A Grand Slam

Such a goof ball!


On the pond with the boys

We spent countless hours(yes, hours and hours!!) watching the Australian Open over the past 2 weeks and it all was worth it when Sunday morning we witnessed Novak Djokovic win it all. Amazing tennis, awesome atmosphere and best of all, his name rocks! It was 2 years ago this spring, while watching the French Open, we discovered and fell in love with the name Novak. And now we have one :)

Speaking of Novak, I finally took him in for his 18 month check and he's right on schedule.

Weight : 24.7 (25%)

Height : 33in. (50%)

All else went great. He is changing so much and it's been amazing to do this again, for a third time, and still revel in every milestone!

On a side note, my parents SkateAThon was a HUGE success this past weekend raising over $40,000!! We participated by taking pictues to post in the 'Skate Across the States' section and I also did an hour of skating here at 6am Saturday morning. Such a fun, inspiring, incredible event. Hope you can make it next year!!!

"They look like Lightsabars!!"

In the bear's den.

Last week we went to the Aquarium to celebrate

our friend Rhea's birthday. Novak gave her that

"love" puppy-awww!

With nothing too exciting going on here recently(I'm a bit thankful for that!) there isn't much to blog about. I guess I'll give you a quick run down on the boys.

Connor is still very inquisitive, asking intellegent questions all day long. He and Liam are in love with all things Star Wars since they watched the movies last week with Dan. They play Luke, Darth Vadar, storm troopers and R2D2 all the live long day! He is also beginning to read. We bought some of the "early reader" books and have a day by day lessons book that helps him learn the sounds of letters and how to put them together. Very exciting!! He still enjoys school 3 half days a week...we have yet to go a week or two without a color change(figures!). He recently passed into the second level at skating class and can't wait to "get paid to play hockey so I don't have to work all day"(Connor). Ha, daddy's dream!!

We can't believe Liam is only 3! He is such a fun-loving, intense, creative, independent, adventurous kid. He still loves reading and looking at books and now tries to "read" them himself. He walks around with a cape on, breathing and talking like Darth Vadar, demanding we call him "Vadar"! He is doing fantastic in school. Mastered his letters, numbers 1-15, colors, shapes, and he is doing well with writing. The teachers have nothing but praise for him every day and they love having him there. He will graduate to the next class up in March. He idolizes his big brother and does so much of what Connor is doing that we forget he is so much younger. He is also doing great in skating class. He seems more coordinated on skates then Connor was at that age and faster too. Little brotherly competition brewing for the future!

Novak continues to amaze us every day. His vocabulary is through the roof. We understand most words he is saying, "help me", "open", "cracker", "blankie", "juice", "Vadar"(lol, he said that tonight!). He is discovering how to play with toys, like the car garage, on his own. He dumps every toy basket, bin or box out daily(Ugh!!). There isn't much he won't eat but getting him to sit long enough to eat is tough. He wants to be doing just what the older two are doing; running around with a cape on, swinging a lightsabar, crashing cars or working on a puzzle. He adores his little g-friend Rhea, calling her name the whole time they're together. I love the time he and I get alone together, T/Th morings, when we hit the Aquarium, play at friend's houses, take walks or just hang out at home and play. He is growing up way too fast!

Tonight before Connor and Liam jumped in the tub they were both peeing into the toilet at the same time. Liam says, "Daddy, they look like lightsabers!" about their pee streams! LOL...such Star Wars nerds already!!!

OUr CRazY HoLidAY!!

Novak loves this gift from the Doyle's...he points and says Nemo, Dori and Turtle :)

Out on the rink one night

Treats for breakfast Christmas morning

My parents gave the boys a Hockey Guys game...they love it!

Christmas Joy!

Connor really loves to be out there...and Dan can't be happier!

Favorite picture: Birthday morning in Omaha. Cake for breakfast, Probug drinks, Naked Novak, and a bottle of liquor on the counter....but he's SO happy to be 3!!


Cake with cousins(thanks Jenny for making it)...he got a headlamp from my sister and wears it everywhere.

Doing 'knucks with jellyfish' with Uncle Kev

Doyle Birthday party

Connor, Isaac and Myla ride the Polar Express every year together.

The last three weeks will go down in the record books for the Doyles. I'll sum it up to make it quick!

Events:

Christmas shopping(mine and most of my mom's) and preperations

Polar Express train ride

Liam's school birthday party

Liam's family birthday party

Hosting Doyle Christmas

Hockey games and Skating classes

Impromptu 12+ hour drive to Omaha during a blizzard

Wuebben Christmas in Omaha-Cousin party/Liam's Birthday/Haller Christmas party/Skating in the backyard every day

Ailments during all of the above:

Hand Foot Mouth

Strep Throat

Shingles *which brings about the potential for both Novak and Liam to get Chicken Pox!

