Halloween 2009

I better add a Halloween photo from this year too. Aiden was a knight. He changed his mind several times a day leading up to Halloween as to what he wanted to be. Asher was a dragon. They had a great time going trick or treating with their cousins, Reagan, Peyton and Lincoln and friends, Granger and Denton. Followed up by a night at Grandma and Grandpa Stensrud (tradition) after trick or treating.

Deep Thought by a three year old

I guess it seems I am using this blog to archive the cute stories of the kids. Seems like a great place for it. So today we were outside on the swing set taking advantage of this beautiful fall weather we will not have for long. I was pushing Aiden 'high' in the swing. He wants to go higher and higher. Preferrably the ultimate, Under Dog! I think he was swinging for an hour! Need to teach him to pump his legs! Well, I have tried, but not happening yet. So he was staring into the clouds as I pushed him higher and higher. When he asks, 'Mom, where is God?'. So I answer, 'He is in Heaven.' I was quickly corrected. No Mom he lives in my heart!!! : ) Yes, true he lives in your heart. So I tell him he is special and God lives in his heart and chose him and loves him....and he is smiling ear to ear to hear this. Then he goes on to say, 'when I go to heaven I am going to tell God that Denton (his older and wiser buddy) was swinging and said, Aiden your a sissy and then he said geronimo and jumped off the swing. Well, maybe I won't tell him he called me a sissy Mom.' : )

Blessed

Blessed....yes, I am blessed. I don't say that lightly. Today as I get a moment of silence I have time to step back and look at my life and really feel that I am indeed, blessed. I hate how that term gets thrown around and when I say it I mean it!
I love my family! I have a great husband, I do! Today he was so great to let me sleep in til 10am! Awoke to him dusting the house and the boys happy and fed. Now he took them with him to run some errands and I have a few hours to myself! Time to think, reflect. A quiet house. Ahhh. I can't do laundry or dishes (until the drain is fixed, hopefully today).....so I have a quiet mind too...not thinking about those constant chores. Instead I am quietly and slowly, showering and changing out sheets, getting ready and getting out the winter bins to find out what we have and what we need. Making lists of what we need and again am blessed we are so fortunate God has provided enough for us to get what we need.
It is amazing what a little quiet time will do for you! I have been 'blessed' enough this week to have a few hours of this time here and there and have really loved it! It makes me a better Mom and a better Wife and a better Friend!
I am blessed to have a good friend or two! That is all I need. Good friends are hard to find, and I am thankful to have that!
A good husband, also hard to find, and I have that too!
Two wonderfully rambunctious, happy and good little boys, I have that too!
Not to brag, but I do know how 'blessed' I am!

Ask me tomorrow when chaos resumes and I may forget how blessed I am but hopefully I can reread this and remember to take a little quiet time for myself and find those blessings again!

Imaginary Friends

They have arrived. The imaginary friends are here! Aiden told me his friends are in his truck last week...they were rocks. Now this week we have friends he carries with him in his hands. He even keeps them in his hands when he bats or picks things up so it is really funny! Inevitably he sets them down and I sit on them. Their names are Penny and Bolt!!!! You may have heard of them.

Stories

A couple cute stories for the day.

AIDEN: What happens when I tell Aiden no treat. I busted him in the bathroom polishing off his toothpaste, mmmmm! : )

ASHER: I made Puppy Chow for the first time since middle school (Well I didn't make it then, but I ate it) and Asher came to me wanting a piece. I gave him a piece of PUPPY chow and he kept disappearing but coming back for one piece at a time. Well I finally decided to follow him and he wasn't eating it at all but hiving his PUPPY chow to Leo! : ) Smart little guy!

Ok, my update for now.

Also this morning against my wishes, but ok, Andy buzzed Aidens hair. I touched it up with the scissors. Aiden didn't mind this haircut at all. Then he cuddled up on the couch to watch a movie with Leo on this rainy day.

Now I am off to go shopping, alone! Wonderful! AND Andy is taking the boys to the "zoo" ....aka...Cabela's!

