TIGF- Riley's School Party

 Riley in class...

 The Parade!

 Some of Riley's Pre-K classmates, Batgirl and Ladybug Girl!

 Riley's Teacher (blurry because it was in the gym with lights turned down, no flash...oops!)

Ghost Bowling (my game to run at the party!)

This year, Riley finally gets to celebrate holidays at school. Her Pre-school was no fun in that respect. So I volunteered to help out and stayed for lunch with her. It was a fun morning! Thanks Auntie Katie for watching the rugrat!

TIGF - First School Day!

Riley rode the bus to her first day of school this week. We are thankful that we have a great school near our house and that she seems to love her new teacher and is excited to be in school this year. It's gonna be weird having Rowan home all day with no Roo! Big adjustment for all of us, but a GREAT one. She is gonna love school!

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I have been slacking on the TIGF section of my blog lately, but this weekI am VERY thankful to be at the end of another contract with our house on the market. I think we were really getting closer this time on price and we had a steady flow of showings, but no offers. I am sick to death of keeping my house spotless every time we leave. I am hoping that I will be a little more organized after three years of practice and I am hopeful that I will be better able to keep my house looking nice, but THANKFUL that I don't HAVE TO do it every time we leave. Whew! Maybe next year???

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I am glad that activity on the house has been steady and mostly given me enough time to get ready and get out of the house in a reasonable amount of time. I will be excited to sell, but sad to say good -bye to some great neighbors.

PS I'm thankful for Twins Baseball too:) Good or bad...baseball is here again!!!

TGIF - The Rock

Out at my grandparent's place that they sold several years back, there is a rock that we had pictures taken on many times over the years. The new owners were supposed to be having a sale out there so we thought we might get a few pics with OUR kids on "Our Rock"...I made my mom take the kids because I just can't bring myself to go back there. Thank you Mom!!

I am so thankful for the memories I have of "Snake Acres" and my childhood spent at this lake with my cousins and my grandparents. I still have a hard time saying good-bye to the place of so many happy times. Someday...

The first pic was taken the year Grandma and Grandpa sold the lake place. Long before our kids and I think before Meg and Chris were even married...and I know my cousins significant others were not even "dates" yet...except maybe Sharis?!?! It was a while back. I don't have copies of the pics when we were "kids" but this rock goes WAY back!

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I was going to be thankful that everyone was healthy again but yesterday Josh discovered his "cold" was strep AND pink eye:) Ummmmm, I'm thankful that winter is almost over?!?!

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I am thankful for play dates at friend's houses and nap time at the same time...2.5 hours of quiet time for Mom! Whew!

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I am thankful for a mostly good 2011 and for my family, friends and our health...current cold sniffles aside...Overall, we have a very happy and healthy family and I am so thankful for that! Bring on 2012~

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I am thankful I survived 9 hours at work on Black Friday.

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Thankful for being sneaky...Christmas time is a fun challenge!

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Ok, time for some silly things to be thankful for...I'm thankful for the Canterbury Craft Sale, Facebook, Christmas shopping, coffee grinders, and GOOD COFFEE!!

TIGF - Anniversary in Excelsior

As I mentioned, Friday was our anniversary last week. We went to dinner at Jake O'Connors (My favorite Irish pub in the Twin Cities) in Excelsior and then Kaliedoscoops (Ice cream shop in Champlin) for dessert. Mom and Dad took the kids for the night so we could enjoy the evening curled up on the couch watching my gift to Josh...Season's 3 and 4 of Big Bang Theory! We had a wonderful night. Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids and the anniversary gift...which I haven't figured out how to spend "frivolously" yet... and Thanks Mark and Linda for covering most of dinner:)

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Today, I am VERY thankful that this weekend is Duck Soup and I have done NO WORK whatsoever on the tournament itself. I am managing one of the two teams we have entered, but I do that every year, usually on top of volunteer coordinating and keeping concessions and merchandise areas staffed.

There is a new board running the show this year and we are so glad they brought back the tournament after our director died suddenly last year, forcing us to cancel the event.

The tournament has been a huge part of our summer for 7 years as board members and more than 10 as participating teams. We love the event, but it is so nice not to be in charge anymore! This year, we will be playing dressed as Loony Tunes characters...stay tuned for photos!

Oh, I should mention...Duck Soup is at wacky rules softball tournament played in St. Louis Park this weekend. Teams play dressed in costume, run the based backward, hit off a tee, etc. You should all come watch;)

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This week I am thankful for Cornfest! Spent the night there with Riley and our 10-year-old neighbor girl...Girls night out has a whole new meaning:)

Rowan's New Words - TIGF

Rowan is 18 months today. While he is still hit or miss on the whole sleeping through the night thing, and he still only has about 6 teeth that I can see, he is starting to add to his vocabulary after a week with his older cousins. He can now say things that sound a lot like:

Truck (his favorite...still kinda "Guck" But it counts!)
Motor Boat
School Bus (this one is GREAT...it's more like "Cool Butts")
Hi
Bye
Gampa/Papa
Meg (more like "Med")
Help
Up (Uppa)
Down (Dow - Maybe he wants to talk to dad about work?)
Pup-Pup
CoKo (all furry animals are named after my sister's dog?)

That's what I can think of...I will add as I remember them.
We are so thankful for our smiley little boy. He is a happy kiddo and a good napper...sometimes twice a day! But at night he still has his moments...We love him to pieces! Mischief and all!

ADDITIONS: He also knows how to "shake it like a Poloroid picture" and Cha-Cha (Everybody clap your hands!)

TGIF

I am thankful that I will have lots to blog about in the next few weeks with lots of pictures. Be patient...they are coming!!!

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Thing I am Grateful For...I am thrilled that this storm is during the day and not at night so I can sleep without company:)

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Just a short one today...I love coupons and freebies:)

Here are two of my favorite places to find fun stuff free:

http://thefreebieblogger.com/
http://thefrugalgirls.com/

TIGF - T-Ball!

I am so excited for Riley to start T-ball this year. After a rocky/rainy first night, she has decided she really loves the game and she is doing great. Tuesday she played Third Base (she was kinda in the outfield, but moved her way infield cuz that's where the action was!) and then tonight she ended the game at First Base. She told me last week maybe someday she can play for the Twins! That's my girl:)

Happy Birthday Auntie Katie - TIGF

On Tuesday, it was too hot for Mom and Katie to Golf...

So we celebrated Auntie Katie's Birthday instead....

It reached 102 degrees on Tuesday...

Today my MUCH OLDER sister turns 36:) Happy Birthday Auntie Katie!! We love you and hope you have a very special birthday today! And as my TIGF...I have awesome sisters!