Orgaments

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

This morning Jade was asking if she could put a little tree I have as extra decoration in her room. I said sure and she then asked if she could put her special orgaments on it. I asked, what are they called, just to hear it again, and she said (seriously) orgaments. Too funny. I think I'll let her say that for a while before I tell her it's ornaments. 

We're all doing great. We're healthy and really enjoying the season. A friend changed my outlook of winter about 3 years ago now by telling me that she thought of winter as "cozy". It's amazing what one word can do because ever since then I just bundle up and enjoy. There are days but for the most part I am not the terrible witch all season long like I used to be . . . Gary's now taken up that role! ha! I can't blame him though if I had to work outside in it everyday I'd probably hate it too.

This week at school Jade is the "quality kid" which means she gets to do special tasks and a poster all about her was hung up. We put the pictures from the wedding on it and she couldn't wait to show everyone! The question what's your favorite animal - a dog. What's your favorite thing to do - watch TV and play with my toys. Favorite color - blue. What do you want to be when you grow up - a horse rider lady. Now today I'm going to read a book to her class. It's one she got from the advent calendar I've been doing this year. . .A Merry Marley Christmas. About a naughty dog. She loves it. And I'm going to surprise her by having lunch with her today. 

I'm counting down the days until we leave for Florida! I can't wait!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

More pictures of Jade and Gary and myself at the wedding! Thanks to Melissa for sending me these photos.

Our life is incredibly blessed. Not only do we have food, shelter, clothes and jobs . . . the basics. We have been given much more. An amazing family who is supportive and strong. We are surrounded by the love of family near and far and friends that are near and far. 

Speaking of friends, I have made some of the dearest friends in my life in the last year as well as strengthened long time friendships. . . for a girl who had never lived anywhere more than 3 to 4 years these friendships are a treasure more than anyone can understand. Thank you to all the girlfriends who have blessed my life.

I am blessed to be able to do what I love which is take care of my family as well as pursue other interests and this all thanks to an amazing husband. He is not only HOT! Ha! He's a hard worker who would do and does do anything for his girls! This is something I don't know that I've told a lot of people but I started praying for my husband when I was very young. I did it quietly in my thoughts. I don't know why or how I thought to do this but those prayers paid off because I have been given an amazing partner, friend and love to spend the rest of my life with. 

 As I sit hear and try to find the words to express how grateful I am for all I have in my life,  my cup runneth over . . . seriously when we change the focus from the negative to the positive and blessing . . . it becomes all you see and you realize that your life is better than you ever dreamed possible. I give all the glory to God. He is teaching me that if I come to him with praise and thanksgiving, even in the tough times, He in return (no matter what's happening in my life) will give me PEACE and an underlying JOY that I don't know how to express in words.

Happy Thanksgiving! I love you.

Jade at the Costume Parade

Monday, November 17, 2008

Sorry not a very good movie - kind of blurry! Can you hear me!? I wanted to make sure Jade knew we came to see her!

Major Slacking

Hi - sorry it's been so long since I've written. Have I said this a few million times on this blog already?. . .I can't believe how fast time goes! Next week is THANKSGIVING! What?! Yeah, that's right - the "Holidays" are here! I'm dazed.

Jade and I went to the Old Log Theater with her class today to see the Elves and the Shoemaker. Very cute little play. As we were watching Jade started to get antsy and was moving the squeaky, movie theater like seat back and forth. It was apparently annoying and one of the volunteers from her class said "Jade!" and she immediately stopped. I was embarrassed because I didn't even notice it. Oops! After the play Mrs. Olstad wanted to take pictures of the kids with the cast and just the way Jade looked at them and would have no part pictures - I'm sure she was thinking "not with those weirdo's." 

Well Jade's getting off the bus. Just wanted to put something down. I'll try and upload the little movie of her walking in her costume at the School parade. Ha! nothing like putting photo's and movies on from a month ago. . . . okay check back.

Happy Harvest!

