Oktoberfest

Another Oktoberfest is upon us. After Mom and Dad took part in some adult activities on Saturday, we took Cullen and Simone down to the fest grounds for some games and rides. Unfortunately, Cullen is only 34 inches tall right now, and every ride but the merry-go-round require that he be 36 inches. After an unsuccessful negotiation attempt with Rabbit the Carnie at the bouncy room, we headed over to the merry-go-round. Now we attempted the merry-go-round last year and Cullen was not a big fan. But we figured, hey he's 2.5 now and 34 inches tall, he'll love this. As you can see by the pictures he's not quite into it yet. After the merry go round meltdown we headed to play some games. Cullen decided that he wanted a goldfish. So off we went to visit Cowboy the Carnie. Now it has been quite a while since I played the goldfish game. Essentially, what you do is throw a ping pong ball in a little glass jar. After missing every shot on the first round, I was getting a bit nervous. As my 2.5 yr old, 34 inch, merry-go-round crying son looked up at me I knew I had to focus, failure was not an option. Then on the second shot of my next round of balls, Sharkie (Cullen named him) the goldfish was ours. We headed home, a great first weekend of the fest.
But the story doesn't end there. The next morning I'm taking the kids into daycare. Cullen was singing his new favorite song, "On Wisconsin" as we drove past the fest grounds. All of a sudden he stops singing and informs me that he was a big boy. Curious of what was going through this little guys head, I ask "Oh yeah, why do you say that?" Cullen then informs me that he is a big boy because he went on the rides and points towards the merry-go-round. Chuckling I ask, "Did you like the merry-go-round?" "Yes", he replied and then went back into "On Wisconsin" Classic.

Practically Perfect in Every Way.

Here are Simone's 4-month stats:
23.78 inches (25th percentile)
13 lbs. 6 oz. (25th percentile)
43.7 cm head circumference (98th percentile)

Simone has taken after her brother and almost every other person with the LaVigne genes: she has a very large brain! Just as Mary Poppins would say, "she's practically perfect in every way."

Big-Head Bowlers

After my grandmother's funeral, the LaVigne cousins spent some quality time together bowling. We did, after all, go to grandma's favorite spot: Elsie's.

all good things must come to an end.

We now say goodbye to both summer and my maternity leave. I have had a wonderful 4 months with sweet baby Simone and crazy Cullen. It's very bittersweet. While I do enjoy work, it's a dose of back to reality I'm not sure that I'm ready for. As this chapter ends, another begins.

Zoo Animals.

Fun with Mason and Brigette at the Como Zoo.

Everything Fried and "On-a-Stick".

Annie, Kelly, Cullen and I embarked on a event-filled journey to the great Minnesota get-together.

Circle of Life

It is with sad hearts that we say goodbye to my grandmother, Marian LaVigne. At 88, she died peacefully in her sleep. Her legacy is one to be proud of: 8 children, 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She instilled in us the importance of family and always saying "I love you." I admire my strong German grandmother. She raised 8 very successful, honest, kind-hearted children. She was so proud of her children and grandchildren. Whether it was a football game, piano recital or the birth of a new baby, Grandma Marian was always our #1 fan.

Two days before Grandma passed away, baby James LaVigne was born to proud parents Dan and Aren. It truly reminds me that when God takes one life, he blesses us with another.

As Dirk and I begin our own family, we want to introduce them to the important family members who have shaped our lives. From parents to grandparents, aunts to uncles, first-cousins to second-cousins - you are already meaningful people to Cullen and Simone. Quality time spent with family is what life is all about.

Funny Kids.