Happy Birthday Jesus!

I love Christmas time - lights, snow, tree, decorations, you name it! And now with kids, it is even better. When we pulled out the decorations, Gerrit was very interested in what was in all the boxes. He helped hang the ornaments, found ones he wanted to use to play 'football' or cars or cyclcross with and plug the lights in every time we get up in the morning or return home. We took out his Little People nativity set and talked about the people in it and the whole story of Jesus' birthday and how this time of year is the time we remember and celebrate. So while decorating the tree, Gerrit was singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus! I could only smile and hope he continues to see Christmas time as just that - Jesus' birthday party.

Disappointing Photo Shoot

Yesterday we had the boys' pictures taken in Roch. I thought I would get a bigger bang for my buck if we went back to Traci and paid for an hour and took home the CD of all the pictures taken rather than my cheapo route of JC Penny. I thought we could combine Emmit's one yr pictures and a few pictures of the boys and use it for the Christmas card. I thought I had everything laid out - their outfits, the chair, birthday cake, and I was finishing up a pair of socks for Emmit to wear in the Christmas photo in the car on the way down! We got to her house and realized we forgot the shirts for the Christmas photo. I was crushed! Here we paid a bit more to go this route thinking we were getting a few things taken care of at one time only to be let down. I had their outfits planned since Oct. when my parents came and had been knitting like mad to accessorize their outfits! Adam felt bad because he was in charge of ironing them and left them upstairs rather than bringing them down by the door so we wouldn't forget them. I couldn't feel too bad because we didn't pay full price for our sitting fee because I knitted her a hat and was paid for it! Yep, my first knit for profit item (well, deducted from what we owed her). Anyways, Adam was a trooper and helped me do a photo shoot when we got home (although we will try it one more time tomorrow because Emmit was bleeding on his face for some reason).  Here is a sneak peak of a few of the photos taken:

None of the pictures of the boys together seemed to turn out. Either they were looking in opposite directions or Gerrit had a stupid look on his face! (this is why we are trying the Christmas card shoot one more time as I was hoping maybe one of the pics Traci took would turn out) We lucked out at least in that the outfits the boys were wearing somewhat coordinated but seeing none of them really turned out, no big deal... I will post the rest of the pictures on Shutterfly in the next few days for those family members who wish to order Emmit's one year pictures.

Snow Plowin' Minnesota Style

We had our first snowstorm of the season this weekend. We were predicted to get between 4-8" but got about 11" in 12 hours. It was beautiful! The commute home wasn't too bad, we even ventured out to Paul's 8th grade bball game in Mezzep. before dinner. 

Here's the Trailblazer showing how much snow we got:

 

 Gerrit was very excited to help dad shovel - although Adam thought Gerrit was putting more snow back on the driveway and sidewalk than removing it!

 And to most people, the above photo is what snow blowing is all about.

Check out what snow blowing in MN is really like:

 Yes, that is a tractor, in reverse with a huge snow blower on the back of it throwing snow into a dump truck! There was so much snow (and when it snows in MN, it will stick around for a long time - unlike in MI when it will melt tomorrow) that they have to literally move it to a different location. There is not enough space to just use plows and make huge piles (at least in Z-town there isn't much space). So they use an empty lot on the outskirts of town and dump the truck loads of snow throughout the season.

Gerrit had been asking since August to try out the snowshoes that he saw in the garage. So I put them on him and set him in the deep snow. He couldn't quite figure out how to walk with them so I had to rescue him a few times as he tried to walk around the yard. Guess I'll have to strap mine on and give him a lesson!

Gerrit played outside a few times this weekend but now it is bitterly cold so he'll have to look at the snow from inside the house for the next few days!

Jingle Cross Rocks 2010!

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Iowa over Thanksgiving weekend:

 Paul and Adam raced both Sat and Sunday. Paul's races were cold as they were first thing in the morning and Adam's were muddy as it was warming up by midday. Paul placed 2nd both days in his age group and Adam finished middle of the pact. They were both happy with their results. They loved the fly over - a man-made bridge (just like in Europe!). Gerrit loved the hot pool as you can see by him w/ his floaty in the bubbles. Any time Gerrit can hang out with Luker is a good time - from riding on the luggage cart, to swimming, to hanging out on Mt. Crumpet. Emmit kept toasty warm thanks to cousin Max's hand me downs. Luckily he is an easy napper and took his naps quite well in the stroller.

