Turkey Time!

We had a great Thanksgiving week, if not a bit busy. I had marathon conferences Monday and Tuesday, but topped off 2 12-hour days with a great happy hour with colleagues. Grayson and I ran down to LC to celebrate with my family, and had a great time going to Grandpa JR's work, having dinner with Grandma and Grandpa at The Bronks, and hanging out with Auntie Jenny and Uncle Lonnie. Jenny and I cooked (with help from Dad and Lonnie) our first successful Thanksgiving dinner, and were blessed to have our always amazing mom with us this year. We are so thankful for what we have together, and I never dreamed my mom would be so incredible now, considering all she's been through in the last year and a half.

Grayson and I buzzed up to Maplewood for Thanksgiving with Bob and Joyce and the Schmidt clan, meeting up with Russ after his long day at work (all the people wanting to work off their turkey prior to eating it), and celebrating Taylor's 9th birthday.

We had time to deck our halls this weekend, and Grayson LOVES the lights and ornaments on the tree. He is also fascinated with lights outside, and it is fun to watch his eyes take in all the bright sights. He loves the tree a bit too much at times, but it is a good learning experience for him. We already have a good hold on some Christmas carols as well (thanks in part to Margaret!). We had the chance to have some fun with our friends Ron, Sara, Jackson, Emily, Maddy, and Amelia (Jerry had to work), and the kids were fantastic together! There was a lot of energy in the house, and we had fun chatting about old times (we miss you, Darcie, Jason, and family). I also fit in my usual Sunday evening workout, and my child did not want to leave the Lifetime child center for once - yay! Here are a few pics from the weekend.

Mayhem

I find myself writing once again to catch up on what is going on. Life has been a race lately, and I cannot believe how fast time has gone! I have spent most of my time bonding with a computer, but not in the "fun" sense. I am working, as I mentioned before on an additional license/grad degree, and right now I have two really intense courses. The hardest part is keeping up on all of the reading and the classroom response time, coupled with the fact that I've had tons of homework for school lately. Anyway, I guess I brought this on myself, so I should keep the complaining to a minimum. I had a few epiphanies lately, though, thanks to my own thoughts and Russ's observations: 1. My grad program should really be something I enjoy, as I am choosing my path. I have to say the info is fantastic, but I am so full of it right now that I'm not able to process or use it very well. 2. Even when I feel swamped, I still need to smile, laugh, and find ways to have fun - nobody likes a party pooper, which is what I have been lately. Heaven knows we've been through some amazingly tough things in the last 3 years, and this is a piece of cake compared to everything else.

Anyway, to top it all off, my memory card is having some grave issues with allowing me to access pictures. I will post them another time when it is not feeling crabby:)

October's ending...

Once again I've strayed away from my blog...in my defense, while trying to avoid excuses, I am a bit overwhelmed by computer work.  I am in the thick of projects on the computer with my students, working on teacher staff development via computers I'm teaching, and now in two online courses at Hamline which require computer work every night.  I do love technology, but I have a love-hate with it right now.  I'm sure it will be helpful that I just joined Facebook last night...

What have we been doing?  Many things.  Last weekend, we traveled to Wis Dells with Jerry and Emily, and had an absolute blast playing at Chula Vista's indoor waterpark.  Grayson and Maddy were so cute as they played the drum, held hands in the halls, and splashed around together.  Grayson also LOVED Amelia, and we adults found some time to play games, go on some great big-people rides, and relax.  Our kiddo was exhausted by Sunday, but I was sad to go home.

Tuesday, I had the chance to go to NKOTB with Emily in honor of her birthday.  I have to say that as a kid I LOOOVED them, but wasn't obsessed about this week's concert.  However, it was AMAZING, and I had an absolute blast reliving that part of my life through their sets.  The show was totally entertaining, and I find myself in "Blockhead" land again...Thanks Em!

This weekend, Grayson and I traveled to spend time with my family; my mom came home for the evening and we had fun with her and Dad.  We also saw my aunt and Grandma, who is doing much better following her recent emergency surgery.  On our way back to Hugo, we stopped to see Auntie Jenny, who is looking well after her gall bladder surgery - it was a whirlwind, but fun!  Now it's time for the work, so I'd better run!

Long time no see...

I bet you thought I'd forgotten about my blog...I have not - I simply haven't had the time to devote to it as of late. I have thought of it fondly as I toil late into the night getting things done, but I haven't stopped to write anything down for nearly a month! What a month it was, also!

Here are some updates...

