gift – Page 8 – I only have 5 minutes

Uncategorized / October 2, 2014

Birthday #4 for Shecklet #3

Dear Miss Shecklet #3,

I can hardly believe I am writing about your 4th birthday! It seems like yesterday that we were stopping at Cub Foods on our way home from the hospital to pick up a “BIRTHday” cake to share with your brothers.

You are growing up to be quite the preschooler – smart, funny, adventurous, friendly & loving. We couldn’t ask for a spunkier, move vibrant 4 year old daughter than you!

You love to ride your balance bike, help in the kitchen, wash dishes, play at the park. You love horses, dresses, singing, dancing and currently, all things Frozen.

Your brothers and sister all enjoy playing with you and we definitely miss your presence when you’re away at preschool. But you are learning so much and love the time you get to spend with Miss Mary Ann and your classmates.

Your dad and I hope you continue to be the confident, strong, welcoming girl that you are and that your love of Jesus grows more every day.

XOXO,

Momma

Here are your responses to our annual list of birthday questions:

What is your favorite color? Purple
What is your favorite toy? Barbies
What is your favorite fruit? Bananas
What is your favorite TV show? Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (on PBS Kids)
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? wraps
What is your favorite outfit? dresses
What is your favorite game? Hi Ho Cherry-O
What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks
What is your favorite animal? elephants – “Just like yours!” (said to Mom)
What is your favorite song? “I lost my keys” (This is the stuff by Francesca Battistelli) – for the 2nd year in a row
What is your favorite book? Curious George
Who is your best friend? Stasi & Lexi
What is your favorite cereal? Kix
What is your favorite thing to do outside? “Ride my balance bike.”
What is your favorite drink? juice
What is your favorite holiday? “Halloween, because it’s after my birthday.”
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Ada (your pink build-a-bear)
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? cereal
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mac-n-cheese & broccoli
What do you want to be when you grow up? singer
What is your favorite movie? Frozen – because of Elsa & Anna

Uncategorized / September 7, 2014

40 Years

Many moons ago, (enough to total 40 years,) two twenty-somethings started their life together as husband and wife. Together, they made a wonderful, loving home in which they raised their two children.

Today, 40 years later, their family has grow five-fold.

Mom & Dad – today we celebrate the commitment you made to one another back on September 7, 1974, and have lived out every day since then. Thank you for saying “I Do!”

We love you!

Uncategorized / December 25, 2013

Christmas Day 2013

The Littles got up filled with excitement this morning! They went downstairs and quickly found their stockings filled with an assortment of stocking stuffers and new pj’s. Once Jake and I came downstairs they started handing out gifts – finding the ones they picked out for me and begging me to open them. My heart melted. They didn’t want to open THEIR gifts, they wanted me to open mine. (I told them I was excited to see what they picked out for me, but did convince them to open some of their gifts first.) When I finally opened my presents, I found that once again, they each picked out something that was extremely thoughtful. Little #1 knows I love elephants, so he chose an elephant calendar for my office wall. Little #2 overheard that my hand mixer had seen better days, so he selected an amazing replacement one for me. (I opened his present a day early because (1) he couldn’t contain his excitement and (2) he wanted me to use it for mixing up the batter for the cookies we made on Christmas Eve morning. Little #3 apparently made a bee-line for the nail polish at Target when she went shopping with her dad and selected two nail polishes. (She’s big in to having me paint her nails and then wants to paint mine.) Little #4’s gift was a set of four mini-spatulas, which I have been secretly hoping would show up in my kitchen. Four wonderful, thoughtful presents from my four Littles.

The gifts the Littles received were theme based this year. I had heard about the idea of giving kids something they need, something they want, something to read, and we added giving them something to share among the four of them. I wrapped each theme in similar paper and the kids took turns opening their themed gift. I thought it worked quite well and would like to use the same idea next year.

After quiet/naptime, we loaded up the truck and headed for Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Everyone was home for the afternoon/evening. We had dinner as a family and then took a few group photos before opening presents.

