An American Girl movie !! Kit Kittridge. I realized this was a movie after we visited the store in Chicago and saw all the "Kit" merchandise not understanding what it all meant. It looks like a real good movie, I'm just not sure Hannah will be "into" it. She's not a real good movie goer to begin with, so we'll have to see if it intrests her.
Watch the trailer here.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Emma, a new friend.....well kinda
Hannah met a girl today named Emma, and she just turned 9. She is the granddaughter of our neighbors in the house behind us. She is from Colorado, and her dad is our neighbors son. Her mom stayed back in CO, while her and her dad, made the trip to MN. Emma's dad and our neighbor, Rob and another son went on a Boundary Waters trip for a few days, and Emma is staying with her grandma this week. (our neighbor Barb). When I heard she was coming and she was 9, I didnt' think of it as much of a playmate for Hannah, she's quite a bit older.
When meeting Emma this afternoon, the 2 girls instantly clicked and had a fun time.
Emma is very small & petite for her age, and actually Hannah and Emma are exactly the same size height wise and Barb even said Emma is only in a size 5 she is also very thin. (Hannah is in 6's... that just tells you how small this girl really is). Barb said she was a normal sixed baby and is a healthy kid....just small. When looking at her it's hard to tell she is 9, but then when she talks, I can tell the difference. She is an only child, and she has kind of an intellegant, sophisticated tone to her, not the whiny tone Hannah still has. She is a very nice girl and her and Hannah get along super for just meeting. (doesnt' take much effort at that age). They went back and forth from our house to her grandma's. They have plans to maybe play a little yet tonight, and then Hannah will probably never see her again, being that she doesnt' get to MN very often. Tomorrow her grandma is taking her to the Mall of America and then a cousins baseball game, and Wed. we are leaving town.
Even Kendall joined in on the playtime (no surprise), and when I went to get Hannah at Barb's house, I asked Kendall if her mom knew she was at this house, she says yes, but I would guess not, and Kendall was gonna just stay and play with Emma, after Hannah left to go eat supper. So I suggested that she go home and maybe they can play later, and to let her mom know where she was.(it was going on 6pm by now.)
The girls did make a cute little trio though.
When meeting Emma this afternoon, the 2 girls instantly clicked and had a fun time.
Emma is very small & petite for her age, and actually Hannah and Emma are exactly the same size height wise and Barb even said Emma is only in a size 5 she is also very thin. (Hannah is in 6's... that just tells you how small this girl really is). Barb said she was a normal sixed baby and is a healthy kid....just small. When looking at her it's hard to tell she is 9, but then when she talks, I can tell the difference. She is an only child, and she has kind of an intellegant, sophisticated tone to her, not the whiny tone Hannah still has. She is a very nice girl and her and Hannah get along super for just meeting. (doesnt' take much effort at that age). They went back and forth from our house to her grandma's. They have plans to maybe play a little yet tonight, and then Hannah will probably never see her again, being that she doesnt' get to MN very often. Tomorrow her grandma is taking her to the Mall of America and then a cousins baseball game, and Wed. we are leaving town.
Even Kendall joined in on the playtime (no surprise), and when I went to get Hannah at Barb's house, I asked Kendall if her mom knew she was at this house, she says yes, but I would guess not, and Kendall was gonna just stay and play with Emma, after Hannah left to go eat supper. So I suggested that she go home and maybe they can play later, and to let her mom know where she was.(it was going on 6pm by now.)
The girls did make a cute little trio though.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
swimming, ice cream truck, gymnastics, and church softball
Well it seems official.....summer is in full swing. I get pulled in so many different directions during the day, I can't keep my head on straight.
The pool is up and the kids are enjoying it-- it's freezing water yet, but they don't seem to mind too much.
The ice cream truck came by today, and they freaked out, Hannah ran with Kendall back to her house, ( yes Kendall is over here again) and her mom paid for the $1 humongous freeze pops they got (we call them icee's), and then Bailey ran in for some money and he had to chase down the truck to get a huge popcicle. It's crazy what the sound of an ice cream truck does to a kid.
Hannah had her 2nd gymnastics class today and is doing better already. She still is a little stiff and not very flexible, but she seemed more comfortable today, insisting once again that I can't watch. I did anyway, and she was fine. She'll probably say it every class and every time I will still stay and it'll be fine...crazy.
She did hand stands today as a new thing, and continued to work on forward rolls and backwards rolls, balance beam, and she got to do a few things on the uneven bars, but just as it was her turn to do the flip around the bar, they switched stations. Hopefully next time she can go there first, last week she didnt' even get a chance. She is doing way better on that "bridge"--now that takes flexibility. Today they even did a bridge on a wedge mat, and from that position did a flip back, where their legs then flip them over from the bridge position...Bailey was just like, I could never do that.
Just as I thought, that with a little practice she will excel pretty quick in this.
She couldn't do a backward roll without significant help until.....................
a bit ago when she was practicing outside herself and just started to do it. I came to watch and sure enough, she can go backwards now without any help, where as last week and even this morning yet, could not get even close to rolling backwards. Her long legs would just fly up in the air, and the teacher would flip her over.
We had church softball last night, and since Bailey's baseball game was cancelled because of lack of kids from the other team, we were able to make it to softball. Steve came home at 6:30 and changed clothes and we left for the game which started at 7pm. We lost by 1 run, but who knows, how accurate the score keeping was, but they said it was 23-24. Lots of runs. I had a good hit my first time up, and had another base hit,--both times scoring, and once grounded out. I played right field, it's the only place I feel comfortable playing co-ed, I had one hit way over my head and a couple of other plays, when the infield missed it etc. It was fun and I have alot more energy this year, being that I did loose a little weight....last year I think I played one game and was so sore after and just felt like a big blob out there, that I decided I didn't want to do it.
The pool is up and the kids are enjoying it-- it's freezing water yet, but they don't seem to mind too much.
The ice cream truck came by today, and they freaked out, Hannah ran with Kendall back to her house, ( yes Kendall is over here again) and her mom paid for the $1 humongous freeze pops they got (we call them icee's), and then Bailey ran in for some money and he had to chase down the truck to get a huge popcicle. It's crazy what the sound of an ice cream truck does to a kid.
Hannah had her 2nd gymnastics class today and is doing better already. She still is a little stiff and not very flexible, but she seemed more comfortable today, insisting once again that I can't watch. I did anyway, and she was fine. She'll probably say it every class and every time I will still stay and it'll be fine...crazy.
She did hand stands today as a new thing, and continued to work on forward rolls and backwards rolls, balance beam, and she got to do a few things on the uneven bars, but just as it was her turn to do the flip around the bar, they switched stations. Hopefully next time she can go there first, last week she didnt' even get a chance. She is doing way better on that "bridge"--now that takes flexibility. Today they even did a bridge on a wedge mat, and from that position did a flip back, where their legs then flip them over from the bridge position...Bailey was just like, I could never do that.
Just as I thought, that with a little practice she will excel pretty quick in this.
She couldn't do a backward roll without significant help until.....................
a bit ago when she was practicing outside herself and just started to do it. I came to watch and sure enough, she can go backwards now without any help, where as last week and even this morning yet, could not get even close to rolling backwards. Her long legs would just fly up in the air, and the teacher would flip her over.
We had church softball last night, and since Bailey's baseball game was cancelled because of lack of kids from the other team, we were able to make it to softball. Steve came home at 6:30 and changed clothes and we left for the game which started at 7pm. We lost by 1 run, but who knows, how accurate the score keeping was, but they said it was 23-24. Lots of runs. I had a good hit my first time up, and had another base hit,--both times scoring, and once grounded out. I played right field, it's the only place I feel comfortable playing co-ed, I had one hit way over my head and a couple of other plays, when the infield missed it etc. It was fun and I have alot more energy this year, being that I did loose a little weight....last year I think I played one game and was so sore after and just felt like a big blob out there, that I decided I didn't want to do it.
Quote of the day....and some insight.
How many times has somebody told you to “think positively”? Easier said than done, right? But this truly can make a difference in your life. Focus on the good, and learn from the bad. You have the freedom and ability to choose your own attitude. What will you choose? Enthusiasm can carry you through a lot more than you think. Never just be satisfied with what you have, but keep working to achieve more. Set specific goals and work for them. After you have accomplished them, set new ones. Keep working to make yourself a better person.
After reading the book "The Secret", this quote goes right along with it. It's frustrating to hear people think the worst, or expect the worst first.
A good quote from the book,
"Expect the things you want, and don't expect the things you don't want"
That is a good one
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Our family adventure to the big city.
