hello to the Doyles

This is for our dear friends the Doyles who are in Nebraska for the Holidays.

the monkey, hot chip and atmosphere

So nearly ever morning I hear Lance and Myla dancing and singing. They listen to Hot Chip or Atmosphere's song "you don't know". Myla loves singing and dancing to both songs-and we love wathcing her. Also the monkey mask was from Halloween-Myla loves to have us wear it.

and turn your volume up!!

Polar Express round 2

We attend the Polar Express for the 2nd year in a row. Myla and her friends all had a great time. Myla was still scared to sit with Santa, but she did get close enough to tell him what she wanted for Christmas. Below is a funny video of Myla and Connor singing on the Train! Such good memories.

Best Friends

Myla and Van are already the best of friends. Myla loves to talk to Van and just recently Van talks back. Van smiles every single time Myla comes to see him. I am excited to watch them grow up as brother and sissy. Enjoy the video!!

Thanksgiving 2008

For the first time ever We had Thanksgiving here in Duluth at the Voelker household!! Everything went just perfect; good food, fun games and family.

Lance's parents were up for a visit during the first part of this week. They stayed at the waterpark and of course a good time was had by us all-but espically by Myla. Myla loves to go down some slides, getting splashed by the big bucket of water and being in the Vortex with Mom and Dad. Lance loves the big waterslides and had to force me to go down 1 with him. It was a nice visit with the Voelker grandparents.

My Mom and Dad came up to join our family plus My sister and Brother-in-law for Gobble Gobble day ( that is what Myla was calling it). We ended the evening with a fun time at the hotel pool and even saw a boat go through the canal. Now today a little bit of shopping for the girls and work of course for Lance.

Homebith NYT

A great article on Homebirth. Thanks for sending it my way Jenny.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/garden/13birth.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1

Van 7 weeks old and a crazy 2 yr old

Life is general good here at the Voelker household. Van is getting big now. He sleeps better at night, cooing at us and starting to show an interest in toys. His casting process is going really well. Van will get his 6th cast Tuesday morning. As it looks he will need 2 more cast after tomorrow and then will have a small procedure preformed in his Achilles heel. After that he will then be wearing some feet braces. We are very optimistic and know that things will turn out just fine.

As for Myla, well she is in her "trying 2's". She can be the best little girl and then easily turns into devil Myla. She through her first big tantrum on Saturday morning. It lasted 1 hour because I asked her to pick up her Legos before she got her Milk. Myla screamed and cried, begged for her milk and was rolling around on the floor. Finally she stopped, picked up her legos, I gave her the milk and things were just fine. I won the battle for now.

Van Haven Voelker 6 1/2 weeks old

Van started to smile this week. It was just precious and full of love. So I was able to finally catch a smile on film.

Halloween cities style

We took our first road trip with Van for the Halloween weekend. Van did great in the car-we stocked him up with milk and he sleeps the whole way. So we spent Halloween evening at my parent's house. Myla was a butterfly and Van a pumpkin. And Lance a choir boy from Winona senior high!

Myla had fun trick or treating. But she had more fun passing out candy to all the kids at my parent's house. The kids would come up and say "trick or treat" and Myla would give them a piece of candy and say "trick or treat" back to the kids.

Van 4 weeks old

Van is doing really good. He is awake for longer periods and seems to really be absorbing his surroundings. I am waiting for a smile from him anyday now. Enjoy the video and pictures of Van and Myla on turning 4 weeks old.

Boo at the Zoo

Last Saturday Myla and I joined Michaela and Connor at Boo at the Zoo. The kids got a chance to trick or treat, look at animals and show off there costumes. Myla was a butterfly and Connor a front end loader. We also ran into the kid's friend Zoey who was Cinderella. We all had a great time. For me it is so fun to see Myla enjoying Halloween and really experiencing things for the first time.

a visit from Grandma Marcia

Grandma and Myla by the lake, holding the grandkids, making cookies with Myla

My MOm was up all of last week spoiling us all!! We had a great time getting out and about

in Duluth. Thanks for the visit Mom.

Van 2 -3 week old pics

Just some new pics of Van. I will try to get better about posting but it is alot of work with a newborn and a 2 yr old.

Some new pictures of Van and Myla. Everyone is doing really well-Van has already gained 1/2 lb and goes to get his new casts on Tuesday. Van does not seem at all bothered by the cast-which is good comfort to Lance and I. Mylais adjusting well to all the changes-thanks to special Daddy time and playdates with friends.

Van's video

Due today!!!!!!!!!!

So I am due today-but pretty sure at this point nothing is happening. I am getting very impatient and really, really want to meet our newest family member. Pics taken Tuesday night. The second pic shows off the henna painting we did on my belly.

I have been taking the last few days to have sweet little Mommy and Myla dates with each other. We went to the beach on Tuesday-it was just warm and beautiful. Myla and I played in the sand and went for a walk. I am taking in the last few moments of being a Mommy of 1.

1 day of school

Myla and I started our ECFE class yesterday. We are back at the same school we were last year, Rockridge and have some of our great teachers again. This will be a weekly event for us on Thursdays, even when our new one arrives. Myla is definitely more comfortable and confident in class this year, which should make for some fun adventures for the both of us.

pictures

Myla finger painting with Lance and I.

Myla taking a post finger painting bath in the sink. I think she may be to big for the sink???

Auntie Jenny and Uncle Mike's visit to d-town

Lance's Sister Jenny and her husband, MIke from NY visited us over labor day. We all had a great visit-spending a hot Labor day at the beach. That was uncle Mike and Aunt Jenny's first expereience swimming in the big lake. We had some good meal and they got alot of time with little miss Myla. Thanks for the visit Voelker/Ness's we love you!!!