It started with two:

Two became seven:

Add six more:

And it gets crazy!

The kids of course, thoroughly enjoyed opening their gifts. Little #4 was delighted to play with the paper and boxes.

Uncategorized / October 5, 2013

Pony party

Such a fun day! Little #3 thoroughly enjoyed turning 3. I love that our friends and family came to help make her birthday extra special.

Uncategorized / September 17, 2013

Sheck Creations

Little #4 is almost 7 months old. She brings so much joy to our crazy household.

Each of the Littles have had their picture taken in this shirt. I have been meaning to take this shot for a while. Good thing I did it today – the shirt is almost too small!

Uncategorized / August 22, 2013

Bug and Flower Shades

My future SIL gave the kids these fun sunglasses and stickers today. She has a knack for finding such fun things for the Littles.

We also had to try them on Little #4. Her expression cracks me up!

Uncategorized / April 8, 2012

Easter 2012

We roused the crew at a very unusual time this morning. We had breakfast and were out the door in time to start greeting people at 7am for Easter morning mass. The kids did a great job saying “Happy Easter” and handing out mass leaflets. I was really impressed with the way Nolan took ownership of his “job.” And Lincoln was a super “leaflet restocker” for us.

After mass, we went home and treated the kids to orange rolls for breakfast. After a failed attempt at getting Ingrid to nap earlier than usual, we headed to my parents’ house for an early Easter dinner. We dined on ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet potato casserole (a favorite of mine), cranberry relish & cabbage slaw (also a fave and recipe of my Great Aunt Frances’.)

Later in the afternoon, Tony & Kristin joined us and were so sweet to our kids, as usual. They have such a knack for entertaining them. They “decorated” the sun room and dining room, which seems to have become somewhat of a tradition when they’re together at my parents’ house. The kids also ~~smothered icing all over~~ enhanced and then ate the rice krispy bunny that Tony made them. Kristin put together the cutest Easter gift bag for them, complete with stickers, fruit strips, and grow your own grass & flower kits.

Thank you Lord, for giving us the opportunity again this year to be together as a family and celebrate the ultimate sacrifice Christ made on the cross. He is risen! Happy Easter!

Uncategorized / March 23, 2012

Lincoln’s 4th birthday!

Dear Lincoln,

I am sure we say this every year now, but I cannot believe you are 4 years old! It seems like such a short time ago that your daddy and I were preparing for your arrival. Your entrance into this world is one that will always be extra-special because of the fact that you were born on Easter Sunday. So in a way, your birthday gets remembered twice each year. Once on your “real” birthday and again on Easter, because it was such a special day for us.

You have grown more this year than ever. Gone are the toddler features you had when you were three. You are a full-fledged preschooler! (Complete with a shorter haircut than you had last year 🙂 ) You love to ask questions and discover the meanings of new words. Your handwriting is impressive as is your ability to remember what you learn at school. I am so thankful for the Godly instruction you have twice a week. You’ve even taught me a few things!

Some of your favorite things include riding your scooter, playing in the pool at the gym, casting with your fishing pole, playing in the sandbox, and constructing forts & buildings with your brother. You also love your little sister so much!

We celebrated your birthday by taking you to the science museum to see the “real pirates” exhibit. Your favorite part was the movie in the beginning, but you also liked raising the flag, looking through the periscope, and the treasure chest of pirate booty. After the museum, we went out for pizza and then went home to get ready for your party.

Family & friends came at 6:30 and the weather was so unseasonably warm that we had everyone gather outside in the driveway. That was a first! I’m guessing there won’t be too many years where you’ll be celebrating your birthday outside without a jacket. You requested a “volcano cake” so I attempted to come through for you. I made two angel food cakes, placed them on top of each other and dumped two cans of cherries on top of them. You loved it, which is all that counts! (It actually got rave reviews from everyone else too, and there was only one piece to spare at the end of the night.

