2019 :: 4/52

Tova: starting to say the "gah" sound both "ga" and "goooo" and her lips go way out when she says goooooo, she first said it when grandpa peter was here and it sounded a lot like grandpa, she's standing on her own a lot but won't take any steps, she's really into pulling lots of books off shelves lately, she loves being in her walker and can really get around in it now, she has really cut back on breastfeeding this week and has been eating a ton at meals; I hope we're not almost done nursing,



Monday was martin luther king jr day; trevor didn't have school Monday or Tuesday and Al didn't work either, so we went up to mom's house on Monday. we left after lunch once Al was awake. that night we had supper at mom's house with unc-o and then trevor and I went up to visit mom at her bowling league.

Tuesday morning we went to mall of America with momma, dada, trevor, tova, nana, unc-o, maren, tula, and etta for a little pre-birthday activity for Trevor. it was toddler Tuesday so they had dora and boots characters there (from the dora books we have) and had a craft. that also included an unlimited rides wristband for the kids for very cheap! it's only for little kids and they can only go on the little kid rides, but trevor LOVED it!! he loved getting to decide what to ride on and when. his favorite was the paw patrol play area, but he also was a great driver on the mini bumper cars and he liked the cars that I rode with him, the train that tula, etta and I rode with him, the trucks he got to "drive" both by himself and then again with tula, the carousel and the bounce house.

we also went to the lego store ("a store with just legos!") and had fun looking at all the lego stuff! trevor also brought his Christmas money from grama DD, grandpa Rick and auntie molly that he saved to buy arctic legos. he found the 2 sets he wanted/needed to complete his arctic lego collection; he had just enough money for one and unc-o bought him the other one for his birthday. Al and I got him some new lego guys, 3 of which we got to piece together ourselves. upon checking out we became lego vip's and so got some lego magazines and trading cards. there were also stations for building legos. we then went on a couple more rides before having lunch, going to the candy store (the last thing we needed to do on trevor's mall of America list :]), and then back for a couple more rides before leaving. tova did great, too! she only slept for a half an hour in the stroller from waking up at 715 to leaving moa at 230. we went back to mom's house, packed up and left for eau Claire. tova fell asleep about 10 minutes before we got home and I was able to lay her down once home for a nap.

Wednesday and Thursday Al worked 6p-6a and trevor had school. Tova napped a ton on Wednesday so we just stayed home and did laundry. Thursday morning we woke up to about an inch of snow, so during tova's nap trevor and I went outside to shovel. Thursday started a very cold stretch of weather and the wind was just starting to pick up when we got done shoveling.

Al had off Friday-sunday and it was cold outside so we just stayed in and got things done around the house. Friday morning the kids and I went to Jodi's to play. then I had a doctor's appointment to get my thyroid tested. Saturday morning, I ran to aldi and grandpa peter came over to help fix the toilet. once I was back, trevor, al and gpa peter ran to menards during tova's nap. then they fixed the toilet and al did the next step to do the indoor trim for our new front door. Saturday night, after the kids were in bed, I went out with my menards friends for trina's birthday for a bit. trina got a free, huge Moscow mule for her birthday. it was a good time and good to catch up with those guys (trina, tyler, steph, and tim) and I was home by 10.

sunday morning al got up in time to make us breakfast and then we played all morning. at lunch time I made a lentil soup and chopped and cooked all our veggies before they go bad and so we can eat the easily this week. trevor had swimming lessons at 430 again and we made a ham for supper. the kids liked the ham and the sweet potatoes!! then it was shower/bath night, reading books and bed before matt came over to watch the wrestling pay per view with Al.

 sunshine

 boots and dora

 cousins

 the paw patrol play area trevor loved

 car ride we liked

 train ride with tula and etta :)

 he was such a good driver

 lego store!

 checking off the 2 arctic legos from his list

 "driving" the trucks

 showing tula how to drive

 tongue out

 tova finally fell asleep at 130ish

 the lego guys we put together

 building his arctic legos

lots of ponytails to the face these days :)

 always gotta see what her brother's doing

 huge moscow mule with trina and steph

she loves to read books!

2019 :: 3/52

Tova: started sleeping through the night this week (weaned off her middle of the night feedings), lots of new sounds for her this week (ooooo, sh, high screeching that goes up and down in notes), blows kisses,


Monday morning we went over to Jodi's and played in the morning. tova slept until almost 8am so she didn't need her first nap until 11, so we came home just before that. then trevor was off to school. Al worked Monday and Tuesday 3p-3a.

Tuesday morning we went over to jenny's house and played with kourtlyn and klare until 10 when tova was ready for her first nap. then home for play, lunch and school for trevor. tova came with me both Monday and Tuesday to pick up trevor so I had to try and work her naps around that. it was misting and foggy both days and just at freezing for temps so it was very slippery! the roads weren't too bad; the main ones were fine, our neighborhood roads were slippery but sanded well. the driveways and sidewalks were sheer ice; we had to pretend we were ice skating in our boots to not slip. Tuesday was bath night and tova was not happy that she couldn't stand in the tub. trevor shared one of his toys with her to make her stop crying; the first time he's willingly shared with her!

Wednesday we stayed home. after lunch, trevor went to school and Al had court (on his day off) for a bit at 2. then I went and picked up trevor and Easton and E came back to our house to play until his mom picked him up. two 4 year old boys are wild! :) then we had supper and trevor was super tired so we just watched a movie before an early bed time for both kids.

