New car and NYC

Dear Amelia -

I've been slackin on the bloggin. Its been a busy week. Since we've been down to one car, Glamma has been carpooling with us to work. We've slept at their house 2 nights in a row. Tonight is your only night at home because tomorrow you are sleeping over there because Mommy is headed to New York City on Friday! Mommy's boss is producing a play on Broadway and they have their first "reading" Friday and he invited me to go! I can't wait. Nicol and Kellee will be jealous to know that he told me he's going to introduce me to some dude from the TV show Lost. I don't watch the show but I already think its cool! Whoopi Goldberg is also a producer so I'm hoping she'll be there too so I can meet her! I leave Friday morning and come back Saturday morning! I'll take tons of pictures. We are staying in Times Square. Yay!

Friday night, you are headed down to Winona for your first camping trip! Cookie rented a 30' motorhome! After Daddy gets home from work Saturday, we will drive down to meet you. We'll watch Awesome Uncle Aldo's football game then head back to the campsite!

Here is a video of you from last weekend dancing. I'm not sure where you learned this awesome dance move but I love it!

Here's a picture of you celebrating a Vikings VICTORY!

We picked up our new 2 door Honda civic today! WOO HOO! It'll be nice to have 2 cars again!

Love,

Mom

Dear Amelia -

Daddy received an email from Uncle Doodie the other day that I would like to share with you...

"It was fun having dinner with the Dirks the other night. I also just wanted to let you and Courtney know you two are really great parents. You are raising Amelia to be an outstanding daughter. Even though she was a little pill at times last night at dinner, you two handled it beautifully. Anyway, I am a proud uncle doodie. Can't wait for Sunday." Wasn't that nice of him? You were a pill the night that he is talking about but we still love you :) This weekend is going to be low key. Daddy is working right now, when he gets home we are going to go to Target. Tonight I'm going out to dinner with Ashley, Brooke and Courtney K to hear all about Brooke and Greg's engagement! Tomorrow is all about FOOTBALL! Go Vikes! Love, Mom

RIP ViVi the Volvo

Dear Amelia -

Daddy went to the Vikings game with Justin on Sunday. They had so much fun. Justin is a co-owner of this wonderful Vikings Motorhome!

Too bad the Vikings lost. They still had a great time.

Well, remember how I said my car died on Saturday morning...she's gone for good. It will cost $3000 to fix and she's not even worth that much. Last night we dropped you off at Meghan and Lyndsey's while we went car shopping. You had so much fun, I think you even have a crush on Lynds' boyfriend Jeremy.

We didn't have any luck finding a car in our price range (lots outside of it)

Love,

Mom

5th Anniversary, Goose and Birthday Party...oh my!

Dear Amelia -

September 17th was Daddy and Mommy's 5th anniversary! Yay! This picture make it feel like it was yesterday. Daddy hates bee's and a bee flew right in between us, lucky for me...Meghan captured the picture!

While running errands at lunch on Friday, I was driving by Ridgedale and noticed a goose on the grass at the side of the road. All of a sudden, it took flight and I thought to myself "That goose looks PISSED!" Next thing I know, that goose HIT the windshield and shattered it. I didn't see where the goose went so I don't know if it lived but it was the craziest thing.

Insurance covered the replacement wind shield 100% that day. Thank goodness because Mommy's car broke down yesterday morning.

Glamma and Cookie watched you while Daddy and I went to dinner on Friday night. I picked you up in the morning and we headed to Colton & Owen's joint birthday parties!

Crazy but fun weekend. Daddy is at the Vikings game (he left the house at 7am.) Pictures for his fun ride to the game to come tomorrow...

Love,

Mom

A TODDLER?

Dear Amelia -

I forwarded this picture to Glamma yesterday and she said you look like a TODDLER. That's scary. I can't believe you are going to be 2 next month.

You are getting some new teeth so you've been snuggly. Your new favorite thing to do is go "nini's" on the couch with your pillow and blankies.

Your paci (you call it a sassy) is going bye bye next month...
Love,

Mom

Daddy is 30. A special note from Kiki

Dear Amelia,
Your daddy was born 30 years ago on the evening of September 13, 1980, in Shakopee, Minnesota, at St. Francis Hospital. He was 2 weeks early. His due date was September 28. I remember that day - it was a beautiful sunny, warm, fall day and we went to the hospital around 2pm after having contractions for a couple of days. I was so excited that it was finally time to find out who your dad was! Papa Jim and I didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl, so when your dad was born, we were both so happy to see that he was a boy!

