zbc

where to start

2011-04-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

so much has changed in the past year i am not even sure where to start. for those of you who don't know we are now living in eagan, mn in a HOUSE. we went from living in a one bedroom apt to a big, spacious house. i can't even begin to explain to you what that does for a little kid! i have cable for the first time since i left for college...along with a kitchen table....and a yard...and a washer and dryer. it's amazing. last night we had kindergarten orientation at zander's school which is .6 miles from our house. check out his school here. it is CRAZY that he will be 5 in july and starting school on sept. 6th. time flies when you're having fun! i am going to try and be a more active blogger now that we have internet. i feel so spoiled with all these luxuries!

Zander love love loves to help clean.

BIG Day

2010-07-21T09:13:00.001-05:00

Today Zander celebrates his 4th birthday. We are in Park Rapids this week as we have been for all of his birthdays. There is a Toy Story 3 themed party. Yummy cupcakes just came out of the oven. Beach day all afternoon, Zorbaz tonight for supper/karaoke and a fireworks display by papa tonight. Z already snuck into the bedroom and found two presents from mom and opened them. It's going to be a good day by the excitement on his face!!

much needed update!

2010-06-07T14:15:00.000-05:00

As you can see, I am not very good at updating our blog. I always say I am going to be better at it- I will try harder :) Well, the past couple of weeks have been really busy/crazy/overwhelming at times, yet really good. Last week Zander, Punky and I moved back up to our apartment in Mpls- for good (we hope!). I started two new jobs. One is at MN Masonic Homes in Bloomington. I work as an Activities Leader in the Alzheimer's unit. My first few days I have just been shadowing a lady named Carolyn who has been great. The first hour of work was a little overwhelming. I didn't know how I would do, but now I look forward to it! I leave that place feeling awesome. The residents truly love the time that we spend together- and so do I. It is a very rewarding job, even if every time I walk into the room I have to reintroduce myself to some of them :) The residents are at all different stages of Alzheimers. It is a very sad to watch at times because some of the residents are quite young and when you look at them and watch them you think gosh why are they here? But then you ask them a question like 'did you get some juice yet?' and they respond 'yes yesterday I went for a walk outside'. I don't know how many times the residents have been told me that the name Ashley is so beautiful and that I am the prettiest lady they know. Love it. My other job is at MOA at the store Aerosoles. My good friend Chandra is store manager there and she gave me the opportunity to work for her to make some extra money-thanks Chandra! My first day of work I sold almost $500 in product in 4 hours. I thought that was pretty good! The only difficult part is finding someone to watch Zander for me, while my shifts are during non-business hours at times. So, that is still a work in progress. Ally helped me out last week as well as my friend Stacy. Stacy and her fiance Tom took Zander to Nickelodeon Universe- Z had a blast, minus the haunted house ha :) Well, I am off to work. Hope everyone is having a great Monday.

go-carts & mullets

2010-04-27T12:46:00.000-05:00

PNG=Paffrath Neighborhood Gang

2010-04-12T09:17:00.008-05:00

Here are some pics of Zander and his best friends. Now that Spring is here we spend every chance we can outside. Ethan&Sofie live right next door, Dru&Andi live a few house down one direction, and Russell&Thomas live a few houses down the other direction making our block the central meeting point. It is so much fun watching them all ride their bikes, jump on the trampoline, play baseball, etc.

Zander taking a break on the trampoline

Zander, Ethan, & Sofie

Ethan and Zander "wrestling"

Sofie, Ethan, and Zander devising a plan

Sofie

Sofie and Z making silly faces

Sofie, Andi, Zander, Dru, Ethan

fun filled day!

2010-03-28T08:22:00.008-05:00

saturday was zander/mommy day. we started the day by baking brownies. mmmm so good! then zander's friend Teagan came over while us mommies talked. they had been together about 5 min. and we heard giggling. we found them covered up sitting in bed just giggling away. it was to cute. teagan follows zander around like a puppy dog and does whatever he does. after that zander and i went to the mankato mall to find him some new sandals for this summer and for something to do. we went to Barnes & Noble and read a book about sharks and a book about reptiles- zander's favorite things to learn about lately. we went to target, got a bag of popcorn, and walked around the store looking at all the new spring toys. next we hit up scheels to look for some Keen sandals- which i highly recommend, esp for little boys. this is the only shoe that can handle the ware and tare of zander! his last pair last two years and the only reason we need new ones is because he outgrew them. they are in near perfect condition. this year he chose the green/camo ones. lastly, we hit up the play place. we came home, had dinner, played, and went to bed early!

