No Choir for this Kid

Today the Sunday School kids sang at the second service. This threw off our typical Sunday schedule as the second service is during nap time, but we all adjusted so we could see Gerrit make his first debute. We debated taking the video camera so you could see the big debute too but we knew better....

Gerrit did not want to go up front and only went because Luke was up there. Luke had to hold him (luckily it was 1 song) and Gerrit did not sing. He made Luke laugh because he kept asking where Dave was. 

I should back up and tell you all that before church, Gerrit threw a tantrum because we forced a sweater on him (Adam said he was acting as if we put a straight jacket on him!). So we changed his shirt, then he refused to wear shoes and a coat but we got that on him before he realized it as Anne was picking him up for Sunday School. I'm assuming Sunday School went well - he had blue hands which ended up on his face b/c he would wipe his eyes after crying during rehersal! He took his shoes off during the service (which we got back on just in time for singing), Adam spent 10 min. and 2 wet wipes trying to get the blue off his hands, and Emmit finally fell asleep 1/2 way thru the service (thankfully I didn't have to hold him too long as he is getting heavy!). Plus, it was packed but we got there early, knowing this would be the case! Uncle Travis showed up so he joined us at church. Luckily we have a few weeks before the Christmas program because he is going to need all the help he can get! 

(Or, I'll have to pay Luke to be by his side!)

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like....

Aunt Cara's wedding:

 and

Christmas!

Gerrit's suit came this week so we had him try it on. Looks like it will fit him fine, we will work on the smile next!

Saturday morning was pretty exciting for Gerrit (as well as dad). He loved the sight of snow and insisted in helping shovel (note: he is on the grass where most of the snow was). He was out with his jammies still on and I had to find his boots in the basement. Gerrit wanted to go snowshoeing since September and did not quite understand that there had to be more snow in order to do that. Luckily he forgot about it and now the snow is pretty much gone. 

Even though we didn't get any pictures of Adam racing, we did get a few of Paul. You can see Paul
in the middle of the picture trying to stay up. He was the 1st race of the morning and conditions didn't let up until later in the day! (He took 2nd in his age group and loved the race as much as Adam!)

Epic Race

Friday night and Saturday gave us a taste of winter. Adam was pretty excited for Saturday's race because of the snow that was predicted (he was like a little kid at Christmas!). He has always wanted to race in the snow and he got his chance. I decided it would be best for me if I stayed home with the boys, so we did not get any pictures with our camera but there are some professional pictures floating around in cyberspace that we might just have to purchase to remember the 'epic' race. It took them a long time to get to the venue in the cities due to all the snow; they almost missed Paul's race. Adam thought there was at least 3 inches of snow at the start of Paul's race and it was coming down so hard that they were getting an inch an hour! Down in cozy Z-town, it was a mix of snow and rain (thankgoodness!) Adam ended up 31 out of 52 and he was pretty please with the results considering he started 2nd to the last row.

Here is a video someone took of the Cat 1-2 race (these are the really fast guys.) I noticed the snow has stopped by the time these guys raced but still, you can get an idea of what Adam had to 'endure' on Saturday.

Also, the news came out and did a little story as well on the big day. The footage they took was during Adam's race. In fact, the start of the race they show is Adam's race (can't see him though).

If I didn't have to chase 2 boys around, I think I would've gone and enjoyed the race and atmosphere of the day. I can only imagine of all the many races Oma and Opa have been to, if they would've liked this one!

Special Shoes

Friday night we had Gerrit measured for his suit for Aunt Cara's wedding. We made an evening out of it by going out for dinner at the mall. 

We were right by Penny's so we decided to check out suits and shoes to compare prices etc. We tried on a suit coat - for a brief moment to learn that our thinking was accurate with the professionals and the sample. 

Then we headed to the shoe department to try on black fancy shoes. While waiting for the lady to bring us some shoes to try on, Gerrit noticed a display of tennis shoes that had special features - they lit up when you hit them (or lit up when you walked which was what was intended to cause the lights). He thought they were pretty cool (his mother did not). He also found Lightening McQueen slippers which he was pretty excited about - I reminded him that he received a pair of slippers like those last year for Christmas but said he wouldn't wear them so we returned them! Go figure!! 

Anyways, the lady brought us shoes to try on and Gerrit graciously sat still long enough for me to get them on his feet. The lady came back with an extra pair that was not on display but were in his size. Gerrit immediately grabbed them and starting hitting them against his hand, which I thought was odd until, he asked if they lit up! 

