Goodbye Fall, Hello Winter!

 Because of our gorgeous and unseasonably warm fall, our yard clean-up didn't get completely done until the weekend before Thanksgiving. We tried to have a little fun while doing our work; unfortunately, Mama missed the smiles and Isabel was ready to be done playing. Nonetheless...

Isabel was such a help decorating the Christmas Tree! However, she will probably be a better help when it comes time to take the tree down. Look closely at the finished tree and you will see we have a very top heavy tree this year!

Last winter, we had record amounts of snow (as if you don't remember) and every time we went outside Isabel would giggle just a little in pure delight...she might have been born during the most mild and beautiful spring, but she truly is a winter babe at heart. She got her first literal taste of snow the other night and had we not stopped her, she would have cleared off the patio. Looks like Dada has a "shoveling" partner this winter!

Indian Summer

It has been a hectic couple of weeks and we have a lot to catch up on.  Here is a photo journey of our last couple weeks.

A trip to the pumpkin patch with Gramma and Papa Mousel:

Valleyscare for some practice trick or treating and end of season rides:

Pumpkin Carving Take II:

 

And finally, the main event, Halloween!!!

October was a great month and we are looking forward to the upcoming holiday season and its unique brand of craziness!

Pumpkin Carving: Take 1

Last Sunday some employees of Freewheel, their significant others and kids got together at the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center for some beer, pizza and pumpkin carving.

We were really hoping that Isabel would show a little more interest in pumpkin carving than she did last year, since she was not interested, at all, then.

We had nothing to worry about.  As soon as Isabel walked in she couldn't wait to pick out a pumpkin and start carving.

Kati inspired by Isabel's t-shirt, drew a cool design on the pumpkin and I somehow managed to not screw it up. 

It was good practice for the main event.

Here is a look at some of the other pumpkins carved that night.

Baseball Games, Golden Egg, Walks & First Bike Rides

It is no secret that this winter and spring have been long, cold and frustrating. Despite that, we have been able to make it outside a little bit and have taken in some more firsts for Isabel.

Isabel went to her first Twins game on April 23rd against the Indians. We purchased tickets through the MS Society which allowed us to parade around the warning track of Target Field before the game. It was a pretty cool view. The weather was not ideal, cloudy and cold, much like the rest of spring. However, Isabel must have brought the Twins some luck, as they pulled off a minor miracle and actually won. There haven't been too many W's so far this year. It was fun to make it to a game and hopefully we will make it to a couple more this year.

The Easter bunny found us the next day and left Isabel a basket full of goodies (her Papa Arlen sweetly made her a basket like her momma had growing up). Isabel's sweet tooth is still in full gear as she happily devoured her peeps and chocolate bunny.

In the afternoon we celebrated at Kerri's house with good food, good beer and a big Easter Egg hunt for the kids. Each grandchild was able to hunt for colored eggs with the grand prize being the golden egg. Can you guess who found it?



And what was in the elusive Golden Egg? A crisp $2 bill!

Isabel gets more and more confident walking every day and I think we can now officially call her a walker. This past weekend she made great progress and she now looks to walk before crawl. She is also able to stand up without pulling herself up on anything. The drunken sailor wobble is leaving and she is taking steps with more and more confidence every day. She should be running by next week...


And last but not least, Isabel got out for her first Strider ride this weekend. She is just a little bit short for it yet, but she loved being pushed around on it. She should be ready to do her own pushing sometime this summer.


Until next time!

