Our Rockin' New Year's Eve!

Waiting on 2011...

Happy New Year (a little early) everyone!

Best of 2010

This is my Best of List for 2010



Best Book: The Help

Best Movie: Toy Story 3

Best Song: To Know You by Casting Crowns

Best new invention(for me): Door to Door Organics www.colorado.doortodoororganics.com

Best thing to happen to our family: the addition of Cora

My Bedtime Worry Wart

Mitch has a bad habit of getting out of bed multiple, multiple times at night(I know this is payback, mom) and coming to talk to me about the pains in his stomach, back, elbow and left thumb until he has exhausted every and all possibilities or I am out of ailments. This week I started something new and before we even begin his bedtime prayers I ask him to tell me 5 things that are bothersome, worrisome or on his mind. So far so good, and my little worry wart of a first born child who likes to walk the floor until all hours has been going to bed much better. Anyone with kids knows that they'll sneak a new curve ball in on you at anytime, but I'll take the small victories as they come.

Baked Potato Soup

I have found the best recipe for baked potato soup and have tried it out 3 times now, pretty much have it down to my liking, and thought I would share it. I make it pretty much as the recipe calls for except I use ham instead of bacon(that is usually what I have on hand). Enjoy!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Baked-Potato-Soup/Detail.aspx

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.

Luke 2:11, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (NIV)

Happy 7th Birthday Mitch!

Dear Mitch,
Happy 7th Birthday, Buddy! You have had a great 6th year and Daddy and I are so proud of you! This year you grew, and ate, and grew and ate, a lot! Famous words from you after school were always, "Mom, when is dinner?" and "How soon are we going to eat?". Surprisingly, you were able to eat after loosing 6 teeth this summer, and you had a very cheesy grin for the first day of 1st grade. You are still amazing the socks off of your teachers at Lincoln Academy and while Mrs. Schrock was sad to see you leave her Kindergarten class you entered Ms. McKinney's ready for a challenge and a challenge she gave you. You love to learn and are especially good with numbers. When you aren't busy at school we can usually find you playing "animal adventures" or Mario Brothers with Megan, chillin' out with your Nintendo or reading a Magic Tree House book. You are a very busy and curious guy and I know 7 is going to be great!

Happy Birthday!

I love you,

Mom

A great pic of you from Thanksgiving...look at all that food!

Saying "I love you"

Currently, a good friend of mine and her husband are going through and medical battle of epic proportions. Her husband is suffering back to back strokes daily and has several blood clots in his brain. He is hospitalized now and we have an extensive prayer chain started for them, but in seeking the Lord, reading her texts and emails I feel very small in this. I want to reach out to her and let her know how much she is loved, and when I first read her email I cried. For now, I am fervently praying for her and her husband, hugging my children close and telling Frank that I love him.

If you would like to read their story this is a link to their site:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryanheckenberg

December catch-up

I am way overdue in posting...this month has just flown by so far and I can hardly believe Mitch's birthday is in 3 days and Christmas is in 8. Wow! We have had several parties in the past few weeks(our family has 6 December birthdays between the 7th and 29th) and we have all shared a nasty cold that has us all sounding like a bunch of barking seals, except Megan, she is the healthiest this year! Yay for no more tonsils!! Mitch and Megan are both out on Christmas break as of today so we have about 3 weeks to rest, play, celebrate, and hopefully, stay healthy.

Here are just a few pics from the last week of all the fun we had...

Mitch and Megan with Great Grandma Shirley at her 80th birthday party
Megan singing in her Christmas Program at Happy Valley Preschool

Mitch at his bowling party last Saturday

Look at these cuties

Just a few of our new family pics taken last month. Maybe you will see some under your tree....

It's Tradition

In keeping up with the Thanksgiving weekend tradition we put up our Christmas tree today, and Mitch was sick and Megan tumbled off a chair while decorating the tree. It wouldn't be a Wernlein family tradition if we didn't do those things year after year. While we put the tree up we also watch Home Alone and sort through our favorite ornaments. It's lots of fun and something I look forward to every Thanksgiving weekend. I really wouldn't mind if next year Mitch skipped on being sick and Megan decided that injuring herself wasn't necessary. At least this year we didn't have to take her to Urgent Care. That happened last year when the stocking hanger fell on her and cut her lip open. We can be thankful she was a little more graceful this year and her flying leap left us all gasping and then laughing because it was rather funny how it happened. It's never boring around our house, that's for sure!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From Our Turkeys to Yours!!

