The pictures:::::Christmas day

                                        Enjoying his first Christmas morning!

                                                      Slightly excited!

                                               Checking out all the goods

 I wish I could say this is his "morning hair", but this is pretty much how it always looks :)

                                      Trying his own technique at opening gifts

The pictures::::Christmas Eve

                     Matching jammies!!!! Do you think they will eventually get too old for this???  ;)

                                              Tyson opening his first present

                                                Kayden opening his jammies

                                                   Tyler opening his jammies. 
He has no clothes on because we had to put him in the bathtub after supper (a pretty regulary occurance)

A little catch-up

Without boring you with all the details, I will just tell you we had an awesome Christmas.  We were very busy, running here and there, but we made it to all of the places we were supposed to be.  We were blessed to spend time with all of our families, immediate and extended.  We have one last celebration with Mike's mom's family this Sunday. 
We took Kayden to church on Christmas Eve, and left Tyler and Tyson with my parents.  He did really well for the first half hour (before Mass even started), and then he fell asleep ;)  We got to church early, knowing it would be packed, but by the time we got there, the actual church was already full, and we had to sit in the "gathering area".  Sitting out there is fine, it's just not very church-ish. 


It was so fun to watch the boys, especially Kayden opening presents.  He's really starting to "get" the whole Christmas/Santa thing.  He was so excited about all of his presents and loves to show them off.  When people asked what Santa brought, he'd tell them, "You just have to come to my house and see, there's too much to tell you!"  I WILL post pictures eventually, as my camera issues continue. 

Monday I kept the boys home, and Morgan and Amazih came over so that I could take Tyson to the clinic---again---yes, another ear infection.  I decided to take him in, because he had been sleeping worse than ever!  I was really hesitant to take him in, and I couldn't get an appointment with his doctor (or any other doctor for that matter), so I took him to the walk-in clinic, and I am so glad I did.  He's back on ear drops and an anti-biotic.  The doctor that we saw suggested that we wait a few days for the meds to take care of things, and then we need to let him cry at night.  So, we will.  This has been my plan for a long time, but it's really hard to find two or three nights in a row where I can let him cry, especially since he'll wake up Kayden and Tyler.  We'll see how this all works out. 


Yesterday (Tuesday), the boys went to daycare, and Amazih and I had a shopping day.  She had some gift cards to burn, and I had a couple returns to make, we shopped, had lunch, and headed home in time for my dad to pick her up since she had a basketball game. 
At the last minute, I decided that we'd go to her game too.  So, my mom and dad picked up the boys at daycare, then picked me up, and Mike met us at the gym.  Things with all three boys went a little better this time.  I wonder if we'll ever get Tyler to sit semi-still to watch the games???  Dumb question, I know. 

Today (Wednesday), I took the boys to daycare and I am supposed to be crossing things off my ever-expanding "to-do" list.  Instead, I sit here writing. 

Traditions. Some new. Some old.

As our boys get older, I've started to put a little more thought into our Christmas/holiday traditions. There are some, I have carried over from when I was younger, and there are others that we've started or will start with our boys.  

One of the traditions that has carried over from my youth, is opening one present on Christmas Eve, and it's ALWAYS a pair of brand new jammies!  The boys are too young to realize it yet, but soon enough, they'll see the pattern ;)

Some that we've started more recently, include: 

• Baking cookies with Grammy (baking cookies, making a mess, whatever you wanna call it)
• Gingerbread houses.  This is something we did for the first time this year, and it was fairly successful, so I think it might be something we continue.  
• Decorating our tree.  This year, Kayden and I did most of the tree decorating.  I let him put the ornaments where ever he wanted, and that's where they stayed.  
• Caramel rolls on Christmas morning ::something I'm going to attempt this year, for the first time::
• Cutting our own Christmas tree.  We have had an artificial tree up until this year.  

I love that my boys are getting old enough to start some of these fun things.  Hopefully they'll be things they look forward to each year.   

Look here for more holiday traditions:  The Bonjour Family

Here we go!

This is a snapshot of what our Christmas weekend will look like--assuming everything goes as planned =)

Thursday:  

I am off, so the boys and I will stay home, wrap presents, clean, nap, pack things for the weekend and bake our birthday cake for Jesus.  ::I'm not sure why I even put anything on my list for Thursday other than disciplining kids, changing diapers and making lunch and snacks.  We all know that's probably all that I will accomplish, but I can hope, right? ::

Thursday night I work at the bowling alley.  I'm actually kind of looking forward to working on a night, when I don't have to get up early the next day for work. 

Friday:

Mike and I are both off on Friday.  He wants to go fishing or hunting, or do some other manly thing in the morning, but I'm working on talking him out of it.  I feel like, if I'm going to be working late on Thursday night, I might want to sleep until 8:00 or so on Friday.  If he is gone fishing or whatever he plans on doing, he'll leave early in the morning, which will wake the kids up, which will make for one-cranky-mama!

