Fall Weekend Getaway

Last weekend I surprised Matty with a weekend away at a bed and breakfast. I ended up telling him about a week in advance so he knew he wasn't going to be at work, but I had all the details planned. The biggest thing was this was our first overnight away from Case, and it was actually two nights away. After church we headed up to drop Case off with my dad so he could stay with my parents for the weekend. Then Matt and I headed off to Cold Springs, MN - a tiny cute little town outside of St. Cloud. There was a little mix up in the bookings, so we ended up getting upgraded to the biggest room with a jacuzzi tub and a little balcony - it was great! On Sunday we took naps, read and watched some tv and then headed out for dinner. We came back, relaxed and watched Ghost - we hadn't seen that for years! On Monday morning we slept in!! And then enjoyed the delicious breakfast at the inn and relaxed a little before heading out for a bike ride along Lake Wobegan Trail. It was one of the few real "fall" type days we've had. We went out for a movie that evening and then ordered pizza and watched some football. Tuesday morning we ate the amazing breakfast again and then packed up to go to Cambridge to get Case! He did GREAT at my parents house which was so nice! I did miss him but it was actually a little easier than I thought - the time just went so fast. It helped me be able to relax knowing he was doing so well. And relax we did - I finished the book I was reading and Matt got at least half way through a Johnny Unitas book he started. We enjoyed leaving things out that he would normally get into or make a mess of, but of course nothing beat sleeping in! But man when we walked into my parents house and Case started making all of his happy/excited sounds to see us, it was so great!

Birthday Party - Part 2!

Last Sunday we celebrated Case's birthday with a great group of friends! Thanks so much everyone for coming - we had a blast and we're so grateful to you for celebrating with us. We had the airplane theme again going for the birthday party. I got a bomber jacket off of Craigslist, and I know I'm biased but I thought he looked adorable in it! I didn't make a big cake this time, but I made individual airplane cakes for everyone (way easier than it sounds!). The food highlight for Case, however was not the cake this time but the cheese balls! Who knew? He just walked around from person to person taking one off of their plate. We have so many left, I have had to hide them from him! We had a paper airplane contest, it was incredible how many of us forgot how to make them! Matt won the contest, I was a contender for last place until Brenner threw - his seriously landed a half inch from his toes! Then we played a more competitive version of pin the pilot on the plane. We blindfolded two people, spun them around and then they had to race to the poster. Here's Beth and Beki! It was hysterical, we managed to run into just about everything in the Eikum's back yard. Bert won! Here's a picture of where some of them ended up - now if you went about 25 feet to the right of this picture, that's where Bret's ended up. It was amazing!

Then Case got to open his presents - thanks so much everyone - you were so generous! He's been having a blast playing with all his toys and reading his books!

Here's Case and his buddy Turner!

Here's Case and Hazel playing in the tent Nachelle gave him!I was amazed Case fell asleep that night, but I after all that fun he crashed!

Last Days of Summer...

We had a BEAUTIFUL September this year- usually it starts to feel like fall in September, but this year it was still so warm. So we took full advantage of it! One Monday Matt and I headed to the zoo with Case. It was really fun! We've taken him to zoos a couple of times, but this time was one of the firsts that he was super interested in all of the animals.He also really loved all the animal statues!

After the zoo we headed to Toys R Us to pick out his birthday gift - it was so much fun, we played with all the toys and he walked away no problem. I know it will be all too soon when he realizes he wants to take all of the toys home so we enjoyed this peaceful and fun afternoon at the toy store. Here's some pictures of Case helping Daddy put together this birthday gift.

On another beautiful day, Nachelle took the afternoon off and we took Case to the Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater - it is probably the best park I've ever been to! We had so much fun.
Nachelle and I had some fun of our own...

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes

Last Friday, it happened - my baby turned 1...

Case Benjamin Wassink is 1!

A little history - Case was 8 lbs 12 oz at birth - 22 inches long
How Case got his name:
Matt's great grandpa was named Cornelius Wassink (he went by Case) his son Arend named his son Cornie (Matt's dad) after Cornelius and so Matt named his son Case after him!

On Friday, he spent a normal day with mommy but he got all his favorite foods - scrambled eggs, blueberries, mac & cheese, avocados, bananas - I even tried to give him a sugar cookie, but he wasn't interested, he just kept pointing to more avocados. Auntie Brooke came over to babysit so Matt and I could attend our five year college reunion. On Saturday we got to take him to the Bethel Homecoming game, it was great getting to introduce him to everyone. Then on Sunday we had the family birthday party for Case! Cornie, Deb, Ryan, Brooke, Alisha, Scott, Macey, Matt, Case and I all headed up to my parents house for his birthday party. He got some great gifts - everyone was so thoughtful! We played pin the pilot on the plane - my dad won, it was hysterical! We all had cake, but Case got his own special airplane cake. He dug right in, spread the icing and chocolate cake all over, clapped with it all over his hands, etc! He thought it was the best.

