Yogi Bear Campground!

This past weekend we went 'camping' for the first time as a family!  It was so much fun!  Yogi Bear campground is only 15 minutes away from home, but it was the perfect little 'mini vacation' for us to end the summer!  I am already looking at the calendar to try and plan it for another weekend next summer.  There are so many fun activities for kids at the campground.  There was never a moment of boredom and the days flew by, however the nights did not!  This was only Brigham's second time being away from home and sleeping in the pack-n-play.  He did not sleep well so spent a lot of time snuggled up in the bed with me, but we survived!  Sunday morning we were up bright and early for the 'all you can eat pancake breakfast', and then we loaded up and came home.  We had intentions of hanging around until check out at noon but we got hit with a nasty thunderstorm so packed up early.  I was ok with it.  I was so tired and just wanted to get Brigham in his crib for a long nap so that I could take one too! 

Our home away from home for a few days!  Derek had to work until 6 on Friday night & part of Saturday, so 'super mom' had to pack up, load up, unload and organize the cabin.  The vehicle was packed so full we almost didn't have room for bodies! 

 Boston loved being able to ride his bike around our cabin.  We were right across from the pool!

 Boston and Paisley looking at stars together Friday night!

 Boston, Paisley & Holdyn

 Friday night we had a grill-out and campfire with everyone!  Glady and Les came to join us!

 The inside of the cabin.  The front room had a full size bed.

 Front Room:  Fridge, TV, DVD player, AC (couldn't survive without that!!!) and room for Brigham's pack-n-play.

 The back room had 2 sets of bunkbeds.  Grandma Peggy & Boston each got their own bunk!  Boston loved sleeping on the top bunk.

 The jumping pillow was Boston's favorite thing!  Uncle Brook sure can get him bouncin!

 Saturday morning Lacey and I took the kids to the free craft.  They made campfire magnets!

Brigham loved the noise that the chip bag made!

 Saturday afternoon craft...tie dyed t-shirts!

Derek swimming with Boston & Brennan.

 

 Paisley celebrated her 5th Birthday at the campground.  Yogi Bear surprised her with balloons!

 Having supper at Paisley's bday party!

What a fun, memorable weekend for our family! 

Boston's last 1st day of Pre-K!

Boston wasn't real enthused about school today.  I'm not sure if it's because it's pre-k again and he's been there and done that..or if it's because he didn't want to have to get up so early!  He was really excited about his hair though :)  He was rockin a 'faux hawk' to school and said 'Mom, after school I will tell you who my new girlfriend is'!  I immediately said 'Honey, lets worry about meeting your new classmates and not about picking out a girlfriend!'  Once we got in the school and he started seeing other kids I think he was getting more excited about being in school again.   It was a bittersweet morning.  This is Boston's 1st day of school for the year, but also his last 1st day of pre-k!  Next year he will be off to Kindergarten and possibly off to a new school!  We are really tossing around the idea of sending Boston to the public schools, for a number of reasons..  I will blog about it all someday, but for now we are focusing on this school year! 

Boston, Mom hopes you have a wonderful year at school.  I will miss you so much in the mornings.  Brigham is down for his morning nap and it's so quite around the house i'm not sure what to do for 2 whole hours without you!  Mom is proud of you and knows that you will do so awesome in school this year!  I love you so much!  Love, Mom



 Waiting patiently in the lunchroom for his teacher!

 Getting lined up to head to the classroom!

 And he's off! 

It's the toasters fault!

It never fails.  Every time I make something in the toaster it burns.  Poor Boston.  The look on his face in the mornings when I serve him blackened waffles or blackened pop-tarts is just pathetic.  He just looks at me with those big blue eyes like "MOM!  You did it again!".  I wish I had the time to hover over the toaster for 2-4 minutes, patiently watching it warm and toast the food so it didn't burn, but usually Brigham is needing his bottle about that same time, or the dog is scratching at his food and water dish trying to get our attention to feed him.  So because I am a failure at using the toaster I just say it was the toasters fault.

The waffles were still edible!

I have never been good in the kitchen.  I am a master at Tator-tot Casserole but who isn't?!  I can make cornflake bars, but Derek always whines because there isn't chocolate on the top.  Sorry honey, but I don't know how to put that fancy chocolate on the top! I am sure it's not hard, but you see anytime someone tells me 'Oh i have this really easy recipe for you' I screw it up.  We were so blessed when Brigham was born, as friends from church brought over delicious meals for us so that we didn't have to worry about cooking meals as we were trying to adjust to life with a newborn.  It was seriously the best baby gift ever, especially for a mom/wife who can't cook!  A few of the meals that were brought over even came with a recipe card so you knew what was all in the dish and how to make it yourself if you liked it.  A friend from church brought over these to-die-for bars.  I seriously ate the entire plate full of bars within 8 hours of them being in our house.  A few weeks later I was craving them again so I dug out the neat little recipe card she had included.  I went to the store, got everything I needed, and then went to work in the kitchen.  Half way through making the bars I was thinking 'What is wrong with them?!'  I even called her to ask her what I was doing wrong because they were just not looking edible.  To make a long story short the bars were awful and I've never tried making them again.  Failure! 