baking & swimming

2010-03-22T11:23:00.004-05:00

yesterday morning zander and i started our morning off with making eggs for breakfast. we have been eating a lot of eggs lately because zander's favorite thing to do in the kitchen is crack the eggs! after he finished his eggs he wanted to crack some more eggs so he suggested making some muffins. well, then he saw the cookie mix and opted to go with that. they were oatmeal cookies, but then Z suggested we add some chocolate chips. apparently that wasn't enough and we needed to add some M&M's. we finally got all our ingredients mixed together, and then he told me, "you can finish making them". typical! :) not even 5 min. later he came back into the kitchen asking if the cookies were done. this repeated several more times for the next 10 min. while they were baking one of zander's lines to papa were, "papa i'm baking cookies! i'm thinking you and grandma are really going to want one!" after lunch zander & i, and his friend teagan from school and her mommy went swimming! zander just got new goggles so he was super excited to try them out in the pool (he had just been wearing them around the house).

blah blah blog

2010-03-22T11:13:00.002-05:00

well, that pretty much sums up this blog for the past, oh YEAR! i love reading blogs. i read all my sisters blogs, friends & families blogs, even random blogs. but i always feel like no one really reads my blog anyways so there really isn't a point. but who cares?! SO, i am going to try much harder at updating my blog! i was chatting with a friend of mine (his name is Victor) about his blog. he is from sweden, and is currently living there now. he golfed at the u of m, which is where i met him. his blog is about his journey as a professional golfer- and one of my favorite to read. i find it quite interesting because i don't know much about golf, and people who don't golf much often think of it as a "lazy" sport. it definitely is not. he trains everyday and is always trying to better himself. check it out for yourself: http://blogg.aftonbladet.se/victoralmstrom

the best christmas yet

2009-12-29T15:25:00.002-06:00

dear zander,

this has been my my favorite christmas thus far with YOU

they get better and better each year

more and more fun

i love your comments and facial expressions

oh, to be 3 years old again!

you are my favorite person, zander.

love, mommy

sunday funday

2009-12-07T10:59:00.004-06:00

the bed turned into a jungle gym

i love you zander brighton

my favorite person in the whole world.

being silly

so funny

giggling

wrestling match

Me in a headlock

Zander and I had such a FUN afternoon yesterday. We went to lunch at Joe Sensor's with auntie ally. We watched some football and played Zander's favorite game, Buck Hunter. He was very well behaved. Then we dropped ally off and went back to our apt to hangout. We were playing cars and reading books and then Z heard something. It was "CrEePy cRaWleeS" (it was actually Punky under the bed). Zander protected us from them by being a wolf and growling at them when we heard them. It was too funny. When Punky finally came out from under the bed Zander was soo surprised..and relieved. He could finally leave the bed. And of course, we had to wrestle. I am honestly sore today from our wrestling match. I am starting to get a little concerned about how I am going to feel in a couple years after our wrestling matches....I don't foresee him 'taking it easy on mom'.

the past month...

2009-11-30T11:51:00.005-06:00

here are a few pics from the past month....

when we were walking up the stairs to go into the stadium zander yells, "this is awwwesome!"

this has got me thinking....

2009-11-05T10:12:00.006-06:00

So yesterday I went to lunch at The Nook, which I HIGHLY recommend. It is across the street from Creighton Durham Hall HS, and has absolutely the best burgers. EVER. Well, the place is quite small and lives up to its name bc it is a nook. So we sat at the bar next to another woman. She was very nice and was chatting with me. She leaned over and whispered to me that she had a message for me, that she had this intuition about me, told me i was a beautiful woman and she wanted me to take the note and read it later. She gave me the note and then told me to read it, and if I wanted to keep it I could. This was her message to me:

Do not wait for true Love to find you. find true love for yourself. then, love will come your way

Do not wait for world peace to have inner peace

Do not be afraid of death for if you cease to exist, then you'll never know that you existed!

There is an after life. I see, feel, hear, dream of ghosts.

If the hippies/baby boomers were right we are all one. then essentially you are God, me, him, and Mr. T!

THE SECRET TO LIFE IS......LIVING!

smile

"where there's a will there's a way" DO IT.

