Friday Fun!

It's been a rollercoaster of a week but we're glad it's the weekend.

The kids are keeping us busy (I know, what else is new). Lola continually challenges me. This week she thinks it's ok not to sleep from around 3-6am and refuses to stay dressed from the waist down. It takes both Ryan and I to hold her down (and we're not teeny little people) to dress that 35 pounder and she just gets up after the wrestling match and takes off her pants and socks and very dramatically rips off her diaper. Well after 45 minutes of that on Wednesday I told Ryan and Teague to go to school (usually we ride together) as it didn't make sense for the whole family to be late due to Lola's uncooperative nature. So realizing I would never win w/ her, I left her in her shirt and she willingly put on her rain boots (covered up to her knees) and her rain jacket (covered to below her tush) and put her in the car w/ her pants and socks in a separate bag. She certainly didn't appreciate the seatbelt buckling in between her legs (without any protection). So in to Tina's she waltzed and Tina said as soon as I left Tina asked her if she was ready to get dressed and immediately she said yes and laid down on the floor to get dressed. Go figure. And now she cries huge elephant tears when I come to pick her up saying "no go mommy" as she clings to Tina for dear life (she doesn't want to go home with me).

But now that it's the weekend we are enjoying our special day. We came up to Nana and Papa's and have a lot of kid-friendly Halloween activities planned for the next few days!

It's never too cold for a wild swim in the hot tub!

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The Start of Many More

Teague had his first official school pictures this year and we think he is so adorable.  My sister says he is a "mini Ryan" (like I haven't heard that 5,246 times)!  We love you our little preschooler and we think you are the cutest preschooler EVER!

An Update

We had a bittersweet Ed MN break (yes, I am just being politically correct as MEA is the old, but good term).  We took the kids up to Thumper Ponds Resort in Ottertail, MN to the water park and over night.  We had a great time and the kids loved all of the swimming.  My mom, sister, and my sister's kids also joined in on the fun, so that really made it more fun for my kids as well.  It was quite adorable to put Lola in her little swimming vest, plop her in the lazy river and just watch her bob along!  She didn't sit in a floater, just floated along on her own!  It was cute, but I didn't bring my phone/camera down to the swimming area so there are no great pictures from the outing.  Teague loved the big slides - I am just so amazed at how big (and mature) he is getting.  It feels weird just letting him "loose" knowing he doesn't really need me right there as he can swim just fine now!  Of course I still keep my eye on him, but he was busy keeping up with the big kids anyway!

The bad news....Ryan's dad was diagnosed with stage 3(b) colon cancer.  While we were up at Ottertail he went into the ER with what he thought was another bowel obstruction.  After many tests over the course of about 24 hours, it was discovered he had a mass in his colon that needed to be removed.  This is Ryan's post from Facebook (which sums it up the best): I just wanted to give some of you an update on my Dad. He went into the hospital last week with what he thought was a bowel obstruction. It turns out that it was stage 3 colon cancer. He had the tumor, along with part of his colon, and his spleen removed. He is recovering well in the hospital and is hoping to head home by the end of the week. He will more than likely need several months of chemo as there was some cancerous lymph nodes. However, the doctors seem very confident that he should be back to normal in no time. He of course says that he is not planning on missing any basketball games! Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!  We are optimistic and feel we will know more about what the next few months bring after his visit with his oncologist in 2-3 weeks.  They sent him home today to recover from the surgery and then he will learn more about his treatment.  


I think my overall feelings about this are anger.  I feel like the people we love most (my dad, Esther and now Dave) have spent their lives working and this is how they are spending their retirements.  It doesn't feel right and I feel a bit jaded, I won't lie.  Again, I fear less about my own relationships with these important people and more about my children's relationships.  My children are much too young to have memories that will last their lifetime if they were to lose a grandparent now.  I am not trying to be morbid, but rather honest about my realistic fears.  This is all too fresh for me as my dad has (hallelujah!) received news that his 18 month PET scan was clear.  This was a big milestone as his cancer typically will re-appear within the first 18 months after surgery.  On the bright side, I know I am blessed because thus far our parents have beat cancer and there are many who haven't.  Continued prayers are appreciated.

Time to Catch Up!

Well I'm a bit overdue to posting here, but I'll do my best to update on our exciting life.

Teague is very much enjoying preschool. He has been singing us new songs, talking about different things that start with the current letter they're learning, but I'll be honest; a majority of the time if he actually will converse about preschool it is about the snack and juice they had. I love having him come to work with us. The only downfall of preschool is that I've noticed more of an "attitude" from him. I guess I just chalk it up to this new found freedom of being in school and attempting to push his boundaries further with us (and Tina). I think as long as we stay consistent to his poopy attitude we will hopefully turn the corner soon!

