Noah Michael

I think all moms can relate to wanting to slow down the years as their kids get older. I know this is especially true for me as my oldest is almost in the double-digits. This post is dedicated to everything NOAH... Noah is 9 years old. He enjoys Star Wars, Indiana Jones, kick ball, and building with Lego's. He loves baseball (especially the MN Twins) and also plays soccer and basketball. He wants to be a professional baseball player when he grows up. He loves to have overnights with his granny and papa. His favorite foods are Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper, ham and cheese sandwiches, and ice cream sundaes with hot fudge. He also loves mom's cheeseburger soup. He's never been a picky eater and even asks for broccoli. If I had to describe him in one word, it would be sensitive. He's one of those kids that you have to be very careful what you say to him, because he takes it all in and hangs onto it. Mostly his sensitivity is a wonderful trait and I can always tell when someone really knows him because they will comment about it. His sensitivity shines with little children and his cousin Jake is one of his favorite people. I will often find notes like this in his room: (The list of people on the left are family members and neighbors.) Noah is not fond of BIG rollercoasters, dark rides, or injuries....be they teeny-tiny (paper cuts) or huge (thank goodness there haven't been any). He is partial to the no-contact sports. Noah's love language is definitely "touch". He will think nothing of climbing into my lap or laying across my whole body. He loves a hug. Noah enjoys making his family proud of him, and yet is quite humble. He loves to hear us cheering from the stands, yet doesn't brag when he hits a great shot. He beams with pride at parent- teacher conferences every year, yet rarely shares with me his day-to-day accomplishments and praises he receives. He was elected to his school student council this year by his peers and he almost forgot to tell me about it. Noah was an only child for 3 1/2 years. Three wonderful summers of just Noah. Him and me. Hanging out, going to Target, going for walks, going to the park, visiting Granny and Papa, playing in the sand, and swimming. I cherish those memories. I am so proud and feel very lucky to be his mom. Connor's turn later this week! Love, LB

Family Christmas

Merry Day-After-Christmas everyone! We spent a quiet day as a foursome this year for Christmas. It was a wonderful day and many a Lego masterpieces were built. (Have I mentioned how quiet my house is during this?) On Christmas Eve, we have a few rituals that need to be completed: First, the kids are able to open one gift from us (that I choose, and it's always pajamas) and then they open the gift they selected for each other. Connor spreads out the reindeer food (oatmeal) laced with glitter to attract them to our house (which by the way, is all gone. Some critter enjoyed a Christmas Eve meal!) The cookies, carrots, and milk are placed on the hearth: On Christmas morning, Santa had arrived! Noah left him a note the night before by the cookies. See if you can see what Santa wrote back to him: Besides numerous Lego sets, boom boxes, CDs, and sporting equipment, the boys also loved their Twins hats and Vikings jerseys: I swear I did not set this up, and it's just too sweet for words and I better document it while I can: We had fondue for the first time with the kids that night. I made a cheese dip for chicken and bread and then the kids enjoyed cooking steak in the oil.

I hope you and your family enjoyed the holiday. A happy 2009 to all of you!

Much Love,

LB

Budach Christmas

Good evening!

We celebrated Christmas with Mike's side of the family this weekend. Again, the food was amazing (two kinds of soup, salads, appetizers, homemade cookies and sweets) and I have pretty much determined that Mike's mom Cindy....is actually Santa, because I got everything I wished for.

Not only did she get me everything I wished for, it was all stuff she had to order and/or search out for me. Man, I must have been very good this year. It's like she was sitting around corners, listening, and taking notes.

This was a necklace from The Vintage Pearl that I really, really wished for:

Isn't it the cutest thing you have ever seen? I absolutely love it! The gems photograph kind of orangey, but they are actually brown/amber.

This is the hat she ordered for me because she knows how much I love the play:

She also bought me a new bag for my camera, which I needed SO badly! Mike bought me a new lens for mother's day last year and my old bag could not hold two lenses and the camera. I have been complaining about needing one for months.

Mike got a new indoor/outdoor thermometer and some new cologne too. He's been looking at cologne on Ebay for months.

Dave gave us a gift card to Applebees. That man knows how much I hate to cook! Much appreciated.

The kids are playing as I type with the lego kits they got. I swear the house is never as quiet as when the two of them are putting those things together! They concentrate so hard and just need help every once in awhile.

Here she is, Santa..... I mean Cindy, and her fiancee Dave (secretly we are hoping they fly the whole family to Hawaii for the wedding). He's a great guy and we are very happy she found him:

Here is my SIL and BIL; Shari and Corey and our niece Macy: Here are Mike with our nephews and nieces, from left to right: Brock, Zach, Payton, and Mike with Connor.

And the littlest one, Jake. Smartest two year old I know. Seriously.

