Push-Ups or Push-Ems?

Cute story to share with you... We have been attempting to get fit at our house and have been watching the Biggest Loser this year. Cory said the other night "come on Noah lets do some push-ups". Noah replied with "o.k. Daddy I'll get them for us" and he then ran to the freezer. Noah thought push-ups were a yummy snack to eat, like the Schwan's "Push-Ems." Which he was right because we call them "Push-ups "not "Push-ems". Which is what his Daddy said, "Push-ups". Which we have in our freezer. Which brings Noah to the freezer to get some "Push-ems because his Daddy said "Push-ups", Right? Well Cory had to give him a lesson on how to do a push-up and not eat a "Push-up". He wasn't sure about this new push-up thing? But now he will tell us in the evenings "lets exercise like the Biggest Loser".

Then the "Push-Ems" come after the push-ups which is what we really call "Push-ups"!

Has this confused anyone? Not Noah, he always knew what he wanted!

"Snow" Fun!

We had a fun day playing outside at the lake yesterday. Noah loved being pulled behind the snowmobile. My parents also came out to play but had some trouble with the sled. Always an adventure when the two of them try to do something together! Bright out...sunglasses anywhere? Noah also loved being on the snowmobile and lasted along time outside. Maddie, Nevaeh & Mareyn being pulled behind a snowmobile. Bodin turned 3 yesterday! We (the Komestakes side) all ended up being at the lake yesterday so we had a little celebration for him. It was "snow" fun!

Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! We have been gone for too long. We have had a great Fall, Christmas Season, and now looking forward to a New Year ahead of us. Cory had a full fall season with work. Noah decided it was time to ditch the diapers this past September, we got a lot done to our house and I have been busy keeping up with Kids everyday. I have 2 + Noah everyday but had 2 add-ons for 5 weeks or so this fall. Whew...that was non-stop busy. Noah was the oldest at 3, two 2 year olds, a 10 month old and a 6 month old. As far as our home renovations go we were able to re-rock the front, added new garage doors, did some spray insulation in the basement and garage, Cory has the house almost all sided and added new soffit and fascia. We will have lots more painting to do this summer but looking forward to seeing the finished project. We had some Woodpecker trouble this summer and fall. They have pecked at the old siding since we bought the place but with re-doing everything we really didn't want holes in the new siding. Thankfully the cement board siding doesn't suit their taste. But there are still places not finished where they look for their next meal. To make a long story short we actually had one fall into it's pecked hole on our house and was lodged between the outside wall and the inside sheet rock. No joke! Cory worked until dark that day and had to set up lights when he got home and tear open the house. The woodpecker flew out just skimming his head, he jumped, I screamed and Noah had some great entertainment. Well one of our Christmas traditions is to buy new ornaments each year. We try to look for something that reminds us of the past year, etc. So I thought it would be so great to find a woodpecker ornament for Cory. But who would have a woodpecker Christmas ornament to buy? No one, right? Well,do you know I actually found one! It was the perfect find and now he will never forget the year of the Woodpecker's!

I got the Pillsbury Dough Boy...Noah always tells me

"your a good cooker, Mom"

Noah got the M&M guy...his favorite treat to share with Cory.

Eating Christmas Day Brunch in the living room.

New sweatshirt for Cory and hat for Noah. Cory is a big Gopher Hockey fan.

It was so nice out Christmas Day and the "big storm" never came

to our house, we just had a lot of nice new snow.

Noah is always willing to help out & he loves being with his Daddy.

Salsa!

My Dad and I planted a garden in our backyard this year in hopes that I could can some salsa.

Good thing my Dad also planted a garden at his house because mine was not as successful.

We have gotten a few things out of it but it has a poor location for sun light. Most of my tomatoes are still green and being eaten now by the slugs. Dad however had great success with his tomato plants. Today my Grandma Bev came over to teach me the art of canning. She has canned many things in the past but never salsa. So it was a learning experience for the both of us. Overall I believe our day of canning was a success. The taste test has yet to be but they sure look good.

Thank you Grandma for helping me and teaching me how the canning process works. It was a fun day! I hope our efforts will result in great tasting salsa.

