Proud Hockey Dad

Two things to say. One- I never thought I would post anything on a blog. Two-Not one to brag about family but... This past weekend all four kids were in skates and on the ice. Andrew and Krista had there lessons first. (Pretty cool that mom is re-learning to skate so she can appreciate the game a bit more). They came off the ice and Abbie and Evan did their lessons. I took Andrew's skates off and Owen (not quite 2 years old) started putting them on, so I figured what the heck they have the same size feet. I laced 'em up and Owen started walking around the locker room. He wasn't satisfied until he put his feet on the ice so while the others had their lesson, Owen and I went on the ice and he loved it. He wouldn't let me take "his" skates off until the other had theirs off and he knew for sure that we were leaving. My hope and wish is that every dad out there has "these" moments and has more moments than he can count or remember. Ken

Green Eggs and Ham Anyone?

We missed our annual St. Patrick's Day tradition at home so we made s urprise dinner for Ken yesterday! He said, "This is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen." We had green omelettes,
green ham, and toast. The kids thought it was the coolest thing we have ever made. We all had the green food and it didn't slow the eating down one bit. It was really fun to do and we hope to continue the tradition for many years to come.

Spring Fever

We have had the most beautiful past few days. Yesterday it was 81 here and we celebrated by being outside all day. We have a sand table on the deck the kids can play in without getting muddy. Our yard needs a good couple of days to dry out but the way the weather has been the kids just don't want to stay in the house. We have designated mud shoes and shoes to wear to the store.

We made our first trips to the park with all of the daycare kids and things went great. They were all very well behaved and good listeners. That is so important with crossing the busy streets.

The kids are all great. I can't believe that my baby is going to be 2 in a couple of weeks. He is the size of a 3 year old.

Evan has a hockey tournament this week-end and Grandma and Papa are coming up for it and Grandpa Gordy and Grandma Dolly are coming also. Evan will have a big cheering section! It will be nice to be done with hockey. It is a long comitment, 6 months.

Skating lessons are going great! The twins skated with no screaming and I did very well myself.

Maddy, my daycare baby, is 6 months old and has started to eat baby food. So far so good. I am out of practice. Messy, messy. She has grown so much since starting here.

Take care.

BIG Week-end

We had such a great week-end. We left Thursday afternoon for Minneapolis to see the WCHA Final Five Tournament. There were games and they were all fun to see. Of course, some of them were much more exciting than the others. Evan became a Gophers fan. Ken and I were for any team that could beat them. The first night, Evan got a puck from one of the team managers. The next day he got a puck, a roll of tape and then Wheeler, #17 on the Gophers, scored three goals. That is called a hat trick and the fans throw their hats on the ice. One landed on my head and Evan got to keep that, it was a Gopher hat, of course. The final game for the Championship was won by Wheeler scoring the winning goal in over time. He was tripped and going across the ice on his belly, swung the stick with one hand and scored the winning goal. After the game Evan was giving them knuckles and a coach gave him a Final Five Championship hat. He also got a stick. Not just any stick, the game winning stick of Blake Wheeler. It was awesome and he was so excited. Wheeler is 6'5". The stick is 6'. What a haul he made. He had a very awesome sign that his Uncle Jeff made and he was on the jumbotron if front of 20,000 people! We don't know if he made FSN or not. It was so much fun and Evan just loved it!!

The twins spent their days with Grandma Rosemary and Grandpa Mark. They were brave and took them out to eat. We walked in the skywalks downtown and had a good time. On Sunday we spent the afternoon with Grandma Dolly and Grandpa Gordy. They went to the park, while I took a nap. They had a good time and all the kids napped ont he way home.

That is all for now. Take care and have a great week.

Wow! How time flies. I have been checking out other blogs and waiting for them to update and then looked at my own and realized that it has been a while since I put anything on. We have been distracted by warm weather. Our snow is mealting very fast and the kids are dying to get outside. Ken took them puddle jumping at MSU on Monday. They had a blast. Yesterday it was 65 here!! Today, clod and rainy!

Jess and Jill, our friends from IA, came up for a few days and we had a lot of fun with them. For the last two years they have come up and we go shopping. LAst year we got some clothes for me and this year we got clothes for the kids. We have their Easter outfits and I can't wait until they wear them. Then I can put pictures up on here.

Daycare is going well. Busy, busy but it is fun. The time change has been a little hard on the kids but today they are finally getting back on track. It is a dark and dreary day so hopefully that will mean good naps for all.

We are heading out the the WCHA Final Five. That is a hockey tournament and there are five teams and games. We are excited to go and we leave tomorrow afternoon for the cities and come back Sunday.

We also went to IA and had Grandma's 85th Birthday party. It was fun and seeing all of the kids was great. My cousins twins are adorable! They were born the same day as my daycare baby, Maddy. Then my other cousin's oldest, Dylan was there also. He is adorable too. The kids found an air mattress there and decided to ride it down the stairs. They had a great time and lots of laughs. Grandma had fun seeing all of the kids!

