Relaxing weekend in the Cities???

I took an adventure last weekend with me and the boys in the Cities. Not sure if it was real relaxing or not - but it was a good time. I went to stay with my sister in Lakeville. She has a super nice house and she was gracious enough to allow 3 boys in it. We kept very very busy so the boys were entertained quite well... and if they weren't... look out. Saturday we took them to the Children's Museum in St. Paul. It was a very nice place that had a ton of different exhibits for the boys to engage in. In the afternoon Kristal took us to her exercise gym (Lifetime Fitness) - which was amazing and we took the boys swimming. Payton is getting to be a strong swimmer and enjoyed the big water slides... Brooks won't be too far behind him as he wants to "swim" by himself. There is only one problem... he does NOT know how to swim. For supper we took the boys to Osaka - a Japanese Steakhouse. There were 8 of us at a table (4 of which we didn't know) and they cooked our food right in front of us... with the addition of entertainment while it was being prepared. The boys looked a little confused at first... but in the end really enjoyed it and thought it was pretty cool. The boys were definitely ready for bed when we got home... and so were we (Kristal and I). Thanks to Kristal for the awesome hospitality and for bringing us around the "Big City". We appreciate it more than you know and LOVE you very much.

Where has the time gone...

I find myself having less and less time on my hands. I guess it's to be expected. I would rather stay super busy than wander around wondering what to do next.
Payton... he is getting closer and closer to the end of 1st grade. He is continuing to amaze us with his math, reading, spelling, music, etc. The last time that I have seen his "AR" (accelerated reader) tests he was testing at 2nd grade 7th month... which is awesome! He is just itching to get outside more and more and play ball with his Dad. He loves playing football, basketball, and baseball. Before we know it he will be going golfing with Gma and Gpa.
Brooks... is working hard at being "good" so he can go to preschool in the fall. We have his signed up to attend Treasure Box one morning a week. He too is wanting to go outside every waking minute and has been working hard at pedaling a bike. He does really well... especially when going down the driveway :) He has "WOW-ed" us with his knowledge of all colors, shapes, and some numbers and letters. He may act like he doesn't know or understand... but I know better... he too is a pretty smart kid.
Braxton... is continuing to do what he does best... GAIN WEIGHT! We had the chance to visit the new children's hospital in Sioux Falls a couple weeks ago for a well check since he has been home and it was amazing. It's just so home-y there. The Dr. and Nurses just loved his rolly polly arms and legs and of course his chubby baby grin. He weighed in at 22 pounds and was 28 1/2 inches. A therapist worked with him to see where he was at with fine motor and gross motor skills and he measured right where he was suppose to - 6 month old. As of last Friday he is now 7 months old and on the move. He doesn't crawl or seem to be close but if he wants to get somewhere he will by rolling or scooting. He loves just playing on the floor. He is still toothless but is loving his baby food as well as learning how to get those goofy puffs in his mouth.
The boys are anxiously awaiting the Easter Bunny... so better get their egg hunts figured out and ready. They are also excited to color easter eggs. Should be a great week.

Payton... sneaking ice cream... look at all those toppings.

Payton & Braxton
My Little Baker Brooks
Braxton.... happy as always.
My Boys... Payton (6-1/2), Brooks (2-1/2), & Braxton (7 mon.)

Braxton - 7 months old

Brooks

Braxton... loving sleeping on his tummy.

Payton... just loving being the big brother.

Our Prince-ss Brooks... Craig would be so proud.

I LOVE MY CHUBBY BABY!!!

Well my Lil Chubby Baby is taking his name well according to his 6 month well check yesterday. He weighed in at a healthy 21.5 pounds and was 28 1/2 inches long (100% for weight & 95% for length). In the last week we have started feeding him cereal and some fruits and veggies. He doesn't seem too fussy as he is reaching for the spoon and pulling it towards his mouth. Braxton has started rolling from his back to his belly and is so close to being able to sit unattended. He loves his brothers dearly as they can always make him laugh. They are so careful with him and love him to pieces as well. (It won't be long and that "true" brotherly love will be showing through). He doesn't seem too fussy as he is reaching for the spoon and pulling it towards his mouth. We always thought that Payton such a content and happy baby... Braxton is even more content... which we all are loving. Days and nights can get pretty chaotic around here so it's nice to be able to set him with his toys and let him play. Here are some pictures that I took yesterday... I should have taken one so you could really see his "chubby-ness". Maybe next post I will have one.

February Update...

Well it's been over 2 weeks since I last posted anything. Guess that's what happens when you have 3 boys that keep you very busy. I wouldn't have it any other way as they all know just how to wrap themselves around my little finger. Here are a some pictures of what the boys have been up to the last month.

