Baby Sitting

My friend, Jamye, had asked me if I would be interested in watching her son 1 1/2 days a week during the school year.  I was hesitant, but thought it was a good opportunity to make a little extra money.  It is going pretty well.  Leah had a hard time at first with a little jealousy, but things have gotten better.  Both kids are very excited when he comes over.  Leah has become my little helper.  

Madison Half Marathon

We had a fun weekend in Madison.

On Friday we told the kids that we were going to stay in a hotel the next night.  They were so excited.  Ryan woke up as soon as his clock turned green on Saturday morning.  I will always wonder how he does it...does he just stare at the clock?  We packed up the car, stopped at Festival Foods for our car donuts and were off.

Our first stop was the Expo.  The kids have never been in downtown Madison and thought the capital was neat.  They were very focused on getting to the hotel and just wanted to go.  We told them that before we could go to the hotel, we were going to visit Grandma and Grandpa Seston.  It was a nice visit, we are rarely there when there isn't a party.  Grandma was very happy to see the kids.  The kids were so happy to play with the kitties, collect acorns.  It was fun to watch them run around and play.

After our visit, we stopped at the mustard museum...the kids and I waited and I waited in the car while Mike went in.  He said it was awesome, and I am a little jealous...  Anyway, after that we headed to the hotel.  It had a great water area for the kids.  There was a little ship that had 2 slides and a small wading pool with 2 other slides and then a bigger pool with a bigger slide.  Ryan was so excited he wanted to go down everything.  Zero hesitation.  Leah was the surprise.  We figured she would have fun, but I never guessed that she would want to do it all.  At one point she slipped and fell down one of the slides head first.  I was terrified, I thought she would be too, but she rebounded quickly.  She was so brave!  She even recently started putting her head in the water!!  Ryan shocked us with his swimming skills also.  He was able to swim across the length of the pool.  So proud of them!!!

Sunday was Mike's race.  The reason for the trip.  The kids and I ended up staying back because it was COLD outside.  We hung out at the pool while he ran 13 miles in the cold.  Seems fair.

In my opinion, he ran a great race and did awesome.  He said that it was terrible with the wind and hills.   We are proud of him!

Our last stop was Great Grandpas.  We visited, play UNO, went to lunch and watched a little football.
It was a great weekend.  We need to try to get to Madison more often.

Nutty for Books

I think this is the 3rd time we have participated in this contest.  The kids love it.  They have to read 100 books in the month of October to receive a free book.

They were so proud when they finished!  Such a great program offered by the library!!

Jack-o-lanterns

The kids have been very excited about Halloween this year.  From the Boo bags, to the candy, costumes, pumpkins...you name it.

Tonight was the night that they got to carve pumpkins.  They did great.  They both helped scoop out the guts.  Ryan used his hands and Leah refused to use her hands, and instead used a spoon.  

They each drew on faces and helped carve out their own pumpkins.  

We are all happy with how they turned out.  

We are also trying to roast the pumpkin seeds for the first time this year.  It was actually all Leah's idea.  I hope that they turn out and the kids actually eat them!

Movie night and a sick-o

This weekend was strange.  In hindsight I can see that something was bothering Ryan.  He came home and was eager to go down and start working with the "art cart".  After awhile we said that we were going to a restaraunt...yay!  Or so we thought.  Ryan started crying.  He didn't want to go.  We said we were going to Culvers.  He cried harder.  When we got there, he was okay.  He ate.  We chalked it up to him wanting to do art.

Saturday morning was exciting.  Mike and Ryan went to flag football.  Leah and I stayed home.  It was cold and rainy out.  When the phone rang after the game, I answered to hear a sweet little voice telling me he had 2 flag pulls, 1 first down and one touchdown.  He was so happy.  We were so proud.  (I am pretty bummed that I missed both of his tds this year :{)  Anyway, when he got home he went down to do some art.  Grandma Pam called and wanted to hear how his game was.  He cried again and didn't want to talk.  Pretty unlike him.

We ran a few errands and came home for movie night. We borrowed Rio from a neighbor.  The kids liked it.  Very cute movie.

After the movie, I realized that Ryan was a little warm.  Poor little guy had a low grade fever.  I was hoping he would sleep it off.  He did not.

Sunday morning I called to cancel their flu shots, that pepped him up a bit.  Then I called Grandma Pam to tell her that we couldn't come down to watch the game because Ryan had a fever.  He was super upset so Grandma and Grandpa came here (which was very much appreciated).  He didn't eat much...with the exception of the td Oreos, he ate 5.  His fever got up to 102.  He barely cheered.  In true Ryan fashion, he never complained once that anything was bothering him.

