A daddy-less weekend

Mike left Friday morning to go bow-hunting at Fort Ripley.  Friday night Amy and I took the kids and met Mylie and Jessica and Kari and Ben at the "Pumpkin Patch Carnival" at the elementary school in Albany.  They had lots of Halloween-related activities for the kids.  We started with eating, there was toy BINGO, but we decided to skip that (our kids would have never sat still long enough).  Then, we headed to the gym where they had lots of little activities set up.  Everything from art projects to a bounce house to face painting.  The kids had lots of fun and everyone cooperated. 

After we left the school, I took the boys to my parents' to get them into their pajamas and feed Tyson.   We were there just long enough for Tyler to dump out the dog water all over the floor, spread the newspapers all over the living room, and throw the dog's toy about 50 times causing him to bark and go crazy.  

By about 8:00 we were on the road, heading home. Tyler fell asleep on the way home, and I was able to put him right in his crib when we got home.  Kayden had just fallen asleep a few minutes before we pulled in the driveway.  So, I laid him on the couch (where he falls asleep every night) and within just a few minutes he was out.  Tyson, on the other hand was ready to go!  He had taken a short nap between the school and my parents' house and he was now, wide awake.  So, I put him in his bouncy seat and set him in the bathroom while I showered (I knew I wasn't going to have time to shower in the morning since I was on my own).  Even after that it took another bottle and lots of snuggles before he finally fell asleep at about 10:00.  

P.S.  I spoke too soon on the sleeping situation.  He's sleeping has been worse than ever (up 3 times a night).  I'll keep you posted on that.  

Saturday morning, we had breakfast, and the boys played while I did some laundry, and cleaned up a little while we waited for Leah and the girls to come over.  I must have heard at least twenty time, "Mommy, when's Sydney coming????"  Finally at lunchtime the girls were there, and the kids spent the afternoon playing and taking their naps.  

 Later in the afternoon, Amazih and Morgan came over to watch the kids while Leah, Rhonda, Amy and I went out to dinner at Fuji Steakhouse.  

By the time we got back, the kids were in their jammies, and we just had to work on getting them to bed.  All went well, and before 11:00, Leah and I were in bed too.  

It's always fun to have time for the kids to play, with no real agenda.  God knows, they'll get plenty of time together in the next two weekends with deer hunting coming up.  We always spend the first two weekends of deer hunting at Mike's parents house.  All goes well until Sunday afternoon usually.  That's when they are sick of each other, and tired and cranky and fighting.....we'll see.  

"Mommy, today's your birthday"

After I finally got the last rug-rat buckled in this morning, I pushed the backdoor of my car shut, and heard, "Happy Birthday Mommy".  Since I realized that I so rudely slammed the door as Kayden was trying to talk to me (and I kinda just wanted to hear him say it again) I said, "What did you say Kayden?".  With a little grin he said, as I climbed in the front seat, out of breath, "Mommy, today's your birthday".  

It is.  Today I am 28.  I used to think that 28 was kinda old.  But now that I'm here, I look at it a little differently.   People ask if we'll have any more kids. I always say, "Not any time soon". (Although, that's what I said after Tyler was born too).  I tell them that I feel like I'm young to be done having kids.  But, on the other hand, I do have 3 of them.

When I think about the past year---the time while I was 27---it's kind of a blur.  So much happened really.  

Just after I turned 27, I found out I was pregnant with Tyson.  Not only was I pregnant, but I was 17 weeks and 2 days pregnant.  (Picture my face, as I sat alone in the ultrasound room with the tech, expecting to hear somewhere between 5 and 8 weeks, which was what I had been told based on my blood work). 

While I was 27, my biggest baby turned 3.  My middle turned 1, and my littlest baby came into the world.  

While I was 27, we lost Mike's grandma, my Godmother, and my uncle.

While I was 27, I started my 3rd (and most likely final) year of teaching in a school where I am just starting to really get comfortable.

