Sinclair family

Sinclair family

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

In 2012...




Scott is losing weight, his middle is less round.
He'll need new jeans soon or his pants will be on the ground.

Nikki does yoga while picking up toys.
She drinks lots of mocha to keep up with the boys.

Jacob is in preschool and learning to skate. 
He loves play dates with friends and likes to go by Jake.

Nathan says a few words and is always on the run.
Books, trains, and cars...he has been busy since turning one. 

May you feel God's love this Christmas and
Wishing you much laughter in 2013!

Love, The Sinclair family 

Friday, December 14, 2012

Nathan at 18 months

Fuzzy Nathan.  Literally and figuratively.  Did I focus on his ear or what?  Help me and my camera skills.


18-24 months is my favorite stage.  And here we are.  This morning Nathan thought that holding his cool truck shirt was much more fun than wearing it.  Or, at least that is how I interpreted it.  He kept patting his belly and tried pulling off his shirt.  I love their brains at this stage.

On a side note, can anyone help me understand why my close up pictures are not in focus?!  You might remember I had to replace my Canon (which I really loved) and no offense to Scott but he and the sales man thought this SONY a57 was a good replacement.  So far, I have been less than impressed.  I suppose I should read the instruction manual or take a class.  But come on, is an EASY button to much to ask for?

Night and Day




Wednesday, December 12, 2012

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...





...due to:

the recent snow, our Christmas tree (with bright round LED multi-colored lights picked out by Jacob),  the nativity set (Nathan thinks the camel is a dog), the little pile of ornaments on the cupboard (handed to me from Nathan after he has taken the ones in reach off of the tree), Jacob singing a song about Jesus's birthday (to be performed at his pre-school Christmas program on Monday) and the Santa hat floating around.

For me personally the hustle and bustle is mostly behind me thanks to a few days off from parenting.  Jacob and Nathan got to visit Grandma and Grandpa in the north woods.  (Thank you Mom and Dad!)  They stayed busy playing games and shoveling while Scott and I got that storeroom project finished, the garage door is fixed and Scott now drives to work in a warm car, our closet is clean (no more losing my yoga pants!), laundry is caught up, Christmas decorating is done, shopping finished, and a couple of extra hours of sleep to boot.  That Christmas card is still waiting to be sent but we'll get to it.  Eventually.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

This week...

Nathan played with vintage toys.

Jacob enjoyed a visit from his "weird" friend Ramadan.

The egg for crock pot stuffing froze in the hotel fridge.

Scott and Jacob did a pre-Thanksgiving meal workout.

Jacob took a bath WHILE watching cartoons.  Best day ever.

Melly stayed true to herself.  I am jealous of her nap schedule.
There has been a lot of noise in my house this past week.  A lot of whining, disciplining, tantrums, fits, demanding, meltdowns, lack of planning, bad attitudes, yelling, and chaos.  (I won't tell you who is doing what).   With no prior experience raising two boys it seems as though I am struggling at how to teach a very opinionated, well negotiating almost 5 year old how to live in harmony with a busy, wants everything my older brother has, will scream if I don't get my way 18 month old.  I am lacking patience but thankfully not grace.  God knows I need it.

I think it is safe to say winter is officially here.  If I have to bring the spring jacket up from the basement again I am positive that we have ourselves a serious case of global warming and all of my tip money will be sent to environmental organizations.  Jacob is looking forward to shoveling so hopefully soon we will have some white stuff to go along with the cold.

The Christmas season is officially upon us.  Jacob is practicing Silver Bells for his church program and I have started thinking about shopping and decorating as well as the fact that I am so thankful that I gave birth to my boys in a comfy hospital room surrounded by soft, warm blankets, a warm bath and plenty of food in lieu of a smelly stable filled with poop and scratchy hay.

I am going to get ready for work now.  Er, my break.  Peace and love from the Sinclair house.





Thursday, November 15, 2012

Rest in peace, Ernie






10/24/99 - 11/14/12

We love you Ernie bug.  Thanks for a good long run and we'll see you in heaven!

Heavenly Movement

Bedtime conversation between Scott and Jacob:
J:  Dad, will we have to go to the bathroom in Heaven?
S:  Hmmmm, I'm not sure but I don't think so.
J:  But if I DO have to go, where is the bathroom?
S:  I really don't know bud.  I'm pretty sure you won't have to worry about it.
J:  (with just a hint of exasperation) Well, if I have to go I'll just ask God.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

It's okay, I'm okay!


