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.  

Easter weekend

Adam had Good Friday off so we headed to Albia for a few days. The weather was pretty nice that Friday and Saturday, so we spent a lot of time outside. The kids played on the swing set and with the dogs. They even got to feed the goats with Nana.

Nana got a new toy, so her and Fletcher went for a drive in her new mini cooper convertible. While they were gone, Brynlee and I walked next door to my grandparents' house friday to hang with her greats. 

Later that evening, my Uncle Mike came over to get Fletcher and me, to head out to see his new baby calves. There was one particular calf that he was feeding off of a cow that lost her baby. Fletcher got a first hand experience, as my (our) uncle let him lead the calf to where he needed to be. Fletcher thought he was pretty big stuff doing that.  

Saturday afternoon, we left Pops and Nana's right around lunchtime and headed next door for lunch with the greats and Uncle Mike. My grandparents enjoy the kids so much and the kids enjoy them as well. He visited over our meal and then headed for Des Moines since it was past nap time and I had a little girl who was getting very crabby.

It was a fun few days hanging out with the family that we wouldn't be spending time with on Easter. 

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?

To Honor. To Remember. To Cure.

Early last month, Adam, the kids and I joined Camryn and her court for the annual Cure Search Walk. The organization raises money and awareness for childhood cancers.
We arrived that gloomy morning all happy to see one another and to honor Camryn. As the opening ceremony began, tears were filling my eyes as the lady was reading all the names of the kids we would walk in memory of that morning. Soon, the happy tears took over as Camryn and all the other cancer survivors walked across the stage as their names was called, to receive a medal of honor.

                                                      receiving her medal from dr. schwalm

showing off her medal

We began the walk, about a mile, which took us around Principle Park. We walked as a group and chatted along the way. Celebrating the happy, healthy five year old that we love so much.

At the end of the walk, we all got together for a group photo. Of course all the kids had to get in one also.
It was a morning of mixed emotions, knowing there were so many kids that didn't make it, but also knowing that there are so many that did and are. I know that the money I raised will benefit all of those children and many more that will be diagnosed in the future. Hopefully one day, there will be a cure. Until then, I'll keep raising money and walking to raise awareness.

princess camryn's court

the back of the 'princess camryn' shirts

the rest of easter weekend

the friday before easter, we had stayed with my parents since we wouldn't be seeing them on easter. they had baskets for the kids and had plans to do a little easter egg hunt but the weather was rainy and cold so my mom scratched that idea. once it had stopped raining, i figured we could do a little one along the sidewalk, so i headed out and placed the eggs for fletcher to find them.

 we've got a peeker

adam and my parents came out with the kids and fletcher knew exactly what to do. brynlee looked cute holding her basket while her brother put the pink and purple eggs in for her. she attempted to get a couple eggs, but she ended up falling over. 

 and they're off

 what a good brother

 he found another egg

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trying out the egg hunt thing

after fletcher checked out the loot, we loaded up and headed out.

sunday morning, i took my grandparents to church at 8am and adam stayed with the kids. when i arrived back to the house, i asked fletcher if the easter bunny had come. he wasn't quite sure, so i had to coax him into the kitchen to prove to him he had been there.

 i think he appreciated what was left...especially the cadbury creme eggs. the bubble gun was a close contender.  however, sister was NOT a fan of the bunny ears.

we were meeting the rest of the mick clan at 12:30 for lunch, so before we headed there, we stopped by my grandparents' house to visit with them a bit and so they could see the kids. my grandparents are such troopers. anything to make my kids smile.

grandma doesn't seem too amused 

when we got to benton place for lunch, everyone was there and was ready to eat. we loaded plates with all the yummy food and we sat in good company. it was pretty low-key, but it was relaxing and we were around family. fletcher sat with aunt jenni and before i could look over, he was asleep. he stayed that way until we left. brynlee on the other hand, was all over the place and made the rounds. 

aunt jenni was a good pillow

making faces with cousin jake

playing with cousin eli

rolling on the floor with pops

gg glo and uncle dave think i'm cute

that's it. a long, fun, eventful easter weekend filled with family. hope yours was just as fun. 

warm winter

 this year we've had a very mild winter so far. very little snow and above freezing temperatures are not usual around these parts. last week, we enjoyed three record setting days of 60 degrees or higher. it called for some outside play from the littles. although it was warm out, they were still bundled up because the shade in our driveway makes it much cooler.

over the weekend, we were suppose to get the winter weather we are used to getting in december, however, it missed us completely. we were suppose to get freezing rain and then 6-10 inches between friday night to saturday night. it started snowing about 830am and was pretty light for a the first 20minutes. once it picked up, it was snowing huge flakes and it was almost completely white out because there was so much snow. it only snowed for a little over an hour and covered the ground, but the temperature was 34 degrees, so it wouldn't be sticking around. 

later that afternoon, my mom called to ask about our snow accumulation, only to tell her that it all had melted. she was shocked when i told her that and then she told me that they had about 6 inches and it was still snowing. this makes me so sad that we ended up with none. hopefully it is still around this weekend so little boy can play in it. 

busy weekend: part 1

we had a busy saturday. first, we had christmas at adam's mom's at noon and then we had to head to des moines to get ready for my mom's surprise party my sister and i were having for her.
anyway, we initially had plans of leaving the house at 8am to head to ankeny for breakfast at ihop...adam's craving...but since brynlee slept until 6:45am, i knew i couldn't get everything together in little over an hour and leave, so we scratched that idea. we were finally ready around 9:45 and left the house. we made the drive to montezuma and for once, were the first to arrive. we visited. we ate. we opened gifts. we were the first to leave ( i guess it's okay since we were the first to get there, right?).

we were on our way at 2:30pm, for an estimated arrival of 3:39pm...an hour sooner than we could get into the house, so, we went to the party store to get decorations. i got a birthday banner, party hats, and red and white balloons. as i was waiting, the kid blowing up the balloons popped 6 of them...and they were all red. i was hoping it was the kid and not defective balloons. after about ten minutes, fletcher and i were walking out of the store. in the meantime, i had gotten a call from my sister to stop by the grocery store and get a few things she didn't have. by the time we ran the few errands and took a scenic drive around the neighborhoods i grew up, we made it to my parents' house to start cleaning and decorating and getting food put out. the surprise was wonderful, plus, we all got a surprise we weren't expecting...cousins from minnesota showed up. one of the neighbors is a tall, well build man with a head full of white/gray hair and a face full too. when fletcher saw him, he said 'ho ho'. it was just about the cutest thing i've heard in the past week. this was good prepping for our sunday plans. anywho, tons of fun was had by all that joined in the celebration.

i think she was surprised

this is 'sam'ta

sunday morning, we woke up just in time to get the ourselves and the kids dressed to meet the northerners for breakfast. i never pass up free food, let alone, with those that i love being around. we enjoyed our meal and some catching up and then back to the house to clean up the mess from the night before. our big plans for the day included a man in a red suit. we left my parents' house and headed straight for bass pro to get in line for santa.  fletcher was so excited when he saw all of the christmas winter wonderland stuff. not lying, i was kinda excited too. when it was our turn, little boy ran to him and hugged him. sister wasn't as thrilled. i did get some good pictures and the free photo was good too, only they didn't capture the smile on my boy that i got. 2011 santa experience went down as a success. we did a little more playing after we had our turn, then we walked around, looking at  all the animals and doing a little shopping. soon, we were on our way home for a little lunch and some naps for all four of us.

a great weekend was spent with family, only to relax for a few days to do it again.