Christmas Tree Time!

 

Last weekend we made our annual 40-mile drive north to Clear Lake to find our Christmas tree. We found a beautiful tree that measured in at 11 feet 4 inches, our shortest tree to date. The kids had a wonderful time decorating the tree and we hope everyone has a chance to come see it. Enjoy your holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

GREYSON MILES STEEL - November 18, 2011

 

As everybody already knows, we welcomed Greyson Miles Steel into the world on Friday. Congrats to the Jim, Heather, Gavin, and Aidan. Aubrey and Colton are very excited to have a new cousin and Bree and I are excited to have a new nephew. Last weekend, we celebrated Gavin's 7th and Aidan's 5th birthdays. Gavin spent some time showing Aubrey how to play the iPad, Colton found some comfort on Auntie Jen's lap, and I managed to get Aubrey and Colton together for one picture.

Winter unofficially started today. It has been snowing for the last four hours and we are expected to get a few inches when it is all said and done. The good news is that the snow won't last long as Thanksgiving is calling for sun and temps pushing 50. Golfing on Thanksgiving in Minnesota?

We hope everybody is doing well. We are so happy that Heather and Greyson are doing so well! Thanks for visiting.

Trick or Treat

 

Trick or treat! This year Aubrey was the Disney princess Belle and Colton was Robin of Batman and Robin fame. The weather could not have been better for a Halloween night so both kids got to quite a few houses this year. Aubrey and Colton went trick or treating with their friends from across the street, Mason and Paige. We hope you all had a wonderful Halloween too!

Happy Birthday Colton

 

Last weekend we also celebrated Colton's 2nd birthday. Colton chose a Mickey Mouse theme for his party. Bree made a fruit pizza shaped as Mickey Mouse which I included a picture of. Colton had a ton of fun and we are greatful to everyone for celebrating his birthday with us.

Apple Orchard

 

 

We took our annual trip to the apple orchard last weekend. The kids sure did have a lot of fun. They enjoyed picking (and eating) apples much more than I thought they would. There were a lot of activities for kids including a tractor ride, pony ride, playground made of hay, and some enormous jumpy thing that I have never seen before. We sure are excited to go back next year.

 

Colton obviously loves himself some lotion. Aubrey has turned into such a little lady....loving earrings and fingernails.

 

 

The Kiddos are Rockin'

 

Summer time! Summer has finally arrived and the kids have been able to get out in the new pool a lot lately. The picture of the kids snuggling on the couch is them watching "Cars". Apparently Colton was pretty excited about something in the movie while Aubrey decided to provide the camera a beautiful smile! I also included some proof that Aubrey's hair is growing. Look at those beautiful, natural curls! You go girl!

Colton is doing well after getting the tubes in his ears re-done earlier this week. The kid sure is pushing his bed time back. He is staying up as late as Aubrey now...usually going to bed at 8:30! Remember you can click on the collage to enlarge it. If you need any individual pictures emailed to you, just let me know.

Party Time!!

 

It was time for Mom and Dad to get out and party. Last weekend, Bree and I went to the Poison/Motley Crue concert with our friends, Joel & Nicole Kunza. We had a ton of fun. Here are some before and after pictures as well as some others from the awesome night we had. Thank you to Joely for watching the kiddos that night!!

 

Summer!

 

Summer has finally arrived in Minnesota! We will finally be making our first trip to the beach this weekend. The kids are very excited to go and it should be a good time. I will post some pictures of the outing. Here are some pictures of the kids just to let you know they are doing well! Poor Colton has to go back in for some more "minor" surgery to get one of his tubes replaced. The tube in his left ear has been very bothersome and has stopped functioning so the doctor wants to replace it. His surgery isn't scheduled yet but it will likely be later this month. The doctor thinks this will also restore full hearing to his left ear too.

We hope everyone is well...thank you for visiting!

Congrats Bree!

 

A month or two ago, Bree got a big promotion at United Health Care. To celebrate, I surprised Bree by renting a 22-passenger Excursion and bringing along about 15 of our closest family and friends. We went out on the town for a evening of fun and good times. Thank you to everyone for showing up and being part of the night...it sure was fun!

 

Spring!!

 

Spring finally arrived this past weekend. I think we reached 55 degrees both days and our family definitely took advantage. We grilled for dinner both Saturday and Sunday, went on many family walks, drew pictures on the driveway with chalk, went to the park, and flew a kite. This was the first time Aubrey had ever flown a kite. Unfortuntately pictures or video couldn't cature that child's joy when she was running around with that kite. We are all off antibiotics, enjoying the warm weather, and are excited that baseball is here!!

 

Hello! The kids are still doing great. Winter needs to go away quickly! Where are you Spring?

Daddy/Daughter Dance

 

This past Saturday was the 2nd annual Daddy/Daughter dance at the Maple Grove Lifetime Fitness. It was the first year Aubrey and I have attended though. Bree did a very good job getting Aubrey excited for the "ball" that only princesses and their dad's got to go to. Aubrey's excitement was so contagious and cute. We danced, played games, got Aubrey's face painted, decorated a picture frame for our Daddy/Daughter picture to go in, and most of all, had a ton of fun. After the "ball" I took Aubrey to McDonalds for her favorite treat...a vanilla shake. What a cheap date! I hope everyone is surviving the 12+ of snow we just got. Thanks for visiting our blog!

Vegas baby!

 

Earlier this month, Bree and I finally made it to Vegas. It was the first time to Vegas for both of us. We went with two other couples and had a great time. Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Steel for taking care of Aubrey and Colton while we were away. Aubrey and I have a Daddy/Daughter dance tonight. Princess Aubrey thinks she is going to a ball....so cute! I don't know what to expect since but it should be a really good time. I will definitely post photos in the near future!

Winter Time!

 

Hello all! Winter continues to hang around this year with no signs of going away. We decided to take the kids sledding to help them enjoy the outdoors. Colton loved being outside more than he did actually sledding. Aubrey really took a liking to her new sled which might be the slowest one on earth. I thought that sled was going to come to a stop going down the hill but it managed to make it to the bottom. Aubrey really enjoyed it so I guess we'll keep it!

Colton is transitioning from the "infant" room at daycare (ages 6 weeks to 16 months) into the "toddler" room (16 months to 33 months). The three biggest changes for Colton is the interaction with the older kids, going outside every day, and taking naps in a cot. In his new room, the kids just take naps on these little cots that are on the floors. Today was his first day napping on one of these cots and he apparently did well. Aubrey is doing really. She's been fighting a cold for the longest time and has had to come home from school with a fever twice in the past week. Her personality continues to grow as she continues to become more independent. She really enjoys playing her alphabet game on the family's new iPad (pictured). Thanks for visiting...we hope everyone enjoys their Super Bowl Sunday. Dan's prediction....Packers 27 - Steelers 21.

Brrrrrrrr!

 

This winter has been cold and more snowy than normal...ugh! Where is the warm weather? Aubrey and Bunker have been becoming better buddies over the past few weeks. Aubrey really enjoys carrying Bunker around the house or pulling her around in the wagon. Bunker enjoys any attention she can get these days but this may be a little too much attention. The kids have really taken a liking to the iPad we got for Christmas. Aubrey really enjoys the alphabet game which is very interactive and entertaining. I think Colton just likes all the lights and being allowed to play with the same "toy" as Mom and Dad. Thanks for visiting...if you have any warm weather, please send it to us!!