Grayson turned 2, and had a fabulous birthday party with both sides of the family in a hotel in LC. We ate, swam, and played with his cousins until late into the evening. Grandma Chari was able to attend the whole event! He decided that very week that he'd start his terrible two actions, and we're learning to be patient. He is amazing and so humorous in many ways, though. He loves to sing and count, and loves to play his drum. We had some pictures taken at JCPenney in honor of his birthday. I sent the link out to some of you - I hope it works, and if you didn't get it and want to take a look at our rather gorgeous family :), let me know. Last week we celebrated a Myers cousin's wedding with my parents and many other kids! We had a blast running around on the farm where my dad grew up.

My parents last weekend at a cousin's wedding party.

Russ is busy as always with work - he spent the better part of a week in Maryland as a trainer for the Operations department at a new Athletic club, working tons of hours, but really enjoying the work. He hasn't had much time off lately, but some interesting opportunities are coming down the pipeline, so on life goes.

Our house is finished with its facelift - we love the way it looks, and are putting the final touches on our shed and driveway, and have to replace the AC unit. I will put up a pic as soon as it all wraps up.

Grayson and Lisa at his first Homecoming football game!

I am, of course, back at school and as busy as ever. I am teaching a kindergarten section of Media this year (for the first time), so now I am busy planning curriculum for 6 grades! I am working hard on improving my singing and game abilities with this crew, and let's just say my patience is getting a run for its money right now. I am enjoying it really, and time is flying by! The big thing taking up all my time is having started grad school through Hamline. I am currently working on an additional license (k-12 reading) which will roll into a Master's in Literacy. I am "attending" an online class right now - the class, of course, requires a lot of reading, but I am learning much! It is quite an adjustment to have so much work added on, but it will become old hat soon.

Having fun at this afternoon's Twins game...too bad they lost!

Whoa!

I am truly aghast at just how fast time has flown by lately! It is "Workshop Week" - a time for teachers like myself to stand back and reflect on our summer, prepare our rooms, and begin the daily barrage of constant thought regarding lessons, planning, and kids. I had forgotten how much school monopolizes my thoughts and dreams till this week - I truly enjoy my work, but let's just say that I don't miss the constant monologue of thoughts running through my head. I am vowing to put it out of my head as much as possible this weekend, though. Tuesday will come soon enough.


Grayson is nearly two years old! Where has that time gone? I am amazed at the changes I'm seeing daily, both physically and mentally. He is quite independent little boy lately - "I do it!" is a favorite. When buckling him into the car seat, Russ and I are allowed to take care of the bottom latches, but Grayson is in charge of the chest pieces. Once we do our part, he says "Shut the door Mommy (or Daddy)", and won't do a thing till the door is closed and we are in our proper seats. Whoa!


I am also amazed at how much he loves music - he LOOOVES to sing, and to be sung to, and I've found myself pulling out all the stops. I've always had a passion for singing, and though I've had the opportunity to sing in some fantastic locations and events, there is nothing like seeing his delight as we sing "Mr. Sun" or "ABC" over and over again. He even sings the entire ABC song on his own! Every day is a new adventure, and I never knew I could love someone so much! I am truly blessed in so many ways. Here's a pic in honor of his coming birthday we took last week at the park.

The End of Summer

It's State Fair time, the signal for the end of the summer. I always find myself eager to go back to work during this time, and spend many moments planning and thinking about the coming year, and I always create a "things I didn't do" list. My list isn't so large this year, so I feel pretty good about that. Today, though, we spent a beautiful morning and early afternoon at a perfect summer function - a kids water/pool party at a co-worker's house in Forest Lake. Grayson and I enjoyed playing in the many water items, and catching up with work friends and their kids. I must say, our hosts have a GORGEOUS home, and an even more gorgeous yard with the most plush, green grass I've ever seen (especially in this weather!). We did our part to water it today, that is for sure.

The dogs also had quite the outing today when our construction crew accidentally sent them on a joy run by leaving the gate open. Ever faithful, Vega returned on her own a short while later, but Jeepers, our ever curious boy, braved the elements and went on a multiple-hour field trip. Luckily, after putting out an APB with a few neighbor kids, he returned home safely (and quite clean). I owe those kids some ice cream! If I only could have attached a little camera to see what his morning held...
We are watching our house transformation this week as well, and are very pleased with the results so far - more info to come on that front soon. For now, here's a few great pics from our weekend and the last few days.

Enjoying the butterfly garden at Como

Enjoying a snack with Daddy

Letting Go (just a little bit)

Today was a HUGE learning day for me both professionally and personally. Long-winded as I am, I thought I would write a bit about my personal reflection from the day. Here goes nothing...