Thursday morning we went to the indoor sports center with Jodi, Easton, graham, and Carsyn. it was tova's first time since she's been mobile and she liked it. it took her a bit to warm up before she'd crawl around, but then she got going. she liked riding on the ride on toys. trevor had fun but wasn't very nice to 2 brother's that were trying to play with him and Easton so we had a long talk once home about being a good friend and if someone walks away from you, you don't chase them. then home for lunch with Al before trevor got on the bus, and then I went at 130 to volunteer in his class. it's so fun to see the kid's improvements from the beginning of the school year and how comfortable they are with the structure and routine of their classroom! they're so fun! I left when they went outside and went to the thrift store we love that's right across the highway. I found some toys, crafts and a hot wheels book for 98 cents a piece! then I picked up trevor. then home to spend time with Al and tova since it was Al's last day off before the 3 day work weekend.

Friday morning, after I laid tova down for nap, I brought the monitor down to Al while trevor and I went back to the library with Jodi, evrett, graham, and Carsyn. we found some more good books and a couple more we love (I really should have started regular library visits sooner!) then home for lunch, to see Al a bit before he left for work, and then at 230ish tova went down for nap and trevor went in for rest time. his rest times currently consist of a half hour of looking at books in bed and then about a half hour of playing quietly in his room; sometimes he does great with this, sometimes he asks every 10 minutes if he can come out yet. :) then Friday night the kids and I went over to matt & Jodi's for supper. we played and chatted, the kids played great, we fed the babies, then we all ate; it was delicious and so nice to be able to do this again (tova not needing a 3rd nap right at supper time.)

it got really cold starting this weekend so we didn't go anywhere or do anything outside. mom came down Saturday morning. once she was here, trevor and I bundled up nice and warm, and went outside to shovel the maybe inch of snow we got. then we played with nana, I got some things done around the house, trevor and nana made homemade pizza for lunch (Al was awake for it, too; he worked 3p-3a all weekend), and the kids had their nap/rest time. mom and I made some more irish cream too!! yum!

sunday morning was more of the same. mom left just before Al left for work and trevor said, "everyone's leaving us." but we had a good night, trevor helped me make supper, he played pretty well with tova, did some workbook stuff, and watched a movie.

 indoor sports center

 library play area with Carsyn and graham

2019 :: 2/52

Tova: loves to be chased while she's crawling she just giggles and crawls away, has started to throw food, spoons, water cup on the floor during eating, it makes a mess, she will crawl into rooms now that no one is even in, I often find her in trevor's room, she loves to open doors and cupboards, she loves to knock down anything that's built up or on a shelf/table, she points a lot now, I think she's working on her 1 year molars as she's always chomping on things & has diarrhea & diaper rash, does not like hats on & will always pull them off,

Trevor: I think I forgot to post this in the summer but trevor caught a rock bass this summer and now calls them "rock & roll bass" :), he's in to his arctic legos which are actually pretty in depth & kinda hard ones to build, complained of his knees hurting this week possible growing pains?


monday and Tuesday Al was off. Trevor had school and Tova was working on teething (1 year molars, I think.) Monday night we had grandpa peter over for supper. Tuesday night was bath/shower night. Tuesday and Wednesday were super windy and cold! on Tuesday we paid off Al's student loans 2 years early!!! woo hoo!!! that's $400/month we can put to other use now! we paid over $7000 towards his loans since July!

Wednesday morning during tova's first nap, trevor and I went to the public library with Jodi and the kids. we had fun! they have a little play area and trevor picked out 5 books and we picked out 3 for tova. then home for lunch and school. Al worked 3p-3a Wednesday and then at 11a-11p on Thursday so we didn't see him. :(

Thursday morning we went and played at Jodi's house before school. then tova and I hung out, she took a nap, then we went and picked up trevor and Easton from school.

Al was off Friday-Sunday but had his alumni track meet on Saturday. Friday was spent at home other than I went to the grocery store and trevor and I walked down to the park. trevor made a new friend there named Brynley who is a month younger than him and will be going to his same elementary school. she's very active and loves to run just like trevor. they had fun playing. Friday night brohmer came up so it was play with brohmer night for the kids. :) at 9, I went and picked up Jodi then went to the airport restaurant/bar for a drink and to watch the end of the badger basketball game. it was a good time and a good game!

Saturday morning, we played, I cleaned the floors, then Al and brohmer left for the meet. it started at noon but tova didn't wake up until 1155a and I had to get her dressed and feed her lunch. we ended up missing Al throwing the weight (which is my favorite to watch him throw as it's the closest to the hammer which is his favorite/best event but is outdoor only so he doesn't get to throw anymore.) He ended up pr-ing (personal record/best) in the weight, too. but we got there in time to see him throw shot, and he did great in that too! then I took the kids home for nap/rest time and the boys came back for a bit before we dropped them off for their alumni get together. they didn't get home until after 2am but they said they had fun.

tova was up crying every 2 hours Saturday night (thinking teeth again/still.) so sunday we were all pretty tired. but we played with brohmer, I organized & refolded a bunch of clothes in the kids and my dresser drawers, I ran to target to get trevor a swim suit for swimming lessons since his was size 4t and he's in size 6 clothes, and Al ran to menards to get a new flusher for the toilet. Trevor had swimming lessons at 430 at the middle school near our house (where he'll go to school); he's in level 2/3 for his age range, called 'seal.' He liked it, froze but it's only half an hour long so it goes by quick. then home for a warm shower, supper, some legos, and bed. Trevor complained that his knees hurt this weekend, we're thinking it's growing pains but we'll hafta be aware of how long it lasts and how it affects him.

 chewing on her sock

 little pointer

 at the library

 waiting for the bus

 Tova loves refried beans :)

 she loves crawling into and out of this cardboard castle

 my little thumb sucker