Good, Good Morning

We came back to the ICU when it opened at 9:00. The nurse told us that Dad had a good night and was much more lucid. Jacki walked in the room and Dad had his eyes open and said "hi Jacki". She was in the room with the nurse and the nurse told him what happened. Dad asked quote, "what's the prognosis?" and Jacki told him the doctors are hopeful for a full recovery to which Dad replied, "better than a not full recovery".

Jaima and Mom then went in to chat with him and were giving him some ice chips. Jaima asked if they tasted good, and he said, "yeah, but not as good as a good glass of gin." For those of you that know Jerry well, this is a good sign :)

Cam and Anastin arrived this morning, and then Cam and Jaima spent some time with Dad. Cam was telling him that he went to Popo's last night and Jaima said "they miss ya down there Dad" (for those of you that don't know, Dad goes down to Popo's for coffee every week day and for breakfast on Saturdays) Dad then said "I bet so. I am at 30% of their revenue. Certainly, 50% of their tips." It is GREAT to see Dad's personality coming out.

The nurse even said that he thinks that might be moving out of the ICU and have Dad up and about soon. Wow!

GO DAD! GO POP! GO JERRY!

Good Night, Good Friends

After running errands this afternoon, Julia, Jacki, and Mom went back to the waiting room when the ICU opened at 5:00 while Jaima and Alyssa swam at the hotel pool. Dad had a really good day. Julia gave dad a swab with water on it to wet his mouth after the nurse did not come back. Jacki told Dad that Julia did the swab because the nurse never came back and Dad commented "we got stiffed on that request" which amused Julia and Jacki. He was much less sleepy and was able to carry on some short conversations.

The Munderlohs and Mauls came to visit and everyone commented how much better Dad was doing today. Dad and Denny chatted about pheasant hunting and Dad remembered Al and Sharry's daughter Alisha. Right before the ICU closed again at 7:00, the nurse told us that Dad is doing wonderfully. woohoo!

We ate dinner down on 4th Street - within walking distance of the hotel - and enjoyed some time away from the hospital. Mom especially enjoyed herself and the good day that we had. A wonderful time with family and good friends celebrating Dad's successes for the day - it will be so much sweeter when he will be abe to join us in these celebrations.

We returned to the ICU at 9:00 to check on Dad before bed. The nurse told us that earlier he had been able to identify both the year and month. These little successes are so nice to hear! We spent some time with him and he was able to identify Julia from her voice and called Jacki "Julia" accidentily and immediately corrected himself. Although disoriented at times, these steps make us smile and thankful for another day of recovery.

Dad is getting some insulin which is due to the current food (aka sugar type brownish liquid) he is receiving. So many things to monitor and watch.

We are thankful for this wonderful day. Of course, every day has its dark spot. Jacki just spotted kids going into the room next to us with beer and you can hear them partying away. Lovely. Nighty night.

Waiting, Waiting

Jaima and Alyssa are here today to hang out in the waiting room. We're pretty sure the waiting room was a pretty boring place before cell phones, computers, portable DVD players, and wifi. We're planning to take mom out to dinner tonight - she is requesting a salad. I'm pretty sure none of us have seen a vegetable since we got here. Lots of fruits, but no veggies - will be good to know they still exist. :)

Anatomically Correct

This morning, Dad had another cat scan. Jacki spent some time with him and the speech therapist came in - she had him practicing some words, sticking out his tongue, etc. He also had a couple ice chips with the speech therapist and she said he did very well. Jacki also got him to giggle a couple of times.

Mom then spent some time with the ICU doc - Dr. Bacon - and he said that things are looking good. He also talked about how the sleeping is part of the healing process and it is a good thing for him to be getting some rest (which we of course know, but we just want to make sure everything is ok).

Dr. Reeder then stopped by and told us that the cat scan looked really good and that the left ventricle is back to ordinary size. He said, anatomically the brain is moving in the right direction. Mom then said "we just want to hug you" and Dr. Reeder said he would take a hug. It is great to get good news and I'm guessing it is nice for Dr. Reeder to be able to give it as well.

Of course, we also have to worry about other things now - bed sores, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, etc. so hopefully, we can avoid these things, but they are a concern.

We're enjoying the sunny day here in Sioux City - almost 50 degrees today. We're feeling the sunshine is a good sign for the way we are feeling today.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY DRAKE!

Ok - I'm hijacking my blog back today for a personal post. My son turns 5 years old today and I will be missing his birthday party. It was very difficult to leave under such a stressful situation - telling my 5 year old that I had to leave because Pop was sick and that I would be missing his party (actually, I told him I was leaving and he immediately mentioned that I would be missing his party and started to cry).

In any case, I wake up this morning with 4 men in my thoughts:
1) My Dad - and being thankful we have another day to help him get better.
2) My husband - and being thankful for all he has done this week and knowing what a hard week it has been for him with me gone.
3) My big boy Drake - and being so proud of the wonderful boy he has become.
4) My little guy Tanner - and missing the joy in his face.

Happy Birthday Drake Karlen Peavy - I love you very much.



Drake and Pop - May 2008

Cheer Cards

If you feel like sending Dad (or Mom) a little support and good cheer, you can send a cheer card via the hospital Web site. They will then deliver them to Dad's room.

Thanks to all the cheer you have already sent our way.

Hanging Out Pays Off

Jacki and Julia were hanging out by the elevator waiting to go out to dinner. Dr. Reeder actually was coming out of a surgery consultation right by the elevator and stopped to chat. He then he said he would go check on Dad - right place - right time! He gave us an update and said that Dad was doing everything that he asked him to do. He also told us that he would order a CT Scan tomorrow morning to make sure the sleepiness was not caused by pressure on the left ventricle (and then asked if that would make Mom feel better). They are monitoring the pressure every hour and everything has been fine with that.

Also, you can keep up-to-date on the health care policy discussion now. Enjoy!

We're headed back to the hotel to check on Dad and then get some ice cream. Of course, ice cream will NOT help Julia's New Year's resolution. Ugh!

Julia's 35 (even though she looks 25)

At 2:00, Julia went in with the nurse when they woke Dad up. He's very tired today after what the nurse technically termed "a ton of Avitan" he was given last night. He's getting Avitan to keep him calm and help him sleep.

When the nurse woke him up, Julia told Dad she was there. The nurse asked how Julia was related to him and Dad said "my daughter". He also knew Julia was 35 (although the nurse thought much younger - hehe) and he also knew he had 4 grand kids (and named Drake and Alyssa).

We've had a steady stream of visitors which is always nice. Keep the good thoughts comin'.

TGIF!

Julia has returned to Sioux City after taking care of the house - watering plants, running the dishes, packing a bag for Mom - and taking care of the dogs.

The nurses said that Dad had a really great night and got some good sleep. Jacki and Mom saw Dad this morning and everything seems to be going well today. He is complaining of eye pain so the nurses were going to contact an Opthamologist. Mom mentioned that Dad has an Opthamologist and the nurse said we should get that information. Mom got to work and got the information very quickly and took it to the nurse who proceeded to tell Mom that "she rocked". Good to keep Mom busy with some tasks here. ha!

