Titus just wants to say...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My first homemade pizza!

So I have made pizza's before, but never have I made the dough from scratch like I did today! It was so much fun and I am definitely going to do it again. It was so easy and really the bread machine did all of the work...it turned out and it was SO YUMMY to eat! Here is the recipe that I found off the internet, you must try it!

Pizza Dough
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 T. olive oil
4 C. flour (all purpose or bread)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 C. parmesean cheese
1 T. italian seasoning
2 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

*Add all ingredients to bread pan in the order given
*Select dough cycle
*Add water, if too dry, a little at a time
*After dough cycle is complete, roll dough or stretch to fit pizza pan
*No need to let dough rest again, just start loading up with sauce and toppings
*Bake pizza at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes
*ENJOY!

I finished!

This morning, bright and early, my husband and I ventured to our friends house to meet up before heading downtown for the Lifetime Fitness Turkey Day 5K!
Never in million years (ok, so maybe since junior high) would I have thought that I would've been able to run over 3 miles straight, but today...it happened! For three months I have been training 4-5 days a week on the treadmill running 3 miles at least once a week, but would stop quite frequently. Today, however, was different. I ran the WHOLE thing! I was so proud! It was so much fun running with thousands of people, being encouraged by other runners around me, and just having FUN!
Coming up towards the finish line it was real cute. My husband was holding a sign that said, "Great Job running Traci, I love you!" It was great and made me smile and push to the finish line. Thanks Zac for being such an encouragement during my training and being there the morning of the race.
My friend Misty, thank you SO MUCH for encouraging me to run with you! It was so much fun and now I cannot wait until the Race for the Cure! Love you girl!

*More pictures to come*

What a fun day!

Today has been such a wonderful day!
This morning I woke up and went to the gym at 5AM! I know, it's crazy! But it was the only time that I could fit it in today and I needed to go today because I did not get to go yesterday. Anyways, that was wonderful...I did not want to go (trust me because it was really cold outside), but after my run I felt so wonderful and energized and ready to go today. I honestly think that I am going to run that early in the morning at least once a week. It has been such a great thing since we joined our new gym and I enjoy going more often and also meeting new faces there. I have also enjoyed meeting my friend Erica there, we have met at the gym quite frequently to motivate one another on the treadmill!
Today has been such a wonderful day because we had spa day at MOPS this morning, where we enjoyed yummy chocolates, cheese and crackers, fruit, sparkling cider...YUMMY! We also enjoyed massages, time to chat around the table, making bath salts, facials, and doing our nails. It was such a great morning and a wonderful time to get to know the other ladies in our group. MOPS has been such a blessing in my life and I am so looking forward to what God has in store the rest of the year with our group.
Tonight I am looking forward to listening to Christmas music and decorating the tree with my family and ending the night with a Christmas movie! I am really looking forward to ending the night with my family...what a wonderful ending to a wonderful day!

Titus' first halloween!

I know that I am a week late, but here are pictures that I took of the kids on the morning of Halloween! We had so much fun...Aspen could not wait to be Tinkerbell and Titus was not so sure about being a ladybug, but they both looked ADORABLE!

That morning we ventured over to our gym where they had a Halloween party for the kids. They got to play fun games, eat yummy treats, and do a parade (where they got TONS of candy). *Now every time we go to the gym Aspen asks, "Do I get to wear my costume?*

After the gym we went to visit daddy at his school, Aspen loved showing off her costume, Titus was still not too sure that he wanted too, and I was just not thrilled about dressing up at all (I never have been - so on our errands I was just a "mom")

We then came home, had lunch, took naps - well tried at least, and then went to the Y so that I could go to work and both Titus and Aspen got to play in Kids Stuff.

After my shift we then went to a Halloween Party and that was so much fun. Great food, great fellowship, etc... We definitely had a fun time and loved celebrating Titus' first Halloween! Next year hopefully Titus will be a little more thrilled about dressing up (or maybe he will be like his mom).

Laughter is the best medicine!

9 months already!

Look at how much you have grown in the last 9 months! I can't believe how fast time goes by! Love you Titus!