Even though his fever was gone by this morning, I decided to keep him home from school.  I kind of loved having him here.  The kids played, he was excited to take her to school and her dance class.   We played UNO, he helped with the laundry (and told me he loved doing it), helped unload the dishwasher.  He did ask if I was going to pay him though :)  It was a good day.

I hope Leah stays healthy!

Boo!

Ryan asked me a few weeks ago if we were going to do those Boo things again.  It took me a minute, but I remembered last year when our doorbell rang and no one was there.  We found little bags of treats and a note saying that we had been boo'd.  The kids loved it.  They were even more excited when we were able to make our own bags and sneak to our friends houses to make the delivery.  I had forgotten all about it.  He hadn't.  I love that he remembers these things!  Anyway, I held him off for as long as I could...but this weekend I gave him the go-ahead.  The kids eagerly packed up our treat bags and Mike and Ryan went to deliver them.  Adding Daddy to the equation added a whole new level of sneaky-ness.  They hid in backyards, hid behind garages, etc.  It was thrilling.

Well, today the doorbell rang and the kids immediately started yelling "we have been boo'd"...we opened the door to find treat bags.  They were beyond excited!!

Ryan often says that Halloween is his favorite holiday.  He says he likes it even more than Christmas.  I love how excited they are for all of the little things.  I love that we live in a neighborhood that Boos each other :)  

Lunch time visitors

Ryan has been asking Leah and I to come eat lunch with him again.  I don't want to go every week...but maybe every other?  Okay, I would go everyday if I could!  We all love it.  This time we surprised him with a Grandma Pam appearance.  We all chatted and happily enjoyed our Subway. eRyan took G Pam to his classroom and then Leah and I stayed for indoor recess.  Ryan even took Leah over and introduced her to his class.  It was adorable!  Adorable!!

Earlier this week Leah and I were in Appleton running errands.  We can't go anywhere near Diddos work and not bring a treat, so we picked up some Swedish fish and stopped for a quick visit.

This visit was pretty adorable too!!

Family Pictures

When the kids were little we did family pictures every 6 months.  I kind of loved it.  Unfortunately, I was the only one.  I promised Mike that once Leah was 3 I would stop.  So now it is my job to take our family pictures.  I took pictures of the kids and then Tammy took a few family pictures.

There was a lot of complaining, by Mike more than anyone else.  There were lots of bribes.  All in all I am pretty happy with the pictures.

I cannot believe how big the kids are getting.  I feel like they look so old in these pictures.  The other day, Ryan put on his backpack and it just looked normal to me.  Just a few weeks ago I thought it looked gigantic.  

Oh, I almost forgot the best part of the story.  Mike was insistent that Ryan get a haircut before pictures.  I said that I didn't think getting a haircut the day of pictures was ever a good idea.  Turns out I was right...although I could have never imagined this would happen....

We called it a reverse mohawk.  I think Ryan might have liked it a little.  Fortunately, Mike was able to fix it up the next day.  In the future...no same day haircuts!!  

Adios, Civic!

We have been talking about getting a new car for awhile now.  Both cars had over 100,000 miles on them.  Mike has to drive for work and doesn't have awd.  It was time.

I was not prepared for how sad Ryan would be.  He loved the "little car".  I guess I can see it.  It was the car to go special places with Daddy...Uncle Mitch's cabin, camping, Packer events, etc.   Riding in it was always a treat, both kids begged to ride in Daddy's car.  To him it was a speedy little go kart.  He cried when we dropped it off at the new owners house.  We let him have his goodbye time.

All was forgotten when he saw the new car,a 2014 CRV  He liked the back-up camera and the "little cave" in the trunk.  He even admitted that he liked it just as much as the other car.

Mike said that this car might even be his someday.  Really?!  I guess he could be right.  Less than 11 years until Ryan drives.  So crazy to think about.  We will see if the CR-V will one day be his.

Beautiful Weather and Apple Picking

We have had the most beautiful week and the weather this weekend has been amazing.  Today's forecast was for a high of 76.  There were no clouds.  It was perfect.  We have been outside non stop for the past two days.  The kids have been playing tag, looking for frogs, catching bugs, playing water balloons, washing cars.  We have had two bonfires.  It has been busy.  It has been awesome.

At Snider Creek looking for Frogs 

They had been asking to wash the car all summer.  I figured this might be their last chance for awhile.  Cheap labor.  All I had to give them were popsicles.  

Two nights of bonfires.   Two nights of mosquito bites and smores.  

We decided it would be a great day to go to the apple orchard.  I love this tradition.  I hope it lasts forever.  I love the kids excitement.  They love running from tree to tree.  Picking apples.  Taking a few bites.  Throwing the apple down.  Repeat.  