And a correction from yesterday - apparently, Julia doesn't know who the county attorney is. Al is not - Al's daughter Tammy is. However, Dad has always called Al the county attorney. :)

I've also had a couple requests about Jacki's health care policy position (for those of you that don't know, Jacki will get her Master's Degree in Health Services Research from the Michigan School of Public Health in April). I will try to find a link to the article - stay tuned.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of Jacki and Julia (and a random lady) in the waiting room. Jaima is at work today (she works in Sioux City) and will be coming up after work with her husband and girls.

Night (re)cap

Jaima and Julia returned to Pender tonight so Julia can drive Mom's car to Sioux City tomorrow morning and pack some things for Mom. Julia and Jaima attended the spaghetti feed benefit for the band (Jaima did not want to cook) and watched the Pender's girl's basketball game. So many people were asking about Dad and Mom and sending good thoughts our way. It is wonderful to know that so many people are thinking and praying for all of us.

Jacki stayed in Sioux City with Mom (we have moved to a hotel room with a fridge now). Some dear friends of Dad's made the visit to Sioux City again today and did take time to pop into Dad's room. The nurse stopped them and asked who they were. Denny (Munderloh) said who he was and the nurse asked Dad if he knew Denny and Dad said "get him in here". Al (Maul) also was there and when the nurse asked if Dad knew Al he said, "he is the county attorney and also my attorney" (and for those of you that don't know Al - Dad's answer is correct!). He also told Al and Denny to take care of Jean. What a wonderful way to wrap up the tonight's blog. Thinking of dear friends that Dad is actually able to recall. One can only imagine that knowing so many friends and family are pulling so hard for him can only make him stronger.

Good night from Pender, Nebraska.

Thursday Afternoon Update

Just a quick update for all of you. We met with Dr. Reeder this afternoon. Dad had another cat scan this morning and there has been no change - a good thing. They will continue to drain the spinal fluid and monitor the pressure on the brain. We are waiting for the clot to liquify and this process will take up to two weeks. So, during this time, the key is to keep him calm and his blood pressure down so this process can happen as quickly as possible. A feeding tube has also been inserted into this stomach which I'm guessing dad thinks is a good thing - gotta have some food!

Although an extremely difficult time for all of us, we are optimistic about the direction we are headed and happy to have all of us here together. And an update on the health care policy discussion, we found it quite amusing that today's USA Today had an article to support Jacki's position - we're contemplating giving it to Dr. Reeder :)

Many thanks going out to all of you from the Karlen family.

Thursday Morning Update

Good morning everyone! It is a hazy day here in Sioux City, Iowa. Mom, Jaima, Jacki, and I all stayed in the hotel room connected to the hospital last night. Last night they put an oxygen mask on Dad to help regulate his breathing - which is better for him than the ventilator.

Jaima stopped in to see Dad before she went to work, and he was asking for Jean. His blood pressure is much lower this morning which is obviously a good thing and key to his recovery. However, Dad is still a bit agitated and his visits will be limited again today.

I'll do my best to keep you updated throughout the day. We are so thankful for all the support we have received during this difficult time.

He's a "miracle"!!

We spent 35 minutes with a neurosurgeon, Dr. Reeder (Dr. Durward's "back-up") tonight...it was wonderful! He was able to answer all of mom's questions (she had a "list"...does that surprise you?) :)

He started by stating that the CT scan showed that it was NOT an aneurysm (very good thing) but a brain stem hemorrhage. Right now, the main thing we need to focus on is making sure dad is calm and that the bleed can clot. In order for that to happen, he needs lots of rest and quiet time (so basically, we need to stay away for now!). After 7-10 days, they will see if the clot has dissolved on its own and continually check the pressure on his brain. Based on the results, we will determine if he would need a permanent shunt. We are obviously optimistic and so thankful for this wonderful news.

And it was quite amusing that we all had questions and the doctor was more than patient with us. And we even started to engage in a health care policy discussion (and Jacki even asked who makes the shunt product) - oh fun times at the Karlen household.

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. We don't know how long we will all be here, but we have margaritas and cosmos (thanks to Steve Munderloh) and each other. Mom of course, was trying to figure out the plan for all 3 of us (daughters) and how long we should stay up in Sioux City, but as the doctor stated, we might be here for both dad AND mom. So, for now, we are very optimistic and thankful for our miracle.

No News is Good News

Hi everyone. We are still waiting on the results of the cat scan. According to the nurse, no news is good news in their world. So, Jaima and Jacki are resting at the hotel and mom has taken a little nap.  Currently, dad is resting and we are checking on him periodically. 

Story of how dad got here...

Around 3:00 on Monday afternoon, mom & dad were heading home from Lincoln and dad started to get blurred vision and a headache. He thought he was having a migraine. When they arrived home he began to throw up, which led them to believe he had the flu. He was starting to feel better when he fell asleep for the night. He woke up around 2:30 a.m. to go to the bathroom and mom started to realize he was disoriented. She then called Jaima & Cam to help her get him to the hospital. When they arrived at the Pender Hospital he slipped into a coma and after the original cat scan, Dr. Felber discovered a brain bleed. The life flight was called and he was taken to Mercy Medical Center (Sioux City) and arrived around 5:15 a.m.

Jaima drove mom up to Sioux City and were met by Dr. Durwood (neuro surgeon). He informed us that dad had a major bleed in the center of his brain and that the most important thing for them to do was to release the pressure, which they did. Tuesday was a long day. Dad is in ICU and the next 3-4 days are going to be critical.

We were able to stay with him throughout the night and at numerous times he was responsive and trying to communicate (through nodding, mouthing words, and even spelling out words by "writing" them on the sheets of his bed!).

He is having a cat scan this morning and we'll post more when we know the results.

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and your support!

~ The Karlen family ~

Dad's Update - check back for more updates

Hello everyone. Dad has had a good night and is off the ventilator. He is communicating with us. We are currently waiting for the cat scan - it has been pushed back a couple of times. We intend to update this blog as we know more so please check back for more information.

Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts, prayers, food, calls, emails, etc.

The Karlen Family

Stock Show (and other January events)

It seems as if I always start my posts with a "I can't believe it is almost (fill in the blank - i.e., Thanksgiving, Christmas, and in this case Drake's 5th birthday!)". Busy times at the Peavy household just as it is as the homes of all my friends and family. I thought January was to be the month when things slow down after the holidays. Apparently, we did not get that memo.

Stock Show
Unlike previous years, we made a last minute decision to attend the Stock Show on a week night to catch a little dog agility competition. My friend Nadja and her dog Henry compete and the boys just loved cheering them on (Tanner was yelling "go Hennie" and pumping his fist). I can highly recommend a week night attendance. We practically had the petting zoo to ourselves, caught a glimpse of a few small animals (but missed the $6 pony rides which didn't hurt our feelings too badly - Drake's feelings were another story); and with so few people, the boys were able to run around much more freely which makes the event much more enjoyable for all.




