Moving the blog

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have created a new blog about the boys. It seemed like it was time to say say good bye to the preschool blog, especially with Wyatt's birth and Owen starting Kindergarten. Stop on by and check it out : )

http://yeagerbros.blogspot.com/

Soccer Season!

It's that time of year again. We call it Spring here, back home it would be the beginning of Summer. Whatever you call it, it is lovely and welcomed. The time when the weather turns warm and the grass begins to green. It's also the time of year to begin outdoor activities. This year, Owen decided he wanted to play soccer again, so a few weeks ago we signed up. Our first week was rained out and Owen and his buddies were chomping at the bit to get started. Last week the sun made it's way around the clouds and soccer began!

Last year we had a great time with the Black Hawk Soccer league, but this year we decided to stick it a little closer to home and to play with the Maplewood Parks and Rec/NESA. This gives The Chief a chance to play with his neighbors and schoolmates. It's also a little earlier in the season and with baby-to-be due in a few weeks, we wanted to make sure his plate is full of fun activities until his little brother makes an appearance.

It's a similar format to the Black Hawk league. Small groups with a coach to learn the basics and small group 3v3 play. There are some very athletic kids out there. I am happy to report that this year Owen is paying closer attention to the coach and learning new skills. He's pretty happy to be on the same team as one of his classmates and he seems to be making friends with the other players as well.

Here is Owen and a buddy enjoying the night at soccer : )

I think this season is going to be filled with lots of fun!

Mother's Day 2010

Happy Mother's Day! This year I had a lovely Mother's Day. I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Su and Jess down in Atlanta, a handprint picture from my Little Chief, and a new blinds for the downstairs which Troy lovingly installed for me that night! Also, we were invited to Bridget and Bob's for a Mother's Day lunch. I slept in, had breakfast made for me and enjoyed the day : )

Me and Owen being silly for the camera

Beautiful bouquet from the In-Laws

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." ~Marcel Proust

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~Washington Irving

I hope all of the Mama Ladies in my life had a beautiful, wonderful Mother's Day. I missed you Su, Mom, Grandma, and Anna. You all deserve the most wonderful blessings and I am thankful for the mothers in my life, my family and my friends. The women who have influenced my own adventures into motherhood are such a diverse, creative collective. I have learned who I want to be, what I agree with (and what I don't), how to love, and how to raise my children to the best of my ability. Thank you for your love and support.

Happy Mother's Day to us all!

Happy Birthday to Papa Bear!

April 14th was Papa Bears 36th birthday! Unfortunately for him, his special day fell midweek and that meant having to go to work. I think he may have got to sleep in for about 20 minutes, but Owen wouldn't let him rest much longer than that!

We had a fancy birthday breakfast of cold cereal and coffee.

Dinner was better- Cosetta's lasagna and poke-n-pour cake. My cooking was very limited this year, as in, I made garlic toast. I didn't even get to make the cake! I tried to get Owen to make it with me, but he insisted that he and daddy make the cake. So they did! Tony and Linda came over later to enjoy the cake with us. It was a really nice way to round out the day.

Owen and I did have fun running errands and buying gifts. Everywhere we went he would tell someone: "Today is my daddy's birthday. He's 36!" It was pretty cute.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! I hope you enjoyed your day! We love you!

Easter 2010

Happy Easter 2010!

Some little 5 year old awoke extra early on Easter Sunday to go hunting for his goody basket! He and Papa Bear hunted up and down and all around before they found the bunny's treasure hidden behind the curtains. Bubble wand, chocolate bunny, Pez, jelly beans, a book and more!

G'Ma and G'Pa sent a bunch of wrapped gifts for all of us. Owen waited an entire week before opening them! He was saving them for Easter. I couldn't believe the restraint. Good for him!

Easter Morning snuggles from Papa : )

We enjoyed our traditional breakfast of bunny shaped pancakes - Yum!!

We hope everyone had a fun, family filled day celebrating the joy of Spring!

Happy 5th Birthday to Owen!

Little Chief turns the big 0-5!

March 7, 2010 was a big day here in the Yeagerhood. Our sweet little baby turned 5 years old! 5! Did I mention it was his 5th birthday? 5 years have passed since he made his way into this world. 5 years of the most amazing adventure I have ever been on. 5 years of trials and tests of wills and 5 years of the complete unknown. 5 fabulous, wonderful, wouldn't-trade-them-for-anything years.

The morning could have passed for Christmas and I'm not talking about the snow! We had Owen's gifts in a pile in the living room just waiting to be discovered. When he saw them he was soooo excited! It made us pretty excited, too. He did have to wait for G'ma and G'Pa to wake up before he opened them, but as soon as the coffee was made he ran downstairs and got them up and out of bed. It was an early morning.

After a good breakfast we packed up some goodies and headed over to the Eagles Nest where we were having Owen's party. We picked up on this idea from a classmate of Owen's and I think it worked out really well. The kids played, climbed, and burned a bunch of energy and the grown ups were able to chase kids and chit chat.

