Why we love Grandma T

Being Grandma T's birthday week I thought I'd do a top 5 reasons we love her!

5. She has a song to sing for anything and everything.

4. I have never seen anyone get so excited to give the kids baths!

3. She has a way to put her creative touch on everything.

2. We always know that after being up north for the weekend we will not come home hungry.

1. Her heart is huge and we are so lucky to be in it!

Happy Birthday Week Grandma! We love you

Family, Friends & lots of swimming!

We are getting spoiled! I couldn't be happier than to have our weekends filled with friends and family here with us. This weekend we got to spend Friday with the Peck family. It was only supposed to be a short visit, but we got the good end of the deal when their plans changed & we got to spend Friday night with them at their hotel for pizza and swimming. Here is Miss Kreighton - she is fearless!

and Jack got braver and braver with his dad's help.

Then we got to spend time with Uncle Brian, Aunt Allie, Reese, Grandma and Grandpa.

More swimming pool fun of course.

Every time we see Reese Jack and her have more and more fun with each other. I think she is going to be the talker in the family - that girl has a lot to say and wants to make sure everyone hears her!!!! We love it. Here they are trying to dig into the Miller Lite (I guess since it was Super Bowl Sunday they thought a Sunday morning beer would be ok...)

And last night we got to enjoy the Super Bowl with Jamie, Amanda, Elijah and Colin. Couldn't really tell you much about the game, but we had a great time with yummy food & lots of playing. Thanks everyone for such a great weekend!

Uncle Brian & Aunt Tami visit

Last weekend Lauren got to meet her Uncle Brian and Aunt Tami it was so great to hang out with them. Jack got spoiled by Uncle Brian - he read books to him all weekend! And Aunt Tami got lots of snuggle time in with Lauren. We love having them here!

And on Tuesday Lauren turned 3 weeks. She is more alert every day (hard not to be as her brother is screaming in her ear...) On Thursday Jack went to Jodi's for the day - so of course Lauren and I had to squeeze in a little photo session. Here are some pics - more of course on our photo gallery http://gallery.me.com/allison.tetzlaff

(1.10 & 2.10 folders).

Jack had a great day at Jodi's and was so proud when I brought Lauren in to pick him up. He had to show her off to all his friends. It melted my heart to see him so excited and proud - repeating baby and pointing over and over until everyone had come over to see his new little sister.

Friday Funness!

Well, we survived our first week on our own! There were moments I wasn't sure were were going to make it, but it is Friday... both kids are sleeping and life is good! After being cooped up in the house for the past couple of days bc it is frigid - we headed to the zoo for the morning. Jack LOVED the fish and all the kids - we even got to watch the diver feed the fish.

Lauren is 2 weeks old and doing great! I actually felt refreshed this morning - she usually wakes up at 12 & 4. She and her brother have both been sleeping until 8 (so of course Curt and I have been too!)

Jack may be getting just a little bit spoiled this week - but boy does licking the brownie spatula keep him happy and entertained for a good 30 minutes....

He has been an amazing big brother (I'm sure that will all change & the excitement of his little sister will wear off), but right now he is loving her. She is no longer 'mimi' she is now 'baby' and he asks for her the minute he wakes up. He used to ask for Maddie, but I think she has been replaced - poor Mad Dog. Maybe soon we can start calling her Lauren or she may forever be baby...

Happy Friday!

The 10 Things That Make Me Happy...

I have been inspired by Kelly to post something besides pictures of kids... Here it goes the 10 things that make me happy!

1 - Family - hands down the #1 thing that makes me happy. I couldn't be more blessed. Two beautiful children inside and out, a wonderful husband that keeps me on my toes, parents that are my role models, brothers, a sister in law, a niece and inlaws that mean the world to me. There is nothing I'd rather do then spend time with you all.

2 - Flowers - they are purely simple and beautiful and bring an instant smile to my face.

3 - Friends - new and old I know I know you are always there for me.

4 - Alcohol - just one glass or maybe two whether it be wine, a bottle of beer or a margarita I do not care. There is just something about sitting down, kicking up my feet and having a drink that is relaxing.

5 - Baths - relaxation at it's finest (door must be closed and kids out of sight!)

6 - A nice warm drink on a cold winter day while reading the newspaper.

7 - Cooking and Baking - baking makes me feel like a kid again - this was one of my favorite things to do growing up. Now I love cooking - the thrill of trying a new recipe is so much fun!

8 - Photography - I have always enjoyed taking pictures, but I found a passion for it when Jackson was born. I couldn't ask for better inspiration than Jack and Lauren. Children are so precious and through pictures you are able to catch some of those memories that will stick with you forever.

9 - Exercise - a walk, yoga, a jog, simply stretching - again it does not matter they all make me happy.

10 - Being home with my kiddos - though there are days (this week) that I may appear a bit crabby and don't seem to be real happy about spending all day with them - I really do love it and am thankful to be able to spend this time with them. Let me just say that #1, 3, 4, 5 & 9 all help to make #10 more enjoyable!

1 Week... I think they like her

A week behind of course... but here is Lauren at 1 week. I think she has officially won over both Jackson and Maddie! This little girl is constantly getting hugs and kisses from her brother and dog.. and mom and dad.. and for the past 2 weeks her grandmas have both gotten lots of snuggle time in with her. We are loving every minute with her!

Today is Lauren's 2 week birthday! We are going to take her out for lunch with Jamie (sounds like a good excuse for a lunch date!)

Our New Bundle!

Our new bundle of joy Lauren Kathryn joined us on Tuesday January 12, 2010 @ 5:50. We couldn't be happier to have her here. She is 3 days old & we couldn't imagine life without her. As I write this we lay on the couch and snuggle, how perfect since Jack is way to busy to snuggle with his mom any more! Here are a few pics from our first days in the hospital.

Lauren has her daddy wrapped around her finger already!

and has stole my heart...

We are all dressed and ready to take our new addition home.

We love you Lauren Kathryn and are so blessed to have you join our family!