MLK Day
I am fortunate to have MLK day off and enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Children's Museum with the boys. Drake has been several times - we took him for his first birthday - but Tanner has never been. And yes, I understand Tanner is over 2 years old - what do they say about the 1st child getting to do everything? ha! Drake had been telling Tanner all about the fire engine and when we got there, Tanner could hardly contain himself. It was so fun to watch. The only bummer was that it was about 70 degrees outside and we were in the museum, but what a treat to see the boys having such a great time.



California Trip
Last week, I traveled to California for 4 days. It was a pretty intense trip, but great to see co-workers from around the globe and refocus for the new year. There are so many benefits to my work from home situation, but I am always thankful to reconnect and just get some face-to-face time with those that I work with so closely on a daily basis. It's also nice to have a hotel room to myself, a few adult only dinners, and social time with friends. And fortunately, the boys were great for Marshall which makes his long week feeling just a wee bit shorter (hopefully).

1:1 time

Some times you forget the joy your children can bring you when they have you all to themselves. This morning, Tanner was under the weather and slept in late. Drake and I enjoyed a lovely morning together. He wasn't focused on how he could pick on his brother, cause trouble, and there was just a lot less (no) screaming. We chatted in bed, we had a nice breakfast, took in some Curious George, and Drake read "Sam and Al" (the book he checked out from school) to me. It was just a truly enjoyable morning and very special.

There are so many wonderful things about having two children - they play together, they look at for each other, and hopefully will be great friends in the future (and also have each other to share the never ending stories about "remember when Mom said this" or "Dad was so annoying when he did this") . But today, I was thankful to have Drake all to myself (and I think he was pretty happy to have me all to himself too). What joy he brings to my life.

When the Door Wins

This is what happens when your run face first into the corner of a door. The swelling is definitely down (but still tender) and the draining of the bruise is giving me more color underneath my eye. It is a very dramatic look. I've tried to cover it a bit with makeup and match the other eye a bit, but it still looks like I got out of control with the eye liner. I wonder what the folks at the elementary open house thought this morning?

A Week Off

The week between Christmas and New Year's was thankfully spent relaxing at home with the boys and my parents. My parents arrived on Sunday, December 28th, and left on January 2nd. We enjoyed happy hour at the local seafood place, happy hour downtown with a view of downtown and the mountains, shopping with my mom, watching football (including Nebraska's win over Clemson), and quality time with the boys. Drake had a bit of cabin fever during the week, but really enjoyed having "Nana and Pop" here to entertain and keep busy.



We enjoyed a couple days of very nice weather. It allowed us to get the ice off the back patio and also trim back the perennials in the front yard. We even enjoyed our lunch on the front porch one day. New Year's eve was pretty low key - we enjoyed a seafood dinner - lobster tails, crab legs, and shrimp. Marshall, the boys, and I headed over to friends for a couple hours, and I came back with Tanner to celebrate New Year's with my parents. We finished a puzzle and some of us even made it to midnight ;)



A picture of Tanner with Nana and Pop in the rocker from the Karlen farm.

It was so nice to have them here more than a couple days. And of course, the time always goes too quickly.

A December to Remember

January 3rd already. Wow! I didn't have any time to update my blog during the month of December - too many great things going on! Here's a list of some of the highlights - Check out the photo slide for some pictures of our highlights too.

1. Gramma and Granddad's week long visit - early Christmas dinner and Christmas presents - as Drake would say - "Christmas #2".
   
2. Celebrating Tanner's 2nd birthday with a trip to Zoo Lights and cake and presents after the festivities.
   
3. Breakfast with Santa. Tanner was not too excited about sitting on Santa's lap and Drake was a bit apprehensive at first, but warmed up to him enough to ask for the Polar Express book.
4. Time with friends - Christmas celebration at the Snow's house, our "stay-cation" downtown and drinks and dinner with Nadja and Ryan, the party we forgot with friends - but still made, New Year's Eve with NWU pals.
   
5. Starting our own Christmas traditions - fish chowder in bread bowls and sugar cookies with Grasshoppers on Christmas Eve, wrapping Christmas presents on Christmas Eve drinking Prosecco.
6. Singing Christmas carols with Drake - we've almost got the 12 days of Christmas down!
   
7. The magic in Drake's eyes when he realized that Santa did come.
   
8. Spending Christmas day in our pj's playing with our new toys.
   
9. Nana and Pop's visit - happy hour with the view of downtown, shopping with mom, seeing my dad sitting in the rocking chair (with Tanner on his lap) that his Pop sat in on the farm.
   
10. 7 days off from work and precious time with the boys.
    

Wishing everyone a happy new year and a wonderful 2009!

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Thanksgiving Holiday

It is hard to believe that only a week ago I was attending the Nebraska/CU football on a beautiful fall day in Nebraska. What a great game we were able to see - with the 57 yarder kicked right in front of us. Thanksgiving seems like a lifetime ago and Christmas festivities are now in full swing.



The minivan definitely served us well on our road trip to Nebraska. Only 2 stops each way! We must be raising good little travelers (and DVD addicts maybe). We drove Tuesday afternoon/evening and it was so nice to have Wednesday to relax and enjoy our time with family. Marshall was able to hunt (he shot one, but the dogs couldn't find it). And yes, I do believe he actually shot one because my brother-in-law was there to witness it.

We, of course, ate too much, drank too much, and slept too little. But, we were able to see family and friends, watch football, eat turkey and other Thanksgiving type activities. The boys enjoyed their cousins and we even attended a birthday party for my niece which of course, is very exciting for Drake. Presents, candles, cake and ice cream - what more do you need?



Of course, the time was too short and the drive too long, but it is always wonderful to be with family. Every day I am thankful for my family - I'm just reminded of it more during the holidays and after spending precious time with them.

Banana

A little video of us trying to get Tanner to say "banana" (which isn't actually a word at all). The cutest part of the video is the fact that Tanner kept trying to do his "smile" for the camera. He sees the camera and automatically says "cheese" and "winks" his eye. Of course, trying to hold this for 30 seconds is pretty cute to us as parents.

Three Nights, 2 Chiminea Fires, and 1 S'more

Before the weather turned frigid this week, we were able to take full advantage of the nice weather. We fired up the chiminea a couple times, got out the camping chairs, and enjoyed roasting marshmallows. Sunday evening was so enjoyable it was easy to forget about all the negative news lately. However, it also makes you realize the truly important things in your life.

Birthdays

Yesterday we celebrated Marshall's birthday. It was so wonderful to have Drake be so concerned about Marshall's birthday.

• Where are we going to have the party?
  
• Who is going to come to the party?
  
• Where should we hide the presents?
  
• What color should we make the frosting?
  

I was able to pick the boys up early so we could get ready for the party (it was hard for him to understand that the party was going to be at our house!). We were able to wrap and hide the presents as well as start making the frosting for the cake (we made the cake the night before). When Marshall came home, he had to finish his own cake frosting (I'm definitely NOT a baker). Tanner and Drake had pizza and we were able to light the candles, sing happy birthday, and open presents. Was really nice to celebrate Marshall's birthday with those that mean the most to us. And the joy knowing that Drake was so concerned that we didn't have very many presents for Daddy was precious.

