Cleaning the truck

While I realize that my truck needed a cleaning...desperately, my son didn't need to expedite the process. Let me take you back to Sunday...

Hunter and I went to Sunday School/Church. We came home to pick up Josh and Jacy and we were off right away to friends for lunch. As I wasn't going to be in the house long, I asked Hunter if he wanted to stay in the Truck (He thinks it is fun to be in the "way back"). So he stayed in (keys out, parking brake on and doors closed). When we were about to leave I asked if he needed to go potty he said no, I went on the grass (common occurrence since daddy showed him how last summer). I didn't think anything of it.

So we go to our friends have lunch and are hanging out outside. Josh has the back of the truck open so he and the kids can sit/climb in there.

Then he starts looking and asks Hunter...did you pee back here? Hunter mumbling a little bit of an excuse and then says..."I couldn't get the door open".

Sure enough, there is a little plastic indent where the back seats lock in (they were up) and he had peed in the that divot. Mind you there was a little on the carpet, but not much.

Let's also keep in mind that this is the kid that can't hit a rather large toilet...yet he peed in a 2 inch by 2 inch plastic square! Needless to say he has lost all privileges to play in the truck and a few other things!

It sure is fun to have a boy! Sometimes I think they are just preprogrammed with boy thoughts! I can guarantee no little girl has thought to do that!

So my truck got a cleaning yesterday (the carpet got scrubbed Sunday).

Sick day with mommy...

Jacy and Daddy hanging out and not feeling very good :(




Princess Mommy and Jacy




Princess Jacy



Crackers and dry toast for breakfast...at least mommy lets me eat in the chair when I am sick

A week in the life...

A week in our life with two little ones...Sunday and Monday Jacy has fever and sore butt. I stayed home in the morning, Josh in the afternoon (balancing conference calls and meetings). Jacy passes out on Josh because she was so ticked when she was crying that she stopped breathing.

Tuesday she is back to herself, confirming my thought it was teeth.

Tuesday night 60 mile/hour winds pounding on the house which of course means Hunter is in our bed. Which also means I don't get a whole lot of sleep.

Wednesday I had to go to Oconto for work. Leave the house at 5:45. Josh takes the kids in, Mandy to pick them up. Call Josh on my way home, Jacy was throwing up at the sitters.

I get home, we take her to urgent care, where she continues to throw up. Learn she has something viral...probably was teeth on Sunday and Monday...not related.

Jacy sleeps with us as she is still throwing up (dry heaving at this point). Hunter comes in at 2 to crawl in too...no room and don't want him next to Jacy. So I sleep in a twin with Hunter for a while. Then crawl back in with Jacy and Josh. Not a whole lot of sleep again!

Josh stayed home yesterday and Jacy sleeps on the couch with him all day. She is still out of sorts and not really eating yet.

I decide to stay home with her today but take Hunter in to Gloria's. Pull in the drive way, Hunter tells me he doesn't feel good. I think he is milking it and tell him he is fine, just to turn around and see him throw up!

Go pay Gloria, take BOTH kids back home, set one in front of a movie with a bucket and the other in bed and try to get some work done.

Now both are napping.

Would I trade my life for anything...absolutely not!!! But I HATE when my kids are sick. I am a hypochondriac when it comes to my kids. But every time I realize it is just a bug they need to work through I am incredibly grateful for their health and my heart aches for parents that have to deal with sick kids.

School, buses, swimming, talking...

Well I thought I would attempt to get a post up before a week has gone by and I hit 7 days...not too bad. So I thought I would list some random updates that are going on in our world:

• Hunter started a phono group at the local elementary school this week. It meets for an hour 4 days a week for 4 weeks on and 4 weeks off. After much testing and lots of meetings with school speech therapists and early childhood teachers, he has been diagnosed with a moderate speech impairment. He "fronts" his letters and occasionally lisps his s's. His language and readiness skills for kindergarten are great but he needs a little help for speech. So they recommended this group. He loves it. He gets to take the bus from the sitters and he thinks it is great. As hard as it was to swallow that he had a problem (you always want to think your children are perfect...even if we know that isn't the case), I am glad we are getting him started before school starts so he doesn't think he is different.
• Apparently the small buses have seat buckles. Hunter is very proud that he can buckle himself. He has also started zipping his own coat this week. One week of school and he wants to learn all kinds of things :)
• Work for me is going well. We are busy which is a little overwhelming at times but I shouldn't complain as I know there are a lot of companies that are really struggling to find work. I am still VERY grateful for my every other Monday off and love that time with my little ones!
• Josh's mom bought a new house and I went to help her paint and see her new furniture. It is a very nice house in a very nice area and I am excited for her and hope for a new start for everyone!
• While I was gone my parents were in town to watch the kids. They also had Sydney and Sawyer. Everyone seemed to have a good time and behave.
• I took Hunter swimming this morning at the hotel. He loves to swim but the water is so cold he is usually shaking and blue by the time I can get him out! I got some quality time in the hot tub while Papa went swimming.
• Jacy is talking more and more every day. She is pretty much repeating everything we say. I tried to write the words she is saying in her baby book this week and I had about 50 and as the day went on I realized there were a lot I missed. Her favorites right now are Blankie, Nukie and Shoes. She is also insistant on calling Josh Josh not Daddy.
• Jacy has a lot of shoes and there are times I find her in her room just playing with them.
• Finally, I am watching the Badger MI State basketball game and I am VERY hopeful that the Badgers can pull it out. I am a forever optimist when it comes to Badger basketball! Go Red!

Holy Cow...2 Months!!!

Wow can't believe that it has been 2 months since I last updated. The month of December is a complete blur...thank goodness for pictures!! And January was spent recuperating!! Here is a picture diary of what we have been up to. It is out of order so hang in there! There are too many pictures to shuffle them around! Hopefully I can be a little better this month. Happy belated Valentine's Day to everyone!


Hunter and Jacy enjoying a little lunch. We put a booster on the bar for Jacy in January and she LOVES being up by her big "brover"


We did a little decorating/rearranging in our bedroom (January) and finally took the cradle down. Here the kids are seeing how big they are in it now.

I don't think she will fit anymore...The cradle was actually made by my dad for my brother Derek (middle child). MANY kids have slept in it, here's my attempt to name a few...Derek (36), me, our neighbors little boy when I was little, Ryan Jaecks, the Drumm boys (I think all three), Bryce, Addie, Riley, Jacy (1). I am sure there are more but I can't think of them. My dad actually made another cradle 9 years ago when Brady was born because Brady and Addie are 3 weeks apart so we needed 2. Hunter slept in that one.

Papa Ken handing out gifts in Christmas in Manitowoc. It is chaos but it is fun...as you can see they ALL thing they need the first one!

Hunter and I Christmas Morning...kind of a long dramatic day (for the adults) but the kids sure had fun!! Hopefully next year won't be quite as dramatic and everyone will realize that Christmas is for the kids and being together!

Jacy Christmas morning with Santa gifts.

Hunter Christmas morning with Santa gifts...Not waiting for daddy and Jacy!!! This was Hunter's first Christmas that he was really into opening gifts...not sure which way was better :)

Mommy and Jacy Christmas Eve at our house with the all the kids about to open gifts. Jacy wasn't quite sure about all the presents and commotion!

An attempt at a Christmas picture of all 8 grand kids for mom and dad. There is one crying every time we do it. Started out with Riley 4 years ago, Hunter 2 years ago, Sawyer this year and I am sure Jacy will be next! Mom and dad loved the picture anyway. Shows their little personalities!

Josh and Jacy Christmas morning. Jacy had ALOT of Christmas dresses and we were not able to get them all on her but it was fun to try. She actually was fighting a sinus infection and then ended up popping some teeth during the holidays but she sure was a trooper!

Jacy and Uncle Derek's (last house on Christmas eve). She hung in there until the very end. This is my favorite dress of the holidays :)

Bryce, Brady and Addie trying to help Hunter with Wii mario cart.

Josh and I Christmas Eve at Derek and Tara's.