We had a pizza and fruit lunch followed by cupcakes and gifts. Here is a link to our friends, The Letts' blog- they had an awesome video of us singing Happy Birthday- thank you, Erinn!
http://lettsdish.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-birthday-party-fun.html

After an hour of climbing the kids were hungry!

After lunch Owen blew out his number 5 candle and opened his gifts. Then they headed back out to the play area for more running and climbing. We had a pretty good mix of friends there to celebrate with us. Our playgroup friends and our preschool friends. I think the kids did great and got along well, even if they didn't all know each other. I think overall it was a very successful party! Whoo hoo!

Having fun in the giant "gerbil run"

Happy Birthday Owen!
We love you!

Snow Shoes

This past weekend we had an unexpected opportunity to try out snowshoes! We were tooling around on a sunny Sunday afternoon without much of a destination in mind when Owen and I decided to show Troy the Maplewood Nature Center. When we got there the lady working asked if we were there for the snowshoe rental. Snowshoes? Really? Let's go home, get our gear on, and zoom right back for a walk around the lake!

To be honest, the path was so well worn that plain ol' boots would have been fine, but we there for the new experience after all, so we trudged our way around the 7/8 mile path and convinced ourselves that this was what people do for fun in Saint Paul on a 30 degree Sunday afternoon.

Little Chief made it the whole way around, but about halfway through we began to hear the rumblings of " I can't go anymore." So we did a few races, looked for more animal tracks and did what we could to make it the other half way round. It worked and we arrived in one piece : )

While I knew the lake was frozen, and only a few feet deep, I still couldn't bring myself to walk on it. I am not that Minneostan. Owen kept trying to convince me that "it's really OK, Mom, " but it just wasn't for me. I stuck to the path and took the pictures.

All in all it was a great time. I would totally be up for doing this again. Another lake, a little less well defined path...yeah, I would do it. I'm at least that Minnesotan.

Tubing

Wheeeee!!!!!!

Last night our friends, The Knights, called to see if we wanted to try a little snow tubing. We said yes! and headed over to the Wirth Winter Rec Area in Minneapolis for a little winter fun. Being that I am in the "family way" we decided it might not be the best idea for me try this, but I had the job of photographer and had a great time doing it. Dawn did not participate in the event either, so we snapped pictures and when we got too cold went into the "Chalet" to warm up, drink hot chocolate, and gossip. Such fun!

Troy had to show off his skills a little : )

I was worried that it might be too scary for Owen. I was wrong. Absolutely wrong. He LOVED it. Apparently my little guy is growing up. Who knew a new fearlessness would show up on the brink of 5?

Gettting ready for the big run!

Happy, happy child!

We have been trying to make the most out of our long winters. Since the only native Minnesotan in our family is Owen, we have decided we should embrace these winter activites the best we can. He is our snow baby for sure. The amount of snow or length of winter never phases him- he loves being outside. So, we are trying new things and getting out as often as we can. We have tried our hands at sledding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and now tubing. Owen wants to try snow boarding and downhill. So, I'm sure we will be trying those as well. As far as this activity goes it is one we will definately repeat!

Perpetual Motion

Another fun activity we are doing this winter is gymnastics. We signed up to take lessons with our friends, the Letts', who we also took our first swimming lessons with. We are going to Perpetual Motion. Sadly, we have missed two lessons already due to a raging sinus infection my Little Chief has been fighting, but we were back into the swing of it today and he had loads of fun with his buddies!

The boys were horsing around outside the gym. I took about a dozen photos of these goofs. The poses remind me of a preschooler rap crew album cover LOL : )

This springy runway is so cool! The kids bounced down the lane, hopping up on foam mats and finishing it by jumping in to a huge pile of foam blocks. I wish I could do it!

The instructors do a nice job of challenging the kids. I hope Owen learns some body confidence from these lessons and becomes less afraid of new physical adventures- like climbing a ladder and swinging from a bar!

He flipped over the bar with some help from his teacher! I was so proud of him for trying it!

This is a great way to burn a little of that winter energy. I think we will try this activity again. It's good exercise and good fun!

Little Chief of the Water

This year we decided to take the plunge and sign up for swimming at Foss. Owen has a few friends who have been taking lessons there with stellar results, so we decided to give it a try.

We have all been so happy with the lessons and the progress so far. I am sure it was a combination of age, positive peer pressure, and the lessons, but our kid is swimming! I mean, face in the water, learning the freestyle-diving-to-the-bottom-flipping-to-float swimming!

This is our second 4 week session. We go twice a week for 8 lessons. He is so happy to go!

Troy and I still can't figure out how they get the kids to pay attention and learn. It seems like chaos in there. It's a relatively small pool set up into lanes and each lane is divided in half with lessons going on on each side. There are at least 6 classes going on at the same time and the move them quick. One class jumps out another jumps in. But, however they do it, the results are there. Those Foss folks sure figured it out.

I really like to swim and I hope that Owen will find the joy in it as well. We spend a lot of time in the water during our brief summer months so swimming lessons are more than just fun- they are for safety as well.