Hungry for pizza?

Please join us on Sunday, October 26th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We will be fundraising at Cici's Pizza in Eagan. The address is 1292 Town Centre Dr. CiCi's is a very generous company. They will be donating 15% of the proceeds to our MOPS group. All you have to do is show up for their wonderful (and inexpensive) pizza buffet and drop your receipt into a bucket for it to be included.
We hope to see you there!

Our time at the Arboretum!

The beautiful fall colors, what a sight!
A view of one of the waterfalls
More colors of fall!
A serene pond
Titus enjoying the pumpkins
My parents and I
Zac and I
Peek a Boo
Mom, can I eat this?

We had a great time with my parents at the Arboretum this past weekend. It was a beautiful day! Even though it was VERY busy we were able to enjoy ourselves and take some great shots of the beautiful fall colors and of our family!

Photos from our weekend away!

Here are some photos that were taken when Zac and I had our weekend away! We enjoyed a nice run around beautiful Lake Nokomis, rides at Nickelodeon Universe, a glass of wine while resting up in the hotel, dinner at Bellanote, and time at the Shout House! It was a great weekend!

What a Rollercoaster!

What a weekend! Wonder what the week will bring???

On Friday we had our MOPS kickoff at our church, and I just have to say that I love the women that to serve with on the Steering team, but not just that, I really feel that we have a great group of women as a whole in our MOPS group. Friday during our time was such a blessing, good food, great fellowship, and now I just cannot wait to see what God has in store for our year. It's so exciting. Our MOPS kickoff for this year is "Adventures in Mothering" and as an illustration it uses a rollercoaster, which is definitely what ride we were on in our family.

Friday as we were cleaning up, I noticed that my daughter did not look like she was feeling well. I asked her how she was doing and she told me that she did not feel well. I immediately hurried up with what I was doing and we got in the car to head home. We got home and after awhile of resting on the couch, Aspen was out like a light. Poor little thing! Thankfully my husband was able to come home and stay with her so that I could go to work, and I brought Titus with me. Little did I know that when Aspen woke up she had a fever of 102. When my husband told me that, I immediately thought that it was definitely going to be quite a weekend. Luckily, we gave her some medicine and her fever remained around 99 the rest of the night...but boy, she did not sleep well.

The next day...
She woke up and was happy! My parents came to our house and spent some time here, so that Aspen could sleep in and just have a relaxing morning. We then ventured to Subway for lunch and then to the Arboretum, but by the time we got there, Aspen just had fallen asleep and so we had to wake her up...she was not happy about that (and I cannot blame her). Poor thing! She was very emotional, and just was not having it...but after awhile, she did fine and actually had a great time and even let us taken pictures of her (pictures of our day at the Arboretum to come). After a fun day there...we came home and watched a movie and hit the sack...but then...another horrible night of NO SLEEP!

This got me worried because Aspen and I were to go to see Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Handy Manny, and Little Einsteins at the XCel. The morning was rough, but Aspen continued saying that she wanted to go. I constantly kept checking her temp, went out and got her some more medicine, and just constantly asked myself, "Should I cancel out on this event???" But Aspen took her nap she was ready to go and have some fun, so I decided...let's try it! We met up with a friend of mine from High School and her family, and headed to the Xcel...Aspen was pretty excited! However, things changed when we got there...I bought her a doll (Thank you Grandpa and Grandma) and then we took our seats...she felt warm...I gave her medicine, and she did not look well. I began to ask myself, why did I bring her here. I was immediately worried because of her fevers in the past, so I took her to the medical area and sure enough...she had a temp of 102. Poor thing! She kept saying, "I want to go home, please take me home!" So I took her home, we did not even get to see the show start, but it was for the best! Luckily she has not had a fever the rest of the afternoon and evening and we pray that continues. I felt so sad though because I know that she would've loved seeing all those characters!

So that was our weekend and tomorrow I am planning on taking her to the doctor to just get her checked out and find out what is causing this fever...and praying that tonight she has a decent night's sleep!

