Good Bye 2008 and Good Riddance!

Odd way to title my last blog for the year but in my eyes very fitting. It has been a year of loss and a year of many new additions. On December 23rd my last grandparent died. My Grandpa Ray ended an era for me. So this past weekend my dad's entire family was together to celebrate his life as well as Christmas. The irony of it all is that Christmas was absolutely my grandma's favorite holiday. I was out at Leslie's when my uncle called to tell me he was in the hospital. I asked if it was anything serious he replied no. No big deal we went on to decorate cookies with the boys, I think they ate more than they decorated. Alex even took down two with no problem. I brought the boys back to town and went back out to Leslie's later for a girls reunion with Kristin, Amanda, and Kelly. We were having a lot of fun, maybe too much but I went to grab my phone and saw that I had missed six calls. I knew he had passed. I called my Uncle Jeff and he was crying, I felt guilty because I was not sad. I was happy for my grandpa, relieved that he was finally not uncomfortable and missing his wife. My grandparents did not by any means have the happiest marriage but in my grandfathers eyes she was his life. My girlfriends were the perfect people for me to be with that night. They all understood what kind of relationships I hold dear to my heart. They understand me. It was comforting to be with them, it was like it really did not happen. Reality eventually set it.



The next day was the wake. Erik stayed home with the boys because they were all three not feeling well. I went to the church, saw my grandpa, felt numb. Really still felt content in the fact that he was old, he had lived his life, and now was much happier with my grandma. Saturday was the funeral. First of all we got there and Anthony walked up to the casket with me. We walked to the coat closet to put away all of our belongings. Erik and I are focused on getting Alex's coat off and situated. I look down and Anthony is sobbing. Not for attention but out of true sorrow and grief. He is crying and repeatedly saying,"But I loved my grandpa." He was inconsolable for almost 2o minutes. Me still feeling fine with everything.



The service is about to start and I am casually looking through old photos of my grandparents. Quickly realizing that at any event big or small whether it is a birthday party, baptism, 40th or 50th Anniversary I am there with them. Not just in the crowd but right next to them. If I am not sitting directly to the right of my grandma I am as close as I can possibly be to them. Now this isn't in a handful of pictures, this is my life slowly replaying. At all my family gatherings I was with my grandparents, they were my side kicks, we laughed, played cards, I would refill their Pepsi's. Now I am sad, my heart is broken, and do not want anyone to see me sad. That is another thing I have realized about myself. I am very uncomfortable feeling vulnerable in front of people. Whether that is my family, friends, husband, or children. Pretty much makes my skin crawl.



Well today it is all over. My dad and his siblings were joking that they were now orphans (you have to know my family-they are seriously twisted-but I love them) and in certain respects I feel like an orphaned grandchild. But I am truly grateful to have the run I had with them. I can almost hear them cheering me on from heaven, I will not disappoint them.



On a funny side note my Uncle Jeff is definitely the organizer, etc. He is per say the Director of Operations of the Capouch Family- sans his real job is Director of Operations at Noridian. He RARELY makes any type of mistake- I am not kidding. On the day of the funeral he went to put his suit of for the service. Quickly realizing that his pants are a foot too short-he is panicking- he puts his suit coat on and realizes that is coat is also too small. He had two suits on Wednesday in his car- one for my grandpa and his. Needless to say my grandpa was buried in Jeff's suit and knowing my grandpa he is laughing all the way.

Love Clay Your Way...

Saturday Anthony and I spent the day together. Just the two of us and it was so wonderful. He is hilarious! We started our day off at Clay Your Way to make some Christmas projects. We made some really fun pieces and I cannot wait for everyone to open up their special presents from Anthony. He could not wait to finish one project to move onto the next. Afterwards I took him out to HuHot. He loved it, great place for kids. It was nice just the two of us.

Resolutions so far...

1. Purchased from only small businesses so far (basically if you are not a chain I will buy), forfeited Target, that was tough. I know I'll be back there.
2. Have not had fast food. Did go to Mexican Village but had the luncheon fajita which is pretty much the only thing without gravy on it. Walked yesterday- almost died of hypothermia. Why I chose the middle of winter to start exercising is a whole new issue.
3. Needs vs wants is virtually impossible to holiday shop with this so thank goodness these resolutions really do not take effect until the 31st.
4. Trying to mind my own business and only stating opinion when asked. This is going to be the toughest I can see.
5. I have kissed everyone good morning and good night. Said my prayers with Anthony.

So there it is! My trial run for the new year.

This morning I was in charge of the decorating cookies station in Anthony's pre-school class with Steph Berneking (sp?). It was a blast to watch the kids. I wore this funny apron my mom gave me last year- it looked a lot cuter when I was pregnant and resembled Santa's belly. Nice, plump, and round. This year my belly looked like some stacking rings stuck under red velvet and white fluff, not nearly as attractive but the kids still thought it was neat. Anthony was pretty proud I was there and I enjoyed taking part. He also is done with school today until 2009. So if I go A-wall send my husband to AJ's looking for me. All kidding aside, I know it is going to be fun, but the politically correct term would also be "challenging". Once the kids have that outlet it is hard to keep them busy and fulfilled to that capacity when they are not in school. But we will do our versions of projects to fill the void as well as hopefully spend some time outside if the weather cooperates.

That's the way it is.

When I first began "blogging" I have to admit I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. I wanted to be truthful but was worried about letting others into my world of crazy thoughts. Truth be told most of the time I forget that others ever even read this. It is now one of my most treasured secrets. When I sit down to write it makes me feel like a better person. Like I still have me. That even though my life seems chaotic and crazy it's just mine. It is truly my own personal therapy. That being said I am going to reveal my 2009 New Year's Resolutions. Honestly this is something that I have for the most part given up on the last couple of years but this year I am going to put them in writing and hold myself accountable. So here it goes.

1. When I am making purchases this year I am going to concentrate much of my spending to the other small businesses of the world. Why? Because I want my small business to thrive therefore it is important that I do my part in supporting other small businesses of the world.
2. I want to get healthy. I feel better when I get my lazy ass up and go for a walk. I feel like crap when I eat McDonald's. It should be a no brainer but I am going to try retrain my life from a life of convenience to a life of substance. Plus I want to be a good example for my boys.
3. My motto for the last 3 months or so is when I am making a decision I think,"Is this a need or a want?" When you actually ask yourself this questions it is amazing how many times the answer turns to being a want. Walk away, don't look back, and odds you will have no memory of it the next day. Sounds like I am talking about something completely wrong but the subject matter I am regarding is consumer spending.
4. I will be supportive of my husband, family, and friends no matter if I don't agree with decisions they are making in their lives. I learned this past year that people are going to make decisions you don't like. The bad news is that sometimes it is clearly none of your damn business. In the end things seem to always work out for the best.
5. I am going to seriously try count to three before I get frustrated with the men in my life. Turns out two of them are under the age of five and the other for the most part tries to uncomplicate my life versus the analogy I tell myself sometimes. I will kiss and hug each of them in the morning and night. I will say my prayers every night like Anthony.

