Potty Time!

Vada has decided that she wants to start using the potty! She is so funny, she started going to the toilet in the bathroom and standing next to the toilet, lifting her shirt up and pushing her hips forward.....this of course is what Jaxson does when he goes potty! We decided that was time to get her potty out and see what happens. ALL she wants to do now is sit on it- she hasn't gone in it once, but that doesn't seem to bother her! She would rather sit on her potty than sit at the table for dinner...This was very new for us because Vada NEVER turns down FOOD! We'll see how far this goes:)

Vada deciding that she needs to the baby in her baby dolls pack-n-play! Na-night:)

Jaxson and Deanna playing on the swing set. They played and played today...What a gorgeous afternoon! Presten and I even broke out the Rollerblades today....and the training BEGINS!!

We also celebrated Ella's (our niece) first birthday on Saturday, but my camera was not

working:( -hopefully I can get some pictures that I will be able to post.

Have a great week! The Bean's

The BEAN'S are back!!

Vada on her new slide!!

After a two week break- the Bean Blog is back!! I have no excuses except LIFE and possibly a little laziness!

I will give a little recap of the last couple weeks. For by birthday Presten and I went to a restaurant called Brasa in NE Minneapolis. It was A-mazingly good! If you are the area GO! All the food is locally raised- natural and organic and FULL of flavor! YUM! The kiddos spent the night at my parents and then we headed down to Rochester on Saturday for Easter. The kids had such a good time at grandma and grandpa's...and Vada was on her best behavior!- at least until mom and dad got there. While we were in Rochester we also went minivan shopping- I think that we have the one picked out that we want...so it shouldn't be too much longer until Presten trades in his truck for a minivan!

The Thursday after Easter I left for a four day scrapbooking getaway. It was at Covenant Pines in McGregor, MN. They have a gorgeous retreat center and I was able to get Vada's one year book almost done. Presten took Friday off that week to spend with the kids. He also took Vada to her 18 month appointment. She is the 80th percentile for weight and 75th for height- so at least somewhat proportionate. She still loves food, but it seems like we have been having less battles with it. We are working hard on her verbal skills- she just gets so frustrated because we can't understand her that it tends to turn into a full out tantrum. We'll get there!

We are loving the sunshine! The kids have been playing outside every moment they can. This past week the swing set from grandma Vickie's and grandpa Steve's was delivered to our house!! The kids are having so much fun on it. Jaxson has turned it into his own little ship and Vada is never tired of going down the slide. They are sleeping better than they ever have after spending hours playing outside!

Saturday, I attend Tanya's (Presten's cousin) bridal shower. She is getting married the end of May and we can't wait for the Wedding!

Vickie came over Saturday evening to watch the kids for us so that we could go out with Stacy and Darrin. We went to the restaurant Seven -it is a sushi restaurant. It was our first full sushi expedience. The ambiance was really cool-it was very laid back. The kids had a really good time with grandma!

I have been a little under the weather today, so I am hoping that I will feel a little better by tomorrow- I have no time to be sick!

I hope that everyone else is doing well!! Have a great week! The Bean's

The Easter Bunny hops on over to Otsego!!

Vada was just not sure about the Bunny!

Easter is fast approaching and would not be complete without a visit with the Easter Bunny! The park and rec commission hosts an Easter event each year and this year we had a record turnout! I think that everyone is starting to look for more activities closer to home and this event I think proved that. With the housing market crisis and fewer families moving into our area these events are not growing due to an increase of population, but people seeking out more local opportunities.

I had to work at the event so I was not able to walk around with the kids. I think that next year I am going to have them come a little closer to the end so I can walk around with them. We had an Easter egg Hunt, Teensy the clown, tattoos, face painting and of course the Easter Bunny!

We had a pretty low key week otherwise. Vada is still keeping us on our toes...we have now not only had tape the pantry shut, but now the refrigerator! If she is not in the kitchen she still going up and down those stairs!

Jaxson is still his silly self and coming up with new ways to make us laugh everyday! The kids are going to stay at my parents on Friday night so that we can go out for my birthday. I think that he asked me 55 times today if it is time to go to grandma's yet. He already has his bag packed!

Off to do laundry!! Have a great week! The Bean's!

a moo here..and a moo there..everywhere a MOO-MOO!

No more snow!! No more snow!! No more snow!! -however, we do live in Minnesota and the snow always comes back! I think we are fore casted to get a couple inches on Monday....boo!!

We are taking advantage of the sunshine and the kids have been playing outside all day. Bikes, wagon, T-ball set and the chalk have all made it out of the garage and all over the driveway and lawn. Plus- Presten is working on some Spring projects! YAY!!

Friday, we met up with Jessi, one of my old co-workers from St. David's at Edinborough Park. They have an amazing indoor playground and kids were able to just run and run and run!! Jessi and I also had lunch together at the MSSA conference on Thursday so we definitely had a chance to catch up! She is also my go to person for good books....so now I have a whole new list! After dinner on Friday we headed to Borders; I am starting the Jane Austen series.

Saturday, we went down to St. Paul to celebrate our friend Shannon's 30th birthday. Paul surprised her with all her friends and family and a trip to Ireland- leaving in 5 days!! If that wasn't enough they even arranged for bag pipers to come in and play "Happy Birthday". What a great night! This was also our first night having a babysitter watch the kids! She came equipped with safety forms, prizes for good behaviors and activities. It went very smoothly and the kids were really good for her.

