mother moments

Christmas was so fun and one of the best in a long time. Pictures with more details later...

We went to the cabin in MN this year and with the whole hussle bussle of the Christmas activities Dennis and I got tired and a little detached from our normal routine. Once things quieted down and everyone left except the two of us with my parents, I was able to have a couple of those mommy moments that you want to capture in a jar to remember years down the road. One night when I was putting him to bed we took some extra time to read some books-so he finished his bottle early which made me kinda nervous that he would have trouble going to bed. But we kept reading anyways. Then we turned off the light and sang some songs. Yup- WE sang some songs. Dennis is getting to be quite the singer and dancer. Then I put him down when I noticed that he was trying to get comfy on my lap and he smiled at me as I tucked him in. He quickly fell asleep.

When back in Minneapolis he was having a hard time falling asleep because of the new surroundings so I lay down with him until he fell asleep. In the process, I had my arm laying over him and moved it to scratch my head- but Dennis pulled it back immediately. Such a little thing but means so much to a mommy.

chuga-chuga choo-choo

So, lately Dennis has decided that sitting in a shopping cart is no fun. He would rather be running around, hiding behind the clothes racks and sucking on the little plastic size identifiers that click onto the hangers. Today on our second trip to Target I kept him highly entertained in the cart by crouching down and saying, "chuga-chuga choo-choo". You would be suprised at how many ugly looks I got from other parents... I guess they were just jealous that I was a super cool mom or just afraid that their kids would make them start acting like a circus. Either way, I didn't care... it kept my cutie entertained.

blogging break

So, my cord that connects my camera to my computer is officially broken. I can no longer upload photos... until I get a new one. And, really how fun is a post without pictures... not that fun.

Here are a couple of stories from the past week. Dennis and I went to the science center one day after school and there is a walkway accross the highway that has plexy glass windows on the floor so that you can see the cars zooming by underneath you. Well, Dennis was cruising along until he came to one of these windows. As soon as he could see down he would stop immediately and slowing move into the crouch position and freeze. It was so funny! There are 3 windows along the walkway and he would do it at every one. I even pounded on the glass to show him that it was ok- And, I stood in the middle of it... nope. He was terrified of it. Then we got to the shiny blue laminate floor and Dennis would not walk on it! He dropped to his hands and knees and then froze. I tried holding his hand but that didn't help... I just had to carry him accross until we got to carpet. Then he had a blast. I unfortunately forgot my camera on this trip.

Then just today Dennis fell asleep in the car for 15 minutes and then when we got home he thought that he had already taken a nap. I tried to put him in his bed- but he just cried. I changed a poopy diaper and we started again with a bottle. He wasn't crying anymore but I could tell that he was moving around so never really fell asleep. After a couple of hours I checked on him to find that he had taken his pants off and his diaper off! To make things better- he had pooped AGAIN! And, he peed all over the floor. That funny guy. He just smiled at me so proud of what he had accomplished. yuck.

painting #2

I have finished my second painting from my watercolor classes and I love it. Once again, the coloring is a little off due to my photography with a flash at night... but you get the idea anyways. I have this thing where I have to paint something with meaning... otherwise, I feel like it would be a waste of my time and money. And the thing that means the most to me is people. When I showed this painting (unfinished) to my mom- she was wondering why I didn't just paint a picture of the scenery without the boat or else with the full boat in view (maybe she thought the shot was awkward or unprofessional) but honestly- I like the awkwardness of it. And when I am canoing this is what I see most... the back of another person. So, seeing Chrissy here in the boat brings me back to boating with her. LOVE IT. I will be showing both of my paintings in an art show in January! And I will be starting a new class in January too~ I can't wait to share with you my next painting- its going to be so good.

circus act

Dennis is learning so many tricks. I think he is training to become a circus performer... now he just has to put the two tricks together!

GIFTS

I have a friend who decided to make this season's blog filled with new gift ideas everyday. Such a cute idea and I have really enjoyed going to her blog to check out some good gift ideas. I might have to copy her next year and fill my blog with things that I would like to get for christmas or that I think ANYONE would like for christmas. (really great hint for the hubs)

My absolute favorite thing to do for christmas is make gifts for people. I am drowning in crafty goodness right now on my dinig room table... and lets be honest- its taking over my house. But, I just keep getting new ideas. I guess I will have to get started earlier next year... maybe january?