Sorry Gerrit, but I don't think Aunt Cara would like you to wear light up shoes for her wedding!

U of M Cyclocross

It was a beautiful day for a cross race so I decided I'd go (I've become a fair weather fan when dealing with 2 kids at cross races!). Who would've thought it would be 60 degrees in early Nov!  

Here are a few pictures of the various spectators at the race: Luke, Travis, Gerrit, Emmit and Anne. Gerrit's favorite part was watching the races from the sand pile (I think he had his own pile of sand in his shoes and clothes by the end of the day!) Luke, Anne and Travis took turns holding Emmit in the baby Bjorn which allowed me to take pictures easier. Gerrit tried to ride down the hill but didn't quite make it (bottom right picture). The boys enjoyed the playground before the races started and Luke hung out on the rock cheering on the racers when he wasn't 'riding' Gerrit's bike.

 

Paul was the first race of the day: He took 2nd and was a bit bummed b/c he had mechanical issues which caused him to fall behind. He did pass all but 1 kid that passed him. He received a medal, socks, and a cool U of M cycling t-shirt (which we are all jealous of!).

After Paul's race we headed back to the car and play at the playground while we waited for Adam's race to begin and look at who we found:

Gerrit didn't want to get too close to him, but Uncle Travis gave him bones. Emmit seemed to like Goldy and didn't mind him getting too close. 

The 2nd race was Adam's. I was able to get a few good shots from standing on the sand pile thanks to my zoom lens (which I didn't have with me during Paul's race).

The final race of the day was Gerrit's kids' race. Goldy led the kids around a short loop of the course. They were suppose to do 2 laps but Gerrit was too tired for the 2nd lap. Gerrit warmed up to Goldy by the end of the day, he gave him bones, head butt, and high five.

(My favorite picture is the bottom middle one of Goldy and Gerrit.) Right after we got in the car, Gerrit was fast asleep! We stopped for a bite to eat at the Cheesecake Factory and of course, took cheesecake to go. We went to Dahlen's to share our desserts after the boys finished homework and Gerrit emptied his clothes of sand.

It was a fun day but a long one. Next week there is not a kids' race so I think it will be just Adam and the other guys going to the race.

 (see our pictures for more pictures of today's race)

A Special Visitor

 

The other day Gerrit was outside while I was feeding Emmit.

I didn't realize he was riding his trike until he came inside with a visitor...

OFFICER Gene (he looks like Barney Fife)

He wondered if I knew Gerrit was down the street. I didn't really know he was that far away, but said "yes" for a lack of anything better to say. Gerrit knows his boundaries and hadn't crossed the street so I was pretty happy. Sure, it probably isn't the safest thing for him to be riding w/o an adult, but I was by myself and helpless when I am nursing Emmit. I guess it does look a little odd from the police perspective seeing this little boy on his trike all by himself.

Officer Gene just wanted me to be aware he was down the street. I thanked him for being concerned and he was on his way to help keep the little town of Zumbrota safe.

Halloween 2010

The photo shoot before heading out to trick or treat:

These next 2 are favorites of mine:

 

Gerrit's pumpkin he painted and Dad's pumpkin he won (in a raffle at Sunday school) Guess who's is who's:

 

 We sent the above photo to dentist Dave and he seems to think Gerrit's teeth are fine. 

And they are off to trick or treat:

 

1st stop: Nick and Shorty's followed by Hoyme's to get the annual popcorn ball, and then across the street to Duane and Mary Anne's (Emmit is trying to get his popcorn ball out!) Gerrit refused to say 'trick or treat' and had a nasty look on his face like he wasn't sure about this whole thing!

Next stop: Dahlen's where we met up with Rockne's and Maddie

 

Those that trick or treated in the neighborhood and those that hung out at the house (Emmit is 3 months older than Max). Luke and Maddie took the little kids up the street to a few houses. Gerrit seemed to get the idea of saying 'trick or treat' in order to get candy!

All the candy that we gave out at Dahlen's. I took our candy along seeing we weren't going to be home to give it out. We all enjoyed the variety and snacked on it between trick or treaters...

 

Emmit tried on Gerrit's helmet at the end of the night:

love the tongue - not sure why he's doing that lately but its cute when a 10mth old does it!

Gerrit's loot (minus the Bit O Honey I ate - havn't had one of those for a long time!)

**These are just a few of the pictures I took. Click on 'our pictures' to see the rest**