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We had a great time getting away as a family. It was some much needed time together.
We left Friday morning as I was franticly trying to keep it together and get everything packed up. We brought Lou to my friend Cathy's house in Buffalo on Thursday night, so we didn't have to worry about him Friday morning.
Steve had some running around to do in the Cities Fri. and we picked up his check and ran to a branch of his bank that we were close to in Blaine to cash it. We are finally on our way out of the Cities about 3pm. I was bummed we got such a late start out of here, but oh well, I was just glad Steve came with and was able to put work out of his mind for a few days and have fun.
We made it to WI Dells area about 6:30pm and stopped at Denny's there for supper.... we like it there for their good breakfasts even for supper. We then went over to play mini golf at Pirates Cove, this is the biggest mini golf place I've ever seen, it's on a hill overlooking the Dells. Kids always enjoy mini golf. Then we got back in the van and headed further. We made it to Madison, by about 9:30pm and decided to stop there for the night, we only had a little more than an hour to go to our desitination then in the morning. BUT.....
....we had a little trouble finding a hotel with rooms, and checked 2 of them with no luck. We are trying to stay on the cheaper side for that night, and drove around this main street off the hwy kinda frustrated. Kids kept asking are we at a hotel yet??, when are we gonna be at the hotel?? So we were gonna try another one, to see if they had rooms but we passed it, so we made a u turn, and then were on the wrong side of the road for the drive way again, so with Steve's patience level maxed out, it was easier to just get back on the hwy and keep going. Kids were getting tired and anxious, and so were we. We drove about another 1/2 hr- 45min and got to a city with some hotel choices again in Janesville. We tried 2 hotels there with no luck as well and were getting discouraged. Kids thought, we'd have to sleep in the van, I think.
Finally at about 10:30pm or so, we found a room. YEA!!! It was at a Select Inn, which was cheaper, but still $90, and not worth the price. It was a pretty old building inside, we had to have a smoking room, rooms were small, and just needed an update. We were on the 2nd level with no elevator. So we struggled at 10:30pm, to get our stuff up. We survived and were thankful for a bed to sleep in. I think we all finally went to sleep about 11:30pm. Double beds which seem small to me, Hannah and I slept in one bed and Bailey and daddy in the other. I kept sneezing in the room, because of it being a smoking room, and woke up feeling a little conjested, but as soon as I got out of there the rest of the day I was fine. It rained a bit in the morning, but the rest of the day was beautiful. We checked out of our dumpy room about 9am, and went over to Walmart across the street, to get a few things we needed. Then we had a wonderful gas station breakfast :). Well they also had a Wendy's there too, which Steve got a breakfast sandwhich and I got french toast sticks, and the kids, well Bailey just picked out a doughnut and some juice and Hannah some dry cereal and water. Lovely.
Saturday morning then we headed the rest of the way to my family's Christmas in June Reunion party. Which only took about an hour or less to get there. We had to go just over the border in IL, to Chain O Lakes State Park. We got there about 11:30am and had a great time all day. We ate a wonderful assortment of food, played games, visited, had squirt gun fights, took walks, took family pictures, opened presents--the white elephant kind each person had to bring 2 gifts, and then we drew numbers to pick a gift in 2 rounds. --- some goofy, some interesting, some kinda nice. The 4 younger kids did a $10 gift exchange. Bailey got a Super Soaker squirt gun, and Hannah got a neat Hannah Montana coloring poster, and a little box of makeup. We gave David a squirt gun as well, and he is about a year older than Bailey, so that made for a nice little squirt gun fight, and we gave little Jacob, who is 18 mo, a Little People Helicopter set.
We all left the park about 7:30pm, and our family went over to see mom and dad's campsite in the park, as they were camping there. Stayed a few minutes and the mosquitos started coming out, and we still need to find a hotel room for the night.
My aunt Brenda and cousin Jessica ( and everyone else from IL that was listening), gave us some wonderful advise for visiting Chicago the next day. They said we should just take the train into Chicago, and Libertyville has a train station, so we headed there for a hotel as well. It was only about 30-40 min drive from the park, and they only had 2 hotels in that part of town that we could see, so we drove by the Days Inn, probaly the cheaper of the 2, and they had an overcrowed outdoor pool, that kinda turned us off, sicne the kids wanted to swim, and we'd be staying 2 nights at this place. So we headed over to the Holiday Inn Express and it looked like a real nice hotel. I was praying for a room and that it wouldnt' make us go broke. As the kids and I waited in the van, we were hopeful, since daddy comes right back out when there are no rooms, we were a bit used the routine.
We got a wonderful room, it was a office suite, with only one king bed and a pull out couch. It was the only type of room they had left at $130/night. Which considering it was alot for us, was 10 times better than the last hotel and we really enjoyed the stay there. They had a nice breakfast in the mornings too and the kids enjoyed the INDOOR pool. We even had an elevator to get our stuff up to the 2nd floor!!!
The king bed was very, very, very comfy, and Hannah was on the hide a bed couch, and Bailey was fine on the floor. I went to get 2 extra blankets to make up his bed on the floor and they gave me 2 nice plush comforters. Bailey sleeps on the floor occassionally at home too, so it was comfy for him. The room in general was just big too.
We got up Sunday morning to head to the big city of Chicago. We caught the 10:10am train from Libertyville to Chicago. We got to the train station a bit early just not knowing what to expect, so we waited for the train for about 1/2 hr. Kids were getting antsy. The train finally came and off we went. It was only $10 for all of us to ride it, on the weekend pass, round trip. It took about an hour to get to Chicago on the train, and they made like 10-12 stops along the way at different cities. We finally got into Union Station in Chicago about 11:30am. We got into the station, all had to use the potty, called my mom, and then found a McDonalds to eat lunch at in the station. It's like an airport in there, with places to eat.
We then headed out the doors which was like a comfort zone, into the big city. It was a little overwhelming at first. We were right next to the river so we looked down at that from a bridge, saw the water taxi's and a boat tour, and then headed out into the city. Within minutes we saw the Sears Tower, "towering" over us. Literally we were right under it at the base. We knew it was close to the train station, with our handy dandy map. So we took the trip to the top of the Sears Tower Skydeck. This set us back about $45 for us to go up, but it was worth it. We saw a short movie on the history of it being built, which was neat, and then they put a bunch of us in an over crowded elevator at a time, and said we'd be at the
103rd floor, in about 60 seconds. Ours ears felt funny/ popped, as that was the fastest elevator ever!!! 103 floors in 1 min. WOW! The Sears Tower is 137 floors total, the Skydeck is not quite to the top, there were 34 floors above us even. We were amazed at the view, and Bailey made sure he saw everything he was supposed to see, as they had things to look for and we couldn't leave until Bailey found them all. He made sure to find all the sports stadiums too. Looking way across Lake Michigan was cool. It went on forever, like an ocean.
We came down after about an hour or so.
We followed our map to head towards Chicago Ave / Michigan Ave area. We knew that's were all the action was. Our next goal the American Girl Place on Chicago Ave. We looked at our map and found out we had to go about 20 blocks. We thought about catching a bus/ taxi, but decided to just walk to save money. I had a backpack, and Steve gave Hannah a piggy back ride for part of the walk. Bailey was doing good and about half way there, I was wearing flip flops and they started to rub alot. Of course I got the, "why did you wear those"? I wondered myself after my feet started to rub, but really didnt' think we'd be walking 20 blocks straight. I guess I was wrong.
I also guess I should have packed an extra pair of pants in my backpack, as I was bending down to give Hannah a piggy back ride, I ripped my pants in the back....OMG!! REALLY!! WHY !!?? As I started to realized the situation, I had ripped my pants in the middle of downtown Chicago, what do I do?? We were on a street where nothing was open, and still had about 10 blocks to go. As I was about to cry, I stopped to think, that that isnt' gonna help anything and needed to come up with a plan. I put the backpack I was wearing, around my lower arms and had it concealing my butt. I looked like a idoit carrying my backpack this way, and I had Bailey walk behind me, as Steve and the kids laughed. I didnt' think it was so funny at the time, and couldnt' believe that this could even happen esp. now, in Chicago. So I walked a few more blocks this way and we stopped at a McDonalds for ice cream and a bathroom break, so I at least got to sit and rest. Across from Mcdonalds was my answer....Sports Athority store and it was OPEN> So we headed there for some pants, everything was kinda spendy, and Steve and Bailey went down to the bargin basement there, and found me some cheaper pants, almost like what I had on. Tried them on and kept them on!!! Felt much relief.
