The Reitan's family photo, 2009

It's not easy to get the whole family together for a photo these days. This one's a keeper... everyone is in a good mood with smiles and open eyes!

Thanks for the delicious chili Nana.
December 2009

Santa's visitor

Nana and Grandpapa brought me to see Santa on Saturday. We also went to see a real live Nativity scene. I got to pet a donkey! Thanks for a fun Saturday....Love, Brock

Halloween 2009

Brock playing with leaves in front of our house.

Brock and Brayden had the same costume this year. How cute are these two?

Photos of Rayna

I took lots of pictures of Rayna for her birth announcements (which will probably be sent with our Christmas cards since we haven't addressed the envelopes yet). Here are few of my favorites that didn't make the cut of being on the card.

Our trip to the Minnesota Zoo

Ben, Emily, Brayden, and Gabrielle went to the zoo with us at the end of October. We had a blast. Brock was SO exhausted by the end of the day he needed to sit in Brayden's spot in in Ben and Emily's stroller. We took the smaller stroller because Brock always wants to walk. I guess it was too much walking for him that day.

Brock has a book called, "The going to bed book" and he loves to find the moose on each page.

Here are Daddy and Brock watching the video of Brock watching the bear. You can find that video a few posts back.

Rayna's birth announcement

Here it is! Rayna's birth announcement.

Kids say the silliest things....

I have been meaning to write down some of the funny things Brock says. I've decided to write them here and share them with you. I will need to do this more regularly because I can only think of one right now.

Brock has a blanket (we call it his bunka) that he loves. He has grown very attached to his bunka. He wraps it around his left index finger and smells it all the time. The other day I asked him what his bunka smelled like. He thought about it for a second and then said in a very serious voice, "Earth".

Brock and Rayna

Brock loves his sister SO much. He's always looking out for her. She was crying today and Brock looked concerned. I told him Rayna was sad. Brock came up to her and said, "It's okay baby Rayna" and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Brock wanted to share his blue bus with Rayna...

and his yellow bus. What a nice brother.

Kisses for Rayna (what a lucky girl).

My little cuties.

"It's so big!"

Here's a little video from our trip to the Minnesota Zoo. Brock is talking to a stranger about the bear.

October snow

Josh and I went to Mexico for our honeymoon and had just found out we were pregnant with Brock the day before we left. As we were trying to figure out how to tell our families, I thought, "why don't we buy a tiny little outfit and wrap it up and give it to your folks and let them figure it out". We had no idea if it was a boy or girl and this dress is what we decided to buy. It was a very special moment around the dinner table when they opened the box and realized what we were telling them. Brock did not wear the dress, but here is our dear Rayna in the dress we bought in December of 2006.

Daddy is really hoping Rayna is a snuggle bug.

What a crazy year for weather. Snow in early October. This was our first snow. We had a bigger snow fall 2 days later. It's all gone now (thank goodness). Brock could not get outside fast enough.

Leif Erikson Day

Frank Williams...winner of the boat race.

Congratulations Frank!
We had a great turn out this year. Here are some pictures of the evening. The boat races are the highlight of the evening but Ikea's meatballs take a close second. Thanks to everyone who brought goodies to share. We had a great time and we hope to see everyone again next year.
Leif landed first!

Lanky Hank

Brock has this book about Elmo's dad taking Elmo to a baseball game. The star player is named Lanky Hank. Brock loves the book and one day he grabbed a ball and said "Lanky Hank" and threw the ball in this awkward manner (which you will soon see). When Daddy got home, I said, "Brock, show Daddy how you throw like Lanky Hank". He grabbed the ball and you will see what he does. I think it's pretty observant of him to know that the pitcher in the book lifts his leg when he pitches the ball, too bad Brock lifts the wrong leg. He's gotten quite good at throwing the ball this way.

Twinkle twinkle...

Here is Brock singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for me.

Leif Erikson day 2009 video

A Trip to the beach

On one of the last nice days of summer, we all took a trip to the beach. When Josh and Brock went for a walk (run) along the path I was able to lay Rayna down for a few photos on the beach. Brock ran so much he chafed the inside of his thighs SO badly he walked like he was holding a bowling ball between his legs for a day. He went to bed with lots of cream on his poor swollen and puffy thighs.

Fun in the sun!

The many faces of Rayna...

Brock having fun at home.

This is Rayna laying on the foot stool in her pretty dress, which I should have ironed.

Here's another angle...can we say "noodle legs"?