Parenting Class

Last night Aaron and I attended a parenting seminar and really enjoyed it! His message is quite simple really: Getting back to a time when kids respected their parents, teachers, elders, etc. When yes means yes and no means no. The speaker, John Rosemond, is quite entertaining and we are looking forward to going back on Saturday!

Fun at the Children's Museum

The boys and I joined Danielle and Cam at the Children's Museum on Tuesday. The boys had a blast and I learned that I no longer need to bring in the stroller for Brody - he said he was ready to get down and play with the big boys! We also participated in story time and did a craft afterwards. This weeks craft was making an owl mask, here is Jacob's work:

Random thoughts...

We went to Church on Sunday and I'm glad to say that Jacob did pretty good! He was distracted when we left and cried when he discovered that we snuck out (we did say goodbye, he just didn't see us leave), but the teacher said he was easily soothed (and he certainly didn't appear as though he had been crying at all to us). The cutest thing she told us though was that Mr. Brody was very upset when Jacob went into the other room to do his craft with the other big boys. She said he cried pretty hard when his brother left him (awwww). And then the funniest thing of the day occurred when we returned and Jacob was in the teachers arms and she said she was just about to change his diaper. Aaron and I looked at each other and went "Uh oh". Thankfully there was no accident, she just didn't realize he was potty trained - phew!

Brody is now pulling himself up onto everything. And also pulling everything onto himself. The boy takes down whatever he is standing next to every time. Jacob's tool bench, his little piano table, the kitchen chairs, etc. He's our little muscle man. It's so funny to Aaron and I because this never happened to Jacob.

Hanging out and making cookies...

The Boys playing wii...




Jacob and I made some Valentine's Day Cookies to take to the Harvitts for our family dinner tonight...

Back to normal for awhile...

Charissa & Aaron with Kyra, Leah, Brody and Jacob. I didn't think it was possible to get into a bikini after 2 kids, nice work Charissa!!!! What's your secret?!?!
How cute is this face?
"Whoa, you have eyes too??!!! I have eyes!!!!"
Splashing around:
We had a blast at Great Wolf Lodge and really enjoyed our time with the Shadducks. I think it's been a year and a half since we've last seen them and the girls sure have grown! Not to mention they are the cutest, most well behaved girls ever.

We went to dinner at a fav mexican restaurant and ran into "the couple" (who never called...). Charissa promised to "pretend" she was having a really good time with us so that the couple that rejected our friendship would be sorry ;) I don't know if they were ever jealous of our friends, but Charissa overheard them saying they were jealous of our strawberry Margaritas!

Scoreboard:
Switzers: 1

Other couple: 0

Then later that evening, Charissa and I joined forces at the hotel bar to catch up, which was the best! A big thanks to our spouses for staying with the kids. :)

Typical...

So I realized today that Jacob truly has the blood of a native Northern Michigander. As the temperature rose to a balmy 45 degrees today, Jacob demanded that I put his window down. So I complied, after all I was just getting the mail. But then when I pulled out on to US 31 and rolled the window back up while I drove 55 mph, tears. Tears. The only thing that calmed him down? Rolling the window back down. Oh my, he certainly fits in around here.

We're back home! For a minute!

This pic above was from Thursday before we left. The boys and I watched Mason while Mom had a dr appt, he is growing like a weed!



We had a fabulous time at Boyne Mountain and are back home catching our breath before we head to Great Wolf Lodge with the Shadducks. I can NOT believe how much Boyne has changed since the last time I was there (which was a LONG time ago). Our place was beautiful (thanks again Mark and Lisa!) and the boys were right at home there. Unfortunately, our camera battery died after just a few pictures and I didn't bring the charger :( But, as Kyra said (who didn't bring a camera at all), "It's the memories that count". So, here is a snapshot of our memories:

• We had lots of visitors! Dennis, Kyra and Cori stayed on Sunday night and Jason, Janet and Jack stayed over on Monday night! The guys enjoyed skiing and we all enjoyed the waterpark. A lot.
  
• We also had day visitors - my parents came on Wednesday and Aaron's on Thursday which was great because it allowed Aaron and I some alone time to go skiing & boarding together. I haven't been out in awhile (since I was very pregnant last season), but it's just like riding a bike :)
  
• Boyne is expensive! Except on Thursday! Aaron and I got our lift tickets for $10/each and then got a large pizza and 2 draft beers for only $10, NICE!! (Luckily for us though we had a free timeshare and brought most of our food on the other days/nights).
  
• Brody is a big faker. The guy CAN crawl. On hands and knees. He just CHOOSES not to. When we were in the water park he crawled everywhere on hands and knees when the floor was wet or if he was in the shallow water. What a goof.
  
• Petoskey has grown like crazy!
• It was COLD. One night it got down to -20. NEGATIVE 20. I'm with you Peggy, this global warming thing is a crock of... ;)
• Jacob is still not ready for waterslides (but Jack and Cori were both brave enough!), but he didn't mind getting splashed by everything else!
  

Ok, now I'll load the few pictures I managed to take!