That's all for now and I will let you know how the games turn out! Take care and have a good week-end!

We Made It

We all survived the week. Ken left Sunday about 4 for Chicago. It was the first day in a long time that I had to get all the kids fed and Evan off to school. We did that just fine and he got to walk to the bus by himself and was very proud to do that. Rosemary came down Monday morning and was here until today. It was great to have and extra set of hands. It was great not to have to worry at all about supper and just spend time witht he kids. The daycare kids loved her too. Thanks Rosemary!!

Ken had a board review class and it was "like being back in school. They went from 7AM to 6PM and then had a 120 question test each niight. He met one of his friends that he used to work with at Medic in Davenport, IA. He is also a PA and he lives in MI. They were glad to go through the torture together. Ken left earlyt Friday and got home about 7:30 and didn't hit any bad roads until he was in Rochester. And what a relief to get him home.

We had about 14 inches of snow from the storm last week and another 14-15 from this one. There is so much snow the kids had a hard time walking around in the back. We are going to make a big slide in the front in the space between our driveways and the next. It should be fun.

Our babaysitters form IA are coming tomorrow. They are 20 now! YIKES!!! For those of you that don't know, they are twins and we met them when they were 7. This is the second year that they spent their Spring Break with Team Bentson. It is fun to have them here and it is also a shopping trip!

WE, notice I said we, started skatoing lessons today. I am in a class for beginners and the twins are in a class. Evan is also in lessons so he can "be a better skater." I was nervous but she said that I did great! I din't fall anyway. The twins and Evan did very well. Then Ken and Evan had practice tonight.

We are planning a quiet night and a quiet day tomorrow and get ready for the new week to start.

Take care and thanks for checking in!!

Here are some photos for our week-end. Our trip to IA was changed for two weeks from now, because of the weather. We spent Saturday cutting hair, naps, groceries, and Abbie and I went to her first MSU game. We won and it was so much fun.

Today we all played in the snow. Then Ken headed out for Chicago. We had a great week-end!

Check out my Slide Show!

My Hockey Star

Fun, Fun, Fun

We finally had week-end that Ken didn't have to be on call. It was so nice to stay home and alos to be able to do things without fear that Ken would have to abandon the days activities to go to work.

Saturday they had hockey, it was from 9-10. Yeah, no early pracitce. They came home and we went and got some new cutains for the familyroom. They are much better than what I had there to block the sun. Now the kids can have rest time in the afternoon and not be blinded by the sun. I got the curtain rod up and they look great. We had lunch, naps, we went and got some movies and had a movie night. We made popcorn and it was fun. We watched Ice Age.

Sunday, we made it to church. The first time since our Pastor and their family left. It was good to be back but strange that they weren't there. The Pastor that was there was good and the kids made the children's message interesting as usual. She was talking about how we love our pets and how much Jesus loves us. The only part that Drew heard was about a cat or dog for a pet and he proceede to crawl around and bark in front of the entire congregation. He did forget to show her his shoes. It was something he did to Pastor Mark. Abbie waved to me from the front. They were cute! There was also some sad news that one of the members had a bad stroke. He sounds bad, with his right side paralized and we would ask that you say a prayer for Karl John and Mary Alice. They are a sweet pair and it is so sad that this happened.

Then after Church we ALL had naps. Evan went to a Birthday party at the YMCA and got to swim. I picked him up and then Ken took the three older kids skating. The twins had new sticks to use and had a great time.

We got things put away from the skate and Ken and I went on our Valentine's "Date" to the Underwater Aquarium for our dinner with the sharks. It was great to sit there and watch them swim all around us while we ate.

We hope that everybody had a great week-end. Thanks for stopping in and reading!
take care,
Krista

Meet Maddy

Here is the adorable baby thatI have for daycare. She is just a doll and we love to have her here. She really likes to watch the kids play and they love to show her toys. Just thought that you would like to see her. Have a great week!

Thank Goodness for Friends and Family

This has been a very busy last week and a half. Daycare is going great and we love to have the kids here. Our kids are doing great with them. Owen was showing jealousy at first but now is giving kisses instead. I have Katey starting here in a couple of weeks.

We had our good friends, Jason, Denise, and thei girls, Heather and Miranda, were here for the week-end. We had a great time with them. We had our Christmas with them. The guys took the kids sledding while we went shopping! We had a great time and made out like bandits with our shopping.

We also were reconnected with one of our friends from IA. It seems like a lifetime ago. She is actually the one that got Ken and I together. They met at Medic. We haven't talked to her in 10 years and it was great to get caught up. We will have lots of time to do that. She couldn't believe that we have 4 kids.

