Happy Birthday, Smyles and One Last Hurrah!!

Saturday was another busy day for us. Our Saturdays as a 4-person family, and having the ability to "run" like we've grown accustomed to in the last year and a half, are numbered! Baby M will be here before we know it and we are trying to cram in as many things between now and then as we can!
The girls and I each got haircuts on Saturday morning (it was the first of the stops on my "pampering spree" before Baby M is born!) Then we headed to the library to meet our friends. Tonja (aka Trevor's mom--I teach with her) and Trevor (M&M's favorite friend that is a boy) met us there for Smyles's 5th Birthday/Anniversary. Smyles is the library's mascot and though we don't warm up easily to dresses up creatures (something they got from their mother), we had a fun time.
Here are the girls signing a giant card for Smyles.

This is one of our 'claims to fame.' Kay Marner wrote a book about Smyles when she worked for the library and conducted the Sawyer Bookmobile stop. Little did we know (until Wednesday or Thursday of last week) that she's our neighbor. Don't get me wrong, I see her outside with her kids all the time, and we'll say 'hi' and make small talk. I also knew that Kay Marner wrote that book. What I didn't know is that Kay Marner and my neighbor were the same person! We're going to walk our two copies of the book down to her in the near future to get them signed. Here she is reading her book at the celebration.

Smyles tattoos for all!

Writing a postcard to mail to Smyles.

Enjoying the band that played with a little "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" action!


After lunch and nap, my side of the family came to visit. We had planned this a few weeks ago--that we would take the girls bowling. They love to bowl, and it's not going to be as easy to go with Baby M coming soon. As those of you with children know....a baby changes everything....for everyone that comes in contact with them. The world/schedule/plans/day revolves around them. We're looking forward for her to grace our lives, but know we won't be able to do as much of this kind of stuff as easily.

In between turns, Myah and Maysen demonstrated their radical dance moves for everyone.


Dad thought he was funny putting a bowling ball up his shirt to mimic my ever-growing belly. We should have done a side profile to get the full effect, but it's pretty darn acurate!

We're off to start another (busy) week. I go to the doctor tomorrow--anxious to see if I'm dilating at all. We're hoping not as we (really meaning I) have everything scheduled and planned to go smoothly for March 8 (I know...you're shocked!). Stops two and three of the 'pampering spree' occur this week in final preparations. Tuesday I get a pedicure with my great friend Lisa, and Friday I'm getting some highlights done in my hair. I have never really dyed my hair in anyway. I did a 7 highlight special once in college, but that doesn't really count. There's something about delivering a baby (and maybe I'm imaging it...or maybe it's just the association with being in the hospital) that makes me not feel pretty. I know these things are petty, but I think they will make me feel better.

Stay At Home Day

Saturday is a 'stay at home day' according to Myah and Maysen because they don't have school. However, we haven't really stayed at home much today. I'm hoping we'll be more home bodies tomorrow after church.
This morning, I washed all of the sheets and remade all of the beds just as I do every other Saturday morning. In between loads and making beds, we had craft time--two crafts today, though they were small.
1) Valentines Frame (Target-set of two for $2.00)

2) Heart Mobiles (edited idea from Kelle Hampton)
Heart Ribbon, Heart stickers, Foam Hearts all purchased at Hobby Lobby

Earlier in the week, I overheard someone at work talking about how admission to Reiman Gardens was free this weekend. I called over there yesterday to double check, and they said 'yes, with a canned food donation.' When we went this past summer, we missed the Butterfly Garden because we weren't aware that it closes half an hour before the rest of the gardens. I figured, today would be a great day to go! The conservatory was also fun to see because it gave us a preview of this summer's theme : Picnics and ANTics. We learned all about Ant colonies and were able to watch ants gather leaves to decompose into fungus in their ant farms. We'll have to go back for the full display this summer!

Next stop: Dairy Queen!! The Dairy Queens in Ames, Story City, Nevada (and other surrounding areas) were having a Blizzard Alert! 1/2 price blizzards for today only! Who can pass that up?? That's like a new holiday, right?? Brandon had cookie dough, I had peanut butter cup....and the girls had a little of each!
We headed on home for a short nap (we all needed it to be longer)....and then off to a gymnastics birthday party! So much for a 'stay at home day,' huh!?!?! What does your 'stay at home day' look like??

Rounding out 2010

Since my camera is back in my possession I want to fill you in on our last week of 2010.

On Wednesday, January 29, the girls and I headed up to Okoboji for a few last restful days of winter vacation. Brandon had basketball practice everyday so he stayed behind in Ames. We don't spend much winter time in 'Boji, though I did live up there for a year and a half during my student teaching and my first year out of college when I was subbing. Okoboji has always been a 'Magical' (for lack of a better word) place for me. It even holds that quality for me in the winter. It's just a nice escape from the ordinary. It's a nice time to enjoy some of our favorite restaurants without it being completely busy and crazy. We even tried a few new places, which is always fun as well. The first evening, M&M wanted to play on the deck in the snow. Since we hadn't really had much snow in Ames they were really excited to have some to play in. This pregnant mama even helped them make a snow man! It turned out looking like a snow triangle, but since I'm sort of shaped like a triangle these days, it seemed appropriate:)

On Thursday, we took the girls to an indoor waterpark at Bridges Bay Resort. Since we have a home in the Lakes Region, we spend a lot of time on the lake and outside on the deck in the summer. It was the perfect chance for us to try out this water park. The girls (and might I add, everyone else) had a great time!! It wore them out for a great nap :)
Maysen and Papa in the Lazy River.
C and Ric helping the girls cross the lilypads.
M&M loving the waterslides!


On Friday (New Year's Eve), we headed back to Lake Mills and rang in the New Year snuggling with family, putting puzzles together, and watching Despicable Me.

Saturday, January 1 was the Christianson Christmas gathering. As a tradition, all of the grandkids/great grandkids have to sing songs before we are able to open gifts. My Aunt Kathy had some animal hats from the church Christmas program that the great grandkids wore...they were too cute. This year, we had a mock Nativity complete with my cousin Joseph and his girlfriend Mary (no joke!). Can you say adorable??