Merry Christmas

 The santa visit. You never know how it'll turn out. This year Axel was all about talking to santa and reminding him what was on his list. He asked for a remote control helicoptor, a remote control boat and a game system. Abel was much more comfortable just checking santa out from a distance.

We haven't been home for the hoildays in over 2 years. Axel is so excited to be around his cousins. I hope every one has a very Merry Christmas.

Love you Grandpa Hamblin

                                                           The before......around 3pm

                                                                 After....................7pm
Abel loves to share every thing. Hope Grandpa feels the same way. I wonder how long it'll be before he reads this post. Love you Dad! See you on Chirstmas.

Winter Wonderland

The boys playing in the snow

Abel helping dad shovel

I love when it snows on a weekend. You have no where to go and it's fun to deal with the snow. We played in our yard and went sledding on the hill that is only a few blocks from our house. Then Monday comes- snow not so much fun any more.

Our Elf

Axel telling Red Nose what he wants for xmas

 

We have been lucky enough to have a Elf visit our house. She was sent from Santa. She stays each day at our house watching over the boys-seeing if they are naughty or nice. Then she returns to the North Pole each night to let Santa know the stories. She comes back each day in a new spot. It's very magical- she can't be touched but you can talk to her and tell her your wishes or hopes for christmas. (the no touching rule is a hard one for Abel- luckly she knows this and returns to a spot right out of reach!) Axel has been having fun each morning finding where Red Nose returns to. She was named by Axel- he thought Red Nose was a prefect name for a Elf.

Mom

A little extra Mom love this week. Axel has learned how to write the word Mom! Very cool. I love his little people that he draws too. He loves to color and draw.

Abel has learned learned how to say the word Momma. It's finally a true clear Momma. He says it while looking at me and will even say it when I pick him up from daycare. Love you my boys!!!

Monkeys

 Axel taking advantage of one of our last nice weekends (this was a few weeks ago). Learning how to climb a tree- with dad's help close by. Axel is so cautious campared to other kids I see. The nurse in me loves this but some times you just have to be daring in life.

 The real reason Axel wanted to climb the tree. The neighbor girl..........who loves to climb trees.

Little Abel

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving every one!

Hamblin family

Hamann cousins

Olives are so much fun

 This year I am thankful for being around family. It was great to be able to have two seperate Thanksgiving and to spend time with each of our families. Axel loves playing with his cousins and Abel is starting to be much more social-little shy guy. I am also thankful not having to cook my own food. It was great learning how to cook a turkey the last few year- which I have to say we can do a pretty good job at- but it's way easier to just show up and eat! A shout out to both of our Mom's for cooking a great meal. Thanks again guys.

New haircut

Abel got a new haircut. No more hair in his eyes. I was a little bummed about him losing his curls in the back but he looks super cute. It's sad how he seems like a toddler now. Walking and a new haircut can do alot to a little boy.

Yummy !

Abel feeding himself yogurt

 Why do I love taking pictures of the boys eating? It seems like some of the most fun things happen around the dinner table. It's when we are all together and have time to learn about each others day and its a great place enjoy all the funny things that boys do.

Axels new way to eat a sugar dounut with out getting his hands dirty

Abel is full time walking now. Finally. He also has to feed himself these days. He loves to scoop his own food-no matter how messy he gets.  Both boys are starting to do better at daycare. Abel had 2 days this week that he went to the teacher in the morning and didn't even cry! Now that was a good morning. Axel is still struggling in the mornings but he is getting better. He said that the afternoon is better because a girl that he thinks is beautiful is there. He said "Mom, I'm going to marry her some day". Axel....my romantic!

EPIC iPhone ?!

This last week has been a daze. It seems like longer than a week sense I last wrote here. Man, our lives have gotten busy.  Day care seems to be getting better-not great yet-but better. I keep hearing give it a month and things will be better. We are at the four week mark so maybe things will take a turn this week. We will see.....   I promise boys Mom will always come back and feel guilty for leaving you at daycare so you know your good for some extra play time once you get home. :)

All of my pictures today come from my new iPhone. For those of you that know me well, getting a cell phone is a huge step for me. I went almost 10 years with out a cell phone and then got a pay as you go phone when I was prego with Abel. (after getting stuck in the ice/snow one day while prego and having to walk a mile home- Brian made me get one) But I have recently entered the modern world and got a smart phone. I can text now and every thing! hee hee. No really I didn't text but maybe three times before I got my phone. It was a big step for me. Some things you just have to stick to, but others you have to learn to just go with it. I guess I figure I better get one before Axel totally schooled me on technology. He already nows how to work the phone with great ease. Kids are amazing how they pick that stuff up. So yes the big news....I have a smart phone. I feel so savvy!