Noah and Connor opening stockings: MN Twins pencils....huge hit!Mike and I. You might have noticed my whole family was wearing purple with pride. Unfortunately, it didn't help. The Vikes lost today. We need a Chicago loss tomorrow night, or a win against the Giants next week. Mike and Noah are going to that game. Noah's first Vikings game!

Super cold weather here with lots of snow and blowing. Makes for a long week. We still have two days left of school this week so it will be pretty miserable. Welcome to Minnesota.

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

LB

Heide Christmas

Note to bloggers: If you have not seen my post before this one: check it out. Fun little game.

The Heide Christmas was yesterday and my pants declare it was a whopping good time. The usual suspects were there; ham, cheesy potatoes, homemade baked beans, homemade coleslaw, pie, cheesecake...just to name a few. Oh, and people came too!

Here is my lovely nephew Michael and his girlfriend Lauren (who was SO SWEET and very nice to my children that would not leave her alone. Michael needs to keep her)

This is my almost-graduated-from-University-of-WI-Eau-Claire niece Devon, and her great boyfriend Justin. We teased him that his punch card is all used up and he's no longer a guest. We also tease him about his love for the poopy Packers (who are basically out of the play-off picture. I'm just sayin')......poor, poor boy.

Here is my mom, the one who planned and created the feast that caused my love handles to jiggle with glee:

Nephew Matthew and Connor:

And my dad enjoying his new leather gloves:

This is my sister Lisa and my nephew Mitch.

Here is my SIL Tracy and my nephew Calvin opening presents:

This is my nephew Cameron and he was not feeling well this Christmas:

We played numerous games of charades which turned out to be quite humorus. The songs Thriller and Baby Got Back made for amusing reenactments. Here is Noah trying his luck with "Dukes of Hazzard":

I do not have picture of my brother Rick, who came later or my sister Carrie that worked and had to come later too. But, a good time was had by all. So much fun in fact, we went back to my parents for lunch today! Ha! This body should be stocked for the week now.

Enjoy your Sunday,

LB

PictureTag

The object of the picture tag is to:

1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer

2) Select the 4th picture in the folder

3) Explain the picture

4) Tag 4 people to do the same NO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)

Here is mine:

It's Connor on his birthday last year opening presents. He had teeth then. Now he has this:

What a difference a year makes! Do you like that under bite? He is an orthodontist's dream.

Happy Sunday!

LB

Do you hear bells?

Greetings,

Noah had his winter concert this week. He is famous for not telling me a single thing about what goes on at school (all boy that way, and I am surrounded by them), so I was shocked when he actually told me he was playing an instrument during one song. What he neglected to tell me is that he was playing with HER:

This is my good friend's daughter. Secretly, we hope to be in-laws one day and encourage the two of them to experience all life has to offer together...in a 3rd grade kind of way (jeez, people). This girl could not be sweeter and if EVERYONE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA hadn't come to this concert, I would have had closer shots. But still quite cute, don't you agree? Can't you see that picture on the front of their wedding invitation? *sigh*

The Heide Christmas is tomorrow. Check back for that update later. I am going to try and take pics of each family...you should see each group scatter when I make that announcement. If they won't cooperate, I am posting this picture and telling everyone it's my family:

Enjoy the weekend,

LB

The holiday season can now begin

We got a ton accomplished this weekend! Shopping is 99% done, tree is up and decorated (that happened last weekend, actually), house is decked out, presents are wrapped, and Christmas cards are addressed and ready to be sent (thank you husband!). And all of this while coughing, coughing, coughing (that would be me), doing load of laundry after load of laundry, AND watching the Vikings beat the Lions.

Here is the tree: (Shout-out to Bud's Tree Farm in Clarks Grove. We have gone there to cut down our tree every year since we have been together).

Here is the mantel:

Tonight I think I will partake in pizza, a glass of wine, and THIS:

After all, I have earned it.

Oh, and I wanted to add that the coughing that I am being racked with currently, is all due to me staying up super late on Wednesday night to see this:

I went with my mom. It was my second time. If you ever get a chance to go, you have to! Awesome, awesome show.

Have a great week everyone!

LB

Masters, Straight Teeth, and Blog

I set simple goals. I am not good with disappointment, and I am too realistic for my own good. This is why my long term goals have been quite simple:

• Get my teeth straightened
• Get my masters degree in education
• Start a blog about my family

The first two on that list have been accomplished. And I am finally starting the third one....today! This is my first blog post. Unreal. So far, I think I am going to like it. This blog will make up for where my scrapbooking talents lack. It will be a historical journey for my kids to read someday. I would have loved it if my mom had done this and I was able to look back at pictures and posts about my life as a kid. I hope they appreciate it and value it when they grow up. Plus, I needed a place to post their beautiful faces...... Stick with me, see what happens, enjoy the ride. Lee Anne