Please pray for Aspen...I am a worried mom just praying that these fevers just go away!

Fireproof

Last Friday night my husband and I went to the new Atlantis Movie Theatre in Burnsville to see the movie "Fireproof" and it was amazing!

We DEFINITELY recommend it to everyone!

A really GREAT weekend!

This weekend my husband and I got to enjoy a weekend...together...ALONE...and it was SO MUCH FUN! I really wish that I could post pictures from our weekend, but that will have to wait as we haven't been able to fix my computer...but when it finally gets fixed, I will post some (and I cannot wait)!
Here are some wonderful highlights:
Friday:
*Went to the Atlantis Theater 15 in Burnsville to see "Fireproof" and I HIGHLY recommend that everyone see this movie, it is SO GOOD!
*Enjoying a nice meal, with no interruptions at TGI Fridays
*Staying up late and sleeping in...something I haven't done in a long time (staying up late...YES, but sleeping in...it's been awhile!
Saturday:
*Enjoying a nice run/walk around Lake Nokomis
*Lunch at Panda Express in the Mall of America
*Enjoying a ride at Nickelodeon Universe
*Staying at the beautiful Cambria Suites, thank you Bill and Misty---our wonderful friends let us stay here for free and they even put a bottle of wine in our room---We love you guys!
*Night in Downtown Mpls...complete with a beautiful dinner at Bellanote and the dueling pianos at The Shout Bar (can't wait to go back there again...Bill and Misty...we must take you two there, you would love that)
*Staying up late and Sleeping in...we slept in until almost 10!
Sunday:
*Taking time to get ready
*Breakfast at Big Apple Bagels
*Meeting up with my parents and our children at the MN Zoo! Although that meant it was the end of our weekend, we REALLY were ready to see our kids!

This weekend with my husband was really great and it really reminded us that we need to do this more often, and it also reminded me just how much I love my husband and how much he loves me...and how much God loves us! This was truly a wonderful time to celebrate Zac's birthday, anniversary, and our life together!

Running a 5K...what???

Yes, it is true!

On Turkey Day, myself and my dear friend Misty will be running a 5K together, and I cannot wait! I am already a week into training and every time I run (which is every other day) I get more and more excited!

I get so excited because I never thought I would like running. I remember back in grade school and having to run the mile for gym class and not being able to even run halfway around the track, in fact...I walked most of the mile.

So, when I started my 5K training last week I ran my first straight mile on the tread mill and I wasn't even heavily panting...honestly, I could've kept running, but I didn't want to push it my first time. Since my first time running I have been running every other day for 20 minutes and I am now up to almost 2 miles, and I love running!

5K...here I come!

Where have I been?

I am so frustrated with my computer, it's about 5 years old and has been through so many problems that I REALLY feel it is time for a new computer. Right now I can't even get on the internet to do my regular posting of pictures and blogging, so instead I can only use my husbands computer...which is GREAT (at least I can go on the internet), but I can't download pictures...BUMMER! Hopefully soon we will get that figured out...until then, I thought that I would write a short blog to let everyone know that I am still here and will hopefully get my computer up and working soon!

An update...
Aspen is in two classes at the YMCA: music and movement and tumbling. She LOVES it and is just enjoying learning so much. She loves singing and moving in so many different ways, so these two classes are perfect for her. Potty training is going great, she wakes up dry every morning and will maybe have a few accidents each week...so slowly but surely we will be done with pull-ups, can't wait for that day! Mommy and daddy are so proud of her and she definitely is much happier when she goes in the toilet than when she has an accident. (We are too!) We are so amazed at how much she is learning and feel so blessed by the JOY she brings us each and everyday, we truly are thankful for her, she is our little angel!
Titus is almost 8 months old (hard to believe) and he is just changing each and everyday. Still no teeth, but hopefully they will come soon...he is chomping on EVERYTHING, and drooling like CRAZY! He is sitting up so well, and when he is on his tummy is now doing the army crawl...he attempts to get up on his knees, but that doesn't last very long...which is definitely ok because neither mommy or daddy are ready for him to be crawling. He brings so much happiness to our lives, he is always smiling and laughing and is just HAPPY and JOYFUL. Everytime we see him smile we just can't help but smile...even when we are in the worst of moods. We are so thankful for Titus in our lives and are looking forward to what is to come as he continues to grow and change!