Marshall and I then went out to dinner at the Izakaya Den and enjoyed a night out at a non-kid restaurant with our friends, Darin and Heidi. We had a great time sampling different tapas and sushi rolls and Marshall and I enjoyed the cold sake that we ordered. Was a great time and I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with my PV boys.

Parent Teacher Conferences

This week we had parent teacher conferences for both Tanner and Drake. It is funny to think that you have a parent teacher conference for a 23 month old. But, Tanner's teacher had a great little book made up that shows us all the things Tanner is working on in the classroom. It was so nice to see the things they do during the day as it is so different than what they do when we pick them up and drop them off.

The meeting with Drake's teacher was also great. She said he is just exploding in the classroom and his confidence and pride is definitely up. He recently passed his United States map and is now half way through Europe. He is also loving math and reading, but doesn't spend too much time in the sensorial or practical life areas - mostly because he is too busy with all the other areas of the classroom. We, of course, are thrilled he is learning all of these things, but I truly just want him to enjoy school, what he is doing, and ensure that he is a good boy in class. Fortunately, this school has been a very positive experience for him and we are well on our way to hopefully raising a good, caring, empathetic individual (and if he turns out pretty bright after everything, that's bonus).

CB & Potts Happy Hour aka CIC Memory Lane

Tonight Marshall and I met for happy hour at CB & Potts. It's actually not terribly far from where we live, but we have not been there in ages. We picked it because it is very close to Drake and Tanner's school - which happens to be across the street from the company where Marshall and I met. So, needless to say, CB & Potts was a place we frequented in our younger years when we were both working at Customer Insight Company. The funny thing is, I don't believe Marshall and I ever went to CB & Potts together so it holds different memories for each of us.

One thing I don't think is different - being there definitely brought back memories of a fun time in our lives. Regular happy hours, good friends, carefree times, last minute trips, and 4 weeks of PTO! Of course, we had to wrap up this happy hour quickly so we could get the boys before school closed at 6:00, but what a wonderful little "date" for us. The quote of the evening by Marshall, "Do we have to go pick up the boys?" - all in fun of course. And although our lives are obviously different now, one thing that is not different - Marshall and I have a wonderful time together. We laughed. We joked. We had a couple beers together. Good times. Good life.

We're going to bed early!

There are those elections that stick with you for one reason or another. In 200o, I was getting married in a couple months and was getting laid off the day after the election. Marshall and I were going to stay up until the election was decided. Well, of course, that was 2000 and we didn't know the next President for several days after election day. I don't even remember where I was in 2004. Obviously, 2008 is an election day that I will remember. A newly elected black President, a sense of hope in trying times, and many feelings I don't even know how to put into words. Change is coming. It won't be easy, but this is a start. And unlike 2000, I'll be going to bed early knowing who will be leading our nation going forward. And for that, I am truly thankful.

Election '08

A cool way to follow the election online.

Slovakia and Voting

Today is obviously a big day in the United States. I am truly hopeful that it will be a day where we will avoid any questions about the validity of ballots, polling place problems, etc. I found myself driving back from the boys' school with such a sense of pride today - just like I did when I turned in my mail in ballot last week. How fortunate I feel to live in a country where we can select our leaders without fear, conflict, or violence.

Every time I vote, I am reminded of my experience as a college freshman in 1992. I was touring Eastern Europe and Russia with my college choir and had a home stay in Slovakia. There were a few key things I remember about that visit:

1) My hosts could speak very little English. However, the girl's boyfriend spoke a bit of English and had a red translation book he used.

2) The boyfriend used the book to tell me that Slovakia was now like the United States and they were able to vote and that they had political parties like Democrats and Republicans.

3) I remember thinking - here are people that can barely speak English, but know the political parties in the United States and are so full of hope that they can now vote. Their excitement and passion has had a profound effect on my pride as an American and all that comes with that.

4) I made a vow that day to vote in every election and not take my ability to vote for granted. How much my eyes were opened as a young 19 year old.

5) They offered me a glass of milk and I hadn't had one during my trip. I was so excited to get some nice cold milk. When they brought me warm goat's milk, I was of course, a bit shocked, but of course, drank it all since I had been so excited to receive it.

I am proud to have voted and I am thankful for this opportunity - especially during times like these.

Bloomin' Geraniums

What a warm, warm fall we have had. It has been the 70's all week and the weekend did not disappointment. We were able to get some great yard work done today and have the boys help water, trim, and rake (and do a little playing as well). I even noticed that my geranium has a new bloom and some of my morning glory plants still are flowering. It's hard to believe with it being November 2nd.

Last night we enjoyed having a few NWU folks over to watch a few minutes of the Husker game - we were down 28 - 0 before 5 minutes in the quarter had gone by. 5 offensive plays ended up in 3 turnovers (and 21 OU points). However, it will still great to watch college football with some folks (we later turned on the Texas/Texas Tech game which was much more exciting). It had been some time since we had gotten together with everyone so it was a nice reason to hang out and catch up. I'm not sure where our time goes, but I suppose with two kids, two full time jobs, and just life in general, it can be pretty crazy. I am thankful for the wonderful balance we have in our life and truly hope we can hold on to it for a bit longer.

Happy Halloween

Well, Halloween has finally arrived and we already have buckets full of candy. We are getting our money's worth with the costumes this year. Of course, Drake is on year #3 with his firefighter costume. He has yet to figure out that you can get new costumes. It really makes you appreciate the innocence of a child.



We enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Vail Valley last weekend to see a couple different sets of friends we hadn't seen in a long time. The weather was beautiful and we were able to partake in the Beaver Creek trick or treating. Both the boys really enjoyed watching the ice skaters and the zamboni - more interesting than all the zombies and such apparently.

On Tuesday night, we carved our first pumpkin. Drake loved turning off all the lights and seeing it glow. Tanner on the other hand......... not so happy with it. It was a beautiful night and Marshall was sweet enough to scrape out the seeds and toast them for me. Drake informed me "he loved them" (and he also loved my meatloaf this week which was a nice surprise!).

On Thursday, we took the boys to the Dish Network Halloween Party. We have done this for several years - it is a great activity for the kids. Fishing, tattoos, pumpkin bowling, haunted houses and candy of course. Drake really was into the haunted house and doing all the activities. He made a mask and it became part of his costume today - so we have a masked firefighter attending school today.

And finally, Halloween has arrived - costumes at school, trick or treating, special lunches and all. What a Friday! Tanner really was indifferent, but Drake's eyes lit up when I asked him if he wanted to put on his costume before we went into the classroom. He carefully looked through the window to see if other kids had on their costumers and after that confirmation, he joyfully put on his costume.

I'm looking forward the wrapping up our festivities tonight with some trick or treating and our Friday night ritual - take out !