My new favorite Teague sayings:
-"Mommy, these jeans are really STRONG!" (He means they are tight)! :)
- Tonight as Lola offered me some of the food off of her plate and I told her "No thanks" Teague said "Thank you for using good manners Mommy!"

Lola is on a current two week "language explosion". That's the term Ryan and I coined when Teague was about 18 months old and would say new words constantly for about two weeks, take a break and then go through another "explosion". Her favorite new expression is "c'mon Mommy/Daddy" as she yanks on your arm or clothes. She counts to 10 and says bits and pieces of the alphabet. I'm hoping she will decide to potty train soon, but honestly I don't push her. I let Teague decide when he was ready and he only had one accident (that I remember) and I never had to remind/ask him to use the toilet. So hopefully little miss thang will decide that instead of looking at her Dora undies she will want to WEAR her Dora undies!

Miscellaneous Pictures:

She's so sad....

Our last bonfire of the year, perhaps?

On Sunday the 9th we took the kids on our annual adventure to Collegeville Orchards. We love going there for the beautiful fall colors, petting farm, orchards, pumpkin patch and of course the hayride!

Self portrait, just to prove I am with on these excursions!

Hayride

Precious

Holy crap, everyone is looking!

This was right before the pony (NO JOKE) bit Lola's arm and had her arm up to her elbow in its mouth!

Yep, you got it - Teague's posing...

Thinking of feeding the goats

We've had some fun outings as of late. On Friday the 7th I took the kids on an ECFE field trip to Hemker's Zoo and to a pumpkin patch. We were gone about 3 hours and we couldn't have lasted a minute longer. Don't get me wrong, we had so much fun but keeping Lola occupied during the guided tour and being told 107 times "don't go ahead of the guide", it wasn't really what I had in mind - I assumed we would go at our own pace. But I do give kudos to Lola for being as well mannered as well, as Lola can be! She is only 2!

Teague (camel), Lola (Kangaroo) Random Girl (Cow)

The only picture that I got of Lola's face on the fieldtrip!

Getting ready to load the bus for the ECFE Field trip, some one's EXCITED (or just posing)!

Looking at the Lemurs

I'm not sure if they're ready to chase the cat or the tortoise here....

Last Sunday I packed a lunch and we all went out to Birch Lake State Park a little north of Melrose.  It was so warm out that day, so we had a picnic, a hike and went down to the beach where the kids could not resist themselves and had to go into the water!

Picnic at Birch State Park

Picnic at Birch Lake State Park

PRECIOUS!

"I really want to go in...."

So fun!

Last Friday evening Ryan and I celebrated my bday a little early by heading down to Minneapolis to a dinner cruise on the Mississippi and then an overnight downtown. It was so nice and relaxing, but I was still awake by 7 am!! We went out for breakfast and then walked back to the hotel for a morning nap and then checked out and had a whole day of shopping! (Thanks babe!)

Ready to board the boat for our dinner cruise!

Celebrating Papa's birthday (or as Lola says it: "Happy Papa!") We had a lot to celebrate as my dad found out his 18 month PET scan came back clear!  This is especially great as the kind of cancer he had would have the highest chance of recurrence in the 1st 18 months!

Papa and the grandkids at his bday party!

Helping Papa blow out his candles!

Daily outing to Farmer Dave's:

Going down to Farmer Dave's - Teague wanted to wear his swimming goggles!

He loves to climb on Farmer Dave's wrapped bales

On our way back from Dave's..

Yesterday, the 14th, my mom and I took the kids to eat lunch with Chase at school and then we went to the A Mazen Farmyard outside of Paynesville. It is a very cool and fun place! The kids loved the pony rides, train ride, big slide, seeing all the animals and accidentally letting one of the kittens out of its pen (oops!). The barn bounce house was a hit as we could get out of the wind and cold and we had the whole place to ourselves. It was great, and even better that Nana joined us! It was so great that after we got home I took a 3 hour nap!

Teague riding "Snowflake"

Riding "Snowflake"

Nana and kids on the train ride

Happy to be holding a bunny at the A Mazen Farmyard

She wasn't too sure of the animals running around at the A Mazen Farmyard

The school year is going well and I feel so blessed to be spending more time with my kids. We refer to Fridays as "special days out with mom" as we do something special just for the kids on those days. It's been great.

I'm in the planning process of another NYC trip. This year it's with Beth. I'm so excited to go as the last time we were on a trip together was backpacking through Scandinavia in 2002! We've upped our standards a bit and will stay in a hotel instead of hostels as I'm not fresh out of Grad school this time! We have a lot of fun stuff planned, but somehow Beth has convinced me to be in a race while we are there. The NYC Marathon is going on while we are there and though we are NOT running that, training is still not my thing. I just don't understand why we can't just eat our way through NYC; why do we need to exercise?! :)

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