I remember a crabby nurse telling me that my labor pains couldn't possibly hurt that much, but little did she know, my little boy had a perfectly round, large, solid head that happened to be turned upside down during the whole process and was pressing on my kidneys! I just about tore that nurse's head off...anyways....your Dad came out quietly with just a little whimper, and he has had the same demeanor his whole life. He looked at me with those eyes of his and I fell in love that moment.

Your Dad Ryan, weighed 7# 13oz when he was born. By his one month checkup, he weighed over 12 pounds, true story! The nurse took his sleeper off and weighed him again, then his t-shirt, then his diaper and he still weighed over 12 pounds. They couldn't believe it! He was quite a chow hound, and when I would nurse him in a public place, he made so many slurping noises and hmmmm's and smacked his lips and grunted, that people would be looking at me sideways, probably wondering what in the world I had under that baby blanket!

Your Dad was a pretty serious little fellow. Papa Jim would set him in the palm of his hand and he'd just sit there and look at us with a serious look on his face, or sometimes even a scowl! He seemed much older than his days - so we fondly referred to him as a wise old man in a baby's body. But once he found his smile, it was infectious! What a cutie! And we all know the signature Ryan-giggle! We have fondly called him "Rydie" all these years. His middle name, August, came from Papa Jim, your great grampa Dirks, and your great-great grampa Dirks, and maybe even before that!

Your auntie Jaymi was 2 years old when we brought your daddy home to a little brown house we lived in in Eden Prairie. She though he was pretty cool and liked to help change his diapers, but once the novelty wore off, she bit his 2 middle fingers and left teeth marks! Ouch! But they sure got along great after he got bigger and they could play together.

One more thing, your daddy loved the Dukes of Hazzard tv show. He always called it Dukes IN Hazzard, and the only way he would agree to get potty trained was if we got him the Dukes of Hazzard bright orange race car as a special treat to bribe him. It worked like a charm! He was potty trained by 2 years old and that is very early for a boy! He still has that car today.

You are one lucky little girl to have such a nice daddy. He is so patient and gentle with you, and loves you very much! From that little 7-pounder, he has grown up into a full grown, wonderful man who takes such good care of you and your mom!

Happy Birthday to my boy, and your dad, Ryan. He is so very special!

Love,

Gramma Kiki

My little Twins fan

Dear Amelia -

Wednesday night, Papa Jim took us to Axels in Chanhassen for Daddy and Aubrey's birthdays. You. were. a. nightmare. Before we could finish dinner, I had to bring you out to the car. To your defense, it was a long dinner. But how can you be mad at this face?

Daddy is working today so you and I are going to go shopping for some fall clothes for you. You only have 2 2T shirts.

Owen's 5th birthday was Thursday, I can't believe he is 5 already! Daddy's big 30th birthday is Monday :)

Love,

Mom

Apple Orchard

Dear Amelia -

We had a nice low key weekend. Sunday we went to the Minnetonka Apple Orchard with some of our friends.

When we got home, you had a sleepover at Grandma Kikis!

You are talking more and more every day. Today we pulled up to daycare and Lucus was standing at the door. You pointed to him and said "Cucus!" I thought it was adorable.

Tonight, Papa Jim is taking us out to dinner for Aunty Aubrey and Daddy's birthday!

Love,

Mom

New Boat!

Dear Amelia -

Glamma and Cookie got a new boat so we took it out for the first boat ride on Lake Minnetonka Wednesday. It was a very nice boat and you loved it.

Yesterday was Coltons first birthday. Owen and Colton are having a joint birthday party in a few weeks.

We have another low key weekend. Our only plans are Sunday going to the Apple Orchard with some friends then you are having a sleepover at Grandma Kiki's. Yay!

Love,

Mom

Happy Birthday Lydia!

Dear Amelia -

Monday night we went over to Sarah's to hang out with some of our friends. You and Teegan drank out of your sippys.

Yesterday was LYDIA's birthday! We talked to her after work/daycare yesterday. She had some fun plans for the evening!

You finished your evening with the cutest "I love you" ever.

You love Mommy's new phone because it records/takes pictures from the front so you can look at yourself.

Tonight we went out on Glamma and Cookie's new boat. Its so nice and we had a great time!

Love,

Mom