Remodeling

So today, we have almost finished cleaning out the "scrapbooking room." It has been so much more work then I anticipated! We have boxed everything and carried it out into our very much smaller garage ( good thing because we will have a mudroom finally.) Brandon got some kicks because it got to demolition the cabinets and shelving and got to then burn it.... and we all know how men love fire. We moved our main computer out to the basement living room which is kinda nice... not so cold. The porch is about two thirds done it has a roof and it is partially shingled. The mudroom is framed and the heat should go in next week. I am still so undecided about the wood flooring and color of the siding. I have asked my mom for some advice and tomorrow I will see my very talented Aunt Judie.

Last night with the huge mess we have going on around here we could not find Brooke's nuk. So she finally went to bed without one!!!! And only asked me once for it today and that was when I was laying with her in our bed, putting her to bed. But with her becoming older (no baby anymore) she today has decided to call me "Erika" instead of mom. I asked her why and she said because you are "Erika," when I respond that this hurt my feelings she said "You will be my mama but I am going to call you Erika." Also, I just have to say that she was so sweet laying in our bed, she just kept wanting me to play with her hair.... she has never asked me that before.

Hunter was grounded to today for trying to fake punch Lexi. No more violet video games. Although that is hard to keep around here because of his father.

Lexi is doing well. She is very excited about her book report. She has picked the book "Mrs Holly is Jolly." She also helped me alot cleaning. She is very excited for her new bedroom but I am worried she won't be able to sleep in it, considering she can't go downstairs now without one of us.

Tomorrow Brandon starts of gun hunting again..... Lord please let him get a big one so it ends!

Looking forward tomorrow to playing racquetball with my good friend Tammy and then having brunch with her, my aunts, and Dani at my mom's beautiful new house.

Summer Sun

OK I know it is bad when I never never write... I always have good intentions does that count?



Then summer is already half way, I can't believe it!!! When have been very busy with birthdays, weddings, and cabin visits.



Alexa had a beautiful birthday with friends. We went to the River Falls bowling alley and bowled. It was so interesting to see her interact with friends.

Using the computer

Ok ok i just haven't been able to use the computer as much as I thought i would be able to the problem is that Brandon is always using the thing or Alexa. i could only use it in the late evening. Right now I was able to steal it because his buddys jerry and tim came over to hang out . We have been going through each room and reorganizing them so far done Brooklyn and Alexa and Hunter are completed.

New Age

I am so excited I just got my wireless internet to work!!! Now I really don't have a excuse not to make posts.

Tomorrow is Brandon's 35th birthday- what a old man- I love that I get to say that for the rest of my life! The kids made him some very cute cards, and he is getting a backpack for Roxi to wear while shed hunting. Today, I asked him if he had thought anymore about going back to school and for what... his answer really surprised me.... he said "You know while I am in the woods, I see so many beautiful things and I wish others could see them the way I do, so I was thinking that I would like to take some photography classes." I had to laugh out loud. I mean I think that is a wonderful idea... but this came from the man that never wants his picture taken because he thinks it steals a piece of his soul---to funny. But, it would be a wonderful adventure to try and it is not a huge commitment, I mean he could continue with what he does now, not a lot of interference.

Lexi everyday impresses me with her smarts. Tonight she did her homework flawlessly. However, it was another late day due to sleeping in late, we all really need to work on that one! We also made Brandon's cake all together, they loved stirring and stirring. I liked it too.

Hunter was over tired and so winy all night, he comes to me just crying, looked at me with those big blues and said "Mom it just isn't fair, I never get to do anything." "Well, Hunter what do you want to do?" "I don't know."- with more sobs. My heart had to go out to him.

Work is not always a bad thing...

So, today is my first back from a week and half vacation, the longest amount of time I have gone without working since before I Lexi. And I was totally ready to come back, in fact, the last few nights I have been dreaming about work. I guess that it is a good sign, that I miss my work. I miss the thrill and the kids were good but I think they were getting a little sick of me and vice versa.


We went to the lake all weekend, it was fun, Brandon wasn't able to be there the whole time but it worked out. We took the kids to the swimming beach and we ran around chasing each other. Of course, Brooklyn wasn't scared of the water at all and screamed when it was time to go home. Lexi was swimming all over with no life jacket, but I was most impressed with Hunter. He started out his usual scared self but my the end of the exertion he was beginning to swim (an under water run, more like) but swim! He also didn't want to leave. Hunter and Lexi also tried swimming off the boat and tubing in Grandma's lap. Unfortunately, Lexi, Grandpa, and me got really really bad swimmers itch, and let me tell you there is nothing worse the itching everywhere! Lexi got it the worst and poor thing it is the second time this year already. Abby, Jason, and Charlie were able to join us for one day too, which was really nice. It is so sweet to watch Hunter with Charlie, he loves babies so much and wants to help and play with them. He kept asking if he was a "really really good babysitter." He even fed Charlie his food- so cute.





