House Renovations

We decided to side our house this late winter/early spring.  It happened quicker than we thought, which I was glad, since it won't affect any of my perennials :)

Before...

After

Last fall we had our hard wood floors refinished, we decided to do a Coffee stain and go a little darker- LOVE THEM!  It took the last few months to get the base trim painted and put up, furniture ordered and most of all to find time where Dan  was actually home and not ice fishing.  I was patient and love MY ROOM.  No TV, just a room to sit and read and relax.  Still need to steam the window treatments and find some wall art, but I'm very happy how it turned out.

Sunday Afternoon at 50th and France

After church we decided to go out for lunch.  During lunch I mentioned to Dan that I had a Friends and Family discount I wanted to utilize at Banana Republic.  I thought I'd drop the boys off at home and go shop myself.  In a very surprised response, he said, "Why don't we all go.  I haven't really shopped 50th and France."  I was beyond shocked and actually excited for him to join me. After I told him there was a new Prana store he was more excited than me.  He dropped my off and the boys headed across the street and it allowed me enough time to shop uninterrupted.

Wyatt still wasn't eating up to his normal standards and we ran with anything he said he was hungry for.  I mentioned the Yogurt Lab and that seemed to be a hit.  We had such a fun afternoon together.  Dan is a shopper when he's in the mood- he's not allowed to ever go in Sur La Table or Lush, yes, I said Lush, ever again.

Can you tell we don't have a lick of Irish in us- this is what we do on St. Patrick's Day.  Not even a green beer at lunch!

Dan and Wyatt at the Yogurt Lab

Lush had an Easter display when you first walked him.  Wyatt is stirring a carrot shaped soap in a bowl of warm water.

  

Children's Hospital Visit

Wyatt had woke up in the early hours Monday morning claiming his stomach hurt.  I asked if he thought he was going to vomit or maybe needed to go to the bathroom.  He said NO to both.  I snuggled in with him and kept rubbing his belly since he said that felt good.   It was no more than 30 minutes later until a 14 hour journey began.  He had it coming out of both ends NONSTOP.  I think I did at least 6 loads of laundry before noon ever hit and continued on throughout the day to do at least 6 more.  It was very unpredictable and so painful to watch Wyatt is so much pain.  On top of all of this, it's my 2nd week in a new job, our house is being sided so there is constant pounding and Dan is home sick with the flu.  Seriously!?!?!

Things weren't getting better for him.  He couldn't keep any liquids down although he was drinking them.  We literally could start the timer and 20 minutes after a drink of something, it came right back up and out (in some cases).  I was in contact with Wyatt's Doctor throughout the afternoon and Thank the Lord my mom was up getting a facial so she stopped by.  His cramping started to get worse and he kept pointing to the side his appendix was one so we didn't hesitate and brought him to the Children's Hospital.  Luckily his constant diarrhea was a sign that is most likely wasn't his appendix but while waiting he decided to fill those lovely plastic vomit bags in the waiting area- that was classy!

They gave him some Zofran which is used to prevent nausea and vomiting.  After a half hour of taking this and he didn't have any episodes he was allowed to go home.  If this didn't work then they were going to hook him up to an IV.  The pill worked- Yea!  They diagnosed him with Gastroenteritiits- a very common virus in children during the month of March.  Unfortunately the diarrhea was bound to stick around for 7-10 more days but the vomiting stopped until he relapsed on Thursday- which is common.  The poor guy lost almost 3lbs during this whole ordeal, which is a lot for a little 5 year old.  We're glad we have our Wyatt back!  After not being in an emergency room/hospital since he was born and to have visited them twice in the last six months (stitches above his eye)- I hope we're DONE!

Valentine's Day Part II

Dan was out of town and Sinisa had to work so Debbie invited Wyatt and I over for dinner- romantic nontheless :)  We met Luca and Debbie when she was going for a walk and both of them stopped by to introduce themselves while I was raking.  I think it was in May 2009 and we've been great friends/neighbors ever since.  Luca and Wyatt have grown up so fast and remain the best of friends.

Ever since the two of these boys could start making piles, they did.  It was pretty quiet downstairs, as we're sipping on our wine and enjoying our girl time, when Debbie decided to go check on the boys.  This is what she sees...  EVERYTHING was dumped from their boxes, including puzzles and board games, and made into this beautiful pile.  We were not happy to say the least and the night came to an end after this.

The end result...

Valentine's Day School Party

At the beginning of the school year each parent had to volunteer for one of four classroom parties that the parents put on: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter.  Each party consists of 4 stations/rooms that the kids get split up into and then rotate between snack, games, gym and reading.  I volunteered for the snack portion.  Since Dan was out of town and couldn't join me I invited my mom to help-thank goodness.  We made Vanilla Pudding/Nilla Wafer/Frozen Berry Parfaits with Sprinkles.  We had four groups to work through and then the snack was saved until the very end so everyone could eat together.  It was so fun to have one on one time with all of Wyatt's classmates.  He was proud to have his Mom and Mana Diane with- he kept saying, "this is my Grandma..."

Crushing his Nilla Wafers

Grandma helping with the pudding

After the parfait building, since we were in the classroom, we got to help the kids pass out their Valentine's.  Wyatt had to go with the Lego Ninjago Valentine's this year but I loved that most of the girls took the time to make their own.  So cute! 

Waiting for the next rotation the kids read books.  This is Vivian.

The lovely parfaits!  

Regrouping with Mrs. Carr.  

Bowling at Southtown Lanes

It was a snowy Sunday afternoon in February and we decided to go bowling.  We couldn't believe we hadn't taken Wyatt before- he had a blast and has great form, huh!  We went with our neighbors, Dean and Dave, and Wyatt had his buddy and neighbor, Levi, join us.  

Great follow through :)

Dean

Levi

Patiently waiting for his ball...

Wyatt and Dad

Children's Museum

I took Wyatt and his friend, Harrison, to the MN Children's Museum last week.  The boys could have stayed longer but we closed the place down.  Great place to be on a really cold day, during the afternoon when all the school kids have left and the little kids are home taking naps.

Cousin Love!

Wyatt loves his cousins and says it all the time, "Man, I love my cousins!"  We had Aidan and Micah over for a few hours and there never is enough time together.  I captured a picture of Wyatt snuggling in with Aidan and at one point Wyatt said to him as he kissed his head, "Aidan, I love you so much."  It was the cutest thing.  By the look of the pictures, maybe we need to start limiting computer/electronic times :)

Need a Shave?

Wyatt received a shaving kit for the tub for Christmas.  At first I thought he'd be too old for it but he can't get enough.  "Mom, I need to shave again tonight." -this happened every single night after Christmas for about a week.  Too funny!