I have read this over, and over, and over since yesterday. There are so many things I could say about this message but it would go on for pages. One thing I do have to say is that I find it extremely chilling, intriquing, inspiring...especially the part about ghosts because those of you who know me well, my life goal is to be a paranormal investigator and wish I had the intuition that this woman, psychic mediums, etc have. I think they are the people who are intouch with themselves, the world. So anyways, take it as you wish......

halloween through the years....

2009-11-05T10:01:00.005-06:00

2009- Age 3

2008- Age 2

2007- Age 1

2006- Age 3 months

Zander's favorite costume so far is his CHICKEN costume....that is my favorite too. He had a lot of fun trick or treating...and eating his candy of course. I was able to sneak a few pieces but he keeps pretty good tabs on it so it was a difficult task.

Last Sunday, Zander came up to "the cities" with me. Every time I exit onto the 4th St./Univ. Ave exit off 35W North, Zander asks, "are we in your cities mommy? is this your cities?" I LOVE it! And then of course we have to drive by THE STADIUM. I warned him before we drove by that we couldn't go inside, we could only look because it was closed. Of course there were ppl in their cleaning from the previous nights game and he wanted to know why he couldn't go in there. These people looked like ants and he of course could see them 2 blocks away. After that we went to our apartment where Zander told me it smelled. So I asked him if it smelled bad and he said yes. So, we spent the next 2 hours cleaning. I learned that the Swiffer is excellent for kids haha and he loved Swiffering!

weekend recap: scooby doo, wrestling, and more scooby doo.

2009-10-25T17:59:00.005-05:00

Zander and I had a nice little weekend together. Not too eventful, but entertaining as usual. Friday Papa, Zander, and I went to Outlaws to eat. Zander behaved well, and ate great! Madison's (zander's gf) mommy was there and Zander was so excited to go say hi to her. Some of his friends from school were there as well. I swear he knows more people in Springfield than I do. Saturday we woke up, watched a few cartoons (scooby doo) and then went to the park. Zander opted to ride his bike all the way to Riverside Park rather than get a ride in the stroller. I warned him he might get tired on the way back, but he was convinced he wouldn't. Well, he was not happy with having to ride his bike all the way back. He did it, but cried the entire way. We spent the rest of the day wrestling, playing catch, pretending to be super hero's, watching cartoons, etc. Sunday Zander finally got to play with his best friend Ethan. Whenever Zander is with Ethan he is really LOUD and excited. Ethan is the complete opposite: quiet and laid back. Must be why they get along so well.

a day in the life.....

2009-10-22T16:38:00.002-05:00

walking across the bridge to the west bank

(i think it is odd that no one else is on the bridge with me considering i took this mid-day. kind of eerie)

love this view of the city

new theme

2009-10-22T13:32:00.002-05:00

Well, I have decided to change the idea behind our blog. Since Zander is staying with gma & gpa during the week I decided to update the blog based on what I am up to each day (or every other) so he knows what i'm doing "at my school and in my cities" as he calls it. Now, each day Zander can check our blog to see if I have updated it or not. I think this will be fun for Zander and I because he doesn't really like talking on the phone, but he does like looking at pictures on the computer. On the weekends, Zander and I will post together! We will see how this works....

Waking Up a Viking

2009-08-19T12:20:00.001-05:00

probably the funniest song. ever.

Jen & Mike's Wedding

2009-08-03T09:31:00.007-05:00

trouble

sisters w/ hattie girl

zander w/ his gf/cousin madison

auntie, niece, uncle

This weekend we celebrated the marriage of Jen (Amsden) & Mike Altermatt. It was a beautiful wedding, & a ton of fun! Zander wanted to dance all day, however when the dance actually started he wanted to go home and watch cartoons. On Sunday, Zander decided to get the hose out and spray grandma, auntie ally, and mommy with the hose. It was hilarious.

annnnd....we're back!

2009-07-27T09:38:00.003-05:00

so it has been a really really long time since this has been updated. many things have changed since our last post, probably too much to type about. however, one very big thing is that Zander is now potty trained (minus last week at the cabin. things didn't go so well there.) we spent the last week up north at the cabin where we celebrated Zander's 3rd birthday on July 21st. He got a new Bike! he couldn't wait to get back to grandma and grandpa's house to show his best friends (ethan, sophie, drew, & russell) his new bike. russell used to have the fastest bike, but i think zander's will be the new envied bike to ride. hopefully he takes turns letting his friends try out his new bike. on zander's birthday z, gpa, and i went fishing. zander caught 3 shark! we didn't get to stay out very long bc he thought the boat was "dunking". he only likes being on boats if they are moving...hopefully that changes. zander also averaged around 6 outfits a day while at the cabin, thank goodness we have a washer and dryer.

more sb...