I will share the crafts that I am doing after the holiday so as not to spoil anyone's surprise. But, I am getting inspired by some of my friend's ideas that I would like to share with you. I might make them in the future- but no immediate plans yet. First, I have a friend that makes sweater-pants for her little girl that are so darling! And, she even made some for herself! She is such a nut. Second, I have a friend that is doing this whole week filled with tutorials on how to make some cool things... so far, tuesday: Celebrate banner, wednesday: portable car port... so cute- and there is more to come all week. Plus, there is a free give away at the end of the week (go to her blog to find out the details of the drawing). You should check both out.

I am so grateful for talented friends that keep me totally inspired!

LAUGHTER

music to a mama's ears. I love this boy to pieces.

sunday ORANGE

my handsome boy on sunday morning. He wouldn't stand still to get a full body shot.
His favorite way of eating an orange: I peel half of it and he just digs in.

'tis the season

to be jolly! Fa la la la la la la la la.... After being sick for 2 weeks Dennis is back to his normal-jolly-self. Don't get me wrong... he has his moments of being a toddler... (yes, his opinion is STRONG) but it sure is nice to see his dashing smile often! Today as we were going shopping at Target, Dennis was talking up a storm... people would come up and say, "boy, he has a lot to say!" So nice to hear... sometimes we worry that he isn't trying to talk enough. I suppose it will happen and then he won't stop. :)

Dennis LOVES oranges. Whenever he sees one, he points at it and says, "uh, uh, uh" (I want one!) He will eat the whole thing! Peel and seeds included. I am trying to get him to realize that the inside is the only thing worth eating... but he hasn't caught on yet. Tangelos, tangerines, clementines, and navel oranges.... he loves them all! He will eat them like an apple right on through the peel!

He also LOVES goldfish... I think he eats them a lot at daycare because when I picked some up at the grocery store, he was begging for the bag as soon as he saw it in my hand. I gave it to him and by the time we were at the check out the bag was soggy... thank goodness for the plastic lining. The bag was opened before we got to the car.

Poor kid was playing with one of the christmas ornaments that had a wire connecting two bells. Well, next thing I knew he was bleeding. No, this next picture isn't lipstick--Yes, it is blood. I think it scared me more than him... actually I don't think he even noticed! No more wires...

Our first day back from Thanksgiving in Utah we got a christmas tree. We decorated it after Dennis went to sleep that night and in the morning he had a big suprise.

At first, he was a little intimidated... and tired... and sick (he came home in the middle of the day from daycare with a fever that day) but it didn't take long before the bottom of the tree became bare and the bottom of our laundry shoot all decorated! We put the kid friendly ornaments on the bottom just for that purpose.

I LOVE our tree this year. Tall, and skinny... the perfect Balsam Fir from northern Michigan!

While we were in Utah, Nonnie (Maree or Dennis's Grandma) gave Dennis some Christmas books to start off his season. One of the books looked familiar and after talking with my mom, I remember that it was a book from my childhood too. Dennis LOVES it! I'm not sure if he is actually smelling the pictures or if he is blowing on them, but he thinks it is pretty fun. Thanks Nonnie!

too rowdy?

This is what Dennis does when he thinks the dogs are getting too rowdy... well, at least this is what he did two weeks ago...

busy boy and dog

Two really funny things about this picture- Dennis is trying to get the long wooden rod down the shoot- he was getting pretty frustrated that is wasn't going down. And, Dennis is wearing one of Ryan's socks. He must have told his dad that that is what he wanted to wear. The heal of the sock is on the back of his knee. tired eyes from being sick all week. still cute.

This video was intentionally so that I could show you how he head bangs his big blue ball- but it ended up being several things- he is so hard to predict these days.

When I was a kid they let us play with the pots and pans... now a days, leftover- broken technology. :)

Dennis LOVES our dogs and our dogs LOVE Dennis. I could hear Dennis squealing under the table for quite some time and I warned Buster to get out of his way and even tried to nudge him with my foot thinking that Dennis would cause some unwanted dog behavior but when he didn't move, I peeked under only to find Buster totally enjoying the occasional hit on the neck.

Common Cold- Ear infection- Roseola

(Dennis not pictured)
Yup, this is what Dennis went through in the last week!!! Starting Tuesday with goopy swollen eyes that ended up being a side effect from his bad ear infection. Then just as we thought he was doing better, Saturday afternoon he gets a fever (and a bad one) until Monday morning. He would do nothing but lay on my lap- poor Dennis, lucky mom. (Until I got really sick with achy bones) Anyways, I just wanted to make sure that Dennis's ears were better so we went to the Doctor this morning even though his fever is gone. And, at the Doctor's we noticed a bad rash from head to toe... sound familiar? ... its Roseola. The Doctor was relieved and so I am too. I guess its not a big deal... you just have a crabby baby for a day or two after the fever is gone.

