Our weekend (4/26-28)

Adam took Friday off because he had a doctor appointment, and we were heading to Albia later in the morning. After his appointment, we all hopped in the truck and went to McDonald's for breakfast. After invading all the old people, we headed to the carwash...to wash the dog. Our carwash recently transformed one of the bays into a doggy spa where you can wash your pets. Genius idea that person had. Easton smelled and looked way better after Adam and Fletcher bathed her. I even petted her because she looked so nice.

When the boys were finished, we went home to pack and then to hit the road. Once we got to Albia, I asked his step-mom about the Amish market that was just outside of town. The girls loaded up and made the short drive while the boys were in the back garage working on the vehicle of the day. I've been to an Amish market before, but when there is money in my pocket (and a whiny two year old in the cart), a lot of stuff gets tossed in. I'm so excited about some of the mixes I got, and candy and spices. Uh, I could have bought way more than I did. I will be going back next time I'm in Albia.

Since the power tour is approaching, Doyle is getting his GTO ready for the trip. The kids and I joined Adam and Doyle for a test drive. Brynlee said 'super fast' when we pulled out of the driveway. Fletcher was having too much fun during the day to enjoy the ride, as he fell asleep on my shoulder. When we got back from our little drive, Adam got cleaned up and he and I headed uptown to the Albia Brewing Company for dinner and some drinks. It was nice to be able to go on a date without the kids.

Saturday morning, we were outside early. Fletcher went with the boys to Benton Place to fix a few issues, while Brynlee and I went for a walk around the block. The block only measured about a mile and a half, and my knee handled it well. When the boys got back, we attempted to fly a kite, but it just wasn't very windy to keep it in the air long. Lunch and naps soon followed because we had a birthday party for a great grandma to attend later.

Grandma Glo's party was held in the building across from the Methodist church, which allowed for plenty of room for the kids to run and play. It was potluck style, so after we all got there and had things set up, we went through the line and got our food. Everyone ate, chatted and enjoyed the time together. We got the cake ready for GG and she blew out the candles, she had a helper when it came to tasting the frosting. A few pictures with the grands and greats and then it was time to clean-up, dismantle and leave. 

                     

Sunday brought more nice weather and some time outside before it was time to head for home. The kids and I walked over to my grandparents house for a little visit. My Uncle Joe and his wife were visiting too, so it was nice that we got to see them. It was a nice, long weekend catching up and hanging outside. If only the weather would cooperate and act like spring.  

Party Time

Brynlee's birthday party was held the Saturday after her birthday. I was debating themes to use, but I had plenty leftover items and decorations from Fletcher's Dr. Seuss party last year, that I went ahead and did it. There were many people who told me it was a bad idea, but I went a completely different route and made it hers.

The food was prepared with little frustration, because I let Sams club be my friend this year. The cupcakes and cookies were done by grandma foxy roxy. The decorations were put in place by guests who arrived more than 20 minutes early, because we always run late for party start time.

The birthday girl was in a wonderful mood because she got a good two hour nap in. Guests ate and chatted, amongst themselves. Soon, it was time for presents. Brynlee did such a good job opening. Probably the best two year old gift opener I've seen. She opened nicely, hugged the person who got her the gift and then went back for more. She really only clung to one gift when she opened it and it was a doll she had spotted a few weeks prior at my parents house. She made out well and is pretty close to being set for summer clothes.

Thing (1) and 2 cupcakes were a hit. So were the one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish cookies-my personal favorite. Brynlee blew out the candle like a champ...thanks to the practice we went through a couple nights that week. It's good to know hard work pays off. She enjoyed all the frosting. After everyone had cupcakes, cookies and ice cream, the party was pretty much over. Most everyone had somewhere to be, so there wasn't any of the usual help sticking around. I work better alone, really. Things got cleaned up and put back rather quickly and I was able to enjoy some my little pony playtime with my girl.

It was a good day. Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate my girl and for those that 'helped' with something and took a little stress off my back. Only six more weeks and we'll be doing it again.