Big Marine Park Reserve Play Area

Russ had a work event this evening, so it was just me and the little guy. I felt like we needed a field trip, so off we headed to Big Marine Park Reserve for some play time. We had a blast, and I, as usual, chased him around to keep him safe. As I've mentioned before, this park is a very safe place for toddlers, but he loves to run and doesn' t always know when to stop before the ledge appears. We were having a great time playing in the tubes that slant upward and downward when my little boy turned around and said, "Mommy Out!" I was stunned, in a way - my child didn't want me to help him? Is he capable of moving himself safely?

This moment caused me to pause and realize just how often I still hold his hand and guide him through many mundane tasks, probably out of a sense of routine more than anything. I consciously tried to back off after this, and you know what? He did JUST FINE on his own with many of the park's challenges! I believe that as a mom it is my job to make sure he is secure and safe, but I am also learning about the importance of letting him go to learn for himself. While I do not plan on hanging out on a park bench while he runs like a wild child across the equipment, I do intend to give him a bit more space and responsibility in our daily tasks. It will be a challenge for me, but I think both he and I will be better people for it.

Oh my stars!

I have been quite the slacker again! I often think about things I might write in this blog, but I haven't been great at getting them in. I guess we've been pretty tied up lately, and I haven't even slowed down till after 11 at night, and I'm not always motivated at that point to be a great writer.
I guess it has been a week of finding answers; answers to many of life's little "should I's" that I need to tackle. I am working on grad school options, learning the root of my hives (I know the answer now - yeah and not all at the same time), and the idea of expanding our family (lots of complications there). I am not the best at being patient, but I know that if I do my homework and stay focused, I'll work it all out. For now, I just plan on enjoying the beautiful weather and our always-entertaining son. He's continuing to blow us away with his knowledge and his verbal skills. This week, to our delight, he has been singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" - and at times, the words are actually correct!

We spent some time in LC again, and enjoyed time with my very sharp mom! She continues to make some small yet significant progress. We went walking with both her and Dad, and she sang to Grayson! I had to choke back my tears of joy at her being able to "grandma" him. It was a great moment for our family. On Saturday, we packed in a day full of activity - our final swim lesson (he passed!), a bridal shower, and a scrapbook night/hang with the guys and kids night. As usual, I had a great time hanging out with my friends. Today, we had a nice bike ride, and are planning to enjoy the outside as much as possible.

The Toddler Touch

Every day I become more and more surprised at what Grayson can do. Just when I believe I have him figured out, he does something new, foiling our attempts at "toddler-proofing" our house. Today, he showed us just how good he is at reaching things on the kitchen counter, seemingly no matter how hard we work at keeping things away from the edges. He also showed us his big-boy abilities by pedaling on his trike all by himself! I don't know if he grew in the last 24 hours, but yesterday he seemingly wasn't able to reach the pedals to turn the wheels.


In other news, we are anxiously awaiting word from our contractor - our windows were supposed to be "in" by today, and the crew will hopefully begin work sometime next week. We look forward to the whole transformation, and are very curious about the new look we'll get. Our neighborhood is getting quite the face-lift, and it's interesting to see all the new things that are happening each day. There is certainly much "music" from tools each day ringing through the air.


We visited a fabulous new park in our area today - Big Marine Park Reserve - and had a FANTASTIC time playing on the massive, toddler-friendly in all ways park equipment, and Grayson had a blast in the lake. Here's a pic from our time there.

Being "Snotty"

It's been a while...I often think of what I could write about in my blog, but I've been a bit of a procrastinator in doing so lately. It must be approaching the latter half of my summer off. I find that I am quite the go-getter for the first part, and as August approaches, my to-do list loses its shimmer, and I find myself thinking more of fall, school, and lesson planning. I still am enjoying my time, but I am getting ready for a change.


The key word for the last week plus is...illness! I cannot believe how sick I've been since last week - I began to feel ill a week ago Wednesday, and fought some pretty wicked symptoms each day since. I even felt bad enough to visit the doctor on Monday, and luckily it wasn't anything serious. I've heard how rough summer colds can be, but I had never experienced one till now! Amazingly, Russ hasn't fallen sick, and Grayson had a tiny, tiny version of it - whew! I guess I'm willing to take the brunt as long as they're OK. I do have to say that it really put a damper on my want to get things done, but I'm improving now.


Updates...new appliances (yeah - it was a long day, but the kitchen looks amazing), lots of swimming fun for Grayson as we took some time to be like fish lately, lots of time at Lakeaires getting set up for the fall, much time spent on small house projects, a good amount of scrapbooking, and many laughs and amazed looks at our son's growing vocabulary - my personal favorites that are new include "octopus" and "snacks, please". I still continue to be astounded by what he knows, and we're working very hard to give him "little boy" activities and challenges. I bet that no matter what, I will always think of him as my little peanut and "my baby".