Hunter at our house for the Christmas eve craziness!

Happy 4th birthday Hunter!!! The start to the holiday parties is always Hunter's birthday and it ALWAYS snows! No exception this year. We had a star wars themed party and a good time was had by all!

The only family picture we managed during Christmas at the Christmas with Josh's mom's family the weekend before Christmas. Josh's uncle Rick was able to come and it was a really nice time.

Hunter and Jacy enjoying being pulled around by mom (December)

Jacy loves to be outside, even in the snow!

That's the last two months in a nutshell! All else is going well. We have been able to get some projects done around the house and enjoying being home bound for a while. Here's hopping I can post something a little sooner then 2 months!

Itinerary for Christmas shopping Success!

1:30 Friday: Leave work, stop at store for Beer, Wine and snacks
2:30 Friday: Leave Stoughton for Schaumburg IL
4:45 Friday: Check into Embassy Suites Hotel and wait for Steph
6:45 Friday: Head to dinner at Maggiano's (score GREAT table at bar) and eat a wonderful pasta dinner
8:45 Friday: Off to Target
11:00 Friday: Drop $300 and take first round presents to the room
1:00 a.m. Saturday: Finish wrapping first round of presents
6:45 a.m. Saturday: Wake up, take a swim, easy bike work out and a little reading before other girls wake up
9:00 a.m. Saturday: Hearty breakfast for stamina
10:00 a.m. Saturday: Enter the Mall
11:30 a.m. Saturday: First trip to cars with bags round 1
1:00 Saturday: Lunch at The Cheesecake Factory (No I did not have cheesecake but I did try the carrot cake-to die for!)
6:30 Saturday: Take 100 lbs of bags to the car in the rain and leave the mall
6:45 Saturday: Back to Target!
8:00 Saturday: Return to the hotel, order dinner, start wrapping
12:00 a.m. Sunday: Finish wrapping
1:00 a.m. Sunday: BED!!!
6:45 a.m. Sunday: Wake up for a little swim and loosening up
8:15 a.m. Sunday: Load my presents only onto a cart and battle the wind to fill the van.
9:50 a.m. Sunday: Head for Home!!!!
11:30 a.m. Sunday: At home, unpack, reorg presents for grouping of appropriate days.
12:00 Sunday: Enter Mother and Sister-in-law for baking
6:00 Sunday: Finish baking, Start cleaning up
6:30 Sunday: Bath kids
7:00 Sunday: Kids bedtime, sit and make grilled cheese for supper
8:00 Sunday: Work on a few Christmas presents and update blog...
9:24 Sunday: I AM READY FOR BED!!!!

And I wonder why I am tired??? I didn't even go into the 4 loads of laundry I folded and put away, casserole I made for Friday pot luck, the flex receipts gathered and submit, bath time for the kids and packing that I did Thursday so I could be gone for the weekend.

All said and done, I had essentially NO presents on Friday and need THREE right now (all of which I know what and where I need to get them!!)

I am feeling good (besides my throbbing legs) and ready for Christmas.

Take home message

When Hunter left Sunday school (which he calls Preschool) on Sunday, I asked him what he learned about. He responded:

"I learned about hunting."

Me: "What kind of hunting." (thinking maybe they had talked about the three wise men following the star...far fetch I know)

Hunter: "Umm Coyotes. No Gophers."

Josh to me: " I think he is missing the take home message."

Fast forward to yesterday putting up Christmas decorations and Hunter not really listening and probably being told so again.

Hunter: "Mom, is God here?"

Me: "Yes God is here at all times and everywhere."

Hunter looking around: "Ohh"

(Hunter stopping the immediate sassiness).

Me: He is getting the take home message!!!!

MIA: Picture Post

I have been MIA. No real excuse, just life (and I joined Facebook...but I haven't been on it that much...really!!) So I thought I would post some pictures. I will try to get Hunter's b-day pictures up as soon as I can (I have a tree to decorate too :) )
Enjoy!

