It's Official!!

Cowboy Dakota Kriz has traded in his hat for a new one.
Or maybe...he was just having a little tooo much fun at Taylor's surprise Birthday Party at our house with our crazy neighbors :)

Home Coming...

They are home!! The girls were released about two hours ago from the NICU. It is such an exciting time for us. Who would have thought 18 days ago we would be bringing them home so soon. Alexandra decided there was no way Adelyn was leaving the building without her so she decided to rip out her feeding tube and start eating on her own. (True story!)

Last night Kelli Jo, their nurse and my old college roomate, decided to have a little photo session with the girls. It looks to me like they had all kinds of fun. I am placing a couple of pics on here, but check out Sanford Health websites Cradle Roll for a couple more.

It will be interesting to see what their big sisters reaction will be when she gets home from daycare. I will try to get a photo or two and share! She has had an interesting few weeks, but this will be the topper I have a feeling.

Everyone is welcome to come and visit. Please make sure you wash your hands and if you have any sign of a cold to let us know. We have some official looking hosiptal masks for you to wear while you hold the girls.

I would just like to thank you all for your support and prayers through these past couple of weeks. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts as we get acclimated to being a family of 5.

Love,

Jeannie, Jason, Isabella, Alexandra and Adelyn

Global warming -- where are you?

Yep -- it's cold. What else is new.

I've officially hit the wall of winter. It usually doesn't happen for me until February. But with December being unusually cold and now this two-plus week artic blast in January, I've officially had it. (Ask Bobbie -- she can attest.)

It's this time of year I question why we live in this part of the country. I can't help but think that there's guys right now enjoying 60-70 degree weather in some parts of this country.

But not here. We're stuck with watching TV for the umpteenth night in a row and playing indoor "hockey" in the basement. Call me a weenie. But with each year that passes, the cold gets harder to deal with, I tell ya.

(Jill/David -- you still need to move back.)

North Riverview Addition Homeowners vs. The Development Owners

Update from the SW MN Kriz Fam!

A few weeks ago we received a letter from the City stating that the owner’s of our development want to rezone a few of the lots to R-4. If that goes through, larger rental 4-8 plex units could be built. Well come to find out after attending the Zoning & Planning Committee meeting last week, they want to try and sell the lots on the other side to two businesses - Western Community Action Council and Head Start so they can build new office buildings and a 60+ some parking lot would be right on the corner coming into our area. This location is in the cul-de-sac area of the development on our side of the street. There would go our quiet little neighborhood and we feel the value of our homes.

We have everyone in the neighborhood on board and writing letters to council persons and will be attending the City Council meeting this coming Tuesday. This week we had a meeting at the Kriz house…we got to meet more neighbors and put all our ideas together and will have one person represent us at next weeks meeting, but all of us will attend. I felt so bad at last weeks meeting as one neighbors was so very passionate as to why they bought their home at this location that she started to cry.

POLITICS…what can you say…it’s everywhere even in small town Marshall.

The owners of our development are very wealthy retired business men from Marshall and they have a lot of clout in the community. One plus we have is the City Building Inspector is totally on our side and has voted it down

Well it just might be the underdogs taking on the BIG dogs – stay tuned for the outcome!!

Love and miss you all!

PS: having a surprise Birthday Party for Taylor with a couple of the neighbor’s tomorrow evening at our house. Both of which have daughters around Taylor’s age and they get along great. We can’t wait to see her face when she sees everyone. Lexi (one of the girls) has her Birthday they day after Taylor’s. Shaylene, is the other friend you met at the farm - she still talks about “Gary the cat”.

She is also on the traveling basketball team this winter and so she has been busy with that and of course with the boys :)! Ter is going to have his hands full…or maybe I should say he already has his hands full. Ha-Ha.

The Amazing Race -- it's addicting

So, is anyone as addicted to The Amazing Race as we are? The final episode is this coming Sunday. We'll be making popcorn and settling in to see who the winners are. We're banking on this couple ---->

Kade watches it with us. He's pretty predictable though -- he always pulls for the blonde bombshells until they have to think on their feet and then quickly get eliminated.

Wonder how long Bobbie and I would last on this show. It probably wouldn't end well. Though, I'd bet it would be highly entertaining for the audience.

Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice...That's What We Are!

Hi Again! I am Alexandra Jayne Thurston. I act a lot like my big sister Bella. If I am not happy I am going to tell you about it. I still have an IV in, but have been eating more and more every day and will not need this ole thing soon. I am breathing on my own, and have been recently moved from my bubble to a crib! (What an upgrade!) Since they have removed my suntanning goggles, I have had my eyes open and am taking it all in. Things are looking pretty good on the outside for now! I can't wait to meet you!

