Happy Groundhog Day!

Am I stuck in that Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day, where it's the same day over and over and nobody told me? After a couple of nice days of weather and a family cookout, today I have two sick kids, one who is currently taking antibiotics for double ear infections. Addison announced on our way to eat today that her face was hot. Aaron had the heat on in the van, as he was chilled from our attendance at the Memorial Day Parade in the rain. Aaron melts in rain, as we know he's made of sugar that's where he super sweetness comes from! We got to a restaurant and Aaron says she's burning up. She wouldn't eat. She slept all the way home and took another nap (with me!) and then Caden said he was hot and he has a fever too and took a nap. Caden already had the mystery fever illness with eye infection. We can't break our streak, this will be week 6!
Anyway, still had a great weekend even though it's ending in a yucky way. We worked on the kids' room. I got the second closet painted pink and we hung up a bunch of stuff on their walls. We had a family cookout with Aaron's sister and her two kids,

his parents,

and my dad.

We had great food (doesn't it always taste better cooked and eaten outside?).

Aaron's parents brought their dog, Bug.

Their bounce house for the kids.

And a SpongeBob Pinata that would not break.

The kids played baseball with Papa.

We got out our parachute and tried to toss the baby around.

The sandbox got some use too.

Then we walked down to the cerementary to see the flags.

It was fun and great weather!
And now that life has just handed me lemons again with more sickness what can I do but make lemonade!

Hope you had a great weekend!

Finally . . .

it was nice weather this weekend. The kids spent a lot of time outside which ultimately meant I spent a lot of time outside since Reese now has "side" fever.

Somebody always has to be unhappy in a group photo . . . it's an unwritten rule!
This morning at 9:15 we had only been up 30 minutes and no one was dressed, they were clamouring to get out there. Reesey overheard the conversation and started clapping "side, side". Thus beginning our day of swinging . . . practicing baseball, where we discovered Addison is quite the hitter . . . playing in the yard.

These two are quite amusing . . . so competitive . . . and yet they have a blast together.


We made plans to meet Grammy and Papa for lunch and then went to the park to play.

This boy still loves to swing, you can't tell though, can you?

We walked over to the lake and walked across the bridge looking for fish, we didn't see any though. People fishing, yes.

We did see a dandelion field where Addison made some wishes.

Here's Papa Ronn and Mini Me.

Reesey had fun swinging with Grammy too!
We finished the day by eating PB&J outside at the picnic table and playing in the sandbox where Reese had her first sandbox experience which of course includes her first taste of sand. Baths and to bed, not a peep, not one single person came out of the bedroom I think they may had fell asleep the second their head hit the pillow. Can't beat that!

One of those days

Yesterday was just one of those days where everything (most everything) was relaxed (as relaxed as it can be with 4 small kids) and fun.

We started the day off with bacon and pumpkin pancakes that three out of four kids ate. My theory of keep on serving something over and over and over again and eventually they will eat it is panning out. It also helps that Addison and Reese (because she can't be left out) will eat about anything with whipped cream on it too. Caden likes his pancakes plain: no butter, no syrup; in my opinion what's the point of eating pancakes then?

Reese took a short nap and we played outside scooters and sidewalk chalk.

Daddy came home from helping our neighbor and he took the older kids to the park for a while.

We decided to go out for a little lunch. I wanted Steak and Shake for a change of pace unfortunately so did everyone else and it was a wait so McDonalds again which made all the kids and Daddy happy.

We had birthday gifts to buy at Walmart and the kids had some money from Valentines Day so they each got to buy something. Ethan couldn't decide on his purchase and he had about 6 things in the cart at once, mix that with being tired and we had several rough moments but that's normal.

We came home, the kids played outside a little more, and we had a clean out the fridge supper. Before long it was bedtime and they were all asleep by 8:30 which is very unusual especially for Ethan since he's in his big boy toddler bed, he can spend a few hours causing mischief every night. I won't mention that he woke up talking loudly at 3 am and wouldn't go back to sleep so he came into our bed and I was so tired I'm not sure if he ever went back to sleep but judging by his behavior at school today I say no he didn't but I'm not mentioning that.

It was just one of those relaxing, nothing pressing, fun days . . . we don't get them very often but we need them.

S+H: A New Beginning

My cousin, Scott, got married yesterday. Aaron's mom had a slumber party for her 6 grandkids so we got to go. It was a really nice wedding and we had a lot of fun at the reception. We stayed until they kicked us out which was only 9 but still it's unusual for us. I think I've been to one other wedding since I got married and Aaron's been to two. We just don't get out much!

I took some photos. I have a lot to learn about photography and my camera but I think I got some nice shots of them. I remember back to my wedding some of my favorite photos are the candids that guests took of us . . . we could have skipped paying a photography I think . . . but 8 years ago, wedding photography was a bit different. I really like the fun shots that I've seen recently. Anyway here are some of the moments I captured:

Congrats, Scott and Heather!

Happy Birthday, Keely!

Today is my older sister, Keely's, birthday. I just tease -- I am the oldest and have her beat by 6 years but I like to tell everyone that she is older than me just for fun!

She is one talented girl! She just started scrapbooking about 4 years ago when she was pregnant with Jackson and she is really good and gives really nice scrapbooking gifts. She made this little album for Reesey for her 1st birthday.