Craig and I took the 2 older boys out sledding, on what seemed to be a warm day, however it ended up being pretty chilly out in the open. It was a pretty big hill so they only made the trip down and back up a few times. Craig even thought he needed to try it out. It's the little things like this that bring back all the memories of being a child and sledding down (what seemed to be gigantic hills). While out walking around Payton spotted a deer horn... one that had recently been shedded. Brooks is holding onto it in his picture. Payton was pretty darn proud and couldn't wait to show Gma Bev and Gpa Doug.

Payton has now lost tooth #5. It's funny to see how they eat and chew their food. The tooth fairy has been pretty generous ($1.00 per tooth). As the days, weeks, and years go on it's still hard to believe how fast time goes. I can still remember almost 6 years ago to the day when Payton got his first 2 bottom teeth as well as his first double ear infection. Last Friday when Payton came home from school he told me he was making a card for Dad for Valentine's Day... he tricked me and I found this letter in an envelope on Sunday. He sure knows how to melt my heart. He is a very loving boy and is into writing notes to both Craig and I.

The note says: From Payton... To Mom... I hope you have a good valintine tell all the fun you have. I hope you have a good valinitine. I LOVE YOU!
Leave it to Brooks... he is our ONE AND ONLY. You just never know what you are going to get out of him. Last Saturday, let's just say he was frustrating me so I brought him downstairs to go to the bathroom and left it up to him to put his pj's and diaper (only at bed time) on. He wasn't too impressed with me as he was crying so I went back upstairs. It got awful quiet so in a couple minutes I went back downstairs and this is what I saw. Brooks - lying on the floor in the hallway with powder from his neck to his knees and he looks up at me and says "I have powder all over the place". How does a person not laugh? I turned around and yelled for Craig to come see this. He had to walk around the corner so Brooks wouldn't see him laughing. In case you are wondering we used the nearest toy to cover his 'privates'... in fear that Walmart wouldn't develop this much needed picture. Ahhhh.... you will never have a boring day with Brooks. Here is my CHUBBY BABY... He is so loving and squeezable. He is a very very happy baby and I couldn't get any luckier. He will give smiles, hugs, and laughs any time of the day and I just love him for that. He weighed just over 18 pounds at 5 1/2 months... YIKES!!! He has been an awesome sleeper since about 6 weeks of age sleeping from 8pm until 7am. Along with the awesome sleeper comes an awesome eater... he sees his bottle and he goes crazy. It's too funny. We have not started him on cereal as he seems to be perfectly content with just the formula so we will see what they say at his 6 month well check. We cross our fingers when saying this but he has been super super healthy even though the rest of us have all battled some kind of colds or flu at some time.
His shirt is so right... His Heart belongs to his Mommy... after all he is my chubby baby. I love all of my boys to pieces... but it's so fun to get a "new" love from another child. It's awesome to see the different feelings of trust, love, and security you get from each of your children.
Braxton is so content in whatever it is that he is doing that he won't even fuss when he is getting tired... he just lays his head forward and falls asleep. This has happened more than a handful of times and it's just so darn cute.

Tagged... New Game...

Payton - 2 1/2 years old... scooping snow.

Brooks - 2 1/2 years old playing in the snow.

I’ve been tagged to play along with this game!Here are the rules:
1. go to your documents/pictures file on your computer
2. go to your 6th file
3. go to your 6th picture
4. post and blog about it
5. tag 6 people to do the same
6. smile!
I was kind of scared to see what picture was in the 6th file and 6th "location" on my computer. The first picture that I posted is the 6th picture in the 6th file. The second picture is of Brooks from this winter (same snowsuit - gotta love hand-me-downs). Payton was 2 1/2 at the time of the picture. He is now 6 1/2 and in the first grade at RTR. I saw this picture and was just in awe of how much Payton and Brooks did look a like at times (they don't much anymore). For those of you who know Payton... he is very soft hearted, quiet, a hard worker, wants to be "the best", is athletic, and is very intelligent. He definitely has his Dad's personality when it comes to wanting to do his best and not settling unless he has done his best. He enjoys hunting, fishing, reading, playing games, baseball, football, and basketball, and of course golfing with his Gma Peggy and Gpa Brad.
I tag... Jina, Jamie, Becky, Tammy, Angie, & Erin

Cruisin'

View from our airplane on our way from SF to Cinncinnati.

Tristan and Danielle had a balcony room at the hotel in Tampa.

Us ladies are enjoying the night before heading to sea.

