Hi my boys!! Dad and I are on the big ship and it's Thurs. evening. We are going to a comedy club show tonight and then to a fancy dinner where everyone has to be very dressed up. I wanted to take a minute to write to you and tell you that we are missing you all so much! We can't call you while we are on the ship because it would be sooooo expensive. In fact, I am even paying almost a dollar per minute to just use the computer and write this, but you are all worth it!!
We are having such a great time! The temperature has been close to 80' every day. A little warmer than Minnesota, right? We have been to Mexico and Roatan (in Honduras) and a country called Belize where we went on a 2 hour tubing ride down a river through the rainforest that went through caves. There were even bats in the cave, you would have LOVED it! We have been to stage shows and done some shopping and we get to eat whenever and whatever we want. We haven't been hungry for a week. Haha!
We keep saying how much fun you would all have here. We wish you could see what we are seeing. We are on the ocean and there is water all around us for as far as we can see. There have been a few nights, including tonight, that have had really high waves (like 10ft.) and it makes the ship rock. Sometimes we are walking and lose our balence and look funny because we can't walk straight. hehe...it's funny. At night, it feels like you are being rocked to sleep. It's a very cool and weird feeling. We actually even saw dolphins swimming near the boat on the first day. That was very cool!
Are you all being good for grandma and grandpa? I hope so. I'm sure you are. Make us proud of you. I know it's hard when we're away this long and can't call you, but have fun and don't argue or fight....or wrestle (remember??) I know you are all being very good. We miss you very, very much and are anxious to see you. We will call when we get back to Florida on Saturday. Grandpa won't be getting us until really late at night, so you will be in bed, but we will come in and give you a kiss goodnight.
We love you all very much! We'll see you in a couple days. Bye boys!!!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
And....we're off!!
In 12 hours Jason and I will be basking in the Florida air at Epcot! Then, it's off to the coast in the morning to catch our cruise ship of fun! I've been so busy counting down my daycare days that I haven't hardly mentioned the vacation we've been planning for a year. Jay and I along with my parents and siblings and their spouses....oh and Amy D. to even out the numbers....are heading on a Carribean Cruise tomorrow. Jason's parents are coming up from Illinios to stay with the kids...we are SOOO grateful for that. We can really use a break these days. We sail from Sat. to Sat. I'm so beyond excited, I can't stand it! What a great way to celebrate being done with daycare and break up the frigid Minnesota air.
I might try to write while we're out to sea....depends on how much it costs to get online and how much I lose at the Blackjack tables. :)
Don't be jealous now.....be happy for me....I friggin' deserve it! ;)
I might try to write while we're out to sea....depends on how much it costs to get online and how much I lose at the Blackjack tables. :)
Don't be jealous now.....be happy for me....I friggin' deserve it! ;)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tanner's bowling party
When each of the boys have turned 5, we let them have their first 'friend' party. I gave him a few different choices as to where he would like to have it and he chose bowling. Works for me. No mess at home.
We ended up having it on Monday during the day cuz the kids had the day off. It was a good time for all!
We ended up having it on Monday during the day cuz the kids had the day off. It was a good time for all!
where the heck have I been?
You've gone to bed every night thinking that same thing, haven't you? I knew it. How could I not be online last Friday when I enjoyed my LAST day of daycare?? How is it I never even mentioned the fact that the Vikings won their playoff game...leaving only one more to win to get to the Superbowl.
Well, for one thing the computer has been at Best Buy getting a Windows 7 upgrade. Buh-Bye Vista...I will NOT miss you.
But, on Friday night, as soon as my last and final ever daycare parent arrived...we headed to St. Cloud for the wake of my aunt, Sr. Teresa. She finally lost her year long battle with pancreatic cancer. We never thought she'd make it to even Thanksgiving, much less Christmas and the New Year. But, God has His own timing and He wasn't quite ready for her until now. It's always sad to lose someone you love, but there is a calm about it as well when you know their suffering is over. She looked beautiful and her community of nuns celebrated her life beautifully. They were so loving to all of us and so honoring of Sr. and her life. She had a prayer cross that she held when she prayed and that she held when she couldn't pray any longer. She had told my mom and her close friends that she wanted Tony to have it after she died. He was her Godson and she always had such a softspot for that little stinker. She was holding it until the moment they closed the casket. Her best friend took it out and got it to us after the funeral. I know Tony will cherish it always. She will be dearly missed. Her laugh, her smile, her prayers, and her unconditional love for all of us. We loved her very much.