I could easily ramble on, now that I'm here, but I will spare you the pain for now. :)

Friends and Fun

It amazes me how time flies by in the summer. I always believe I'll have amazing stretches of free time, but when I am free, I have many errands and chores to do. I am definitely not good at having fun most of the time. That is definitely something I need to improve upon.


Grayson is back in daycare, but he's become so attached to me again that he cries and clings onto me as I try to leave. He's also perfected his use of the big fat lip. I guess it should bother me, but having been a daycare teacher, I know that I need to leave quickly and not linger. It was better today, and will get better as each day goes on. He loves Margaret, and is forever talking about his friends from daycare. It's so much fun to hear him say phrases and sentences from him, and to explain things to him which he truly understands.


Last night, Grayson and I did a little shopping at Carter's with Emily and Maddie, went to dinner, and played in a park. I had so much fun, and enjoyed having the chance to catch up. We were inseparable before having kids, and I think we believed we'd have lots of time once the kids were born, but that definitely is not the case. Here are a few pics from our time. Maddie is a little daredevil with great coordination, and Grayson enjoyed copying her the best he could.

Trips, Triathlons, and Trials

Once again, as per usual lately, we were running around like mad over the weekend. We went off to LC Thursday to visit my parents, and had lots of fun. Grayson FINALLY said "Grandma" - he is talking like crazy, and mimics everything we say, but for some reason, "Grandma" has been a word he won't say. He said it multiple times for us Thursday night - I think it was our reactions that spurned him on, but he hasn't said it much since then. I know it will come with time.
Saturday morning (very, very early), Russ and I were off to Lake Nokomis to work the LifeTime Triathlon as Bike Relay Support. We were both going to drive SUV's on specific sections of the route to offer any help to the participants, but during our preparations, I had another "beautiful" allergic reaction, and was forced to drug myself up and go with Russ (ARRRGH!). I am totally frustrated, because it puts off everything I've been wanting to do, and after one of these happens, my skin gets really sensitive for a few days. I am more determined than ever though to find a cause. It was a long day, but very interesting. When I think of triathletes, I think of perfectly sculpted bodies, but I saw many "normal" people participating, and I was truly impressed. It makes me contemplate the idea some day...I guess if I'd want to do this particular one, I have to have my allergies under control!
We spent the rest of the time doing work and hanging out. We also enjoyed the amount of sentences Grayson is now putting together. He seems to have to tell us everything he thinks and sees (he is currently obsessed with "helicopters" and "motor bikes"), including saying something we were totally stumped by - "Daddy farted!" We had to stifle the giggles - I think he may have learned it from his cousin? All the same, his vocab is exploding, and we're enjoying the fun.

Field Trip Frenzy!

As I mentioned last week, our daycare is on vacation, so it's just myself and the little guy together each day. I decided that we would take some trips and do some fun things together to keep from being stir-crazy together. We have had a ton of fun this week, and time has just flown by!

Monday we had water fun with a new "monster" sprinkler - we went out a few times to beat the heat, and I think the dogs had even more fun with it then we did!

On Tuesday, Grayson and I headed to Como to see the sights. It was a gorgeous day, and we had tons of fun watching the seals ("Mommy - doggies!" as our child said), the Orangutans and their precious baby, the baby giraffe as its gangly legs ran and ran, and many others. We also stopped over at Como Town to go on some rides. We rode on the little train together, and Grayson made a little friend on the boat ride he had to ride on his own. He had a blast with little Isabel - he's already sharpening up his flirting skills!

We played outside Wednesday, went to a lunch meeting at Donatelli's (our favorite!) and splashed around in our own little water park. Russ had a meeting in the evening, so we headed off to visit our old neighbors Lee and Marv - they are great entertainers of kids!

Today we are running some errands, purchasing a new car (more on that later), and heading to LC with Daddy in the evening for an overnighter.

Pony Up

I never knew how enjoyable the little things in life are till Grayson came along. I find such pleasure in watching his reactions when we share something new with him. Case in point: this week, we went to WBL's Marketfest on Thursday, and met up with Grandpa and Grandma Schmidt, who were there for the first time. We love to hang out at Marketfest and look at all the sights, as does Grayson. We took him on his first pony ride, and he held on to the saddle like a pro. Needless to say, he adored the experience, and immediately asked for more when we took him off. He also enjoyed the majority of Daddy's smoothie, and actually ate a piece of chocolate chip cookie (he is not a chocolate lover at all) - thanks to Grandpa Bob for the sweet treats.