While I was 27, I decided to go back to working my Thursday night shift at the bowling alley.  I have been an employee there for about 6 years.  When I was pregnant with Tyler, I decided to just be a sub.  This fall, I decided to go back.  Working every-other Thursday night.  I decided to go back for a couple reasons.  One, we could use the extra money.  Two, it's time out of the house, with some adult interaction.  Three, I missed my job there.  I like the people, and it's usually kind of fun.  

Things have changed.  Good things have happened, scary things have happened, sad things have happened, but it all happened.  We can't change any of it.  All we can do is go forward and look forward to a year of being 28. 

It's coming....

The holidays are quickly approaching. Tomorrow is my birthday, Sunday is Halloween, then deer hunting, then Thanksgiving, and then it's Christmas. I've been starting to think about what I'll get the boys for Christmas. This is a struggle for me in many ways.
1. I like to shop. I tend to go a little overboard when it comes to my kids at Christmas time.
2. We don't have the funds to support my love of shopping.
3. The boys don't NEED much. Especially Tyler and Tyson( although I do want a Sophie the Giraffe for him). We have plenty of toys for kids their age. Remember, I have a shopping addiction, so I bought all of those things when Kayden was their age.
4. I want my kids to remember what this season is really about. Not that it is all about getting presents and eating. I haven't done a very good job of this in the past--although Kayden was a little young to understand. This year though, that is my goal.
There has been discussion with my family of my parents, rather than getting everyone lots of presents, that they would take us all to a waterpark type place for a weekend. I am loving this idea. I'm starting to realize that my kids need experiences more than they need things. Hopefully this will be the route we go this year.
Another thing I've been struggling with this year is our Christmas card. In the past, I've just sent out the typical photocard. This year, I'm considering a letter. Do I have enough to write about? Do people want to read about what has happened in the past year with our family? Maybe I should just send the regular photocard, and sign it with our blog address =)
The other thing that becomes a struggle almost every year is scheduling time to be with each of our families. Now that some of us are married, others have boyfriends/girlfriends,work schedules, etc. it often becomes difficult to find a time that we are able to get together. My dad had to work on Christmas day last year, and he does again this year. It'll be interesting. It always works out though....

Alle-fricken-lujah!!!

I think the ears were the problem! I hope I'm not jumping the gun here, but the past two nights, Tyson has woken up just once!!!! It's amazing! I hope this is the start of something good! Pray for us =)

Girl's Weekend

This past weekend was my "Fall Girls' Weekend". Friday morning, I dropped the boys off at daycare then went home and met Amy and my cousin Tammy. By 10:00 a.m. we were on our way! We met the rest of the crew in Maple Grove to see a cheap movie (Eat, Pray, Love). The movie was, eh. But it was fun. We had a few good laughs. After the movie we headed to Champps for drinks and appetizers, and then it was off to Albertville. We spent the late afternoon/evening shopping before we headed to our hotel to order pizza.
Saturday we slept in, had breakfast at the hotel, then headed to "The General Store" in Minnetonka. If you've never been there, you should definitely check it out. It's always a "must-stop" for us around Christmas time. We had lunch there, and then headed to "T-SPA". This is a beauty school. We had appointments for manicures/pedicures. We went this route because we thought it'd be cheaper than going to a fancy nail salon. Let me tell you---this was an experience. We all have our own story to tell about our experience. There is lots to laugh about now, but we most likely will not be going back there again. I'll just say that it's now Monday, and I have already removed the nail polish that was supposed to last 4 to 6 weeks =)
After the nail salon experience, we headed back to the hotel to relax for a bit. By relax, I mean stuff our faces and show off all of our purchases. While we sat around, we decided it might be fun to go to Ikea. A few of the girls had never been there so we freshened up and headed out. We each found a few things at Ikea, nothing spectacular, but it's always fun just to walk around there.
After Ikea we had dinner at Axel's Bonfire. This was another interesting experience. The food was just ok (Holli and I ordered the same thing, and when we got it, it was not what either of us had pictured). One of us (I won't use names) almost threw up on the table after taking a bite of garlic toast that tasted and smelled like dead fish, we watched a blind date happening, and we watched a couple in their 70's seduce each other--when our laughter became uncontrollable and extremely obvious, we decided it was time for us to leave. We headed back to our hotel to relax for the evening before getting ready to head home Sunday morning. All in all, it was a fun, relaxing weekend. Lots of laughs and memories. I can't wait for March when we get to go scrapbooking. Although, I've told my fellow scrappers that they should maybe not even talk to me for the 2 1/2 days we're there because I have A LOT to scrap!!!

