My family is Numero Uno!!

My boys have had a cold of some sort for the last week or so. I started feeling it on Saturday night, and by Sunday morning I felt like a slug. Life goes on and you still have to do things like go to church and teach that lesson that you don't want to. So as I got to church bright and early, I was feeling like I would rather be anywhere but there, preferably snuggled in my nice warm bed. This is where one of my number one family members stepped in for me. Max was feeling the lets get out of here vibe and decided to help out. He slammed his finger in the car door so badly that John had to open the door to get his little finger out. Poor Guy! Lets just say his plan worked so well that I didn't have to teach my lesson, and got to leave right away. That's my Max, always thinking of others! He did go a little overboard this time if you ask me. I ended up taking him to our Dr. (can you believe they are open on Sunday Mornings?!!) and after some soaking, topical anesthetic, Tylenol w/ codeine, 3 x-rays, a local shot, a board to strap him down, two stitches and a finger gaurd later, he was all good. Max and I did end up getting home about a 1/2 hour before than John and Jackson, so I guess his plan did work to get me home earlier! I told him then next time he wants to go home he can just throw up....that would be easier.

Hopefully our girl won't be a red head........

.....or have the manners my boys have.

(We had another ultrasound today and the baby is healthy....and in case you didn't get it, we are having a girl!)

Due to the offensive nature, and at the request of the model, the photos in this post have been removed in order to stop further harm to any party.

Linds...you know I love readheads.....just not ones that wear bright blue eye shadow, press on nails, and pick their nose!!

Did this Valentine's Weekend kick your butt??

Uh, yeah me neither, just checking.

"Long Weekends" are always hard for me. This was especially true as it was not just a 3 day weekend, but a 4. The kids both had Friday and Monday off from school....boy were they excited! At least Jackson was. Max on the other hand, did not get it. He kept telling me "Miss Gretta says I go to school on Mondays." I'm sure we are very close to the day that we can add Max to the list of people in this house that think that I make things up as I go. (in case you were wondering, both John and Jack have been on this list for quite some time.)

We did make lots of memories...mostly good. To sum it up, we were busy! Some of the highlights were making valentine cottages with some friends (see above pics), a date night thanks to the Baldwins, going to Ikea (queen sheets for $10 - if that's not love, I don't know what is), dropping by the Mall of America for some delicious crepes, making red hearts at the lego store, PF Changs take-out, doing sharing time in primary, and last but not least, turning our baby into a frog after making wizard hats and wands. Now that is a run-on sentence for you!

Looking back, I did have an awesome weekend. I was however grateful this morning to take a shower without hearing any screams from the other room, or curious boys trying to check out the ever growing belly in all of its naked glory.

P.S - we have another ultra sound tomorrow. Hopefully modesty will not prevail again. Here are the details: If I don't call or post something, that means we are having another boy and I will forever be outnumbered. If I do, you don't even have to answer/ check our blog because that means it is a girl.

Not to Trump the SuperBowl or anything but.......

I just received the best news this morning!!!!!!! And yes, it does deserve 7 exclamation points! As I'm sure a lot of you know, we found out this summer that Max is hard of hearing. We also found out that our insurance does not cover anything to do with his hearing loss including dr. visits, ear molds, future hearing test and most importantly hearing aids. (we are talking thousands of $$$ every year) We went through several appeals, all to be denied. In fact the final denial appeal letter came exactly one week before Christmas and left me very deflated. We truly thought that John's employer would do the right thing, because ultimately it was their decision whether to cover it or not. John has always been upbeat about things like this and it doesn't seem to faze him. I'm glad he kept encouraging me to push and knock on every door possible. I spent a full day researching on the Internet and applying for grants and any charitable donation I could find. Today the Lions Club of Maple Grove called and told me that they are going to pay for the full amount of Max's hearing aids. I literally asked this guy Ken on the phone if he was joking and then began to ball like a baby. (I've got an excuse, I'm prego!!) I feel like this is one of the biggest answers to my prayers I have ever received. What a blessing!! If you would like to check out the MG Lions Club, you can go here: http://www.maplegrovelions.org/index.html

They have many opportunities to help raise $$ including things as easy as going to a pancake breakfast. Maple Grove Lions Rule!!

The Super Bowl Opened up for the BOSS!!

General Mills was feeling sorry that John has a cranky, mean prego wife at home and decided to send him to the Superbowl. (men just don't get it, they thought this would somehow make it better....ha ha ha he will pay!!!) Here is John at the game in a t-shirt. That's right a t-shirt. Today it is -5, and I am inside wearing my coat.


Pre - game time hoopla......

Pre - game party with a long time friend Michael Wheeler. Somehow John managed to look like he represents the lolipop guild in this pic. A friend hooked John up with these tickets. He saw lots of celebs and athletes, but by the time he was telling me, my eyes were already glazing over so you will have to ask him who he saw.

This is where the real entertainment began - 1/2 time!! Let's face it, Bruce rules. When John got home, we watched and Jackson loved it. He asked if he could go to the superbowl next year even though he has yet to watch one full minute of any other football game in his little life. John told him how much his ticket cost and that General Mills paid for it Jackson replied "I don't want to be a policeman anymore, I want to work for General Mills so I can save my own money and still go to the Superbowl." We told him to keep his policeman dreams and we will take him to a concert instead.

Overall, I thought I would be super jealous that he was in sunny Florida while I was holed up here in the tundra, but it wasn't too bad. When John got home I asked him who won and he was floored! He couldn't believe that I had no idea, and that I didn't watch the game. I actually enjoyed a whole weekend void of anything sports!!!