Muddling through

Today was hard. I remember when we lost Mati that the days and weeks following were hard and the pain of loosing her seemed like a huge ache, but this is hard. Comparing them isn't fair but when we got Gordon he picked me and really was my dog so the loss seems to be a little deeper, maybe, or maybe you just forget how much it hurts. Whichever, I feel like I have just muddled through the day, forgotten things, misplaced things, driven past places I was suppose to be. It's very frustrating. All for a little dog who stole my heart and I miss like crazy.

Goodbye my sweet boy

Today we had to say goodbye to our sweet dog Gordon. I felt my heart break in two having to do this. He was the sweetest old dog and came to us on a complete fluke about four and a half years ago. He had survived Hurricane Katrina and needed a home, desperately. I have never met a dog with a more loving and kind spirit and I will miss him greatly. He was a true Southern gentleman, waited his turn, was sweet with the kids and extra laving to the ladies. Having survived a great tragedy he hated storms, mostly rain, and always needed some extra love(even a tranquilizer) to get through some of the big storms we had in the summer. He was faithful, loyal and loving all the way to the end and I will miss his big dark eyes, having coffee with him near me in the mornings, seeing him in the window when we returned home, generally just having "my shadow" around.

To the best old guy around, I hope you are sunning yourself in a big bay window in doggie heaven. You brought me more joy in those 4 years than one dog mom could ever ask for.

I love books!

Last night our book club picked our selections for 2011. It's always an exciting night for a book lover like me. At one point I think we had over 25 different selections that we were trying to pair down, oh the joy! It's a little like Christmas and the lotto; you can't wait to see what everyone brings and what will get selected, and you also want your selections to get picked. Here is just a smattering of what made our picks...

Sophie's Choice
The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night Time
Island of Saints
Remarkable Creatures
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Zeitoun
Cutting for Stone
The Ten Year Nap
Thinking in Pictures
The Imperfectionists




***This is my 400th post! If you are a regular reader please leave a comment so I know you stopped by, and thank you!

Proud Mom

My heart grew two sizes today during the Veteran's Day celebration at Mitch's school today. The first, was watching those cute Boy Scouts lead color guard and hearing Megan's cute little voice saying the Pledge of Allegiance along with the big kids, and the second, was when they asked if any students wished to serve our country and Mitch's hand shot up like a rocket. Mitch really aspires to serve in our country in some aspect and if you ever ask him why it will make your heart melt and bring tears to your eyes.

Thank you to all of those in my family who have served. You have been excellent examples to my children. Love you!

Dog for Sale

Did you ever read Shel Silverstein as a kid? Well I did, and one of my favorite poems was Sister For Sale. Today, or this week, I am thinking of selling this lovely new puppy we got. Oh, yes, she is quite adorable and can be snuggly cute but my ditty would go like this

Rottie for Sale

One Rottie for sale
One Rottie for sale
One Barbie shoe chewing
Raccoon chasing Rottie for sale

One Rottie for Sale
One Rottie for Sale
One mud tracking in my house

...I can't come up with any more words, but you get the gist. Really I would never sell her, but she sure is a handful with 2 other geriatric dogs and 2 kids. What were we thinking?! That's right, we love rotties and she needed a good home.

Super fab weekend!

My blah week last week was followed by a super fabulous weekend. Yesterday we got time to relax in our jammies, Frank helped me clean the house, we went out to dinner and then to an Avs game with my in-laws season tickets(thank you Earl and Rita!). The game was the highlight of my weekend. I have really gotten to be a hockey nut and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE #9 and #25 on our team, but I also have my other favs. Going to the game with my honey was also tons of fun and he was so sweet when he caught one of the free t-shirts that they throw into the stands. What a romantic! Today we were up super early because of daylight savings time and I couldn't convince the kids to go back to bed. I was tired from being out late at the game so we just hung out again and then worked in the yard getting ready for the so-called snow we are suppose to get later on this week. To round out the weekend we watched one of my all time favorite movies, Beauty and the Beast, and ate popcorn together on the couch. Really, could it get any better than a relaxing weekend, hockey, 2 cute kids and a princess movie?!! What a way to make up for such a long week last week.