Hunter trying to catch Jacy (Yes my family room looks like that on a daily basis)



Hunter helping to decorate the artificial tree



Hunter finishing a hard morning work combining with Papa



The Hosts for Thanksgiving...They did a great job!!


Toj and Jess...getting ready to dig in!

Mom and dad pausing for a picture

Derek and Tara

Chuck and Jude enjoying Holiday cheer

Mom and dad with oldest and youngest granddaughters

Happy Halloween...Jacy the bumble bee, buzzzzz....

Hunter the Red Ranger

Me with the kids...it wouldn't work alone (even before the candy!)

Jacy enjoying Hunter "ship" out of couch cushions

Hunter on top the ship hunting!

Taking a stop along the lake on our ride north of Duluth

Showing Josh how well I can skip rocks!

Hunter? playing outside

Jacy trying out the Jets hat

Daddy and his peanuts

"Out of a funk" Cure

For the last couple of weeks I have kind of been in a funk. Which is strange for me in Fall. I typically love this time of year (with my birthday in October and all). I think there have been many reasons for my "funk".

My baby turned 1, which is hard, yet exciting as she is my last baby. Things are really crazy at work right now, giving me no down time and leaving me burned out. My inlaws divorced after 33 years. Even though it was well anticipated and overdue, it is still tears at my heart to think about what kind of changes they must have to go through after 33 years, even if many times they weren't happy; it is all they know. Not to mention the effect on the family who has been through it with them.

Knowing you are in a "funk" is such a strange thing for me, because you are conscious that you are crabby (some would say bitchy) and moody yet you can't really pull yourself out. And if there is one thing about negative feelings...they are a like a dark hole...they suck you in. But I was really trying to figure out a way to get out of this so called "funk".


Yesterday I took the bull by the horns...


I ordered the Carpenters Christmas Album on iTunes...

..."Funk" slowly melting!


(...that and I get to meet my new little (puppy) sister tonight, Ruby Braun)

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

It seems like every presidential election year I am very excited to vote. I don't know if it is because I feel honored to have a hand in picking our next president or if I am so happy to stop getting phone calls and my mail box stuffed with literature. I am going to attempt to keep this as bipartisan as possible, I have a certain belief system and general feeling on some things, which tends to sway me one way on a voting ticket. I have even been known to vote straight party. However I didn't receive any "phone calls" from said party. I did get a few things in the mail, but nothing compared to the other party.

Which begs the question(s): was the party I typically vote for that confident that they didn't need to solicit me? Is there some master list that they check saying she's a sure bet, don't spend money on her? Did the other party feel that annoying the crap out of me was going to sway me to change my vote? Do they think I am naive enough to believe that the actually candidate is calling my home?

Apparently someone has researched what works for campaigning, at least I would hope so. But this "someone" must think that smothering with mud is the best advertisement. I have to say when I got things in the mail I never really knew who it was for by looks only; typically the opposing party's picture was bigger then theirs.

This all leads me back to my first point...I am SOOOOO glad the election is just about over. I know I will have at least 3 messages on my phone tonight to remember to vote, but as I am deleting them without even listening to the whole thing I know it is the last for...a year??

A fun day on the tractor

Taking advantage of the warm fall days we have been out on the tractors a bit. (No the blade is not running when we have the kids on it...my husband DID teach Ag Education and FFA!)

Hunter trying his hand at running the bucket


Jacy not quite sure what to do (sing I'm a Country boy! At least that's what mommy does!)


Hunter, Jacy and Mommy sweeping the long grass


Just mommy and Jacy, Hunter needed to help daddy. Jacy thinks she can steer too!


Hunter and Daddy taking a ride in an attempt to improve Hunter's mood

Dresses, cake and presents

Look at me...I'm one!!!

Hunter telling Jacy how greast birthdays are

Sharing the day with Great Papa A.

Mommy tried her hand at bakery (the candles say "The Big 1")

Jacy enjoying her cake...

...this stuff is pretty good..."How come I don't get ice cream??"

Cake coma...

Sugar filled present opening..."How nice of someone to get me tissue paper!"

Modeling my new hat from Nana and Papa