toys galore....and the walker

When we decorated for Christmas, Ben decided to give Braden an early X-mas by bringing out all of the big baby toys. Man, I love my young children, but a little part of me can't wait until the toys go away! Braden loves his walker. He knew how to operate it the second he got in it! He cruises all around our kitchen now and is even trying to get into cabinets. Yikes!

Of course, Evan has to try out all of Braden's new gadgets.

Dad's 60th Birthday party & Evan's 1st time bowling!

My mom planned a great surprise party for my dad. We invited a bunch of family and friends to go bowling on Saturday night. Although it was passed our boys' bedtimes, we decided to venture out and let Evan try bowling for the first time.

As one would guess, he got plenty of gag gifts. This jacket stole the show!

Evan was telling us to "stop bowling!" until someone gave us the ramp for him to try. From then on, he loved it!

Braden's 1st Thanksgiving & Papa's 60th Birthday!

Yep...my dad tunred the big 6-0 on Thanksgiving this year. My mom prepared a delicious gluten free meal, and we were able to spend the whole day together. It was wonderful! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Here is Ben teaching his boys how to play "Chopsticks."

Laundry is fun!

Basement remodel

We have finally decided to remodel the basement!!! I'm so excited! Ben will have two weeks off over Christmas to get it done...hopefully! So far, he has taken down the ceiling, the paneling on the walls, and he is currently mudding the daylights out of the walls. Next, he'll have to get messy with getting the stone off the fireplace and the tile off the floor. He is my handyman stud!

Obsession

Evan has become really good at playing independently. He has an obsession with his cars. He plays with them every single day. Basically, he just lines them up in rows, and then he recruits us to race the cars with him once in a while. It's quite cute. I wonder how long this will last!!

Braden's 6th month photos

When Evan was 6 months old, the Minnesota Twins won their division (2006). So my mom and dad got Evan a Twins outfit with 2006 Division Champs embroidered on it. This year, with Braden about the same age as Evan was, the Twins did it again. So my parents ran out and got Braden an outfit just like Evan's with 2009 Division Champs embroidered on it. It's just too bad you can't see the embroidery in the picture. Oh well, he has the souvenir for life! Thanks, Mom and Dad!!!

Evan won't pose for the camera anymore, so I end up taking a lot of pictures of Braden.

hAlLoWeEn 2009

Evan was supposed to be a pumpkin (jack-o-lantern), but he insisted on wearing his pirate hat and taking is sword from his costume last year. I wore this pumpkin costume when I was a little kid. My mom made it.

He loved trick-or-treating and made Daddy run to each house (he was in a wagon). woops--Braden at the pumpkin patch again.

Braden was a lion!

Aunty Mary wore a costume that she bought for Ludo. Meanwhile, Ludo was dressed as a banana.

annual trip to the apple orchard

For Mary's birthday, we always go to Pinetree Apple Orchard and then out to eat. Here are our pics this year. By the way, my little sister is 28 now!!!

Grandma's 90th birthday party

I took a trip to ND with my mom and sister over MEA for my Grandma's 90th birthday party! It was my first trip away from my family by myself. At first it was awkward...I felt naked! But I was quickly reminded of how wonderful sleeping in is.

Doesn't my Grandma look great! I can't believe she's 90! She still lives on her own! Go G-ma!!

These are most of Grandma's grandkids and great grandkids (missing John, Adam, Zach, Caleb, Evan, and Braden).

My mom and her sister, Sandy, wore some of my grandma's dresses that she owned in the 1940s (or so) to the party. Isn't that cool?!

Each family made a picture board to display our memories of her. I came across this photo from the Schlag/Selzler board. It's my cousin, Luke, with Grandma. I couldn't believe how much it looks like Braden!!!