After that experience, and a few more blocks, we made to American Girl! Hannah was so excited, more so than I thought. We had her doll along with us, which her name changes from Isabella, to Emily, so I'm not sure what her name is. Hannah wanted nothing to do with the doll for the first part of the trip, as I had her in the backpack at first, then Hannah said not to zip it up, because (in her most serious voice), "she will die in there". So then I carried her, even Bailey carried her for awhile, because he had to, our hands were full....I said if I have to be embarressed, by ripping my pants, you can hold a doll for a few blocks.
We got inside the store and she was taking it all in, grabbing all the boxes of clothes and looking inside each one, even though the doll and outifts were displayed. Finally her and I seperated from Steve and Bailey, and we ended up in the vintage section, all the older dolls and colonial, early 1900's clothes etc, she spent the most time in there for some reason, as I was trying to get her to look at the more recent cuter clothes, she was set on Molly's 1940's swimwear set. Which we held onto the entire time and I was despiratly trying to change her mind to get something else, as she was getting even more set on that swim set. She wasnt' changing her mind, so after seeing all 3 levels of this huge, yet amazing store, we let her get the 1940's swimwear. After putting it on her doll it is kinda cute, looks like a summer dress, and it came with a shell necklace, sunglasses, beach ball, and a beach towel. So all in all she ( and I) was happy with the purchase. We saw the doll hair salon, movie theater, photo studio, and the American Girl Place Cafe, where at 4pm, they were all about to have afternoon tea. We needed reservations, and money to do all that, none of which we had.
We even had to use the restrooms there, and inside the stalls, was a hook on the wall that said doll holder. So her doll stayed safe on the wall while Hannah went "potty". How cute is that!!!
After getting out of that VERY busy store and feeling a bit overwhelmed , every one was getting a bit crabby, tired and hungry. We walked a bit more on Michigan Ave, went in Walgreens for a snack and bandaids for my feet, and then went in a real cool Disney store.
We then saw a trolley that was headed towards Navy Pier, and those are free, and was headed to where we wanted to go, so heck, we got a bit of a walking break. We arrived at Navy Pier and we were starved, it was about 5:30 or so, we went into Joe's Be Bop Cafe, and had supper. Navy Pier has a big inside section which is like a mall. Food was good and we had time to re energize, after all the walking. After supper we headed outside on Navy Pier, saw the biggest farris wheel I ever saw, we were down by the lake so it was cooler, and rain clouds were also headed our way.
We walked around for a bit and had to head back inside because of the rain. We hung out inside for about 1/2 hr or so, went into Build a Bear, kids love that store, but we stuck to our guns and didnt' buy them anything. Rain stopped enough for us to head out of Navy Pier, towards Millenium Park. Another good walk, of about 5 longer blocks along Lake Shore Dr. As we were leaving Navy Pier it was still drizzly, and we saw a beautiful rainbow as the sun started to come back out. Then we headed under an overpass, which with all the roads so close together it was like a tunnel under there, we should have taken the above ground route, on the Riverwalk, but we went straight ahead instead of climbig the stairs to the up to the Riverwalk.
About half way in we regretted our decision, as there were at least 4 homeless people under there, and one was either getting robbed by another man, or we are not sure what was going on and didnt' stick around to ask what the problem was. No one else was down there, so it was a bit scary and glad we got to the other side safely, which is where Millenium Park was, there was a big pavilion stage, with seating for a few thousand maybe, also "The Bean" was there, it is a sculpture of a thing that looks like a bean, and reflects all that is around it, with it's mirror like coating. We also saw a fountain/waterfall there, which the kids enjoyed splashing around by. We then headed back up Adams St, towards the train station. So we did make a BIG circle around. We didnt' need any buses or taxi's and made it another 10 blocks or so back to Union Station. It was about 7:30pm at this time, and our train we found out left at 8:35pm, so we got a snack, went to the bathroom., and had to only wait about 15 min before they boarded the train. We got back into Libertyville about 9:30pm or so, and headed the 5 min back to the hotel. We were definatly all tired, and went to bed about 10:30pm or so. Guessing we walked about 5-6 miles, maybe more.
Got up Monday morning, had a good breakfast in the lobby, and the kids went swimming for an hour or so, before we packed up and left for home. We checked out right at 11and headed for home, which we arrived back home about 7pm, Monday night. We had an uneventful trip home, even though the trip back always seems longer....we were glad to finally see Dassel after all those hours.
Pictures from our trip and everything I just talked about is up on my Kodak Gallery. I'll send them to who I have email addresses for. If you don't get the link for the Kodak Gallery pics, let me know via comment and I can send it to you. If you can't get Kodak Gallery online, I posted a few pictures on this post.
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Yummmm.....fresh strawberries are the best.
I wanted to take the kids strawberry picking this year, and the strawberries are ripe now through a couple of weeks. Not sure if we'll get picking or not, but I stopped by the Dassel Hillside Farm this morning, and just picked up a box of already picked ones. The store bought ones just don't compare, and these are sooo yummy. He said it's just the beginning of picking season and they are getting better every day.
I remember always having fresh strawberries as a kid, I think my mom went every summer to pick or get strawberries. I only remember going along once or twice to actually pick the strawberries. Anyway we are sure enjoying the strawberries today, and I'm not sure they will last long. We have a few in our garden too, I picked a handful today and there are alot more out there. I covered them with netting today, to keep them away from the birds, bunnies and whatever else that always gets them.
I'll have a post coming about our trip to Illinois/Chicago, we just got back last night about 7pm.
Going to work on getting the pool set up today and tomorrow.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
BASEBALL
Hi it's Bailey. Well baseball is going well. My team is doing good this year. We are 4-0. We won our game last night by one run. We were loosing and came back in the last inning and were up by 1. They were up to bat last and we held them to win.
GO STORM !!
GO STORM !!
gymnastics
Hannah went to her first gymnastics class today. She didn't want me to watch, so to make her happy to begin with, Bailey and I left for a few minutes while class started, and we walked around the middle school and Bailey kinda showed me around, and he tried to remember where things were too.
All the other parents and siblings stayed in the gym so we snuck back in to watch, well I'm sure she saw us, but she did fine.
She has alot to learn, as they didn't teach much, and just had them start doing. I guess that is a good way to teach, but for the ones that have never experienced gymnastics before it was a little overwhelming, but she seemed to adjust fine.
Some of those girls, I can tell have done this alot before. They are all k-1st graders but still Hannah can bearly do a sommersault, and they had them doing backwards sommersaults too. They did alot of stretches, and some coordinated skipping and jumping and even the splits already. I found out Hannah is not as coordinated in this "sport" as I thought she might be, she was definatly a little stiff and tense, and not very flexible. Her legs just can't do the splits yet!!!!!! It's her first attempts though, and I thought she did good for a first try. She needed quite a bit of help with the backwards sommersaults, but now she knows how to do it and can practice. She picks up stuff pretty easy, so I bet she improves alot in the next 5 weeks. Some of those girls where just flipping around like nothing. She also did soemthing called the bridge, and if you can picture it you have to be pretty flexible for that one. She can do it to a point. Then she got to do some stuff on the lower balance beam, even a sommersault on the beam and some jumping too.
She didnt' get a chance for her group to go over to the uneven bars, but that she says will be next week. When I asked her if she liked it, she smiled and said yes, but you weren't supposed to watch me, she says. I liked watching what she learned and now I can help her practice. Bailey was a little bored, but it was only about an hour and seemed more like 10 min, the time went by so fast.
Hopefully at some point I can get some pictures.
All the other parents and siblings stayed in the gym so we snuck back in to watch, well I'm sure she saw us, but she did fine.
She has alot to learn, as they didn't teach much, and just had them start doing. I guess that is a good way to teach, but for the ones that have never experienced gymnastics before it was a little overwhelming, but she seemed to adjust fine.
Some of those girls, I can tell have done this alot before. They are all k-1st graders but still Hannah can bearly do a sommersault, and they had them doing backwards sommersaults too. They did alot of stretches, and some coordinated skipping and jumping and even the splits already. I found out Hannah is not as coordinated in this "sport" as I thought she might be, she was definatly a little stiff and tense, and not very flexible. Her legs just can't do the splits yet!!!!!! It's her first attempts though, and I thought she did good for a first try. She needed quite a bit of help with the backwards sommersaults, but now she knows how to do it and can practice. She picks up stuff pretty easy, so I bet she improves alot in the next 5 weeks. Some of those girls where just flipping around like nothing. She also did soemthing called the bridge, and if you can picture it you have to be pretty flexible for that one. She can do it to a point. Then she got to do some stuff on the lower balance beam, even a sommersault on the beam and some jumping too.