Well, for one thing the computer has been at Best Buy getting a Windows 7 upgrade. Buh-Bye Vista...I will NOT miss you.
But, on Friday night, as soon as my last and final ever daycare parent arrived...we headed to St. Cloud for the wake of my aunt, Sr. Teresa. She finally lost her year long battle with pancreatic cancer. We never thought she'd make it to even Thanksgiving, much less Christmas and the New Year. But, God has His own timing and He wasn't quite ready for her until now. It's always sad to lose someone you love, but there is a calm about it as well when you know their suffering is over. She looked beautiful and her community of nuns celebrated her life beautifully. They were so loving to all of us and so honoring of Sr. and her life. She had a prayer cross that she held when she prayed and that she held when she couldn't pray any longer. She had told my mom and her close friends that she wanted Tony to have it after she died. He was her Godson and she always had such a softspot for that little stinker. She was holding it until the moment they closed the casket. Her best friend took it out and got it to us after the funeral. I know Tony will cherish it always. She will be dearly missed. Her laugh, her smile, her prayers, and her unconditional love for all of us. We loved her very much.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Logic from a 5 yr. old
Tanner is watching a commercial on PBS that says you should appreciate nature and the next time you're outside you should go and hug a tree.
Tanner: (totally serious and perplexed) Why in the world would anyone hug a tree?
Ahh...my son. I'm so proud.
Tanner: (totally serious and perplexed) Why in the world would anyone hug a tree?
Ahh...my son. I'm so proud.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Celebration
We ate.....
We opened.....
We surprised....
We rode.....
We blew out candles.....
We ate cake....
Dad took pictures.....
Mom took pictures.....
We made sundaes.....
We had fun......
We celebrated.....
We were amazed that our baby turned 5......
Happy Birthday, Tanner Bananer!
We opened.....
We surprised....
We rode.....
We blew out candles.....
We ate cake....
Dad took pictures.....
Mom took pictures.....
We made sundaes.....
We had fun......
We celebrated.....
We were amazed that our baby turned 5......
Happy Birthday, Tanner Bananer!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Mean kids
What is with these kids that feel like their day won't be complete until they've tortured some other kid? Yesterday morning, Timmy said something about getting called names at school so I asked him what happened. He told me about getting called gay, weird, and other names by a certain 2 boys in his class. This one brat....er, kid....at school sat at the lunch table and told everyone who thinks Timmy is not cool to raise their hand. Half the kids raised their hands. As he told me, his eyes got all red and I knew he was starting to cry. I stood him up and just hugged him tight. As I did, he made a heaving sound and just started to cry right from his gut. The kind that tells you a person is so hurt. I stood there and cried right with him, I couldn't help it. It just breaks my heart. I picture him sitting there eating his lunch and this kid does that to him. This and one other kid have been a pain in Timmy's side for a while now. They gave him crap last year too and we really hoped it would go away after the summer. It did not.
I decided it was time to get the teacher involved so I emailed asking her to call me. When she did I explained what was going on. She said she could tell something was bothering him this morning. She also said that he has told her about kids making fun of his size, but she was not aware of this other stuff. She told me that she is going to get in touch with the school counselor because she knows that, given the 2 names I mentioned to her as problems, it won't be worth it for her to talk to them. Let's just say she wasn't surprised by the things I was telling her.