2009-03-12T15:43:00.002-05:00

sliced my finger on the paper cutter..ouch!

splish splash

2009-03-12T10:14:00.003-05:00

Zander & I made this page together, which is probably why it took nearly 1.5 hours to do! But so much fun. He wants to help, but sometimes too much. He puts glue everywhere. We are both ready for spring/summer, which is where the inspiration to do this page came from. It is Z's first time at Itasca State Park last summer. So much fun!

Haircut!

2009-03-10T15:23:00.003-05:00

We were at the EP mall last week at the play place, and Tom decided Zander needed a haircut. We had been talking about getting him a haircut for a couple weeks but finally got it done. I told Tom I was not going with because whenever I go he cries. So, I initially said just a trim. As I was saying that I looked up and saw Zander with his back turned to me and realized that he needed a real cut to get rid of the rats nest he had going on. It was bitter sweet because I miss his curls, but the haircut turned out great. However, he looks much older :( Turns out Zander was very good at his haircut (of course I wasn't with). He even got TWO suckers and got to watch Dora during it.

I had to throw in the pic of Punky, because he is so cute when he is sleeping :)..and now he is up next for a haircut.

Dora, Dora, Dora

2009-03-10T15:08:00.003-05:00

Zander's new found love is Dora & Boots (Dora's sidekick). Occasionally he will choose to watch Little Einsteins but everything is Dora these days! I found on Dora's website that she is coming to the State Theater in Minneapolis in May so I am hoping to get tickets to that. Anyone want to go see Dora live, let me know!

but a snow day!

2009-02-27T09:57:00.005-06:00

Zander had fun helping Grandpa outside yesterday. Punky was out too, but had to come in because he kept stealing Z's mittens. The snow started at about 9am and by 11am we couldn't see across the street! I am not even sure how much snow we actually got.

not a silly face day

2009-02-27T09:53:00.002-06:00

I asked Zander to make a silly face and first he said after Dora is over. Then he said in a couple mintues. Finally he tried but he said he had no silly faces left.

warning

2009-02-26T11:24:00.003-06:00

Zander had 2 Gogurts for breakfast, and then 2 later in the day which caused for some awful smelling gas. He first tried to blame Punky, but soon had to leave the room himself it smelled so bad. So far he has one today and the smell continues to linger. This should make for an interesting Pull-up later.

project complete!

2009-02-23T07:34:00.005-06:00

Well, the purses are done! They turned out awesome (thanks mom). I forgot to take a pic of the others before ally and coco took them so I just have a pic of mine for now. I also put up a few of my favorite scrapbook pages I have done recently. So, enjoy.

my creative side

2009-02-09T22:13:00.009-06:00

My mom & I are making some purses for my 3 sisters, my mom, myself, and a baby bag for miss hattie. We cut out the material for my mom's tonight, and will finish hers this week hopefully! This was my first time following a pattern, so needless to say I got pricked a few times putting in the needles. I'm learning....

this is the purse pattern

my fabric of choice

miss hattie's

mi madre's

top: hattie, mom, me
bottom: em, ally or coco for the last two

I made up just a few random Valentine's Day cards...and then my creativity ran dry. This will do for now....

Grandpa's Cabin in the Winter....

2009-02-09T21:59:00.005-06:00

This past weekend Zander & I went with my parents to DL (Detroit Lakes) to visit my sister Emily, brother-in-law Ryan, and of course Hattie. We had tons of fun as always. Hattie is getting soo big. It really made me miss Zander being that little again. Before we headed home we drove over to PR (Park Rapids) to check out a new grocery store being built & Grandpa's cabin. I had never been there in the Winter so it was pretty awesome to see it covered in snow. You can see all the other cabins so easily because there are no leaves on the trees. The snow was so deep though!

Some fish houses

Cabin this past summer

Check out the video.

2009-01-22T22:53:00.003-06:00

Check out the video to the right -->America. The Beautiful.
Skip to playlist 2 if you want. Be prepared to shed a tear or two.
I hope you feel a bit of inspiration no matter your beliefs, politcal views,
or the country you call home.
Peace.

growing pains perhaps?