Friday afternoon, we plan on taking the boys sledding at the high school in Albany.  They have a huge hill, and I haven't been there in forever, and I know the boys will love it, plus, it will be a good workout for me;)

Friday evening the plan is for Mike and Kayden and I to go to church, and Tyler and Tyson will stay at my moms.  I'm just not up for the challenge of taking all three to such a crowded Mass.  After church, we'll have supper at my mom's and birthday cake for Jesus. The boys will each get to open one present (pajamas for each), and then if all goes well, they'll all three fall asleep on the way home.  

Saturday:

Saturday morning,we'll be at home. The boys will have time to open presents, play for a while, have caramel rolls for breakfast, then get ready for the day.  We'll head to my mom's in time for lunch, and we'll celebrate Christmas there with my family.  

Saturday evening,we have the Frericks family Christmas, which, conveniently is going to be in Albany this year!  Then, we'll either head back to my mom's or Mike's parents to spend the night. 

Sunday:

We'll head to Mike's parents' house on Sunday to celebrate with his family.  We'll have lunch there, open presents, etc, then head back to my mom's for Christmas with her family.  

By Sunday night, everyone should be good and exhausted.  I'm thinking I'll keep the  boys home on Monday so that they can have some time to finally try out all their new goods, while I try to find homes for everything. 

Things will be crazy-busy, but as long as everyone stays healthy, and we get sufficient sleep (haha), things should go fine.

My little barometers!

There is a snow storm moving through Minnesota today.  I knew this already yesterday.  Not because Chris Shafer (the weatherman) told me, but because my kids were N-U-T-S!  They were bouncing off the walls.  It only got worse as the day went on.  By supper time they were jumping on everything and everyone.  Throwing things, yelling, crying, giggling, running, just nuts. 

So, I finally got them all bathed and in bed last night, up and off to daycare today, and I came to school to spend the day with my 16 other little barometers.  I tell you,these kids are much better at predicting the weather than any meteorologist.  The weather, combined with the excitement of Christmas being just days away, might just send me over the edge!!!!

Proof that Santa IS watching!

Santa sent Kayden an email!  You can see it here.  It is so fun!  It was REALLY easy to make.  I made one for Tyler too, and even Amazih got one (she was on "naughty watch"), which made Kayden really think.  I highly recommend making one for you young-ins!!!

Christmas Letter

I had trouble deciding whether or not I should include a "Christmas Letter" with our Christmas card this year.   In the end, I decided to skip the letter for this year.  Mostly because it is December 14th, and I don't even have my cards addressed yet, and because it took me about 100 attempts at getting a picture of my boys and I was still unsuccessful, so I ended up using their JCPenney picture (if I end up in the slammer for this, please say that you'll come visit me).  Anywho--we're sending just the photo card, no letter.  BUT----
If I would have written a Christmas letter, this is what it might have said:

The past year has been an interesting one in the Frericks household.  Life has been VERY busy.  We put our house up for sale last December.  We bought land from my parents and will eventually build a new house there.  We aren't in any real hurry to move, we just want to be moved in time for Kayden to go to Kindergarten in the Albany district. 

Mike is still working at St. Cloud Refrigeration, where he's been since college.  They keep him busy, and they treat him well. 

I am in my 3rd, and probably final year teaching 4th grade at St. Mary's School in Melrose.  I spent my summer months working part-time at Kids Company, and more recently went back to working every-other Thursday night at the Albany Bowling Center.  With our busy work schedules, we thank God for our wonderful daycare and very helpful parents and siblings.

Our boys keep us busy every day.   

Kayden turned three in February.  He is an excellent big brother and usually, a HUGE help to me!  He spends his days playing dinosaurs, building, climbing, throwing, running, riding, shooting, chasing....you know--boy stuff.  

He goes to pre-school on Monday evenings and loves it.  He loves to tell people that he goes to school.  

Tyler is our BUSY toddler.  He has really changed over the past year.  He went from being our baby, to a walking, talking, running, throwing, wrestling, cuddly, tornado of a toddler who really needs his first haircut.  He is a completely different kid than Kayden, but he is SO fun!  He really keeps us on our toes. 

Our littlest present from God joined our family in April.  7 pound, 9 ounce baby Tyson John was born on April 20th.  Yes, that makes him and Tyler just 11 months apart (insert your comment here--we've heard it all) ::okay, maybe I wouldn't include that last, kinda snotty part in my Christmas letter if I were sending a real one::  He is a healthy, happy baby, and fits perfectly in our little family.  He just recently had tubes put in his ears because of recurrent ear infections.  Now, if we could just get him to sleep at night....

As you would assume, our lives are busy.  We are extremely blessed to have our very helpful families so close to us, and for them to always be willing to help us out when we need it.  

