Team E!

On Demand

So I hear that my blog is on demand! A couple of my readers have told me this....so I thought I better do an update!

• First and most importantly, I wanted to congratulate Evie and Ada on their graduation from NICU to home. We've been praying for them and their parents and now we're so happy to hear that they are home and can be together as a family.........can't wait to see those babes and catch up with John and Sarah too.
• I can now say that I'm in my graduate studies. On-line education is neat in a way that I can connect with every one in my class. I also get to read about everyone's experiences, their papers and get refreshed in their views. I'm sleeping with my APA manual (some of you will be nodding your heads in agreement here.) Studying, reading, and discussing have now consume a lot of my time.....BUT I'm enjoying it.
• C-man enjoyed his first week of school, first day was boring he said.....but he enjoys his teacher and friends and has relayed quite a bit of information already back from school....so he is learning!
• Miss-O and I have managed to adapt to the two of us again. She misses her brother and I've noticed the kids aren't arguing as much.........it seems as if she gets more talk time in now and chatters about everything...so cute. Sometimes I think I'm talking to mini-adult!
• I found what's not getting enough time is laundry! The kids frequently ask and look for their clean underwear, princess socks......it's not that it's not done, it's just not put away...Kids meet our new dresser (the laundry room!)
• So I'm glad week 1 is done and 15 more to go? I don't know I'm not counting....going day by day and week by week......
• Lastly, I'll post pictures very soon.....Saturday we had a beautiful day at the "Buddy Walk." We're thinking about making up our own team name and shirt.
• It's Sunday already and so I wish everyone a good week.....one that will end in September! and on that note here is something that C-man and I read last night by S. Silverstein in "The Light in the Attic" p. 32 (1981)

"Here Comes

Here comes summer,

Here comes summer,

Chirping robin, budding rose.

Here comes summer,

Here comes summer,

Gentle showers, summer clothes.

Here comes summer,

Here comes summer___

Whoosh-shiver-there it goes."

New Beginnings

Here's to new beginnings:

• C-man starts 2nd grade today. He was dressed and ready to go before Paul and I woke up our sleepy heads. He was chanting: Promotion. Promotion. He is pumped and ready to go to 2nd grade, see his friends, and soak up new concepts.
• I start school today. I don't have to go anywhere fancy but to my computer. I need to log on and make sure my syllabi are available. Finish up on E-learning orientation (which someone at orientation was nice enough to tell me it takes about 4 hours to do).
• We will now go back to a structured routine. Where things become automatic and predictable. (For the kids anyway). Time to allow myself busyness and to stay organized to keep up with it all.
• Very soon, Miss-O will start 2day/week pre-school. She will continue to have the same teachers she's had in the past when she went to 1day/week preschool. She would like to start today, but will have to wait.

One cool second grader!

If you don't see any posts for awhile, it's because I'm buried in one or all of these books.
This is what the first year of grad school looks like for me. Three classes and one half-semester class. Theory, Research, Pain Management, & Seminar.

God Bless You!

Great-Grandma Donna holding Evan.

Phew! It's such a special day being baptized and I'm tired!
Evan's family has been blessed!
Happy Baptism Day!

Uncle John & me.

I feel very honored to be your Godmother.

I will help bring you up in your faith, in my utmost ability.

Love you!

State Fair: Mercy Me!

Newsboys
Midway in a blur

Karen and Me.

Me and Tanja.


I have such good friends. We are mommies, we are wives, we are health care providers, and we are friends. It's so nice to get together with Karen and Tanja with the kids. But it's also nice to get together without the kids and have some adult time, adult talk, and of course our conversation may be about our kids, but there are no interruptions. What is great is that our conversation could linger into hours of conversation. We can just be ourselves and just have a good time.

My good friends were awesome enough to buy me a ticket to see the Newsboys and Mercy Me concert at the state fair this year. A really great birthday present!

Thanks you two, you are awesome!

State Fair: Too Hot to Handle!

