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!

TIGF

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???

TIGF - More from the Angie Koos Photography Shoot

 Irish eyes...

 Mommy's kisses...

 My fave!

 My boys...

 Daddy's buddies...

 Walkin...

 Diva...

Stinker:)

Today I am thankful that we met Nurse Angie years ago and that we asked her to take our family photos this year. She is awesome! (Personally and professionally!) Thank you Angie!

TIGF- Josh's Great Adventures

I have been working a little more than normal lately and so Josh tries to keep the kids busy when he has them at night. Tuesday night he took them on a bike ride to Oak Grove Park and found this beautiful boy:) I am so thankful my kids have a daddy that loves to take them fun places and on magical adventures.

TIGF

Ok, Meg tells me it has been since Friday the 13th since I posted...I know this is bad. Thanks Meg! Here are some pics from the wedding we went to last weekend for my cousin (well, somewhat distant cousin, but still...) Bud and his new bride!

Hi to my mom's cousins whom I know read this from time to time! It was great seeing that side of the family again! It's been a while!!!

TIGF

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!!!

TIGF

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?!?!

TIGF

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!

TIGF

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~

TIGF - Christmas Music!!!

I love christmas music. No secret there, but this year I am especially thankful for my new Celtic Woman Christmas CD and most importantly, our kiddos singing Christmas music this year. (Mind you, I was not a fan of Rowan's 2 a.m. performance of Rudolph...jumping up and down on my bed after having been up for 2 hours for no reason, but...it was still kinda cute). I will try to get them singing on camera, but here is my favorite nephew and Godson Zacky in his school program this week.

TIGF

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

TIGF

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

TIGF

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:)

TIGF

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;)

TIGF

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!)

TIGF - Summer Wind-up

My TIGF today, we are winding down with all the summer activities and have some free time next month to actually fit some stuff in. Today was the last swimming lesson for a while, T-ball ends next week (although we are signed up for Fall T-ball, but that is one night a week instead of two) and Josh ends his softball league next week too. Whew! Just in time to get away for a while.

TIGF

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:)