I'm not ready to let him swim on his own yet- he doesn't know how to take the breath and tread water, but I don't think it's too far away. This summer I will stay close to him in the water, but I have a feeling by next year I will be able to sit on the water's edge watching my little fish swim!

Introducing...Jupiter!

When you live in a house with furry friends for a number of years and then live in a house without them for a spell, you begin to miss the company and cuddles of such friends. Aside from the care, the annoyances, the training (or lack there of), and the responsibility that go into these creatures, if you're a pet person- you're a pet person and your house doesn't quite feel like a home unless you a shooing someone off of your tables and cursing them for turning your beloved couch into a scratching post.

We have been petless for awhile now and decided it was time to share the love with a new furry friend. Two weeks ago we went to the Humane Society to look for a new family member. After a careful screening, Owen decided upon this little girl and we were happy with his choice. So, after a few lines of paperwork and a slide of the debit card we loaded up our kitty and headed to Petco for a little food and litter, then onto home to settle her in.

It didn't take long to bring her out of her shell. A little flip of the feather and her and Owen became fast friends.

Owen is being a great cat owner. Every morning her feeds her breakfast and changes her water. I think she's getting used to it because she has been waking him up in the morning by attacking his toes or licking his head. She has been very tolerant of his constant attention :)

After tossing around a few names Owen settled on Jupiter and we all agreed it is a good name. She's a little beggar and already makes us a little crazy, but we like her and are happy to have her here with us!

Christmas Day 2009!!

I don't think there was ever any doubt that the Man in Red made a stop in the Yeagerhood during the wee hours of Christmas Day. I suppose you could say that there are many...benefits...to being an only Grandchild on your father's side of the family. One of the more beneficial times would, obviously, be when you get the Christmas booty received from Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Mom and Dad, and St. Nick.

Not that every gift was wrapped up for the Chief. We had four adults in the house, too! It looks like a lot (and it is), but once you remove the packaging and wrapping paper it didn't feel over the top and the Child was overjoyed at getting the four presents he asked Santa for. The rest of it was just his family spoiling him. I mean, let's face it, it's so much more fun to shop for a kid at Christmas than an adult. You get to indulge your own childhood wants under the veil of gift giving. Sweet. It was an incredible sight when it was all placed and ready to be discovered.

He awoke a full hour earlier than usual on Christmas Day. He ran into the living room and back to us with a "He was here! Santa was here!" It was a joyful sound and we were happy that he was so happy. We asked him to wait to open any gifts until he had awaken everyone else and everyone was up. So, he ran downstairs to get G'Ma and G'Pa and down the hall to get D'Arcy. As the coffee was brewing, Little Chief was passing out and unwrapping gifts and shouting "This is just what I ordered from Santa Claus!" He was terribly worried that when he saw Santa he only remembered to ask for one gift, but we assured him that Santa knew about all four.

It really was a fun morning. We opened gifts, had breakfast, played with our new toys and I even learned how to knit! We always talk about the gifts we open, but we all know that the holiday is more than that. It's the gift of family and memories and joy and celebration. Toss in a little silliness and a lot of food and you have some of the best days of all. If you only get to see each other a few times a year you have to make the most of those few days.

I admit I missed my family. I wished my niece and nephew were here to run around with Owen and that my Mom was here to mess around in my sewing room with me, but you make concessions when live far away and sometimes a phone call or video chat will have to do. It doesn't lessen the holiday, but you do feel the pull of distance and you make plans for future events and talk about Spring and Summer and days that are easier to travel by. Maybe next year we can add a few more bodies to the mix.

I hope everyone had a beautiful, fulfilling Christmas and that you were able to share it with loved ones, either in person or in spirit. I will chalk this Christmas up as a great one and I am already looking forward to next year!

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Eve 2009!

We were very lucky this year to have lots of good food, family, and friends celebrate with us. Aunt D'Arcy flew in from NYC, G'Ma and G'Pa flew in from Atlanta, and honorary Aunt Linda and Uncle Tony stopped by to share Christmas Eve dinner with us. We missed our Ohio relatives, but we talked lots on the phone and were able to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

The table settings may look familiar (as in last year), but this year we played dinner a bit more traditional with brined turkey, sauteed beans, scalloped corn, salad, and roasted root veggies. Delish! I think everyone had a great time, I know I did : )

Train table ala appetaizer table brings treats before and after dinner. Everyone had a chance to cozy up by the tree and chat. Perfect way to start the evening! Oh, and did I mention the crab dip...OMG.

Growing up, Christmas Eve was THE night. My mom's 7 brothers and sisters would all gather together with their spouses and children and we would have food and gifts, noise and fun. Not that Christmas Day isn't perfect- especially now that I am mom- but there is and always will be something wonderfully special about Christmas Eve. If you are ever lonely on this night or your flight has been cancelled and you can't get home, your family can't get to you or you just want to spend the evening with friends, come over and eat at our table. Talk with us, drink with us, celebrate with us. The more the merrier on one of my favorite nights of the year.