Lastly, I will be the change I want to see in the world. I really thought turning 30 was traumatic. Turns out I have a feeling this is going to be my best decade yet. I can just feel it.

Time flies when you are having fun!?....

Well I cannot believe that it is the 14th of December...where did the time go this month? This week is not any different. We have Anthony's program on Tuesday night at 6:30 at St. Joe's and I am so excited to watch it. I love watching all the little kids. There is always the one that is the model student, the comedian, the kid picking his nose, and a teacher standing by praying that all will do well. No matter which child belongs to you their is a large crowd of proud parents watching and beaming with pride at their child. I love it!! This week we also have Christmas parties, vet appointments, and finishing my Christmas shopping not to mention work.

We went and visited Santa this past week. Anthony hopped right up and told him he wants a green Poweranger and a Megazord (not quite sure what that is in Poweranger language, in fact google doesn't know either). Alex was very skeptical of him, at first he started to cry then just sat and stared at him. Normally when there is a camera involved Alex is a ham but I could not get him to crack a smile. I was also in Willmar this past week for work. No offense if you are from Willmar but that town is STRANGE! Initially Stacey and I thought it was really cute but after being their we both felt like we were in the movie Smallville. All in all it was a success because I have a candidate going in for a second interview this next week so cross your fingers. Stacey has been a great addition to Candidate Connection. She has had large national accounts call her back already this past week and is hitting the pavement hard meeting up with all kinds of companies and people. It is also nice to have someone to talk shop with that understands my recruiting world.

Between my two jobs right now I am working ALOT!! My poor husband has been manning the home front on his own at night time quite a bit lately and I am grateful for all of his support. The extra money has been great, my co-workers are super fun, but I think after the holiday season I am going to let my boss know at Usher's that I can only work one night a week. It gets to be too much and I really miss my boys. Today is awesome because we are all four snowed in for the day. So far I have been successful at ignoring all the clothes that Erik has folded that need to now be put away. But I am now feeling guilty...

Oh and before I forget Alex is now playing "So Big"on his own, it is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. Not to mention desperately trying to walk. He has taken a few steps, not very gracefully but successfully. Once from the ottoman to me and once between Erik and I.

I also managed to get my holiday cards done, by that I mean ordered. For those I have received from so far I love them all!! If I don't have your address please post it for me so I can send you one. If you read my blog you have definitely earned yourself a Christmas card for listening to me preach.

Alex's Milestones

Well Big Al is now clapping, standing, and starting to push his little walker around. I am slowly introducing him to a cup as well and he seems to like it. He is so funny, every time Erik came into the room over the weekend he would start clapping away. It is so cute to see his chubby little hands clapping. I love these little milestones. Soon we will be done with the bottle, formula, and he will be walking. It is seriously not fair how fast the first year goes by. I am just starting to hear little words that he is trying to say besides mama and dada. The one that is the most apparent is nah, which translates to no. Go figure!!

Seriously?

I am a total loser today. I have been working since about 11am or so and realized since I have sent out around 5o or so emails that I am the only loser working the day after Thanksgiving. The best part is I get to leave here and go wait on tables at Usher's after this. I forgot what a work out serving is. My butt was sore after my shift the other night, I even walked away from all the good food when I was done. But I had to have one pint. Food vs beer, hmmmm, beer always wins this contest for me. Always in moderation though :). I am trying to take cues from Bonnie that my children might get into my blog someday, might as well start now trying to be a better person or at least writing like I am one. So if you are my children and you are reading this just remember what mommy always says,"Do as I say, not as I do."

P.S. No judging ladies, especially from the ones that don't have any children yet. Leslie called me today and I was empathetic to her because she has now figured out why I giggled at her when she told me that she just needed to get out of the terrible two's. She has now figured out the three's are just around the corner.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

(Picture was Anthony last year- I love that turkey hat.)

I LOVE Thanksgiving. Always have, always will. Maybe because it is a holiday where the common goal is to spend time with one another, not what we are buying one another. Maybe it is because I get the opportunity to stuff my face with no judgement, even though this year I am going to be more mindful because I just found out the average Thanksgiving dinner is 3,000 calories. Can you believe that? Maybe it is because I remember my Grandma vividly on these days. I can remember when I was little looking at her dining room and thinking it looked magical. Polished crystal and china. How I longed to sit at the adult table but instead I was captain of the fold out table in the living room. Do you remember the old school fold out table and chairs that were all connected together and folded into a suitcase? My grandma's was yellow. Year after year, until I got married I sat at the kids table. By then my grandparents had moved out of the old house but I still got to sit with the adults. I am the oldest grandchild on my dad's side. He has 12 siblings, my dad is number 6, and I was the first born grandchild for my grandma. Needless to say she waited a long time for me and we had a very special relationship. Anthony was her first great-grandchild and Alex would have been her second. I find it ironic that I got pregnant with Alex 2 months after she died, we wanted a baby so bad and I am pretty sure she made some deals for us. I know that she met Alex before I did. He looked exactly like me when he was born. Not sure how I got down this path today, man do I miss her. I remind my boys to be thankful that they have grandparents, for anyone our age that still has theirs be extremely grateful. There is no other relationship like it. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Some funnies over the weekend.

We will start with today since it is the most fresh in my mind. The boys came up to the office with me so Erik could hang up some things and so I could get geared up for Stacey's arrival. Afterwards we hit Taco John's for a healthy lunch and headed home to watch the game. Erik turns on the game and we start to eat (it's Sunday-very relaxed at our house). Anyways, Anthony looks at Erik and I and asks,"Who are you voting for? The green or the purple team?"Of course I reply,"Purple because they are the Minnesota Vikings." (Not sure why I am cheering for purple by the way). He replies by saying,"Mommy, I am voting for John McCain." Erik and I both were trying not to laugh at him. I then proceeded to tell him that the election was over and Barack Obama is our President. Clearly McCain's elections ads worked on my 4 year old. I had to call and give my father-in-law a ribbing because he is a HUGE Republican and I had to inquire whether he was brainwashing my children. He said he would have liked to take credit but thought Anthony was in the right mindset for the next election.

Today Anthony also sang,"Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me. Dontcha..."Over and over. I was getting Alex ready for the day and I could hear Anthony singing away as he was coloring, sure enough this is the song. Again, maybe too much Y-94 in the car.

