Things That Happened Last Spring

So so much has happened in my life in the last few months.

In no way ever, could I blog about everything. 

Therefore, I uploaded a load of pics from a chunk of time so things aren't forgotten.

A Personalization company emailed me this.

I just might buy it.

This is a little thing that I loved during one of the most stressful springs of my life.

My little sleeping angel in his crib, with his sleep sack on at our "old" house.

Victoria's folder of resources for her independent study on Tornadoes.

She presented to her class after creating a Power Point on her own in her free time at school.

I love to meet celebrities.

My favorite genre is memoirs.

When the two come together it's just plain awesome.

Bethenny Frankel was at MOA for a book signing.

I could not find a single soul who wanted to go with me.

So I brought my favorite little reader.

We didn't have to wait in line long….

she's not quite as popular as NKOTB that's for sure.

There was a man standing behind/next to us.

I could tell he was a local celebrity from what people were saying to him.

A couple months later I found out it was Jason from a local station and this fall he will have his own show called The Jason Show about randoms things including celebrities.

So Jason whispers to me, "Is she really reading that?"  I said, "Yes, she is.  Totally inappropriate, I know!"  He laughs and swats me on the shoulder and said, "You have the prettiest most well behaved child I have ever seen!"  I thanked him.  Suddenly, I was his fan too.

Bethenny spent our entire 45 seconds together gushing over Victoria's gorgeousness and she asked how old she was.

It was perfect.

Then we stopped for a snack.

And played some games in the Rotunda.

I am so thankful for the MOA.

Not only do I go often to family amusement but it draws the celebrities to a Mall Near Me and I appreciate it.

Sitting still for once…

watching Elmo at the "old" house.

He's even adorable watching a show.

We used to do this thing where he would pucker his lips through different slats in the crib and I would following him all over to collect all of his kisses.  Then we'd always end over the top bar.

He no longer in a crib, so I cherish this pic.

He LOVED wearing that vest.

The flippers were a new addition, but that vest….

is now packed away.  #toosmall

Super awesome activity I found on Pinterest for my unit on Plants.

My students can eat all the parts of a plant.

I LOVE teaching!

Victoria's 9th Birthday.

We stopped to see Baby Leighton on the way to school.

I took Victoria out to lunch and...

Daddy was able to meet us!

It was a gorgeous day and she felt so special.

This little guy loves that blanket.

We bought it on our road trip to CO summer of 2013 at Bear Country in SD.

A couple months later we could tell it was totally going to be his lovey.

I searched everywhere to find another one for back up.

Never ever found one.  

Then last year on our road trip we found another one in Breckenridge.

What are the odds?

But it didn't matter anyway because he HATED the new one so much he literally wouldn't even touch it.  And if he accidentally did he was not happy about it.

So Ning Ning, as he calls it, has gotten so wore out it's gross.  And a total pain to remember Ning Ning before we leave the house.  And pick it up off the floor of….everywhere.

I have phased him away from Ning Ning the last few weeks.  He only gets it when he's sleeping.  He says Good-Bye to it when he leaves his room and gives it a huge HEWOOOO when he returns to bed.

This has also greatly reduced his thumb sucking.

This was the night of V's real birthday.

After a blown tire and AWFUL traffic we finally arrived at MOA only to see Sea Life closed early for a private event.  We felt pretty defeated.

Until dessert came.

We relit candles over and over so he could blow them out.

I brought my own candles to Caddilac Ranch.

Then the fantastic waiter asked if she wanted to ride the bull.

It was adorable.

Of course little brother wanted in on the action too.

Victoria asked if we could, "Please go to Build a Bear."  It was way past all of their bedtimes but Daddy was in no way shape or form going to tell his little Birthday Girl no, so here we are.

The only people in the whole store.

Brecken making his very first one.

It was a birthday to remember.

Odelis brought Lucas to school so we could meet him.

Victoria's BFF at school.

They had matching backpacks in third grade.

I tried to crop out Christian but he totally knew;-)

While teaching the plant unit I found this adorable little sign.

And then one of my students gave me daffodils.

Perfect!

Mark and Brecken and Ben and Benjamin Jr at the Ice Cream Social.

The boys are almost exactly one year apart. 

It's nice to have a little friend to pass our things on to.

However, as you can see, he's catching up!

The crew.

One of my favorite school functions!

Christian showing off his artwork.

Once in a while Laura and I call in our order to the Meet Market.

