Good-Bye Vibe, Hello Pilot

So a few weeks ago I had the crazy thought to list our vehicle on Craigslist and see if we could sell it. This was all thanks to my brother-in-law Jesse who successfully sold their car on Craigslist. I thought... what the heck, I can do that too. Wouldn't you know in a about a weeks time someone came to look at it, offered us just slightly below what we listed, and it is SOLD! Our beautiful 2005 AWD Pontiac Vibe was gone. I was more attached to this vehicle than I thought. It was Marty's and I's first big purchase together after we got married. We bought it brand new off the dealer's lot in the fall of 2004. We were very excited. 5 years and 115,00o miles later... it is no longer ours... we brought our babies home in this car. I was so sad. Marty thought I was overreacting just a tad... and I probably was. It's just that I was always so proud of this car and how cute it was... just our size... until we had Gracie... then Zach... now 2 carseats later... it is to small for us. We had talked about getting a new vehicle, most likely doing a trade-in. I just didn't think I would actually sell it on Craigslist that fast. I guess I was wrong.

---2 weeks later---

So for 2 weeks we have been driving Marty's parents van. Yesterday after many hours of searching the internet we went to the cities to look at the few vehicles we had it narrowed down to and we came home with a new beauty. The garage, who was once home to our Little Hatchback Vibe, is now home to our 2009 Honda Pilot EX-L. Some gal had purchased it brand new this summer and after driving it for 3-4 weeks decided she didn't like and traded it in for something else... so it is practically brand new, with only 1800 miles on it. It is always exciting making a purchase and to be able to drive something different.

When we got home and we were showing it to Gracie, she gave us her approval: "Momma's new car? I like it Momma, I like it." She had been very distraught since Momma's other car hasn't been in the garage for the last few weeks. I had to tell her it was broke for her to understand: "Where's Momma's car? Oh, no it's broke?" "You fix it?" Such a sweetheart she is.

Riding Tractor with Daddy

Marty has been busy helping his brother with field work this fall since we don't currently have any pigs. His job has been running the tractor with the chisel plow, working up the dirt. He has been putting lots of long hours, but seems to enjoy it. Gracie has gotten to go with him a few times and ride a long. She gets so excited, because I pack her a little backpack and she gets to "go with Daddy."

Apples with Grandma

A couple of weeks ago my Mom decided to take a day off of work and come to our house to do apples. She came with 3 five gallon pales of apples from their trees and my Aunt Claudia. We peeled, cored, sliced, and cooked/baked apples, apples, and more apples. The end results were some apple crisps, pies, and applesauce and of course lots of good quality time with my Mom and Aunt. Gracie very much enjoyed making the pies with Grandma and Zach was such a good boy. He sat in his booster chair most of the time just watching and playing with whatever kitchen utensil we gave him. Thanks Mom for such a good time and wonderful memories!

Halloween Fun

For Halloween we had a little Elmo and a little Frog. The kids were soo adorable and actually didn't mind keeping there costumes on. My sister had a Halloween/Birthday party for 3 of her kids so we spend the evening at the Daly household. We went Trick-or-Treating in their neighborhood. Gracie learned pretty fast what this going door-to-door stuff was all about. Zach enjoyed his ride in the wagon.

It was a Halloween party so Marty and I dressed up too. We were suppose to be Geeks, but everyone thought we looked like Hippies.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ZACHARIAH MARTIN

On October 1st, Zach had his first and Golden Birthday. We ended up having 2 celebrations. One with the Sohre side at the Pizza Ranch in New Ulm and one with the Malecek family at Uncle Jim's and Aunt Denise's. Lucky Zach... he got 2 cakes... which means he got to dig in and get messy 2 times. Lots of fun!!!

Gracie, Zach, and Rochelle.

Birthday Party #2 with the Sohre Family.

All the Sohre cousins.

1 year and 2 1/2 year photos

Zach turned one year old on October 1, 2009.  We had photos taken at Sears Photo Center.  Zach of course is 1 year old and Gracie is 2 1/2 years old.  Seems like we were just there getting Gracie's 1 yr photos.  That time sure goes fast.  Zach is doing great with walking.  He can now give kisses... although sometimes he tries to bite me instead of kiss me.  I have to be careful.