Our 4th was spent in our usual home-improvement style; we had our carpets cleaned upstairs, and took on the role of furniture movers/interior decorators. I must say, though that there's nothing like clean carpeting, and it's always good to have a chance to go through our things and rearrange.

We've been having a bit of an off week as far as how Grayson has been feeling - we believe his 2 yr molars are coming in...and we had a very interesting evening with his temper on the 4th, but we all enjoyed some special neighborhood fireworks on our block. Outside the very loud screamers, our little guy loved the pyrotechnics.

Next week will be our special mom/son field trip week - our daycare is off, so it's back to full-time parenting starting tomorrow afternoon. Even though I do cherish my own time, I look forward to setting out on some adventures together.

North By Northwest, and How I Love a Parade!

Grayson the turtle...

Our family has been a very busy one lately, with many new experiences! We spent last week with the Schmidt clan in Longville, MN and had a FANTASTIC time! Grayson was an absolute delight, and he loved hanging out with his extended family (as we did also). He tried so many new things, and was excited about them all. He LOOOOVES the lake, and even went on his first "hot dog" ride - he cried when we got of, as he wanted more of the fun. He also touched his first fish (and now loves to say "fishies in the water"), went on a couple great boat rides in the water, played around in a beautiful lake, saw his first turtle races, and ate LOTS of ice cream ("ummy" as he says). Mommy and Daddy also enjoyed some water sports and fishing as there were many hands to take care of Grayson for the week.

Reel 'Em In!

Water fun!

Grayson and I packed up once again Sunday morning to head to the Water Ski Days parade and festivities in Lake City. The day was AMAZING in all ways - we were able to take in the parade with my whole family, including my mom and many others we hadn't seen in a long while. My mom amazed us yet again, and Grayson was so much fun! He had a blast on the carnival rides, and cried when it was time to get off. We had a relaxing dinner with Grandpa JR and Auntie Jenny, and saw many old friends. I couldn't have asked for more!

Grandma kisses the sleepy one...

Fun with Auntie Jenny...

Time with the Grandparents

To celebrate the start of summer, Grayson and I headed to LC to see Grandpa JR and Grandma Chari for a few days, and it was a fun and relaxing time - not to mention the beautiful weather as well! We were able to go for a few walks with them, play outside, see our Great Gramie, and just enjoy ourselves. Grayson found many ways to enjoy his time, not to mention the puddle just outside the Care Center. I wanted to add a few pics, but I'm working on another laptop other than my own, so there are some issues (it's a long story). I'll add them in soon.



This week I "celebrated" moving into my actual 30's (on Tuesday) by scrapbooking and going to dinner with Russ at a new restaurant in Hugo. It was a beautiful and enjoyable day, and it felt so odd to choose a dinner from a menu without thinking about whether I'd have time to eat it or if Grayson would like it. It was very nice!

I find it hard to think about my age progressing, as I still see myself as a kid in many ways, but when I look around, I see all the things I am fortunate to have, and I know I've truly been blessed. I have no regrets up to now, except that I need to continue to find ways to enjoy life instead of being stressed out or working too much, which I tend to do quite often. Time flies, and with all I've learned from life in the last year, I know I need to enjoy what's in front of me at all times.

I can't get over how fast Grayson is growing up these days. He is talking like a maniac, and we love knowing exactly what he wants. He is always very curious, and he is such a loving child! We've had fun lately with our little mockingbird regarding counting - he can actually "count" to 20 (with help), and he loves to look at a colorful list of numbers in the front and back of our Chicka-Chicka 1-2-3 book. He is so adorable, and really loves to please us as much as he can.

This weekend I am marching with my media crew in the Manitou Days parade, and we are preparing to go up to Longville with the Schmidt clan for some relaxation and water fun. I'm sure I'll have many pics to follow!

School's out for summer!

Summer has finally arrived - although it doesn't seem like it as I look out the window. I am "officially" finished for the next few months, but I've already put in 5 hours the last two days of "special" media center work. It feels good to be able to make a mess in my media center with books, and to move things around without worrying about my students! I do get a little misty-eyed as I think of the kids that are moving on to the middle school or to other places, but I'll get over it soon.

As it is summer, I have some FREE TIME!! I have kept busy the last few days with errands and the like, but I found a little time to scrapbook and go to the gym, and let me say it felt wonderful! I do miss the little guy, though he does need to stay in the routine, and loves his daycare pals. I like the fact that I didn't have to choose - I am paying for half-weeks to keep our spot in our center, so it only makes sense for him to continue to attend daycare a little bit each week. I'll be a happier mommy for it, I know.