The Good List

November didn't start off so well. After Halloween weekend was so incredibly fun the week rolled in with a slow start, lots of grouchies, and Mitch home from school for 2 days with a cold and an asthma flare up. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. Rather than focus on all the blah though there were some really fun things that were thrown in so I am going to rattle those off (more for myself)...

I had breakfast with my college roommate. We ate, laughed and gossiped for 2 hours!
I bought Mitch a pair of pants for $2 with the 2 store coupons I had!
Megan and I got haircuts and some girl time together today.
I had the chance to read A LOT while Mitch has been home sick.

The scary Wernlein's

We all got dressed up last night for my sister and brother-in-law's annual Halloween party. It was lots of fun and the kids insisted I be something scary so Megan picked me out a Web Princess costume. Frank scared the dogs and small children in his Big Bad Wolf costume, Mitch was a Night Fury from How to Train Your Dragon and Megan was a Pom Pom girl, not to be confused with a cheerleader. The kids are chomping at the bit to go out trick or treating tonight and I think we are actually going to have nice Colorado weather for it. It's going to be a great day!

Fall fun with Cora

Cora is approximately 14 months old, has been with us a little over 2, and is loving life at the Wernlein's!!

Pumpking carving

Look how gross!
ewwww!

Mitch's new "do"!

Mitch and Megan and some of their new friends

Not a bad gigg

A really great part of my "job" is all the time I get to spend volunteering at the kids' schools. I was in Mitch's class for over 3 hours today and it was nice to see him in his school environment and meet his friends. Megan's class is also very fun to volunteer in but that is mostly because of all the animals. The last time I was there I got to help with the bunnies. Really, 45 minutes teaching kids how to pet bunnies?! Sure, sign me up! I also like how excited both kids get when they know I am coming to their schools. It is so fun to see their faces light up and see them giggle when they introduce me as "Mrs. Wernlein". It's a really great gigg!

Seasons are changing

I am starting to feel a change coming. I haven't decided quite what to make of it yet, but something is definitely changing around me, friends, schedules, and the like. I just feel so busy and things that use to feel comfortable and fun seem more challenging and burdensome. It's got me worn down and anxious. Someone at MOPS asked me if I enjoy all the time I have now that my kids are in school, and I literally had to keep from laughing in her face. I don't mean to be rude, but I hardly ever sit down during the day unless it is to fold laundry. Okay, okay, I do when Megan and I are playing, but I just always am "on call". Why don't people understand that a mom's job never ends?

November is also just right around the corner which means the word Kindergarten is getting thrown around and it has me all in a tizzy. Spending time with Megan seems all so important to me right now. Doing crafts, playing Barbies, babies and animal vet is always high on my list because I feel like this season I am in is getting shorter and shorter.

Asthma flare

Mitch is having a bad asthma flare up this week, and has been home from school the last 2 days. I feel bad for him and am trying to do what I can on my end to help him out. Today we stayed home and I cleaned his room really well while he and Megan watched How to Train your Dragon, played Nintendo, and dressed up multiple, multiple times. I completely washed and changed his bedding, washed his stuffed animals, dusted his entire room top to bottom, vacuumed and tidied up. It looks really nice now and all sparkly. Honestly, because he has asthma, I really should do that more often. The kids were really cooperative too and loved that I was finding new toys that they hadn't seen in months. I am hoping the weekend goes better and his asthma is better controlled soon.

Special Studio Sale

While I was out...

My parent's took the kids to Rock Creek Farms Thursday afternoon to collect pumpkins while I was otherwise under the weather. What a bummer, huh? It was a gorgeous day this year and the kids had a great time.

Must be kidding me

I am sick again this week. This time with a nasty stomach bug. I really am so over this and have definitely used up my mommy sick days. I went in to the doctor today and they are running tests and treating me for salmonella poisoning. More later...

Happy Birthday, babe!

Happy Birthday to the hottest 36 year old!

Clear-er head

Last week was a terrible week for my migraines, and I mean terrible. This seems to happen about every 3 months or so and I don't know if it is hormones or stress, but whatever it is it is downright annoying! This one lasted just about 5 days and sent me to the doctor for a shot of painkillers on Friday to break the cycle. This week has started off much better and I have been trying to just relax, let thing slide off and not get wound so tight about the little things (we'll see how long that lasts).

Tomorrow is Frank's birthday and the kids and I are really looking forward to celebrating with him. I took them to buy him something over the weekend and they were very cute with their selections. Tomorrow we will also be having cheesecake feast(not fest) from Cheesecake Therapy which is Frank's favorite dessert place, yum!!!

