big boy"!

Until next time....

Family pictures...

So as most of you know, our awesome daycare provider takes photos on the side. Throughout the year many of her photos have been put up on our blog, because lets face it....my pictures aren't very good. In any case, this fall she took family pictures of my parents and us. This is the first time we've had "professional" pictures taken with my mom and dad since my senior pictures (not posting those ones!). Anyway, just wanted to share some of them for those of you not on Facebook, etc. If you like them, let me know know...she does great work and is available! [free plug for you Rebecca!]

 

And for those of you who miss his curls here are some from the summer with Brian's family.We all were at RJ's cabin, our brother-in-law's family cabin. It was a great weekend where we could all get together, and all the kids could play!

Thanks for reading, until next time!