Big Eater

This boy was so proud when he finished his whole plate I just had to take his picture!!

It's December?

So...today is December 9th in Iowa and we were able to play outside and not freeze! (This is an ironic post based on my last post! Lol!) It was in the upper 50s and was beautiful! We loved playing outside because it's been too long!

He's so happy to be outside!

She's having more fun than she's letting on in this picture

The First Snow

God decided we here in Iowa shouldn't ease into winter but get pounded with a snow storm right out of the gate! Owen and Avery didn't complain a bit though! Owen was all about it! He could see it was snowing as soon as he woke up from nap and instantly ran to the window to see it! Then he kept asking questions like, "Is it gonna snow all day long?" "Why is it snowing right now?" "Can we play in the snow when Avery wakes up?" Because I'm the world's best mom (wink, wink) I dressed them up in all their snow gear and warm clothes and we headed out! They loved it! I kept packing snowballs for them to throw. (It was excellent snowball snow too!) We were only out for about a half an hour but it was enough to get cold so we enjoyed a nice mug of hot (more like warm for the kids) chocolate after we ditched all our wet gear! Bring on winter...the Frederiksens are ready!!

Aren't they just the cutest??

Owen's Battle Scar

Owen had a rite of passage last Wednesday. Let's start from the beginning...Owen and Avery were helping Tyler and I with the crazy amount of leaves in our yard, and as a reward we were letting them play in the huge pile of leaves on the trailer. Long story short, Owen fell and hit his head on the metal side rail of the trailer. Tyler grabbed him and knew instantly, based on the amount of blood, that we needed to head straight to the emergency room in Ames. He ran inside and grabbed a dish towel to hold on the cut. I had already loaded Avery into her car seat, so Tyler and Owen just hopped in the back and we were off. Tyler informed me as soon as we got in that he needed lots of AC in the back so I looked back at him and noticed he was looking quite pale! Oh boy! I called John and Linda to meet us at the ER so they could take Avery while we went back with Owen. It seemed to take forever to get to Ames but we finally made it.  Tyler told me later that Owen keep asking on the drive to Ames, "Did I hit the trailer really hard?" He didn't cry very long for very hard which is really surprising. He didn't cry much on the drive either. We met John and Linda down there and didn't have to wait long to get called back (thankfully!) The gash was done bleeding by the time we got to the ER. Owen was adamant about sitting on Daddy's lap and Tyler was very willing to oblige. There is a definite difference between family doctors and ER doctors! The doctor came in and after taking a short look at Owen's forehead just squeezed his skin, pulling the gash together and commenting that the cut should "Come together nicely!" Whoa! Owen was very brave through all of this and didn't even flinch. God has given Owen a very calm disposition and one that can handle trauma very well! He was a trooper trough the whole ordeal! Knowing Owen we decided not to have him sedated. The doctor was doubtful but respected our decision. They ended up "burrito-ing" Owen's body in a blanket but it wasn't necessary. The hardest part for Owen was getting taken off of Daddy's lap to be burritoed. But he quickly calmed down and got to lay down next to Daddy to get the stitches. (Which was good for both Owen and Daddy who didn't need nor want to watch Owen get stitches! Lol!) He ended up getting a couple (2 or 3 is my guess) internal stitches and 6 visible stitches! Owen was such a big boy! I think he impressed the doctor and nurse that worked on him and I know he impressed Tyler and I! He was so brave and we are so proud of him! The nurse that removed his stitches even said that if we take good care of the cut that we shouldn't even see it in a year! Crazy! Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers and well wishes! God had His hand in the whole thing and I can see many blessings in this scary situation!

Avery at 18-ish months

I can't believe how fast kids grow! Avery is almost 20 months already. She weighed 26 pounds at her 18 month checkup and was in the 80th percentile for height and weight. She's a big girl who is quickly gaining on her brother. (Owen has 14 months on her but only weighs 30 pounds!)  She seems to be as smart as her brother and maybe even catching  onto things faster because of him! (All of this from my very unbiased opinion!) Avery has started talking a lot! She can repeat almost anything you ask her to. In fact, we were in Fareway today and I found myself asking her to be a little more quiet! Lol! She also loves to sing. Her current favorites are "I Am Jesus' Little Lamb," "Good Morning, God," and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." I'm convinced kids can sing before they can talk!
Avery is completely opposite of Owen in most ways. For starters, she's a girl. She's stubborn. She's ornery. She's loud. She's independent. She's feisty. She entertains herself. She loves to eat meat and cheese but is becoming a fan of bread. She loves her baby. She has a smoker's laugh (it's hilarious!)
But Avery loves her brother! She finds him so funny and it often laughing at some silly thing he's doing! It is so amazing to see their bond growing. Although it was hard in the beginning, I'm glad Owen and Avery are so close in age. I think they will grow up being best friends. God has blessed Tyler and I with two great kiddos. We are so grateful everyday to be their parents and we pray God will continue to guide us in every way!

