Making the Christmas Rounds

Good thing we will be spending time with the Oborns next week, because Matt's family alone, kept us busy all weekend. And we enjoyed every minute of it. We started the Christmas weekend off, by visiting Grandma Lisa and Uncle Taylor. Bostyn had a lot of fun with the toys Grandma had at the apartment, just for her. And of course opening presents was a hit, and she really loved her new bedtime friend from Uncle Taylor.

Next stop was Grandpa & Grandma Ackmann's. And once again, Bostyn was showered with love and spoiled with gifts. One of the many highlights for her, was opening her very own computer ;). It was great to spend time there, and catch up with each other.

The weekend ended with the Tuma/Cruikshank/Zolik celebration. We sure missed Aunt Jodi, but Bostyn made sure to visit her last week, so that was a plus. It only was a matter of time, until Bostyn warmed up to everyone, and was having so much fun. She played hard with her cousins, sat and read with Grandpa, ate some nummies with Grandma, opened such fun gifts, and giggled with Aunt Cari all night long. She fought to stay awake until she finally passed out, snuggled up to Aunt Cari. We all had an awesome time and it was a great way to end the Christmas weekend. 

The Holiday Train

Last night, Matt, Bostyn and I, bundled up and headed over to Buffalo, Mn. to see the Holiday Train come through. Thanks to Bethany, my co-worker, we found out about this event.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is a freight train covered in hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights.  It travels throughout Canada and the United States, to help support local food banks.  Hundreds to thousands gather, to welcome the train into their community. Each person is asked to bring a donation or a non-perishable food item to donate to their local food shelf. The Holiday Train has raised over $5.6 million and 2.5 million pounds of food.

Even though the train arrived an hour late, we still had a good time. It was a true small town event, with local carolers, lines for hot chocolate and cider outside a little fish house, volunteers loading donations on big trailers, and Buffalo's Emergency Response team offering tours of their ambulance. :) We were even entered into the raffle drawings, for bringing a bag of donations. We were pretty pumped when one of our numbers was called and we won a Walgreens gift card. YAY!!!!!!! As soon as we were getting pretty cold, and Bostyns cheeks were rosy red, we heard the Holiday Train in the distance. And it was all worth the wait, as we saw it come around the corner all lit up. Even Santa was along for the ride, waving at everyone as the train came through.

Bostyn all ready for her night out :)

Dad & Bostyn restin at the car...trying to be patient while waiting for the train

Momma making sure Bostyn is all bundled up and ready for the night.

Matt droppin' off our bag of donations for the food shelf

It finally arrives...

Quiet Time...

Bostyn decided to have a little "quiet time" with mom before bathtime.

Team Player...

Even though she had her pj's on, she still insisted on wearing her "Vikings Cheerleader" shirt from Nana.  As I was taking her picture, Bostyn unexpectedly pushed herself forward from the couch, and took her first steps. This lead her to take her first 3 steps toward her Daddy. It's as if she was trying to send the Vikings a message...."come on guys... if I can do this, you sure can win a game." LOL (Wishful thinkin just like her momma)

It's pretty cool that I was able to get a picture of her first steps, without planning on it. :) So needless to say, Daddy and Mommy, for a moment, transferred their cheers in a different direction. Way to go Baby Bostyn!!! Along with this milestone, Bostyn has also been perfecting her 3 favorite words.... "Da-da, Mama (and also Mum), and Hi," in the last month or so. Matt and I are in disbelief that she just turned 10 months last Thursday. Crazy how fast it goes :(

Proudly wearing her "Vikings Cheerleader In Training" shirt

Clearly getting inspired by her hopes for the Vikings, and suddenly taking her very first official steps. If you know Bostyn at all, she gets a crazy looking smile when she is very proud of herself. That's why we love this pic, because the smile says it all. She clearly knew she was in the middle of doing something pretty great.
LOL

Flashing one last smile, before she did the typical face plant , as she couldn't keep her balance anymore. :)

A Weekend of Play

Nana Bonnie had some fun new toys at her house this weekend. Bostyn and her cousin Naya did not waste any time. They grabbed the balls and got poppin'

Naya felt it was completely justified that the baby gets one ball,
and Naya got the rest :) LOL

Bostyn was very excited to show her cousin Tan,
 her new "Little People" Bus. Its even pink :)

And of course we had to end the weekend with a little Peek-a-Boo.

Like Daddy Like Daughter

Bostyn having fun, 

playing with Daddy and his hat.

Happy Birthday Daniel!

I don't do as well as my wife on updating the blog. But after a few reminders from her, I get on sooner or later. :) I always say, "better late than never."