One MAJOR bummer we've had happen this past week is the problem with our laptop! It won't take a charge, so it is at the "doctor" for up to a month! YIKES! I am writing this blog at the beautiful Maplewood library, but I miss our computer sooooooooo much! I didn't realize how much work Russ and I do at night on the thing, but I hope it comes back healthy (and not in an expensive fashion) soon!

Weekend of weather and water!

We had a busy and exciting weekend here in good-old Hugo! I still am having a mystery allergy issue, as I became a blotchy tomato after a family bike ride - it was a scary road yet again, and I need to make some calls Monday morning, but I avoided the ER! I also got to catch up with a truly dear friend on Saturday, and I really enjoyed hanging out with her. Grayson was just a ham for the company as well.
Once again, the weather was an interesting thing (especially on Saturday), and Russ and I got some amazing pictures of the clouds as the tornado sirens rang and rang. I also found out how well a weather radio works, and how useful they are (as well as how loud the alarms ring when weather comes your way), as I purchased one on Thursday. I got my money's worth out of it Saturday evening, but we were fortunate enough to avoid anything but heavy rain and wind.

Sunday was a beautiful outdoor day for us, and we saw again how much our son loves water! We also had the opportunity to hang out with some neighbors and use their cool new sprinkler, and their swingset and sand box - needless to say, Grayson had a blast! He is such a happy little guy, and he's growing up WAY too fast!

ABC's, 123's, and Counting Blessings

It's been a big again since I blogged last, and once again, I find myself leaning on more excuses...I just can't get over how fast time seems to go, and at times when I look back, I don't see myself being all that productive. I guess I need to look at the number of minutes spent with the little guy just cutting up snacks and playing outside and remember what really counts.

Over the weekend, we invaded Ron, Sara, and Jackson's house, and Grayson did a good job of competing for toys and making his mark on the house. We also spent some of the weekend cleaning up the yard, and had some time out on Saturday night.

The big issues, though, came Sunday with "The Hugo Tornado". Russ was at work in Woodbury that afternoon, and Grayson and I were in Lake City watching things unfold on TV as the storms passed through our little town. The poor pooches were forced to contend with the sometimes racquetball-sized hail on their own - they seemed pretty quiet for the next few days, and we'll see their reactions with coming weather. I feel very fortunate for not having been there, and we truly feel blessed that our home and belongings were just well-battered versus being destroyed as so many other residents. Here are a few pics from Russ's eyes about an hour after the storm.

Here is some of the hail about an hour after the storm...

...and here is one small example of what larger hail does to fragile things.

Besides knowing how truly fortunate we were, we also realized what a fantastic neighborhood and family we have on our little block. Both Russ and I received multiple calls from multiple neighbors to check on us, and they even came over to check up on the house and the pups for us! I know we have a close-knit community here, but it wasn't till this tough situation that I fully realized the strength of our relationships with eachother.

On a happy note, our child is a chatty, silly, and adorable boy! He loves to mimic us, and is now into finishing our counting of 1,2,3, and echos the alphabet nearly perfectly! I cannot even say how nice it now is to ask him what he needs or wants, and to have him tell me in a way I can understand! We are really looking forward to summer and vacation time to explore more of the world with him.

Swingin' Along

We had a fabulous afternoon in the beautiful sun - we FINALLY were able to get our hands on a fantastic "new" swingset via Craigslist (and a plethora of hours spent looking and emailing notices on the site). We are now the proud owners of a Step 2 swingset and play area, and Grayson loved it from the moment we put the set and slide on the ground. We look forward to many hours of fun with it, I know. It's amazing how the little things mean so much - the look on his precious little face after we put his toddler swing on the set and buckled him in is something I'll keep in my heart forever. I don't know if it's possible to get this look on camera, but we tried.

Patience is a Virtue...

People speak of the "Terrible Twos" often - my question is, when do they really start? People often hope their kids are advanced in their physical and mental capacities, but this is one area that I really don't want my child in yet. Unfortunately, though, he is becoming quite the independent little person lately, and is trying our patience to no end. It is still fun to watch him learn, but truly not enjoyable for us to contend with the messes that are left behind - I can only laugh a few times at the overturned plate, cup, or, in the case of this pic, yogurt during a meal or snack time. Oh well...I still love him to pieces.

I decided to change up my blog a bit, being that I've been a bit of a slacker on it lately. I can feel the end of the school year approaching - I am beginning to slow down more myself, and I am ready for the winding down of everything.

Over the weekend, Russ went up north for a big bachelor party, and Grayson and I spent an enjoyable day with his cousin, Taylor. She LOOOVES our dogs, and here is a precious pic of she and Jeepers in the ball pit. I really enjoyed her company, and she was such a great help! On Sunday, we got together with more family for Hunter's b-day party - it was quite the "hunting" event, as they put on a fun gathering full of very outdoorsy activity. I got a true pic of what Grayson will be like as he grows and enters school.