Pink Eye

Holidays are always memorable and this year was no different...we just hope the latter list doesn't ever happen again! :)

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!

Showing off their new DINO snowshoes...thanks Mays!

Novak in Grandpa Jim's hat

Thanksgiving picture(2 for three ain't bad!)

Gma sent Thanksgiving flowers and inside was a real caterpillar. Novak was mesmerized!
Kids these days: Liam playing Angry birds on my phone and Novak watching Clifford...pathetic!!
House decorated and puppy chow made-mmm!

It's December??

Wow, have things around here been a whirlwind.

~ Connor and Liam have improved tremendously in their skating class. They skate about 3 times a week and can both can skate all alone now!

~ Novak is like a little parrot...repeating everything we say. Just last night I was reading him a book and he pointed to something on every page and said the word-amazing!

~ I assisted with my fourth, and final(for training)!, birth this past week which means I am well on my way to becoming fully certified as a birth doula-Yay!!

~ Uncle Kurt came North last weekend for the annual MN/IA football game. The game was phenomenal...and the Gophers won! He spent 4 days here playing with the boys and watching lots of football. Thanks Kurt(and mostly Cristen!!).

~ Last night with helped celebrate a dear friend's 30th bday. We cruised around in a party bus, bar hopping and dancing the night away. Dan and I also got a dinner date beforehand...so lovely!!

~ Christmas shopping, decorating, holiday festivities....it's all been so fun this year with the boys being so interested in all of it. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a nighlty read and the famous singing Santa is on all day. I love this time of year-CHEERS!!

Gobble, gobble...Ho, Ho, Ho!

Connor and Liam hosted Brady and Isaac for a costume party

Dan was out of town all last week so the boys and I rented lots of movies, ate supper in the basement and slept in!! Novak woke up Monday night with Croup, which lasted three days!, and then finally I took him in Friday morning and he had ear infections(ugh, poor guy!). The other 2 still went to school, Aquarium class and played with friends to keep busy all week. Me, I just needed a mocha here and there and I was just fine :)

Connor got asked to walk in the Christmas City of the North Parade with some friends on Friday night(Dan was supposed to fly in at 6pm but due to some delays he got home late that night). With Connor all dressed up as a penguin, I rushed all three kids downtown to drop him off then took the other 2 to park, dress in warm clothes(it was about 20 degrees with a bitter cold wind chill) and walk the 5 blocks to our spot. Luckily we bounced in and out of a dear friends printing shop to warm up and watch a bit from inside(that saved me!). Connor's group came by almost last but he was ecstatic to see us all cheering for him and calling his name. He walked almost a mile waving, handing out candy and smiling ear to ear. It was cold and a lot of work by myself but I'm so glad Connor did it-so memorable!!

We spent the weekend decorating for Christmas(I know its a bit early but if not now, then when?!) and hanging out with friends. I brought the Nativity up and the boys have been totally enthrawled with it. We discussed who each piece was and why they are there while taking it out of the box. Since then the boys have spent countless hours playing "house" with it. We even had some little friends up on Sunday and all 5 kids gathered around to take part in the action. They have added new people, animals and dinosaurs to the scene but the principle is still there; "this is where baby Jesus was born(Connor telling Liam one morning). "

And as for the decorations, you can call me Martha...Stewart that is! We have been busy painting, cutting, hanging, stringing and pinning new creations all over our home. It's absolutely stunning in here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Time

This is what litte boys wear when their mom forgets their swim trunks...oh well! We still had a fabulous time in the cities with my parents last weekend.

Wearing a larger than life Ducks uniform...he's obsessed!

Who says pumpkins are worthless after Halloween...?

Things around here are all turkeys as we prepare the boys for Thanksgiving. Connor continues to bring home feathered turkeys and what not from school, Liam can identify all the letters in T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G and Novak walks around pointing at and saying "turkey". Now we continue teaching the thankful part of this holiday...

Happy Turkey season!!

Halloween...

Halloween was fantastic. The boys have been wearing their costumes for about 3 weeks so they were very ready to hit the door to door come Halloween. Both boys had Halloween parties at school on Friday. Dan went trick or treating with Connor off-site while Novak and I stayed to carve pumpkins, color scarecrows and eat snacks with Liam's class.

Connor has improved some in his weekly skating class. This week he brought a small hockey stick out on the ice and it was as if a light went off...he was chasing down the ball, shooting and really enjoying himself while skating. Dan takes both of them skating on Wendesday nights and Liam is catching on quick having skated most of the time this week alone!

Novak is big into hockey and football right now. Give him a stick or a football and he's happy :)

We put a bench at the dining table this week which allows all three to eat together-they are pumped!

They are starting to appreciate and enjoy looking through their scrapbooks which I have slaved over since they were born. Makes the memories that much sweeter.