Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Summer Mode

We have been enjoying our summer vacation...swimming at the pool, playing at the park, picking berries, playing t-ball are just some of the things that have been keeping us busy. 
I am trying to enjoy every minute as I know I only get one summer with my loveable, crazy 5 year olds!  I'm not sure why I have been a blog slacker. Here's a quick recap of the past couple of weeks.

Aunt Lisa and I ran the RCU Charity Classic.  It was Aunt Lisa's and my first 10K!   Brenna and Brody ran the kids 1/4 mile run. Angie, Steve, and my mom came to cheer us on.
 
Auntie Lisa before the race
 
At the end of the race...we were both still smiling
We ran the first 2-3 miles together and then finished about 5 minutes apart at the end.  I finshed in 1 hour 11 minutes.
  I didn't get a running shot of Brody. I was too slow with the camera.
Proud of their accomplishment. Brenna was 25th and Brody was 15th out of 70 kids.
 Our third visit to the strawberry patch.  Brenna usually eats more than she picks. :)
De-De came along.  Brody picks quite a few strawberries and also enjoys throwing the rotten ones.
Later that afternoon we went and picked black caps behind our house.  They dressed for the thorns and mosquitos.
Tuesday at t-ball.  Matt and Carrie came from Eau Claire to watch. Brenna and Brody showed off for their favorite spectators.  Great Grandma De-De, Aunt Jessie, Abbi, and Tyler also came to watch.  Thank you Carrie and Matt for coming to watch!
Face painting by Abbi.  Brody is a cheetah.  I'm sure you can tell but just in case you can't..I think it looks like he is wearing glasses.
Abbi's turn
Brenna had her ENT appointment and the doctor we saw did not recommend a tonsilectomy at this point! If she continues to get strep frequently or if her sleep is disrupted significantly than we might have to consider it at some point.  That was good news.

Lastly to end with a story that started my day with a smile

Brody: Mom, there's a bug on the floor.
Me: Just leave it there. It's harmless.
Brody after watching the bug for awhile: Mom, this bug has arms.  Come look. 
I guess the new vocabulary word for today was "harmless."





Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Summer Vacation...Finally!

I wrapped up the school year by celebrating two retirements at a co-worker's house on my last official day of work, June 9th. . It was a fun party and a nice way to transition into summer mode!

It has been quite the beginning to my summer vacation.  Day #1-Brenna wanted powder on her butt. I told her to go put some on it, and then I went upstairs to look for something.  This is what I came back to...
I couldn't help but laugh. Brody was in true vacation mode as he said, "What else do we have to do?" and began cleaning it up!

Our house now smells like babies again!

This also happened on day #1 of vacation.  Do you recognize the hand print? Yup it's Brenna's. Brody wanted me to take a picture for the blog.

Day #1 continued.  Friday I decided to get Brenna in for her strep recheck because I thought it was back.  Brody did not want to come to Eau Claire so he stayed with Grandma De-De. Brenna had an all out fit as she screamed, "I feel braver with Brody." It broke my heart but I didn't think he should have to come with and I wanted Brenna to know she can be brave without her brother.  Thankfully she pulled it together and did well at the doctor's office.  Since we didn't get into the doctor until 4:00 we had to wait for the results until Saturday evening.  The strep test came back negative, which is good news.  The bad news is that Brenna's tonsils are huge!   Also Brenna's blood pressure was high during the visit.  The nurses took it a few times and it was consistently high. Dr. Stevenson took it the last time and it was still a little too high. Apparently you need to have three high readings at seperate visits before anyone gets concerned.  

Day #2-Saturday we received a phone call saying my aunt Reb was in ICU due to an  aneurysm that was leaking.  My grandma wanted to be in the cities so my sister, Abbi, Heather, the kids, grandma and I all hopped in the van and headed to Minneapolis to see Debbie and drop my grandma off.   My aunt could only have 2 visitors at a time and the hospital staff wanted to limit her brain activity so we did not stay long.  With all of that extra time we had to stop for some shopping on the way home.  We didn't get back until almost 9:00. The kids were so well behaved.  My Aunt is still in ICU and will probably be there for at least two weeks.   

We saw Dr. Gilmartin today (Tuesday) and he obtained a normal blood pressure reading! Phew! I was beginning to get a little worried.  Dr. Gilmartin thinks Brenna's blood pressure goes up when she is nervous.  That wouldn't surprise me as she is my child!  Anyway, Dr. Gilmartin referred Brenna to an ENT to have her tonsils checked out.  She has been snoring and does not seem rested in the morning, which are two red flags that her tonsils might need to be removed.  I know it is not a major surgery but I am still nervous about the thought of that.  I am hoping her tonsils shrink before the appt. on June 30th.  Dr. Gilmartin said that will probably not happen, but I can hope! 

Brenna and Brody also started summer school this week, which is just intro to kindergarten from 8:30-11:30, but with all of the other chaos I do not feel like we are on vacation. I don't think the weather helps either!  Brody is even complaining that he wants a day to stay at home and play.  Hopefully that should happen soon.  We have managed to get a little home time in and of course that involves playing baseball, soccer, basketball...anything with a ball.  Brody has been perfecting his Ryan Braun moves.  He now bats like him with one foot slightly out in front of the other.  I guess Brody "can get more power this way."  I am amazed at what Brody notices when he watches baseball.  We have also spent some time doing girl things like playing with all of Brenna's many dolls.   Brenna is also into writing and practicing her sounds/letters. 