Birthday Surprise!

Yes the balloon says "Happy 30th Birthday" and yes it is not until the 25th and yes I am embracing my 30's. My "monthly girls" kidnapped me Friday evening. They prearranged with Cory to "fib" a little. Cory told me that I was to be ready by 6pm and that he made a reservation at Mabel Murphy's for supper. He also informed me that he had to go look at a house quick and he would bring Noah with him, then come back to pick me up. So he left, I finished getting ready and waited patiently for him to come home. Meanwhile the "girls" were on there way over to surprise me. I was on the computer when I heard some distant screaming (I mean singing) of the song "Happy Birthday". I go to the door and there they were! They took me to Bugaboo Bay in Alexandria. We had such a fun night! I love my "monthly girls"! Thank you so much Keisha, Nancy, Cassandra, Larissa and Hallie! We missed you girls who couldn't be there. Grandpa Lyle came for a visit this weekend too. They all had haircuts Saturday night. Lookin' good boys! Before... After

Cory, his Dad and Grandpa Virgil went fishing

and caught some Catfish or "kitty fish" as Noah called them.

What an ugly looking fish.

I hope they taste better than they look.

aM i BiGgEr YeT?

Noah is growing up. In size and by his "Big Boy" behaviors and sayings. He says the funniest things! I need to start carrying a pen and notebook in my pocket. Seriously, how can I forget things so quickly? Something he now will ask us each day is... "so mom (or dad) how's your day?" He uses words like "probably" example being, "Mom, you could just probably leave it there." Or he used the word "actually" the other day and said "actually I don't think so." Something else he will use often is "no, maybe later", and " yeah, I think so." It is all very matter of factual. He also is 75% potty trained! He stays dry all night in his diaper and is wearing underwear all day long. The other 25% is still getting the #2 thing down. He loves his new "Lighting McQueen" underwear and does prefer underwear over the diaper. He also started Sunday School today and stayed in the classroom with very little hesitation. He asked me tonight if he could go to his school again. So I think he liked it! Here he is all ready to go to church. I had to be to church early so Cory got him all ready and off to Sunday School. Weekend project...install new microwave. Before... After I was so glad to free up my counter space and now it just looks finished. Nevermind the mess below on my counter.

Noah was in charge of Styrofoam destruction.

He did his job well! :)

Itasca State Park

We just got back from a few days in Itasca State Park. We enjoyed getting away and what a great place to visit. Noah talks about his camping trip from last year and was eager to go again. He loved it! We rented a cabin this year vs. a camper. Crossing the headwaters with Mommy then again with Daddy. Headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi Standing in the Mississippi Hiking with Great Grandpa Virgil... we were here last year with the whole Albertson crew. My grandpa Virgil suffered a heart attack while here last year and had to undergo open heart surgery. Now a year later here we are again. Not the whole Albertson crew, but some of us and Grandpa is back and doing so well. What a blessing it is to have him here with us a whole year later. Noah adores his great-grandpa Virgil. Lake Itasca at sunset near our Cabin/Campground

Cory took Noah all the way to the top of this tower.

Noah came back down and said come on Mommy your turn.

I went up 3 flights of steps and that was enough for me. This was in the Visitor Center. They had

a great area for kids to explore things about

the park.

More Itasca Pics...

Campfire, coffee, conversation...what could be better? Cory was determined to keep us warm with only the use of our fireplace. (there was also a heating system in the cabin) I think that kicked in when our fire died out in the night. It was a very cozy cabin and the fire came in handy with the cool evenings. Itasca has fun bike trails so we did some biking too. Playing with cousins! These would be my cousins children. Does that make them my 2nd cousins and Noah's 3rd cousins? Either way, cousins are cousins! Great Grandma Mary and Noah at the Visitor Center. Great Grandma Mary is always prepared and Noah knew she had good snacks along to share with him. My grandparents rented a Cabin as well and so they were close to us which came in handy. Great Aunt Denise reading stories around the campfire. We went back and forth between the Cabin and the campground area where the rest of the group were staying. This is how Noah traveled! Noah picked this snake out at the gift shop!