Abel styling!

Work is going well for me. I start the EPIC program this week. (essentials of progressive and critical care nursing) It is a 12 week internship that I have to endure. I will have an average of 3 days of classes a week (8 hour days) and work 2 days on my unit. There will be a lot to learn and I am a little nervous about it but I love that I get to work along side classes, which will help me take in all the information and be able to apply it to my practice. The program is through Mayo-they have all our their ICU (intensive care unit) nurses do the program. The part that stressses me is that you have to test out at the end. I'm all like so what if you don't pass? I'm not going to think like that.... So I'll start hitting the books again this week. The few days I have spent on my unit were really amazing. I am so luckly to be able to work along side some crazy, amazing, smart people and can't wait to start to learn from them. I know the PICU (ped's ICU) will be super sad at times and exciting at others but I'm super excited to learn the role. Oh..and it does make me squeeze my boys harder every day and thank the stars that they are healthy and amazing!  

A new week....

Last week was a long week for all of us. Me and the boys all got colds and it was another long daycare week. Abel has been a little fussy in the morning and doesn't want Brian to leave but then it sounds like he does ok. He's been napping better and eaing great. Axel on the other hand has been having a hard time. He has to start his mornings in the 3 year old class because the daycare groups the two classes until more kids show up. He only has to be in the room for about 30 minutes but he hates it. He cries in the morning when Brian drops him off and he cries when I ask him about it. When I pick him up at the end of the day he is happy and says he had a good day but he gets super bummed about the morning. I can't get to the bottom of what is really bugging him. He says that the 3 years don't play with him and he gets sad. Poor buddy. It's hard being new. I told him stories about me being new and how I meet new friends the last two weeks. It seemed to help him and he even said hey there's a kid with a Spiderman backpack. I bet we have some thing in common. So this week Mom is going to bring the boys in (I don't work Monday-Wednesday) we will start the day a little later (maybe even with a little chocolate milk and cartoons) and hope that it goes better. It will get better Axel. Mom has been stressed being the new kid on the block also!

Halloween 2012

Axel working hard at craving his pumpkin

                                                      Happy Halloween every one! 

 This year we decided to collect all of our seeds and roast them. We rolled them in butter, garlic salt and a little pepper. Baked for about an hour and Ta Da-roasted pumpkin seeds. Yummy! I will totally do that again!

The boys and our pumpkins

Glowing on the deck

Spiderman and Hulk

Fuuny dad!

Hope everyone's halloween was full of treats and not to many tricks! The big boys are out hitting the streets for candy. Abel and I are at homing manning the door and jamming to a little M.J's the thriller!

MN Arboretum

 Today we went to the Arboretum with Aunt Risa, Krisha and the cousins Maddie, Ty and Bode. It was an outside walking tour of the arb with trick or treating. It was little chilly but every one looked great in their costumes and it was nice to spend time with the cousins. Both of my boys feel alseep on the way home.

Baby hulk

 I know it's an ealry preview of the coustumes but Axel loves wearing his so it gave him a great excuse to run around as spider man for a day.

Ty-Banana, Axel-spiderman, Maddie- a bee

walking the trails

Bode- grim reeper

Tomorrow we are craving pumpkins. I think it's starting to feel like Halloween. :) We all survived our first busy week. The boys did well at daycare/preschool. And of course they both already have new colds too! My first week went well and man was I tired! I got to spend one day on my unit which was awesome and once again I'm super pumped and nervous for all that I have to learn. I have one more week of general nursing orientation then I start my orientation to critial care nursing. Then I will have 3 months of classes along side with shifts on my unit. Lot's of learning! I am ready for the challenge. Bring on the classes.

Abel walking

First day of dayare today and first day of my new job. I was so nervous for the boys. It sounds like they did great. Abel cried a little in the morning but then enjoyed the rest of his day. Axel didn't eat much-go figure and he told me the bathrooms were disgusting. Funny kid. Over all is sounds like a good beginning. My first day of work was filled with the Mayo vision. I'm ready to get busy on my new unit.  The best part of my day was coming home to Abel walking! Moneky see monkey do I guess. :)

Park

Playing at the park

 I love all the fall colors in the back ground. It's sad how all the leaves have fallen already and the weather is rainy.

Axel is getting so daring