Major Development Milestone

On our Cleveland trip Audrey kept asking me to read her books. One night after about I read 7 books I told her to read to me. I said, look at the pictures and tell what is happening. Last night and today I found her in her bedroom, sitting on her bed, reading books to herself! It was precious.

What Audrey's up too.

Audrey, you are growing up so quickly this summer. Each night after bath (for about the past two weeks), you ask to be a baby and want us to hold you like a baby. When we do this you start to pretend to cry like a baby...it makes my heart melt! I'm so proud of how well you did in the car to see Auntie Heidi! You are such a joy. Some days you test me but challenge me to be a better person because of it. Your spunky, stubborn, and loving personality is truly one of a kind! I've heard that you take after both your mom and dad as we were both "hand fulls." I think you will continue to carry our traits and create your own style in school and sports. I imaging you being a smart little cookie in school but at the same time you will test your limits (smarts from your dad, testing limits from your mom.) If I ask you what sports you will play you say, I play basketball, I play volleyball, and I run. At your two year old check up on July 20th (25 months) you were in the 95% for your height and weight (32 pounds/36 inches). You are a milk-o-holic, you ask for it 24/7. You are starting to ask for things in a sentence form without a reminder from me...mom can i please have this. But if you don't want to do something I ask...I hear it from you. So far, you have done a great job of picking up your toys when you asked to. If you do chose not to, I've been putting your toys up high and you don't get them for a few days. You are starting to read books by the pictures. You enjoy hearing stories before bed time.

That feeling--

Today in the mail Ken received his "back to school" packet from the school. I was looking through his papers and got jealous/knotty/disgusting feeling in my stomach. One part of the packet has the "introductions of new teachers," and I still get that unsatisfied feeling with the school for not having a job there! I've been very excited for my upcoming position but for some reason still have not "gotten over the fact" I've been rejected or not able to obtain a position I desired so bad. This shall pass.

Cleveland Trip August 2012

My mom, Audrey, and I all got in the car and headed south. Our end destination was Cleveland Ohio to see Heidi and Mike. This trip lasted us 9 days in which we made many memories that will last a life time through pictures. The longest day spend in the car was from Brooklyn WI to Cleveland which was about 8 hours. Audrey amazed me as to how well she traveled. The only struggle on the trip for Audrey was going to bed at nights. Let's just say some nights took two hours. :S I was thankful my mother was around, I do admit...one night I wanted to have a temper tantrum myself. Every night at bed time Audrey asked for daddy and to go home (it made me cry twice as I felt guilty). It was hard on her to be away from Kenneth for so long...as I'm sure it was hard for him too! On our trip we made stops in Delano (The Rues'), Brooklyn WI (Uncle Dick, Ant Margaret, Cousin Brian), Cleveland OH (The Greenwoods), Lowell MI (Uncle Bob, Ant Debbie, Cousins Lexie & Dayna), and Delano.

Quick notes from the trip:

Delano: Braylee stole my wedding ring and I was in panic mood as I didn't know where it was.

Brooklyn: Farm, cows, tractors, nummy taco's, cousin Brian, Ant Irene, Audrey falling asleep in Margrets lap during a story.

Cleveland: Farmers Market, Yogurt VI, Charming Charlies, H & M, Coffee, Olympics, Out to eat, Parks, Exploring, The Cleveland Zoo, Bob Evans Kid friendly straws, bed time, nap times, Chagrin Falls, fancy homes, Heidi's work place, Mikes work place, Heidi & Mike becoming scared of parenthood from Audrey. ;) Each day I'd ask Audrey...guess what we are doing today? Her response..."Going to Uncle Dennis'?" I guess we need to go visit him soon!

Lowell: Dayna, Lexie, new chairs, the home made windmill, the man made pond with a raft and fish, swimming, running through the huge yard, the hilly driveway, walking around the county seat town, the road runner car, Audrey finally going to bed within 5 minutes.

*From Lowell to Milwaukee we took the Ferry across Lake Michigan. Fun experience! 