Circus!

The circus on Saturday afternoon was awesome!! A BIG thanks to my parents for taking us and spoiling the kids rotten! We had a wonderful time and I am still trying to figure out where to get a pair of cool stilts to walk around the house it! ; )

Mmmmm October!

I LOVE October! It is my most favorite month and time of year. It's when summer ends in CO, the leaves change, sweaters and pants come back out and it's time to make soup and chili!! We also celebrate Frank's birthday and Halloween! Tomorrow we are going to the circus and we are all very excited. We haven't been to the big Ringling Bros. circus in over 5 years, and Megan has never been. I am sure we will all be stuff with circus goodness by then end of the day.

Fall...I love it!!

Baby Blues

Is it really possible to have baby blues when your kids are 4 and 6? I am kinda thinkin' it is, but it is a different sort of Baby Blues. It's more of the oh, where have the days gone when my little one use to smell so sweet, coo and look at me with all the love in the world. I am reminiscing because I saw and got to hold a friend's 8 day old baby today. She is the sweetest little thing and Thomas was even on the TV. It made me more than a little nostalgic for those days that I just left behind. It's amazing how quickly they pass by and now my sweet things are growing more and more independent with each passing day. For today, I gave that sweet baby girl an extra snuggle and knew that this mom had 2 very sweet babies as well, they are just much older now.

I'm getting over my blues just sitting here thinking about Mitch as a newborn and all of the endless crying nights. He still isn't much of one to go to bed on time but at least he doesn't cry all night long anymore!

Mitch 'O Lantern

This year for Halloween Mitch will be sporting the "scary Jack 'o lantern" look!!

He is such a goofy kid!

My Tiger Scout

Does he look a little like his Dad, or what?!

Cleaning it up

Since Mitch's latest cold and asthma flare up I have buckled back down on his and our diet and cut out more of the gluten and dairy and really watched the dyes and processed foods, and surprise surprise, his asthma is better. Now, I am not a total freak about the diet, I would say we are 75% clean, gluten, dairy, organic and 25% conventional. It is just too hard to shop, feed and also convince Frank to eat that way. When we do though I think we all feel better, I do at least. It also helps that Mitch isn't a picky eater and will try many new foods and doesn't get stuck in a food rut. His favorite after school gluten free snack is an organic apple and popcorn. What a good boy!

Breathing better

To update, Mitch's asthma is doing much better. His lung functions are back up and he isn't needing his rescue inhaler, yay!! More later...

And now...

...asthma. Mitch is having a really rough week this week with his asthma. It started with just a simple cold that, of course, turned into a major upper respiratory infection and sinus infection. So, after caring for Megan in the hospital and during her 10 day recovery I still am not caught up from lack of sleep and now Mitch is sick. Can't I catch a small break and get a tiny little catnap?! I didn't like the doctor's tone about this years cold and flu season and that Mitch needed to get a flu shot as soon as he was well. I hope that doesn't indicate what is yet to come in the Winter months this year.

On the plus side, Megan is feeling so much better and she went back to preschool this week. She started making friends(with boys!!) and got to go on a wagon ride and feed Otis the goat. It was so nice to see her laugh and giggle(because I was the helper in class) and be a healthy little girl.

MOPS also started back up this week. This will be my last year of and I am serving on Leadership again. It was nice to be back with all of my really great mom girlfriends and spend some time being spiritually fed.

Even though I am exhausted and running on caffeine it has been a pretty great week so far.

Day 8

I think Megan made it through the worst of the pain and we are on to Day 8 of her recovery. Day 6 and 7 were the worst and I am SO tired(and so is she but she just won't tell you in so many words)! We ventured to the library today and I picked up the next book our book club is reading. It was so nice to get out of the house and stretch our legs for a bit.

Now, is the couch calling me to read a little Joseph Conrad or to rest for just a bit...

Slow Recovery

Megan started off the road to recovery doing really well, and then came Saturday and things have come to a painful slow down. We really have to coax her to drink and she is only eating tiny little bits at a time. The poor thing is getting so skinny. I was hoping she might be able to go back to preschool on Wednesday but now I am not so sure. I feel so bad for her because having your tonsils out can be SO painful. No one could pay me to do it again. It does help in the long run, but OWIE!!

Like a champ!