"Avery is so big!"

What a nut!

Avery...smile!

Hello stranger!

I know...I know...it's been too long! Please forgive me! We've had a busy summer! Let me get you caught up. We had a great summer. It included lots of pool time, a trip to Reiman Gardens, both the county fair and the state fair, a ride on Thomas the Train, family pictures, and a real traveling circus...big tent and all!
Grandma and Grandpa moved into a ''townhouse community" which included a pool! Score for us! We got to enjoy the pool quite a bit this summer and, I'm sure, even more next summer!
 The kids and I took Nana and Papa to Reiman Gardens. The theme this year was treehouses which was fun for the kids because it was interactive and they could run around and play on them. I haven't been to Reiman Gardens for a few years and I've forgotten how beautiful it is!
This summer was the 75th anniversary of the Story County Fair so we decided to pack up and head over to Nevada to check it out.  In all honesty, they advertised free admission, free pony rides, free petting zoo and free bounce houses so it seemed worth it! We spent a total of $3 for a brownie sundae (much more economical than the state fair!!) It was the end of July in Iowa so it was extremely hot and humid. So if you know me very well, I was sweating as soon as we got out of the air conditioned car! Lol! The State Fair was surprisingly more comfortable weather-wise. We hit the hot spots...the cows, pigs, horses, food and the Big Slide then called it a day!
We trekked over to Boone, Iowa to see Thomas the Train for ourselves. Owen and Avery have become fans of Thomas and all the engines on the island of Sodor so they were extremely excited to meet the #1 train. We even got to "ride" on him. (Really they just attached a Thomas train to one of the ends of the regular old Boone trains and claimed it was really Thomas.  Fooled our kids though!)
 I convinced my friend Allison to let us come to her house with her beautiful setting and make her take our family pictures! She's so gullible! Lol! No really...she did a great job and I couldn't be happier with the pictures!!
Lastly, (please note that this is in no kind of order) we headed to Iowa Falls to meet up with Lizz, Jordan, and Myles Sheahan. A real traveling circus was in town and we decided it was a unique experience the kids (and we) should get to have! Again, it was summer in Iowa...in a tent...it was hot! We were all sweating this time! Owen loved the entire thing but Avery could have cared less and we could only keep her occupied and seated for a limited time so Owen didn't even get to see the whole show but he really loved what he did see! Jordan even got called out of the crowd to be part of the show! That was hilarious and entertaining! We were the cheap parents who didn't pay to let their kids ride the elephant during intermission but we did take our own (free!) pictures in front of the elephant while others rode it! Ha! It makes me laugh! Anyway...we are caught up now so I can keep up on my posts and you can keep up with the Frederiksens...because I know you are all waiting with bated breath and that was just rude of me to make you wait so long! Never again...promise!

 

I love this photo of Owen! He's so sweet!

Another great picture! A mama and her kiddos

Thomas is back there...somewhere behind Tyler's big head! Lol!

Owen enjoying the (free!) petting zoo at the county fair

Avery riding a tractor at the Story County Fair

Mama and Avery at the (world's hottest) circus

Owen loved the circus! He was enthralled!



The theme of Reiman Gardens this year was "Treehouse."
 Here are Owen and Avery playing in one of the treehouses.

Owen taking a break during our trip to Reiman Gardens



Owen needs some meat on his bones so he doesn't get quite so cold!

 



Avery enjoying a dip in Grandma and Grandpa's pool

My friend Allison got some great family pictures! I love them!





Ugh! Look at those cuties!!

My Favorite People

"Look, Mom! I fit!"

They are both loving this (I think?!)

Such a cutie!

They love our new riding mower!

"Here's a face for you!"

Daddy hiked up his pants but Owen came up with this pose all on his own!

