Just Because

These photos are "just because" I have realized recently (mainly because I am scrapbooking again) that it seems I captured far more moments of Joel's first 2 and 1/2 years than I have of Grant's first 2 and 1/2 years. So this is just a little photographic celebration of our almost 2 and 1/2 year old. Also, it just so happens that with Joel gone at swimming lessons for an hour tonight Grant was ALL smiles about getting to paint and take a bubble bath BY HIMSELF... alone time is something that Grant doesn't know much about, but clearly loves:)

This is What They Do

This amazing fall we've had has found the boys outside ALOT during the month of October. Either in the front riding bikes or in the backyard below, they can't get enough. There is always less fighting and crying outside, so it's been good for everyone. I couldn't get a clear picture for some reason (I think is was the fact that it was right at dusk and I almost needed a flash).

Pushing trucks around the yard has been a favorite activity for a couple years not for the J &G... this one just never seems to get old. :)

#68

Although it seems that football is just getting started... actually there is only one last game next week! If that means fall is going to be over soon, I am NOT ready for it! Today, Mitch had a great game against St. Michael, with a fumble recovery that actually could have been a touchdown. He was playing nose tackle, there is a play up the middle and the ball is on the ground, Mitch scoops it up and runs into a pile. The next thing you know he was 10 yards downfield with nothing but daylight in front of him. Unfortunately the refs blew the whistle and called the play dead shortly after Mitch recoverd the ball - thinking he was down - it was obvious to his coaches (and dad and grandpa) that he wasn't. This was his second fumble recovery of the season. His team has been playing really well and have won 5 games in a row.

Bison #68

Biggest fans= Little brothers

If I had to guess, I would say Mitchell is probably describing his fumble recovery in the picture below:)

Truth be told this football season, at times I feel like I have spent much more time watching Joel than watching Mitchell. (Sad, but true) This is mainly due to Joel's recent fascination with "friends" at these football games. Playing with these "friends" at games usually draws Joel away from where we are sitting which means my eyes need to be on him, with is usually in the opposite direction of the game....

From what I can tell, Joel's definition of a "friend" is anyone close to his size, but can be quite a bit bigger as well... During a recent game, he insisted on offering yogurt covered pretzels to everyone at the football game (anyone between 3 and 4 feet anyway). Apparrently that is the height range of his potential friends.

I am actually amazed by how social he can be these days. As soon as we arrive at the football game, he leaves Grant in the dust, finds a "friend", and initiates playing, and then runs around with kids laughing and chasing during most of the game. Fun to watch.

Meanwhile, it is maybe equally surprising how content Grant is to stay close to mom and dad and basically SIT (sort-of) and watch the game. A new experience for me and something Jeff hasn't experienced for 10 years since Mitchell has a little tike. :)

Homemade Photo Shoot

Today, despite too much sun in our eyes to take great photos, a crazy 3 year old, a crazy 2 year old, and my terrible camera (and lack of photography training), we decided to make the best of an opportunity to take some pictures of the boys while the weather is still decent. Here are few of my favorites.... now what I should really do is post some of the other 179 pictures that I took that didn't make the blog. haha!

The picture above was right when we got there and Joel and Grant kept looking every 2 seconds to see if a train was coming. No trains came while we were there, but at first Grant just kept saying, "A train is coming, we need to get off the tracks", "A train is coming, I hear it", "I hear a train, a train is coming", etc, etc.

Mitchell, looking very grown-up, I think.
Joel doing a "model pose"... that's what I asked him to do anyway.

A self-timer photo with my camera on a lawn chair we hauled out on the tracks. And even despite one child with a finger in their nose, still probably our best family photo to date. (it may even be the first, I'm not sure)

Highlight of the day (according to Joel), throwing rocks into the Crow River. I am pretty sure Joel and Grant would have done this all day.