I don't even have time to scrapbook any of my stuff lately not to mention give gifts to people.

She's really organized but got the procrastination bug like me. She throws her heart and soul into everything she does. Aaron teases me because if I want something or start to do something new he always asks "is that what Keely is into now?" She's gets jazzed about something then I do too most of the time (I laugh every time I use the word, jazzed). She's a great mom to Jackson and Jeffrey and she totally gets me. We look a lot alike and we think a lot of like too. Jackson my trio are only 5 months apart and Jeffrey and Reese are only 7 months apart so we are "in the same places" on child raising and great support for each other.

Keely is one of the most generous people I've ever met. She's done a lot for me and I owe her big time. She came here and stayed for 7 days when I had Reese. She watched 5 kids 3 years and under for 4 straight days. She should just get an award for that. She's shown up at my door one morning at 8am (even though she lives 3 hours away) because I was in the middle of a breakdown not too long after Reese was born. She's taken my kids to her house to spend the night for more than one night in a row and she's done it more than once: this is unprecedented after they spend the night once at some one's house they have not been invited back by anyone but her.

Keely and Jeremy let my family of 6 come to their neat little family of 4 and stay for a few days all the time and never complain even though going from 4 to 10 people in one house is more than a little overwhelming. She's bought us essential stuff when Aaron was laid off like food and toiletries and some fun stuff just to pick up my mood. She works at a scrapbook store and always is getting me cool stuff too.

She's a great person and you can check her out here.

I consider both my sisters, Keely and Monica, my best friends. I don't know a lot of people that can say that especially ones that live one and three hours away.

Happy Birthday Keely, one great sister and even better best friend!

I love you!

First Time Paraders

We went to our first parade today! It's hard to believe that in almost 4 years of having kids we've never been to one but the few times we were going to go the kids were sick.

Waiting is the hardest part of anything!
More waiting!
The Steermen Airplane Show is in town this week too and some planes flew over the parade too -- kids thought it was pretty cool!

We got flags at the parade to wave.
The marching bands were a little too loud for Caden. Ethan thought they were cool.
Reese thought it was a toe biting experience.
I totally forgot that parades usually mean candy is going to be hurled at you. Ethan had a pile going. He ate quite a bit on the way home with the paper still on so he got some extra fiber today.
Caden had an even bigger pile. He wanted to see clowns and I had told him there would be some. There was one handing out some propaganda and he almost missed him but he did catch a quick glimpse otherwise we might have had a melt down about that. If no rain we are planning on going to the Prime Beef Festival Parade on Wednesday.

ahhhhhhh . . . photos

Could you hear the sigh of relief from me . . . I finally got the photos downloaded from the fabulous new camera. It only took about 6 emails from Canon to figure it out. I had to unplug my printer/scanner to download them. Now I don't know if that's a one time thing or every time flippin time I want photos I have to unplug my printer, seems pretty inconvenient? Whatever . . . So here's photo montage of our week thus far:

We went to the Glenn Oak Zoo in Peoria last Saturday. What a great little zoo! It's small but really nice. If you look closely in this photo Ethan is pointing at porcupines. They are in that window that looks like a painting. I thought porcupines were pretty small turns out they are the size of a small pig! Who knew?

Here's Addison and Ethan chasing after a "goose" at least that's what Addison thought it was. They got so close I thought they were going to step on its tail.

And because the "goose" wouldn't "wait, stop" Ethan thought he would tip-toe up to it and yell really loud in case it was hard of hearing!

Here's a couple of good-lookin' guys that I love!

The salsa I made! I'm gonna make some more.

Here's the load of stuff we had to take to preschool on Monday. This is just for Ethan!

Doesn't he look like a big boy walking to school! So cute!

Here's my brave boy with his new stitches! Ignore the dirty nose and the ketchup on his mouth but do pay attention to those blue eyes!

Here's the second trip to preschool to drop off the supplies! What a load -- thank goodness we have the Choo Choo Wagon!

Our neighbors, The Agan's, walked with us to preschool. Their daughter Sam is in class with Addison and Caden. This is quite a long line!

Here's someone who thinks she is hot stuff riding like a big girl in the wagon. She was squealing and raising her hands above her head. I think she's ready for roller coasters already!

I can't believe they are old enough for preschool and that she has a locker!

First day of school!

Addison was so excited for school and is still loving it!

Ethan loves having his photo taken. He had a much better day today according to his teacher. I didn't get any details but I think I'll leave it at that. And guess what? Today he peed on the potty for me! I wanted to shout it from the rooftops but the best I could do after I screamed hysterically in the bathroom was open the window and yell the news to our rooftop to Daddy and Papa!

Mr. GQ himself. He's too cool to smile on his first day of preschool. Look out ladies!

And they're off!

This is for Aunt Keely who bought Reese this super cute shirt and wants to see her in it!

Tah Dah! He made it through the first day!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, these 4 kids really don't fit in one tub.

This one loves the water! If she sees the bathroom door open, she speed crawls to get in. Once in she's trying to pull herself up to stand by the tub! I have found her way too many times in the last two days playing the cat's water bowl. Clothes and hair soaked, and she's loving every moment of it!