Then pick up our lunch and eat on this dock during our lunch break.

It is perfection.

Mark gave a talk to Victoria's class about being a contractor and dealing with city government.

Brecken's best friend at daycare named Lilah.

Therese's dog Tess.

See, he wore that vest constantly.

Before bed selfie.

Playing catch with Daddy.

Trip to Sea Life.

The gift that keeps on giving.

Dad and Deb gave us a family membership for Christmas.

We use it all the time!

He loves his letters!

He was sure this said Elmo.

Playing in the water just for fun.

Water settles him down.

"Old" house.

Under the table at Acapulco's.

Ning Ning has been everywhere.

What are the odds V and I invite Therese out to get pedicures..but she couldn't…then we get there and Therese's daughter is there!  

This is…just true.

One of the many many trips we spent waiting in different waiting rooms.

We got very comfortable and often played Hide N Seek.  Sometimes people would even want to join in.  I suppose it's not every day you see a kid hiding like this and a mommy saying 50 times out loud, Where in the world could he be?!

My dad had some major health concerns/scares last year.

He's had a pretty healthy six months now.

I let him take Christian over night (on a school night) to the Eagle Center on Earth Day for a day of learning.  One of the best decisions I ever made.  Months later, he is still spewing eagle facts, never mind the life long memories he made with Papa!!

Outside daycare. 

He is always so excited to see her!

Big Baths at our old house….

Always tons of fun!

A (couple) former student older sister crashed my classroom in the evening and posted it on fb.

I was so confused when I saw it on the morning.

They are the funniest family ever!

Water makes everything better.

Always.

Playing Hide N Seek at the doctor's office.

So many appointments….

He ended up being really sick this day and his asthma was way worse than I thought so he had to neb. three times a day for a week.

After school shenanigans.

That's his It's Friday face!

I think this was back in early May….when was it Liv?

Liv came over on a Friday night and brought over a box of memories.

Victoria was very interested.

These used to be very important.

That was such a fun night!!

Outside the regional championship for Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby.

We didn't get the scores we hoped for but we had a fun day cheering on Christian's car.

Having fun at our old park.

Making breakfast at the old house.

It is so funny to see Brecken wearing a diaper!

Beautiful Sunday morning playing at the park!

Followed by a drive by….of the house we were yet to own!

Followed by a stop at Teddy Bear Park.

Christian spotted a Harriett license plate!

Hugs at nap time.

Reading in a box.

Practicing for the Talent Show!

Working on Aunt Molly's Mother's Day gift.

I uploaded and started typing this well over a month ago.

It is so strange and so fun to see everything that was going on in our lives just four months ago.

A Change

Today Victoria and Christian had their check ups.  They were both exactly 48 3/4 inches and within a pound of each other at 56lbs.  The nurse even double checked and said they are closer in size than most identical twins!  This was not music to Victoria's ears.

Even though they were both in the room the entire time, their actual exams were very different.  Victoria being nine and going to fifth grade for math, our pediatrician told me it's time to start talking about puberty with her.  It's so interesting….I do think that's normal for a 4th/5th grader.  But my little daughter?  No way.  But she was very interested in the words he said that she wasn't sure about.

She asked if we could talk during Brecken's nap.  She had quite a few questions that were easily answered.  Then we put a little notebook by her bed to write questions in so when we talk again (probably tomorrow) she won't forget anything.

This evening we were all playing in the yard and Victoria said, "Hey mom, I can't wait to talk again tonight before bed!  I thought of another question!"  Then she looks at Mark and said, "It's about puberty!"  with a huge smile.  Then she skipped away and I heard her say, "I'm not gonna be a kid for much longer!"  Oh man, I'm in trouble!

We did talk a bit before bed tonight.  I shut her door thinking about how, to an extent, things changed today.

Thirty minutes later I went to switch out the laundry and kissed Christian on the forehead and he was in a deep sleep.  I tiptoed into Victoria's room.  She was sleeping.  I turned on the light a bit because I wanted to look at her sweet precious innocent face.  As I knelt down to look at her cute little face I realized she was sleeping with her five foot stuffed giraffe, Highest.  There she is cuddled up with a huge stuffed animal, clutching "favorite blankie."

I hope somethings don't change for some time.

Glad I Was There

Last Friday morning I woke to a strange text from my friend that she sent at 2am.  At 8:30am her daughter called to tell me her grandma most likely wouldn't make it through the day.  I made child care arrangements and immediately starting gathering their things together, expecting to spend several hours at the hospital, with friends that I consider family.