Diagnosis: Ear infections

Thursday morning, Tyson had his 6 month check up. I mentioned to the doctor right away that I thought his right ear might be infected. I had been seeing him grab at it etc. When she went in to check his ears, he had lots of wax (all of my boys do). She did say that having a wax problem is genetic---weird. So, she used her little tool to try to dig it out so that she could see enough to tell if he had an infection. Apparently his wax is not gooey and in clumps like most people's, but it's real flakey and hard to "grab". So after a few minutes of her digging around and him screaming, she decided to check his other ear first. She figured if that one was infected, then it didn't matter if the first one was or not, she'd be treating him anyway. So, turns out---ear infection. So, off to Target we went to pick up Tyson's very first anti-biotic(the first of many I'm sure).
I can't remember his "stats" off the top of my head, other than his weight, which was 18 pounds 3 ounces. A healthy(other than ear infections), smiley little boy, meeting all of his milestones (other than sleeping through the night).
After the 10:00 doctor appointment we headed to Target to pick up the prescription and diapers, etc. before his 11:40 picture appointment. Picture appointment right after shots---mistake. Poor thing was exhausted. I had to wake him up for pictures. I got him in his little jeans and white shirt (the standard 6 month picture outfit for my boys). Then he puked all over it. So....I had to put him back in the used-to-be white shirt that he was wearing under his t-shirt earlier in the day, and left him in the slightly damp jeans. There were at least 20 people (15 of them 5 and under) in the JCPenney picture studio waiting area. Kids screaming, whining, running around like they're crazy. Mom's yelling, toys flying. Annoying. It was finally our turn. Tyson didn't cry, but he didn't smile a lot either. This was partially due to the crappy photographer we had. So, we got a few "ok" pictures, I ordered what I needed, and we moved on. I still needed to get to the grocery store, take the groceries home and then head to Albany to pick up Kayden and Tyler from Grammy's house where they spent the morning with Grandpa. (I'm trying to figure out how I can post those pictures, but they changed their website and I haven't figured it out yet).

Hoping for ear infection????

I'm pooped. Tyson hasn't been sleeping well at all. We stayed at Mike's parents' house on Saturday night. I put him to bed at about 9:30. He was up at 11:00, 2:00, 5:00 and 6:00. AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Of course when he woke up at 6:00, he woke up Tyler. Tyler's crying woke up Sydney, and then we were up. Grandma and I and the three kiddos. Since he (Tyson) was up so early, and didn't sleep well during the night I thought I'd be able to get at least one good nap out of him on Sunday. I thought wrong. He wouldn't nap. He'd fall asleep, but as soon as I'd lay him down, he'd wake up. He's been spitting up even more than usual. He had his biggest poop ever. He's wearing me out.
He goes in for his 6-month appointment on Thursday (yes, this is what I do with my rare days off from September through May--doctor appointments). I am sort of not-so-secretly hoping he has an ear infection or something. I'm hoping there is a reason for this ridiculous behavior! If I find out he's fine, I don't know what I'll try next. Maybe I'll go back to Gripe Water???? Maybe I'll disappear on my Girls' Weekend. That's what I'll do. I'll leave Friday, and come back sometime Sunday.