Friday, October 31, 2008

Okay so I'm not a big fan of "Haloween" I don't like all the scary, evil stuff. Dressing up is fun and I only wish there was another reason to do it! Tonight we are going to our Church's version of Trick or Treating and it's called Trunk or Treat. Everyone will back their cars in and open their decorated trunks and the kids go from trunk to trunk for their treats! No scary nothin'! We haven't been to this before but I'm really looking forward to it. Sounds like afterwards the youth band plays and everyone rocks out. 

Jade went to school in her costume today. They've been practicing Halloween songs for a month or more now and they went to an retirement community home to sing. How cute! Later at the school there is a Halloween costumer parade. I'll get pictures. Jade was so excited to be a dragon again this year. And I'm beside myself thrilled because it didn't cost us anything . . . it's the same costume she wore last year! woohoo! Wonder if we can get away with that a third year in a row?! Ha!

Okay now for pictures of the wedding we attended last Saturday. Everyone had a grand time and Jade pretty much thought the entire day was about her - sorry Melissa! It was great . . . I just love weddings and all they stand for . . .  family, new beginnings, life, good times and sticking through the bad. Melissa and Lincoln make a beautiful couple . . . but I guess I was a bit obsessed with taking pictures of Jade because I have none of them. OOps! That's why they hired a professional. Oh and wait until I get the copies of and share the pictures the pros took . . . tears! So here's our girl - she looks so beautiful. Makes my heart hurt. We are blessed.

Jade took it upon herself to sign the guest book!

Her signiture! I couldn't stand it - I have never seen her sign her name like this before. She knew it was special book. So cool!

Oh ya, Gary was in the wedding too. Isn't he handsome!

The back of her dress

And I have to add this little video shot of Jade after the wedding! Such a happy kid! When she asks oh so patiently (not!) "where are they?" She asking about Uncle Dean, Aunt LeeAnn, Whitney and Gracie who she was going to have a sleep over with after the reception. Thanks for hanging with her guys! Gary and I had a (much needed) fun evening.

And quickly - Ellie's back in the hospital. Pray for a quick recovery and this nasty cold plaguing every GOES AWAY! 

Cold Season

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Cold season is here and I have my first one. I'm sure I caught it from my darling daughter, who, thank God, seems to be getting over hers. Last Wednesday I volunteered in her class for a few hours and it sounded a little bit like I was sitting in an urgent care waiting room. All the sniffles, coughing and sneezing. How do teachers stay healthy?

Gary is in the process of avoiding me like the plague. I think if it weren't so far to drive he'd go stay with his parents when we're sick. It's kind of funny because he walks way around me to avoid even being in the same air space. I'm not going to complain though! It gets me out of having to do things! Hee, Hee! 

This is a funny picture of Gary attempting to do Jades hair last Saturday. I had to show him how to use a hair binder of all things!

Alrighty, I'm off to take an Epsom salt bath and go to bed. 

Don't forget to check in on Ellie . . . it sounds like she did well and God is being glorified in many ways. I know I don't have to ask but it makes me feel better to do so. . . please continue to pray boldly. If you wouldn't mind throwing up a few prayers for my cold and glum mood that'd be appreciated too. We have a big weekend coming up and I want to be at my best!

Pikin' Punkins

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Here's a movie of Jade out picking pumpkins - kind of goes back to an entry from below. 

Make sure to read down a few entries - I did a lot tonight! And I'm saving some for later. ;>)

Train Chasing

A few weeks ago, a few hours before we went to "court" about Gary's work comp claim, Gary and I went train chasing. Here is the train we waited to see for about 30 minutes. Its was a big deal to see because it's one of the biggest steam local motives (or train as I know it) still running. And Gary is standing here and would like me to add it's called the Challenger. It used to be coal now it's converted to diesel. AND NOW back to my story . . . it went by so quickly that we decided to try and see it at the next stop. We hopped in our car and raced to the next intersection a few miles away and we just missed it so we sped further down the line to the next intersection and missed it again! By this time it was late and we had to go home and get ready for court but what fun! Gary, his dad and brother Leo had done this a few years ago with this same train. If I had known what fun I missed out on I would've gone along!

