Gobble Gobble!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful family and friends!

There is so much to be thankful for this year and without all of you, our 'Gobble Gobble' would not be nearly as special.

Today Nick and I made home made pumpkin bars, while Miss Mia took a snooze. Nick loves to bake! We had a great surprise as Daddy made the executive decision to "miss" his late class tonight and come home early! We now have 4 whole days together to just enjoy. I am thankful for tonight as Dave picked up a bottle of my favorite wine and we have a tivo'd episode of 24 to watch after the babes are asleep.

Lots to do in the morning - as we are once again hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Dave will be preparing the brine for our turkey this eve and tomorrow we will enjoy making the fixings together. We have a special visitor tomorrow morning - Keaten! Nicki and Kyle are running a 5k so we have Keaten over in the morning - that will be a great way to start out our Thankful Thanksgiving day and Nick will just love waking up and having Keaten over.

Being thankful takes on new meaning this year - and as we roll into the busy, rat-race of the holiday months - I will be reminding myself (and our darling 3 year old) that this time is about FAMILY and FRIENDS (and no, not the transformers, trucks, trains et al) And while that part IS exciting - the best part is that we are given the opportunity to enjoy it together.

Happy Happy Happy -- (can you tell by the pictures??!)

Love, Carissa

Baby, it's cold outside

Baby it's cold outside... Seems that every year round this time, I ask myself why in the world would I put myself through another torturous, bitter, dark, gloomy winter here in good old Minny. Today the wind chill was zero. Yep, zero. Poor Mia, as much as I bundle her - and I mean bundle her, as soon as the wind gets her she catches her breath.

So, its been a bit since my last update. Much to catch up on. Let's see. I think I'll let Nick take it from here...

Yay - my turn. My turn! Hey everyone, it's my turn!

Each week Mommy tries to plan one really exciting thing for me and Mia. Last week we went to Kiddywampus in St. Louis Park. Kiddywampus is a really cool specialty store that sells all kinds of special artsy things. The cool part is in the store whatever is open you can play with. So, there was this really cool wooden airport toy - and since it was open, I got to play with it. Along with puzzles and magnets... They also have an open art studio. I played in the art studio for almost 2 hours. I played with play dough, stencils, funny scissors and stamps. My favorite part though was the painting on the big easel. I loved it. I made 3 pictures - Mommy has them and is going to hang them in my room. I never knew I loved to paint so much! Grammie came along and we went to Panera for lunch. I sure do love my pb&j sandwiches these days!

On Saturday I went to breakfast with Mommy, Daddy, and Mia AND Keaten, Uncle Kyle and Auntie Nicki. After breakfast Keaten and I got our hair cut. I sat really really nice for my hair stylist. I look handsome. So does Keaten.

Before...

Mia doesnt have enough hair for a haircut. But, Mommy put on a pretty headband for her so she wouldn't feel left out. Hey Mommy -- I dont think Mia really liked the headband... She sure did look cute though. Keaten and I were so well behaved (even though I was a tiny bit 'crabby gordon') that our hair stylists gave us a present on the way out. Can you tell what they are? Binoculars! Cool. I like to look at mine backwards, and Keaten - well he doesnt quite know how to open them. But, we like them all the same.

After...

This week has been really quiet. I have been hanging around the house a lot with Mommy and Mia. I wasnt feeling very good again this week. I am really tired and just want to be with Mommy and Daddy. Mommy brought me back to Dr. Gobel. Guess what. I needed to have some more pokeys. Dr Gobel put her gloves on. But, I did such a good job, I got 2 stickers and a sucker. I had to go to Children's Hospital to have some pictures of my legs done. I really dont like going to Children's. I know all about that place. I did get 3 more stickers though to add to my sticker book. Daddy told me that all my tests are coming back good. But, I still dont really feel all that well. Dr. Gobel is stumped. She can see that I dont really look healthy (but Grammie still thinks I am really really cute) - but not quite sure what next steps are. Mommy is keeping a journal now of all the foods I eat and how much sweating I am doing. She will keep you all posted as we keep working on trying to make me all better. We were supposed to go to a playdate with Morgan on Wednesday, but I just wasnt feeling up to par. Mommy did let me play with Rylan and Gabriel today - but only for about an hour. Just enough to get out of the house for a little bit.

Mia is doing really great. She is just the cutest little punkin pie ever. She has a strong neck.

Mia is really starting to say funny things. She says "GA" and "Goo." And she also says "Ahhh" and she makes girgly sounds. It is so cute. When she smiles, we all just say, "Smiley, Smiley." and then she smiles some more. We got a happy baby. Arent we so lucky?