One of the greatest things about this weekend was the fireworks. On the forth we watched them from the patoon given by the Long Lake association and they were ok. Brooklyn was particularly cute, at first she was so scared running and burying her face into us, but by the end of the day she was use to the "boom boom" and just watched in amazement. But the real treat was the next night when Larry the Cable Guy put off his. They were the greatest fireworks I have ever seen!!! They were extremely close and set off from four different locations, the kids and I watched with our mouths hung open. They were so beautiful, tears came to my eyes.





Funny story that I forgotten about until Brandon mentioned it again this weekend. All the guys had been over for a Nascar Race, including Mike, Eric, Rob, Tony and Jon and they were all drinking beer of course. Well, Hunter wanted a spit sooo bad a kept begging Brandon, finally Brandon said "Sure." So Hunter took a big swig and immediatley got the "digusted" face (frown and squited eyes), took a exagerated swallow and said jn an abnormal deep voice "awesome." It was hilarous to know that he hated of little drop of the that beer but wanted to look tough in front of the guys. Got to laugh!

Poor Roxi got the old fixaroo today. She is home now doing well. I feel bad for her but I don't want any more babies around this place!!!

My cousin Dani is also visiting, which is always a pleasure! Today we went for a walk down a the Willow River, that park is so incredibly beautiful! Brandon and I are going to try and make it a goal to go down there more often with the kids. It creates an amazing since of peace that overflows you while watching nature.

I looking forward to going to the lake this weekend, I feel like my vacation is speeding by. So is the summer. I started scrapbooking Brooklyn's first birthday, it feels good. Hopefully I will keep up with it a little.

Where has all the time gone?

Ok, so I have been really bad about keeping this updated. I guess I need to make a better effort. It has been way to long to go back and enter every detail so I well say a few things that pop into my mind.


Brandon is loving fishing. We have been up to the cabin the last two weekends and have had an awesome time as a family. Brandon has been really showing Hunter and Alexa the ropes of fishing and both the kids are getting pretty decent at casting. Hunter even made it an hour and half on the pontoon with just Brandon. They caught a couple little ones. Brandon is also working very hard with Roxi, he is quite a good trainer I have to say. Roxi sits and listens really well to Brandon, not so well with me, but we are still trying.


Alexa has started softball, her first organized team sport- she loves it! They have their first game this week, we will have to see how it goes!!! She is also really looking forward to summer vacation. She continues to be awesome at reading, she reads to herself now, Junie B Jones are her favorites. She finally started riding her bike with no training wheels!!!!! Now, her and Hunter race up and down the driveway, we even started letting them bike down to cul de sac by themselves.



Hunter also continues to be hilarious, this week I caught him peeing of the dock but the real funny story came two days later when I wasn't home. Apparently, Brandon had been in the restroom and when he came out he asked Lexi where Hunter had gone. Lexi said "outside." When Brandon went outside and started calling for Hunter at first he couldn't hear him but after a few seconds he could hear Hunter's bike on the road biking back from the cul de sac, once Hunter was in sight Brandon took a hard look at him and realized he was naked from the waist down with just a short white t-shirt on and his dairy air hanging out. When Hunter got back Brandon asked him what had happen to his shorts, Hunter replied "I had to take a pee back there and couldn't get my pants back up, so could you go get them?" Then this week he was fighting with Lexi, when out of no where he screamed at her "your fired!" I just started rolling, even Lexi started laughing. They have a bittersweet relationship. One minute they are bestfriends running around playing wonderfully together the next they are bullying each other. However, the really bully can be Brook the other day Hunter was sitting in front of the TV minding his own business when Brook out of no where came up behind him and pull his hair, right out of the top of his head. He just looked at her and said "No no Brooky." Then thirty minutes later Hunter was rubbing his head up in her lap saying "my baby my baby." And she didn't like that apparently cause she swung at him.



Brooklyn vocabulary continues to grow at an alarming rate. She is now saying "toot" when she farts and "I don't know" is her favorite phrase. The other day I found Lexi and her sitting in the rocking chair together and Lexi was teaching her to count off her fingers, it was soooooo cute. And then the best thing ever, she started saying "I love you." My heart warms just thinking of it, she is so loving always giving me hugs and tugging at my legs. She especially gives me love on my bad days, she as a keen sense of when I really need it. A very special soul she has.



As for me, my Malibu finally took its last breath and Brandon and I bit the bullet and got not just one but two new cars. And I love them both, I never have been that interested in cars, I mean I have never driven that nice of cars with all the gizmos. But now I finally got some of the perks and holy cow I am loving them!!!! We got a '08 Town and Country (minivan), I know I know I always swore I would never drive a minivan but you just can't past by the tv, stow and go seats, and rear backing up camera. Not to mention the 15 drink holders! Mainly Brandon drives this van and I got (drum roll please) a fully loaded Dodge Drango and I LOVE it!!! It has leather interior, black shiny exterior, remote start, a way to adjust the radio from the steering wheel, and the seat automatically adjust back to my position, it is simply amazing.

Overall, life is speeding by but it still is soooooooo good.