Yesterday, Anthony was AWESOME!! He helped fold laundry, put silverware away, clean under his bed, picked up his toy room. You name it, he did it. We were all determined to get the house in order. I was getting a little frustrated with Big Al when I was changing his diaper, it is like trying to get a diaper on a Tasmanian Devil, no cooperation. This particular diaper was nice and messy. I was trying to alleviate getting any poop on him, the floor, or me. Anthony comes around the corner on the way to his room looks at me and says,"Mom, relax and stop being so pissy." Yes- pissy. I explain to him that word is not appropriate for him to say without laughing. We are a stage with him where he definitely knows where some words are wrong and is still learning with others.

Alex stood for the first time this weekend with no help-not for long but he was freestanding for a good 8 seconds. Anthony and I were both so proud of him. As soon as we got excited Alex went down. He is teething SOOOO bad. Alex is not a fussy baby and this weekend he was trying for both Erik and I. I feel so bad for these little babies that have to cut these teeth, I suppose there is a reason why you experience that when you are little and cannot remember later in life. So no teeth yet but I think they are very close to introducing themselves. I wish they would hurry up!!

Today is definitely a new day.

Thanks for all the kind words and support, not what I thought I needed but it turns out it feels good to get support from my "secret" community of women that I have come to adore in new ways from my experience of blogging. It is definitely my therapy and I am grateful that I began doing it.

Regardless, the week did end on a much better note. After letting go and realizing that it is okay if not all parts of my life are synchronizing how I would ideally like I went into full force recovery mode. I was lucky to find a girl that I think is going to be wonderful at solely marketing Candidate Connection. I had a heart to heart with Michael my partner and let him know what we needed to work on "together" to make this company work for the both of us. He answered exactly like I was hoping and recognized what we needed to work on as a team as well as what he needs to take care on his side so some stress is released from me. Erik and I had a great conversation, he truly is my best friend. Whether he drives me insane or not, he is what God ordered for me and I thank him for that. I did go and get a second job just to make myself feel more secure during this economy and for me to have another outlet besides being a caretaker. I found out Usher's was hiring, went and filled out an application, and met with the manager. Granted I have not been a part of the serving world for 6-7 years or so but the manager knew some of the people that I made a lot of money with back in the day and hired me on the spot. So it will be a good way to ease my anxiety about the holidays as well as have some time to myself and maybe even have a little fun well doing it.

Today I rode up to Baudette with my sister and my boys. I love my sweet babies and am excited to make a birthday cake with them tomorrow for Grandpa Dave. My mom and I are going to be preparing Prime Rib together, I am going to spend some much needed time with my family, and try to not kill my sister (Faith feels the same way-love/hate relationship).

Today my heart feels broken.

Today is just one of those days that I cannot snap out of it. I am so sad, my heart feels like it is broken. I keep trying to look at all the positives in my life but for some reason can balance each one out with a negative. It is quite honestly draining. I want my life back, the life where I was constantly busy working, closing deals, and living off the high of success. I lost a huge contract today. I am scared financially about the holidays and our current economy. I wonder what possessed me to start a business in the year that the economy is at an all time low since the depression. Hello? I am feeling guilty because today my kids, husband, etc. are just not enough for me. I am feeling guilty for writing this on my blog where others can read it. I am just too sad to get it together to call any of my girlfriends to make me feel better because right now that is just not enough. I held it in until Erik went to bed because I didn't want him to feel bad, now I can't quit crying. I am scared, sad, and lonely. So there I said it and do not actually feel any better. I just cannot look at the glass or girl half full today.

I can't sleep so I might as well blog.

Here is a fun pic of the boys over the weekend. Not too much going on over the weekend. We went to Carol's for some fantastic food because Brad was in town to shoot something. By the way Amy how happy were you with him when he pulled in with the bloody beast on top of your white Four Runner? Erik told me that and I could picture you dancing around with joy when he pulled up. I am not going to lie sometimes I am thrilled that Erik doesn't hunt. Other times I must admit my jealousy of the "hunting widows" who get a weekend to enjoy themselves well their men are having male affirmations or whatever they do. 

Alex is sick this weekend. My heart always goes out to babies when they are sick. They are so helpless. He has been a good sport but the poor guy is miserable. He is coughing like a 60 year old man who has been clearly smoking all his life. Not to mention thick, runny nose. Slight fever, etc. We took him in and as of right now seems to be a cold or teething. 

Anthony on the other hand had cabin fever because he was soooo excited about the first snow that we have had that stuck. Erik and him went out and played for awhile, I think Anthony just wanted to test his new snow pants out. I actually was able to get some really cute pics but unable to upload all of them-annoying, so I will attempt again tomorrow.

I know this is a really boring post. Quite frankly I am pretty bored lately.

WOW.

No matter who you supported in the election your heart has to be made of stone to not feel the emotion behind this election. From what I understand African Americans were given the "right" in the late 1800's to vote but most did not take part until 1965. We have finally evolved into a nation that is looking past race and gender. It took us nearly 219 years for us to have an African American President (George Washington became President in 1789) as well as a strong contender for a woman as the Vice President. That absolutely amazes me and has been giving me chills all day. Each time I watch the photos they have of this election and after Obama's speech I am simply honored to be a part of this time. This is a time that is going to go down in history books and we are first hand witnesses. It makes me so excited for the future, for us and our children.

Quick Question

Do any of you happen to have my Leapfrog walker for kids? It is one where they can walk behind it when they are just learning to walk and it plays music. I loaned it to one of my girlfriends and now when I need it cannot remember for the life of me who it was??? I know real suprising. Does anyone have one that I could borrow? Alex is crusing all the furniture now and desperately wants to walk so I thought it would be a fun thing for him have. I am attempting to become a little more green and cut down on buying things that only have a quick life span in our home. I love swapping baby stuff.



Regardless, Halloween was fun. The best part is I am a terrible mom and did not take one picture. My camera was at the office and I did not have time to retrieve it yesterday but my mother-in-law was ready clicking away so I am sure that I will get some pics in 2009. We started our day off at St. Joe's, they had a party for all of the kids. There were so many cute costumes. Anthony had a blast, I on the other hand was in charge of the 6th grade class because their teacher was working the "Haunted Maze". It is a funny age because you can start to see what type of people these kids are going to be and where they might fit in the world. There was one boy who was the class clown that reminded me of Chris Rock, another whose costume was Spock from Star Trek (need I say more), and of course the cute girl with the matching pink cowgirl outfit. I could place a person from my class in almost all of the 14 seats when we went back to their room for cookies and juice. I dressed up too and on the way to school Anthony informed me to not embaress him in front of his friends. It is already starting. Luckily his friends all thought that I looked cool and then he was introducing me to everyone. After the party we came home so Anthony could relax and try to snap out of his sugar coma. Then off to Grandma Eileen's to pick up Alex. We hit Carol's, our old neighbors, and new neighbors. Brian made it over with the girls and we went around the loop here. Our neighbors who have grown children were off to an adult Halloween party as we were heading back for some mac and cheese for supper. It's funny how you transition through life!

I need 30 hours- who decided 24 was the number?