I got the kids dropped off, stopped to get flowers, drove through construction, finally found St. Joe's hospital and drove to the 6th floor in the ramp that was also under construction.

I found my way to the lobby only to have my flowers taken away.  Not allowed to have any flowers on the that floor.  If I wasn't nervous before, I sure was now.  I was shaking and holding back tears telling myself I am here for them….

Unfortunately, she passed away about a half hour before I got there.  It was painful just to see my friends in pain.  But I was glad I was there.

The wake was last night.  I texted yesterday morning that I would drop a meal off for them sometime in the afternoon.  I did just that.  Carefully setting my note on the dessert on the counter and maneuvering food around in the fridge to make room for my spaghetti bake.  While I was doing this one of the kids asked, "What's that beeping?"  I had no idea and didn't think twice.  40 minutes later I got a call asking if I had been there to drop off a meal.  I had tripped their alarm!  He had to come home from the wake to talk to the police because I had already left.  Oh, I felt horrible!  But, I was glad I was there.

This morning was very hectic.  Brecken had school in WBL.  Then we came home for me to quickly get ready, pick up my grandma and then drop the kids off at a friend's house on WB Lake.  Then we flew across town to St. Paul the entire way I had clenched fists on the steering wheel because I did not want to walk in to the funeral late.  I was going to the church a different way than I ever had before so I looked up the obit on my phone and began typing the address into my GPS….and got pulled over.
On my way to a funeral with my little 83 and half year old grandma in the car.

The Officer was very kind, after checking my insurance (temporary card - we switched when we moved) and my clipped license (I wrote the wrong address on the form at the DMV so I'm waiting for a new, new license).  He let me off without so much as a warning and was able to tell me where to make the right hand turn up ahead.  We made it in time, barely.

It was a beautiful service.  Absolutely perfect.  So so glad I was there.

Christian's 7th Water Park Birthday….finally

Waaaay back in on January 28th this adorable boy turned 7.  Seriously, hard to believe, he is seven.  We had his friend birthday party on February 14th at Water Park of America.  We LOVE this place.  LOVE it.  We love it when it's just our family but it's even better when friends are along for the ride!

Look at this - teeth are almost in - smile.  He's so happy!  And this was the night before the guests arrived.

Adorable.  And Happy.  Perfect.

Christian's friend since daycare days.

Papa showed up, unannounced, no ticket to get in, dressed in his (super warm) Sunday's Finest with a "cake."  It was more like the World's Strongest Piñata.

 He got several cards that sing.  Not much is funnier to a seven year old than a dancing, singing hamster birthday card.

Some new TWINS gear among loads of other gifts.

I love this pic so much I had it made into a magnet.  

Victoria holding Brecken on the water slide.  Not only does she do an amazing job watching him but he loves her so much he holds his little hand out and follows her wherever she wants to take him.

Oops, how did this one get in here? ;-)

We were laughing and hanging out and he put his little feet up and grabbed my magazine and said, 

"Look I'm Mommy.  Oh, here's that coupon I've been looking for."

He cracks me up.

He doesn't even hesitate. 

He owns this place.

Dippin' Dots after an extremely long and fun day.

Laura and her family weren't able to make it until the early evening.

We found our second wind and had a fun well into the night.

This little dude was fast asleep tucked in, in his pack 'n' play in the closet.

But the next morning he was freshening up by putting deodorant on his shoulders.

The next morning he was exhausted.

We left before we even had to.

These two have been friends since they were born….

not that they had much choice;-)

Last ride on the Flow Rider.

She can beat most of the boys..and grown men.

On our way back up to the hotel room at the end of the night.

So much has happened since that super fun weekend. 

It's fun to look back on it…..

now that his half birthday is next week!

June 9th = Almost the Most Perfect Day

Today is June 9th.  We've been out of school for a few days.  It passed 90 degrees today.  V had a seven hour play date.  B had school for an hour at a park.  We managed to hit three more throughout the day.  We meant Burnsie at the beach.  Tess met us there, which means I actually got to relax.  Still can't find my bathing suit…but that's ok because I got burned anyway.  The sheet rock was hung today, which means we have walls.

On this most gorgeous almost perfectly perfect day, Hammy the Hamster died.  Christian found his first very own pet passed away in his cage today.  He crumbled to the floor in hysterics.  I held him and rocked him while he sobbed.

