Kitchen!

Dear Amelia and Max -
After 2 months of construction...our kitchen is just about done!!!! We are in LOVE with it!!! Thank you so much to Daddy, Cookie and Aldo who worked hard...I mean, REALLY hard on our favorite new room in the house. Thank you to Glamma for helping babysit while the boys worked hard. Thank you everyone for not making me do any work :)

Amelia, you love to say "My kitchen is SO beautiful!"

OLD KITCHEN

 NEW KITCHEN - Sorry the picture dark. But you get the point. We knocked down a wall, got new cabinets, new floor, new countertop and backsplash :)

Love,
Mom

Stitches!

Dear Amelia and Max -

Well, we learned the hard way...boys will be boys. And for the record, boys are MUCH different than girls. 

As some of you know, we are remodeling our kitchen. Major construction going on at the Dirks' house. Walls have been torn down, cabinets have been removed, floors have been ripped up. We are makin some serious progress thanks to Daddy, Cookie and Aldo. Aldo is trying to get a reality show off of this...good luck Alex.

Anyway, I was at work on Monday and Daddy called...all I could hear was poor Max screaming in the background. Daddy said something like "Max fell down and is bleeding, he needs to go to the doctor." I was out the door in 2 second flat and home in record time. We all headed to Urgent Care. After waiting there for over 2 hours, they said we needed to go to the ER. Ugh. We waited there for 2 hours as well and finally got 4 little stitches into my little mans finger. 

 Such a brave little dude

 Hey Handsome!

Hopefully there will be no scaring but 3 out of the 4 stitches have come out. Kind of hard to keep your little fingers out of your mouth, huh Max?

Love,

Mom

Max 9 Month Appointment

Dear Amelia and Max -

The little buddy turned 9 months last Monday!! Today we had your 9 month appointment!

Here are the 6 month stats:

Weight: 18 pounds 12 oz - 61%Length: 27.5" - 73%Head: 17.75" - 77%

Here are the 9 month stats:

Weight: 20 pounds 10 oz - 50%

Length:29.75" - 90%

Head: 18.5"- 90%

Everyone seems to think you are a little chunker when you really aren't...tall and skinny. You probably got that from me ;)

Love,

Mom

Christmas 2012

Dear Amelia and Max - 

I can't believe how fast Christmas snuck up on us! We visited Santa at Ridgedale (I think Santa had been sippin on some adults bevies)

 On Christmas Eve, we headed over to Glamma and Cookies to open presents.

We caught Santa in the backyard. Again, I think he had too many adult bevies! 

 After we opened presents, we drove around looking at Christmas lights.

I thought I heard something in the middle of the night and sure enough, Santa made it to our house...

 while the two of you were sound asleep!

 We woke up at the crack of dawn to open presents!
Santa brought you a wagon, hula hoop, clothes, dance clothes and toys!

 We headed over to Kiki's to celebrate with the Dirks and Soukups! And then back over to Glamma and Cookies to celebrate with the Grade's and SANTA AGAIN!

Love,
Mom

Amelia's Talents

Dear Amelia and Max -
Here are some of my excuses for my lack of blogging:

Swimming lessons every Monday! 

Dance Classes every Wednesday!

Videos from the Holiday show!

Love,

Mom

Max's Talents

Dear Amelia and Max -
Max has many talents, number one is being the best baby in the whole wide world.

Here are his other talents:

Peek-a-boo

Saying Momma (working on Dada)

Waving

Love,
Mom

Thanksgiving 2012

Dear Amelia and Max -

Our Thanksgiving started the Saturday before. We headed over to Aubby, Doodie and Emery's for Thanksgiving with Papa Jim! 

On actual Thanksgiving, Max and I headed to Minnetonka High School to participate in the Turkey Trot! It was a beautiful day, I didn't even wear a jacket! 

 Then we went over to Glamma and Cookies for Colehour Thanksgiving where we did a little skyping with the Stephens!

I am so Thankful for you two, it isn't even funny! Daddy too :)

Love,
Mom

Amelia + Jaxy, VA style

Dear Amelia and Max -

On November 9th, Amelia - I dropped off you and Cookie to head to Virginia to visit Billy, Pam and Jackson. Glamma was doing some business travel so she just met you there. I dropped you guys off very early and shed a little tear watching my big girl head off without her Mommy or Daddy. 

 You and Jaxy have such a special relationship, you love each other so much - its the cutest thing EVER!

 You didn't even miss us but we sure missed you!

Daddy, Max and I didn't do much of anything...just took cute pictures of Max!

Love,

Mom

Crawling

Dear Amelia and Max -
I think we have a crawler on our hands!

Love,
Mom

A couple of Max Firsts!

Dear Amelia and Max -

Poor Max has had his first sickness. It all started on a Saturday night and you didn't get better until Thursday! Poor baby.

You still enjoyed giggling at your sister

During the 5 day flu, you also got your first tooth!!! You are back to Happy Max now, welcome back :)

Love,
Mom

Halloween 2012

Dear Amelia and Max -

The Sunday before Halloween, we headed out to the pumpkin patch and in typical Dirks' fashion...picked out 2 pumpkins in 3 minutes. We did take time to snap a quick pic.

