Family Slip and Slide!

Today we hung out with Rob, Nicole, Kylie and Kristie. It was a blast. We brought out the slip n' slide and tried to teach the kids how to use it. They weren't really getting it until Nicole stepped in and did some good modeling! We really didn't think she'd do it, but we weren't going to let her have all the fun! I truly believe that the "adults" had more fun than the kids today.

Here is the movie that captures the fun we had. Enjoy!

Go Far!

This weekend Tyler and I participated in the Fargo 10K and 1/2 Marathon events. It had been planned since last summer, but our training wasn't super intense. . .meaning that we were both a bit hesitant to actually do the races--since it was the longest distance either of us has ever run at one time. It had been a beautiful week--until the day of the race. It was raining, which actually made it easier to run as it helped us stay cool.

The results:

Judy's 10K (6.2miles): Finished in 1hr 13 min. and `10 seconds. That is 11:47 a mile. I finished 1768 out of 2666 runners. I am very happy with those results.

Tyler's 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles): Finished in 2 hr 27 min. and 15 seconds. That is 11:15 a mile. He finished 4077 out of 5365 runners. He ran the entire way!

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with family. The cousins got lots of time to spend with Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen and we all got to sit and relax a bit! Thanks for being such good hosts this weekend, Rob and Nicole! We will probably run the race again next year! :-)

Happy May!

How did they get so dirty?


Oh. . .it's their favorite dirt!


Last weekend we went to visit Hazel. The kids are at this great age where they can play and the adults can actually carry on a conversation. It is great!


Here is a picture of the bag that I got for Mother's Day! I love it!


Zander's favorite past time lately is playing the i pod touch. He is very good at it. He enjoys the puzzles and watching the intro to the golf game.




Uh oh! Fell in a box. . .

The Future

I hope that in the future I find all of these quotes and stories as cute and funny as they are in the moment.

Tonight Zoey and I just sat on the bed and talked about stuff. It was fun and really sweet. She told me (as she has in the past) that when she grows up she will be a mom and have 5 kids. Their names will be Fauna, Launa, Treea, Trevor, and Emily Elizabeth. She will send them to Mary's daycare. (I hope Mary will have room for them all!)

She also told me tonight that she is glad that we have Zander. "You know why? Because I loved holding him when he was just a little guy." I thought I would write this quote down so when they grow a little older and are fighting like cats and dogs, we can all remember that they really do love each other!

So wise!

Zoey and Daddy going downstairs for bedtime.

Zoey: "It stinks down here."

Daddy: "Hmm... I don't smell anything."

Zoey: "Well, if you can't smell it, it might be you."

Jesus Loves Me!

An equally cute Zander story from today:

As part of his bedtime routine, we sing songs to Zander. Both Tyler and I have our own songs that we sing, but sometimes Zander requests the other parent's song. Tonight he wanted all three of his songs sung--so I obliged. Daddy's song is "Jesus Loves Me."

Mommy: (singing) Jesus loves me, this I . . .
Zander: No, mommy. Jesus loves daddy. . .
Mommy: (singing and laughing) Jesus loves daddy, this I know. . .

Then I sang my song--Godspeed (by the Dixie Chicks)--and by the way we have never had an issue with this song until tonight.

Mommy: (singing again) Godspeed, little man. . .Sweet dreams, little man. . .
Zander: Little man? Man is scary--I a little boy.

A Kid Rainbow Pancake!

Mommy: Zoey, that shirt doesn't match your pants. It's red and you have no red on your pants.
Zoey: Ah, can't just today I be a rainbow?
Mommy: So you don't care that your outfit doesn't match?
Zoey: Nope, I will be like a kid rainbow pancake. Look, There are red and green and pink sprinkles. And I am going to wear a sweater!

Something that I always have and will admire about my daughter is her uniqueness. I think my mom once compared her style to Punky Brewster. Anytime I see an outrageously colorful outfit, I think of Zoey.

Another Perfect Sunday!

Our pastor at church always starts out the services on Sunday, "I promise you your week will go better because you started it in the house of the Lord." I have found that to be true quite often. Even the Sunday that Tyler fell off the ladder. . . at first I thought, yeah, my week is going horrible! But in hindsight, our week could have been a lot worse. But back to today.

It was just a great day all around. Sang at church this morning, went running with Tyler around Lake Phalen. The kids went and played at Nana's and Poppa's. Then we all came home for our quite time. Then, it was off to Casey Lake Park. Zoey rode her bike there for the first time. She was so proud of herself! Zander enjoyed a wagon ride. He is very ready for a bike too, though.

Enjoy the pictures!

Uncle Eric's Easter Pictures

Uncle Eric had a camera along for our fun Easter celebration. Here are just a few of the pictures that he took. . . Love them!

Easter Weekend

Since we moved into our current house, Easter is fast becoming one of my favorite holidays. The weather has been nice and we tend to spend most of the afternoon out in the backyard. . .playing. The Easter Bunny spoils the kids with lots of candy, egg hunts, and overflowing Easter Baskets. The church service is always wonderful. This year was especially fun to watch Zander's face when all the brass and percussion instruments were playing. Zoey is the complete opposite of what I remember being like as a kid. She LOVES to dress up in a pretty dress for the occasion.
It is just fun!

A little noodle-fighting with the family.

Watch out Nana and Poppa--Zoey is pretty good. "En Garde!"

This is the game that Daddy and Zoey affectionately call "Run, Catch, and Throw Up!"

Nana is ready to hit against the up and coming pitcher for the Minnesota Twins!

Auntie Tammy and Zoey taking a brief break from the action.

Uncle Eric's sister Molly and her son Darian joined us for our Easter celebration.

Uncle Eric took a lot of photos. . .I am hoping to get some copies of them, because I know he captured a lot of neat shots!

Zoey was an expert egg hunter this year.
(She should be, this was her 3rd egg hunt of the weekend!)

On Good Friday the kids and I decorated our Easter Eggs.

There was also the annual egg hunt at daycare.

Other exciting events from our weekend included a visit to Hazel's house to help her celebrate her 3rd birthday! It was a lot of fun! The kids especially enjoyed the cake!