Case LOVED showing off this walking skills. He walks everywhere now, I only see the scoot maybe once a day! But even better than walking, he got to show off his dancing skills! Case loves to dance, even if he doesn't have music! At his one year appointment the pediatrician asked if he liked to dance - and just hearing the word, he started up with his moves! We found out at his appointment he is 19 lbs 3 oz (6th percentile) and 30.5 inches (75th percentile). Still a peanut! No surprises there, but I was really hoping he was 20 lbs so we could turn his car seat around - maybe next month!

He says, Mama, Dada, Daaa for Dog, Whoa and his favorite word is uh-oh! He says it all the time. He's really gotten into going to the park, he starts wheezing with excitement when he sees the swing and he loves going down the slide. He loves any sort of ball and walking around with anything in his hands. Case is constantly finding ways to get into trouble, his favorite thing is to unroll the toilet paper roll, try to get into the toilet, get into any cupboards and pulling everything out of mommy's diaper bag and wallet. He's such a happy boy and we are so thankful for such a great first year with him!

We love you buddy...

Family Time

Another update as to things we've been up to lately - spending time with family! Case and I have gotten lost of opportunities to hang out with Macey with my mom, Alisha or Brooke! Here's a couple of shots of them playing together...

Best Buds

Playing on the porch

This is what happens when Case gets dirty at Macey's, takes a bath and doesn't have any of his own clothes to change into. Case, I promise this will be the only time you'll ever wear pink leggings!

We got to spend a weekend up at Hannah's cabin with my family. We had a great time going for walks, riding bikes, sitting on the dock, playing Norwegian Golf, eating s'mores, riding the boat and just relaxing! It was fabulous! We were having so much fun I forgot to take any pictures. Oops!

The following weekend we went to a cabin in Spicer, MN with Matt's family and Ryan's girlfriend, Kari. Our first night there Ryan, Kari, Matt and I took out the resorts hydrobikes and kayaks.
The hydrobikes were hilarious and so much fun! We had a great time racing and trying to tip each other. The next day the guys went out fishing while the ladies stayed back and relaxed on the dock. That afternoon Cornie took us for a pontoon ride and that night we had a bonfire and s'mores. We weren't about to let Case become a sticky mess with marshmellows, but he enjoyed eating some graham crackers! It's been such a blessing to spend time with family and we are looking forward to celebrating Case's birthday with them this weekend! I can't believe he's turning 1!!

As of Late...

Well, I've been a bit of a slacker lately with blogging. The main reason... my new iphone! I LOVE it! I do basically all of my internet needs on there so I haven't gotten on the computer much, thus the lack of blogging. But I'm back - and I'll try to do better, beginning with taking the next few days to do some update posts.
A few weeks ago, actually more like a month now... Andrea, Ryan and Coleman came up for a twins game. The boys had tons of fun together cheering for their favorite team.

Here they are discussing the twins lineup
Celebrating a Joe Mauer hit
Andrea and I and our boys!

The twins game seemed to bring out the athlete in Case because a few days later he got a brilliant idea! Case climbed on top of this big box we had in our basement and then he pulled up a box of little toys...

He then sat on the edge of the box and proceeded to try to throw the toys into the other box of toys on the floor.
It was so funny and I'm so thankful he did it several times so I was able to get a picture of it! I will say, he didn't have too bad of an aim - he made quite a few shots!

Here he is quite proud of himself and his throwing/aiming abilities!!

Walking Man

Case has officially taken his first steps! On Saturday night Matt, Case and I were at his Uncle Ryan's house with Ryan's girlfriend, Kari to watch the Nebraska Game. Case was scooting all around and walking along the furniture when all of a sudden he let go of me and walked five whole steps on his own! I'm so glad that he did it when Matt was around and it was fun that Ryan and Kari were there too! Since then, he has taken a couple steps a day, but I have a feeling once he gets the hang of it, he will be off and running! He's also saying Mama and Dada really well lately. Yesterday we left him with Nana for about 5 minutes to run an errand and when we got back and he kept yelling in a super excited voice, "Dada!!" then giggled, yelled it again, giggled and so on while pointing to Matt. It was great! We are so thankful for him and can't believe how quickly he is growing and changing.