We're home from the hospital and Megan's surgery went great! She has handled everything like a champ, a pop star, a pro, but she is getting really sick of mommy with the spoons full of slushy and is really glad to be home and in bed.

Thanks for all of the prayers, emails, cards, they all meant so much!

Not long now

I have the bags packed, the fridge and freezer are stocked full of popsicles, ice cream, yogurt and pudding, Mitch is off to Grandma and Grandpa's and Megan is trying to go to bed with visions of yucky tonsils in her head. Tomorrow is the day. We've waited just about 10 weeks for Megan's tonsillectomy(they are taking her adenoids too) and I can hardly believe it is here. I am trying ever so hard to be calm and relaxed about it so that Megan will be calm too. I had my big meltdown on Saturday, Sunday was much better, and I spent today with Megan doing things she wanted and packing bags. Tomorrow we leave at 5am for her 7:45am surgery. We will be spending the night at Children's, and depending on how she is swallowing and taking fluids we could be home midday on Wednesday. Please be praying for her, the doctors and me too(Frank and Mitch too). We all will need it, along with a big nap!!

First day of Preschool

Megan was off to 4 year old Preschool at Happy Valley this morning. She is going two days a week and is in the "Crackerjack" class. She posed for me like a pop star, and check out the hair!!

Adorable!

Megan got her very first "professional" haircut today by the woman who cuts my hair as well. She had a wonderful time being pampered and treated like a little princess. She even let her put her hair in 2 small braids! Very cute!

Ta Da!

First day of First Grade

And off to First Grade he went!

Last day of summer vacation

Mitch and Megan outside the Children's Museum

Today we celebrated Mitch's last day of summer vacation with a trip to the Children's Museum, but since school starts tomorrow, first we did our "drive by and breakfast" tradition. This means we get up and get ready for school, but we just drive by the school, and then head right on over to Village Inn for breakfast. The kids love this, and then they are happy for whatever the day may bring, and the fact that they had to get up at 6:30am on their last day of vacation. Mitch picked the Children's Museum as his last hurrah for the summer and it was lots of fun. They are at such great ages for that place. At bedtime we counted down 5-4-3-2-1 when we turned off the lights, and even I was sad summer vacation was over for the year. Oh, well, till next year. Tomorrow it's onto first grade!

Winding Down

As summer vacation starts to wind down, only 4 days left, I start to feel kind of blue. I love having both kids home, and even though I tend to complain about the fighting, I really do love how close they, and how well they do play together. We have had a lot of fun this summer and I love this season that we are in; I can let them go just a little bit further and watch them explore, but not too far yet because I am not ready and they still need me. They are so very precious to me and often remind me of how much I have been fully blessed with.


These are just a few of my favorite pictures from our summer...

Mitch's Kindergarten graduation
Megan at Lakeside in May

Fourth of July

Megan on the 4th

Mitch and Megan on the Morning of Megan's 4th birthday

The kids and Cora in the sandbox

Did you say I look like a First Grader?!

Look at Mitch's cheesy First Grader grin! There is no doubt what grade he is starting next week! He still has 3 really loose teeth so he could on a liquid diet by the time Labor Day rolls around!!

It's busy around here!

Really, who couldn't love this face?!

All of a sudden it got a little hectic around here, and there is this crazy manic dog that streaks through the house! As if having 2 kids wasn't enough activity we've added a 60lb puppy. It's been a full on whirlwhind! And now, suddenly, we are in the middle of August and Mitch starts first grade in a week. I am trying not to be too sad becuase the poor guy already has a case of the back to school blues, and this morning I was singing him a song to the tune of Spoon Full of Sugar that really made him cringe, but it's okay, my mom sang to us and we lived. We are trying to eek out every last bit of summer vacation before he goes back next week and Megan goes back the week after. It has been so much fun and adding Cora to the mix has just made it even more fun.

She's here!

Miss Cora arrived tonight!

The newest member of our family arrived tonight! We have adopted a 12 month old Rottweiler named Cora. She is a rowdy as a puppy and a long and lanky as a teenager. She is a rescue dog, just like our other dog Gordon, and the only background we have on her is that she spent most of her puppyhood in the shelter until she was 8 months old and picked up by the organization Rottie Aid that rescues and fosters rotties until they can find them good homes. This is where we come in about 2 weeks ago. For months now the kids have been asking for and talking about getting another rottweiler and Frank and I started thinking about it and decided to look into it. We found this local organization and decided to check into getting a dog that was 3-4 years old but all that came back was this spunky puppy named Cora. We thought about it, prayed about it, prayed some more and finally decided to give it a go. So, here she is.