My first iMovie Video

Well, I am not terribly creative, but had a fun time playing around with the iMovie function on my MAC. Here is my first attempt at a family video.

Enjoy!

Poker, Salsa, and Pumpkins

The time on the weekends really does fly by. Sometimes, I wonder what it is that we actually do on Saturday and Sunday. This weekend was one of those weekends where everyone got to do something fun just for themselves. Friday night Marshall was able to take in a poker game which he always enjoys. I got some time with the boys and some good alone time which is always nice. It's funny, I'm alone all day working, but having the evenings to myself is a completely different feeling. Apparently, I am still able to separate work and play.



Saturday morning saw a trip to the pumpkin patch on a very warm fall day. We enjoyed picking our own pumpkins, funny gourds, and Indian corn. It took quite some time to get out of the pumpkin patch, but I was able to catch some of the Husker game on the radio during that time and was happy that we came away with a win this week. Marshall also celebrated a Buff win, but unfortunately, the WSU Cougars ended there consecutive game record without a shut out at the hands of USC - ugh.

Sunday saw yard work, car cleaning - Drake was quite a good helper, and organizing the boys' fall clothes. I put away much of Tanner's summer clothes and it is always with a bit of sadness to put away more and more of his "baby" clothes. It is obviously a joy to watch him become such a big boy, but it is also hard to think of my baby growing up so fast. Drake actually took a nap and I was able to take a lovely walk around the park. When Drake woke up and learned I had been on a walk, he was quite distraught. So, he got on his scooter and another walk was in my future. What a treat - two walks in one day - I can't remember when that happened last.

Sunday night was a night of dinner and salsa dancing for me. It was definitely intimidating, but I did get out a dance a few times - poor fellas that asked me. Fortunately, they all survived unscathed. I need to get back and take full advantage of the free lessons next time. And of course, it was nice to just get dressed up and go out - it doesn't happen nearly enough.

Benihana's

Tonight we celebrated another milestone of Drake's school accomplishments - passing his 12th book! He is now on "big" books. It is very exciting to see him reading sentences. I typed some words on the computer and Drake was able to read them. Of course, writing sentences with 3 letter words with short vowels is a challenge.

Drake really enjoyed the dinner and loved his meal. Of course, Tanner ate some rice. But, they both were very well behaved and Marshall and I enjoyed ourselves as well. We don't get out much so any dinner besides McDonald's is a treat.

Surprise!

Our surprise trip to Pender was a success! Not only did we surprise Mom, the flights were on time, and the weather was beautiful! We arrived on Thursday afternoon and had cocktails over at Jaima's and surprised Mom when she got home from work. We stayed at Jaima's and Drake and Alyssa had a sleepover which went very well actually (thankfully).

Friday morning started with coffee at Popo's, shopping for Nana's birthday present and enjoying the nice weather with riding bikes and a trip to the farm to harvest the last of the tomatoes. We enjoyed cocktails on the porch and then headed to Drake's first football game - Go Pendragons! Unfortunately, Pender was slaughtered by Bancroft-Rosalie. Drake came home and said that Pender didn't have many points - that's an understatement. But, the weather was beautiful and Drake enjoyed the popcorn, walking to the game, and seeing his first real football game.




Saturday was another wonderful day with breakfast and Popo's and Mom's birthday party. Drake was a big helper with the party preparations. Unfortunately, the Hukers couldn't pull off a victory, but at least they were in it! The party was great and the weather cooperated. I am so glad that we made the trip and was able to celebrate my mom's birthday with my sisters and parents. What a wonderful time.

I love you a lot and fake coughing

You know - I really think there are so many things that just pass me by during the days. There are things you really just wish you could bottle and hold on to forever. Sitting on the park bench with Drake on Sunday I told him I loved him. He said, "I love you." Paused and then said, "I love you a lot. I love you all the way to space and back." And then asked, "how much do you love me?" Of course, I replied, "I love you all the way to space and back." And Drake said, "that is a lot." Yes, Drake it is. More than you will ever know.

Tanner is of course, fun, fun, fun. He does everything Drake does - the fake coughing is particularly amusing right now. He loves Thomas the Train (marketing works on kids for sure!) and really enjoys his time playing in the basement with all the toys and trucks by himself. He put 2 words together finally - "Daddy down" - I really think we are going to be seeing more and more of that.

Guilty Pleasure

Although there is definitely a lot of work that happens on a business trip, traveling for work (when one only has to do it about 2 times a year) is definitely a mini-vacation. Even airplane travel is relaxing (compared to flying with two kids). Of course, there is the guilt of leaving Marshall at home with two kids, but one week is doable. Business trips really allow me to focus on the small, positive things in life. From driving a Mustang (instead of a mini-van) for a few days, to mornings and evenings without kid craziness, business trips allow me time to relax and rejuvenate. And in my case, a time to connect with co-workers face-to-face, have a team dinner, meet co-workers for the first time, and participate in meetings that just can't happen on the phone.

This trip was even better with a special night in downtown San Francisco. I stayed at the Hotel St. Francis right on Union Square. I had a nice big corner room and also had free breakfast in the morning. The evening was spent out with girlfriends - chatting, drinking, eating, and repeat! It was a wonderful visit to the city. Of course, Friday morning had me wishing Marshall was there to share the city with me - maybe next time.

Truly, I hate leaving all my boys, but after indulging myself for a few days, I'm definitely a better mom and wife. I'm excited to be with them, hear everything they have done (like Drake passing his United States map!) and be truly engaged with all of them. Like I said, rejuvenating and focusing on the positive things in life. Of course, until work catches up with me on Monday morning... ha!

1 to 1 to Ice Cream, Hospital Corners, and Velveeta (also known as family ties)

This weekend we hosted a couple of my cousins for the Nebraska/Virginia Tech game. Although the Huskers did not come away victorious, we had a nice time chatting and catching up. It's so funny to have family around that have experienced many of the same (and different) things that I experienced growing up. During the evening we covered topics from how to make the perfect pink squirrel (I piped in with "1 to 1 to ice cream") and it pretty much worked. For those interested, it is 1 ounce of Creme de Noyaux, 1 ounce of white creme de cacao and about 3-4 ounces of ice cream. Yum!  This was the first time I have had a pink squirrel outside of the bar in Dodge, Nebraska. I think we all agreed these were pretty darn tasty (and that the bar has been skimping on the alcohol all these years). 

While digging through my cupboard to find food coloring for the kids' version of our pink squirrel, my cousin noticed that I organized my cupboards with Velveeta cheese boxes. And as expected, I had various powdered mixes for sauces in them. Oh, how disappointed we were when we learned my other cousin had actually purchased wicker storage baskets for her cupboards. Apparently, this is what happens when one moves to the suburbs. :) I proudly still use the boxes to organize various items in my cupboard. 

I also got a lesson in how to make the bed. Apparently, I was never taught correctly - although I did participate in 4H demo on the topic (which ended up with my laughing so hard I had to get a tissue from the judge to wipe my nose). Anyway, Chele and Christine taught me the correct way to make a bed with hospital corners. Of course, I am not sure it matters as Marshall doesn't like his sheet tucked in on his end of the bed and I have now relegated changing sheets to the cleaning lady - one less thing to worry about!  

