A Week in Review

What a fabulous week we have had here at the Mousel Household!

On Sunday, Kortney brought Josie, Elias, Maddie, and Ava to a hotel for a night of swimming, pizza, games, movies, and some sleep as their Christmas present. She was kind enough to invite Isabel for swimming and pizza...Nene actually invited her for the whole night, but we decided that staying over would be a little much for all involved.

Fun in the kiddie pool!

As you can see, Isabel was a little hesitant at first to go down the big slide, but by the end told Nene that she could go down by herself...Mama and Dada said absolutely not! She is definitely an independent little girl. Love!

Isabel, Ava, Maddie, Elias, and Josie
(Ethan was on vacation in Arizona so he couldn't make the fun)

On Monday, we had the joyous privilege of welcoming a new Hoen into the family. Welcome to the world, Caleb Cyril Hoen! After a long labor and delivery, he was born at 8:38pm weighing in at 9 pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 21 inches long! Caleb is not only a big little guy, but also a tough one, too...his mom is definitely pretty tough as well. ;)

Congratulations James, Suz, Maddie and Ava!

On Tuesday, the SACS Dance Team performed at Holy Family Catholic High School, which was only the second performance of the year. We are 64 girls strong and comprised of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Click on the link to check them out: SACS Dance Team at Holy Family 2012

On Wednesday, I was able to celebrate my birthday. Believe it or not, I am 32 now; however, if you ask my Aunt Char she will tell you I am 28...seriously! I guess time continues to fly as you get older. After starting my day opening presents from Butter (a Shane Co envelop and a box of donuts), walking in to my classroom with birthday signs from my students, receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers at school from Isabel and finally getting home after dance team practice, Butter, Isabel, Mom, Dad, Kortney and I ran down to Turtle's for dinner and my free Turtle Sundae...yummy!

"Brighten My Day" flowers from Isabel and signs from my homeroom kids!

On Thursday, my parents had everyone over for my birthday, but I think most people came just to see and hold baby Caleb! Okay maybe I did too! Mom made delicious strawberry/blueberry salad, lasagna, adn f course garlic bread, and for dessert we had chocolate cake Butter had picked up and coconut cream pie my friend from work made for me. Yes, I did eat a slice of both...as usual, this pregnant lady is all about the sweets. No disappointed looks from the doctor about weight gain on my next visit!

Caleb Cyril Hoen @ 3days old with Auntie Kati

 On Friday, Butter, Isabel, and I were able to have a quiet night at home and catch up on some of the much needed sleep we had been missing the rest of the week. Butter did pick up food for dinner from Zuppa's, one of my favorite places in town.

On Saturday, Isabel and I went to watch Maddie's basketball game in Chanhassen with Nana and Papa. Isabel loved cheering and, of course, eating Skittles that Ava was sharing with her. I ran a few more errands (looking for fabric and picked out paint for Isabel's room...PINK!) then Butter ran up to Shane Co to pick up my beautiful new ring...now all I have to do decide which finger to wear it on and get it sized. Butter and I were then on to birthday dinner #3. Isabel slept over at Nana and Papa's so we had planned to do dinner and movie, but the restaurant was 15-20 minutes behind their reservations (really it turned more into 30 minutes) so we missed the movie. We did get a free appetizer, though, so I was content.

Whew...we don't have many weeks where we are not busy, but this one seemed extra crazy! it didn't help that is was the end of the quarter for me so it is just happened to be an extra busy time at work as well. After a week like this, though, there is only one word to describe life and that is BLESSED! (Okay, and maybe exhausted!)

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!

Isabel's Summer 2011 in Rewind

Being that it is already the middle of September, here is a photographic look back at the Summer of 2011.

Cabin Fun:


Hanging with ETHAN!!


Random Pictures:


Mama and Dadee:


More Random Pictures:


Shakopee Derby Days Parade- (Isabel especially loved the Firetrucks and danced like crazy to anything with music.)


Summer is Exhausting!

Hope you had a great summer and we are looking forward to a wonderful Fall!

Welcome Back, Summer!

Ah, Memorial Day...the unofficial start of summer. Even though the weather has not been the most cooperative, I have made the transition to summer so much so that I forgot I have two more days of school.

Over Memorial Day Weekend, we made the first trip to the cabin to put the docks and lifts in and just open everything up for the summer. I do very little to help with the docks and lifts, by the way...and by very little, I mean nothing, but I am there to watch it all and interject my opinion when unsolicited.

We got there on Friday night around 10pm and Isabel slept an entire 1/2 hour the whole way up so I thought she would just fall right asleep when we got there. Um, not so much. She was ready to play and play and play...by 12:30am Butter decided it was time for a car ride. In all of our sleepless nights, we have never done the midnight car ride, but it did the trick. Well, at least until 6:55am...yeah, that is all she slept. Poor girl is still teething...those bottom molars trying to break through are making her gums look like mountains! So even yet today, Isabel is still catching up on her sleep.

It was terribly windy on Saturday, but the sun was shining most of the day so Butter and Isabel took a little cat nap while soaking up the much needed Vitamin D. Later, Ethan and I joined them. We headed out fairly early on Sunday as it was overcast and drizzling on and off. So not too much time spent, but it gave me enough to taste the summer and I am ready!



If you ever check up on my sister, Kassi, on her blog through ours, you will see she is still 37 weeks pregnant. Actually not, she had her precious little boy, Ethan Arlen, over 2 months ago, but refuses to update her blog. No excuses, Kassi, no excuses. Since she was in Chicago for a wedding this past weekend, Ethan made his first trip to the cabin with Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle James. Being the awesome aunt and uncle that we are, I have included some photos of Ethan from his first trip to Lake Miltona. Just a side note, at two months he sleeps WAY better than Isabel does now at 14 months!






When you tell Isabel to give a kiss she puts her cheek up to the person thinking she is getting a kiss. You can see her doing this twice with Ethan in the photos above. Too cute!

We are not doing monthly updates anymore, but I wanted to record a couple things. Right now, Isabel loves sitting on everything that is at her level. See the photos in the "so very, very busy" collage for proof. And Isabel now has three words she says with association! Her first word would have to be ball...she loves them! The other two are dada and papa...I am apparently not trying hard enough!

Another Birthday Buddy?!

When Isabel was born on March 30, she answered many prayers as a healthy little baby girl. But I do not think she answered anyone's prayer more than Elias'. See Elias and Isabel are "birthday buddies".

Elias Dylan, born March 30, 2001, and
Isabel Elizabeth, born March 30, 2010

Could it be that Elias and Isabel will welcome another birthday buddy into their circle? We will have to wait and see!

Baby Flom, Due Date: April 1, 2011

Congratulations and blessings Kassi and Josh!