Lately I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off and it SUCKS! I am either getting the boys ready whether that be feeding, bathing, clothing, entertaining, etc. Or trying to touch as many people as I can each day in the "business world". Or trying to make sure that my third child my dear husband is content and does not need deodorant, a prescription, a warm dinner, etc. Not to mention running to the post office, dry cleaners, Target for the preschool party snacks and Halloween costumes, visiting all the local colleges, donating plasma...blah, blah, blah. Look I am not looking for a pity party because I know that the rest of you mom's out there are just as busy but today is one of those days I need to let my hair down and VENT! My favorite is when my dear husband walks through the door and is exhausted from working (he does work hard) but because I am on the floor calmly playing with Alex or maybe even sitting and watching Oprah (the first time I have sat all day) that I can not be as tired as him. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Poor Alex.

Erik and I are sleeping this morning, rather soundly I might add. You can feel it is just one of those days where you are going to want to stay snuggled in as long as possible. Good night of sleep, first snowfall of the year, and BOOM we hear a crash come from Alex's room. We both sit straight up, look at each other, and RUN like crazy to his room. There lies Alex wailing at the top of his lungs OUTSIDE of his crib. Alex is not even 9 months yet-3 days to go and he manages to fall or crawl out of his crib. What?

Thank God (literally) that he was okay. Erik and I brought him back to our cozy bed with us. I think we were all more scared than anything but we checked him over from head to toe and he seemed fine. Anthony never even attempted to crawl out of his crib until he was over a year, I want to say closer to a year and a half. Granted we probably lowered it before he had the opportunity but since it did not seem feasible that Alex's legs or arms could be long enough to get himself over so I was not yet concerned about lowering it. Once again my children proving me wrong when I thought I had it figured out. Needless to say Erik lowered it 6 inches and now I feel like I need to crawl in his crib to get him out. Let me tell you, not a cute sight to see.

Posting comments are frustrating me...

(AJ- I having been trying to leave comments on yours but it is not working...ughhhh...in response to AJ's Hot Topic- love that idea by the way).

Do I believe in spanking?
Depends on my patience.

Does it ever help?
No- Anthony could careless. Taking something of his that he deems "special" has worked the best for us. It is then his responsibility to earn it back or like he says,"Mom, I am trying to earn my pribileges (privileges) back. One day he kept slamming his door, I went and found Erik's electric screwdriver and removed the screws from his door one by one. He realized quickly that day how special his bedroom door was and what a priviledge it was to keep it.

Was I spanked?
Twice and I never repeated those actions. My sister on the other hand had countless wooden spoons broken on her bum and would taunt my mother by telling her it didn't hurt. I have vivid memories of my mom chasing my skinny little sister at my Great-Grandma Sveen's. Thinking back I must admit I am getting a good laugh out about it.

Do I judge those that do?
Never.

That is the beauty of parenthood, we are all individuals that are given the right to guide our little people as we see fit or feel. Compared to other cultures we are definitely the culture that leans towards using verbal vs physical reprimands to solve things. But at the end of the day it never makes me or Anthony feel better if he gets a swat on his way to his room. I hate to admit it but for me it just takes my anger to the next level.

On Thursday on Oprah, there was a female doctor that actually was a neurologist that specialized in brain development. She had a stroke and explained in the aftermath when she was calling for help she realized she should not understand the concept of language but knew help was coming because of the "tone" of the voice of her friend that she called for help. I think it is so interesting that in all of our day to day activities "tone" is what sets our day. You can say the exact same thing to a baby in two different tones and receive two completely different responses. So what I have been trying to put in perspective with Anthony is he feeds off of my tone. I choose whether it is going to be a good or bad day simply by my tone. But in retrospect he decides what type of day it is going to be with his tone and that is what I am trying (sometimes very unsuccessfully) to teach him.

Boys are gone, weekend update.

Erik came and picked up the boys. Thank you Erik! Regardless, this weekend was so much fun! The Heer's came from Minneapolis and it was soooo great to see them. We always have a blast with them. Friday we all actually met downtown at Rooter's. All the children were being watched by grandparents or sitters so we decided to hit the town. We even went out at 9 PM, can you believe it, that is when most of us are saying our prayers and turning in for the day. It was Erik and I, Bill and AJ, Jess and her husband Dan, Brian and Kris. Erik cut out early because he was not feeling well, I on the other hand was feeling like a rock star. After Rooter's we headed to Sport's Bar, apparently I wanted Bill to revisit his college days and got in a fight with some college kids that I unfortunately picked- classy I know. Bill was the adult of the situation and quickly cleared things up. Thanks Bill! Next day what a completely different story. Very quiet! I made up some food, everyone came over, and we watched Palin on SNL. Thought she was pretty funny but I am still supporting the Democrats. Sunday I made an awesome pork roast, Brian made apple crisp for the first time (my grandma's recipe), and the kids played until they nearly dropped. Rob and Missy joined us on Sunday and I am really glad that they made the decision to move back. They are a lot of fun to hang out with, someone has finally managed to ground our Rob. He even helped with dishes and would not stop wrestling with Anthony until I made poor Anthony forfeit and go brush his teeth. Rob and Missy are getting married in March and since we were finally invited I am hoping we will be able to join in the festivities. Should be a good time! After visiting Playa Del Carmen I would love for Erik and the boys to check it out. So that is our weekend. Other than that my mom popped in with some new pj's for the boys (thanks mom!), Anthony immediately put them on. My sister bought a new well deserved car (nice choice Faith). I fell in love with Laila and want me a fresh baby, AJ wouldn't let me keep her (no fair). She is one gorgeous little girl, they are very lucky. But at the end of the day aren't we all. Peace!

Hard at Work, harder than ever.

so as i am typing this i am bouncing alex on my knee and typing with one hand. the balancing act is not exactly how i pictured it, ughhhh!

Fun pics of our weekend...

Anthony growing like a weed!

Alex just might be the happiest baby ever!

View of our office- Michael's desk and storage.

My desk.

The boys picking out pumpkins.

We had a busy weekend. My parents came to visit us for the weekend. On Friday we just hung out and relaxed. I took my dad to the office on Friday night and quickly realized that I did not have the right key to get in so we decided that since the OB was right across the street we had to go and contribute to the economy. Have to keep the breweries going. It was nice to just hang out with him one on one. I am very similar to my dad and I love to just BS with him. Erik was able to catch up with my mom and Faith. When we got home we had some pizza and played Wii. It is hilarious to watch my parents get into it as much as us.

On Saturday Michael and I started to move into the office. It feels really good to have a work space. It is a relief just to have a place to collect my thoughts without so many distractions. Last night when I went home I also felt that I was able to focus on the boys and be in the moment with them without a million thoughts racing through my head.