Brooklyn: lunch with uncle dick at Culver's

Delano: Quick trip, park, dinner, play, sleep, Delano garage sales, home

Side notes from the trip:

An automatic toilet flusher went off on Audrey and she is still scared of toilets...hopefully this week she becomes friends with the toilet again!

Fish Trap 2012

Once again we have trapped by Fish Trap Lake. We spent the weekend of July 12-15th at Mark and Margs cabin. Fish Trap weekend has become a weekend we look forward to every year. The family has created a general plan for what activities are done year after year. Here is a "glimpse" of the schedule.

Thursday Evening: Chill out
Friday: Golf Scramble, lake, tubing, boating, fire talk, fishing, garage sales, baseball games, swimming
Saturday: Bean Bag Tourney, Paddle Board tourney, volleyball, none athletic scavenge hunt, fire talk, fishing,  swimming, tubing, skiing, knee boarding, baseball games
Sunday: Bags tourney, pizza, turtle races

Things to remember about this years event: dan losing his glasses in the lake (2nd year in a row, last year Michael), the talks around the fire (many, many in depth topics are covered), audrey jumping off the dock with life jacket on, but no one around, ella, eddie, hayden tubing, the delicious meals, the fish catching at night, garage sales were not good this year, Cathy's birthday party surprise and the diapers, the spray painting of the diapers, emily and her audio tape, and the scones.

I love watching all of the little cousins interact. Heck it's even fun to watch the older cousins interact, it puts me in awe how much this group of cousins truly enjoy every minute they have together and find a way to enjoy each other but yet be competitive in games with each other! This group of family always reminds me how lucky I am to have found this other family though my husband...on my own side I have such wonderful role models...but I've even been blessed with more positive role models who I have learned so much from. I always leave these family functions with great advise to try add to my own life. Not that anyone says I need to do things differently, but I just listen to others and I want to take things from others and apply to our lives.

Here are a few of the 500 pictures we have from the weekend.

molars

Oh two year molars, you have been the worst ones!

Baby

So tonight when bath was complete, Audi asked me..."me be baby tonight?" I said "sure" not knowing what she meant. What I learned is that she was was not going to walk anywhere tonight, she had me carry her or else she crawled. :) She even let me rock her before bed. Oh the memories!

Rues come to visit 2012

I think we've started a tradition that the Rue's come and visit Roseau once a summer. Last summer, Hayden & Bray, stayed with us while Mitch/Becca went to a concert in Winnipeg and then stayed with us for a few days. This summer the Rue's came up for the 4th of July week and we had a blast. We stayed at our house in Roseau for a night before heading to the cabin for the rest of the week. The boys left to go fishing right away in the morning while the girls did a little shopping, playing, packing, and headed for the lake. The weather was absolutely perfect the whole week. Two days out of the week, it rained in the morning but cleared up by the afternoon and evening. I think the little kids definlty created some memories. In the pictures below you will see what some of the highlights were for the kids. They played by the beach a lot, went on many many ranger rides, had a campfire, went to a parade, had many man snacks, visited the candy store at the resort, and many other things.

It truly is so much fun spending time with your family. I stop and look at how lucky we are, Kenneth & I, to both have such wonderful families. We spend a majority of this last week with his parents and my parents, Mitch, Becca, and Kids...we get along so great and it's always sad to see everyone go there own ways. There were many of times I wished my sister and brother could be there with their families, but I'm fortune we get to spend other times with them. Many times I stop and watch how much fun Hayden, Braylee, and Audrey have together....they are so close in age and have so many of the same interest. Yes, don't get me wrong, there are times when Audrey is hitting or pulling Braylees's hair or vise versa, but it's all in the name of love. I wished this week could have went on for longer.

For the 4th of July we hung out at the cabin for the morning and nap time then headed to Warroad for the parade and Kenneth's baseball game. It was hot, sticky, and humid. The Royals won their baseball game 12-1. Dan, Ruth, Mitch, Becca, Hayden, and Braylee stayed in Warroad for the fire works. My parents, Kenneth, and I headed back to the lake as it wouldn't of been any fun for Audrey to stay for the fire works (to late). The rest arrived to the cabin about 11:45 to find us all asleep.