So there's an update on Aspen and Titus!
An updated on Zac and I...
We FINALLY get to have a weekend for just the two of us, that's right...a weekend without our children!!!! Not that we don't love them, because we do, but we get to go away for the weekend and grandparents get to watch Titus and Aspen. Can't wait!!!! Happy Anniversary to us!

The pictures are here!

These are just a few of what we had captured when we had Titus and Aspen's pictures taken. Although we did not really care for the staff at Sears, we did like the outcome of what they were able to capture. Still cannot believe that Aspen is 3 years old and in this picture Titus was 6 months...he is now 7 months and in the past month has changed so much look wise. Enjoy!

Such humor in a three year old!

So last night Aspen was just being a comedian and making Zac and I laugh until our stomachs hurt (my favorite kind of laughter).
Anyways, back to the story...
Last night as I was giving Titus his bath and Zac was bathing Aspen, I said to her, "Aspen, can daddy sleep with you tonight?" (I said this after Zac had tooted, which I really don't like) and after I asked her that question, she said, "No, daddy can sleep on the couch!" Zac and I could not believe that she had said that and we both just looked at each other and laughed so hard, which brought tears to my eyes...
(and just so you know...I was just joking and Zac slept in our bed last night, not with Aspen or on the couch)

After baths Aspen and I were playing lego's and as she was playing and creating...I heard a toot, and Aspen said to me, "Hey mommy, I just tooted, can you smell it?" I said, "What?" and she just giggled so hard and said amongst laughter, "I said, I just tooted and can you smell it?" I couldn't believe that she said that and I told her that I could not smell it, and after I said that she said, "Do you want me to go potty now?" I said, "For sure," and sure enough, after just sitting on the potty, she did go. Perfect timing!

We have a little comedian on our hands!

Wordless Wednesday!

MN State Fair!

Happy Family enjoying a perfect day at the fair!
Dodie, My mom, and I
Aspen and Papa on the Carousel
The Giant Slide - You can't see it, but Aspen DID NOT LIKE this ride (Daddy sure did thought)
Another ride that Aspen did not like...poor girl!

Last Saturday we ventured out in the morning to the MN State Fair with my parents. We met up at the Mall of America and took the Transit Bus, and we are so glad that we did...it's so much easier! When we got there the weather was just perfect, no humidity, nice breeze, sunny, you couldn't ask for anything more.

We went to many different buildings: Miracle of Birth Center (where we witnessed the beginning stages of a cow giving birth - poor thing having to do all of that work herself and having hundreds of people watching you...we didn't stay long), DNR building, Rides - Aspen loved the Carousel, hated the Mermaid ride and the Giant Slide, Grandstand - Zac loved the pickled garlic and mommy loved winning a brand new water bottle at the Dex booth, L'Oreal tent, KTIS booth, NWC table in the education building (Zac and I are proud alumni), and many other places. We had so much fun and could've stayed there all day, but by the time 2:00 hit, the place was truly a zoo and we decided to head back home. Aspen and Titus did so well, it was almost like we only had one child because Titus was so quiet. It was again a great time being outside and enjoying the nice weather, good food, and of course family!

The nummy food we had (and we shared everything): Mini Donuts, Corn on the Cob, Salt Water Taffy, Cheeseburger, Corn Dog, Frozen Custard, and Cheese Curds.

Tomorrow Zac and I, along with our dear friends Bill and Misty are venturing to the fair to see Mark Schultz, Big Daddy Weave, and Lincoln Brewster in concer (SO EXCITED) and I am sure that we will taste Sweet Martha Cookies and some other things that we wanted to taste on Saturday, but didn't! I love the fair!

Wordless Wednesday!

Is Aspen a future architect? This made my mouth drop, I was so proud!

Fun time at the park!