I sometimes get to hold her on my lap with a little bit, just a little bit of help. I love her so much. She is my favorite. I love her dimple in her cheek when she smiles.Not sure if I told you, but I miss Luna the cat a lot. Luna is "on vacation" at Grandpa Gene's house. She went there a while back because she was making Mia and I really sneeze. She is playing with Bubba now.

Well, this weekend, we are going to the cabin. I am really excited - I love going there. Ill tell you all about it when I write next.

Have a great weekend everyone - wear your hats and mittens and stay warm.

Love,
Nick

PS - I almost forgot to mention, that it was my Daddy's birthday on Sunday. On Saturday night Grammie and Grandpa came over to play while Mama and Daddy went out to dinner for some yummy sea food. Here they are with the gang below...

Great Nick Update

It's Nick! Guess what? I got a sucker at Dr Becken's office yesterday. I think the nurse thought I was cute. (wink wink) Mommy was really excited because my "froat" is healing and is looking really good. I can eat whatever I want now. Yahoo. Chicken nuggets and french fries -- here I come.

Also - Dr Becken really thinks I am "okay." He said that he cant explain my night sweats or the owies in my knees -- but the tests he ran all came back good. So - he thinks, maybe just maybe I had a bad infection that was never treated. I had a rash that cleared up (yes, it was on my bum if you must know) and my nose isnt running as much either. Wow. So, the plan is to see how I am feeling in 2 weeks after my froat would be totally healed. If I am still sweatin, I have to have the dr put her gloves on. (meaning pokey's, meaning blood drawn.) I hate it when the dr's put gloves on. I know owies are coming. Sniff. Keep your fingers crossed that my sweats go away... at least they always have pretty cool band aids.

Thank you for all the prayers and positive energy. They are working!

It's me, Mia!

Brrrr! It is cold out. Today I went out for coffee with Daddy and even though daddy bundled me up, I shivered when the wind got me. 32' is brrr chilly! I had a daddy and Mia day - I loved it. I got held all day! I took a really good nap laying on his chest. I warmed right up! Nick had 'date' day with mommy. They went to breakfast and then to the movies. They saw Madagascar Two in the big loud movie theatre with Keaten. Nick told me all about the funny parts when he got home. He was really wound up -- mommy said it was because she let him have chocolate milk at breakfast. Lucky duck. Nick said when I am older I can have chocolate milk too. Yum. It sounds delish.

It has been a good week. Nick went back to preschool on Monday and Tuesday. His teachers and friends really missed him - since he had been out for ten whole days! He got some special responsibilities on his first day back, since he was a little tiny bit sad and missing mommy. He got to be the line leader AND be in charge of where everyone sat at lunch! He was very proud when he came home!! On Wednesday, Angel and Morgan came over to play. Nick and Morgan made cupcakes... mmmm.

The house smelled really good. Mommy and Angel were laughing a lot. I think it is because they were talking about something like an "arranged marriage?" Whatever that means. I think Nick thinks Morgan is cute!

Then on Thursday Grammie came over to play for a little while so Mommy could go out for lunch with a friend all by herself. I begged to go a long -- I love lunch with the girls... but Mommy said not this time. Well, okay. At least Grammie came over to play with us!! We built a really cool fort - and Nick even ate lunch AND took a nap in there! Nick is such a big boy. I just really really love him.

I have been kinda fussy lately. I need to be held and snuggled pretty much all the time. Daddy thinks I may be getting a tooth... I am sure drooling all over the place. I am sort of young yet -- but the crankiness and the drooling -- he may be on to something...

Nick goes to Dr Becken tomorrow - and then back to school. Boo hoo. I wish he could stay and play with me all the time. But, mommy has to 'put the house back in order' from the weekend. So, guess it is laundry day tomorrow... I got lots of new clothes this week too. Guess who went shopping??? Yup, Grammie and Mommy took me to the Albertville Outlet Mall. Woah. That place is the best. I can hardly wait to wear all my new clothes... It was also really really fun because I got to have lunch with Great Grandpa Earl and Great Grandma Elaine! And... Tuesday was election day too. Mommy had a red I voted sticker on. I kept staring at it. I wanted to take it off in the worst way -- but for some reason or another, Mommy just kept putting it back on her shirt. Guess she was really excited about the sticker?! Nick and I got to stay up late that night to watch TV. It was a really special night and we are going to have a brand new president! Yipppeeee! How exciting! Mommy and Daddy were happy and we all cheered! Regardless of who you voted for - this is a new day with new promise!

Ta-Ta for now...

Mia

Here are pictures of Mia and Nick -- both at 3 months... what do you think? Do you see a resemblance?

Nick or Mia?

It's Nick!

Our week in pictures...