Bostyn & I headed over to Champlain 2 weekends ago, to hang out with my family, and celebrate Daniel's birthday. We decided it was best for Heather to stay back with Naya. But they had their own fun that day. They had a "girls day" and Naya got all of her aunties attention, with Bostyn being gone. :)

It was great to see everyone. And Bostyn was definitely not hurting for any attention. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon. (And Daniel, I hope you haven't forgotten, we are due for a Mystic outing soon :) )

TOUCHDOWN!!!

Go VIKINGS!!!

Obviously can't be predicting how today's game will end, but everyone has to agree that the opening play of game was pretty perfect. A big "kudos" to Ponder, and obviously a "kudos" to Visantheeeeeeeeeeeee Shiaaancooooe. Baby Bostyn obviously knows who she is rootin' for.

Bostyn cheerin on her favorite player, Jared Allen, as he got his sack with 2 minutes left in the first quarter!!!!!!!!!

A, I & B: The next generation

   The 3 girls... with their 3 girls :)

If anyone knew me growing up, then you definitely knew my 2 best friends, also. You never really heard our names separately. It was like we had one name: HeatherHollieRaquel! Even though life and family and jobs and circumstances have separated us from time to time, we still find ways back to each other somehow. About a year and a half ago, we had 3, totally unexpected surprises. First it was Roc (Raquel) who found out she was expecting a girl (Addy) in November 2010, then it was Hollie finding out that she was expecting a girl (Ivy) in December 2010, and then Heather completed the trio, by finding out she was expecting a girl (Bostyn) in January 2011.

So this last weekend, it was less about HH&R anymore, and more about AI&B (Addy, Ivy, and Bostyn). On Saturday, we got together before holidays swarmed our schedules, and celebrated the 3 girls' 1st birthdays. Lots of fun was had by all. Who knows how life will end up, but it would sure be special if these 3 girls could experience even half the relationship that us 3 girls shared growing up.

"Don't be afraid Ivy, that's just my mom. She's  alright."

             Ivy                Bostyn               Addy

Eating cake for the first time ever...

Addy (pictured above: the oldest of the 3) decided to show the girls how it's done. She literally took the WHOLE piece of cake at once, and stuffed as much in her mouth as she could. LOL. 


Ivy (born about a month after Addy), was the one to eat just as much cake, but in a much more "proper" fashion. It was pretty impressive. Bostyn (born a few weeks after Ivy) was very hesitant, as she poked a finger at the cake every once in awhile. By the time January rolls around, Im sure she will be ready to dive in... 

"And that's how its done girls... Now give me another!"

Sad to say, but it's probably only a matter of time, that Ivy and Bostyn will have a crush on this one. (Addy's big brother, Ben "Jammin") 

                                             Bostyn        Ivy                Addy

The girls end their birthday celebration, playing in Addy's Jumpoline. So fun!!!

"Mom, you know I have to have one of these now, right?
...I'm just sayin'...!"

Happy 1st Birthday Girls! 

All good things come to an end...

Last Sunday, we had to say goodbye to Naya :( Even though it was sad to have her go, it was pretty fun to watch how excited she was, knowing she was going to see Momma Jodi and Daddy Ry Ry.

The last 4 days that she stayed with us were just as eventful as the first 4. According to Naya, the highlights of staying at Auntie and Uncles, were:

1) Playing dress up (of course), and sometimes dressing Ranger up. He did his best to let her, even though humiliated :) He figures he better get ready for the inevitable, because Bostyn will be doing the very same thing within time. :)

2) "Swimming in the living room" (aka taking a bath "Auntie style", which consisted of filling a big tupperware every day and letting her play in it.) And it also became our little thing, that I would take her out of the bath, and wrap her with an extra big towel. She would then say (like clockwork) with a big smile, "I'm still cold," and she knew that I would then sweep her up, wrap her up in a big blanket and snuggle her up before setting her down while she warmed up.

3) Having "dance parties," which mostly consisted of Naya dancing it up (to the Giggle Bellies) while we sat and watched her. And sometimes she was able to get us all up and dancing.

4)She also liked sitting with Auntie and Bostyn, while singing with the "Giggle Bellies" version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" during "settle down time," before bed.

4) Going to bed with Auntie, Uncle & Bostyn, and watching "Curious George" every night. Not sure why this was such a hit, when she usually would fall asleep before the opening song was even over.

5) Every night, choosing a sticker to put on the "How many sleeps before I get to see Mommy and Daddy" calendar.

6) Making the "Welcome Home" bouquet of flowers (homemade) for Mommy and Daddy.

7.) And last but not least, making her very own t-shirt, and even getting to wear it the day she went home.

We miss you Nay, and loved having you stay with us. Thanks for the memories :) Bostyn can't wait until she gets to see you again.