Zoey's 3rd Birthday Party

I can't believe my baby is going to be 3 years old on Saturday! She is such an enjoyable kid full of humor, love, challenges, imagination and just plain playfulness. I learn something new from her everyday!

This weekend we held Zoey's 3rd annual Memorial Day party to celebrate her birth. Uncle Robby, Aunt Nicole, Cousin Kylie, Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen and the two dogs spent the weekend with us. It was so much fun to just hang out together and play with the kids. Sunday was a beautiful day overall. Zander and I spent a lot of time playing on the picnic blanket in the back yard while the girls enjoyed the swingset and the playhouse up on the porch.



On Monday before the party, Tyler, Rob, and Nicole took the girls to Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater.



Here are some pictures from the party. Zoey adored her princess cake and blew out the candles like a pro.

Zoey was overwhelmed by all the gifts she received. Thank you to all for your thoughtfulness. Every time I ask Zoey what her favorite gift was she has a different answer.

Grandma takes time at the end of the party to read The Lion King to the girls and the new purple baby.

Here is a video clip of Zoey opening the gift that she has been wanting for about 4 or 5 months now. Every time she and I go to Target we have to visit the toys. She loves the doll aisle and formed an attachment to one of the dolls that talks and moves. She always knew that I wasn't going to buy it for her, but she wanted to say hi to it all the time. She called it her "purple baby." One of the times we were there, she held it for a little while and just as I was expecting a battle to put it on the shelf, Zoey hands the doll to me and says, "Put it back mommy. It is not my birthday yet." So I told Uncle Robby and Auntie Nicole that Zoey just might like that doll and they were kind enough to get it for her. As she was opening gifts on Monday, she kept innocently asking where is my baby? Her face was priceless when she finally opened that bag.

Congratulations Tammy and Eric Plumb!

The weekend we have all been waiting for has come and gone and it was wonderful! Tammy and Eric's wedding was held on Saturday up in Duluth. Tyler and I took the kids up on Friday and met my parents who were there to help look after the kids. They started by giving Zoey an early birthday gift. She got her own digital camera so she could document the big event in her own way. (That means we got a lot of pictures of the wall, her shoes, and cut off heads. I will blog a few later for all to enjoy.)


Zander was a little sick throughout the even, but he did just great. He was happy for almost the entire weekend--except for of course, the actual wedding ceremony. But Grandma did a great job of keeping him occupied with paper to crinkle.

On Friday night Tyler and I enjoyed spending time with the wedding party at the groom's dinner. It was good company and delicious food! Tyler was a groomsman in the wedding. Here he is with the bride herself on Friday night.

After the rehearsal on Saturday morning, we went over to help set up for the reception and I took a picture of the view outside-Duluth is so pretty!

Zander was a "ring bearer" and absolutely not ever allowed to go near the rings. He was so cute in his little black suit. What a charmer!

This picture proves that princesses do wear band-aids. Zoey happily played with the toys in the toy room while she waited for the big event to beginning.

Zoey handled all the attention of being the flower girl wonderfully. She adores the flower girl dress that Nana made for her.

Here are some pictures from when we were sitting around for pictures.


Anytime Zoey was able to be with Tammy, her face just glowed! Zoey was especially impressed with the fact that her dress was the same as Tammy's. She kept telling me that Tammy was a princess too.

After the ceremony Zoey turned into a rockstar and we all went over the the reception to help the happy couple celebrate!

My brother, Rob, recently pointed out that we have no family pictures of the four of us--so we tried.

The first dance.

Tammy and her dad.

See what I mean about the smile?

Zoey has been wanting to dance at the wedding for some time now. She really got down!

Tyler and I at the end of the night.

Tah-Dah!

After an estimated time of 12-15 hours, the playground is complete and Zoey is thrilled to have her and Zander's birthday gift a tad early.

In Pursuit of the Playground

Zoey, Zander and I came home today to find daddy's handiwork in the backyard. He worked hard for about 6 hours today and accomplished quite a bit. Zoey is already enjoying it. I will let Tyler elaborate on any special details that should be included--but it is looking good!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! We hope that is was a relaxing day. For me I was blessed to be around my kids, and doubly blessed that I had some time to myself also--not that I used it well, but it was nice all the same. Here are some recent pictures of the kids. Enjoy!

Zander enjoyed a taste of spaghetti and meat today. Check out all those teeth.

Zoey loves her "chocowate!"

Zoey, Zander and I goofed around last week while daddy had to work late at conferences.

Look at Zander's new trick! He pulled himself up to this position.

We were able to enjoy Como Zoo for a while on Saturday before the rain came. Our friends Lisa, Josh, Aiden and Kiera came up for the day.

The Swing Set, Part I

I just spent the last 3 hours organizing all the pieces. That's it. Just taking pieces out of the box and laying them out in the garage. Lucky for me, I had exactly the right amount of baggies for the 30+ small bolts, screws, washers, etc.

I have yet to attempt anything "handy." I have successfully sorted, an adult version of putting the round peg in the round hole.

Below you'll see the carnage.

Way to Go Roz!

So this week, I ran a 5K with Tyler and his school's running club. I ran/walked the EXACT same time as I did in April's 5K--33 min. 04 sec. Then this morning Roz (Zander's Godmother) and I ran in the first annual Waconia May Day 5K. It was Roz's first ever 5K. I was still tired from Thursday's run, but I made it in 34 min. and 41 sec. (In think). Roz ran the whole thing and placed first in our age division. Way to set the bar high, Roz! Hope we can run again soon!