Although the visit was short, it was a great, quick trip down memory lane. Cousins hold similar, but different memories than direct siblings and it is always funny to hear how each remember one past experience or another. We all come from the same family tree and yet, each branch is very distinct and different. I guess that is what makes families such interesting groups of people. Shared experiences and yet, completely different lives - each wonderful in their own way. 

Jay and Julie's wedding

Here are pictures from our weekend at King Mountain Ranch outside of Granby, Colorado. What a beautiful wedding and a wonderful weekend with friends.

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Rockies Photos

Here are the pictures from our night out at the Rockies Game.

Wonderful (busy) weekend

How nice it is to sit and watch some football, fold some laundry, and relax tonight. Friday night we took the boys to their first Rockies game. It was a beautiful night for baseball, beer, and junk food. Tanner and I took off early, but Marshall and Drake stayed for the fireworks. They were both so well behaved (Tanner got a bit ansy), but it makes it so easy to take them places when they listen and behave so well.

Saturday morning brought a trip to the mountains for us and Nadja and Ryan babysitting for the boys. According to Nadja and Ryan, the boys behaved and I will believe them so I can feel good about our night out. We feel so fortunate that we have such good friends that were willing to watch our kids so we could have a wonderful night out.

We headed up to King Mountain Ranch near Granby and arrived around noon. We were able to check out the ranch, have some lunch on the porch and get ready for the 3:00 wedding. The weather cooperated perfectly for the outdoor wedding, cocktails in the courtyard, and then thankfully, there was a tent for the reception as the rain moved in. We had a great time eating, drinking, and dancing. We then moved back to the ranch and had more drinks, and did a little bowling (in the oldest automatic bowling alley in Colorado). Yes, I won. :)



Sunday morning we had some breakfast and headed back down to Denver. Both Marshall and I really thought the aspen has turned more specular in the 24 hours we had been up there. And then, Marshall got a last minute call to go to the Bronco game so he was able to enjoy a beautiful day for football and an exciting Bronco win. A wonderful, crazy weekend.

Thomas the Train

A few pics of the our visit with Thomas the Train. The boys were REALLY great.

Michigan Pictures

Here are more pictures from our trip to Michigan. What a great time!

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Weekly Update

The last week has been a pretty nice week. Last weekend, the 4 of our were home alone for the weekend for the first time since the beginning of July. A busy couple of months for us. Last Saturday, we took the boys to Elich Gardens. We took the light rail the boys really enjoyed all the activities - the ferris wheel, the carousel, the kiddie rides, and Drake just taking it all in - was very special to see his eyes just light up looking at all the "big rides".




Last Sunday, Uncle Matt spent the day with us before he took off for Brussels. We enjoyed having him here to spend the afternoon, take in a bike ride, and enjoy some food and drink.

Monday and Tuesday were spent with Drake home sick with a fever and stomach flu. Marshall stayed home on Tuesday to help with Drake which was really nice. It was reminiscent of paternity leave last summer. Thursday night we went out for Chipotle and then swimming. Tanner REALLY enjoyed the big slide - he could not get enough of it. Drake is really getting comfortable in the water which is so fun to watch. A good week.

Photos of our Michigan weekend

A few pictures of our weekend in Ann Arbor thanks to my cousin Ann.

Labor Day Weekend 2008

Go Blue!

What a wonderful, wonderful vacation we had in Michigan over Labor Day weekend. Jacki and Sean were wonderful hosts and it was great to have the sisters all together without kiddos running around. We even had the bonus of my cousin and her hubby joining us for part of the weekend. To able to take in downtown Ann Arbor, the campus, the bars (beer pong anyone?) and a college football game in an extended weekend was just great. It has been quite some time since I have taken in that much alcohol over a continuous period of time. What fun!

And do they know how to tailgate in Michigan - on the golf course fairway! It was pretty amazing to see so many cars and the golf course just packed with professional tailgaters - yard games, BBQ's that hook on your hitch, tents, individual port-a-potties in camoflage tents - it was all there and more. I guess that is what happens when you get 108,000 of your closest friends together on a Saturday. Jacki and Sean had us taken care of with our tailgating as well - I was quite impressed.

Of course, the time went way to quickly as it always does when you are with family (ok, it doesn't always fly, sometimes it creaps along with family), but in this case, we had a fun-filled weekend that provided many great memories. And time away from the kiddos always keeps us in check as well. Was great to have some "us" time - we took full advantage of it for sure.

San Fran Comes to Denver

What a wonderful weekend we had with our out of town visitors from San Francisco. It was great to catch up with my girlfriend from work and meet her sweet little girl, Ella. Krishna and Ella were wonderful guests and we hope they enjoyed their brief stay in Denver. We were able to take them up to see Red Rocks (and Krishna and I got in an aerobic workout while Ella napped). And we enjoyed a nice Saturday evening BBQ and taking in some curling on Sunday morning.

The boys were well behaved (Marshall included!) and Drake was especially sweet with Ella while she was here. She definitely thought he was a ham (and Drake loved having her full attention). There are definitely benefits to working remotely - so numerous I can't list them. Of course, not having friends and co-workers around from one's place of employment can be a bummer. No running to get drinks and dinner with Krishna on a regular basis.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get to California soon for work and I WILL stay in the city and take it all in. Krishna can show me her life as I have now shown her mine. It's funny how we can have tons in common and yet the lives we lead in Denver vs. San Francisco are so different (can you say "car is a necessity in Denver?"). And yes, the minivan once again came in handy for tooling around the city with the entire family and our guests. As Krishna put it, it's a little apartment on wheels. hehe

A Kid Friendly Day

Today was all about the kids. I made waffles for breakfast and then the boys and I went swimming at the indoor pool at the rec center. Drake's swimming has been so much better since his lessons and he just takes off with his goggles and any diving toy he can find. Tanner enjoyed a few of the water toys and just getting in the water. The pool is very kid friendly and Tanner was happy to tool around in the shallow end and climb up and down the ladder for the slide (but hardly going down the slide).

Marshall got home much earlier than expected and we were able to go to Casa Bonita in Denver to see the cliff divers and celebrate the passing of his "blending". Drake really enjoyed the show and the haunted maze. He also go in on some pinata action and just took everything in. Of course, he loved the sopapillas that came with the meal and the shirley temple really topped off the evening.

Tomorrow Denver Public Schools starts and after all the hassle and headache, we have decided to keep him in his current school. The school we originally wanted didn't have a full day spot and the school they did have room in, was not something we were completely thrilled about. So, after weighing all the pros and cons, we opted to stay where we are. I continue to hope that things settle down there and we have a good year. Drake did tell me this weekend that he likes school so that makes me feel better about the decision too.