She didnt' get a chance for her group to go over to the uneven bars, but that she says will be next week. When I asked her if she liked it, she smiled and said yes, but you weren't supposed to watch me, she says. I liked watching what she learned and now I can help her practice. Bailey was a little bored, but it was only about an hour and seemed more like 10 min, the time went by so fast.
Hopefully at some point I can get some pictures.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Vacation !!!
Well.... already weeks of summer have come and gone. Kids seem to always be bored, Hannah hangs on me like a little monkey. We do have our days where we seem to be busier, but some days just drag. I always have something to do, but that doesnt' help the kids....... what I do, I said they can help but they think that is boring, so here we go again.
Neighbor friends come and go, so that helps fill in some of the gaps and as soon as I get the pool up that will help too.
I am getting us ready to leave for a mini vacation on Friday. We are going to Illinois for a few days for a family get together. Lisa and Wil can't make it this year which I am bummed and my grandpa just got out of the hosptial, so he's not up for the drive either and my grandma decided it's best she stay home with him. They discovered in addition to the pneumonia he has a heart condition, and also still needs to get his back issue resolved.
I think it's good we all try to get together each year. We are going to Chain O Lakes State Park, near where my cousin Aaron and his wife Michelle live. They are the hosts this year. My parents are camping, we are planning a hotel, but nothing is definate, so will bring our tent just in case:)
We cant' leave until later on Friday, I am grateful Steve is coming, but he says he needs to maybe work in the morning and anyway, we need to wait till around noon to get a check. So an 8 hour drive to IL, will seem long, when we get such a late start. We may not make it the whole way Friday....and we will just play it by ear.
We are hoping to be able to romp around the big city of Chicago on Sunday. I wanted to go since we are only about an hour or so away and take the kids to see some sites of the city. So we may be driving home on Monday then. Hannah is excited to maybe go see the American Girl store. Bailey wants a view of Wrigley Field or the White Sox field, not even sure if they are close to see. The Sears Tower, Lincoln Park Zoo (FREE), Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Museum of Science and Industry (FREE this weekend, celebrating 75 years) Maybe we can get lost a few times too!!! I think I better check out some ideas online before we go.
Neighbor friends come and go, so that helps fill in some of the gaps and as soon as I get the pool up that will help too.
I am getting us ready to leave for a mini vacation on Friday. We are going to Illinois for a few days for a family get together. Lisa and Wil can't make it this year which I am bummed and my grandpa just got out of the hosptial, so he's not up for the drive either and my grandma decided it's best she stay home with him. They discovered in addition to the pneumonia he has a heart condition, and also still needs to get his back issue resolved.
I think it's good we all try to get together each year. We are going to Chain O Lakes State Park, near where my cousin Aaron and his wife Michelle live. They are the hosts this year. My parents are camping, we are planning a hotel, but nothing is definate, so will bring our tent just in case:)
We cant' leave until later on Friday, I am grateful Steve is coming, but he says he needs to maybe work in the morning and anyway, we need to wait till around noon to get a check. So an 8 hour drive to IL, will seem long, when we get such a late start. We may not make it the whole way Friday....and we will just play it by ear.
We are hoping to be able to romp around the big city of Chicago on Sunday. I wanted to go since we are only about an hour or so away and take the kids to see some sites of the city. So we may be driving home on Monday then. Hannah is excited to maybe go see the American Girl store. Bailey wants a view of Wrigley Field or the White Sox field, not even sure if they are close to see. The Sears Tower, Lincoln Park Zoo (FREE), Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Museum of Science and Industry (FREE this weekend, celebrating 75 years) Maybe we can get lost a few times too!!! I think I better check out some ideas online before we go.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
not to dwell on Bob, but he was back, and he still is great!!
Directv Bob was back today despite the case mananger assuring me yesterday, that a senior lead technician was coming over to take care of our satillte problem. I even asked him on the phone, is the same person coming back, and he respond, oh no mamam, we are sending someone who can access the "situation".......... Whatever !!
I kinda distrusted Bob after taking to the case manager.
So guess who shows up...... Bob!!! and I looked a little surprised, but didnt' say anything, wondering now if this is really gonna get fixed. (because if your following me, I dont' exactly trust Bob now). He had in hand our new receiver he promised me yesterday, came walzing in our house like he's been here before (ha!), and set it all up ,not even questioning anything else. I realize now that Bob IS truly the best, and it's the people on the phone that drive me nuts. As I sat and listened to him set up our new receiver through Directv, and the goofy sounding man (hard to understand) Bob was talking to on speaker phone. Bob was sounding so uninterested in whatever was being said on the other end, and responded to his questions, in a monotone, blah voice. I just started to giggle (of course) at this whole conversation, and then Bob says quietly to me, just wait you have to talk to him next....(he he). I had to talk to the goofy lady yesterday and rate Bob on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being outstanding, and had to do the same again today with the goofy sounding man. So Bob leaves and everything (knock on wood) seems great with the TV. We had a bad receiver, imagine that.
So long Bob, thanks for everything, but I hope I never have to see you again.
I kinda distrusted Bob after taking to the case manager.
So guess who shows up...... Bob!!! and I looked a little surprised, but didnt' say anything, wondering now if this is really gonna get fixed. (because if your following me, I dont' exactly trust Bob now). He had in hand our new receiver he promised me yesterday, came walzing in our house like he's been here before (ha!), and set it all up ,not even questioning anything else. I realize now that Bob IS truly the best, and it's the people on the phone that drive me nuts. As I sat and listened to him set up our new receiver through Directv, and the goofy sounding man (hard to understand) Bob was talking to on speaker phone. Bob was sounding so uninterested in whatever was being said on the other end, and responded to his questions, in a monotone, blah voice. I just started to giggle (of course) at this whole conversation, and then Bob says quietly to me, just wait you have to talk to him next....(he he). I had to talk to the goofy lady yesterday and rate Bob on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being outstanding, and had to do the same again today with the goofy sounding man. So Bob leaves and everything (knock on wood) seems great with the TV. We had a bad receiver, imagine that.
So long Bob, thanks for everything, but I hope I never have to see you again.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Ask for Bob. He's the best Directv guy around.
I never thought I'd blog about the stupid Directv guy, but I have to say that not all Directv guys are actually that bad. In fact Bob, is top notch in his field.
He's been to our house before, once we didn't need him, we figured out our problem and cancelled the service call, but apparently he didnt' get the cancellation and came at 8am sharp, while we were setting up our garage sale Labor day weekend. He also came another time last year, I believe, to help fix some problem.
Over the last 2 years since receiving HDTV and the new dish installed in our backyard on a pole, we've had "spring" problems, and weather related problems from the dish moving.
Again today, we had a 8am-12noon service call, and I hate not knowing when they are coming, well today I was up about 7:20am, and ready for him at 8am, and Bob called at 7:45am to see if I was up and ready, and I'm like, sure, come on over. He came BEFORE 8am sharp.....even better. Bob is my favorite Directv guy by far. Why didnt' we get him the first time??.....uuggh.
Bob informed me today, that the idoit who installed our dish, while doing a few things right (by putting it right side up into the ground), mostly didnt' do much right, including just dumping a small amount of cement into a hole and not mixing it. So our pole never really was cemented in even though we were told it was. Bob, dug the new hole and showed me all the powedered cement in the dirt that never set into cement.
Bob then put a screw into the pole to help stablize the pole when the cement is poured in. He says his poles never move, where as our pole was doing dances in the rain.
Over last summer, we made several sevice calls and one of the "idoit" guys came was here for 5 min, becasue we didn't have a signal, got the signal set up and when I asked him to cement it in better, he said he didnt have cement with him and we should do it ourselves. Well (of course), we never did, which is why the service call today....... back to spring storms, knocking our dish out of alignment AGAIN. Bob says, most of his service calls are fixing what the other guys mess up and he just shook his head when I said they told us to just cement it in.
Bob has the pole cement setting right now, and is doing another call in the area and will be back shortly to put the dish on, and get us set back up.
I get so crabby dealing with this satalite over the last couple of years, it is such a relief to know that it's almost fixed, hopefully forever !!! I can't live without TV, I guess. Makes me crabby knowing that we dont' have TV, yet I dont' watch it all that much.
No more Directv guys comin to my house, but if I do have a problem, I will ask for Bob!
