Cubs in First!

I can't quite believe it after the way they started the season! Keep it up Cubbies, we'll be there in 2 weeks!!!

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=chc

35 Blessings for Year 35

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I am truly blessed as I look back at 35 years, and look forward to many, many more!
1. A cup of tea
2. A good book
3. Bedtime prayers
4. Buck
5. Charlie
6. Chicago Cubs
7. Daddy
8. Eric
9. Granddaddy
10. Grandmommy
11. Jesus Christ
12. John
13. John
14. Julie
15. Karen
16. Kari
17. Kelsey
18. Laura
19. Leslie
20. Lorissa
21. Love
22. Marci
23. Max
24. Mom
25. Morgan Claire
26. My COMFY bed
27. My iPod
28. Pepsi
29. Shannon
30. Starbucks Chai
31. Tate
32. The Bible
33. William John
34. Woman Lake
35. Zoe

What a great time....

We had a wonderful time in Northern Minnesota this past week with my grandparents, my mom, and my sister and her family. I've been going there since I was an infant but it never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the lake is.

We arrived in the late afternoon on Saturday after a VERY good trip north. I was so amazed at how well the kids did in the van. It's a good 8 hour drive under the best circumstances and it went wonderfully well. We were thrilled to get there and the kids had their swimsuits on within about 20 minutes and were headed out to the water. The water was pretty chilly when we were there but that didn't seem to bother Will, Max, or Uncle Buck. The rest of us were a little more timid!

We spent much of our time the first few days on the water...either tubing, skiing, surfboarding or fishing. We had an incredible fish fry on Thursday night thanks to Uncle Buck and the boys. They caught a total of 6 good sized Northerns as well as a few Blue Gill. We also caught our share of Perch when we all went out. Morgan loved the fish (not to mention her Minnie Mouse fishing pole) and cried "No Mommy, my fishy no go bye-bye" when I tossed her fish back into the water. Will was a superstar and rode the surfboard for the first time. He wasn't quite sure about skiing so this was a great first step. He started on his knees and then got up on his feet while we were out on the lake. I was and am SO proud of him!

Our last couple of days were unseasonably cool and rainy but we were still able to fish, head into town for a movie, go to Frosty's for ice cream and have yummy pizza at Lucette's. We also had campfires complete with smores almost every night. The kids ran and played all over and wore themselves out each night!We spent every morning up at the Lodge where we enjoyed fresh donuts and all the fun games.

The kids were so well behaved this trip...it was such a delight to spend such good time with them. We had fun, we had cuddles, we had laughs, we had a few owies (mostly misquito bites!!) and only a few tears that dried quickly. We LOVE the lake and can't wait for our time again there next year!!

Happy Birthday USA (a little early...)

We had such a fun time Saturday at the annual Freedom Festival Parade. Last year it was quite scaled back and held out at Kirkwood after the flood, but this year it was back in full force downtown.

The kids loved the beads, the bracelets, the freeze pops and THE CANDY!! A candidate running for mayor here in CR had staffers handing out bags for candy ahead of time. Will thought that was a good sign :). It was and they both gathered their fill.

The Marine Corp band was also a hit. The precision and music is amazing!



I'm thankful for the beautiful day we had and the gorgeous weather we had Sunday and looks like we'll be having the rest of the week. I'm excited to have Thursday & Friday off before the 4th and then just one more week of work before the lake! WOOHOOO!

I love it...

Funnies and New Pics

It's been a crazy couple of weeks...but all normal kinds of stuff! Will finished school on June 9th and was VERY excited to find out who his 1st grade teacher will be. He also informed me that his two best friends, Briar and Sam, are in his class and "Mom, we asked Mrs. Bennett if we can all sit together next year!". I had to laugh at that one as Mrs. Bennett would probably be wise to put them in 3 different corners of the room! :) Summer school/camp is now fully in swing and Will is loving his classes - Cooking for Kids, Around the World in 18 Days, and Basketball for Fun! Afternoons are filled with movies, swimming pool trips, park trips and library time. He's slept so well during the past week!

Miss Morgan is turning into even more of a ham as she grows. I think every day brings new words, phrases, or expressions that just crack us up. Her newest one is "PUNCH IT", said in a deep growly voice, urging the driver to PUNCH IT on the accelerator! It is hysterical. Her other funnies these days include "Will hurt me(said when he was across the room and couldn't have possibly been hurting her), my tooth hurt me (hit it with her spoon), my knee hurt me, my hair hurt me...(you get the idea), Brudder, NO!, Brudder, Be Quiet! and Mommy, helpy me?" She's a hoot.

I got the kids' pictures taken 2 weekends ago and they turned out so well. I love new pics of the kids. It's fun to look back and see how much they've changed and grown since the last time.

Mommy's working most of the weekend while the kids are with their dad. We're planning to swim and have a bbque on Sunday. Love this summery weather!!

Medical and/or WEIRD stuff!

A quick update on Mr. Will and his JRA. He's tolerating his methotrexate well. So far his bloodwork has been excellent and he isn't having any of the side effects. PRAISE GOD! We're anxiously waiting for outward signs that the medication is working. It can take 6-8 weeks for the medication to fully work, so Will's knees and ankles are still very swollen and sore. He's been taking prescription Naproxsen to help with the pain until the methotrexate kicks in. Hopefully soon!

Morgan had a double ear infection last week. She had tubes put in when she was 8 months old and this is only her second ear infection since then, so I'm grateful for that. This one was pretty bad with one ear swollen up around her tube and the other the tube was clogged! Thank heavens for Zithromax! She's back to her normal cheerful self.

And now News of the Weird :) :
Last Sunday night, I went to bed about 930 and about midnight I was awakened by the house alarm going off. When it's armed it beeps for about 1 minute to allow you to turn it off before the "real" alarm goes off and alerts ADT. Anyway, it was that first 1 minute beeping that woke me. I went running out to the kitchen and the door to the garage and the garage door were both wide open. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was going on but shut both doors very quickly and ran back to check on the kids. As I went by the front door, I heard a little voice "Mommy, will you let me in the house?" It was WILL!!! He was sleepwalking! I brought him inside and he was shaking and sobbing, he was so scared. He said that he thought I was outside and he needed to come find me. He sat with me in the living room for awhile and he was so scared. I finally decided that neither of us were going to get any sleep unless he slept with me. Every time I turned over he would wake up and be so scared that I was going somewhere. It was the most surreal thing. I'm so grateful for the alarm...he can't reach the keypad and doesn't know the code to turn it off, so he couldn't be outside longer than a minute without me waking up....but still it's scary! I called our doctor and I took Will in to see him so Dr. Matt could check his tonsils, etc for any airway obstructions when he's breathing. Finding none, he told me just to watch him and let him know if it happens again. We've installed door locks at the top of the front door and the garage door so he can't even open the doors now at night. Hopefully it's a one time thing, but MAN, was it scary!!