Just an Update

Marshall's off again this weekend so just me and the boys hanging out. I'm watching the Olympics again - what an amazing race Michael Phelps just had. WOW! Drake and I did a Spiderman puzzle tonight and he kept saying "Where in the heck of the world?" when he didn't know where a piece went - so cute.

Tanner is picking up more and more words. Today, we had to put on jackets because it was so cold and Tanner started saying jacket for his jacket. Something else we do when we say good buy is the "I love you" in sign language, but we do the sign and say "signs". Tanner has now started to put on his hand out and say "signs". So precious.

Blending - Passed!

Today was a very special day for Drake - he passed his final blending at school which means that he is now on "books" at school. He is obviously very proud as are we. We promised him we could go out to dinner once he passed his blending - Chuck E. Cheese, bowling, Benihana's, whatever he wants. So, although we have been battling with school choices (nightmares), Drake is doing well at school and really seems to enjoy it. We finally had our parent/teacher conference and Drake is doing well at school and everything is going well - except for the occasional timeouts of course.

There was also mention of only have 30 children in the classroom this year which would be a nice thing. There has been so much turn over of both children and teachers, I'm really hoping that things settle down and we have some consistency soon. How many more years of this do we have?!? Sigh.....

The Olympics Begin

Marshall and I usually enjoy watching the Olympics together, but since he was off hiking, Drake took his place as my Olympic companion. Drake got out his United States flag and also, realized that one of the soccer balls he owns has the Olympic rings on it. Drake has enjoyed the gymnastics and the swimming - he is now practicing the four main strokes quite a bit. We even ventured to the pool on Sunday afternoon to test out his new skills. He even showed me his backfloat - I was very impressed! Tanner enjoyed sitting on the edge of the pool (except when he fell in). Drake is very excited to watch diving which I have recorded from last night. It made me very happy when he said "I like the Olympics." I feel the same way.

Tanner is so fun these days. He has put together a couple words recently - Dada shoes and one I can't remember of course. He has also started to tell us when he is "poo poo". He is definitely communicating more and more. He is also figuring out how to play (and tease) Drake. It starts out as fun, but then we always seem to end in screaming. Ah, the brotherly love. The boys and I had a nice weekend. We had happy hour on Friday evening and survived 3 1/2 inches of rain in 1 1/2 hours and a small flood in the basement. It was definitely more fun to be hanging out with friends and drinking during the hail, wind, and rain.

Work from Home Benefits (aka Our Pender Trip)

Last week was a wonderful week spent in Pender with Nana and Pop and the Geisert family. We were also lucky to spend a few days with Aunt Jacki as well. I enjoyed time with my sisters and parents - good food, drinking, time on the porch, Indian Trails, and golfing were highlights. The boys really enjoyed the time with Nana and Pop and all the different activities - fishing, swimming, trips to the country, out for coffee, time with cousins, and golfing (for Drake).

Drake and I were able to enjoy 9 holes together on Friday afternoon. I shot a 47 which I was very happy about and Drake really enjoyed being out on the course. He was a great listener and even got to play all of hole 8 (we caught up with the 5-some in front of us). It was really special for me to have that time with Drake.




It was a crazy week for all of us, but I feel so lucky I was able to have this time with my parents and sisters and be able to work remotely. The drive home was less than stellar as Drake had the stomach flu. I felt so badly for both the boys during the drive, but we made it. Already looking forward to next year!

Freedom and a Towel Ring

It is Wednesday and we are surviving our trip to Pender. Of course, I'm not sure mom and dad are surviving as well, but I do know they enjoy the time with the kids. The one thing that has been great for the kids is the freedom that they have in Pender. Drake was able to cross the street by himself and go over to Alyssa's and ask her to come play. The ability to just walk right over to the water tower or play in the backyard on their own. With new found freedom also comes excitement. He was in the bathroom washing his hands and there was no towel on the towel ring and I guess Drake decided that it would be more fun to hang from the ring. And yup - you guessed it, the towel ring is no longer in the wall. So, the bad news was he broke it, but the good news was that he felt terribly and told me right away that it happened.

The boys have both been great and I really think they are enjoying themselves. The trip to the pool was fun today - Drake's swimming lessons are really paying off! And Tanner loves the pool or lake, but man, still hates his baths. We'll get there.

And We're Off Again

Well, it seems that I really didn't want to be in Denver too much this summer. The boys and I take off for Nebraska to test the road worthiness of the Honda Odyssey. I'm really hopeful the built in DVD player was worth the money. I'm looking forward to time with both my sister and parents. The boys will also get to spend some quality time with Nana and Pop and also spend time with the cousins while I am working from Nebraska for the week. Here's hoping I make it to Pender with all my hair.



We enjoyed a nice, relaxing weekend up at Nadja and Ryan's cabin. A little time at the lake splashing around, fishing, enjoying lunch, and just hanging out. This was our first trip to their cabin with kids (we haven't been for quite some time obviously) and we were so happy to be back. Besides the nearly 20 slivers in Tanner's feet from the deck, it was a wonderful weekend. Thanks to Nadja and Ryan for putting up with us and the kids (we're hopeful that the kids were well behaved enough to get invited back).

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The Little Things

You know, it really is the little things that keep you going day to day. Simple things from Drake saying "my tortilla looks like the United States" or "I'm happy to be home" to Tanner just full of life and wanting to be into everything and doing everything with all his energy. This toddler age (19 months) is just truly fascinating to watch - repeating all your words, copying your activities (I blow my nose and Tanner makes the sound), screaming for "mama and dada" constantly, and the amount of things Tanner can actually understand. It really is amazing. He's still my baby, but man, these days are getting shorter and shorter.

I often need to take a step back and realize how wonderful my life is and how the little things really do make it special.

Lake Couer d'Alene Trip

What a wonderful vacation we had at the lake. Here's a brief recap.

Friday July 4th
We arrived around noon and both the boys took afternoon naps. We messed around down at the lake and enjoyed hamburgers for dinner. D-man, Claudia, and I took a nice evening boat ride and then we all went out again later with Marshall to watch the Harrison fireworks over the lake.

Saturday July 5th
We all took a morning boat ride and the PV boys got the slide ready for the water. The boys each took monster naps - over 3 hours each. WOW!! We enjoyed our late afternoon time at the lake and both boys loved the water and the slide. D-man was able to enjoy a nice canoe ride.

Sunday July 6th
We enjoyed what became our traditional morning boat ride. The boys enjoyed doing some gardening with Gramma. After rest, we once again spent some fun time down in the water - going down the slide, riding in the tube, floating around, etc. A special treat when Marshall's sister Michelle joined us for dinner.

Monday July 7th
In the morning, we took the boat over to Harrison to check out the playground, pick up a newspaper, and get ice cream! We enjoyed our afternoon time in the water and D-man floated in the water with his life jacket. He got more and more comfortable in the water every day. Of course, you need many adults to handle a toddler and a preschooler down by the lake. It is exhausting! Marshall and D-man even got in a little fishing in after dinner. Drake got a fish, but it got away right before they got him to the dock. Of course, D-man was so thrilled to reel one in!

