The Home Depot

Last weekend, we took the kids to The Home Depot for their free workshop where we built displays for toy cars. They turned out pretty cute, but I don't think they are as cute as our photos!

GIANT Milkshakes!!!

While Jordan was our of town for the week, I took the kids to Steak 'n Shake for dinner and to get milkshakes. I don't normally let them get their own, but I made an exception this time. I guess I forgot how big they really are because when they arrived, they were HUGE! Bigger than Luke and Ava! Of course, they obviously loved it!

Old Family Movie-Jordan's Birthday Lunch

This movie is just driving to Red Robin to celebrate Jordan's birthday with the kids-some of the car ride there and then at the restaurant.

Where DO Babies Come From?!

I have always told myself that I would be prepared for when my kids asked me the big question-that being, "Where do babies come from?" Yes, I had it all planned out...be open, be honest, listen carefully to their questions, etc.

So I was not at all prepared for Luke to bust out THE question while driving home the other day. I always thought this would come at least a year or two down the road. This was it! This was my chance to start my open and honest relationship with my son that would pave the way for all the tougher questions into his teen years! It all started with this question! Whatever you do, Shannon, don't blow it!!!

I blew it. Here is what came out of my mouth, pretty much word-for-word, "Well...Ummm...Ask your father when he gets home."

What?! Did I REALLY just say that? No, I couldn't have. I have been planning out in my mind for so long what I would say and it wasn't THAT. It was like working on a huge speech to perform on stage and then getting up in front of everyone and saying, "Um, actually, someone else is going to give the speech!" and then running off the stage!

Luckily for me, I also saw that day that Luke is smart enough to think of intuitive answers to match his caliber of questions.

So, while I was grimacing at my response in the front seat and replaying my response over again, I heard his voice say, "Oh, I know where they come from!"

"You...do?!" I said. I couldn't believe that I was about to be salvaged at this point. Had I already taught this lesson to my son without realizing it?

"Yes!" he said. "Jesus rolls the babies up into little balls and brings them down from the clouds and puts them into their mommy's tummy."

"Luke," I said with a smile spreading across my face, "that is exactly right."

Ava's Dance Class

Ava had her first day of dance class and loved it. I think the other moms didn't know what to think of me though because I was taking a lot of pictures and filming her nonstop, just because I knew how excited she was!

We went to the hair salon...for dolls?!

For Christmas we went to the American Girl doll store at the Mall of America. My niece brought her doll so she could get her doll's ears pierced at the salon?! I offered to do it for her for free with a nail and hammer...she refused my generous offer.

But here are some photos of our lunch with Ava's American Girl Bitty Baby, my niece, Raegan, sister-in-law, Mary and my mom (where the dolls were served lunch too!) and at the doll hair salon!

Happy Birthday Ava!

Ava's birthday was on the 27th of December, so we celebrated it with her after we got back from Minneapolis (where we celebrated it the first time with the family). We took her to Red Robin and had the waiters sing to her.

I can't believe she is 3 (going on 13). Honestly, Jordan and I don't know where she got the diva attitude, but I can't help but think it is kind of cute...at least for now.