Luckily, a beach trip was a huge distraction.

Christian played baseball tonight; as well as he always does.

It was almost, the most perfect day.

The Last Night

Turns out the "last of the last" I wrote about nine days ago was really like the 40% still to go.  If I could turn back time I would do so many things differently.  In two nights, combined, I didn't get a full night's sleep.  These last few days have been nearly unmanageable.  I don't even take them one day at a time…more like 2-3 hours at a time.  Packing and moving things out, while trying to keep the kids' lives as stable and happy as possible, has been a challenge.  To say the least.  The big kids have been staying up later than ever helping pack and move things.  It turns out they are very hard workers.

When you google Most Stressful Things in Life moving is on every top ten list.  On one list, it is actually number one.  Above the death of a loved one.  The author, has clearly, recently moved.

Two weekends ago Mark attempted to move the Tiny House.  After the fork lift and flat bed had been rented and a full three hour attempt, it only moved about 8 inches.  Even more unfortunately, the new owner didn't want it.  Which to me, is beyond crazy.  On top of all of the final moving stuff last weekend, we (the four of us, my brother and a friend) spent seven hours destroying it and loading the materials into the trailer.  It rained.  It was emotional.  It was a huge waste of time.  It was devastating.

That put us a full day behind our, already tight, schedule.

Last night the kids slept here, the very last night.

Tonight Mark and I will spend our last night there.  On just a few hours of sleep.

**Written just before midnight on May 19, 2015.  Who knew our internet would already be unhooked.

Only Nine Days Left - Our Home

Tonight we packed kind of the last of the last.  Really we probably have like five more last of the lasts…but tonight we packed the bathroom….Brecken's room as he slept… Christian's closet as he slept…

The kitchen is down to the bare essentials…which feels good.

However, the emotions hit hard tonight.  I've been having a hard time with emotions in the last four months.  I have pushed a lot back down.  Tonight I was literally packing box after box while talking to Liv about her Grandma's wake that I will go to tomorrow.  When you have a whole life of memories with a friend….it's almost like losing your own grandma….

I don't know if it was that combo…or what…

But boy oh boy did the emotions come out tonight.

I have to say…I am sad.  I am break down on the floor sad…can't stop crying sad…about leaving this house.

I feel so guilty about feeling sad because we are teaching our children to be grateful for everything they have.

Yet, I'm crying about moving (which I've wanted to for years)….into a house twice the size and a yard that's 6 times the size and a garages 1,000,000 times the size.   Trying to make myself feel better…here  Right now I wish I hated this house.

I want to think about the shit ass driveway.  The small kitchen that gets way too hot in the afternoon.  Only two bathrooms. That 8 minute drive to school/daycare totally sucks…oh yeah…what's really nice..


Really there's not too much to say…except we are so blessed to have had so many amazing memories in this house.  Our home.

I took a Friday off ten years ago to house hunt.  It was the first one we looked at.  I loved the area (We only lived two blocks away)  We loved it.  We scooped it up immediately and moved in, in less than 6 weeks.  We are only the second owners of this home.  We love our neighbor, Mr. Lloyd.  And he loves us.  That's a whole other post.

We moved in as newlyweds.  We grilled on our driveway that summer.  Soon, I was pregnant with our first child.  Mark added a sliding door, deck, another bathroom, another bedroom, a bay window, among so many other improvements.

We brought three infants home here.

We have entertained probably more than anyone you know.  Seriously.  Huge 100 people parties to several nights a week having people over.  Because we LOVE to entertain.

But off all the memories….my very very most special… memories in my heart…  are the birthday parties.  Mark's 30th.  Victoria's first princess party…the year we decided to bring in a petting zoo..for three years.  Who doesn't want a pony on their birthday?  Victoria's second Elmo birthday that snowed on April 28 and we had to force the great party I had planned into the basement….Brecken's second Mickey Mouse birthday that will be our last party here.  (Christian's parties are not mentioned only because in the middle of winter we had the parties 'off site.')

Typing all this out has made me feel so much better.

We will "move forward" which seems to be the mantra in my life in more ways than one.  It is a good thing and I totally know that.  I just wish it wasn't' so hard.

What is the Dr. Seuss phrase????  Don't cry because it's over…smile because it happened.   I will convince everyone to smile and save the 19th for me to cry.  Because I make the rules.  And I can't help it.