Gerrit was excited because he was able to race one last time for the season. He fell asleep during Adam's race so we woke him up to see if he still wanted to race in the kids' race, and of course he did!

 

Until he saw this:

 

Then Adam spent 5 min. trying to convince him that the Grinch wasn't going to get him, he was racing too!

 He wasn't sold on it and wanted nothing to do with the race, so Luker raced w/o him:

 

At the end of the kids' race, each racer was given a toy from the Grinch: a build a bear! Paul took Gerrit back to the finish line to get his Husky and Luke took a Christmas moose and gave it to Emmit.  Gerrit soon forgot about the race and was too excited to play with his new dog!

Adam had the boys pose with Ryan Tribon - the #2 cyclocross racer in the nation:

It was a busy weekend and thankfully the weather was decent and Dahlen's were there to help with the boys (and Dave took the pictures). I remember the days of going to the races and knitting between races - not these days! There is already plans being made for next year's Jingle Cross as well as nationals - being held in Mad. WI - in JANUARY! Yikes!

Thanksgiving 2010

Uncle Travis joined us for Thanksgiving this year; it was nice to have real family (not just Team Beat). Everyone is all smiles as we are about to feast on a pretty good dinner, I must admit. I made my brother's Jewish turkey (lots of garlic and juicy), Martha Stewart's green bean casserole, garlic mashed potatoes, and cornbread stuffing (which was my favorite and I usually don't like stuffing!). A little bread and cranberries topped off the dinner with pumpkin pie waiting for us later in the day.

Gerrit insisted on eating macaroni instead of turkey!

 Emmit loved the turkey the best with mashed potatoes coming in a close second (until he tried the pumpkin pie).

 Emmit was sporting his tie bib from Uncle Nick and Shorty

Following lunch and a little break to watch the Lions lose, Gerrit helped me decorate the tree. He helped put up a few ornaments until he'd find cool ornaments he wanted to play with as toys and took them off the tree. 

We ended our holiday by visiting Langley's for coffee and more pie (Adam had pecan pie which he knows I will never make, and I had apple which I would make, but we didn't need more than 1 pie for our little gathering this year).

The Tradition Continues

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is going to cut the Christmas tree. Many people call us crazy for cutting it down ourselves and even more crazy when they hear we go to Menomonie WI to do it! But we love this tree farm - hassle free (except for the drive).

We set off just after lunch with the hopes of beating the rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow - you know, the WINTERY MIX they were talking about all week. Well, just as we were leaving the rain started but that did not stop us! When we arrived at the farm, it was snowing pretty good which added to the atmosphere.

It took longer to get the kids bundled up and on the wagon than it did picking out our tree. Yes, we think we did it in record time, which was by chance. The first tree we saw we loved so we decided it wasn't worth looking around more.

Gerrit wanted to be held the whole time which was just the opposite last year - he ran all over the place and hid from us. Emmit just took it al in - he couldn't really move he was bundled up so much but was a trooper. We even dragged Uncle Travis along this year which was fun for us to have company. Gerrit loved the tractor ride and free popcorn. A quick stop for dinner in Red Wing and we are home, safe and sound.

The tree is in the house, bundled up and trying off before we decorate it tomorrow!

Mystry Solved!

Emmit has been a bit under the weather this week. He has had a fever on and off and a runny noise that hasn't stopped running (although this afternoon it slowed way down). After naps you could take a chisel to his nose to get the gunk off it! We debated taking him in but decided not to because the fever wasn't bad and his spirits seemed improved. Then he'd have a cranky spell and we'd second guess going in! The joys of a sick kid who can't voice what he's feeling. 

Tonight at dinner, with the help of Adam I was able to take a look in Emmit's mouth - 2 more teeth! 

That solves the mystery of him being off - he was working hard at getting those teeth to break through! Now he has 4 on top and 4 on bottom. Here's hoping for a better few days as we prepare to head out of town for the last bike race of the season.