Cabin fun

Of course one of the highlights for the cabin in the winter is x-country skiing! Everyone enjoys this activity whether you want a leisurely stroll through the woods to see the scenery or if you want a rigourous workout cruising accross the land- its for everyone. Here Randy, Chrissy, mom, and Russ enjoyed a long cruise through the woods. Dennis's first time playing in the snow was short lived. It started off okay- he didn't move much- just looked around in amazement

He sure is cute.

He couldn't walk very far because the snow was so deep and his suit was so bulky.

Then, Brooklynn got him in the sled and they had fun while Ryan ran them around the yard. Brooklynn was such a good help for Dennis with her little mothering voice. "oh, Dennis." (wish you could here it)

Then we hooked the sled up to a backpack so that the kids could come skiing with us. Dennis unfortunately didn't like this one even with Brooklynn helping him. So, he stayed on just to get a couple of pictures. Brooklynn and Kevin on the other hand enjoyed the whole trip behind the never ending engine also known as Ryan.

Buster and Bruno had a blast in the woods running around free and coming in when they got too cold. Poor Buster slipped on the front porch and snagged his toe nail- which ripped totally off! I guess dogs have an artery that goes into their nails and so Buster bled and bled and bled. We made a makeshift bandage for him with duct tape.

He wasn't feeling too hot for the day.

And, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a little healthy boot hockey competition on the ice. We have started a new tradition between the two Kannas families (Ron & John). Every year there will be a tournament and whoever wins the tournament gets the trophy axe to mount on their cabin wall until the next year and this will be passed back and forth between the families. This year we were late and therefore lost because of forfeit, and John's team didn't have enough players and lost because of forfeit... so we had to rely on the score to get a winner! They beat us 5-4... but only because OUR Dad was their goalie.

We had some good times in the cabin with eachother too. Here is Dennis with Grandma Robyn.

Our beautiful winter wonderland resort-The Loon Lodge.

Thanks everyone for a great time!

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve we all gathered at the cabin for a ham feast. Forgetting Dennis's booster seat that has a seat belt was a mistake. He spent most of meal time on our laps and now that we are home-he protests the seat belt. The meal was delicious as usual. It was beautiful at the cabin with snow covered pine trees everywhere and it continued to snow throughout the weekend keeping the trees freshly covered. I love being with my family. Here is everyone (except Russ who came later, and Dad who is taking the picture). Left to Right: Me, Dennis, Ryan, Reed, Brooklynn, Larissa, Norah, Kevin, Mom, Randy, and Chrissy.

As a tradition on my father's side of the family dating back to before my dad was born on Christmas eve we gather together (now at my dad's cousin John's house) sing songs and wait for Santa to arrive with gifts. Dennis wasn't so sure about Santa but never cried... just looked bewildered.

Here is everyone at the party this year.

dressing & undressing

Dennis knows that when we go outside he has to wear a hat... so when he wants to go outside, he puts a hat on and knocks on the door. Dennis is learning how to take his clothes off too. Here he is stuck with his shirt half way.

Before Christmas I wrote about the time when Dennis took his pants off in his crib. Well, here he is prancing around the house so happily.

silly boy.

Christmas Craft #1

Ryan's family draws names between the siblings every year and then has to make them a gift. This year we drew Camille & Buzz (the newly weds). And, as a unofficial tradition the newly weds get a Christmas advent calendar. All of the little things in the nativity scene are put on with Velcro and everyday one more is put on the scene. Ryan's family had one of these when he grew up and they all LOVED it- so of course everyone will need their own. We keep making copies of calendars already made... I wonder what the original pattern looked like and how it has changed.

* many thanks to my grandma who recently gave me all of her old craft stuff... I didn't have to buy all the felt, sequins, puff balls, bells, pipe cleaners, beads, and ribbons... they are now just a part of my craft collection. I LOVE hand-me-down craft and sewing stuff! Especially now that I have a place to put it all in my basement.

Christmas Craft #2 coming soon... they are still in the process of getting in the mail. I'm horrible.

mother moments

Christmas was so fun and one of the best in a long time. Pictures with more details later...

We went to the cabin in MN this year and with the whole hussle bussle of the Christmas activities Dennis and I got tired and a little detached from our normal routine. Once things quieted down and everyone left except the two of us with my parents, I was able to have a couple of those mommy moments that you want to capture in a jar to remember years down the road. One night when I was putting him to bed we took some extra time to read some books-so he finished his bottle early which made me kinda nervous that he would have trouble going to bed. But we kept reading anyways. Then we turned off the light and sang some songs. Yup- WE sang some songs. Dennis is getting to be quite the singer and dancer. Then I put him down when I noticed that he was trying to get comfy on my lap and he smiled at me as I tucked him in. He quickly fell asleep.

When back in Minneapolis he was having a hard time falling asleep because of the new surroundings so I lay down with him until he fell asleep. In the process, I had my arm laying over him and moved it to scratch my head- but Dennis pulled it back immediately. Such a little thing but means so much to a mommy.

chuga-chuga choo-choo

So, lately Dennis has decided that sitting in a shopping cart is no fun. He would rather be running around, hiding behind the clothes racks and sucking on the little plastic size identifiers that click onto the hangers. Today on our second trip to Target I kept him highly entertained in the cart by crouching down and saying, "chuga-chuga choo-choo". You would be suprised at how many ugly looks I got from other parents... I guess they were just jealous that I was a super cool mom or just afraid that their kids would make them start acting like a circus. Either way, I didn't care... it kept my cutie entertained.

blogging break

So, my cord that connects my camera to my computer is officially broken. I can no longer upload photos... until I get a new one. And, really how fun is a post without pictures... not that fun.

Here are a couple of stories from the past week. Dennis and I went to the science center one day after school and there is a walkway accross the highway that has plexy glass windows on the floor so that you can see the cars zooming by underneath you. Well, Dennis was cruising along until he came to one of these windows. As soon as he could see down he would stop immediately and slowing move into the crouch position and freeze. It was so funny! There are 3 windows along the walkway and he would do it at every one. I even pounded on the glass to show him that it was ok- And, I stood in the middle of it... nope. He was terrified of it. Then we got to the shiny blue laminate floor and Dennis would not walk on it! He dropped to his hands and knees and then froze. I tried holding his hand but that didn't help... I just had to carry him accross until we got to carpet. Then he had a blast. I unfortunately forgot my camera on this trip.

Then just today Dennis fell asleep in the car for 15 minutes and then when we got home he thought that he had already taken a nap. I tried to put him in his bed- but he just cried. I changed a poopy diaper and we started again with a bottle. He wasn't crying anymore but I could tell that he was moving around so never really fell asleep. After a couple of hours I checked on him to find that he had taken his pants off and his diaper off! To make things better- he had pooped AGAIN! And, he peed all over the floor. That funny guy. He just smiled at me so proud of what he had accomplished. yuck.