After Michael and I accomplished what we could on Saturday I headed to the pumpkin patch with the boys, my mom, and sister. My mom is such a good grandma, very patient with the boys and it is very important to her that they are just having fun, enjoying life. I love that about her. Even though I was tired and crabby Saturday she was patient with me as well. I guess once a mother, always a mother. Saturday night we had the usual influx of Capouch's over for a BBQ. It ended up being a lot of fun. The whole crew played Rockband, even thought most of my aunts and uncles did not know any of the songs. They are going to write in and request a 70's version.

Sunday my parents departed. Erik helped me bring more things to the office, his parents came and checked it out. Erik and I were able to have a lunch date. 

Overall a great weekend but super busy. Never ending!! But I would not trade it for the world.

I am an adult.

Today was one of those days where I was faced with making decisions all day long. I at the end of the day realized that I am seriously growing up. Every circumstance that approached I made the adult decision and was responsible. I know this may sound odd considering I am 30 years old but I don't care. No judging.

Time to Celebrate!

The business is moving along great. We made our first official deposit yesterday. I visited about 35 local businesses today with information regarding our services. We also found out that we are moving into our office this Friday. It is all a bit overwhelming but also VERY EXCITING!

Alex's Haircut

Above: Before Haircut

After Haircut

Alex got a much needed haircut last night at Leslie's. Mom did too and it felt GREAT! There is something about getting your hair done. Why does it feel so good to have someone else blow dry your hair? Leslie also pretty much waxed my entire face. Again there is nothing like putting on eyeshadow after a wax.

Big Al has a booking again today for Pout. Should be pretty cute. We are going to meet Lucy at Ria's studio so they can show off some fun seasonal things for Pout. My little playboy!

Ruby and Charlie, mostly Charlie...

Alex the first and last time you will see him as a pumpkin.
Charlie loving being a pumpkin.
Ruby not so much, very embarrassed.
Alex and Charlie playing.

Well the story goes as follows. Before we had children we became parents of our two dogs Ruby and Charlie. We pretty much lived and breathed them. Brought them with us everywhere, bragged about the new tricks they could do at cocktail parties, and brought them to the vet over every little thing. Then Anthony was born. I kid you not I came home from the hospital, opened up the door to our home, and suddenly realize that we had (gasp) two dogs. Before you have children you swear that you are kindred spirits, maybe even soul mates, and cannot even bare to think of your life without your dogs. As soon as you walk in the door with this teeny little baby it all changes. You soon realize that they are the last in command. They shed, drool, and everything you once thought was cute has become a little annoying. I did feel terrible for thinking these things but unfortunately each and everyone of my friends that has joined us in Parenting 101 realizes that there is some truth to these statements. Regardless you learn to have a new relationship with your "dogs" and still consider them family. Especially when you are faced with the possibility of losing one of them.

Charlie has been having seizures. I called the vet and they told me that they are quite common in dogs especially pugs. Not exactly what you want to hear. We can bring him in for blood work and medication may control it but there are no guarantees. Most the time it is an indicator that something more serious is coming to a head. Erik is beside himself. Anthony is frightened because he doesn't quite understand what Charlie is doing when he has a seizure (they can last up to 20 min). I am thoroughly confused as to what is in the best interest of Charlie's well being. Just a yucky situation and for the first time in a long time I do see him as one of my kids. Logically I know what may need to happen, emotionally I am not willing to face that until we try a few other (I am sure expensive) options.

Charlie is such a good sport, the other day I brought out Anthony's 1st Halloween costume to see if Alex can wear it this year. We decided to bust out our Halloween decorations a little early. Anyways, I could barely snap it around Alex's chubby thighs so I think it is safe to say we will be trying other options. But Charlie is such a trooper he became our magic pumpkin instead. He just goes with the flow, is so gentle with the boys, and a really good guy. Here's to you Charlie!

Slowly but surely...

The business is turning into a more of a "real"business each and every day. We were approved for our line of credit, our first placement should be this week, and we found an office space. Michael and I also went to OfficeMax and printed off new pamphlets for potential clients. Our office is great! It is downtown in the Alerus Bank building, 4th floor. Not too big, not too small, and not too expensive. Leslie's step-dad John was kind enough to help us out with that one.

Cute story about Anthony. I was playing with Alex on the floor a couple days ago, maybe Friday, and Anthony was next to us coloring away in his new Halloween coloring book. Anthony sheepishly shows me his picture and seems as if he is almost embarrassed. He had colored in all the lines. I told him that he didn't have to be embarrassed because his picture looked fantastic and replied to me by saying,"I am not embarrassed. I am just proud of myself." It was one of those moments that time almost stops and you realize that hey they are soaking in some of the guidance we are giving. I wanted to cry on the spot because I was so proud of him right then and there. My only response to him was a big hug. So I took a picture to share.

My boys.

Look who is crawling...go Alex go! He just started yesterday, he has been trying for the last couple weeks.

They seriously LOVE each other, they play, wrestle, eat, and bathe together.

This is Anthony dancing like a "rockstar"...he gets his dancing talents from his dad.

Oh and sometimes nap together.

Our family day at Yunker farm on Labor Day. Included a train ride, an odd carousel ride, a neat "planetarium", and a 25 foot intestine you could pull out. Something for everyone!

Neat blog...

http://blog.care.com/

Great blog for moms and the many questions we run through our heads, Sheila sometimes has some pretty good answers. She is the founder and CEO of http://www.care.com/ a site dedicated to finding childcare, pet care, etc.

Cocktails & Playdates: Balancing kids and your grown-up life- fun article on the above blog.

Grant me some patience please.

Okay today is the day that I had planned a lot of different activities I wanted to focus on as far as organization for our house, specifically my office. This is how the day has gone so far:

6am: Erik is telling me that he has not slept all night due to his neck pain.
6:30am: It is decided (by him) that he is not going to go to work.
7am:Anthony wakes and has had an accident. I am not mad, just a little annoyed.
7:30am: Alex is up. Ready to eat NOW.
7:45am: Anthony is out of the tub and requesting egg whites only with toast that has no crust.
(I did not realize that my house was a bed and breakfast- silly me.)
8am: Erik is sleeping and asks me if I could shut the door because we are too loud.
8:25am: I finally am downstairs in my office ready to get my groove on. Anthony is coloring on the floor and Alex is attempting to crawl around me feet. I am trying not to step on him.
8:45am: Erik decides that his neck is okay enough to fold laundry (it should be okay to work then, but I am not a chiropractor, grr...)
9:00am: My phone starts to ring off the hook by 2 different hiring managers that I am working with that need to rearrange some times ASAP.
9:20am: I can tell that everyone in this house is annoyed that I am WORKING. (Getting a little more annoyed myself).
10am: Anthony wants a snack.
10:30am: Alex wants a bottle and is ready for a nap.
11am:Anthony is ready for lunch (I think that we are in the middle of a growth spurt).
11:15am: Do dishes and FINALLY get one of my filing cabinets under control.