Danielle, My, Peggy, Kristal, & Laura

The Carnival "Inspiration" ship that we were aboard.

There were 2400 guests - 600 of them were kids, plus 900 employees.

The large water slide on the back of the ship... that we enjoyed.

The first Sunset (Saturday night)

The Wilmes - immediate family.

Parents of the couple: David (dad) and Judy, Tony & Lori (mom),

Danielle, Tristan, Peggy & Brad

The Bride (Danielle) & The Groom (Tristan)

Craig & I at the formal dinner with the BEST waiter on the ship - German (from Colombia) Philip, myself, Laura, Kristal, & Matt before our Snorkeling excursion.
Craig - repelling from 65' in the air
I was conned into trying the middle-sized tower right away... about 50' to the top.

Me... walking across a rope bridge through the trees...

Craig and Kristal raced to the top of the 65' tower (tallest one).

I still have my "sea-legs" on and we have been on land for 2 full days now. My brother, Tristan, got married last Saturday on a cruise in the Carribean. It was an awesome experience for all of us as very few people in our group had ever been on a cruise. Here is an outline of our vacation"

Friday: Flew from SF to Cinncinnati and then on to Tampa Bay, Florida.
Saturday: Arrived at the port at 10:00 and were on the ship by 11:00am. It was super nice to be in a "wedding group" as we were one of the first groups of people on the ship. The wedding was at 1:30pm and lasted about 1/2 hour. It was a very nice service and everyone looked nice. After the wedding they had a reception for 1 hour where the drinks were FREE!!! After the reception we were free to do whatever. Every night we were scheduled to eat supper at 8:15pm - where we would meet with the rest of our group and eat at the same table and have the same waiter (German). The workers on the ship come from all over the world (55 different nations) and not one of them was unpleasant. It was just amazing how happy and friendly they all were.

Sunday: We really started to enjoy the weather as it was in the 80's. They have a running/walking track on the upper level of the ship so Kristal and I enjoyed a nice 2 mile run (yes, I know... we were on vacation but if you know anything about cruises it's all you can eat food). The water was just beautiful... this is one of my first times being out of the country so I was just in awe. We layed out in the sun and also enjoyed the large water slide that was on the ship.

Monday: We docked and were shuttled to The Cayman Islands where Craig, Kristal, Philip, Laura, and myself enjoyed snorkeling and swimming with the sting rays. The water was nice and warm (& salty) and the views all the way around us were just awesome. We had to take a shuttle back to the ship and start off for Cozumel that same day.

Tuesday: We arrived and docked in Cozumel where Craig, Kristal, Philip, Laura, my Mom and Dad, and myself enjoyed rock wall climbing, repelling, and zip-lining. We weren't able to snorkel due to the high winds and huge waves but were given quite the deal for 2 for 1 drinks at the bar. We hung around after our excersion and visited some shops where the bargaining began. The ships entertainment for the night was "The Love & Marriage Show". We got Tristan and Danielle up on stage and it was an AWESOME laugh.

Wednesday: We attempted to enjoy our last day at sea... it was really cold and windy so not much sun tanning was going on. The men enjoyed the casino where the women enjoyed the little shops and BINGO - I actually won a game however had to split the $150 pot.

Thursday: We arrived back in Tampa and were off the ship in no time - however like I said before I still feel like I have my sea legs on. I could swear that my house is on the ocean. It's a crazy feeling.

It sure was nice to be home and sleeping in my bed and seeing the boys again. I can't believe how much they changed in the week that we were gone. They did well with us being gone as they had SUPER people taking care of them. Payton stayed with Trent and Jackie and the girls and it sounds like they had more than enough things to keep them entertained. Brooks and Braxton stayed with Gma Bev and Gpa Doug and it sounds like they too kept very busy. We couldn't possibly Thanks them enough for taking on a challenge like that for a whole week... I sure missed them but had no doubts that they were being taken care of.

Introducing Josselyn Renee Hess...

Can't help but notice her "cheeks".

A little jaundice so she had to hang out in the sunlight for a few days. Love the position.

Could there possibly be a prouder "Papa". How sweet.

Nothing is sweeter than being held by your "Mama".

Once again I am an AUNTIE. On Sunday December 28th Josselyn Renee was born to Buck and Kirstin. She was a few weeks early but still weighed in at 7 lb 2 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Sounds like things are going well for all three of them and I would like to wish them all the best as they enter parenthood. Buck and Kirstin are currently living in Victorville California but will be relocating to Colorado in the next couple of months. We certainly wish that they would move even closer to home so we could spoil Josselyn more but I guess we will have to do that through the mail. We Love You Guys and Miss You Lots... Take care...