A Month of Christmas

It seems like we have been celebrating Christmas for a month now, but it is unbelievable that it is all over already and 2011 is just around the corner. Here is a photo journey of Isabel's first Christmas. (Click each collage for a bigger view)

It all started with the Annual Bennie Christmas Party on December 4th

Followed by the Roder Christmas in Iowa the weekend of Dec 18

Which wasn't to be outdone be the Hoen Family Christmas on Christmas Eve

(Family picture lovingly stolen from Kerri)

Isabel was up early Christmas morning to see what Santa brought

Followed by a short break for a photo shoot by our neighbor Linda Sue

And then the spoiling continued with the Mousel Family on Christmas afternoon

It has been a crazy month and we are all taking this week to recover, but from our family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

8 Months

In the last week in a half, we have been very busy here in the Mousel household. We celebrated Thanksgiving, started the Christmas season with a few parties, and we marked another month older of our Isabel. I have been updating on Isabel's milestones all month so no need to go into details, but here is a quick list of things Isabel has been up to this month:

* Crawling
* Eating table food like pasta, mac and cheese, hot dish, waffles, eggs, bread, soup, sweet potatoes, dressing/stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, brownies, reindeer shaped peeps...she will basically eat anything we have given her. Let's hope she continues on this path of being a good eater.
* Consistently taking at least one nap, but many days two, and sleeping usually from 7:30pm-6:30am normally getting up once for a bottle between 4:30 and 6:30.
* When she wants to, she will chatter up a storm, but it is not all that often. Her new words/sounds started with pa-pa, but now says many different sounds not favoring one over another. I will admit though she says 'da-dee' pretty regularly.
* The newest trick Isabel has enjoyed is pulling herself up. She started over Thanksgiving and has not let up.
* She still is a very social girl, and doesn't mind being held by anyone unless she is tired.
* Isabel has made the switch from her infant car seat to the upright toddler car seat.
* We have been noticing lately Isabel's hand preference. She definitely favors her left hand, most notably when she is eating.







Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving seemed to come and go all too quickly this year, but we were very busy. Isabel enjoyed her first Thanksgiving with both mommy and daddy's side. On Thanksgiving Day, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Hoen's for her first Thanksgiving meal. She had a full plate of typical Thanksgiving cuisine (minus the turkey) and loved it all! On Thanksgiving night, Isabel got ready for bed, was fastened into the carseat and was off to Iowa to Grandma and Grandpa Mousel's house for the rest of the weekend. While down in Iowa, Isabel got to visit with Auntie Amy, Great Grandma and Grandpa Roder, Uncles Tag and JP, Aunties Joanie and Suzie, and cousins Sarah, Megan, Tori, and Cameron. Isabel was a champ during our visit: she slept well, ate well, and loved much.

Thanksgiving Outfit...Isabel rocking the tights for the first time!

Riding on the rocking horse that Papa Arlen resurrected.

Being silly with Auntie Amy and Grandma Mousel

Relaxing with Papa Mousel

Enjoying time with Great-Grandma Roder

Isabel opening her first Christmas present with Great Auntie Suzie

Halloween Fun 2010

Isabel's first Halloween was very busy. We started the day running errands to finish daddy's costume and pick up items for our appetizer. Isabel took a nice nap so mommy could make pumpkin guts (buffalo chicken dip) and daddy ran some more errands. After Isabel woke up and ate one of her three all orange meals, we started the fun stuff...pumpkin carving. Okay, Isabel was not that into the pumpkin carving. Maybe next year...



Daddy and mommy worked really hard at carving the pumpkin. We patted ourselves on the back for our first attempt; however, like Isabel, some of you may look at it and say, "maybe next year..."



After pumpkin carving, we all headed to Uncle James and Auntie Suz's for a Halloween party. It was an absolutely perfect day for Halloween and everyone was able to hang outside, run around, and chat around the fire pit. Daddy and Isabel, or should I say Curious Georgette and the Man in the Yellow Hat, spent much of their time hanging out in the tree. Mommy did not have a costume. Maybe next year...



Isabel went trick-or-treating at a few houses, but mommy and daddy didn't let her accept a lot of the candy she was offered. She was not going to be the one eating it and since we were not home to give out candy at our house, we already had plenty for mom and dad. Maybe next year...

Poor Isabel, every time we got in the car to go somewhere all she wanted to do was sleep, but mommy and daddy kept waking her up. Finally, she got a little snoozer. No need to wait for next year on that one.



Here's to this year's Halloween and many more to come!