Dirty Jobs

A day in the life of a Stay At Home Mom. Glamorous, Glamorous. Flying 1st class.... anyway.

I started my day in my "uniform" of a t-shirt, pony tail and capris. Two boys....what more do I need to say really? Spent the day changing lots of poopy diapers by the 1 year old....more than usual. Wiping the 2 year olds butt after he goes potty. Cleaning up pee off of the floor. Cleaning up pee on the toilet from the biggest boy. Cleaning up juice, milk and whatever other substance off of the floor. Vacuuming up crackers off of the floor. Did I mention I have two dogs too? Pulled two ticks off of one dog today. Went to the basement to clean up and do laundry, at least 5 loads today, nothing new there. Decided to wash the dog beds find 1,000's of bugs in their beds. ewww. More laundry. Nap time....now it is time for me to do dishes, clean out the fridge, lots of goodies there! Wash the dogs, their oily coats are stinky. Forgot to put a bag in the diaper champ and it is starting to smell .... pull out the diapers one by one along with used wipes, q-tips and whatever else is in there and put them in a bag. Oh, don't forget the bathroom garbage! My 2 year old tells me someone pooped in the toilet as there are obvious stains...need to get to that today too. Forever trying to get to the floor of the play room...if there is one! One day in the life! Glamorous!

Reasons I LOVE summer

1. Open windows and fresh air.
2. Popcicles every night!
3. The feeling of the sun penetrating to my core.
4. Walks.
5. Grilling (means less cooking for me).
6. Flip flops
7. Little boys in rompers.

Just the start to my list....it will go on!

Date night

Aiden and I had our Mother/Son date night tonight. We went uptown to see Monsters Vs. Aliens. He got all dolled up with blue gel in his hair and thought he was the man! We got picked up by his friend and his mom and went together. Of course, we had popcorn, which got spilled on the floor right away, pop and nibbs! : ) The theatre was full so Aiden had to sit on my lap....too bad....90 minutes of cuddle time with my 2 1/2 year old little boy! : ) He sat through the movie and thought it was a good one. We came back home and Andy had managed to get Asher to sleep on his own...success! Nursing is almost over for that little guy and I think he will do just fine with the adjustment.

Swing Nap

Almost 11 months old and still taking swing naps! Gotta love it! I wish Asher could stay this age forever!!!! I know I will miss it greatly and am enjoying him so much. I really love every minute with him. This picture is priceless.

Famous

My moms group I started made the paper twice this week!

http://www.forestcitysummit.com/articles/2009/04/08/britt_news/news01.txt

http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/04/10/news/local/doc49deca3a7194b512424041.txt

We have now been in the Forest City, Lake Mills, Britt and Mason City papers! The Mason paper is a biggie, so I have gotten a lot of requests in just today about the group. I have a feeling we are going to be growing quickly. I already have 22+ members. Who knew when I moved here almost 2 years ago there were this many SAHMs!

Easter Bunny

A creepy looking bunny! Asher thought this was fun and Aiden was obsessed! The both enjoyed the Easter Bunny this year! This morning we had fun with having a friend over to play and then since Andy had the day off of work I was able to take Aiden and his friend out for a bit. I gave them each a buck and we went to the preschool bake sale and bought some goodies. They thought they were pretty cool with their own money. Then we headed to the park to enjoy the beautiful day! Wore them out!

Felt Fun

We had a nice relaxing morning today just playing hanging out enjoying our time together. Asher took a nice long morning nap and that left Aiden and I to hang out. Aiden surprised me today by drawing faces....really well! He does it all by himself, much like everything he does these days! Complete with hair, eyes (2 of them), nose and a mouth. Don't forget there is a cookie in every picture too! : ) I don't know where that came from. http://www.learningdesign.com/Portfolio/DrawDev/kiddrawing.html

Then this afternoon after the afternoon naps we had a visitor...Grandma Debb! There is always going to be something fun then! Of course a NEW PROJECT.....FELT FUN! Aiden made the requests as Grandma Debb cut away at the felt. After making the felt board of course. Felt boards remind me of Sunday School. You can see a few of Aidens creations with the felt pieces in the pictures.