Ahhh....it's that time again. The state fair; where the air is scented with corn dogs, tenderloins, and funnel cake. Where there's a stand for lemonade and anything on a stick wherever you turn. First day of the fair, was our only chance to go. We headed out with Aunt Angie and Marin. Our sites included; DNR building, Baby animal building (a/c), Little Hands on the Farm, The BIG slide, Clifford (a/c), lunch, HOME! Did I mention the temperature at 9:30 am was already 90 and the heat index made it up to 115 that day [insert screeching record to a halt here].

C-man showing his cow at the fair!

He looks like a natural, must be from Uncle Bryan and Uncle Brent's genes.
Hugs for Clifford!
We love you!
We also love that you are in an air-conditioned building!

Time to cool down in the dancing water fountains.
Don't worry, you'll dry in 5 seconds flat!

Okay kids, at least we can say we went to the fair this year, whether it was too hot to handle or not!

Calling all Readers!

Just out of curiosity...I would love if everyone who reads this blog would give me a shout out in the comment section. You may make yourself anonymous or you can make yourself known in the anonymous section. I know I average about 20-30 hits a day according to my visitor tracker. Now it's your turn to participate and interact and say hey! If you can't think of anything to comment then just tell me what you are doing this weekend/or what you did this past weekend.
Okay, I'm waiting................

Bending over Backwards.........

You can do it physically.......
I will do it metaphorically.........

One Hot Birthday!

The lake people got together on Monday. Holly was visiting from Minn. and her son, Ray, pictured below with Miss-o, planned a surprise birthday party for his mommy! What better place to have it but at the splash park! With sporty hats and blowers! and "How to Train a Dragon" cupcakes! Plus, I hear that Holly got a "Buzz Lightyear" balloon, too! Best party planner ever! Thanks Ray, it was a fun day at the splash park!

These two are some serious cupcake eaters!
Blphphphph!

Staying cool in the fountains.

One HOT day at the splash park!

Go CUBS!

What a beautiful night it was Friday night. A great night for baseball-watching and fire-works gazing! We hadn't been to a Cubs game this year and decided it was time to go before school starts. Unfortunately, Daddy had to work so I braved the trip down-town and toted the tikes around. It was a good time, funny how there's a little something for every age. The CUBS won! After the game we watched an amazing display of fire-works! C-man said the finale looked like a bouquet of flowers and he was very right about that! A foul ball did sail right in front of our eyes and hit the little girl to our left. She had a big bruise on her shoulder and she got the ball out of the deal! C-man said he was very close to catching it with his hat! I'll take his word for it, I was trying to protect all of our noggins from the super-shooting ball going 100mph!

Super Big Fans, awaiting the game.
"When are the fireworks going to start?" Miss-o asks in the second inning.

Dreamin' of the Major/Minor Leagues.

Staying Cool with the Chicago Crew

Show-offs!
Lizzie and Miss-O, playing princesses....

C-man loves his little cousin; they really see eye to eye on things.

Evan loves kissin' on his cousin.

C-man and Dave havin' a blast in the pool!

Aunt Cindy and Miss-O floatin' around

The Three Amigos !

We loved spending time with you guys! Hope you had a safe ride home.

Good luck in Tennessee, Liz!

Good luck with football this year, Dave!

Take care and hope to see you soon, Cindy!

Road Trip!

The kids and I jumped into the truck and sailed down the interstate, an aisle between Queen Anne's Lace, and wild Black-Eyed Susans, with plush leafy trees as the congregants.

Three hours later we were sitting in my sister's family room soaking in the new family member.

Miss Gwen hardly made any peeps. She was so laid back, cuddly, and comfortable with the livelihood that swirls around her.

We were excited to see Jackie when she woke up from her nap. She thanked us for waiting for her while she napped. Her first words out of her mouth were, "I just got up from my nap." Second words; "I'm a big sister!"

Very serious about their new cousin.

C-man was very proud holding Gwen.
Precious Baby

Wide awake checking out her cousin Miss-O.

"The Girls" Jackie, Jolyn, & Gwen.

Proud big sister and delighted little sister.


Thank you John, Jolyn, Jacki & Gwen for having us over to visit.
We can't wait to see you again!