Sharing

So tonight we went through the McDonalds drive through. And they forgot to give Gary his french fries. BUT we were on our way to the St. Peter/LeSueur Foot Ball game and we were running late so we (I) decided there was no time to turn around. Jade heard us grumbling about missing the salty goodness of our french fries when she says, "here you go mommy you can have some fries." And she hands me two nice sized fries. As we travel a little further down the road Gary decides to ask Jade, "honey, can I have some of your french fries?" To which she replies, "sure!" and hands him ONE. Ha! Cracks me up every time. Her idea of sharing is a bit warped. . .but she's just a little girl living in an adult world! 

You have to look very closely at this photo. It was chalk drawing of a unicorn Jade did on the driveway. Yes Gary finally lets her use chalk on the driveway! ha! Anyway I was very impressed with this. She's been a little creative bee lately. Even when she's watching TV she's got a pen and paper in hand drawing or writing. She's learned how to spell mine and Gary's names and writes them (mostly mine!) all over everything. When she writes my name it's usually surrounded by lots of hearts.

This was a duck she made using paper and post-it notes. See the green eyes, the bill and the wings and it's ruffled tail with slits in the paper to resemble feathers? Quite creative.

The next few photos were taken one night when we were bored. Jade likes "posing" for the camera.

Update

Saturday, October 11, 2008

You can read Ellie's blog but the information from the MRI was not good. I refuse to accept this as gospel and will continue to expect a miracle. I don't know what else to say. We are confused and tired and we're just her aunt and uncle. Niki and Pat are such pillars of strength with what they face every day - that in and of itself is a miracle.

Jade, Ellie, Desi and Ashley all hung out together for a sleep over on Friday and into Saturday. Aunt Gloria took all of these glorious girls on (brave woman!) and Jade had a blast. . .they watched movies, made crafts, went to a punkin patch, ate at Culvers (I told Glo to be careful with giving Jade sugar! ha!). Wow.  I love that she gets to spend time with her cousins and aunts. It is so important, especially since she will most likely always be an only child. 

I know I owe everyone pictures and I will get them posted but it's late and I'm tired. Perhaps tomorrow. Thanks everyone for checking in even though the updates have been somewhat infrequent. 

I love you all.

Please pray Boldly for my Niece Ellie

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

My niece Ellie will undergo another MRI tomorrow and I feel compelled to pray boldly so that we don't bow to the spirit of fear and doubt . . .  Adopted from the book Prayers that avail much - Lets all pray like this: Father, we come before you boldly and confidently, knowing that you are not a man that You should lie and that You watch over Your Word to perform it. Therefore, father, we bring before You, Ellie. Father, by the authority of Your word, we know without a doubt that it is Your will for Ellie to be made completely whole and restored in the name of Jesus. Although satan, the god of this world, comes against Your handiwork, we know you are the God of miracles, the God of love, power and might. Through Your redemptive plan, we are redeemed from the curse of the law. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. Ellie, Niki, Pat, Desi and Cole are seated with Christ in heavenly places far above all satanic forces. We bring those who have been attacked mercilessly before Your throne of grace. We intercede on their behalf, and for their families and loved ones. We proclaim the victory of Jesus won at Calvary when He disarmed the principalities and powers that were waged against us. We believe that everyone who has the opportunity this day to make Jesus their Lord and Saviour will call upon His name and be saved. WE bind their spirits, souls and bodies to the will of God to the blood of Jesus, to mercy, grace and truth. We destroy strongholds of unforgiveness, fear, and distrust. In the name of Jesus, we loose unbelief, fear, discouragement, tradition, depression and oppression from the minds of Niki and Pat, Ellie and all people involved. Father, we speak words of life and say that Ellie shall live in victory in this life and not die. We speak perfect soundness of mind and wholeness in body and spirit. We say demons are cast out, bowing to the name of Jesus. We speak deliverance to Ellie's body and mind for You Lord God are the Help of her countenance and the Lifter of those bowed down - the joy of the Lord is their strength and stronghold! We commission God's ministering spirits to go forth as they hearken to God's Word to provide the necessary help and assistance to those for whom we are praying! Father, no word of Yours is void of the power that it takes to cause itself to come to pass! We establish Your Word on this earth, for it is already forever settled in heaven. Nothing is too hard or impossible for You. All things are possible to us who believe. We pray for more intercessor to stand with us. Let our prayers be set forth as incense before You, a sweet fragrance for You! Praise the Lord! In Your name we pray, amen.