UPDATE: Well Bob left, after encountering a new problem,(uuggghhh) once he had everything hooked up, our signal kept going out. He reset our receiver and it came back on, and after a few minutes went back out. He replaced our cord, and then it seemed to work, and he left. Hes said to call his cell number if there was any problems. Bailey was then watching TV and I had to reset it twice because the signal went out after a few minutes of it being on. So I called him on his cell, and he said he'll bring out one of the newer receivers which he should be getting tomorrow, but I had to call Directv and set up another service appt. UUGGH. So I did was on hold forever again, and finally the lady says her case manager has to call me back within 2 hrs, and set up the appt, she can't. I wasnt' even complaining and it was no big deal, but she was looking at all our past history and notes and said this is an unresolved situation and only her case manager can set up the appts now.
I got that call back and it's now set up for tomorrow, with a "lead technician", to come and assess the situation. Now according to the guy on the phone it may not be the receiver and it may have more to do with how he installed our dish, as he did replace it with the more updated version, and may have not grounded it correctly. So I may have jumped the gun with how wonderful Bob is. I had a hard time believeing our receiver was all of a sudden bad when that wasn't even the problem in the first place, but I trusted Bob, too much I guess, and was willing to just accept getting a new updated receiver would solve life's problems.
I have to work tomorrow, and he is coming between 12-4pm, so hopefully I can be home before he comes, or grandma will have to let him in to get started. Is it too soon to hope tomorrow this will be resolved ???
He's been to our house before, once we didn't need him, we figured out our problem and cancelled the service call, but apparently he didnt' get the cancellation and came at 8am sharp, while we were setting up our garage sale Labor day weekend. He also came another time last year, I believe, to help fix some problem.
Over the last 2 years since receiving HDTV and the new dish installed in our backyard on a pole, we've had "spring" problems, and weather related problems from the dish moving.
Again today, we had a 8am-12noon service call, and I hate not knowing when they are coming, well today I was up about 7:20am, and ready for him at 8am, and Bob called at 7:45am to see if I was up and ready, and I'm like, sure, come on over. He came BEFORE 8am sharp.....even better. Bob is my favorite Directv guy by far. Why didnt' we get him the first time??.....uuggh.
Bob informed me today, that the idoit who installed our dish, while doing a few things right (by putting it right side up into the ground), mostly didnt' do much right, including just dumping a small amount of cement into a hole and not mixing it. So our pole never really was cemented in even though we were told it was. Bob, dug the new hole and showed me all the powedered cement in the dirt that never set into cement.
Bob then put a screw into the pole to help stablize the pole when the cement is poured in. He says his poles never move, where as our pole was doing dances in the rain.
Over last summer, we made several sevice calls and one of the "idoit" guys came was here for 5 min, becasue we didn't have a signal, got the signal set up and when I asked him to cement it in better, he said he didnt have cement with him and we should do it ourselves. Well (of course), we never did, which is why the service call today....... back to spring storms, knocking our dish out of alignment AGAIN. Bob says, most of his service calls are fixing what the other guys mess up and he just shook his head when I said they told us to just cement it in.
Bob has the pole cement setting right now, and is doing another call in the area and will be back shortly to put the dish on, and get us set back up.
I get so crabby dealing with this satalite over the last couple of years, it is such a relief to know that it's almost fixed, hopefully forever !!! I can't live without TV, I guess. Makes me crabby knowing that we dont' have TV, yet I dont' watch it all that much.
No more Directv guys comin to my house, but if I do have a problem, I will ask for Bob!
UPDATE: Well Bob left, after encountering a new problem,(uuggghhh) once he had everything hooked up, our signal kept going out. He reset our receiver and it came back on, and after a few minutes went back out. He replaced our cord, and then it seemed to work, and he left. Hes said to call his cell number if there was any problems. Bailey was then watching TV and I had to reset it twice because the signal went out after a few minutes of it being on. So I called him on his cell, and he said he'll bring out one of the newer receivers which he should be getting tomorrow, but I had to call Directv and set up another service appt. UUGGH. So I did was on hold forever again, and finally the lady says her case manager has to call me back within 2 hrs, and set up the appt, she can't. I wasnt' even complaining and it was no big deal, but she was looking at all our past history and notes and said this is an unresolved situation and only her case manager can set up the appts now.
I got that call back and it's now set up for tomorrow, with a "lead technician", to come and assess the situation. Now according to the guy on the phone it may not be the receiver and it may have more to do with how he installed our dish, as he did replace it with the more updated version, and may have not grounded it correctly. So I may have jumped the gun with how wonderful Bob is. I had a hard time believeing our receiver was all of a sudden bad when that wasn't even the problem in the first place, but I trusted Bob, too much I guess, and was willing to just accept getting a new updated receiver would solve life's problems.
I have to work tomorrow, and he is coming between 12-4pm, so hopefully I can be home before he comes, or grandma will have to let him in to get started. Is it too soon to hope tomorrow this will be resolved ???
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Spark Quote for the Day
Yes, work is important. We need to work to earn money, so we can provide our family with food, shelter, clothing and all other essentials to survive. But there are more important things other than work. Like your family. This group of people is who you depend on, love and cherish. As you get older, are you going to wish you spent more time with them, or more time going over spreadsheets at work? Friends are just the same. So think about the areas of your life you cannot imagine living without and you have found what really is terribly important.
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there. It looks like a nice day ahead.
I have mixed emotions today, just feeling lost and alone. My dad is far away, my husband seems just as far away, and even my kids are not with me at the moment. I have to spend the day working, as does daddy, on Father's Day, and the kids, well Jen was kind enough to take them overnight, after Audri/Isaiah's party yesterday. My kids were already worn out, esp. Hannah who already had a sleepover for Audri's birthday the night before and Bailey who's had more than a enough headaches for the month. Jen took the kids to go to a "movie in the park" in Delano last night, but it got rained out later. Not sure that helped my kids get to bed any earlier. It's ok though, we got this week now, to catch up again and I hope they had fun.
This day just doesn't seem fair in all the ways it should be right.
We have another busy week ahead....
Bailey starts basketball camp tomorrow until Thursday. We also have the stupid DirecTV guy coming tomorrow between 8-12, to hopefully once and for all stablize our satillite dish, as it doesn't get a signal, and we haven't had TV for a few days now again since the last rain storm. It gets so frustrating to deal with this over and over for the past 2 years. I work today, Tues and Wed. for the week. Tues in addition to basketball from 2-5pm, right after at 6pm Bailey has baseball practice till 7:30-8pm. He has a game on Wed night at 7:15, we are supposed to have our 1st church softball game on Wed night too, but will have to miss that. Not sure we'll be making many of those games, since Bailey plays on alot of Wed nights this year too. Steve hasn't really made Bailey's games too good either, so I think church softball will get pushed to the side this year.
Hannah starts gymnastics Thursday morning. Somehow inbetween all of this we need to pack and get ready to leave for Illinois for my family get together. I wont' know what the plan is until Steve knows if he is coming or not....which also may mean getting the dog over to Cathy's sometime as well.
So we are in for a fun, yet busy week. The kids get bored so easily, so it's nice to have something to do.
I have mixed emotions today, just feeling lost and alone. My dad is far away, my husband seems just as far away, and even my kids are not with me at the moment. I have to spend the day working, as does daddy, on Father's Day, and the kids, well Jen was kind enough to take them overnight, after Audri/Isaiah's party yesterday. My kids were already worn out, esp. Hannah who already had a sleepover for Audri's birthday the night before and Bailey who's had more than a enough headaches for the month. Jen took the kids to go to a "movie in the park" in Delano last night, but it got rained out later. Not sure that helped my kids get to bed any earlier. It's ok though, we got this week now, to catch up again and I hope they had fun.
This day just doesn't seem fair in all the ways it should be right.
We have another busy week ahead....
Bailey starts basketball camp tomorrow until Thursday. We also have the stupid DirecTV guy coming tomorrow between 8-12, to hopefully once and for all stablize our satillite dish, as it doesn't get a signal, and we haven't had TV for a few days now again since the last rain storm. It gets so frustrating to deal with this over and over for the past 2 years. I work today, Tues and Wed. for the week. Tues in addition to basketball from 2-5pm, right after at 6pm Bailey has baseball practice till 7:30-8pm. He has a game on Wed night at 7:15, we are supposed to have our 1st church softball game on Wed night too, but will have to miss that. Not sure we'll be making many of those games, since Bailey plays on alot of Wed nights this year too. Steve hasn't really made Bailey's games too good either, so I think church softball will get pushed to the side this year.
Hannah starts gymnastics Thursday morning. Somehow inbetween all of this we need to pack and get ready to leave for Illinois for my family get together. I wont' know what the plan is until Steve knows if he is coming or not....which also may mean getting the dog over to Cathy's sometime as well.
So we are in for a fun, yet busy week. The kids get bored so easily, so it's nice to have something to do.