My mom bought some fun yard water toys for the kids to play with. This way they didn't have to be down at the lake the whole time and plus the water was kind of green...this way the kids got to play in the water up by the cabin and we could sit and visit on the deck.

My "big" family normally get's together for the 4th of July, with the 4th on a Wednesday we post poned it until Saturday the 7th. I always feel blessed to be able to enjoy and attend these get together with our family and catch up with each other. We all live so close together, but don't see each other enough. It's days like these that create memories.

Leisure activity

When I find a good book, I can not put it down. Growing up, I never enjoyed reading...it was always a struggle. Since getting married, I've ready about 5 books because "I want to." With these books I find, I simply can't put them down once I start. Coffee is one of my favorite hobbies. About a week before we were headed to the cabin for the week, I thought I'd like to find a good book to buy and bring with. I visited amazon and checked out the top sellers...this book "becoming sister wives" was one of them. I'm truly intrigued by these types of books/religions. I've had numerous people ask about this book while I was reading and all I can say is...it truly captures my mind and I'm so curious about other religions and cultures (not all religions or cultures but specific ones). Along with this book another type of books I truly enjoy are Amish. When we lived in Morris there was a religion around the area called Apostolic Christians...I also read and researched a lot about the religion. I'm about 2/3s done with this book and it's definitely a book I'd recommend. It's a book that truly opens yours eyes to another type of family dynamics.

First Cucumber Crop of The Year

Today we returned home from the lake, where we had been for the past week. I was a little worried what had happened to our garden while we were away with the 90 degree weather we'd been having. Once we arrived home Kenneth told me I better go check out the garden...wow! The corn was waste high or higher!! Kenneth left for his baseball game. I told Audrey we could have mac and cheese for lunch as she hadn't had that for over a week. I thought we'd check the garden in-case any cucumbers were ready, I honestly didn't think there would be any ready...but to my surprise there was! Audrey and I were both excited for lunch when we could have cucumbers!!

Weekend # 1

Of many busy ones to come.

This past weekend, June 30th/July 1st, I headed to MSP for a Twins game for work. We took a charter bus filled with 50 people, young and old! We stayed at a hotel, I think most of the kids had more fun at the water park in the hotel than at the baseball game! Ha, but the Twins won while we there. While I attended this event for work I had planned, Kenneth had a baseball tournament in Nimrod, so Audrey stayed in Ada with Dan and Ruth and the Rues' were also there visiting. It was the fair in Ada and form what I heard-- Audrey loved it.

This week the Rues and Dan/ruth are up here and we'll spend the week up at my parents cabin.

Next weekend we'll spend the weekend at Mark & Margs cabin...always a good time!

The following weekend we will be in the cities.

The next weekend is a golf scramble I'm putting on for my job, and my friends wedding. The following Monday we will leave on a 10 day vacation to see HEID, plus my family in Wisconsin and Michigan.

2 year photos...round 1

Here is some work with my camera and my new photo program.

Video from Audrey's 1st Birthday

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New position

So it's official, I'll be back in the classroom this fall teaching pre-school. I'm excited to get back in to the classroom and have some fun with the kiddo's! Pre school is a place I'm very comfortable with. I'll be working with the Headstart Program in Roseau. I'll be with kids 4 mornings a week for 4 hours each day.

Audrey Turns 2

What a beautiful day we had for Audrey's Second Birthday. It tried to rain on us once but only a few sprinkles fell. I wished I would of taken a few more pictures but never able to pull myself away from good company. Audrey was sure pooped after a busy weekend. Grandma/Grandpa Hayden were up for the weekend, so Audrey stayed up tell about 9:30 both nights...by Sunday morning- she was ready for a nap at 11:30 :) Here is a link some pictures I put on facebook; you don't need to be a member to see them.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100273397750805.2369570.29402037&type=3&l=ba00b6e5a8

Some things about Audrey at two.