. . . . . .

Monday, October 06, 2008

Why do I always have so much trouble thinking of a title? So tonight I'm going to skip it. . .

An update to last Tuesday: there isn't one. We don't know if we won or lost our case. I do know that was one of the most stressful things Gary and I have ever done. To sit there and watch him be drilled for two hours on something that happened nearly 5 years ago - it brought me to tears. We both held it together though and Gary did well. I don't want to delve to far into negativity and complaining. We have other options to pursue going forward . . . all in an effort to make sure that Gary is taken care of long term.

Compared to that the rest of our week was non-eventful. Friday night we watched our nephew play football it was their homecoming game. That was fun to see all the kids running around painted, wearing jerseys and acting kind of crazy! Did I ever act like that?! Then Saturday we went to my brother-in-law, Gerald's, farm and watched the guys trap shoot. What a blast! And guess what?! I got to try it! It was so cool - I think I'm hooked. I may just have to try pheasant hunting next! And we surely have to find the closest shooting range. Neat! And Sunday we went to New Day and watched as our youngest nephew, Coleson, was dedicated to the Lord. Worship rocked, the message was one I greatly needed to hear . . . it was a spirit filled day! 

Tonight we took Jade to get some punkins (as she says it) at Jim's Apple Farm. I took a video but will have to upload it later. We weren't there very long because it was close to closing time but in Jade fashion she ran right in and got down to the business of pickin' punkins. She was very excited partly because I think she knows that her parents can't go to Jim's without buying a caramel apple pie and a few other treats. Their pies are some of the best I've ever had. When you pick it out and put it in the box it's still warm. If you've never been you absolutely have to stop out before the season ends . . .  it's a magical place!

We're still here

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

I know it's been a few days since I posted last. I told my mom last night that I had writers block! We really haven't been that busy but I have had a busy mind lately. Sometimes I wish I could just shut it off for a little while!

Many of you know our house has been for sale for quite some time now. Well as of tomorrow it officially goes off the market. We had hopes of moving out of Jordan and getting closer to New Market which is a town where I have lots of friends, family, we go to church and Jade attends AWANA.  It's quite a bit closer to conveniences as well. But it must not be in Gods will just yet. I guess looking at all that's going on in the real world why would we want to move right now? But, you know me, I get something in my head and I like to see it through! 

Jade started AWANA through our church a couple of weeks ago. Every Wednesday she goes and learns about God's love for her. She loves it and it's such a good time for all the kids. Right now she is working on memorizing John 3:16. It's amazing what she can do when she puts her mind to it. I thought it'd be hard but she's doing it and I think "why do I always underestimate her?"!

Kindergarten is amazing. What she learns in the course of week is astounding. Yesterday when she got home I asked her what her favorite part of the day was and she replied, "playing outside and math!" Can you believe it? Math? That's fabulous.

We were having some issues with a couple of classmates but those things seem to be resolving themselves with A LOT of prayer and as time goes on. I know it certainly isn't my worrying that has made it better. What I've realized though is the good that's come from this challenge - I probably would have never thought to cover my child in prayer all day long while she was in school but it has caused me to do just that and I've realized that even when everything is going great praying for her throughout the day is what I need to do.