I am hoping this week brings continued healing for my Aunt Deb, and good news for my Aunt Linda who is going to Mayo for three days of testing regarding a lump on her spine. 

Feels like Summer

A quick recap of the past couple of weeks...We began the first weekend in June by attending the kiddie parade and carnival for Eleva Broiler Fest. Many years ago, attending the evening activities at Eleva Broiler Fest was a must and it always felt like the beginning of summer! Now it's only the daytime activities are enough for me, but it still feels like it is the kick off for summer. Cousin Shane played the trumpet on the corner prior to the parade starting. I don't think you can even see him in the picture. Great Grandma De-De came with us.  We saw Linda, Eldie, Wayne, Jennie
 and Alex too.




                                                                                    
                                                               Uncle Eldie and Aunt Linda
Brenna needed a hand to feel safe
On Sunday of Eleva Broiler Fest weekend we were invited to Carrie and Matt's for a cookout and to watch the Blue Angels.  It was a fun day!
Group Hug!
                                        A busy day with friends and fun makes a boy tired!
We began the following week with haircuts at Sports Clips after I picked them up at Carrie's. Brenna and Brody were lucky enough to spend two days at Carrie's while I finished up the school year.  Both kids were begging for hair cuts so I thought it was time.  Brenna and Brody both got really nice hairstylists who did a great job.  Both of them wanted to get their hair washed and a massage. They get better treatment than I do when I get a haircut!  Brenna got a lot cut off, but it looks really nice! The best part...she brushes it herself and I don't have to listen to any screaming when I brush it! 
On Tuesday, their last official full day with Carrie, she took them to Chaos Waterpark.  The kids had a blast and are already asking to go back!  The kids and I handled saying good bye to Carrie pretty well this year because we know we will be keeping in touch.  We are so fortunate she was willing to watch them on Friday's this year as I know Brenna and Brody really looked forward to their Carrie day.

And to end with a random picture of Brody from T-Ball!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Mission 4K Completed!!

Last day of 4K!  My kiddos are growing up! I tried to get the "then" and "now" pictures side by side but I gave up.
Steve took this picture and I love it! The fog makes a nice background.
First day of 4K.  Brenna is teary eyed.
They  look so little! Did I really send these two little kids on a big bus? I did and Brenna complained about it at least 2 out of the 4 days of school each week for the entire year:) She survived though!
End of year picnic at the park!  I was so sad that I couldn't go but the kids had a great time with their dad, friends, and teachers!  They got tattoos, tye-dyed shirts, ate, and played.  Thankfully the weather cooperated.
Almost Kindergartners!

 I have gotten a little sad a few times this week when I think about Brenna and Brody being done with 4K and the fact that they are growing up too quickly.  Time flies that's for sure!  I am so proud of the little people you have become Brenna and Brody! 

They got their report cards on the last day. It is amazing what is being assessed in 4K! It's pretty much kindergarten. They both did well and the teacher wrote nice comments about each of them.

THREE more days of work and then SUMMER VACATION for me! I am looking forward to spending some quality time with B and B!  My favorite part of summer vacation besides getting to see my kids more than a few hours each evening and on the weekends---NO rushed mornings, NO paperwork to do at night after the kids go to bed, and of course enjoying the hopefully nice weather! 

All for now!


Friday, June 4, 2010

Memorial Day Weekend

We enjoyed a nice Memorial Day weekend! Saturday we drove to Veroqua to pick up bunkbeds for Brenna and Brody. We had found a gently used one that a friend's sister had posted on Facebook.  I forgot to take a picture of the bunkbeds. Since Veroqua is close to Onalaska, which is where Chucky Cheese is, we decided to surprise the kids by stopping there on our way home.  This was their first time at Chucky Cheese.  They have been asking to go there since they turned three so it was about time that we made it.  It's a very family friendly place and we all had fun! The kids both had smiles on their faces the entire time. 

Brenna was a little nervous about this game but ended up liking it.

This was a stimulator and it was hilarious watching Brenna and Brody. They were both giggling.
Looks like summer...
On Sunday we needed to get mattresses for the bunk beds so Steve and I asked cousin Tyler to babysit.  He needed money for his Washington trip so it was a win-win situation.  They were all ready to throw water balloons and run through the sprinkler.  Tyler takes great pictures these days. After we got mattresses, Steve and I went and ate at The Livery and then went back to Osseo to visit with friends who had just moved into a different house. It was a fun date night!
On Monday, Grandma, the kids and I attended the Memorial Day parade in Eau Claire. We met Angie there. This is our second year attending the EC parade so now I guess it's a tradition!

Brenna and Brody both love listening to the band.
 
Grandma De-De always tears up when she sees this Shriner float in any parade.  I think it's the saying on it. Something like, "we clown for fun so weak legs can run." We also decided she looks like "Maxine" in her new shades.
After the parade we headed to Grandma Merri's to help her plant flowers and then finally went home to enjoy the rest of the day!
 Have a great weekend!  Last day of 4K pictures coming soon hopefully!