My goal this winter is to try a new recipe once a week.  Derek loves having food on the table when he comes home from work and this summer it has only happened a handful of times.  I either can't figure out what to make, or I am still stewing about the fact that the few times I did make a meal he had to eat it cold because he was 'tied up at work' and couldn't get home in time. (gotta love business of car sales!) So if you are reading my blog and have any step-by-step recipe's for dummy's, send them my way!  And please include your phone number so you can be reached if the rookie chef has any questions as she is experimenting! 

Brigham kicking and squealing this morning at Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the TV!

P.S.  And to show how little I bake...I don't even own a 9x13 pan!  If/when I bake bars I put them in a casserole dish!  It's going on my Christmas List this year. 

Brigs is 5 months!

The week's continue to fly by!  Summer has come and gone.  I just can't believe it!  My baby is 5 months old today! He continues to be a happy little guy and is full of smiles!  He has been getting rice cereal with a fruit once a day (sometimes we miss a day here and there).  The first week he spit out more than he swallowed, but now I can't seem to get it in his mouth fast enough!  He loves to play on the floor or just be where ever Boston is :)  His favorite toys are his crunchy page book and 2 toy balls that have rattles in the inside.  He just squeels at them!   He is still up during the night 3 or 4 times a week.  He must get startled in his sleep and roll to his back and crys..I go in and put him to his tummy and pat his back a minute..repeat a few times..and he is sound asleep again until morning.  He can roll from his back to his tummy but I don't think he has figured out that he can do that during the night to put himself back to sleep!  Hopefully soon.

He is still just a peanut!  His 3 month pj's are finally getting a little snug so we moved up to 6 month pj's and they are too big!

He loves to take walks in the stroller!

Boston starts his final year of Pre-K next week!  It will be a change up to our typical morning routine but it'll be good for him to get back into it!  I keep telling him since he has already done Pre-k with Mrs. Bornitz that he's going to be the smartest kid in his class and that he'll have to be a good example to the other kids.  We'll see how that goes.  I am hoping he enjoys it more this year and has more interest in taking his time with his writing, coloring and other projects.  I saved a lot of his school work from last year (go figure huh!) so it'll be fun to compare his work to see how he has improved.  He has school Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings so we'll be up and moving earlier in the mornings than we are used to.  The sleeping in days are over for me too and i'm not sure who will be more cranky in the mornings, Boston or myself!  B finished up his soccer season on Sunday.  He showed up for the last day with one sock..  A new fashion trend?!

He will mad about these pictures some day..but they are cute now!  

 He thinks it's fun to take care of his 'own' baby. 

I asked him if I was the baby's grandma and he said 'No, your the babysitter'.  

Other than running Boston to and from school 3 days a week, I am also going to start helping with Story Hour during Coffee Break at our church a few Wednesday mornings a month.  My Wednesday evenings are full as well with GEMS twice a month (my 2nd year as a counselor!) and Bible Study with some girlfriends.  I have also spread the word about taking in some kids as 'drop in/back up' daycare.  I've watched 2 different little ones in the past week and really enjoyed it.  It's fun for my boys to have other little ones to play with here and there! 

My god-children Quincy(13) & Keeley(11) came and stayed with us for a night.  They live near Seattle, WA so we only get to see them once a year.  Boston didn't want them to leave!

 Quincy has a cell phone now so B had to have his play cell phone with him at all times.. just like Quincy!  They texted their girlfriends :)

Well, I best get some cleaning done while Brigham is down for his morning nap.  We are off to Yogi Bear camping this weekend!  I'm looking forward to getting away from home, even if it is only 15 minutes away :)   

Peek-a-boo Video!

Boston does a great job of entertaining Brigham!  He is always saying 'Mommy, I just love my baby brother!'  Here is a short video of  Boston playing Peek-a-boo with Brigham.  Brigham laughed so hard he had the hiccups for 10 minutes afterwards :)

Video Taken 8/18/2011

one of those days.

I recently had 'one of those days'...  A day when you are only awake an hour and already wish you could crawl back into bed, sleep a little bit longer, and than wake up to start the day over differently.  Thankfully these days are a rarity, but still...ugh.  Up until now, everyone reading my blog probably thought I lived in a perfect world as I rarely vent or whine on my blog.  I'm constantly posting pictures of my precious boys full of smiles, or sharing pictures and details of our fun families activities.  I don't know that I have ever blogged about a bad day or things that just down right annoy the hell out of me!
 
Last Monday I took Jaxon to the vet.  He was sick again with flared up allergies and another antibacterial infection.  Another unexpected bill (i hate that!) and 2 prescriptions later..  He is doing much better, but he's still not 100%.  Jaxon must know his days around this house may be nearing an end because he has really been on his best behavior since that vet appointment!  Derek hates the dog, so anytime I have to spend money on him I feel like I have to hide it from Derek, or bring it up when I know Derek has had a great day or is in an exceptional mood.  I did start to think though that maybe Jaxon would be better off in a different home, so I asked the vet about our options if his health didn't improve.  We are on a one person income here..and Jaxon isn't really figured into our budget.  The grooming, vet bills, allergy meds, and dog food expenses really add up.  It's like a 3rd child!  I did email a shitzu animal rescue group and got some more information about how the program works.  My love/hate relationship with my dog always brings up a ton of emotions when I think of not having him around, so we are giving it some more time.  Derek did say that he loved me more than he hated the dog, so if I couldn't part with him we could keep him around.  And just about the time I would start thinking about surrending Jaxon, I would catch one of these moments on camera.  I think this is their first official encounter and Brigham is almost 5 months old.  Jaxon really just minds his own business, but I couldn't ask for a better dog around the boys.  He just lays there and takes it all in. 