Speaking of praying, Gary and I, go to trial today to hopefully see this Work Comp debacle to bed! We have been fighting for 4 long years. Please say a little prayer for us today. . . we will be victorious and be reimbursed our medical expenses and mileage!

With that I'll sign off. I'll try to post an update later today as well as pictures of Jade.

Questions. . .

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Mamma, why is the sky blue?

Mamma, where is Mr. Sun?

Mamma, why is Mr. Sun in the sky?

Mamma, why are there clouds?

Mamma, why are they white?

Mamma, where is Mr. Moon?

Mamma, what is our tongue made out of?

Mamma, what's muscle?

Mamma, what's a beins (veins)? 

Mamma, why do we need tongues?

Mamma, can spiders eat us?

Mamma, what do spiders eat?

Mamma, why do bees sting?

Mamma, can spiders eat bees?

Mamma, who were you talking to?

Mamma, do I know that person?

Mamma, what do eyeballs smell like?

Mamma, where does poop come from?

Mamma, Mamma, Mamma

What's the prayer? . . . Lord give me patience to deal with my blessing! :)

Innocence

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Today when Jade got home her eyes looked a bit red so I asked her if she'd been crying. She said that she had and when I asked why she told me. . .Her and a friend had gotten into a fight over a toy truck. The teacher (sounds like they may have had a substitute today) made Jade and her friend put their heads down during play time. The innocence is that she told me she did something wrong and because I'd rather hear about that stuff than have her hide it from me I didn't get upset I just asked her if that's how she thought she should do things next time. Of course the answer was no. My sweetie - breaks my heart to know that she was reprimanded by someone else but I also know that it was appropriate, necessary and missing out on play time is a HUGE motivator to make different choices next time. I told Mrs. Olstad now that she has my kid in your class she's my new best friend! I'm sure she'll be sick of me by the end of the year! 

Being into my second week of no kiddo with lots of "free time" and can I ask, where does the time go? I have stayed very busy and every day that she's in school I feel like it's my last without child so I have to get it all done. So by the end of the day I am exhausted! I suppose it'll dawn on me soon that I have time to do things and I will start to space them out better. So far I've worked out everyday like I planned and that feels awesome and I've tried to make my staying home as nice for Gary as possible by making his lunch, dinner ready when he gets home and all the other "stuff" that life entails. He has been very gracious (for the most part, ha!). It feels like we've been doing this forever. I really enjoy taking care of my family. 

Music to my ears!

Monday, September 08, 2008

School is hard work

I know school is hard work because last week we started dealing with a lot of emotions, whining and sassing. . .all classic signs of an exhausted kid. We've had to move Jade's bed time up an hour. Yay me! Just think of everything these little ones need to do to spend all day in Kindergarten. Not only are they learning academics, almost every concept is new. . . they are meeting new people, learning how to make new friends, learning to trust, learning new rules and the consequences of not following them. They are also learning how to get over fears and move through them. 

This makes me think of Jades fear of automatic flushing toilets. The child hasn't liked the sound of a toilet flushing since she potty trained at 2 and a half and as a result to this day does not flush the toilet. BUT an automatic flusher is a beast! You sit helplessly on the toilet when it suddenly flushes without warning you - they kind of scare me.  Anyway JES has automatic flushers. This was just one of the things I was concerned about so I showed Jade how to put a piece of toilet paper over the flusher and then move it when she was done. Well Mrs. Olstad told me that Jade explained her fear and what I had taught her but she had an even better idea! She gave Jade a packet of sticky notes to cover up the flusher when she goes to the restroom. What a great idea. And Mrs. Olstad says she's a champ, only needed to be told once and hasn't made an issue of it since!

So if all of this progress is accompanied by a little sassy, whiny behavior when she gets home I'll take it (doesn't mean I like it!). I would rather her do it here than at school. That's a lesson I learned from my sister-in-law, LeeAnn, and her daughter Gracie!