Titus' first time in the swing!
And boy did he love it!
Aspen could swing for hours and hours!
She totally looks like her daddy!
He totally looks like his mommy!

We had a great weekend! On Friday we decided to take Aspen to the park after she kept asking us over and over...and we finally tried Titus in the swings, and he loved it! He was giggling and smiling so much and just took everything in. It was just a great time...after the swings we took Titus down the slides (with mommy and daddy's help of course) and he didn't care for that as much, but still smiled and giggled.

I love that a small thing like going to the park brings such joy to there faces! It was a great way to end our evening and I'm glad that I got to FINALLY post these pictures for you all to see!

Where are the pictures???

I'm so bad at putting pictures on my blog, and I really want to do it today, so be looking for some new pictures that I will be posting...hopefully by this afternoon!

Our children are precious gifts!

I just had to post this picture of Aspen and Titus, it is one of my favorites by far!

Another weekend, another wedding!

The beautiful bride Ashley (Zac's cousin) and her groom Andy
Zac and I
All of us girls - Colleen, Abby, Ashley, Christine, Dawn, Tiffany, and myself
Abby, Colleen, and I

Just this weekend we went to another wedding for Zac's cousin Ashley. They are such a fun couple and it was another beautiful day and wonderful wedding! This time we were in Forest Lake and the weather again was perfect! The time with family was priceless and we all danced the night away. During the dance Aspen just couldn't get enough of the music and dancing with everyone on the dance floor. She even flirted a bit with the DJ, it was too cute and I wish that I would've gotten a picture of it. Another funny thing she did was they had a Limbo contest and as she watched people doing the limbo she cameover and said to me, "Mommy, why are these people going under a stick?" I began to laugh just because she truly did not understand why they were doing that. She then said to me, "I hope they are done soon, I want to go and dance!" We were there until about 11:30 and as soon as we got into the van our kids were both out like a light. We had some nice full weekends these past few weeks, now it is time to slow down and just enjoy being at home!

Aunt T visits from Colorado!

My family (minus my brother) at my cousin Alissa's wedding in Rochester!
My beautiful sister and a wonderful Aunt T to our children
Zac and I at Hootie and the Blowfish concert at the Zoo!
Dora, Aspen and I
Aunt T and Aspen on the Blues Clues Ride

Just a couple weeks ago my sister Tara came to MN from where she lives which is in Denver, CO. She was up to see family and to also sing in our cousin Alissa's wedding. We spent the whole weekend in Rochester, MN with family and it was so much fun. We spent Friday night with family by the pool where Aspen was a little fish and did not want to leave. Saturday morning we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, I got to go and get my nails done, lunch at Jimmy John's, and then it was wedding time. The ceremony was beautiful, the music was breath taking, and the place where they had there reception was awesome! Besides having a wonderful area for the meal and dance they had a room off to the side where parents could bring there children (the staff of the country club watched the children) and in this room they were entertained with movies, popcorn, coloring books, etc... The parents could then enjoy themselves at the dance, Aspen had a great time! We ate a great meal, enjoyed great music and danced the night away. On Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel, enjoyed walking around downtown, and enjoyed lunch.

Sunday night my brother Todd was able to get us tickets to go see Hootie and the Blowfish and my mom was gracious enough to babysit Aspen and Titus. So my sister, brother, two of his friends, and Zac and I ventured out to the zoo to enjoy a nice evening of music and it was very fun! We had a great time and the weather could not have been any better. It was awesome!

On Monday we just spent time at developing photos, a little shopping, and just a day to relax from our busy weekend. Tuesday we went to the Mall of America where Aunt T bought Aspen some points to enjoy some rides at Nickelodeon Universe. It was fun on the carousel, Blues Clues, Balloon Ride, Trucks, Swiper, etc... It made Aspen's day! Although we had so much fun it had to come to an end and we ate together and said good bye to Aunt T because she had to go back to Colorado.

I love my sister very much and I love watching Aspen bond with her, she really does love her Aunt T and she is such a great sister, friend, and Aunt T to our children. She is a treasure and we always look forward to seeing her.