Then I made some pizza dough and we did mini pizzas for dinner. We all created our own pizza. Aiden did his...how else, ALL BY HIMSELF! Somehow Aiden ended up with hotdogs on his. Ewwww. I know! He doesn't like pepperoni. Oh and at dinner, Grandma counted and Aiden prayed 8 times! Mostly before every bite! I think that was his way of cooling off his bites....with a quick, "Dear God, thank you for this food, please bless it to our bodies, in Jesus name, Amen."

After that Grandma brought in a special BIG CARS puzzle that Aiden completed again...ALL BY HIMSELF! I took everything in me not to help him...patience!

Another thing Aiden does ALL BY HIMSELF is dress. He picks out his own clothes (unless we are going somewhere) and puts them on ALL BY HIMSELF! He also changes outfits several times a day!

Now Aiden and Grandma Debb are upstairs reading some books and getting the "I'm not tired" boy to sleep....as he yawned!

And Asher, well he was just content along for the ride today. He is walking more and more. He did have an interesting dinner....it looks like caviar...but really just some black olives! Oh and a few bites of pizza and some artichoke heart and chicken casserole. And a jar of carrots. A hungry boy!

Romans 10:9

A couple more videos we were just hanging out at home last night and Aiden was performing for us. Don't mind that they are the Naked Brothers Band. You can't see anything so I think they are safe for the blog. Hard to keep clothes on these boys!

1. Singing some tunes.

2. Bible Verse Andy taught Aiden right before he turned two. "That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. He threw a bit of another prayer in there too! : )
Right after Aiden had learned this bible verse we were getting loaded up in the van and I was putting Asher in his carseat and Aiden was back buckling his car seat up and he said to me, "Mom I am going to buckle this up so 'I will be safe, Romans 10:9'" : )

Be Careful Little Eyes

I need to work on my videography skills but here are a few videos of Aiden.
Singing in his church Easter program last sunday. The first song is the one we practiced a lot! :) The second one I didn't even know! I didn't post the first video because it was too all over the place because I was waving!

Kids say the darndest things...

While I was folding laundry this morning Aiden puts on one of my bras and proceeds to go find baby Asher. I hear him in the play room in his sweetest voice, "Hi Honey, want some milk (as he pulls up his shirt with a bra on) from my tummy?"

Seriously I should write a book! This kid comes up with the funniest things.

You might think a simple closet organizer would not be that interesting. Ah, Contrar (SP?)....today it was a shield, a jail cell, a ladder, a weapon, a stool and a drill just to name a few! The imagination of this kid is exploding and keeping me on my toes!

He sang at church this weekend too for Easter and I have video I need to put up. He was so good. He was so excited and spoted me before the song started and jumped up and down waving and yelling, HI MOM! THAT IS MY MOM!!!!! : ) So funny! Ironically the song we worked on and downloaded from ITunes and played/sang several times a day with the actions to practice he just stood there for and put his hands in his pocket not saying a word. The other song he knew all the actions! (Didn't practice that one a bit...couldn't find it on ITunes) : ) He is one of the younger kids up there. I am impressed he even goes up. He did it without any hesitation this time, Christmas time he wasn't so sure. Our church is big so I would be more scared than him!

Sick Sick Sick

Well we are officially the sick team. First Aiden was diagnosed with bronchitis and HATES to take his medicine, he told us he would just take his other medicine he likes. Then Asher was diagnosed the next day with double ear infection and upper respiratory infection. He takes his medicine like a "big boy"! : ) And I got to go to the orthodontist and am now wearing Invisaline on my bottom teeth since their permanant retainer malfunctioned, er.... I feel like a teenager all over again...and I have a nice lisp that comes along with it. I have to wear it for a month, although it is removable....and I will be taking it out in public....but my teeth really hurt! Ouch! We are longing for that sunshine so we can open our windows! I feel like no matter how many times I clean it just doesn't feel fresh! And I just can't seem to catch up. We are on the lookout for Easter Outfits and are having horrible luck. Checked, Old Navy, Children's Place, Gymboree, Target, Walmart, Twice is Nice, Ebay.....where else is left? Man. But, of course, there are 100000000 cute girl dresses. We did get some nice Grandpma Debb time today! Doing lunch and shopping!