Friday, June 13, 2008
my grandpa
My grandpa is a strong man, and I often view him as a young 83years old(?), although life has thrown him a loop. Life has not been pleasant the last 3 weeks, just shortly after they got back from warm Arizona mid May to the cooler temps of Wisconsin, he started not feeling well. It has gotton progressivly worse, even though he continued to think it was the flu, he was having a hard time getting over it. He is tired and weak at this point. His back has also been giving him problems, which is out alignment and he needs to be seen by a chiropractor on a regular basis for awhile, once he's feeling better.
Finally he decided at 2am last night he couldn't take it anymore and mom and grandma took him in. He is in the hospital with pneumonia. At least now, after so long, he can be treated and mend. I am thankful that he will be ok, and back to himself soon, as our family get-together is next weekend !! I know God is by his side giving him the strength he needs. I hope he is well enough to make the drive to IL so I can see him. I treasured that fact that Bailey was able to make the trip to AZ this spring and spend that time with them. They both are getting older now, and I need to not take them for granted, which is hard living so far away, and only seeing them once or twice a year. I just want them to know I think of them often, even though at times they may not know it, and my family over there in WI/IL is so important to me. I miss you all and will see you soon.
Finally he decided at 2am last night he couldn't take it anymore and mom and grandma took him in. He is in the hospital with pneumonia. At least now, after so long, he can be treated and mend. I am thankful that he will be ok, and back to himself soon, as our family get-together is next weekend !! I know God is by his side giving him the strength he needs. I hope he is well enough to make the drive to IL so I can see him. I treasured that fact that Bailey was able to make the trip to AZ this spring and spend that time with them. They both are getting older now, and I need to not take them for granted, which is hard living so far away, and only seeing them once or twice a year. I just want them to know I think of them often, even though at times they may not know it, and my family over there in WI/IL is so important to me. I miss you all and will see you soon.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
My interest in photography and a new camera
OUR PLUM TREE BLOSSOMS--LATE MAY
OUR CHERRY TREE BLOSSOMS--LATE MAY
OUR LILAC TREE--EARLY JUNE--AS YOU MAY SEE SOMETHING WAS ON THE LENS OF THE CAMERA CAUSING A CLOUDY SPOT IN THE UPPER LEFT. UUGGH.
THE CAMERA I WANT TO GET:
As some of you may know, I love to take pictures. I often thought I should have pursued photography as my career, but mostly just enjoy the basic aspects of it for now. I love to take scenery/flower pitcures, animals and kids. I need a new camera and hopefully soon that will happen, I've begun the prosess of looking at them in the stores and online, to get just the right one for my needs and without spending a fortune.
I read somewhere that megapixels is not the most important feature in a camera now days. Most cameras offer enough pixels to make the pictures look not digital. Plus I think megapixels just means the higher the pixels, the bigger the pictures you can have. Well I guess I dont' need all that, but the nicer cameras come that way now.
What I need, and what has been my problem for along time, is a camera that offers these newer features. I have yet to get a good hockey picture of my son.
**Face detection--focuses on faces and makes the necessary exposure adjustments,
even if the person moves,the camera stays focused on them.
**Image Stablization--has anti shake, and helps normally blurry photos. (optical IS)--has increased light sensitivity (ISO) slightly = increased shutter speed--prevents blurring.
**ISO settings-- of 400 plus is good for sports/action shots. Very high ISO settings up 1600 is good for night/dark settings. Need a low ISO setting for bright lights and outdoors.
Here's a link to the camera I am considering.
http://www.ces-show.com/0177/kodak/digitalcameras/easyshare-z1085-is/
OUR CHERRY TREE BLOSSOMS--LATE MAY
OUR LILAC TREE--EARLY JUNE--AS YOU MAY SEE SOMETHING WAS ON THE LENS OF THE CAMERA CAUSING A CLOUDY SPOT IN THE UPPER LEFT. UUGGH.
THE CAMERA I WANT TO GET:
As some of you may know, I love to take pictures. I often thought I should have pursued photography as my career, but mostly just enjoy the basic aspects of it for now. I love to take scenery/flower pitcures, animals and kids. I need a new camera and hopefully soon that will happen, I've begun the prosess of looking at them in the stores and online, to get just the right one for my needs and without spending a fortune.
I read somewhere that megapixels is not the most important feature in a camera now days. Most cameras offer enough pixels to make the pictures look not digital. Plus I think megapixels just means the higher the pixels, the bigger the pictures you can have. Well I guess I dont' need all that, but the nicer cameras come that way now.
What I need, and what has been my problem for along time, is a camera that offers these newer features. I have yet to get a good hockey picture of my son.
**Face detection--focuses on faces and makes the necessary exposure adjustments,
even if the person moves,the camera stays focused on them.
**Image Stablization--has anti shake, and helps normally blurry photos. (optical IS)--has increased light sensitivity (ISO) slightly = increased shutter speed--prevents blurring.
**ISO settings-- of 400 plus is good for sports/action shots. Very high ISO settings up 1600 is good for night/dark settings. Need a low ISO setting for bright lights and outdoors.
Here's a link to the camera I am considering.
http://www.ces-show.com/0177/kodak/digitalcameras/easyshare-z1085-is/
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
movie day
We took advantage of daddy being home on a rainy afternoon, and we all went and saw a movie, guess what we saw????? It was a good movie and the song is catchy.
See video below.
See video below.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Things we did.
Bailey went to his first real friend sleepover on Saturday night. It was for Derek's birthday party. They went to the stock car races in Arlington, which is somewhere past Hutch and Glencoe, not sure exactly. Going to races was also another first for Bailey and I think he really enjoyed it. They got back about 10:30pm he said, and watched TV for a few hours, and wrestled. I guess a sleepover isn't a sleepover until you've wrestled a bit....boys will be boys. His 2 other best friends were also there, Holton and Drew, so those 4 boys together, and it spells trouble.
They never did get to sleep until after 2am, so I hear. They had birthday cake and ice cream for breakfast....hummm.... and the morning drop off turned into 1pm, and he was starved, sicne he hadn't had lunch yet. So needless to say his schedule was thrown for a loop. He had fun though, so I guess that is what matters.
He slept in until after 10am, this morning, I went out to cut the grass, becasue I didnt' want to wait any longer, and that may have woke him up, or who knows how long he would have slept. I thought no headaches through it all, but now tonight he just had to fit one in...uuggh.
We had a nice day today, I got the grass cut, took the kids to the library, signed them up for the book club. Hannah was so excited that she read all her 4 books she picked out in about an hour after we got home. For every 20 books they read they get a prize...she's a reading machine.
We took a bike ride after supper, went about 4 miles on the path by hwy 12. Kids did good but were tired on the way back, coming back we were againest the wind and looking at the sun and had some hills to get up. Hannah just kept saying, "we can do it mommy, we can do it". (she was serious...cute). I was fine, but agreed with her to keep her energy going. I really need to buy a bike, dont' like Steve's bike so well, and I think with both kids older and able ride bikes well now, we can do alot of bike rides. Bailey said it was fun, but next time we need to bring water.
Oh and Hannah got a new bike, daddy surprised her last week with a new 18" pink and silver ladybug bike. She was shocked ( Me too!!) since we told her for her birthday we'd get her a new one. Daddy changed his mind and said it was for graduating kindergarten. Thank goodness daddy thought of that.
Her other bike had "problems" though. It made a bunch of noise, and even the wheel locked up once. It had bad bearings so I took it to a bike shop and they replaced the bearings for $12, but said that may not help that the axle was bad, and he even tried a new axle or something and that didnt' seem to help either, so I guess I wasted time and $12 for nothing, cuz she has a new bike now. (I learned a bit, though, about bike parts and where the bearings are and that they are supposed to be round.) It's a cool bike, but it also makes a clicking noise when she pedals from the back tire this time. How frustrating, we should have just taken it back right away, but we didnt' and now she has it all worn in. So we'll have to figure this bike's issues out too.
We had a campfire tonight and had more marshmellows, and smore's, and the kids goofed around outside. Sure wish daddy/Steve was able to be around more. Too much work too far away. He is staying in a hotel again tonight, and may be for most of the week, depending on the weather.
They never did get to sleep until after 2am, so I hear. They had birthday cake and ice cream for breakfast....hummm.... and the morning drop off turned into 1pm, and he was starved, sicne he hadn't had lunch yet. So needless to say his schedule was thrown for a loop. He had fun though, so I guess that is what matters.