We have a 2 year old

On Monday, my sweet baby girl turned two years old. Time sure has flown by...I type that as she's being good right now.
She sure has taught us a lot. Like patience. And 'don't sweat the small stuff'. And how to survive a night with very little sleep. And how to kind of get sleep with a toddler in your bed, who's kicking and wide awake at 2am. Oh, and she's taught us patience. But really, we're still learning that one.
This kid is a handful, but a good handful. Aside from the naughty things she does, the good and funny outweigh all the bad. She is really tender hearted toward others, but she like to hit too. She loves 'tandy' and 'nacks'. She does not like fruits or vegetables. She loves to copy her big brother and always wants to play with him. Sometimes he's nice, sometimes he's not. She loves books and her babies and cooking up things in her kitchen. And she also enjoys dumping all the toys on the floor, which I do not enjoy. A current favorite is coloring...with markers and eating play-doh. She fights naptime and bedtime with every ounce of energy.
I know that as much as I want some of these battles to be over, I need to cherish the good and the not so good, because some day, I'll want it all back. All of it-the sleepless nights, the blue marker on the lazy-boy, the fights between her and her brother, trying to get her to eat something good and not another sucker. So, as her third year begins, I sit back and take in all of the good and bad and practice working on my patience. Here's to another year sweet girl.

the last five months-august

august was packed full of fun. we had to make sure we did all the last 'summer-ish' things before school started for flether and our days weren't so open. 

one day in early august, adam's dad was up doing some things to the house (we were still moving at this point) and he heard some music in the distance. when he caught sight of what it was, he came inside to see if the kids could have ice cream. this is a very rare occasion so all three of us joined him outside to get a treat. 

in the middle of the month, my parents had my niece and nephew (brother's kids) for a few weeks. they decided to make a trip to the omaha zoo and the kids and i were asked if we wanted to tag along. since adam was out of town (big surprise), we did. we were only gone for one 30 hours, but we were on the go. we headed to the air and space museum to check out all the old planes...four kids and two adult females were bored out of our minds, but my dad sure enjoyed it. 

when we left the museum, we drove next door to mahoney state park where we were staying at the lodge, checked in and then thought we would go to the water park for a bit. this was a major hit. 

checking out the map of the grounds. there is so much to do that they want to come back. 

the following morning, we got the crew ready for a day at the zoo. 

the iowa state fair starts the second thursday and goes for the next 10 days. it's kind of tradition for us to go and do certain things every year. the kids are getting older and having more fun seeing the animals and doing  some of the activities 

camping at camp pops and nana's

my grandpa's 89th birthday. we had a family party for him and all of his kids, grandkids and greats were in attendance. 

grandma and grandpa with the greats. seven kids, nine and under...oh, the joys. 

it's september...

***this was suppose to publish at 11am.

it's officially september and officially time to start blogging again. i've been sitting in front of the computer for the last 2 hours getting things accomplished, because you see, i took my little boy to preschool this morning and i have a few hours of sanity since there is only one child to tend to. i cried. he didn't. it was bittersweet. baby girl has been so good while i get a few thirty-one orders entered, surf the web, check and delete emails. i think she may like her brother being gone, more than i do though.

we had a pretty productive labor day weekend. saturday we did some home improvement projects, to prepare the house to sell. sunday, i had a thirty-one party and after that, we celebrated my dad's birthday. yesterday, fletcher and i joined a friend at adventureland while adam did more to the house and brynlee hung out with grandma and grandpa. how was your labor day weekend? labor free?

fletch's birthday party

three weeks ago tomorrow, we had fletcher's birthday party. we invited family and a few friends to help us celebrate.

this was a morning party so everyone could make it, and we were trying to avoid naptime meltdowns as well. since most everyone had to drive at least 30 minutes, i did breakfast food to enjoy. egg bakes, french toast bake, fruit, sausage, hashbrowns, and bagels with cream cheese. i was nervous that there wasn't going to be a good variety or enough, but there was enough that adam and i had leftovers for a few days.

i had the dr. seuss theme planned for a good three months prior. i had these great visions, but i should know by now that not everything i dream up in my head will happen or is even realistic. the table clothes, paper plates and balloons were enough of the seuss theme that made me happy, but there was more that i wanted to do. we did have mimosas though, that vision was one of the most important that i followed through with.

my boy is spoiled by the ones that love him. he got so many great gifts, he goes from one activity to the next like he has a 2 minute attention span.

adam and i got him his very own set of wheels. i missed his first reaction because the camera was being stupid, but he loves it. he talks about, 'me tuck' all the time and he even wants to take his sister for a ride. she suffers from mild cases of whiplash after she's done riding with him (he's not a very good driver yet).

my mohter-in-law made the cat in the hat cake and i made the flags to go in the cupcakes. she did a great job on the cake. this year fletcher understood to blow out the candles and he even thought he needed to take a bite out of the cake.

  fletcher gave all his cousins/friends a dr. seuss book for coming to his party and helping us celebrate.

aside from the crappy weather, getting started 30 minutes late and my visions not coming through for me, it was a pretty good party. there was laughing, chatting and smiles~that's what a 3rd birthday is really about. 

one final thing i'm very excited about is that i have a new, updated family picture from that day. please look past the wrinkled sheet that was covering our canned goods and used as a backdrop. and because my kids can only cooperate for a few short minutes, the second was taken to show how they really feel about family photos.