We have been REALLY busy lately! Last friday we took a day trip to the Des Moines zoo. We had a lot of fun! Aiden and Asher loved it. Aiden told me his favorite animal was the snake. I think it must have been the most memborable, because he was terrified of it when we were there.

Easter Eggs

Aiden colored Easter Eggs today. I don't what Easter Eggs have to do with Easter really....so when I asked him if he knew why we were dying Easter Eggs and he said no why....well I realized, I don't know! I was quick on my toes and said we dye Easter Eggs because Jesus Died on the cross for our sins. Well, he is two...so hopefully I can become more knowledgable of these silly traditions in the future. But we had fun!

MY BABY CAN WALK!

Asher has taken a step or two a few times but today he really took an attempt to walk....it won't be long now. He seems so little to be walking, just a baby. I love these first steps. Andy even got home just in time today to see the first real steps!

Ambulance

We had another fun day with my Moms group!!!! Today we went to Britt to get a tour of the Ambulances'! Aiden loved it and even got to pretend drive them! And almost as good had some new fun snacks!!! Asher was his pleasant self....sat in the stroller and observed....while leaving a trail of cheerios wherever he went. I didn't take any pictures, however the Britt newspaper was there to do an article on my group so maybe I will post a link to that when it comes out. This is the 3rd newspaper to feature the North Iowa SAHMs! I am just so happy how this group is growing! And love to see the friendships that are forming out of it. : )

My NEW camera arrived in the mail today! I am so excited! You will probably be seeing a lot more pictures now! It can even take pictures underwater...look out pool!

Andy is at fireman training tonight....he has been gone soooooo much these last few months I am so ready for this to be over to have my husband back! I need someone to cuddle up on the couch with again! I am TVoing the Office to watch when he gets home here. The boys are fast asleep, ahhhhhhh a quiet house....if only it would clean itself.

Planting Season

Today we planted marigold seeds!!! Enjoy a few pictures of our trip to visit Grandpa Greenhouse & Nana!

Step One: Filling up the pot with soil.
You would think this very boyish boy would have loved this step...well he did, but he wanted that dirt off of his hands right away when it was over! Also secure in his manhood he picked out a pink Easter Egg decoration and a Pink balloon to take home!



Step Two: put in the seeds.















Step Three: water in the seeds.
This is FUN! Also why we wore our workboots!

Aiden

Today we decided to start something new. Our project was coloring and cutting out all of the different weather symbols. We just need to laminate them. We plan to use them every morning when we wake up to look outside and do the weather forecast, hanging the right ones up on the window each day. I was impressed with Aiden today when he picked the sun and the wind and it was sunny and windy out! So we hung them up on the window. I can't believe he is starting preschool in the fall already, my little boy is growing up! This project reminds me of preschool!

Aiden has been counting out on his hand for awhile now and he is getting really good at it. Holding up any number of fingers and knowing right away how many are there. Even a little adding and subtracting.



Then tonight after Asher was in bed and Andy was at his fireman training, Aiden and I had a nice evening cuddled up on the couch. He asked me......Can I kiss your forehead Mom? 'Yes' Can I kiss your nose Mom? 'Yes' Can I kiss your mouth Mom? 'Yes' Then he said, " I love you SO SO SO SO SO SO much!" The best moments in life are right there!

Asher driving the car at the mall!























Off to school!












Extreme picnicing adventure! We got a little spring fever the day before spring and decided to have a picnic with Grandma Debb. It was a little chilly but we still had fun. Asher, here, trying his first pickle! No funny faces...he liked it!