He slept in until after 10am, this morning, I went out to cut the grass, becasue I didnt' want to wait any longer, and that may have woke him up, or who knows how long he would have slept. I thought no headaches through it all, but now tonight he just had to fit one in...uuggh.
We had a nice day today, I got the grass cut, took the kids to the library, signed them up for the book club. Hannah was so excited that she read all her 4 books she picked out in about an hour after we got home. For every 20 books they read they get a prize...she's a reading machine.
We took a bike ride after supper, went about 4 miles on the path by hwy 12. Kids did good but were tired on the way back, coming back we were againest the wind and looking at the sun and had some hills to get up. Hannah just kept saying, "we can do it mommy, we can do it". (she was serious...cute). I was fine, but agreed with her to keep her energy going. I really need to buy a bike, dont' like Steve's bike so well, and I think with both kids older and able ride bikes well now, we can do alot of bike rides. Bailey said it was fun, but next time we need to bring water.
Oh and Hannah got a new bike, daddy surprised her last week with a new 18" pink and silver ladybug bike. She was shocked ( Me too!!) since we told her for her birthday we'd get her a new one. Daddy changed his mind and said it was for graduating kindergarten. Thank goodness daddy thought of that.
Her other bike had "problems" though. It made a bunch of noise, and even the wheel locked up once. It had bad bearings so I took it to a bike shop and they replaced the bearings for $12, but said that may not help that the axle was bad, and he even tried a new axle or something and that didnt' seem to help either, so I guess I wasted time and $12 for nothing, cuz she has a new bike now. (I learned a bit, though, about bike parts and where the bearings are and that they are supposed to be round.) It's a cool bike, but it also makes a clicking noise when she pedals from the back tire this time. How frustrating, we should have just taken it back right away, but we didnt' and now she has it all worn in. So we'll have to figure this bike's issues out too.
We had a campfire tonight and had more marshmellows, and smore's, and the kids goofed around outside. Sure wish daddy/Steve was able to be around more. Too much work too far away. He is staying in a hotel again tonight, and may be for most of the week, depending on the weather.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
"The Secret"
Have you heard The Secret?
I bought the book called, "The Secret" a few weeks back. Just curious as to what it had to say. I've heard of it, but never paid any attention to what it might mean in my life. I am not a book reader, but it sounded like something I needed to read. I still have one more chapter to read. I am in awe of the ideas it presents for a happier, healthier, wealthier life, and if nothing else I hope I can at least try to apply some of the ideas in the book to my life. It may not make me rich, healthy, loose weight and resolve issues ( which the Secret states it can do just by using your thoughts), but I believe with God's help and with prayer anything is possible....even with the guidence of a book.
Go read what it's all about. It'll change your thoughts and possibly your life.
"The Secret", by Rhonda Byrne
http://www.thesecret.tv/index.html
Friday, June 6, 2008
Audrey Marie Podratz
We found out a short time ago that Steve's friend, Derick and his wife Brenda had a baby girl, Audrey Marie Podratz was born at 12:02 AM on Tuesday May 13.
She was 8 lb 1 oz and 20 ½ inches long.
She joins big brother, Jacob, who just turned 2 in April.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Saints Reading Challenge Night
Hannah and I did end up going to the DC Saints baseball game, about 1/2 hr after I wrote my last post. I kinda talked her into it. We found her friends Mileka and Madaline and also saw her friend Elizabeth, with her family. The place was booming with kids running all over. Hannah tends to be extra shy when I'm close by, and tonight was no different. She did go run around with them for a little bit, but then hurt her toe tripping on soemthing, so then she hung out my me and Mileka's mom for a bit. We finally found a good seat to actually watch the game, but by now it's already in the 5th inning. We got our free popcorn and drink, she wanted nothing to do with face painting or tatoos--too shy.
We left in about the 7th inning, Hannah wasnt' talking anyway and seemed bored and unhappy. She insisted it was time to leave. We made plans to have the girls play this summer, they live in Silver Lake, and they have a nice pool in town, so Hannah might get to go there to swim sometime, and Joanna also will be teaching summer school, so Mileka can come here to play while she does that maybe.
As we were going home, Elizabeth and her mom where also leaving so we caught up with them and walked home with them. ( the girls were on their bikes). Bailey came home after the game at about a little after 10 with a headache. Hopefully he sleeps in this morning. Saints beat Monticello 10-1.
We left in about the 7th inning, Hannah wasnt' talking anyway and seemed bored and unhappy. She insisted it was time to leave. We made plans to have the girls play this summer, they live in Silver Lake, and they have a nice pool in town, so Hannah might get to go there to swim sometime, and Joanna also will be teaching summer school, so Mileka can come here to play while she does that maybe.
As we were going home, Elizabeth and her mom where also leaving so we caught up with them and walked home with them. ( the girls were on their bikes). Bailey came home after the game at about a little after 10 with a headache. Hopefully he sleeps in this morning. Saints beat Monticello 10-1.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Bailey and baseball
Bailey's team played his first game tonight vs. the "Gophers", and they WON 13-11. Bailey had 2 singles and a double, a nice line hit into left field, which is odd because he bats left.
He played center field and 3rd base. He was backing up the infield mostly at center and at 3rd had a nice play...ball was hit to him he stopped it and made a nice easy right on throw to 1st to end the inning. His throws from 3rd tend to be wimpy, but in the heat of the moment, he came through. I held my breath and then cheered in excitement.
Right now baseball is his life and now he's off to the Saints field for the Reading Challenge Night. Both kids read so many minutes for the 4 weeks in May,(Bailey-- 100 min/ week and Hannah 70 min /week) and they got family passes to the game tonight, free popcorn/pop, face painting, run the bases after the game, photo's with the players and autographs. Sounds like alot of fun, but I can't get Hannah to want to go, since we just sat through Bailey's game. I was hoping we all could go, but Steve is still working, so I sent Bailey off for a fun night with his friends. It's his hang out this summer, and I told him to come home right after the game. Usually he has a time limit of 8:30/9, but tonight I told him I will call him around 9-9:30 to see how he's doing and how much longer he thinks the game will be. I get a little worried with him out past dark, even though it's only 2 blocks away.(sorry mom...grandma's worry more I think). He doesnt' have to get up for anything in the morning so I figured, why not. I work, but grandma Barb is coming here tomorrow to watch the kids.
He played center field and 3rd base. He was backing up the infield mostly at center and at 3rd had a nice play...ball was hit to him he stopped it and made a nice easy right on throw to 1st to end the inning. His throws from 3rd tend to be wimpy, but in the heat of the moment, he came through. I held my breath and then cheered in excitement.
Right now baseball is his life and now he's off to the Saints field for the Reading Challenge Night. Both kids read so many minutes for the 4 weeks in May,(Bailey-- 100 min/ week and Hannah 70 min /week) and they got family passes to the game tonight, free popcorn/pop, face painting, run the bases after the game, photo's with the players and autographs. Sounds like alot of fun, but I can't get Hannah to want to go, since we just sat through Bailey's game. I was hoping we all could go, but Steve is still working, so I sent Bailey off for a fun night with his friends. It's his hang out this summer, and I told him to come home right after the game. Usually he has a time limit of 8:30/9, but tonight I told him I will call him around 9-9:30 to see how he's doing and how much longer he thinks the game will be. I get a little worried with him out past dark, even though it's only 2 blocks away.(sorry mom...grandma's worry more I think). He doesnt' have to get up for anything in the morning so I figured, why not. I work, but grandma Barb is coming here tomorrow to watch the kids.
baby memories
As you may have noticed I think it's pretty cool you can add pictures and videos to this blog. Hannah was watching her baby videos yesterday, and it is so neat too see, it's hard to remember those times without seeing it again. Hannah says she wants a baby RIGHT NOW!!! I told her to ask daddy, and she responds, "why ask daddy, daddies can't have babies??" So anyway, I thought this was a cute memory to share, Bailey is about 4 here and Hannah is about 6 1/2 months. The video is not the best, because I used my digital camera movie mode to copy the video right from the TV screen, which seemed to produce some lines and fuzziness. Your computer sound might have to be slightly turned up too to hear it good. The video still comes across ok, and you'll get why I thought it was cute.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Our 1st day of summer vacation....
It's finally here....no more school....it's summer vacation.