2009-01-16T09:30:00.002-06:00

Sorry we have not been keeping up with this as of late. Ever since our neighbors put a password on their wireless, we have no internet access which also means a lot less time is spent sitting in the bathroom which is the only place we got reception. We had been thinking/looking for a new bed for Zander because his bed was getting too small, and mostly he is a crazy sleeper and needs a lot of room. Emily and Ryan offered to give us their daybed and my parents were thinking of getting a new bed and giving us theirs but we ended up taking up Miah & Lisa's offer since they were much closer to us in terms of delivery. So, we took Miah & Lisa's bed because it is extra firm, which I need for my bad shoulder and neck, and gave Zander our bed because it is nice and soft! It is funny walking by Zander's room and seeing this big bed in his room next to all his kid size dressers, desks, etc. Grandma Tauer bought him a new bed spread with TRUCKS on it. It is absolutely perfect for him, and Punky enjoys it too! The first couple nights he slept so well in his new bed. However, the past couple nights have been quite difficult- not due to the bed. Zander has never been a great sleeper, but always a great dreamer. I know this because he talks a majority of the night, non-stop. He cries, he says please, thank you, Theresa, thats mine, no punky, etc. It is not usually too disruptive but last night he was screaming his feet hurt so I had to rub them. Then he told me that was hurting him and he needed socks. So I got a pair of socks, but he needed green socks and they were in the wash. So we settled for red socks. Next he didn't know where Punky was and needed him in by him. Punky came running in. Then he needed to lay on the couch I laid him on the couch. I started rubbing his back hoping he would fall asleep. After Ten Minutes I stopped. He turns looks at me and says keep petting me mommy. Finally he was able to fall asleep until morning, I was not. I can never fall asleep after nights like that. Are his feet really hurting him? Last week it was his knees. Is he having growing pains? Is he having nightmares? Is something happening at daycare? Why is he always talking about 'bad guys' and 'monsters'? Zander is a very smart kid. He can talk and communicate verbally better than most kids his age. He has such a big vocabulary for his age- which makes me happy. There are just so many questions and thoughts I have, that I do not know the answers to, and I wish I did. I thought Mom's knew everything?

Best Friends

2009-01-05T11:46:00.008-06:00

My mommy recently saw the movie Marley & Me and was telling me about it. She shared with me how special Punky is to her and how much he loves me even though I chase him with my trucks, throw his toys over the balcony, and am not always nice to him. He is my #1 fan...after mommy of course. In the movie they say "A dog doesn't care if your rich or poor, fat or skinny, or anything at all. Give them your heart, and they'll give you theirs." We opened Mom's computer and looked at all the pictures of Punky & Me. So, I thought I would share some of those photos with you. I wuv you Punky (even though I don't always show it). I guess that's what friends are for...

(He loved me before I was born by making sure my crib was comfy)

(He was the first to welcome me home from the Hospital)

(He took naps with mommy & me)
(He gives me kisses)
(He lets me ride him...kind of)
(He plays fetch with me)
(He dressed up as Bumble Bee with me on my 1st Halloween)
(Still takes naps with me...)
(Taught me how to crawl..sorry to everyone else who takes credit for that)
(He lets me play with him & his friends at the dog park)

Road Trip

2009-01-03T14:31:00.006-06:00

Today I went to Mankato with Auntie Ally, Grandma, Great Grandma Karen, and Mommy. We went to find Great Grandma a new winter jacket. Although, I am not sure if she even got one because I was too busy running around between all the clothes racks. I got to play at the play area too.

I also got a little nap in on the way home.

Potty Training Extravaganza

2009-01-01T15:59:00.004-06:00

Well, Tommy and my mommy told me when I woke up this morning that I am going to be potty trained by the end of the weekend. They set mommy's cell phone alarm to ring every 30 min. and when it goes off I have to go potty on the toilet. So far they have bribed me with stickers, candy, and telling me I will get to wear big boy underwear. So far, it has worked! Everytime the alarm goes off I like to yell "UNDIES!". The worst part so far is that they keep interupting me when I am watching my movies, or playing with my toys. Time to go potty!

(I made it until 9:18pm on New Year's Eve)

(Taking a catnap with mommy's shades in the car on the way to the Children's Museum yesterday)