Drama...

It's been a while, I know...I can pile on a ton of excuses to explain my blog falling behind...let's just sum it up with the word "drama".
Post ball-pit entry, Grayson also brought with him a little excitement from the Eagle's Nest in the form of a stomach bug - we spent a week getting him better, and then I was knocked out for the better part of 2 days (really knocked out - ask Russ) with it myself. I'm also working on finding answers to my fun hives issue (today's the day), and sadly, my mom is not doing well. Last week, she developed a UTI from her catheter tube, which prevented us from going to see the rehab therapists in Rochester, and it turned into a very grave problem. She was admitted in the LC hospital early Friday AM, and my sister and I were asked to come home. Mom's body was having much trouble - fever, a bloodsugar of over 1,000 pts, no ability to eat or drink without throwing up, and blood counts that were totally out of whack with the infection. We stayed close with our family and prayed for God and Mom to work out what they needed to, and I can say that she's pulling through the best she can. She's able to talk, and it appears that things are mending, but we are nowhere near out of the woods yet. More to come in the future. All I can say is that my mom is an incredibly strong woman, and I can only hope to be an iota of what she is based on how many things she's overcome in her life. She continues to amaze me every moment.

I did get to go home later in the weekend to spend some time with my guys at home. We caught up on many house things, and had dinner with the Schmidt clan yesterday. I am so amazed at what Grayson is doing, and how grown up he continues to become each day! He's gone through quite the growth spurt as of late, and I captured a few good pics last night showing this little man of ours. Hope you enjoy!

In the Pits

The Schmidts were on a mission this weekend - for toys. When I step back and think about it, we pretty much spent the entire weekend on a hunt for the best gadgets for the little guy. We went to an insane "garage sale" at a local elementary school this weekend, where we scored big on some great toys (I cannot even begin to describe the size of the line or the madness inside as thrifty moms, dads, and grandparents scoured the landscape for goods). We then took Grayson to Eagle's Nest, where he had a blast in the ball pit. Unfortunately, I only shared in about 2 minutes of fun, for shortly after we got into the toddler area, I had another hive attack - off to the store for Benadryl and a frantic call to the triage, and I was taken care of...for now. I hopefully can find out what is going on soon, as I don't (and can't) trust anything I come into contact with - it is totally frustrating and frightening!!!!


Anyway, enough ranting on myself (I could go on about my hives on Sunday, but I won't)...we celebrated Grandpa Bob's birthday with dinner and fun on Saturday night, and then spent our day Sunday making our own ball pit, running around looking at all the yard projects we need to do, and looking at set after set of play equipment for Grayson - it sounds like fun, but I think we're more confused than ever. We did enjoy Grayson's reaction to his new pool-of-fun (see the pic), and his wheelbarrow and sand toys - some day we'll get to be outside with them!

"Dooh do do, do, do do do"

One thing you may not know is that some of the Schmidt clan (and some others such as myself on the Myers front) has an aptitude for music and singing - our child is now a part of the group, I am proud to say. Daddy has taught him to sing Do-Wop music, and I happened to catch a little on video this evening.

From Baby To Boy

We all definitely have the Spring bug now, and I can especially say that Grayson loooooves being outside. We had a great (and busy) weekend, spending Friday evening with Grandpa and Grandma Schmidt - note the great pics!

We also went to our neighbor Kailee's 2nd birthday party on Saturday, and attended the NICU reunion on Sunday afternoon, where Grayson was reunited with one of his primary care nurses, Lindsay (see pic). It was amazing to see the sheer number of kids around, and to see the various states of health of the kids. As we think about another child some day, I can't help but have some memories and images stay in my head about preemies and bedrest...however, I am a stronger and better person, and would be ready for anything if our future kids could turn out like Grayson.

Russ and I continue to be amazed at our child's growth from a baby to a little boy - every day, and nearly every minute we see something new, whether it be all the things he now says or repeats back to us to how much he moves and loves to run free. Life gets pretty crazy, but I am seeing the value of stepping back and just looking at things like I've never seen them before - and Grayson's curiosity is endless. Just this morning, as we walked up the daycare driveway, a squirrel ran out and scurried around the yard - we quietly watched its actions, and talked about what it did. As soon as we got inside, Grayson told Margaret about it in his own way, and pointed to the squirrel outside. I'm sure to the average person it seems like an everyday thing, but he his growing up so fast!