We are planning the 85th Birthday for Grandma Roberts. It sounds like it will be a fun time. We are all bringing food and they are trying to get a quartet to sing there for her.

That's it for now. I will find something to put on here soon. Take care.

A Day of Fun

Photos

We are hoping to get out to day and get some great photos. Come back later to see what we did!!

BBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

It is very cold her today! It is 2:15 and it is 0 out=) Last-night it was -14. We have stayed in and are keeping warm.

Last week was my first full week of daycare and it went very well. I was so beat by the end of the week. We spent the week-end here in Mankato. Ken was off and then they had practice on Sunday at 12:15PM. We got caught up with a lot of things, groceries, cleaning, paperwork, and naps!

Things are going well here and I hope they are the same for all of you. My cousin Stephanie and their son Jaden are home and improving every day! YEAH!!!

Take care

New Do's

We had some time for some much needed hair cuts. The boys are sporting new do's. I don't have one of Evan (he didn't want a picture of it)but there are ones of Drew and Owen. Also, Abbie in one of her dress up dresses.

We had a good week-end and it went way to fast. We had Stacy, Jeff, Gordy, Me, Ken, and Evan all went to the hockey game on Friday. It was MN state University, Mankato, against the MN Gophers. (the Gophers are #1 in the state.) It was fun but we lost.

I had an interview on Friday, for an 18 month old little girl, and she will start here on Feb.13. She is adorable and will be fun to have here. She is the daughter of a lady I met at the OB clinic when I was pregnant with Owen and she and Drew played peek-a-boo.

I also have a gal that is coming in a couple of weeks who is having a baby in March and wants to come here. I can't take the baby until the end of Sept. but she is thrilled to be coming here. By then Maddy will be one and I will be able to take the other baby.

So far things are going well and I like having the money coming in!! I won't take any other kids for a little while so that I can get used to the ones that I have. I plan on a busy summer.

Please keep my cousin Stephanie and her family in your prayers as they are still at the hospital trying to get things figured out with their little Jaden.

Have a great week!

Survived the First Week

This was my first week of daycare with the two new children. Maddy is 3 months and will be here full time. Trenton, comes home with Evan and is 6. Then I have Sammy that is here one day a week, she is the one that I have had since May. I have an interview tonight with parents of an 18 month old, little girl. I am hoping that they take the spot and then that is where I will stop for now until we get into the groove. So far things are going well and I am finding that the more organized I am, the smoother the day goes. Ken and i went out for dinner last night and it was noce. I am so excited that things are going well and we love having the kids here.

Keep in touch.

Also, keep my cousin stephanie and her family in your prayers. They are parents of Jaden who had heart surgery and now he in the hospital again and they are unsure of why he is having pain. They are staying so strong but need all the prayers they can get so their little guy can get better and go home again.

Have a great week-end!

Fun in MinneSNOWta

Great Christmas

We hope that you had a blessed Christmas like we did. Everything went very well and we had a lot of people who traveled safely. Mom and Dad got here Friday. Grandma Roberts and Stacy came on Saturday and we had 13 or so people here for lunch on Monday. We had a great time and so did the kids.

Santa called them on christmas Eve and they were very excited to talk to him. They had called the 800 # and were mad that they couldn't talk back to him. When they got up Christmas morning, they found a footprint in the fireplace and some crumbs on a plate. There was a letter for Evan. They loved their presents, the favorites were Evan's Mavericks jersey and the twins was a light saber and now they can hit each other.

Abbie and Drew are spending two days with Grandma Rosemary and Grandpa Mark. They went home with them yesterday and we are going to get them tonight and also will get to see their new place.

Evan is going to go with Granma Dolly and Grandpa Gorday from Thursday until Saturday.

Next week I will start with my two new kids and I can't wait. Tomorrow we are having a test run with Maddy, the baby, for 3 hours. Friday, Trenton is coming over to play and meet the kids. He is in Kindergarten and will come home on the bus with Evan.

Have a great week and Happy New Year!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!
I thought that I would try and get a new posting on here before the caziness really starts! I was out and about a few times and there are soooooo many people everywhere! I only had a few things to get and I was able to get finished and even get a few things wrapped!

We are expecting a lot of people here for the Holidays and are very excited that they can all come and we can be together. Stacy is picking up Grandma Roberts on Saturday. Mom and Dad are coming on Friday. Sunday, Ken's Dad and his wife Dolly are coming. And Monday, Ken's Mom and her husband, Mark are coming. We are going to have a big meal together on Monday before Mom and Dad head out to get Grandma back home.

The kids can't wait for Santa to come. There is a 1-800 # that they have been calling all week and they can listen to a prerecorded message from Santa.

Also big news, mycousins baby, Jaden, has made it through his second heart surgery and may get to go home today. He has been such a tough little guy! We are so happy for all of them and that they will be at home for the Holidays!

Love,
Krista