Twin City 10 Mile

Today was the Medtronic TC 10 mile run... also known as the "Shortcut to the Capital."

Marty, I, and Marty's sister's Denise and Lisa, and Lisa's husband Mick participated in the run.  7:05 am at the Metrodome was the start and the finish was about 1 hr 40 minutes later at the State Capital, running the entire way.  It was a beautiful morning for a run.  We thought it would be to cold or maybe ran... but it turned out wonderfully.  

I did the run with Marty's sisters two years ago, but this was Marty's first big run and he did great. It is such a good feeling to accomplish such a great thing and even better that I got to do it with Marty. It is amazing to see all the people that participate.

The Medtronic Twin City Marathon started about an hour after we did. They also start at the Metrodome and finish at the State Capital... but of course do 26.2 miles, this is why the 10 mile run is called the "shortcut to the Capital!"

 Rochelle (our niece). She was our cheerleader.

Cherish the Moment.

These are the moments where this little boy should be getting into a lot of trouble and be scolded because he certainly is not being good or in a safe situation,

but on the other hand he is so darn cute that taking pictures seemed more fun.Maybe next time we will scold him!

Right now it is times like this when you I just want to cherish the moment and realize that my babies won't be babies forever and someday we all will get a kick out of thinking... way back when... Zachy used to play in the dishwasher...

I think of a picture my Mom has of my little brother laying on the bottom shelf of the corner Lazy Susan, at probably the age Zach is right now... again a moment that she should have been scolding him... but he was so darn cute... and now her baby is a grown man...


So let's forget about being safe and good for a couple of seconds and cherish these moments!

Zach Can Walk!

11 months old and Zach is upright moving around. He started doing a couple of steps about 2 weeks ago and now he can go across the room without falling! He is growing up sooo fast! This video my cute Zachy walking and the bonus of the loving relationship between siblings... in one moment Gracie is playing so nice with Zach and then next moment... well you will have to watch to see. Enjoy.

Trip to San Diego, CA

Over Labor Day weekend Gracie and I decided to go visit one of my college friends, Jina and her family in San Diego, CA. I was able to talk my other friend Jillian in to coming along with us. Jina, Jill, and I were all roommates for 3 years and we went through our entire nursing program together. Jina moved to San Diego after college all by herself and now has a husband and 2 children, Keala (almost 2 years old) and Kaeden (4 months old). It was a delight to see our little girls play with each other. We were able to visit a beautiful San Diego beach on Sunday and then go to Sea World on Monday. On Sunday evening Jina's husband watched the kids so the grown-up girls could go out for supper. We had a wonderful time at supper - Thanks Eddie!

The three Grown-Up girls... Me, Jina, and Jill (with her baby in her tummy!)

It is amazing how we first became roommates mearly because we needed roommates, we really didn't know each other. Then we became nursing classmates, and in the mix of it all became really good friends. Now 6 years after school with drastic changes in our lives like, careers, houses, husbands, and kids we are still good friends and I think safe to say life-long friends. It is a great feeling to be able to get together and just pick up like we still see each other every day, even though it may be year or two in between visits.

Gracie all ready for her fun day in the sun. This is the first time she has seen the ocean and been in waves. She had lots and lots of fun.

Playing in the HUGE sandbox with her new friend Keala.

The cutest toes you will find in the sand.

Mommy enjoyed playing in the sand too!

Next up: SEA WORLD and the famous Shamu show (the killer wales)

We are waiting to see the killer wale show with Shamu. It was a beautiful day.

Gracie telling the Wales "come back" after they went back into the water.

Jill and Keala also enjoying the show.

Jina and her little bundles: Kaeden and Keala.

Looking at the polar bears and Gracie holding her new SHARK! (it was actually was suppose to be a present for Zach, but someone became pretty fond of the shark... Sorry Zachy)

We had a WONDERFUL time.

Thanks for letting us come Jina. Thanks for coming with us Jill.

Thanks for being such Good Friends.