Shoes

Dennis continues to try to put on his shoes and just doesn't have the coordination to do it yet... so, in the mean time- He puts on mine~

crazy fun

We are having a hoot with Dennis... you can see why- he is just so darn cute.

Wednesday was Veteran's day and so I got to stay home from school. Luckily for Dennis, it was beautiful weather for a trip to the playground. We don't have any trees on our end of the block so Dennis' first encounter with the leaves was then. HE LOVED THEM!!

Here are some videos of other fun stuff we did at the park. This was 4 days ago now and Dennis is already walking soo much better now.

I am sure glad that his desire to help around the house hasn't changed!

He is even cute when he whines.

notice the garbage can ontop of the piano and Dennis's "toy" from the recycling. :)

Want to go for a walk?

THICK

Webster's Dictionary:
thick (thik) adj. 1. of relatively great extent from side to side 2. measured between opposite surfaces 3. close and abundant 4.viscous 5. dense 6. husky; hoarse; blurred 7. stupid

You can imagine my reaction when one of my students said, "Mrs. Funk and I are getting thick".
With some clarification from the class I guess calling someone thick is a good thing and means that you have weight where you want it (where guys like it). hmm... news to me.

lets add one-
8. voluptuous

Eating with a fork

The Monster Dash!

Also, on Halloween my brother Randy, My mother-in-law Maree, and Ryan and I ran in the Monster Dash half marathon in Minneapolis around lakes Harriet and Calhoun-it was beautiful.

Ryan had a good race... though he didn't train, he got really good time.

My race on the other hand was disasterous. Ok. So, I didn't train as much as I should have either... but my biggest problem was me knee. I knew it wasn't going to be a good race when my knee started killing me at mile 1~ I ran through it... though it hurt the whole way! And, my time was way better on the full marathon that I ran 3 years ago than this half. But all in all it was fun... and I finished the race under 3 hours! wahoo!

Here is my beautiful family.

Halloween

Buzz & Camille's Wedding

I am so embarassed at how few pictures I actually took during our trip. It is much harder taking pictures while holding a squirmy guy... but no excuse! I wish I had more... hopefully someone took pictures and is going to post them on facebook! So, if I find some other cool one's, I will post them.

Dennis was so good during the whole trip... vacations are so much easier with two parents!

walking on his own

The other day, Dennis started walking on his own initiative. Of course, we egged him on in order to get it on video. But, you can tell that he is getting better, and braver!

Watercolor

I started a watercolor painting class over this past summer. In my class we started learning techniques, then colors, and then we got to paint a picture. Here are a couple of pictures of my color project that I was working on at our cabin.

Some of my color charts:

One of them in detail:

And, I finally finished my first painting this past Wednesday! The picture is not very good because its a cloudy day and thus I didn't have nice light, but I think the painting turned out pretty good. I couldn't have picked a better subject. This is Dennis's 9 month picture.

Chores

Dennis does not like to be left out of anything! If I'm cooking, he wants to be cooking! And, If I'm doing laundry, he wants to be doing laundry! I hope that this never ends and Dennis gets really good at both of these... as for now, he is just in training. :)

Some other fun things he has been doing lately:

-blows his nose (or tries to- when he wants to, not when I want him to)

-barks at the dogs. (whenever they stop barking he starts)

-blows kisses

-twinkles his fingers to "twinkle twinkle little star"

-waves bye bye.

-gives real kisses (sometimes puckered)

-picks his nose... now boogers aren't just on his upper lip- they are EVERYWHERE!

-waves "all done" with his hands. (originally started with dinner... but has migrated to other activities.)

Being a mom is so awesome!

-

Hunting Dogs

So, we have had a mouse problem in our house. Yuck. We caught one with a mouse trap, I almost caught one, Ryan caught one and just yesterday, Buster or Bruno caught one! They really do know their stuff. Who needs a cat when hunting dogs are around? Hopefully we don't run into another mouse. Dennis is up next to catch it- we will see how he does.

H+u+n3\

Milk & Mail

Dennis seems to prefer this position for drinking his milk. Holding with his left hand and turned to the left. What a nut. Dennis has learned a new trick!

Can you tell that he's proud of himself?

Thug

Birthday from Nonnie, Papa & Kristen

It was so fun watching Dennis help daddy put together his new scooter! He did everything that daddy did. Personal thank you from Dennis:
" l [gjkugffnh,,,b mmmmm 0oonbnmj bml bm mc"

Thank You!!! It will be so much fun!

(and the weight limit is above 200 lbs)