Needless to say the afternoon has calmed down due to nap time for all 3 boys, yes 3. Now I have to go to interview some more candidates for my hiring managers that need to invest in better time management skills. Oh and I can hear Alex becoming restless already...seriously calgon take me away!!

Good food, fun, and friends!!

Well we made an unexpected trip to Minneapolis on Saturday for a very quick trip to stay with our friends Brad and Amy (thanks for the hospitality). When I say quick I mean it. We left at 11am on Saturday and were home by 11am on Sunday. We went with our friends Brian and Kris, Kris is the proud owner of a baby boutique and needed to be back to open the store at noon on Sunday. The original plan was just to go to a Twins baseball game. We ended up going to eat at a place called Maverick's. Awesome food and drinks! I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an uptown feel w/o a 1,000 people and decent pricing. We were sad that the Heer's were not in town and unable to join us. I am very anxious to see AJ and give her a big hug. We were lucky to have Robin and Mike swing over for a visit. Always good to see them!

My sister watched the boys and had a little drama with our kitchen sink backing up but other than that had a good time biking to the park and watching Shaggy Dog with Anthony. Thank you Auntie Faith!

But all and all it was a quick but fun trip. It is always nice to catch up with friends and enjoy the time you have together even if it is short and a bit fuzzy after a few tasty martini's.

On another note Michael and I opened our business checking this last week and are solidifying a line of credit. Pass along the word that we are in full swing. We are going to print our brochure today that Michael put together over the weekend. I am pretty excited. I should be wrapping up our first closes within the month.
www.candidate-connection.com

Prayers are appreciated.

Richard Joseph "Rick" Blajsczak
BLAJSZCAK RICHARD JOSEPH "RICK" BLAJSCZAK, 65, was received into the arms of Our Father on Sept. 3, 2008 in Cleveland. Rick was a loving family man, survived by his wife of 12 years, four children, three step children and 11 grandchildren. He was born Nov. 1, 1942, in Gary, IN of Polish heritage, graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1964 and received two masters degrees from Xavier University in 1971. His survivors include his wife, Claire Feske Blajsczak; sister Mary Jo (Mark) Grote; daughters, Stephanie (Brad) Ashbrook, Kimberly (David) Blayney, Carrie (Edwin) Keener, and Joanna (Beau) Arnason; step-children Adrienne (Bill) Heer, James (Megan) Feske and David Feske; nephews Mark, Michael and Matthew Grote; grandchildren Natalie and Jon Ashbrook, Mary Piper Blayney, Sam, Dan and Mia Keener, Grant Arnason, Cecelia, Delaney, and Laila Heer. Rick's career in specialty foods included executive positions with Borden, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Liberty Richter, and Portland Food Products. In retirement, Rick began his consulting firm, Nu2U. In recent years, Rick spent his summers with his wife Claire, hosting family and friends aboard their boat on Lake Erie. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. in the Wade Chapel at Lake View Cemetery.

This is my best friend AJ's stepfather who suddenly passed away. Please keep their family in your prayers. I know that he was a wonderful husband to AJ's mom, a loving step-father, and very important to AJ.

1st day of preschool- so fun!

To new beginnings and seasons!!

I cannot believe that it is Labor Day weekend, summer flew by! I swear that it was just Memorial weekend and we were so excited to open up the lake, now this weekend we are sadly closing it. Sometimes I don't feel like going to the lake but now that it is over for this year I wish we had another month. We had a lot of big changes occur over the summer. I am ready for the fall season to start.

This summer Anthony learned how to swim w/o his life jacket- he is a fish, somersaults, goggles, swimming is a whole new world. Alex has transformed from a little 4 month old to a 7 month old that is "almost" crawling and eating baby food. He now plays with Anthony and is just starting to irritate him when he rips one of his pictures or drools all over one of his toys.

We had plenty of fun weekends at the lake. Many memorable moments. 4th of July, smores, and me falling off the dock at 4 am- long story. Erik probably playing his worst round of golf in history. In his "defense" he wasn't using his own clubs. Losing Charlie in the middle of the night, unfortunately he figured out which camper we were in. Disney World and Florida was so fun, a vacation that we will never forget. Hopefully Alex will forgive us some day for not taking him.

Erik and I are now getting in the fall/winter mode of updating our house. We got new furniture for the basement (new to us anyways) and it is super comfy. Leslie took our sectional that we had and we are going to transform the basement into Erik's dream hideaway and toy room. So the red walls are going to become neutral- not sure on a color yet, the big TV is being moved to the opposite end, and the Centipede game and toys will occupy the other side. The other project we are going to tackle is our kitchen, I am hoping that we can afford to do that this winter but we'll have to see how many placements I make. Cross your fingers ladies!

Well I hope everyone takes the time to enjoy their long weekend. It is going to be awhile before the next.

Happy Birthday Erik!!!

Today is my lovely husbands 33rd birthday. I am sitting here thinking of all the reasons that I want to celebrate him today so I am just going to list my Top 10.

1. He still makes me laugh every single day.
2. He always opens the door for me.
3. He is the best dad I a mom could ask for. He plays with the boys, changes diapers, gives baths, and steps in when I am about to lose my patience.
4. He makes a mean egg sandwich and breakfast burrito, the "Erik Special".
5. He calls me every morning to see how our day is going.
6. He mows the best looking lawn in the neighborhood.
7. He remembers that a girl never minds getting flowers.
8. He went to prom with me my senior year even though he was 20.
9. He plays Rockband and golf like a pro.
10. He has put up with me for 15 years and tells me (most of the time) that he is looking forward to the next 50.

Last night Erik stayed home with Alex, Anthony was at my Aunt Diane's, and I went out with my friend Holly who I have not seen since I was pregnant with Alex. We ran into Brian downtown and had a blast!! Erik was waiting up for me when I got home to make sure that we all got home safe. That actually shocked me because by the time I roll in after a night with Holly he is usually tucked into bed. It was a nice surprise!

It was awesome seeing Holly. She is getting married in a month at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. It is her second time around but she is marrying her high school sweetheart Garret(who she should have married the first time). I told her that high school sweethearts are the best route to go. Erik and I are both looking forward to her wedding because you can always count on having a good time when you are with Holly.

Today Anthony is off to the zoo for Jack's 3rd birthday party. Tonight Kristi was kind enough to agree to come over and spend some time with the boys well Erik and I go have an adult supper, yay!!! Thanks Kristi! When we get back we are going to end the night with some cake, ice cream, and the birthday song.

You are my friend.

Don't Walk In Front of Me, I May Not Follow...
Don't Walk Behind Me, I May Not Lead...
Just Walk Beside Me and Be My Friend...
~Anonymous

If needed I want my friends to find their path back to happiness, it is not as if my path doesn't have some dog shit in the flower beds. It is how you decide to handle it, do you let it fertilize and make a hell of a pretty path or continuously step in it and always smell like shit!