Hi Again! I am Adelyn Kay Thurston. I have built the talent of doing everything in my sleep. I am doing extremely well, they allow me to eat all I want and poop all I want. Which like I said I do in my sleep. Dad made me open my eyes for this picture, but it didn't last very long. I like my sister, was recently upgraded from my bubble to a crib as well. I didn't notice a difference I slept through it. I just know I woke up with a shirt on. (Between you and me it feels kind of funny!) My job right now is to continue to gain weight. Well, I am getting tired so see you all soon!

A few things for the young ones to know...

Hey all. Now that we have two new additions to the Kriz Clan, I'd like to share with them what they're are getting into. Jeannie/Jason -- I expect this to be the first thing read to them before any Baby Einstein rubbish...

A few things you should know about your new family:

1) As you get older, you'll find out that it is a family tradition by your aunts and uncles that we must embarrass you when at all possible. This includes razzing you about any and all dates and boyfriends you have. And especially if they are present.

2) Whatever you do to get into trouble in your teen years, there will be a Kriz story that could probably match it. And more times than not, Terry's name will be in that conversation.

3) He/She who buys you the best Christmas present is automatically moved to the top of the favorite aunt/uncle status.

4) When you get old enough, you have to give Jill/David crap about moving closer to the rest of us.

5) A few minor things: Uncle Dave is the one with the four-wheeler; Aunt Bobbie will take longer than anyone primping for events so get into the bathroom before she does; Jill makes great cheesecakes; Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sharon are the keys to your horse rides; Kevin and Terry will no doubt tease you the most; you'll have to fight for gender dominance over Kade and Jacob, but they are both softies at heart.

5) And last, but not least -- you are one lucky pair as you will be loved by many family members who perhaps are a little goofy at times, but that makes the ride all that much more fun.

Welcome the two new additions to the Kriz Fam Zoo! The Thurston Twins!

Hi, my name is Alexandra and according to my daddy I am going to be the football player in our family!

Hi, my name is Adelyn and since I am the tiniest of the two of us, my mommy says I am going to be the scrapper in the family! Just like her!

Daddy and Mommy are so proud of us and so excited for everyone to meet us.
Mommy is pretty sore and tired, but looks great and daddy

is tired but strong for all of us.

We can't wait to come home and meet our big sister Bella!

Daddy and mommy gave Uncle Terry and Aunty Tammy

permission to post our new pics to the family blog.

Wait till you see all the pics that daddy has of us!

PS: I think we are going to be pretty spoiled!

Love to you all!

Alexandra and Adelyn Thurston

Jeannie and Jason news

Don't know how many of you know, but Jeannie and Jason called today after Jeannie's Dr. appointment. Jeannie's BP was pretty high and she was admitted to the hospital at least for 24 hrs to bring the blood pressure down. When I talked to her tonight she sounded fine, said her blood pressure was better one check and then up again the next. Said the quite monitoring the babies continuously so that is a good sign. So the babies may be here sooner, or Jeannie may go home probably on bedrest. Will go up tomorrow myself to see if I can be of any help with Isabella. Keep your fingers crossed and pray hard!! Love, Mom

A New Year Resolution

Alright -- let's hear 'em. I know there are a few among us that have made New Year's resolutions. Time to fess up.

Personally, I don't really believe in them much. I've always thought if you want to start something to improve your life, why wait til Jan. 1? Besides, most don't pan out anyway -- I've got a Bowflex in the basement to prove it (although that is being used currently, I'm proud to say).

Against my usual trend, I have set one New Year's resolution for 2008: to eat smaller portions. I have a tendency to overeat at times. So I will work on eating a little less. Not a diet -- just not going to gorge as much.

In other words, instead of half a bag of Cheeze-Its balancing on my belly during football games, it will be only a bowl-full on my belly. Unless the Bowflex takes care of the belly part (quit rolling your eyes Bobbie).

Happy 2008!

Just a quick note to wish all you guys a most happy and satisfying new year! Hope no one has too bad a headache today. Maybe you are all beyond that stage, but I am not completely sure
!

Dad and I, of course, don't have any post New Year's Eve symptoms. We did discuss going to the Lone Tree for their dance, but both overruled the idea in favor of a nice warm spot near the wood stove. Can't say as I figure we missed much! It has been in the barely above zero temperature numbers, so inside activities have lots of appeal.

Have been sewing and enjoying that. ( I'll get tired of that after a while and need to switch to planting seeds, or riding, or something--- my short attention span thing!) Jeannie, I truly hope I can get these blankets done in the next couple of weeks. I have to quit thinking of other cool things to do to the basic plan to make that happen. This is why it takes me 1.5 years to finish quilts!

Tammy, the new salsa recipe is delicious. It was my only concession to the New Year's Holiday, probably because it is kind of healthy. (thats one of those new year's resolution things).

We love you all and are so proud of you all, ( this includes, of course, the sons and daughters you all chose to include in our family. You have made and are making great families. Melissa, Kevin, Tammy, David and Jason- thanks for working to adapt to our idiosycrysies (sp?) , of which we have many!! Take care and stay well. Talk to you again soon! Love, Mom and Dad.