This year we asked the Snider Family if they wanted to go with us.  We had a good time, but the kids are starting to outgrow it.  Boo.  I hope that doesn't happen to us.  

It is so nice to have a low key weekend where we can just play and spend time together. 

Excited to be picking apples.  

Two fisted apple eater.  

I remember when we had to lift him to reach the apples.  No Mom needed, only tippy toes.  

So excited to find the biggest apple ever!  He wanted to know if it was as big as his head!

Helping Daddy push.  

Beautiful girl.  She wore her apple jeans for the occasion.  

I'm not sure how many apples this kid ate.  Last week he was "getting way too sick of apples"

I really believe that it is impossible to have 4 people look at the camera and smile.  

First Day of Preschool

I made it through the first week of kindergarten.  It was tough, but we made it through.  Then, today...Leah started preschool.  She seemed excited to go.  She has been saying that she was going to go to school in the Fall.  She kept asking me if it was Fall yet.  We put Ryan on the bus, took our obligatory first day picture and were off.

She was excited to walk into the building, but clammed up a bit when Ms. Michelle (the teacher she doesn't know), started talking to her.  I quickly gave her a hug and handed her to Ms. Sherry and left.  It was hard, I wanted to cry, but I didn't look back.  I heard from another mom that she was doing well.

I went home to an empty house.  It was very strange.  I cleaned like a mad woman while waiting to go pick her up.  I was so anxious.  I had a lot of flashbacks while I was waiting for her.  I kept thinking about Ryan starting there.  He was 3.  She was 1.  I can't believe how fast time has gone.  

Anyway, her teacher said that she did great.  She was so happy when she came out.  Talking a mile a minute.  I heard that she made a new friend, Grace.  She had a snack...pretzels and apple juice.  She drew a picture for Daddy.  She sang songs.  She played with blocks and on the teeter totter.  I am so glad she loves it.  Now I just need the next two years to drag ;)  I am now the mom of a kindergartner and a preschooler.  Weird.  

Kindergarten

It is here.  Tomorrow is the first day of Kindergarten.  I really don't know how it is possible.  I look back at the past 5 1/2 years and it has flown by.  In the beginning, the days were long and I "wished" time away...when he is 4 months he won't be colicky, when he can crawl he will be happy, once he can talk I will know what he wants...  I would do so much to have that time back, it is hard to remember it sometimes.  Already.   But, for the past few years, I have been very cognizant of how fleeting our time is.  How special our days together our.  How lucky I am to be a stay at home mom.  The days have flown by.  I have known this day was coming, but I am not ready.  I hope I have done a good job of preparing him for the "real world".  I love my little buddy so very much and I hope he knows it.  I hope he knows how proud I am of him and that I will always be here for him no matter what. Today marked the end of an era and tomorrow marks the start of a new one.  I am excited, happy, nervous...so many emotions.  I am trying to keep it together.  Good luck tomorrow, buddy!  Mommy loves you!!

Note:  If I have to send him off to Kindergarten, I am glad that he will be spending the day with a friend. Someone who cares for him and will take great care of him.  Someone I already feel comfortable with and trust.

Forest Adventure

Today marks one week until Kindergarten.  Only one week.  Yikes!  Someone asked me how I feel today.  Nervous.  Sad.  Nostalgic.  Excited.  I know I can't stop time.  I can't go back in time.  This is what comes next and I have to make the best of it.

I am sad about the little things that I am going to miss.  Having the kids come into our room first thing in the morning to snuggle and watch tv.  I am going to miss doing special things during the day...our adventures.   I can't / don't want to wrap my brain around the fact that he is going to be gone most of the day.  I will only have a few hours and weekends.  How precious that time will be!!

Anyway, to make the most of our "last" week, we decided to go on Forest Adventure.  It was so much fun.  The kids love looking around, finding animal tracks, worms and toads, and throwing rocks and sticks into the creek.  I love watching the kids just explore and take their time to look at things...no time limit, no plans.  I love these days!!

The kids were so excited to take the toad home.  We didn't bring a bug catcher with us, big mistake...  Ryan offered to carry it home and ride in the stroller, but I didn't think that I could push the stroller and drag his bike along, so we had plan B.  Plan B failed.  We put the toad in a little compartment on the handle bar of the stroller.  I hate toads.  I was so nervous I would accidentally touch it.  I felt relieved when we got home.  I had Ryan run over to grab it and IT WAS GONE!  I felt so bad.  I have no idea when it jumped out.  He just wanted to keep it for a day or two :(  He handled it like a champ and I hope we can find one in the next few days.