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.