Nathan tries really hard to do everything his big brother does.  A trip to the ER and a matching scar are no exception.  Last night Nathan's favorite bath splashing activities proved to be a bit much as he launched himself into the drain plate.  This gash is about half the size and a little bit higher and we were fortunate the doc was able to use the super glue method again.  I am beginning to realize this isn't the last of our heart palpitations as we raise these two boys.  God bless us all.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Lydia:  "Ugh.  Milk again.  I am so sick of milk.  When you gonna hook me up with something like pizza?"
Nathan:  "I'm so bored.  I just want my crib.  What in the world is Jacob doing now."
Jacob:  "Hmm.  If I tie its tail onto the hitch of one of my trucks I can use lamb to pull it out of the mud."

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Skating is great

Saturday morning skating lessons.  He's doing great and having a ball!


Mission: Accomplished

Where they grow their vegetables and herbs that they use in their dishes.  Another great thing they do is use compostable cups.  We threw one in our compost...we'll see how well it does. 

I think I'm gonna like it here.

Open year round.  We sat in the hot tub both nights. 

Relaxed and glowing due to numerous exfoliating spa bath rituals. 

We did it!  Two days of pure relaxation at Sundara Resort and Spa.  You might remember a few weeks back when we had a failed attempt at our "stay cation".  I am thankfully reporting we succeeded in two days of sitting in our fluffy white robes and enjoying all that this amazing place has to offer.  I highly recommend it.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Not quite like I had hoped...

We started tearing down old shelves.  This project remains on the to-do list.

This picture isn't that pertinent to the post but this is how I am finding him these days.  This little guy is a climber.  He is also officially walking.  You have to keep an eye on him.   He found out he could get up on the table and was he mad when he found out sitting on the table wasn't an option.

Happy to have healthy Jacob back!

Last Tuesday we (I) had hopes and dreams of starting our stay cation.  Our idea was to stay at home and take advantage of all the of things Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding areas have to offer in the way of restaurants, museums, shows, etc.  In my head I had planned boutique shopping in Hudson, a couples massage at the spa, a show from a band we both liked back in the day, a movie (chick flick for me, PBS documentary on the Minnesota potters for him...after 11 years we have learned to compromise ;) naps when we wanted and yummy food which is served to me.  Yahoo!  I have been trying to plan something since our 10 year anniversary (which was last year).  Nathan was of course a few months old and we didn't want to leave.  This year I thought no big deal...we'll celebrate 10 and 11.  September came and went and due to it being the end of the fiscal year Scott spent most nights and weekends at work.  (Wah wah wah woe is me, right?) So we planned for October.  We had talked about no house projects but then decided with the amount of time we had we could at least get the basement cleaned out and fix the garage door so Scott could park in there before winter.  We figured we'd have enough time for a couple of important projects and fun and relaxation as well.

One of the first indicators that things were not really going to go as I had planned was the fact that on day one of our stay cation, Scott started a cleanse.  He is taking a 12 week class on cooking low glycemic meals and low and behold there is a 5 day jump start.  The idea of me eating a plate of french toast for brunch (one of my dreams) while he drooled across the table didn't quite paint the picture that I had created in my mind.  Scott also had to take calls and spent all of Tuesday and part of Wednesday in the office.  Under normal circumstances a quiet house and a cup of coffee is just the ticket for me but again, it wasn't really what I had envisioned.  Then, on Wednesday night we got a call from my parents and Jacob had come down with the flu.  Unfortunately this was a violent flu bug and you can imagine how as a mom sitting at home wasn't where I wanted to be.  I felt so awful for him and felt terrible I wasn't there.  My poor mom was up the entire night with him.  But, we figured, hey...if this is a 24 hour thing he is in great hands and he'll bounce back.  Not the case. After talking to Jacob on the phone Thursday night (he never wants to talk on the phone when he is at Grandma and Grandpa's - I knew he just wanted his mom) we decided to head up early Friday morning.  We thought we'd head up and spend the weekend hanging out and come back on Sunday. A weekend relaxing at the lake is pretty good, not to mention my mom has a lovely soaking tub. But then Friday morning my mom sent me a text and both she and my Dad had come down with the flu. We drove to Bemidji, packed the van and loaded the boys and within about a half hour headed back home.  

I am happy to report that Nathan, Scott and myself have avoided coming down with it and also happy to report that my mom and dad bounced back quickly.  Jacob is finally outside playing with his neighbor friend.  Nathan is napping, and I am enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon.  No french toast, but I had a good workout this morning and my boys are healthy.  This past week was not quite as we had hoped, but I'm optimistic Grandma and Grandpa will give us a rain check and I will get that plate of french toast.  Sans drooling husband.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Chilly day at Como Zoo





All smiles before entering zoo.  We should have got the pic of the two kids crying when we left.

Hoffman and McNamara doing work at the Gorilla Park opening Spring 2013.

The most exciting exhibit of the day...the skid steer breaking up concrete.



Um, really...could they be any more adorable?

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