Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Our little Irish Girls

State of Hockey

Let the tournament begin! The 2009 Minnesota High School State Hockey Tournament began today. Jake's team (Century Panthers) play tomorrow at 1pm. Our cousin Will's team, the Virgina Blue Devils, plays tonight and he is the starting goalie! :) They are in separate classes so won't play against each other but will hopefully get to see each other! Go Panthers! Go Virgina! Jake left today, but Lauryn and Jenna are both sick so we aren't able to attend tomorrow's game. :( Thank Goodness it's televised so we will be cheering for Daddy from home. They are both wearing Navy/White Panther hockey apparel today to send Daddy off and wish his team well!

Century Panther Hockey

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! We just beat Lakeville North and will be going to the state tournament!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to Jake and his team!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see the Panthers at the Xcel Energy Center!!!!!!!!!

Friday afternoon

It's Friday afternoon

I just got home from work

I am greeted by Lauryn, beaming ear to ear

I got dressed all by myself Mommy, she says

My little baby is now dressing her self

growing up so quickly. too quickly.

but I smile and tell her how proud I am of her.

the sun is shining, the temperature is almost 50

beautiful weather for March in Minnesota

let's go for a walk I say

Lauryn jumps in delight and states

You take Jenna in the stroller and I take my baby in my stroller

So another walk to Kwik Trip for a sucker and a banana

Today Jenna is awake for the walk and is just looking around

Lauryn again reminds me to stop and look around

Look at my footsteps Mommy

she says after walking through a puddle

Look at the birdies Mommy, 1.2.3 birdies

Mommy I walking with my baby...just like you Mommy

I am in awe of this little girl..so smart so inquistitive

I am reminded of how important our role as parents really is

I look at Lauryn. I look at Jenna.

I can't believe how fast time is going.

there are days I wish it would slow down

we get to Kwik Trip and Lauryn picks out a purple sucker.

do you want a sucker Mommy? she is always so thoughtful

we are leaving now

Lauryn tells me we are going out the hamburger door
what I ask

we go in the pizza door and out the hamburger door she says

I look at the doors, sure enough,

there are photos of these 2 items on the doors

and I am laughing out loud!

it's the little things, I think

we walk back home, need to get home

to have supper with Jake before he goes to hockey

I find myself looking at the girls again

not wanting to forget anything about them

or any of these moments with them

that's why i blog...it's like a journal for me

i want to remember all of these precious moments

I don't want to take a day for granted...

I am reminded in my line of ICU work that you just never know

I want them to always know and feel just how much I love them

And just how much they teach me too

Thursday

it's Thursday morning

my only day off in this 7 day stretch

it begins at 6am with Lauryn crawling into bed...

I pretend I am asleep in hopes she will cuddle up and sleep more too

she showers me with cuddles and kisses and says, 'let's get up Mommy!'

she knows this is 'her' time because Jenna will sleep for a few more hours

we have our toast together on the couch and watch Dora

later Jenna wakes up and we all decide to go to the playground at the mall

I am backing out of the garage and Max disappears

Where is that damn dog I mutter to myself...or so i think

Max appears and Lauryn replys

There's that damn dog Mommy

Time to watch what I say...

Stop at a few stores at the mall, scoping out the clearance racks

Keeping my eyes open for navy blue...

Jake's hockey team is 1 game away from state-the girls may need Panther apparel to support Daddy and his team

Lauryn has a great time playing on the playground, Jenna loves watching

Lauryn very politely asks for ice cream as we pass Cold Stone

It's almost lunch time, but what the heck, i give in and she is all smiles

blue cotton candy ice cream....with sprinkles
$1.81 and she's absolutely thrilled

we continue the walk to our car...

we see a very young boy walking with a walker

'What's that Mommy?' Lauryn asks

With tears in my eyes I explain he needs help walking and that the walker is his friend

Lauryn accepts but then starts walking with her ankles turned in

I am embarrassed and reminded of my father and I doing that to be funny

it's not funny anymore and I am hope they don't see

Later that afternoon we walk to Kwik Trip

Jenna in the stroller, Lauryn's "baby" in her stroller

Lauryn is glowing because she is pushing a stroller/baby just like me

I am glowing because this is my life

I sometimes ask myself, is this for real?

I wish everyone had a 2 year old to remind them of what's important in life

it's the little things

Lauryn shrieks in delight because she can see the train coming

We get a little bit out of our driveway and i realize I need my purse

I told Lauryn we need to go home to get some money

Why she asks

Because i don't have any, I reply

she looks at me so sweetly and so innocent

I have money in my jar Mommy

My heart melts and I tell her that money is just for her

We get some money and make our way to Kwik Trip

She picks out a ring sucker and life is swell

Jake comes home much later

it's parent teacher conferences

Lauryn is still awake-she often lies in bed, awake

waiting for Daddy to come sing Pooh

She tells Daddy all about our walk to Kwik Trip with our babies

And again, I think...I am so blessed