-you are so much fun-I made new curtains for our house in time for your party-you are so loved by so many people-you sleep great-you only get your nuki in your bed-i want to take it away- but to much going on in life-with your birthday-and-potty. -you love going to parks- you are not scared to try new things- you love to eat fish- you normally ask for milk over juice- you love chips- you don't really care for cartoons- you love being out doors- your sand box is your heaven- you have two cries....one i'm really sad, two i'm just want something so i'm pretending to be sad- you love jumping on an exercise ball at grandma janes house- you love skyping with your family that lives far away-you love to paint- you wrote with marker on our new leather chair-you sleep in a big girl bed (most nights want to sleep in daddy's bed/not mom's, we normally let you start in our bed and move you), you are good at brushing your teeth- you love your new mickey scooter-you like going to the gym with dad for basketball team-you are the sunshine of my life.

Two years!

Hard to believe it's been two years since Audrey's arrival! Two years ago, tonight, I woke up at 11:00 having contractions. I sat on the couch for 30 minutes before I said, "kenneth, it's time to go." His response, "I need to take a shower."

Today was her best day of going to the potty! Not once did I need to remind her, no accidents!

More soon--

picture perfect...forgot camera

tonight i really wished i would of brought to bring my camera to Ada. Dan and Ken went to the movie and Audrey and I hung out. Ruth is gone for volleyball. Audrey and I walked to the park in the wagon, and then we headed to the movie theater to pick up some popcorn to bring home. As I was walking home I thought-- what a cute photo this would be! A mom pulling a little red wagon with the cutest girl in it...eating a huge bag of popcorn and drinking some root beer.

 

She is currently obsessed with lotion. Whenever she finds it, watch out-- her body is covered in it. :)

May 30

Well it's almost the end of May. Audrey is growing up so much. We measured her height last night to see how tall she might be when she's big. If you double her height right now, she'd be 5'10 1/2". I doubt she will be that tall! Here is my favorite conversation with Audrey lately, I ask her these questions everyday...

Me: Audrey, how old are you?
Audrey: Four
Me: How old will you be on your birthday?
Audrey: Two
Me: What happens when you turn two?
Audrey: No more nukie
Me: When is your birthday?
Audrey: Junnne

It's been about two full weeks of Audrey sleeping her in full size bed, she has been sleep so good. At fist she did really good at falling alseep in there. After last week (in Ada), she did NOT want to go to sleep in her bed. After about 10 minutes Monday night and 5 minutes Tuesday night, she did go to sleep on her own. She has been waking up dry consistently still....some days she goes pee on the potty, but I have not been "training" at all. Maybe in June or July.

Audrey is still a great eater for us. She loves fruit, fish, cheese--I don't know of "anything" she doesn't like. She has been going through the stage of hitting or pinching-- which is cute and naught at the same time. My approach is to tell her things she can do instead. EX: last night she hit me when I told her no, we can't go outside now, but maybe tomorrow. I told her instead of hitting mommy you can stomp your feet if your mad. So she started stomping her feet around the living room. Very cute. :) Our neighbors probably think we are crazy because every time we go for a walk-- we have to stop at every rain gutter and talk to the "turtles."

I have been trying to attempt to bake some new things.

Things that worked:
White chocolate raspberry scones
Cheese balls

Thing that didn't work:
I froze cinnamon rolls in March-They tasted good...but didn't expand (I think to long in the freezer??)
Melting Moment Cookies (I melted the butter completely before using...opps-- don't do that!)

Memorial Weekend

We spent the weekend in Ada with the Rues and Dan & Ruth. Always fun! The kids enjoyed playing together.

Highlights of the weekend:
- Going to the park about 20 times
- Going swimming
- Driving through the cementary with so many beautiful American Flags while eating ice cream, then we stopped at the movie theater to get popcorn to eat while driving around-
- A Bond fire with s'mores