Don't Mess with these Kids!

The Quiet Room

Can't find Brett? Most likely he has escaped his 2 favorite admirers aka as Jake and Brylee and has locked himself in the "quiet room."

Brylee's First Recital

Brylee's weekend was full of dance rehearsal and her first recital. She had a blast on stage! Brett thought she was going to collapse from laughter. We were not allowed to video during the recital but I was able to take a video at her rehearsal. The brothers were waiting with flowers to give to their Super-Star Sister!

Brylee is the 3rd girl from the left.

Snow Much Fun!

My little eskimos bundled up and ready for school!

Best Thanksgiving Ever!

3:45 am on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving Talli began to drive North. 8:00 am the kids and I headed west. 8:30 pm we rang to doorbell and surprised my Mom and Jim. Ryan and Angie were also on their way from Arizona. It had been 8 years since the last time all three kids and my Mom were together. As you can tell she was truly suprised.

Best Thanksgiving Ever!!!

Thanksgiving with family.

Black Friday shopping at Target with Talli and Lori....never again!

Time with my brother, sister and Mom at the same time.

Uncle Ryan taking the kids to Planet Pizza.

Time with cousins and aunt.

Swimming and movies.

All memories stored away until next time!

"Jacob what are you doing?"

"Mom did you know that if you give an ant a crumb of food they will be your best friend?

Did you know they are excellent swimmers and climbers?

Mom I should keep my ant for a pet because I really love it!"

Great idea buddy!

Currently Brylee is babysitting the ant while Jacob is in the shower.

E-L-E-V-E-N

FIFTY NINE

Happy Birthday Mom!

Fifty Nine Fun Facts about my Mom

1. 59 nine years ago the Most Beautiful Woman was born on 10-16-52.

2. I am lucky enough to call her "Mom"

3. She was born and raised in Minot, ND.

4. She will never know how many lives she as touched.

5. She has not one selfish bone in her body.

6. She is the PERFECT mother.

7. Many situations in life I only have to ask myself "what would my Mom do?"

8. She tells me she loves me daily!

9. As a little girl she would take money from under the mattress in her parent's room and throw it in the streets for the homeless.

10. She can't put on her clothes on unless they are ironed... I recently watched her struggle with it, she broke down and pulled out the iron.

11. She likes to take Zumba classes.

12. She tucked us into bed everynight.

13. Her Mother, my Grandma was as beautiful as she is.

14. There used to be a street named "Valker Rd" in Minot

15. On weekends, growing up she would run the vaccuum to wake us up so she could spend time with us.

16. Once we sprayed pledge in the air and told her we dusted our room she then told us we did a great job!

17. She treats her husband like a King.

18. I notice that she smiles at everyone she passes and says hello.

19. We can talk on the phone for hours and never run out of things to talk about.

20. Brett named her Mimi when he was one.

21. Once she turned around got out of her car to give a homeless man some $$ and stopped to listen to his story, how many of us take the time or even notice.

22. Bryee and her have the same middle name, Ann.

23. I believe my sister is alive today because of my Mom's love.

24. My brother's graduation cake read "congratulations Vicki and Ryan!"

25. She would write my english papers for me if I would rub her head and she always got me A's...we are currently working on Talli's master's degree in Social Work.

26. She lives in the town she grew up in.

27. I would love live in the same town as her. We have not lived in the same town for 13 years :(

28. She is the most optimistic, positive person living on Planet Earth!

29. She had two brothers, Greg died in the Vietnam war and Uncle Bryan was the funniest man I have ever known.

30. She physically has the same symptoms has her children do when we are sick..still to this day..for real!

31. She gets up and the first thing she does is read the bible...she is in love with Jesus.

32. She still lets me be her little girl.

33. Dinner was on the table every night when we got home from school.

34. The house was always clean growing up...not sure how she did that one!

35. Just last week she tried to "ground Ryan" from breaking world records flying in the air.

36. She was up showered and dressed before we woke up. I don't even remember seeing her in her pajamas.

37. I have not even one memory of her losing her temper or even being slightly mad or upset...even when Ryan was being his naughtiest. And he was one strong willed little boy.

38. You would think the President of the United States was calling her everytime one of her children call.

39. I have saved every letter she has written to me so when she is dancing in heaven with Jesus I can hear her voice.

40. Great now I am crying because I am overwhelmed with the love I have for my Mom!

41. She is so Strong, she has been through more than most and has never let any of it get her in the end.

42. Growing up at the grocery store we were able to put whatever we wanted in the cart.

43. She waited up for me when I was a teenager and I sure loved it when she called Target to see if I had left work even though it was only .5 miles away.

44. She used to pay my brother to brush his teeth and shower.

45. She sent me allowance until I was 30.

46. Her favorite numbers are 3 and 7.

47. She can find beauty in anything I mean anything. I wish I saw the world through her eyes.

48. To this very day she can make me go to the doctor.

49. She is married to Danny Tanner from the TV shoe Full House.

50. We laugh until our stomachs hurt and we are crying.

51. She always puts others before herself.

52. Brett says she is the best Grandma in the World.

53. Jake says everytime she comes she gives him a present.

54. Brylee says she loves her SO MUCH!

55. She is the reason I do not like spaghetti, she made it everytime one of us lost a tooth so we could slurp the noodles that means I ate too much spaghetti growing up with three kids in the house.

56. Today and growing up I have always been proud of my Mom.

57. Her favorite day of the week is trash day.

58. My goal would to be just half....heck I would just settle for just one quarter of the woman she is.

59. I hope 41 years from today I am writing a list of 100 reasons I love my Mom. Her list is endless.

Happy Birthday Mom!

F-I-V-E

S-E-V-E-N

School Pictures

2011-2012

My Preschool Princess

My 1st Grade Super Hero

My 5th Grade Super Smart Boy

Applicious!

Driving along the river headed toward the Mall of America we found the most amazing apple orchard. It was full of yummy Honey-crisp apples! The kids raced down the hill in the wagon to see who could find the biggest apples. After several picked apples and fresh caramel apples to go we were back on the road Mall of America bound.