You may recognize the location, as it is the same spot that Grant has some of his 2 year photos taken recently. When we got there and I saw how bright and sunny it was, I would have preferred to continue on to a shadier location, but that was NOT happening with how excited Joel and Grant were to go out on the railroad tracks, and I assure you by the time we took these photos, we were NOT going to be able to withstand a second location. no way.

New Haircuts

ALL of our boys got LOTS of hair cut off yesterday. (Mitch as well... I will have to snap a picture of him in the morning after his hair is styled to post). Actually, as it turns out, Jeff and I ended up getting haircuts as well yesterday.... wasn't even planned in anyway and every single one of us had a different stylist, but somehow 9.28.10 ended up being what will probably be the only day EVER that all 5 of us got haircuts on the SAME day!I just love the little boys "big boy" looks:)

Really Big Bed

Joel, Sunday evening, seeing his new bed for the first time. He was very proud to be big enough to use Mitchell's big boy bed as well as his old Spider-man sheets and comforter. He LOVES his new bed. He didn't even ASK where his old race car bed went!

20/20

Today is a big day around here! (for me, anyway). Today is the first day in about 25 years that I have 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts. Thanks to the miracle of lasik, I can enjoy a feeling I haven't had since 2nd grade. Yesterday, I underwent lasik surgery with Dr. Whiting in Edina and today the world is looking great. At my follow-up this morning, I learned that I am already seeing better than 90% of patients the day after surgery and my vision will only improve slightly from here. Wow, I could get used to this!

Grant 2 Year Pictures

I just can't get enough of looking at these pictures...
His hair, His eyes,
His eye lashes and eye brows...

Everything about this little munchkin is just too cute.

Beautiful Sunday

It was a great day to spend at this cute little farm near Delano yesterday. (it was near 80 degrees in the afternoon). This farm/orchard is our favorite because of all the animals (and lots of baby animals too) they always have.

There are 2 little buildings filled with all kinds of baby chicks, which is one of the highlights, as the kids are free to go in and hold the chicks as much as they like. (Joel had his a little upside down and backwards, but was very proud to be holding it)

The first stop on the tractor ride through the farm to pick your own gourd and popcorn

Ready for the tractor ride!

While Mitch and Grant were visiting the baby cows and goats, Joel was very busy cleaning all the dirt off this pumpkins and gourds. silly boy:)

CORN!

Vikings!

ALL by boys LOVE wearing their Vikings jerseys, and Jeff, who typcially doesn't take much interest in what everyone is wearing on a given day, was sure to notify me last week (like 3 days in advance) that everyone needed to wear their jerseys last Thursday for the Vikings game. Joel wore his for 2 days of course and also tried to convice me it wasn't dirty on the third day either, but I finally convinced him to wear something else.

Joel likes to pick his own clothes and his favorite shirts consist of anything that resembles a sports jersey in any way... even if it's not a jersey, but is shiny like a sports jersey, that counts too. He has a very sporty style:)

Back to School!

7am: Mitch all set for the start of 7th grade and the start of after school football practice on the Junior High team. Sounds like his day was pretty smooth... only went to the wrong class once:)... so I guess that is good!

9am: Joel all smiles after hanging up his backpack at his very first day of preschool. He was so proud of his new spiderman jacket (thanks Nana Jane) and just so proud in general that he was going to school. There were no issues whatsoever with me leaving him there. He barely even looked up from what he was doing. However, that doesn't mean it was a peaceful departure... look behind Joel in the picture and you will see Mr. Grant, climbing up to hang up his own backpack (that he insisted on bringing even though I told him he was going to come home with me). Grant was very much ready to stay at preschool. Hence... we made QUITE the scene leaving today. I am quite certain that Grant's screams could be heard up and down all the halls of the school. He even turned down my nice friend who offered him a sucker to help him feel better and the recovery took about 10 minutes. There was NOTHING I could do for this poor abandoned little brother. I felt soooo bad!


Next year, Grant... :)

Joel, before leaving for school, trying to smile through the tears. He did NOT want me to take his picture this morning. Then we finally agreed he would smile for a picture when we got to school.