 Which came first - Cinderella or the Chicken? Equally as cute!

 Amelia, you really enjoyed yourself this year and even wanted to go up to some doors by yourself!

Love,

Mom

Amelia is 4!

Dear Amelia -

On October 30th, 2008 at 840am, you were born into this wonderful world. Our lives have never been the same. You are a girly girl through and through. I adore you and so does everyone you meet. There is a never dull moment with you. You are my precious girl, I love you like crazy!

The weekend before your birthday, we headed to a water park and slept at a hotel! So much fun! 

On your actual birthday, you woke up with a smile on your face and were ready for your big day! You went to Cathy's like normal but celebrated with your friends. 

 After daycare/work, we met Glamma, Flossy and Aldo at Red Robin! You enjoyed some ice cream on the house!

 After dinner, we headed home to open some more presents!

You had a wonderful 4th birthday! Happy birthday pretty girl!

PS - You asked me this morning when you can start driving. Slow down there girl.

Love,

Mom

Like mother, like daughter

Dear Amelia and Max -
Sometimes Amelia, its scary how much you are like me.

Love,
Mom

6 month & 4 year check up!

Dear Amelia and Max -

You both had a doctors appointment yesterday for your Well Child visits.

Max was first! Everything checked out, healthy and happy baby!

Here are the 4 month stats:

Weight: 16 pounds 6 oz - 61%

Length: 26.5" - 80%

Head: 17" - 57%

Here are the 6 month stats:

Weight: 18 pounds 12 oz - 61%

Length: 27.5" - 73%

Head: 17.75" - 77% (This sucker keeps growing!!!)

And then it was time for the pretty girl!

First you got your eyes and ears checked - All good! You passed your Child Development test with flying colors!

Here are your stats:

Weight: 35 pounds 12 ounces - 60%

Length: 3' 4.25" - 66%

And for your viewing pleasure, a video of my perfect children laughing together.

Love,
Mom

Amelia is SOOO funny

Dear Amelia and Max -

Max, usually you go straight to bed. As a matter of fact, we laugh almost every night over your excitement at bed time. You LOVE your crib! Last night, you were whining a little bit so Amelia decided she wanted to check on you.

Through the monitor, I could hear the two of you. At first I thought it was crying until Amelia came running out saying "Mommy. Max is laughing" so I had to check it out. 

I've never heard you laugh so hard. 

Amelia would throw the stuff animals in your crib and you would crack up. Even close your little baby eyes cuz it was so funny. Made my whole day!

Love,
Mom

Weddings!

Dear Amelia and Max -

This summer has been filled with weddings!! The last 2 weekends have not disappointed!

I headed down to Kansas City on Saturday the 15th bright and early. You guys had a sleepover at Kiki's house. When I arrived, I went over to Lizzies and out to brunch with her. She has lived there for awhile after graduation from KU so it was fun to catch up! 

I met Glamma, Cookie, Robin and Emo at the Plaza in KC. Didn't spend any money but its such a fun shopping experience! 

Then it was wedding time. The wedding location was the coolest venue I've ever seen! Shannon married Nate in front of a beautiful pond and then on to the reception in a restored barn! 

The Minnesota Gang won the fun contest!! Duh :)

 Last weekend, Glamma and I went to Kella's wedding to Bryan. Glamma and Karen worked together back in the day. Kella and I were childhood friends. The wedding was lots and lots of fun!!

 I bet you are wondering why Daddy isn't in any of these pics? I gave him the option of coming along but he doesn't really care for weddings. He cramps my dancing style anyway...hehe...he hates to dance!

I missed you guys like crazy!!

Love,

Mom

Swimming Lessons

Dear Amelia and Max -

Amelia, you had swimming lessons yesterday. Remember your first swimming lessons? You LOVED it this time. You said your favorite part was going under and floating on your back! 

Love,
Mom

Colton & Owen's bday and a Vikings Win!

Dear Amelia and Max -

On Saturday, we made the trip up to Albany, MN for Owen (7) and Colton's (3) birthday party! They had a bounce house...Amelia loved it! Max, you were perfect as usual. 

On Sunday, Daddy headed to the Vikings Game with Aldo and Cookie while we stayed home and the two of you looked ADORBS!!!

 AND THE VIKINGS WON!!! SKOL!!

Love,
Mom

Nickelodeon Universe!

Dear Amelia and Max -

Monday we decided since it was Labor Day, we wanted to do something fun. We gave you a few options but decided on going to the Mall of America!

First, we started on the Log Chute.

You were all smiles as the ride started...by the time the big slope came up, you were straight up scared. I had to crop myself out of the pic because I looked equally as scared, as an adult...its not as cute.

 

 Daddy took you on a few rides, you had so much fun!!

 Max, you had fun too!! Look at your hair coming in! :)

 Maybe we'll start a new tradition!!

Love,
Mom