That is my two cents for today.

P.S. The first pic is of our dog Charlie from Anthony's vtech camera- I think he has a future in photography. The second is our girl Ruby the only other female in this household. We are one.

Definition for those who have forgotten.

Truth
Pronunciation:
\ˈtrüth\
fidelity, constancy b: sincerity in action, character, and utterance2 a (1): the state of being the case : fact (2): the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality (3)often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true c: the body of true statements and propositions a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality briefly British : true 2 c: fidelity to an original or to a standard capitalized Christian Science : god-in truth

The reason that I am writing on this subject is because I am tired of half truth's, tired of hearing stories with missing pieces, and tired of hearing versions of what people believe to be true. Is that what we want to teach our children? That it is okay to lie if it is convenient for you.

I have been catching Anthony lying lately about the silliest stuff. The poor thing does not realize that right now it is nearly impossible to pull the wool over my eyes but he definitely puts forth the effort if he thinks that he may keep himself out of trouble. Currently his famous line is,"just kidding."What I am not kidding about is it is so refreshing to have a conversation that is truthful. For those who know me most are aware (sometimes painfully) that I pretty much call it as I see it. Granted there maybe a good sized opinion involved but I do not beat around the bush. To me there is no point in living in the gray area when the world for the most part as I see it is black and white. It is frustrating for me to be witness to people who cannot just come clean and be who they are. Life is too short, shout it out and be done with it. The truth will set you free...all lying does is make life difficult for the rest of us and puts poor Anthony in unwanted time outs.

1...2...3....

Start!! (All your answers must start with the letter W) and you have 60 seconds to answer-don't cheat!

1. A boys first name.
2. U.S. City
3. Body of Water
4. Type of Spice/ Herb
5. Name of a Professional Sports Team
6. Famous Person
7. Type of cold blooded animal
8. An item you would find in a purse.
9. School Supply
10. Terms of Endearment.

What is a girl to do?

Okay so before I forget for the 10th time I have an announcement. My little Alex's modeling career is in full swing. Remember that my friends' Kris and Holly opened up a baby boutique in Fargo called Pout (http://poutbabyboutique.com). If you have not been there it is a must! Everyone that I have sent in so far absolutely loves it. Anyways Big Al (as we call him here at home) was one of the chosen few to model their very cool wears for babies. Ria Lee Photography (http://www.rialeephotography.com/) did the amazing pics (Ria I couldn't resist downloading this pic). He was also lucky enough to be selected for their advertisement in On the Minds of Moms (http://www.onthemindsofmoms.com/), a very cool new publication offered in the FM area. Kris and Holly are featured in an ongoing section of the mag called "Momprenuers". Seriously how cute is that? So ladies thanks for launching Big Al's modeling career, I can hardly keep up with all of his bookings :). You are going to do awesome!!

On another completely opposite subject, I am clearly having issues. When I am stressed out I tend to get cold sores, styes, and gain weight. Well let's see... I have a huge cold sore, a stye that I think may lead me to blindness, and have gained 7lbs. What is up? I have been teasing our friends that are having some troubles right now that apparently I am taking it just as hard as them. The only exception is that they have both lost weight and I have gained. Figures!

Leslie sent me a card yesterday via JibJabs cards. It is hilarious, if you are looking to get a good laugh out of a loved one it is a must.

Check out the card that she sent me http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/HERXIhO3kR559FYS.

Erik, Anthony, Brian, and I watched it at least 4 times and could not stop laughing.

Well today I am off to the FM Zoo with the boys and my aunt. We are also going to hit some Indian Food for lunch. I figure I might was well make it a solid 10 lb weight gain before I put forth the effort to lose it. Swing by Pout for Alex's book signings and help a friend move. A full day is ahead of me so I better get to it!

Watch out Michael Phelps!

Yesterday was a fun and relaxing day. The boys and I went to Hornbacher's and bought Auntie Leslie a cake, balloons, and cards from them and Stuart for her 30th birthday. We went and picked up Mr. Oberg from daycare early and surprised her. Stu was so cute, he was really excited to bring her the card he signed for "My Mommy's Birthday". We sang to her and all enjoyed a good piece of cake.

After we were done we headed to the pool. Anthony absolutely loves swimming without his life jacket. On the shallow end both him and Stuart can touch so they jump off the edge until they are both water logged. Anthony can do somersaults- front and back so he thinks he is the man. Les and I decided to put Alex in because the water was nice and warm. He loved it! At first he wasn't too sure but 5 minutes into it he was kicking and giggling. I swam with him close to half an hour. It was fun, I think he is going to follow in his big brothers foot steps and love the water. We are lucky to have our lake and Leslie's pool so they get year round practice.

I think we will start training for the Olympics within the year :). I read that Michael Phelps eats 12,000 calories during training. If I would have known that I would have trained right along with him. Here I thought breast feeding was good for burning calories.

Today

Well I have been busy importing pictures to my laptop to only be refused like 1600 times to download them on my blog, it is infuriating to say the least. But I think that I finally figured it out. Today Alex is almost 7 months, he will be on the 19th of August. Anthony is 4 years and just short of 5 months on the 15th. Here are some fun recent pics of "My boys" and I could truly not be prouder. They make my life so fun and crazy. They are both my little buddies and I love being witness to their different personalities. Do not get me wrong at times I am ready to trade them in to the farm :). I think the feeling at times is mutual. After all they have feelings too and need to be allowed to share them SOMETIMES. But at the end of the day our love is unconditional. That is why I love to go through our family pic's as often as I can to remind myself what life is truly about.

Sanity

I swear to you the only thing that is keeping me sane lately is this blog. I joined my family for lunch yesterday (my dad's entire family). We were getting ready to eat and my aunt suddenly disappears. About an hour goes by and you can start to feel the tension in the room, my stomach feels really icky. A short time later the children are told to go to the backyard because we need to have an adult meeting. At this point I am wondering if I am considered an adult or child. I am reassured the I am an adult and should stay. They break the news, it is not as if someone has been hurt physically but I see my family fall apart. I have made a decision today that it is time to "detox" my life. I cannot take anymore unnecessary drama, life is too short. I will not pose judgement on people's decisions and actions. Things happen for reasons that are out of your control. As you grow up it is okay to say your peace but then get over it. I feel like bad energy is circling around me right now and I choose to not become part of it but learn from it. My family has always seemed to be an area in my life that I considered to be "untouchable". I now realize that nothing is entirely sacred but it is up to me to try keep it that way.