As if cake & ice cream aren’t enough on a 4th birthday, you asked your dad if we could also have s’mores. So your awesome daddy brought the fire pit up to the front, started the fire, went to get s’mores ingredients and we had round two of sugary treats. I have to say, you were in rare form when we finally put you to bed.

You are a sweet, smart, spunky boy, Lincoln. We love you so much! And we’re looking forward to watching you learn and grow in the coming year.

XOXO

Mommy & Daddy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I found this list of questions on another mom’s blog and thought I would start a new tradition of asking you and your siblings to answer them every year around your birthday, just for fun.

What is your favorite color? Purple, green & pink
What is your favorite toy? Buzz Lightyear that spreads his wings out
What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon & pineapple
What is your favorite TV show? “Shaun the Sheep” and “Brer Rabbit” on kids Netflix
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac-n-cheese
What is your favorite outfit? My kitty outfit (Halloween costume from 2011)
What is your favorite game? “Skongebob” Yahtzee
What is your favorite snack? Peanut butter pretzels & wheat thins
What is your favorite animal? Stingrays & sharks
What is your favorite song? “I’m a little teacup” (teapot) & “Red Solo Cup”
What is your favorite book? Skippyjon Jones
Who is your best friend? Samantha (from preschool)
What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch & Raisin Bran Crunch
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the sandbox with the dump trucks
What is your favorite drink? Lemonade & punch
What is your favorite holiday? Christmas (as prompted by Nolan 🙂 )
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Quilt and Blueberry (his blue bear from Uncle Tony)
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cold cereal without any milk
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cake & ice cream
What do you want to be when you grow up? Be a firefighter

Uncategorized / March 23, 2012

Pirates and a party

Visiting the Real Pirates exhibit at the Science Museum

Celebrating (outside) with a volcano cake, family & friends

Uncategorized / November 23, 2011

I’m 29 again!

Today began with the sound of the boys running and giggling downstairs as I laid in my nice warm bed upstairs. Jake is off all week, so we were able to have breakfast as a family before heading out on an adventure. I had been telling the boys we were doing something fun for my birthday and they were anxious to hear what I had planned. We loaded into the truck and headed to Ft. Snelling. As we drove south, we saw the light rail trains going up and down the track. We told the kids we were going to take the train downtown. After purchasing tickets, we waited for the next train to arrive. Once on board, we played musical seats until we found a place to sit & hold on to the stroller. As we rode along, the boys enjoyed looking out the windows & watching the buildings pass by.

We unloaded downtown and walked briskly to our destination…Macy’s. Once there, we found the elevator bank and headed up to the 8th floor. The 3 littles were famished, so they gobbled down cereal bars before heading in to see what A Day in the Life of an Elf looks like. We visited the display on the perfect day…no lines & people were casually strolling through. We didn’t feel pressured to rush and weren’t bumped around by strangers.

When given the choice between visiting Santa and going to lunch, the boys chose the later. They’ve gotta be the only two kids I know who would rather eat than share their Christmas wish lists with Old St. Nick. So off we went to find something to eat. (Well, with a brief stop at my old office on the way. It was fun to see some of my old co-workers from my years working downtown.) We ended up at D’Amico for lunch and afterward I grabbed a peppermint mocha from Caribou before we departed from downtown.

On our way back home, we made a brief stop at Minnehaha Falls. The weather warmed up to about 50 degrees today. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day at the end of November. The boys and I looked down at the falls and then made our way down a snowy staircase to take a look at them from below. We snapped a few photos and then headed back to the truck.

Later in the evening, we hosted a group of family & friends for cake & ice cream. My friend, Michelle, made the most amazing pumpkin torte! Only one word to describe it – YUM!

To top off the night, my parents surprised me by showing up to join in the celebration. They had been out of town and we didn’t expect them back until tomorrow. But as it turns out, they kept their early return home a secret so they could wish me happy birthday in person. It made my night!

Today was such a fun day; I think I might turn 29 again next year. 🙂