Grayson loves to help - and he is very capable, especially when feeding the dogs or putting things away. Our daycare teacher says he loves to pick up and throw sticks, and we've seen his great arm as he's taken our landscape rocks and thrown them - of course, into the pond right away, and then he took aim at a car...needless to say, we stopped that quickly. He also showed a love for basketball this weekend (Daddy would be proud) when our neighbor helped him "shoot hoops" in the big-people hoop at their house. Grayson loves his hang time on the net!

Goose Eggs and Growing Spots

The Schmidt family (well, at least myself and Grayson) have been quite the contributors to the medical profession this last week. Last Friday, as I mentioned earlier, I believe, I spent a "langorous" morning in an ER bed, trying to figure out some possible bladder condition (yet to be determined as the cause). On Monday, I was once again an ER guest, when after playing outside with the kiddo and later Daddy for over an hour, I broke out in hives all over, and then my tongue and throat began to swell. Needless to say, it was an anxious ride to the hospital, but after many hours, I came home with a pocket full of drugs, and orders to see an allergy specialist. Such is life, though.

Our doctor visits don't stop though - enter Grayson. Tonight, just before dinner, Grayson and I were sitting at our granite-topped kitchen table looking at the computer and singing "BINGO". He turned to look at me and sign that he was hungry, and then he turned forward and suddenly smashed his forehead into the ledge of the table - a feat I am not sure how he accomplished. A GIGANTIC goose egg suddenly appeared, amongst screaming, and developed quickly. I tried to stay calm, called the doctor, and off we went to get checked for a concussion. He is fine, though, and now we know the steps to follow when worried about a possible concussion. Another parenting lesson learned. Here's a lovely pic of his head...

Whirlwind Weekend

Time flies when you are busy - and that certainly was the case this weekend! We are the proud new owners of a Trek Go Bug child trailer, which we bought during a snow squall Friday evening, and we are hoping to take it out for a trial run tomorrow. On Saturday, we just did "stuff" throughout the daytime, and I was able to sneak off with my girlfriends for a bit to scrapbook - it really made me appreciate just how wonderful my friends are, especially when a woman who shared our table for the evening told us just how special we were to have each other (sniff, sniff).

On Sunday, Grayson and I whisked ourselves off to LC and went on a whirlwind tour of our family spots. We really had some laughs with Grandma and Grandpa Myers - I am amazed at my mother's sharp wit and quick humor - she is truly a strong woman for everything she's been through, and is improving so much each day - I'm actually excited to see what the future holds for our family. Grayson had a good time as well as we hung out with Great Gramie for a bit, played with Auntie Jenny, and got the giggles with Grandpa JR. It was a big day, but worth every minute of strife during our car time. Here are some silly pics from the day.

Grandpa and Grayson on their way to Mom's room...

Grandpa had Grayson rolling with laughter as he tickled him with his whiskers.

Grandma Chari laughed so hard a Grayson's giggles she nearly cried!

Toddler Time

What a bad blogger mommy...I haven't been on to update anything in a bit, and I guess time hasn't been completely on my side. I'm here now though, and here's our latest...

Last week we took a quick road trip to Detroit Lakes - sadly though, for Russ's grandma's funeral. She lived a long and healthy 95 years, though, and we enjoyed being with family. Grayson went down his first water slide, and after the first unsure ride with Daddy, he was hooked. It was fun to watch and hear him yell in excitement. We survived the car ride, though, and Grandpa Bob and Grandma Joyce were quite the troopers to put up with a toddler's demands.
Over the weekend, we spent some great time outside, and we went on a quest for a bike trailer - WOW - what a journey, and an expensive one as well. Our contemplation continues (thanks for the advice, Horwath fam), and we'll have one soon, I'm sure.

Lately, I find myself eager for spring, and looking at things in a new light. When we enter a new place or play at home, I now do the "toddler assessment" - 2 questions:

1. How many ways can Grayson injure himself in the room?

2. What things can he throw, break, or scatter?

It amazes us just how much he's turning into a little boy- in fact, while on a walk with our friend Emily, her 2 yr. old, and her 1 mo. old, we talked about how Grayson is always in motion, and that Maddie wasn't such a maniac - oh, the actions of a boy! We've now become accustomed to the bumps and bruises of life also - I now look for blood or head trauma, and if there isn't any, we're OK. Also, our meal times are quite the stressors - he is becoming an independent kid, and we just have to sit back and watch the food and utensils fly as he learns. I know, enjoy it?!? He is quite the cutie though, as you can tell from the first pic. That "angelic" smile can turn me from mad to glad in a flash.

He has a bit of a runny nose right now, and he looooves Kleenex. Here's a pic of what he does when we ask the question "Do you have a boogie?" I've also included a fun one showing his throwing habit (Daddy thinks we have a baseball player in training). Enjoy!