Funny!

Sunday, September 07, 2008

We call the funny things Jade says Jade-isms. Like her calling Vanilla ice cream Danilla. Or how she says TD instead of TV. We usually revel in the cuteness of it for a short while before we bother correcting her but we eventually do. She also says some pretty funny things as kids do. The other night she was eating ice cream and she said, "this is oh my gracious yummy!" We hadn't heard that one before and it made us laugh. She's coined goodlicious! 

They make us smile and here's a new one from this morning!

Me: How are you doing my dumpling?

Jade: I'm not your dunkling!

LOL! That's put a smile on my face for the day. 

First/Second Day Part 2

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Yesterday Gary and I did make it to the movies. We saw Step Brothers! It was hilarious!  A bit vulgar but rolling in the isles funny. After that it was time to come home and see our girl get off the bus! Here she is:

She yelled, "HI Mom!" and then she says "Can I have a friend over?" And if I've talked to any of you in the last couple of months you'll know that this is the dreaded question. She started asking me this question as soon as she would get up in the morning, all summer, and she would continue to ask throughout the day, every day, until I lined up a play-date. I dreaded hearing this question everyday because there were a lot of days this summer when there were no play-dates to be had and it was so upsetting to me that some how I was failing my daughter. She just has to be the most outgoing and energetic child of the century! Anyway that might also explain part of the reason I was ecstatic for kindergarten to start. So yesterday there was no play time with friends BUT today she had her buddies, Emmy and Noah, over after school! 

It's weird because once they left and we ate dinner (she ate all of her dinner!) she has since been playing contentedly by herself in the living room! Who are you and what have you done to my child? Eating dinner without a fight and all of it? Playing by herself? This is not a compliant,  I love it. She suddenly, in the matter of two days, seems like she's aged years and is no longer a little girl. Is this change permanent? I'll keep you posted. 

She's eating all of her lunch and taking from the snack cart - I am just so impressed. All of these things I have been agonizing over all summer and she acts like she's been going to school forever! I have to share that Jade's teacher left us a message last night (I think all of Mrs. Olstad's parents got a call) while we were out to dinner. She said that Jade had a great day at school and that she did an awesome job! That she was happy, smiley and bee bopping  along all day doing what they did! Doesn't that just describe her to a tee? Smiley, happy and bee bopping! . . . I knew she had Gary's perma-grin! I'll say it again . . . I'm very proud of her.

Here's a little video of her getting home yesterday. I was a bit of a pest, I guess, with all the questions I kept asking. Notice the snotty or "big woman on campus" tone she suddenly has. . . .I thought it was a bit funny, like she's just this big grown up now. Anyway we had a talk about it and she was much better today when she got home. 

First Day Part 1

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

She's off and running! She was so excited this morning and so am I! What a big girl and she looks so pretty and grown up. We drove her to school and she'll take the bus home. I wasn't the only obsessive parent there with a camera of some sort in their child's face! Jade kept asking, "MOM!, When are you going to put that thing away?!" Ha! I'm already embarrassing her and I LOVE it!

Dressed and Ready!

Being goofy because I wanted to take so many pictures!

Ahhh! The picture with the face I wanted to capture. 

"MOM! When are you going to stop!"

A Self Picture was needed.

Jade and Emmy one of her close girlfriends.
Jade and Mrs. Olstad

Seated and ready. So proud of her!

Gary's gonna kick me when he see's this but it's too funny! This is his special way of telling me it's time to put the camera away! ha, ha! After we dropped Jade off we went and got a coffee. Now we're on our own to celebrate my birthday! Yay! I'm thinking maybe a movie! How cool.

So I will post later today as she gets off the bus!

Tomorrows the Big Day!

Monday, September 01, 2008

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day and weekend. Ours was awesome! . . . Full to the last hours!

