The New Year

I our house we skip right over New Years Eve and look forward to the biggest and best day in January, which of course is January 4, Lisa's Birthday!  We celebrated by having Chocolate cake and ice cream.  A birthday is just not a birthday without cake and ice cream!  I guess that could be said for just about any occasion.  The Eiden's came over to celebrate with us and enjoy a piece of cake. 

The Cake + Lisa and Fred - Happy Birthday Mommy!

Things did not slow down at all in 2011.  Lisa had to go back to work.  Boo!  At first it was pretty tough having to leave Fred at daycare a few days during the week, but after sometime it got a lot easier.  Fred is goes to Polly's house (a friend and neighbor of ours) three days a week.  It is great because she has a little boy named Roman that is about the same age as Freddy.  They really enjoy playing together and Polly is great with Fred. 

We thought it would be a good idea to get Freddy involved in a few activities over the winter.  It is real hard when we can't get outside to move around a bit, so we decided to sign up for a gym class and swim lessons.  The gym class is at a place called The Little Gym http://www.thelittlegym.com/Pages/default.aspx.  Fred gets to run around and play on balance beams, pads and a bunch of other things for an hour a week.  He really has a great time doing at the gym and I think he is starting to fill out a bit from his works outs - 

Where is the weight room?

The swimming classes we signed him up for were at the Richfield Middle School swimming pool.  It was a five week swim class ever Saturday morning.  Being the first time in the pool for him he actually did pretty well.  He really likes splashing around and floating on the noodle. We would sing songs, practice front and back floats and blow bubbles.  All great swimmers have to start somewhere.

Daddy and Freddy

Kick, kick, kick , kick

In January we took Fred to his first Wild hockey game.  We actually had some pretty good seats down on the first deck, which was real nice. Fred really enjoyed all the lights and noise that the Xcel Center had to offer. 

Dad and Freddy at the Wild Game

Mom and Freddy at the Wild Game

Freddy running around at the Xcel Center

The winter was pretty busy.   With both of us working our weeks really flew by.   Wake up, work, Fred, dogs, eat, sleep.  That seems to be the routine during the week.  There were a few breaks were Fred had some play dates with a friend, Nona, Grandpa and Jonelle.  Otherwise we got into a pretty nice routine.   We are finding time for ourselves as well.  Fred had his first sleep over at Nona and Pops house so we could spend the night at Mardi Gras at Our Lady of Peace.  We had a real good time hanging out with each other and our friends and we even danced - yes both Lisa and Joe.  We also lined up a sitter for Fred one night so we could go out to dinner and grab some drinks with another couple.  We went to a place called La Chaya in Minneapolis.  It was very good and we recommend it.  Check out their menu http://www.lachaya.com/.  It was good to get out for a few nights. 

On St Patricks Day we kept our tradition alive by going to Cecil's, a Jewish Deli - yes a Jewish Deli - for a corned beef sandwich.  They make a great sandwich. 

There was an addition to the family.  Luke McCullough was born on March 22, 2011.  Lerah and Luke are healthy and happy.  Freddy has another cousin and is excited that he now is not the baby of the family.  No picutres yet.  Hopefully soon. 


Fred has really grown since we got back from Colombia in November.  One day he decided to open the closet door, and we both looked at each other and said "he can open doors?"  So we went and bought some of those childproof door know things.  He is also starting to say a lot of words - apple, chair, clock, door, bed, boots, cookie, cracker, juice, light, door, outside, thank you, hi and by, elmo, elbow, eyes, cheek,toes, knee, sock, teeth, garbage, blue, momma, dadda, chichi, a form of Mario, Pops, Nona (a form of), Bops (Grandpa), Ollie, Oscar, and I am sure there are many more I am missing.  He also is very good at pointing out body parts - head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, cheeks, shoulder, elbow, hands, belly button, knee, toes.  Lets not forget that he is doing a great job with his animal noises.

 It is now April 2, and I think we can say winter is over.  It sure was a long one.  We still have snow on the ground, but I have a feeling it should be gone in a week.  We are looking forward to the spring and summer - it will be busy, but fun!