Mess Maker

30 seconds alone and this is what she does...

While Mommy is away...

John really stepped it up this year as I have been on two trips away with Eden.  It was the first time I've ever left the boys with him (not that I was hesitant!).  I visited my cousins in North Dakota with my mom in October and then I went with my mom to see Amy and Andrew in Virginia in January.  Both times, John went above and beyond with the boys.  They had so much fun and enjoyed their time "just the boys".  Although I was a little happy to hear they don't want me to leave again.  :)  Here's a sampling of their time together...

A Saturday afternoon at the museum.

Culvers and a Blugolds hockey game!

Movie night and popcorn.

Crazy things when its just the boys...

Hangin' at dad's office on Sunday morning.

Buliding Halloween haunted houses!

At the ski jump competition in Eau Claire!

Logan's "Get Well" card for Eden while she was sick in Norfolk.

Ring pops at the hockey game.

Playing outside on freezing cold days.

More museum fun.

Logan's card for Eden.

Bennett told me he wrote me this note while I was gone: "Mom, I love you and I miss you".  Sweet!

Boyd Park Fun

Today was the way Friday should always be!  Its John's day off, so after Logan is done with school we have the whole day to goof off!  It was beautiful and sunny today so we took advantage and walked to Boyd Park for some afternoon fun!

We have some pretty decent snowbanks in our yard.  This week we have gotten about 3 inches of snow over a few days.  Its nice to have some fresh snow!

Our house in all its drab winter glory.  Haha.

The boys bundled up in the Burley for the ride down to the park.  Eden rode in the Ergo with me and she was sleeping before we made it down the block.

We got to check out the snow sculptures from Winter After Hours.  They haven't fared very well with all the rain we've had lately.

This one was probably so cool because its even colored!  But, its broken and in pieces, so we couldn't really tell what it looked like before.  The guys who do the snow sculptures here in EC just won the national competition in NYC so that is pretty exciting!

The boys were busy gathering "snow boulders" for their fort.

I didn't expect to stay at the park so long, but we spent a couple hours while the boys were busy "skating" in their boots and building forts.

This was my cute view.

Bennett working hard...

just look at that face...

They got John's help and it was great fun!

Yay for Friday fun!

Eden is 11 Months!

Our little lady turns 11 months today!  I was worried I wouldn't get the photos taken so I did them right away in the morning.  Logan and John were off to school so Benny helped me out with taken photos.  Eden was happy and smiley for her 11 month birthday!  Hooray!

I can't believe its only one more month until Eden turns ONE...John and I just can't believe one year has nearly passed.  Thinking back to this time last year, I was just finishing work at Starbucks and I was exhausted (no wonder - another 10 lb baby!).  The anxiety of being able to handle another baby on top of the very busy boys was beginning to set in.  It feel like a lifetime ago.  And to think of how smoothly the transition to a family of five has been, I just feel so blessed.

Eden has been a busy girl this month!  The biggest news:

She started WALKING!  Two days before turning 11 months she just stood up like she always does and walked across the kitchen floor - like 6 steps!  She had been taking some sliding steps between cruising for the last couple weeks, so we weren't surprised!  But we were surprised at how many steps she could take all at once!  Way to go, Eden!  The boys were ecstatic!  It was so fun to cheer her on!

Eden also started making more and more sounds and talking to us in paragraphs with passion!  She loves to be heard and often reacts to our noisy house with loud screams of "Gicht!" as if to remind us that she has important things to say, too!  She says "Dat" to John, but we're not sure its on purpose.  Some of our favorite sounds are: "Ma", "Da", "Glig", and "Gicht".  She is also learning some signs, but most are her own variation of what we've been teaching her.

What are Eden's favorite toys?  Buzz Lightyear, Cars, and anything the boys are playing with.  Seriously, baby toys have been a loss on her because she would really rather just play alongside her big brothers with whatever they are using!

She sure doesn't sit still for long.  She is really keeping us on our toes.  She is a joy and not as feisty in her 10th month as I thought she was becoming in her 9th month.  :)  Eden is very detailed, much like we remember Logan as a baby.  She takes interest in tiny details and small pieces, fitting them together with ease.  I have a feeling she a future puzzle genius like Logan.

She points.  At everything.  All the time.  And say, "Dis".  So cute!

Nothing is safe from Eden unless its high out of reach.  She stretches up tall to reach!  She is pretty resourceful when she wants something and pretty relentless.  We can tell if she wants something...she doesn't give up!

Bennett reading to Eden.

Stealing a kiss.

Our girl - a joyful 11 months!

After getting dressed there was more reading.  It was sweet.  Next year, it will just be me and these two...crazy to think.  We are one lucky family!