When Timmy got home yesterday I sat down with him to talk more about the whole thing. I told him that he needed to start sticking up for himself more. He needs to not just shrug and hang his head when these boys say and do hurtful things, but rather he needs to hold his head high, look them in the eye, and tell them to leave him alone. I also told him to try and take away their opportunity to do this to him. Like yesterday when they were in the bathroom....Tim, these 2 boys and 2 of Timmy's friends.....and the one mean kid starts asking everyone who thinks "boy x" shouldn't be here?.....who thinks "boy y" shouldn't be here....Finally getting to 'Who thinks Timmy shouldn't be here? Giving this and the other boy plenty of time to raise their hands and make Tim feel bad again. I told him he should have walked out of the bathroom the minute he started in rather than standing there waiting and knowing where that was going.
I don't know. I realize it's part of being a kid and it's part of growing up for a lot of kids, but sheesh! This is too much. I used the opportunity, as I have before, to tell him to remember how much it hurts when people do this and to never do it to someone else....to never be the kid that another one is going home and crying about. It builds a little bit of character when you have to learn how to turn the other cheek and not let stuff get to you, but man.....does it have to be so dang hard?
I decided it was time to get the teacher involved so I emailed asking her to call me. When she did I explained what was going on. She said she could tell something was bothering him this morning. She also said that he has told her about kids making fun of his size, but she was not aware of this other stuff. She told me that she is going to get in touch with the school counselor because she knows that, given the 2 names I mentioned to her as problems, it won't be worth it for her to talk to them. Let's just say she wasn't surprised by the things I was telling her.
When Timmy got home yesterday I sat down with him to talk more about the whole thing. I told him that he needed to start sticking up for himself more. He needs to not just shrug and hang his head when these boys say and do hurtful things, but rather he needs to hold his head high, look them in the eye, and tell them to leave him alone. I also told him to try and take away their opportunity to do this to him. Like yesterday when they were in the bathroom....Tim, these 2 boys and 2 of Timmy's friends.....and the one mean kid starts asking everyone who thinks "boy x" shouldn't be here?.....who thinks "boy y" shouldn't be here....Finally getting to 'Who thinks Timmy shouldn't be here? Giving this and the other boy plenty of time to raise their hands and make Tim feel bad again. I told him he should have walked out of the bathroom the minute he started in rather than standing there waiting and knowing where that was going.
I don't know. I realize it's part of being a kid and it's part of growing up for a lot of kids, but sheesh! This is too much. I used the opportunity, as I have before, to tell him to remember how much it hurts when people do this and to never do it to someone else....to never be the kid that another one is going home and crying about. It builds a little bit of character when you have to learn how to turn the other cheek and not let stuff get to you, but man.....does it have to be so dang hard?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Sunday Snapshot
With the holidays past, I can get back to Sunday Snapshot. As I should since I still have one little kiddo to brag about. It's Trae's turn.
Trae means three...third...a fitting name for our 3rd boy/child. This child was born with more hair than most kids have their first 2 yrs. of life. It was wild. Never did it lay down, it stuck up all over. He got his first haircut at 3 mos. old and NEEDED it!
Trae is my middle boy. He is 8 and in 3rd grade....a really fun age. He has had the nickname (thanks to aunt Mindy) Trae-Dogg....yes, that's a double G, thank you very much. Since he was about 2 weeks old he has been known as Trae-Dogg. So much so that when he had his preschool screening at the age of 4 and the woman asked him his middle name, he answered...with total sincerity....Dogg. His brothers and even his friends at school know him this way. It has stuck and I'm sure will continue to.
He is the one I say could be a comedian when he gets older. He loves to laugh and crack jokes. He's also my most sensitive boy. Too sensitive sometimes. He lets things bother him more than they should a lot of times, and we try and talk to him about not letting things get to him so easily. But...along with the sensitivity comes a sweet heart, and THAT I'll take any day.
He is in wrestling for his 4th year and does really well. He took home a first place trophy in Nov. in his weight class. He's skinny, but fast and tough. A good combination for a wrestler.
He's just moved downstairs into a bedroom with Timmy. He's a bit unsure about being so far away from mom and dad all night, but he's done just fine.
He's very animated when he talks about anything he's excited about and it was fun to hear all his questions about his future sis when we first told the kids the news.