Tuesday July 8th
We finally got out on the water with the inner tube and skis. Marshall looked great on one ski and I got up right away. yeah! D-man really enjoyed riding on the tube with me. Fun fun fun. Michelle came back up from Pullman and enjoyed dinner and spent the night. Was so great to get to spend more time with her and have her see the boys a bit more.

Wednesday July 9th
We made a trip to Harrison to check out story time at the library. The boys had a great time - probably more due to the M&M's from the librarian than the stories. :) We of course, had to stop at the store for a paper and check out the park again. Always great to take the boat out to run your errands. Claudia and Bob were nice enough to watch the boys so we were able to go out to dinner and even came away $24 richer.

Thursday July 10th
Luckily, we took out morning ride as the water started out a little rought and it only got worse as the day progressed. It was a very windy day and we even rescued a couple boats from floating away. D-man enjoyed some time in the hot tub with Gramma and doing some swimming for her - he just couldn't get enough of the water no matter where it was! T-man loved the water, but also really enjoyed racing trucks on the deck back and forth and back and forth. He could be heard saying "truu" "truu" all day every day.

Friday July 11th
What a great way to wrap up our trip. We took our morning boat ride to Harrison and enjoyed ice cream again. Yummy. We once again enjoyed our daily lake time and also got the boat on the water for more skiing and tubing. Marshall and D-man really bounced along on the tube this time. Michelle came back from Pullman again and we enjoyed as much time down at the lake as possible and had a late dinner. Michelle, Marshall, D-man, and I took the boat out for a nice evening boat ride and then all enjoyed a fire and S'mores with Bob and Claudia. What a great end to a great trip. Saturday brought packing, breakfast and off to the airport. It was evident that none of us were ready to leave. What a wonderful, wonderful trip.

Couple New Videos

A couple cute videos of us just doing what we do at home - hanging.

Getting Dizzy Dancin'

T-man Giggling

Minneapolis Visit

What a great weekend I spent in Minneapolis with my sister. Happy hour, cocktails, Jazz Fest, rooftop patio dining, fireworks, shopping, great walk with Major, and touring the suburbs. Was an absolute perfect weekend - great weather, relaxing, and wonderful time with Jacki. Couldn't have asked for a better sister weekend (except to have both my sisters there)!!

My Baby is Growing Up

Well, I just got done giving T-man a bath and putting him to bed. After his bath, I cut off his rat tail and then no bottle before bed tonight. Of course, he handled both with ease (he's still not super excited about the bath, but we're progressing). It's hard to believe he is already over 18 months. He and his brother bring such joy to our lives - we truly are blessed.

The Longest Days of the Year

This week I have been saying "these are the longest days of the year" and it has become a running joke. Marshall and I have taken advantage and had some wine on the back patio after the kids have gone to bed. Last night we took the kids on a walk in the wagon to enjoy the nice evening.

Let's see - here are some cute things D-man has said lately. "When is uncle Matt getting married?" (we had a long discussion about how Matt is not married, only has one person in his family - not 2 - and that is why he has a small car), "Good morning Sweetie pie" (saying good morning to T-man), "I'm going to marry AKG" (his cousin that is coming to visit this weekend - yeah!).

18 month Appointment

Today was T-man's 18 month appointment. Unfortunately, he is still under the weather and this is the 3rd time we have been to the doctor in 4 days. On Saturday and Monday, he had fluid in his right ear, but no infection. Today is left ear looked bad, but his right ear looks fine. And he still was running a fever last night and his nose is continually running. But hopefully, we are on the home stretch.

As far as his "well baby" appointment, everything is looking good. He's in the 90th percentile for height at 34 inches (they had to measure him twice to make sure) and weighs 22 pound 4 ounces. He's in the 8th percentile for weight which is fine because he is still on the same growth curve. And all other developmental milestones are great.

We're watching Sesame Street right now and hopefully, he'll be back at school tomorrow.

I can't wait! and "Cheers"

This is what I just heard D-man saying ("I can't wait") when talking to Marshall about "Donuts with Dad" at school tomorrow. Marshall will be taking the boys to school tomorrow and celebrating Father's Day with them at school. If the weather is nice, we plan to go hiking on Father's Day. It should be a pretty low key weekend which will be nice.

T-man was home sick two days this week and is still feeling a bit under the weather, but he stills does his best to keep up with his big brother. Of course, his latest word is "cheers" and he is always looking around for someone to "clink" his glass. What does this say about us?!?!

Sun Microsystems

Just trying out the "ShareThis" button. Here's a link to Sun's home page - always something new to check out.

Sun Microsystems

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Look Mom, Idaho!

Some things are just too cute. Today, we were making dinner and D-man cut himself a piece of cheese. Before he ate it, he said, "Look Mom, Idaho!". He's "passed" his continent map, his Central American and South American maps, and has almost completed his United States map. He seems to forget Iowa - I suppose I shouldn't ask why. Growing up we referred to the state as (I)diots (O)ut (W)alking (A)round. So clever, heh?

Neighbors

We had a pretty low key weekend and even went over to our neighbors for a BBQ - man it is almost like we live in the suburbs where people have kids! Ha! We had a really nice time and D-man enjoyed playing with the girls and T-man settled down after he got used to the dog.

He was a bit more scared than normal and it might have been because he wasn't feeling well and woke up with a fever and his eyes matted shut. Poor guy. So, he's been a trouper here today with me. Hopefully, he'll feel better soon.

Summer Fun!

This week was the start of summer fun at school for the boys. D-man is taking swimming lessons two days a week and T-man will start having picnics and splash days. D-man's class also has special activities every week as well - The Butterfly Pavillion and Yoga this week. It's nice they have some different activities took look forward to this summer.

Summer fun also started for Marshall and me this week - we went to Happy Hour on Friday night and Marshall will be golfing on Saturday. The rest of the weekend will be pretty low key - D-man is looking forward to testing out his new water slide he got for his birthday. We'll also make a trip to the library. Summertime is here!

Word Explosion

Every day, I am amazed at the words T-man is picking up. They say 18 months is a word explosion and we're definitely seeing it. Some other words he is now saying - thank you, belly (beh beh), bottle, pasta (pah pah), open (pen). Tonight Marshall asked him where his nose and eyes were and he repeated both words - so neat to see all the changes that are taking place. It is amazing to watch and goes by ever so quickly.....

You've got a friend in me......and a turtle

Last week I celebrated my birthday with Marshall and the boys. Margaritas, take out sushi and a fun, musical card "You've got a friend in me". The boys and I danced away in the kitchen to the card - was very special. D-man also picked out a decorative turtle for my birthday present. Marshall said he was very excited to give it to me.

T-man's New Words

T-man is really starting to talk more and more. It is amazing how much kids really start understanding at this age. I took him on a wagon ride and he started saying "hat" and I looked back and sure enough, his hat had fallen off.

Some words he's picked up in the last month or so - hat, hot, yeah, wow, uh-oh, water, book, diaper (biper), bye-bye, and cool dudes (that's what we call sunglasses).