Friday we watched our nephews, Cody and Josh and Joe play their first football game of the season in St. Peter. They all played well and it was fun cheering them on giving me a great reason to act like a complete goof-ball! (as if I need one) 

Saturday we went to the Renaissance Festival with our niece and nephews. We ate our fill of junk, laughed at our fill of comedy and experienced all the interesting characters we could stand. I just love the Ren Fest! Normally I dress up in costume but this year decided to wear only my horns which meant that I walked around all day with the Renaissance people saying "look at that lass - she's horny!" After the Renaissance Festival we decided to go to the Mall of America because we weren't ready for the day to end. We walked around and ate at Tony Roma's. A great time was had by all!

Sunday we celebrated Grandma and Grandpa Willaert's 50th Anniversary in Mankato at Brey Park. More good eating and company. Family celebrations with the Willaert's are always BIG. With 22 grandkids, sisters, brothers and spouses we keep each other on our toes!  And today we were planning to get to the state fair but pooped out at the last minute. Instead we hung out at home and then ventured over to Niki and Pat's for a couple of hours. We missed them so much while they were at Disney last week we had to let the girls get some more play time in before school started. Speaking of the girls, our niece, Ellie is doing amazing. I've put a link to her website in the sidebar if you'd like to check in on her.

And with all the activity this weekend I am sad to say that I didn't have a camera with me so I have no pictures of our good times. I will have the camera ready tomorrow!

So Jade is in bed now, school clothes are laid out and her lunch is made. I can't explain how I'm feeling right now. I'm excited for this milestone but I'm also feeling sad?, anxious? . . . she's been my sidekick for the last 5 years . . . what will I do without my girl around all day? And now there's going to be this outside force in her life that will play a part in molding her. God watch over all of these sweet babies as they venture out into the world tomorrow. She is such a blessing to us and we love her so much.

Meeting the Teacher

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

We got to meet Jade's teacher today. We actually went in early for a little personal time rather than going during the mass chaos of the evening. Mrs. Olstad was great! I got to ask all my questions about the bus and lunch and the snack cart. Oh and lets not forget about the really important question. . . what's the latest I can get her to school?!  As it turns out I have 15 minutes more than I thought I had which, with as distracted as I get, will be great.  Seriously, I'd sit down to check email or read blogs (the important stuff!) while Jade watched her programs and before I knew it we'd be late for preschool. Oops! Well I know that won't fly with Kindergarten so no email before I drop her

 off. . . 

I've been meaning to start a schedule of putting her to be at 8:30, waking up at 6 for some personal time and then getting Jade up at 7. The getting her to bed at 8:30 is a piece of cake - there's real motivation to get her into bed by then - so I can go to bed too! But the 6 and 7 am wake up hasn't happened . . . mostly because I'm not ready to give up sleeping in. I shouldn't complain because I know there are many out there who don't get this luxury but I do and it is a LUXURY and I've been taking advantage of it ever since she started sleeping past 6:30 earlier this spring! I don't know what happened but the first time Gary and I got to sleep until 9 we were ecstatic.

Photo's from this summer

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Summer seemed to start late here in the frozen north. . .it was cold and rainy for the most of May and if I remember correctly most of June as well (can't expect me to remember 2 months ago . . . it IS the end of August!). But when the 4th hit it was game on and we've had a ton of fun squeezing every once out of our favorite time of year! 

Mothers Day

Jade's preschool graduation

Watching the horses at Canterbury Park

The 4th of July

Our niece Brooke, Gary and I on the 4th of July

Jade going on her first big kid ride with cousins Josh and Kaitlyn at the St. Peter Fair

St. Peter Fair Tractor Pull - "Green Power and Black Smoke!"

Here goes . . .

I've wanted to start a blog for quite some time now but haven't sat down to take the time. Besides figuring out a title and blog address and trying to be original and creative and ug!! Way too much for this over-thinker to figure out. BUT with Jade starting school in a week I figured it was time to get over myself and start! So here goes family - Enjoy!