Bad Bunnies

Today we had Grandma Debb down to visit and spent the day doing projects. Aiden wanted to do a monkey project he told her on Thursday so Grandma came through with an idea! He created the whole project by himself. We thought his was the best of the bunch! I created my own, Bad Bunny complete with naughty piercings and he is even considering a tattoo!
Friday I was able to get away for the afternoon and get a pedicure....Andy surprised me and said to just show up at Headquarters at 3:30pm. Right on the first day of Spring....couldn't have asked for a better more thoughtful gift! I also got to have some fun time friday night going to a chick flick with a friend and then Saturday morning I went shopping alone!Man! That is a big weekend for me! We are grilling out tomorrow with some friends. All in all a GREAT weekend!

Date Night!

No, not date night with Andy...it was my first official date night with Aiden! I decided I need more alone time with each of the boys. I never feel like I am able to give either of them the attention they deserve. So tonight we started our first date night. Just the two of us! No big deal, just drove out to Burger King and had dinner. Life with one kid would be so easy! I am going to have to think long and hard before I decide I would want to add a third child. Already not enough of me to go around! I am sure it can be done though!
We had a crazy fun weekend! Aiden played with his cousins Reagan and Peyton. Asher had teeth coming in all weekend and was in a lot of pain. We went to 2nd cousin Cade's 3rd birthday bash! Aiden was afraid of all of the people and just wanted to play outside while Asher was happy go lucky to sit with anyone. Lots and lots of playing! We should have some good naps this week!
My Sister-In-Law, Rachael and I went on our regular trip to Starbucks when they come home. Feeling adventurous I finally tried something other than a Chai Latte and it was good!
Peace....off to watch The Amazing Race!

Two

Then again maybe he is just two!

STRONG

So I was told today Aiden is strong willed. Some of you may be thinking, duh, she didn't know? Well, when it is your own child you want to see the best in him. He is a great kid afterall, but yes he is a strong willed boy at times, but to give him a title....well that is only up to his parents or a dr. in my opinion. I guess when he was a little baby and I wondered is he colicky....maybe borderline is what I conclusion I came to. But he really didn't cry a ton, but was very clingy and just more high maintenance. Now that I have a second child to compare with I can see their differnces as Asher is much more laid back. So I did what I do and I ordered all of the best books on strong willed children out there and will read them all! I like to do my research! And I hope to get Andy to read my "to be" highlighted parts of the books so we can be on the same page and hopefully find some useful techniques. As a parent I do have a little wisdom (2 years worth! :). I now know some of the most difficult personality traits as an infant and toddler actually make for great adult traits. I know Aiden will be a leader, he will not follow the crowd, he will be somebody and will hopefully if guided right be a great leader for God!

Cousins

My cousin Tara & I! We always have to take a picture together every time we see each other! Love ya! Go and put your records on!!!! Da da da da da DORA! Memories!

Art

Is this really art? Seriously blocks of blue in different shades, I guess I just don't "get it." Oh well, there were some cool ones but we got in trouble for taking pictures and had to stop or I would have taken more!

I have never seen Asher so happy in his life! He had a great time at the Weissman Art Center in Minneapolis today! Maybe he is going to be my artistic boy! He loves music too. We jammed out all weekend to "Put your records on" and he loves it! He might be my mini me, as Aiden is to Andy! I can dream, right?

The whole gang here celebrating my Mom's 50th birthday and my Grandma's 70th birthday at Olive Garden (of course)! I had the Zuppa Toscana! mmmmm.

Today I also cooked meals for the month with my friend, Abby, while our husbands watched the boys. How exhausted am I? 10 total hours of cooking and shopping. But at least we are now done for the month! Just thaw and bake!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood.....

It was a beautiful day today! In the 50's which feels like the 70's this time of year! I took the boys for a walk in their new wagon. It was so much fun to watch them, they just laughed the entire ride with each other. We stopped by a friends house (Baby David) and gave him a little ride too. Some funny pictures. Aiden wearing his John Deere hat like a true farmer! Hey, we live in Iowa now! I can't wait for summer, when we stepped outside today Aiden said, "it is summer!" Ready for the green grass to come back and leaves on trees, flowers......

Say Cheerios!