We look forward to 2011 and the many things that will surely come with it.  Challenges, life changes(this does not include babies), milestones, family time--the list goes on. 

Wishing you all a blessed holiday season, 
The Frericks Family:  Mike, Sarah, Kayden, Tyler, Tyson and Maya (the dog). 

Traditions

As my boys get older, we are forming a few traditions.  It seems like we add a few things each year.  This weekend consisted of a few.  

*Saturday I had a day of shopping (and bonding) with my mom, Amy, my aunt Ruth, and my two cousins Holli and Tammy.  (Amazih would have joined us, but decided to work at a basketball tournament to make money instead).  We spent the day shopping in the cities.  We first hit up the General Store in Minnetonka, then headed to Eden Prairie Center.  We had lots of fun, laughs, and I actually got LOTS of Christmas shopping done.  I'm VERY close to being done!  Mike was on call (again) this weekend, so the boys spent the day at Grandma Doris' house with Rhonda and Grandma and Grandpa.  

*Sunday the boys and I headed to my mom's to do some Christmas baking.  We met Amy there, and we worked hard and made a HUGE mess!  Kayden loved it. He brought his tractor apron form home and by the time we were done, he was covered in powdered sugar, flour, chocolate, etc. from head to toe!  

*Sunday night St. Nick made a stop at our house while the boys were sleeping.  This was the first time since Kayden was born (I think)---mostly, because I have always forgotten about it. I actually kinda forgot about it this time too, so after they were in bed, I ran to the basement and grabbed a few little things out of the Christmas stash.  Kayden loved that there was a surprise in his shoes this morning, Tyler was just excited that  there was fruit snacks there.  He didn't care where they came from, who put them there, or why the heck they were in his shoes, he just wanted them open, NOW!!! 

Less than 1 week away!

BLACK FRIDAY!  I used to think those women who went shopping at 6:00, 5:00, even 4:00 a.m were absolutely crazy.  I still think they're crazy.  They only difference?  I've become one of them.  For the past two years, I have gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving with my two cousins and my brother's girlfriend.  We haven't gone super early, but this year, we're thinking about going earlier than we have in the past.  I have started to at least think about Christmas shopping, but I haven't bought much.  The main reason---I'm afraid I'll buy something, and then find it cheaper on Black Friday.  Dumb, I know.  Here are a few things I'll be looking for this year:

-Movies at Target.  They always have lots for $5 or even $3.  

-MobiGo games.  Kayden is getting a MobiGo from Pat and Leah (his godparents) for Christmas.  I believe the frappis(a word invented by Mike's uncle Baylen) comes with one game, but if I find them cheap, I'd like to get an extra one or two for Kayden's birthday in February.  

-One of these things.  Don't tell my husband.  He'll say it's dumb and pointless, but I want one.  You can fill it with those little balls, and it becomes a ball pit too.  My plan is to put it in the basement, and start sending some of the chaos and mess down there. 

-A DVD player for the in-laws. They still have just a VHS, and we're sick of having to bring a DVD player when we go there in order to be able to entertain the kids with movies.  

My list will grow in the next week, and I plan to head to St. Cloud on Wednesday (my day off) without kiddos to get a jump start on a few things.  

Happy Shopping! 

It's coming....

The holidays are quickly approaching. Tomorrow is my birthday, Sunday is Halloween, then deer hunting, then Thanksgiving, and then it's Christmas. I've been starting to think about what I'll get the boys for Christmas. This is a struggle for me in many ways.
1. I like to shop. I tend to go a little overboard when it comes to my kids at Christmas time.
2. We don't have the funds to support my love of shopping.
3. The boys don't NEED much. Especially Tyler and Tyson( although I do want a Sophie the Giraffe for him). We have plenty of toys for kids their age. Remember, I have a shopping addiction, so I bought all of those things when Kayden was their age.
4. I want my kids to remember what this season is really about. Not that it is all about getting presents and eating. I haven't done a very good job of this in the past--although Kayden was a little young to understand. This year though, that is my goal.
There has been discussion with my family of my parents, rather than getting everyone lots of presents, that they would take us all to a waterpark type place for a weekend. I am loving this idea. I'm starting to realize that my kids need experiences more than they need things. Hopefully this will be the route we go this year.
Another thing I've been struggling with this year is our Christmas card. In the past, I've just sent out the typical photocard. This year, I'm considering a letter. Do I have enough to write about? Do people want to read about what has happened in the past year with our family? Maybe I should just send the regular photocard, and sign it with our blog address =)
The other thing that becomes a struggle almost every year is scheduling time to be with each of our families. Now that some of us are married, others have boyfriends/girlfriends,work schedules, etc. it often becomes difficult to find a time that we are able to get together. My dad had to work on Christmas day last year, and he does again this year. It'll be interesting. It always works out though....