This just makes me smile :)

Impromtu Family Pictures

 

AGH! They are too cute!

This girl is a swinger! She could swing all day, everyday!

He's in Heaven!

So sweet! (Couldn't you just eat her?!)

Goofball and Papa

Crazy driver

More Cute Easter Pics

Yum!

Hmm...which one do I want??

Happy Easter Daddy!

"I see one! There's an egg over there!!"

Reeeeeach!

"The pink eggs are mine!"

"I've got it!"

The Hunt

Owen had been making us hide Easter eggs for close to month before Easter actually arrived. He loved finding them and got really good at spotting those brightly colored ovals. He had never had an Easter egg hunt outside, however, so this was extra exciting. He had the privilege of having two Easter egg hunts (Avery too!)...what a lucky boy!

I Can't Make This Up!

A conversation with Owen while driving home from Ames the other day...
Owen: "There's the moon mama!"
Me: "Yeah."
Owen: "I want the moon!"
Me: "I'm sorry, Owen, but I can't get the moon for you!"
Owen: "I'll get it myself."
Me: "Oh yeah?"
Owen: "And break it...and cook it!"
Me: "You're gonna cook the moon? What do you think it will taste like?"
Owen: "Sausages!"


I have considered trying to work some Spanish into Owen's vocabulary but I wasn't exactly sure how to go about doing it. When I asked Tyler he suggested to just tell Owen it's another way to say it. So I told Owen that "elephante" is "elephant" in Spanish. Then I asked him how to say elephant in Spanish. He replied, "Elephant in Spanish."

I was singing in my beautiful opera voice the other day. And I just kept doing it because it sounded so good! Finally Owen told me that I sounded like an elephant! Obviously we were hearing different things!

Owen makes me laugh daily with the things he says. I love that he can talk and the way his brain works! What a funny kid!

Avery is 1!

   Avery turned one on March 14, 2015. I can't believe how fast this last year has gone! Our baby is hardly a baby anymore!
   We were slightly delayed in celebrating her birthday because both her and Owen were sick and not in the partying mode.  Poor babies! But the rescheduled party was a success! Almost everyone was still able to make it and it was a fun time! I really struggled to come up with a theme for her party but finally settled on a "This Little Piggy" party. Everything was pink and she really loves you playing "this little piggy" with her toes so it was decided.  I think she had a good time and really liked her cake. She didn't nap well that day so ended up being overwhelmed and melted down and going to bed early but I still think she had a good time! Owen was his usually ham-my self and was very helpful opening presents. (He loves the doll stroller Avery received more than she does!) It is always great to have friends and family come into our home, share a meal and create memories! I am so grateful to all the family we have close that can share in our family's milestones! Thanks to all who came to the party and those who sent cards or birthday wishes! We love you all!
   Avery is one...wow! She is adorable and a little spitfire! She lets you know what she wants and, even more, what she doesn't want! She has some of her namesake in her. She is walking and has been for almost a month. She is obsessed with her shoes and hat and often gets her shoes from beside the door and brings them to me grunting, which means "Put these on me now! (And if we can go outside that would be great too!)" So she is almost always wearing her shoes! I will be interested to see what happens when the weather gets nice because she thinks she has to wear a hat to go outside! I guess she will learn! :) She loves the swing and would probably do that all day long if I would let her.  She often assumes we are going to swing when we get her shoes and coat on but when I go to load her in the car she throws a fit because she realizes she doesn't get to swing. She just has to let me know she isn't happy but is perfectly fine after I get her buckled in!
   Avery has started talking a little too! She does grunt for most of her communicating but can say some words.  Obviously "mama" and "dada" and "Budd-a" (Buddy). She says "Bible" at the end of the B-I-B-L-E song. She can say "off", "hot potato" and "bye-bye." It's not as long of a list as I had thought but it's an awesome start for a one-year old! She can also point to her belly button, her nose, her hands and her feet/toes.
   We are so blessed to be Avery's parents. It is so fun to watch her learn and grow daily. Her personality is blossoming too and it's a joy to learn more about her and who she is going to be. God has blessed us with an amazing little girl and we thank Him everyday for our sweet baby girl!

Lucky parents

Fun! Presents!

She is so sweet!

Yum!!

  

Owen loves me

I love my big boy!

Wow! Creepy...

"Why does she make me do this??"