Jaxson and Vada have been enjoying playing dress up this week. We got a few new play clothes from one of our friends at church - tutu's and all! Jaxson has been Harry Potter since Friday- glasses and all. He even had to bring his costume to church today!

We are having fun with Vada- teaching her all the animal noises. She is so funny and she is so proud of herself when she does them. Her next new fascination is the stairs. Up and down - up and down. Jaxson never learned to go down backwards, but thankfully Vada has. Any chance she has is on the stairs!

Another week ahead..hopefully not too snowy! Bring on the 70's!! -that's our new chant!

Have a great week! The Bean's!

Spring has Sprung!

I think spring has finally SPRUNG!!

We had had an exciting last couple of weeks spending lots of time with friends and enjoying all the fresh warm air!

Friday morning was still a little chilly and cloudy - a perfect day to run off some energy at Gleason's gymnastics center. We went with another family from the neighborhood. Jaxson has been there before so when we got there he was off to running, jumping and tumbling! This was Vada's first time and she was ALL over the place! She has no fears- there are large trampolines that you can jump off of into foam blocks and if I didn't stop her from she would of jumped right in! She is just not quite big enough, but that does not stop her! The kids had a really good time.

Then Friday night, Aaron and Lacey came up and stayed at the Country Inn and Suites near the outlet mall. We went over there for pizza and swimming with the kids. Hayden is getting so big and definitely starting to look a little more like Lacey. She is so sweet!

Saturday, Presten was off so we headed down to the Midtown Market in Minneapolis for lunch. We had Gyros at Holy Land and they were sooo good! Then we headed over to French Meadow bakery to pick up some bread for dinner...and a couple cookies too of course:)

After a good nap Jaxson headed over to Vicky and Steve's for a slumber party with all the grand kids. They had pizza, roasted marshmallows and watched a movie- he had so much fun!

We had Jon and Lindsey and Dave and Leanna over for dinner- it was so great to catch up with them. Leanna and Dave have a little girl that is 7 mo and Jon and Lindsey are expecting and we are sooo excited for them!

Oh and Vada is starting to say a couple more things!! She can say "good girl"- that is what she calls Lexi. She can also tell you what a cow says and a lion!!

whew....what a great weekend!! We hope that everyone has been well and have a great week! The Bean's!

Our getaway!!

YAY for all the sunshine!! Jaxson enjoyed playing outside with Deanna on Saturday afternoon. He has been talking about playing with her all winter. He could not get his outside clothes on fast enough! Spring is in the air!!

Friday night grandma Vicky stayed with the kids. They had pizza, watched movies and had treats!! They were in Heaven! Grandpa Steve even stopped by on Saturday morning to see the kids- they were so excited to see him! Vada even did her little princess wave for him!

Presten and I enjoyed dinner at the Capital Grill in Minneapolis and then we stayed at the City center Marriott about a block from the restaurant. Our room was amazing! We stayed on the 23rd floor and two of the walls in our room were completely windows that overlooked the new Twins stadium and the rest of the city. We had a really nice night and even had room service in the morning and then back home to see the kids. It was a really nice little getaway!

The Michigan State basketball players and the Michigan Tec hockey players were also staying at the hotel so it was kinda fun to see them.

Tonight we are headed to Space Aliens for Trenton's 3rd birthday and Jim's 30th birthday!!

I cannot believe that tomorrow is already Monday!!

Thanks for checking in..Have a wonderful week! The Bean's

Work! Friends! Birthday!

This past week just flew by, partly because Presten was away for work for a couple of days. He left on Wednesday for a training on leadership at a conference center in Chaska. He left right before the BIG snow storm! HOLY SNOW!! I left early on Thursday to try and get home before the roads were bad and I realized that I should of left an hour earlier! Jaxson and I did make it home only to get stuck in the driveway! I had to get the shovel out and everything..I was STUCK! I am so thankful for our wonderful neighbors who snow plowed the driveway so that I could get out of the garage once I made it in! If only now it was a little warmer so that we could actually enjoy it....Burrr!

Saturday the kids and I had a busy day. We headed to Eagan to get together with some old co-workers from St. David's. Jaxson had fun playing with Claudia who is just a couple months younger than he is. Claudia is also now a BIG sister! Her brother Ethan was born in October-what a sweetheart! We brought a blueberry cheesecake that I made and it was de-licious! I will be adding that to the recipe box!

Then we headed home for a quick nap and then off to Heidi's 30th birthday party at Old Spaghetti Factory in Minneapolis. The kids came with and they did fabulous! Jaxson put on quite the show. He decided that he wanted to put on a break dancing show for everyone and BOY did he ever! TWO shows and he went all out with all his MOVES! He had a table of 15 girls all applauding him. It was hilarious!!! I will have to tape him and post a video - he is good!

Today we have been busy around the house and I finished up the Scarlet letter for tomorrow nights book club. I also finished the "Namesake" today --a recommended quick read.

Another busy week ahead..Presten and I are going on a date on Friday night..lets hope it is a fast week! Take Care!! THE Bean's!

This afternoon Vada woke up from her nap before Jaxson..She LOVES banana bread. Presten and I were just laughing at her..we decided to tape her!