Asher had his 9 month-old photo shoot today. Basically me and my Grandma with a camera! Too bad the second child has yet to have a professional photo shoot. But oh well at least we have some pictures of him! Now if I could just get them printed out we would be golden! He was a fuss bucket today, so such a bad day for pictures. He is not sick but so clingy and not eating, and has all of his teeth that were coming in so who knows. I hate not knowing what is wrong with your little one.....but soon he too will be talking and can tell us what is wrong!
What do you think of the effect on this picture. I am trying some new things, I hope they aren't too weird!

Future Rhodes Scholar

Future Rhodes Scholar?
....maybe. For now we just like to make book avalanches!




















'Catch me if you can!'
Asher loves to try to climb the stairs really fast while being chased!




















Just Right!
Posing pretty after church in his chair Grandma Debb painted for him. It fits just right!

Can't a girl shave her legs?

Note to self: don't leave toddler alone with art bin.
The first time in a long time I decide to take a little extra time for myself and shave my legs and look what happens! I was upstairs putting Asher down for his morning nap and Andy was downstairs with Aiden and had to leave for a bit; instead of putting his art bin away and putting on a cartoon or something to keep him out of things until I came down he left Aiden with the art bin alone! I made sure to let Aiden stay this way until Andy came home to see him though....and clean him up! It was pretty cute though....except the confetti! Oh yeah, there was also confetti ALL over the playroom floor. Party!!!



















Nap in a Laundry Basket
The new nap time norm. He actually takes great naps in here....plus it is exciting and fun so it is a no fuss nap! I won't complain and will comply with the laundry basket nap until otherwise!















Can't get enough of 'Beans and Noodles'
Playing more B&N with Great Grandma Rachelle

Beans & Noodles!!!

After Asher is fast asleep we can get out the "Beans & Noodles! : ) Aiden carefully explaining to Dad how we play "Beans & Noodles"....I am not sure if Andy understands just yet! It is fun to watch Aiden play as he has the best imagination! He can have as much fun with a box of rocks as a brand new toy....maybe more!

Today Aiden was a busy guy. He spent all morning baking. He is such a little chef and enjoys to cook as much as possible. He made a couple of birthday cakes (shhh). This seriously took from 10am to 1pm! Then off to nap. He decided it was a good idea to take his nap in a laundry basket...so we covered him up with blankets and put in a pillow and Mickey and he took a good long nap! : ) He tried to ask to sleep there for bedtime too but Dad didn't think it was as good of an idea as we did! Probably for the best.

Nothing new to report on Asher today really, he had his first shoulder ride around the house on my shoulders. He held my hair like a horse and laughed as we ran around and around to some dorky Kindermusic songs. He has a stuffy nose and a slight cold I think, no fun. But not fussy, such a happy little guy!

Off to relax and enjoy our time together as a couple.

SOOOOO BIG!

Today was hopefully the last snowy day of the year so we decided to take advantage of it and had a pajama day! Love those day!
Asher is starting to love to play with his hands and do anything that involves his arms or hands. It is so funny! From waving hello & goodbye to SO BIG, throwing a ball, clapping, signing 'more' and dancing up a storm! Even as I put him to bed at night he waves him arms and hands till the last minute! It is so fun to watch him grow and change, although I wish it would slow down. (Note: turn the volume down so you don't have to hear my annoying "Mom" voice).





Aiden had fun today problem solving with beans, noodles, utensils and lots of containers! Perfect pajama day activity! I will have to take a picture next time so you can see what I am talking about.

Asher's 9 months old!

Well this is my attempt to continue my blog...hopefully with a little more time invested into it! Today we went to Asher's 9 month well-baby visit in Albert Lea. My Mom went with to help with Aiden. Asher is my little peanut weighing in at 19lbs (34th %) and 28 3/4 inches (66th %). Yet a big Stensrud head, of course...in the 90th %! : ) He got the HIB shot and the Dr. was impressed with all he was doing. He even demonstrated "SO BIG" for her! It is so cute. I just love my little guy he is so precious. Then we went to K&K Bakery for a special breakfast with Grandma. Then to the library to play and read for a bit. Now we are back home. Asher has been a little fussy this afternoon so we have been "touring our house."