'Well hello there doggy.  Where have you been the last 5 months?!'

It's a stare off!

 Aww!

 Brigham is full of smiles for Jaxon!

I think people have a misconception of being a 'stay at home mom'.  Even I wasn't quite sure what the job all consisted of until I experienced it first hand.  Yes, I have maybe only had to set my alarm once all summer, but when I do have to roll out of bed it's not 'easy breezy, lemon squeezy'. (One of Boston's favorite lines!)  I have a list full of responsibilites besides just taking care of the boys.  This post started out with me whining about 'one of those days'..  It was basically built up exhaustion from all of these responsibities, and lack of just 'me time'.  Derek was home the morning of my melt down.  His one day off during the week and instead of enjoying it together he got to listen to me screaming at 7:30 AM and then grab my purse and storm out the door.  I was bawling and wondering where in the world I was going to go that damn early in the morning in my state of emotion!  Target & Hyvee it was... to tackle some of my 'responsibilities' and then I was home by 9:30.  :)

So I am really not sure where this post is supposed to go from here so I think I will wrap this up as it's taken me several days to get this far.  In a nutshell, my life isn't perfect.  I have my 'moments', and cry uncontrollably at times when I think everything is falling apart (when really it isn't!).  I worry about money, compare myself to others and want things that others have.  Derek and I argue about all the things normal married couples fight about and there are days that my boys drive me nuts. I lose sleep worrying over the craziest things. I'm normal, just like all of you reading my blog.  When i'm having 'one of those days', I take a few minutes to close my eyes and pray.  Not necessarily praying for whatever is bothering me to magically go away, but i'll pray for patience, pray that He will make me see that I have all I could ever need, or pray that I will handle the stress and frustration in a calmer manner than I sometimes do.  Next time you find yourself having 'one of those days' you should try it.  It works!

The weeks recap!

A recap of our week!

Tuesday:  Our fence is up!  I love it.  It's so nice to be able to let Jaxon roam in the backyard without being tied up to his leash, and also so nice to have that privacy! Next summer Brigham will be wandering all over the place so the gates in the back will be perfect for keeping him locked up!

 Boston had fun watching it go up!

Tuesday afternoon Boston's friend Josiah came over to play for a few hours.  He and Josiah were in the same preschool class this past year and got to be close friends.  They had a great time together!  Then on Tuesday evening we headed to the Sioux Empire fair and met up with my friend Jessica and her family.  Her son Karsen is the same age as Boston, so they have lots of fun together.  It was Boston's first carvinal experience and he loved it.  I was probably more nervous for him than he was for himself on a few of the rides!  I thought for sure he would be scared, or ride one ride and then not want to do it anymore.  He proved me wrong! 

Boston's first carnival ride!

 Boston & Karsen on the kid's roller coaster!

 And there they go!  I thought it was cute how they went right for the front seat when it was time to load up!

 This was one of Boston's favorite rides!  I think they ended up going on it 3 or 4 times!

 They giggled the entire time!

 Handsome boys!  I'm one lucky wife & mama!

 Boston's final ride.. The SkyWheel!  It was his idea!

 'Are ya sure you want to ride?  It goes up really high..'

He was sure!  He didn't cry but Derek said he held on so tight to the safety bar that his knuckles were white!

Friday:  My friend Stacy and her daughter Norah came over to visit & we made a trip to the zoo!  Boston always wants to check out the rhino's first.  He loves seeing how the big the baby rhino is getting.

 Brigham is a trooper where ever we go & so full of smiles! 

 Boston watching his other favorite animal..the giraffe!

Saturday:  We headed to my hometown for 'Looney Day's!  This is a day that the entire city looks forward to every year and it's still kind of fun to take part in it even though I haven't lived there in 10 years! 

The kids waiting for candy at the parade!

 Tavyn and Boston comparing candy bags!

I met up with 3 of my closest friends from High School at the parade.  Tara and I see each other quite a bit, but I hadn't met my friend Amanda's little boy Kroix yet (he and Brigham are 5 days apart!) so it was so fun to finally see him in person!  And then there's my friend Billie Jo..  I could dedicate an entire blog to our history and I may just do that someday..  but Billie and I hadn't seen each other in years.  It had been too long and it was so awesome to catch up and meet her daughter Jolie who turned 1 recently.  Here are all of our babies!

Tavyn & Mavik Sichmeller, Jolie Flatten, Savaeh Sichmeller and Kroix Larson,
Boston & Brigham.
 

I'm sure the next time we get the kids together for a picture like this we'll need a 2nd bench :)