It will be fun to see him with her. He'll be my boy (although not the only, I'm sure) to cry when we get home with her. He's very emotional and cries along with me at sappy movies. I love that.
Trae means three...third...a fitting name for our 3rd boy/child. This child was born with more hair than most kids have their first 2 yrs. of life. It was wild. Never did it lay down, it stuck up all over. He got his first haircut at 3 mos. old and NEEDED it!
Trae is my middle boy. He is 8 and in 3rd grade....a really fun age. He has had the nickname (thanks to aunt Mindy) Trae-Dogg....yes, that's a double G, thank you very much. Since he was about 2 weeks old he has been known as Trae-Dogg. So much so that when he had his preschool screening at the age of 4 and the woman asked him his middle name, he answered...with total sincerity....Dogg. His brothers and even his friends at school know him this way. It has stuck and I'm sure will continue to.
He is the one I say could be a comedian when he gets older. He loves to laugh and crack jokes. He's also my most sensitive boy. Too sensitive sometimes. He lets things bother him more than they should a lot of times, and we try and talk to him about not letting things get to him so easily. But...along with the sensitivity comes a sweet heart, and THAT I'll take any day.
He is in wrestling for his 4th year and does really well. He took home a first place trophy in Nov. in his weight class. He's skinny, but fast and tough. A good combination for a wrestler.
He's just moved downstairs into a bedroom with Timmy. He's a bit unsure about being so far away from mom and dad all night, but he's done just fine.
He's very animated when he talks about anything he's excited about and it was fun to hear all his questions about his future sis when we first told the kids the news.
It will be fun to see him with her. He'll be my boy (although not the only, I'm sure) to cry when we get home with her. He's very emotional and cries along with me at sappy movies. I love that.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
Do you suppose if I put my resolutions down in writing it will make them more real and I will actually achieve them this year? I'm willing to try it.....so here goes.
1. Of course...the one I make every year....the one that we ALL make every year....Get in shape. Get toned. Excersize more...more?..Who am I kidding...excersize, period. Lose weight! Let's face it people, I got my 20 year reunion coming up this year and I want to be SMOKIN'!
2. Get all the boys' memory things....art projects, report cards, awards....organized in their own bins.
3. Organize all pictures and print digital ones to put in an album....I still like albums full of pictures that you can just look at without a computer.
4. Be more proactive in my hair business to build my clientele.
5. Be a better mom and wife. There are always ways to improve on that. More patience, more game nights, more listening, more involvement at the school (I'll be able to do that now. I've always either been doing daycare or had little ones of my own at home)
6. Cook dinner more. I got away from this so much the past year and a half.
7. Keep my room and car clean. It can happen....
8. Go to China to get our little girl. Okay, so this isn't really a resolution since I don't have much control over the timeline, but it is definately a goal for 2010.
If I can pull this all off....I'm thinking it's gonna be a great year! And even if I only pull off #8....the year will most definately be great!
Happy New Year!!
1. Of course...the one I make every year....the one that we ALL make every year....Get in shape. Get toned. Excersize more...more?..Who am I kidding...excersize, period. Lose weight! Let's face it people, I got my 20 year reunion coming up this year and I want to be SMOKIN'!
2. Get all the boys' memory things....art projects, report cards, awards....organized in their own bins.
3. Organize all pictures and print digital ones to put in an album....I still like albums full of pictures that you can just look at without a computer.
4. Be more proactive in my hair business to build my clientele.
5. Be a better mom and wife. There are always ways to improve on that. More patience, more game nights, more listening, more involvement at the school (I'll be able to do that now. I've always either been doing daycare or had little ones of my own at home)
6. Cook dinner more. I got away from this so much the past year and a half.
7. Keep my room and car clean. It can happen....
8. Go to China to get our little girl. Okay, so this isn't really a resolution since I don't have much control over the timeline, but it is definately a goal for 2010.
If I can pull this all off....I'm thinking it's gonna be a great year! And even if I only pull off #8....the year will most definately be great!
Happy New Year!!
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