So far it started out a bit rough...Hannah's neighbor friend Kendall, came over yesterday after school and Hannah opened the screen front door, somehow, it came back and slammed her in the face before she could get out of the way, Kendall didn't realize it had happened, and Hannah was in the house tending to her "owie" (bascilly standing in the corner holding her cheek). Then I came to the front yard realizing Kendall was standing there wondering where Hannah went. When we found Hannah, she said she hurt her cheek on the door, no tears, no crying, no nothing, but when I looked at her cheek, it was obvious something hit her pretty hard. Just a few quiet tears came, as she said it hurt. It was swelling up pretty fast so I suggested ice, and she refused. Hannah was obviously hurting and disturbed, so I told Kendall that Hannah wasn't in the mood to play right now and sent her home. All of a sudden, Hannah just started crying uncontrollably. There wasn't really anything I could do, except offer her ice, and she still refused. So I set her in the playroom to cry it out, as Bailey is yelling I cant' hear the TV .....can you tell her to be quiet.>>uhhhh, nope nothing is working.
Finally I left the ice pack next to her and let her be, and she eventually put it on her cheek, on her time...stubborn. !! She has a nice little bump and bruise.
This morning I was supposed to work, but was called @7:30am, to tell me I didnt' need to come in today, and I had just gotton the kids up @7am. A little upset that I just woke the kids up and they could have slept in on their first day of vacation. Bailey was up pretty late last night too watching the hockey finals...it went into triple overtime and I couldn't get him to stop watching it, he was up at least past 10:30pm, I even went to bed at 10pm. He must have fell asleep during it, because he said missed seeing who won. Thank goodness for Sportscenter/ NHL network in the morning.
So he is dragging today and has had a headache already. I just got a look when I told him to go take a nap.
The kids and I spent the earlier morning watching my high school graduation, (we were all up anyway). They thought I looked pretty funny, and wondered if daddy was there :)
I spent the rest of the morning cutting grass, trimming, and planting the few plants I had left to plant yet, as Bailey rode his bike around and Hannah played with Elizabeth...took me from 9:30am-12noon. Looks as though rain may be coming.
Hannah is watching her "baby videos", now, and that is keeping her occupied, since all she can think about is getting the pool up so she can swim or setting up the sprinkler. So to get her mind off that, and her constant asking, had to come up with a plan. It's keep her more entertained than the graduation.
In a few weeks Bailey is looking forward to basketball camp, which is coming up June 16-19, 4 days of basketball from 2-5pm. Besides baseball, it will give him something else to do that week.
Hannah is also excited to learn she was accepted into the gymnastics class. I signed her up a few weeks ago, but was told that the class was already full (only a week and 1/2 after we got the sign up book). Apparently that class fills up fast, and I was waiting at the time for the money to pay for it and confirmation that she really wants to do it. I guess I waited 10 days too long. She was first on the waiting list, so I had some hope. She was so bummed, after I had hyped her up about doing it, and then having to tell her she can't. Today they called and said they added a few spots and she is signed up for the class. We are thrilled. I was going to write them a letter of dissapointment, but never took the time and realized that's just how those classes are, first come first serve. It was suggested by Hannah's teacher to keep her involved this summer with kids, as it can only help develop her social skills more. I agreed, which is why this class is so important to us, and I couldn't convince her to try anything else....yet. I am so glad she can do this. It's once a week (Thursday mornings) for 5 weeks. I had already asked off of work for those Thursdays too, I'm glad it all worked out.
So far it started out a bit rough...Hannah's neighbor friend Kendall, came over yesterday after school and Hannah opened the screen front door, somehow, it came back and slammed her in the face before she could get out of the way, Kendall didn't realize it had happened, and Hannah was in the house tending to her "owie" (bascilly standing in the corner holding her cheek). Then I came to the front yard realizing Kendall was standing there wondering where Hannah went. When we found Hannah, she said she hurt her cheek on the door, no tears, no crying, no nothing, but when I looked at her cheek, it was obvious something hit her pretty hard. Just a few quiet tears came, as she said it hurt. It was swelling up pretty fast so I suggested ice, and she refused. Hannah was obviously hurting and disturbed, so I told Kendall that Hannah wasn't in the mood to play right now and sent her home. All of a sudden, Hannah just started crying uncontrollably. There wasn't really anything I could do, except offer her ice, and she still refused. So I set her in the playroom to cry it out, as Bailey is yelling I cant' hear the TV .....can you tell her to be quiet.>>uhhhh, nope nothing is working.
Finally I left the ice pack next to her and let her be, and she eventually put it on her cheek, on her time...stubborn. !! She has a nice little bump and bruise.
This morning I was supposed to work, but was called @7:30am, to tell me I didnt' need to come in today, and I had just gotton the kids up @7am. A little upset that I just woke the kids up and they could have slept in on their first day of vacation. Bailey was up pretty late last night too watching the hockey finals...it went into triple overtime and I couldn't get him to stop watching it, he was up at least past 10:30pm, I even went to bed at 10pm. He must have fell asleep during it, because he said missed seeing who won. Thank goodness for Sportscenter/ NHL network in the morning.
So he is dragging today and has had a headache already. I just got a look when I told him to go take a nap.
The kids and I spent the earlier morning watching my high school graduation, (we were all up anyway). They thought I looked pretty funny, and wondered if daddy was there :)
I spent the rest of the morning cutting grass, trimming, and planting the few plants I had left to plant yet, as Bailey rode his bike around and Hannah played with Elizabeth...took me from 9:30am-12noon. Looks as though rain may be coming.
Hannah is watching her "baby videos", now, and that is keeping her occupied, since all she can think about is getting the pool up so she can swim or setting up the sprinkler. So to get her mind off that, and her constant asking, had to come up with a plan. It's keep her more entertained than the graduation.
In a few weeks Bailey is looking forward to basketball camp, which is coming up June 16-19, 4 days of basketball from 2-5pm. Besides baseball, it will give him something else to do that week.
Hannah is also excited to learn she was accepted into the gymnastics class. I signed her up a few weeks ago, but was told that the class was already full (only a week and 1/2 after we got the sign up book). Apparently that class fills up fast, and I was waiting at the time for the money to pay for it and confirmation that she really wants to do it. I guess I waited 10 days too long. She was first on the waiting list, so I had some hope. She was so bummed, after I had hyped her up about doing it, and then having to tell her she can't. Today they called and said they added a few spots and she is signed up for the class. We are thrilled. I was going to write them a letter of dissapointment, but never took the time and realized that's just how those classes are, first come first serve. It was suggested by Hannah's teacher to keep her involved this summer with kids, as it can only help develop her social skills more. I agreed, which is why this class is so important to us, and I couldn't convince her to try anything else....yet. I am so glad she can do this. It's once a week (Thursday mornings) for 5 weeks. I had already asked off of work for those Thursdays too, I'm glad it all worked out.
Monday, June 2, 2008
2 graduates in the Emery household & one in the extended family
Today marked the official last day of school. It was goofy to end on a Monday, but dat's the rules.
We have a elementary school graduate....Bailey has completed 4th grade, and is on to middle school, and a kindergarten graduate. Hannah is now going on to become a big first grader. Both kids have really come a long way this last year both physically and acedemicly, and we are so proud of them. We don't have our little babies anymore, and it's fun to watch them grow and learn.
Both kids got diplomas and Bailey also got his picture taken at school, but it's not very clear.
Hannah had professional pictures taken at school and they turned out very cute.
I tend to think ahead some, and realized that Bailey will graduate middle school and get confirmed, when Hannah graduates elementary school, and Bailey will then graduate high school, when Hannah completes middle school and Bailey will graduate college (maybe), when Hannah graduates high school, (wont' that be a fun year).
---------------------------------------------
Bradey , Steve, Bailey and I--Hannah said it was too sunny for a picture.
Steve's sisters' son, Bradey, also graduated from Delano High school this past Sunday, it's so hard to believe when they get to that point. You still remember them as that little kid, and in the case of Bradey, he's not so little anymore. He's on to bigger and better things. Attending St Cloud Tech. in the fall for advertising. We wish him all the best.
"On My Way"
I will climb the highest peaks
and find a way through the
deepest valleys, as I follow my
heart in pursuing it's dreams.
I will hold the sunlight and
welcome the rain as my garden
of knowledge prospers in it's
quest to benefit the world
I will learn from the defeats
as well as the triumphs on my
journey, because from this day
forward there are no limits to
what I can achieve.
"....and He will raise you up on Eagles Wings, bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand."
Sunday, June 1, 2008
another Spark People Quote of the day
The best intentions don’t mean nearly as much as a failed attempt. For many people, that first action is the toughest and can result in the biggest victory. The decision to try takes courage, which can be tough to come by sometimes. How many times have you longed to do something worthwhile, but couldn’t quite get yourself to take that first step? It’s important to remember that success isn’t always found in the goal you’re pursuing. You can be a success just by trying. You gain by learning, you gain by growing, you gain by being just a little closer to your goal than you were yesterday.
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