2009 has been a very good year.
What the heck have we been doing?
I bet you are all waiting to find out, so here it is!
Winter 2008-2009
The year started with Tara and I taking a quick trip out to Las Vegas to see Donald and attend the annual CES Convention. We always try to get the heck out of MN in January and this January was no exception! With record cold weather (30 days below freezing), it was very easy to get away and enjoy the warmer weather in Las Vegas. Sean was enjoying his last year of Pre-school at Salem Hills Elementary, and he really liked his teacher Miss Rachel, but now he really likes his Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Paulson. In late February we headed out to Disney World to celebrate Sean’s birthday where he had a blast running around Magic Kingdom with his “Birthday Crown” (see image at the bottom of the page). Sean had a blast! A birthday at Disney World, if only Nick could have had the same thing… (see the “Fall 2009″ section below..).
Spring 2009
Finally, some warmer weather! For my birthday, Tara and I, along with some friends headed out to, you guessed it, Las Vegas! We had a great time as usual. Sean and Nick stayed home and enjoyed playing outside and spending some quality time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house on the lake. Sean started his first year of Tee-Ball and really enjoyed hitting the ball and running the bases. He also enjoyed hanging in the outfield playing with the sand! Another sport that Sean and Nick really enjoy playing is Golf! Both of them love to ride along and spend the day with Dad as he attempts to get better at the ever frustrating game of golf. As the weather got warmer, Sean and Nick became inseparable. Nick really looks up to his brother and is doing a great job with talking, singing, and pretty much repeating everything Sean does.
Summer 2009
Finally Summer was here and the kids were enjoying the extra long days and fun in the sun! The days were full of playing in the backyard with the blow-up pools. For our 11 Year Anniversary, Tara and I went to……ahem……Vegas. This time with even more friends! Wow, we go there a lot! Summer was the time that Nick came in to his own and started being even more independent. He is really growing up fast! Potty training began this Summer, and Nick is doing a fantastic job! For the 4th of July, we all watched the fireworks from Grandpa’s boat on the lake. It seemed like the past Summer was full of fun, swimming, playing in the yard, swimming, enjoying the weather, and swimming! In July, Tara and I headed out to Sonoma, CA and met up with our friends Eric and Amanda Zemke. We had some amazing opportunities to taste great wine and enjoy the Wine Country. We think that will be a regular trip as our passion for wine has grown into somewhat of an obsession. While we were away in California, Sean and Nick helped Grandpa with a few birdhouse projects around the house, and Nick, our little daredevil, went tubing for the first time! Sean and Nick love going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house especially in the Summer time! In August we took a family trip to Wisconsin Dells, our very first “Road Trip” in the minivan. I think we might stick with flying from now on. We had a great time in the Dells but that place is soooo crowded. Of course there is no better way to round out the Summer than with a trip to the MN State Fair. Every year Sean and Nick enjoy the fair more and more, but who doesn’t like the fair?
Fall 2009
Sean’s first day of Kindergarten! I cannot believe he is already off to school beginning the never ending journey of education and learning. It is amazing how much progress he has made in just the past few months. He constantly talks about school and loves his teacher, Mrs. Paulson. Tara finished developing her first iPhone app and we launched it in the iTunes App Store in October. If you are in to gambling and are looking for a way to track your patterns and play, checkout our app: Gamble Track. So I guess all of those trips to Vegas might pay off? October was a great month as we celebrated two birthdays! We decided since Sean had such a fun birthday at Disney World that we would do the same for Nick! We headed to Disney World with Grandma Mary and Grandma Bechik along with the Anaya family and spent the week enjoying everything that Disney World has to offer. Nick got the royal treatment with his very own Disney Birthday Button, and he basked in the glory of being the center of attention. The kids got the special treatment at the Pirates League and dressed up in full Pirate attire. We then headed off to trick or treat at the Magic Kingdom!
This year has been amazing. We are so happy that we are doing well and that our kids are healthy and enjoying life. We hope that you and your family are happy and healthy. We wish you well during this holiday season!
Eric, Tara, Sean(5), and Nick(3) Neumann
Some pics from this year (you can see them all by clicking on “Gallery” at the top of the site)