On a very exciting side note Anthony can draw all of the letters of the alphabet now, he just ran up and showed me a picture of Mickey Mouse that he just drew. Pretty darn cute. Alex is constantly saying,"da da da da da." I respond with, "ma ma ma ma." He is sitting up very steady now. Over the weekend Erik said that he tried to pull himself up on the couch. He is really solid and I am curious to see if he walks earlier than his older brother. He is definitely laid back. My relatives thought the two were so fun to watch. Anthony is charming the crowd with his usual antics and Alex just smiles at each new face.

Overrated.

Well I am back from my girls weekend and unfortunately it was a bit overrated. Don't get me wrong I had a good time but was questioning whether it was worth it ALL day yesterday. I cannot keep up like when I was 21 that is for sure but I tried my best. Most of the ladies were feeling the same way on Saturday so unfortunately our weekend was cut short. I do think that we managed to show our buddy that there is life after the big "D", so that mission was accomplished. The other mission that was accomplished was my husband realizing how much work it can be taking care of the boys on your own some days and he had a new appreciation for me when I walked in the door. He hugged me for 10 minutes straight after I got home, he is one good husband and dad. I am a lucky girl!

The time has come!

For me to rock-n-roll right out of here. Please pray for me...woo hoo!! It is going to be our annual summer weekend 6 girls and a broken hearted guy, time to have some fun.

Yay Girls Weekend!

This weekend I am heading down to the lake with a group of girls to celebrate Leslie's 30th birthday. I am so excited to have the entire weekend to MYSELF. No husband, children, or dogs. Granted I love them all but will love them all more after a small break this weekend. No one needing milk, a diaper changed, or a partner to play Rockband (my husband's latest obsession). I think it is so important to have alone time to get in touch with yourself as an individual again. I encourage Erik to do the same. If a person doesn't take the time to do this it is very easy to get lost in being a wife or mother. By the time I return on Sunday I will be ready to tuck away my crazy self and happily read 3 bedtime stories and get up at 3 am with Alex. Because being a wife and mother is who I am, but it is always nice to visit the crazy ass Melissa who is going to party her tail off this weekend. Cheers!

I am so sad....

Erik and I have been fortunate enough to find a couple that has alot of the same interests as us, have children the same age as ours, and that we have alot of fun with. Right now my heart is breaking because I am not sure that they are going to be sharing in the future things that we discussed like taking care of our grandkids together and growing old together. We have experienced celebrations and commiserations together. Dating, Engagements, Weddings, Funerals, Pregnancies, Births, Vacations, Marriage Difficulties, Birthday Parties, Baptisms, and countless sleepovers and dinners together. We have shared laughter, tears, and madness together. When I think of family they are part of it.

Disney World or bust....

So we just got back from the land of Mickey Mouse. We had an absolute blast!! It really was the ultimate family vacation, except for one large detail and that is we were missing Alex. He was spoiled for nine solid days by my in-law's. When I say spoiled I mean SPOILED, but we would not have had it any other way. Unfortunately since the weather was 90-100 degrees with almost 100% humidity it is just not ideal for a 6 month old and we really wanted Anthony to enjoy the entire experience. We arrived at home close to midnight and I picked up the little man at 6 am.

Anyways back to Florida. We stayed at a timeshare with my parents and sister. My aunt and uncle were next door to us with their 3 boys and Grandma Dar. There was no real drama and everyone just went with the flow, it was great! Where we stayed was just the right size. There was two pools, one with water slides for the kids (okay maybe for the adults too) and a wading pool with not as much action. It was so humid you could feel it as soon as you stepped off of the plane.

Upon arrival we settled in. Monday we hit Sea World and fell in love with all the amazing animals there. It is spellbinding to watch what these animals are capable of. The trainers that work with them are so dedicated to them, it was really neat to witness this type of relationship. We thought that we were going to get rained out at the Shamu show but they were able to pull it off. The show was titled "Believe" and gave me goosebumps countless times. We thought for sure we were going to get splashed because we were front row and center, unfortunately to Anthony's dismay I think we were the only area that did not get drenched.

Tuesday we met up with Jim Feske at Epcot who was kind enough to help us out with getting us in as his personal guests for the day. We spent the morning at Epcot. The Finding Nemo ride as well as the Evolution of the Earth were so cool. I cannot believe how realistic they can make the figures look. Come lunch time the three of us went and met the rest of the crew at The Magic Kingdom...WOW!!! I have waited 30 years to see Cinderella's Castle and it did not let me down. Anthony was enthralled with everything. He was able to meet Mickey and get his autograph. At the lights parade he was going ballistic when he saw Mickey leading the way, it was hilarious. Space Mountain was crazy! The Haunted Mansion was Anthony's favorite and the Pirates of the Caribbean was a close second. Next time we go I think that we are going to try stay right on the resort again and spend a couple full days just at the Magic Kingdom. Erik bought a shirt that says," I am Grumpy because you are Dopey." Very fitting.

Come Wednesday we relaxed at the resort. Anthony thought he was pretty cool because he was swimming underwater with goggles and no life jacket. Erik and I were proud, he is a good little swimmer. For dinner we hit the Arabian Nights dinner theatre. Everyone loved it, young and old. Come night time the adults went swimming and Grandma Dar stayed in with the boys. I charged down the water slide and was irritated because it felt like I got a sliver in my finger when I went down. Erik went down and was complaining because his feet got shocked. My cousin Brent goes down (he's 20) and is almost in tears because a huge shock zapped him. Erik walks up to the site of where the water pump is going from the battery and sure enough there is a wire loose. We were all literally getting electrocuted. I guess people have always thought of our family as "shocking". He, he, I couldn't resist.

Thursday we were off to MGM or Disney Hollywood Studios. Awesome!! We went to the Indiana Jones Show, Stunt Show, and the Muppet's 3D Show. All were amazing! I have to say the Aerosmith Rollercoaster was by far my favorite ride. Erik and I were the first car on the ride and loved it! We went on the Tower of Terror ride with my sister and cousin Kyle. Kyle was sitting next to me (he's 15) and practically tried to crawl into my seat with me. When we got off the ride he tried to deny it but I still had marks on my arm to prove it. Anthony saw the Power Rangers and Monsters, Inc. family.

Friday we relaxed at the resort and shopped. Saturday pretty much the same. We were tired. Only difference is we ate at a DISGUSTING sea food buffet called Angel's Seafood. Never, ever eat there. Sunday we flew to Minneapolis and it took us an hour to find our car because we are idiots. After finally finding it we cruised over the the Heer's to see little Leila (sorry if I misspelled AJ). OMG she is so cute, you forget how tiny they are when they first arrive. I really wish they lived closer to us :(. From there we left and finally got home at midnight.

It is always super fun to go on vacation and it is always really nice to come home to your own sweet bed. Thanks to the Nobles, my parents, sister, husband, and child for an awesome time!! Thanks to the Kuehl's for your hospitality on Saturday before we left (we had so much fun), and thanks to my BFF for producing some cute babies for my kids to play with.