What do the kids think of her? Megan calls her Princess Cora. Mitch and Cora had a rough start because she was so excited when she saw the kids that she jumped up and knocked him in the face and knocked one of his loose teeth even looser which I had to pull out. Everyone is calming down and we are getting ready for our first night together. Wish us luck!!

Shhhhhhhh.....

We have a BIG secret! No, it can't be a baby, but news and pics will be coming shortly!!

LOVE-ly weekend!

Frank and I have had a really great anniversary weekend. He really spoiled me, and we got to spend some really nice quality time together. We got to see South Pacific at the Beull Friday night(it was incredible) and Saturday we enjoyed a massage and pedicure(me) at the spa. He also surprised me with roses and a diamond anniversary band with 10 diamond for every year we have been married. He was so sneaky and sweet. It really reminded me of when he proposed. I was so thrilled and mad and crying at the same time, a real de ja vue moment. Frank isn't a real big gift giver but when he does they usually are great and he really nailed it this time.



It was a really fantastic weekend and everything I had been looking forward too plus a lot more. I am sad that it is over, but I can really tell it is and it is back to "being mommy" and real life because the dishwasher is running as well as the washer AND dryer!

10 great years!

Happy 10 years of wedded bliss!

To the man I love with all my heart!

May we have at least 40 more!!

July 28th

It has happened. Summer vacation has gone on too long. It looks like it was scheduled 3 weeks too long this year. Mark it down that as of yesterday, July 28th, Mitch and Megan declared war AND the end of the the nice peaceful, easy going summer we had. Since then it has been nothing but fighting, slapping, pinching, whacking, smacking and I think there was some tongue sticking out-ing. Time to get the referee shirt and the boxing gloves back out because unless I wear these 2 out daily with wind sprints it could be a long 3 weeks.

Pray for me!

Warty jaw

Does anyone know of any cures for warts and/or TMJ? I don't have both...Mitch has a wart on his foot that we are try to get rid of and I have TMJ pain that is flared up, lovely! Just let me know. For now, Mitch has duct tape on his foot and I am trying all sorts of cures for my aches and pains.

New Feature

I was tweaking my blog and added a new feature to the right side after seeing this on another blog that I sometimes read..."On My Shelf". I thought I would list the last 3 books I have read so if you like to read or have an interest in reading that is similar to mine you can check it out. Last night I just started Steig Larsson's 3rd book in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series called The Girl that Kicked the Hornet's Nest. When I was reading it the morning Mitch read the title, looked at me and said, "why would anyone do that?"! Good question Mitch.

A week full of fun

This week went by so fast, mostly because we were having so much fun we could hardly stop or stand still! The end of July is nearing and it's getting to be that time in summer break where you suddenly realize that school starts in just under a month and there are still tons of things left you want to do, do again and friends you still want to see. This week we had a play date at McDonald's, 2 very fun and long park dates, the kids went to Tiny Town with Grandma and Grandpa, a trip to the bookstore and a bowling night with Dad. It was so fun, very hot, exhausting for me, and the laundry has somehow managed to pile up with out my permission, again! Next week is looking about the same and Frank and I are planning a little something special for our 10th Anniversary. Ok, well, I am. I gave up on any romantic weekend and decided to plan it myself it I wanted it to be something special...I can't wait! July will be over soon and then comes the dreaded August, ugh, probably my least favorite month next to May just because of all the things that get crammed into 31 days. More grumbling on that in anther post; today was just too wonderful ruin.

Not so Clean

I'm finding it a lot harder to eat clean, organic and dairy and gluten free in the summer with the kids home. My helpers go the store with me more and Mitch likes to pick out what he eats so it is harder to steer him away from the dairy. The other, minus the organic, I have just gotten lazy on. Plus the cost! ugh... Farmers markers help out a lot in the summer but you really, really have to pay attention to the growers and make sure that they really are organic and know their stuff.

Two books I really want to read are, Jillian Michaels Master Your Metabolism and Organic Manifesto. Both cover the expensive of organics, and vice versa, what you are putting in your body and what diseases may come of this down the road. Yuck! All interesting reading I am sure, but something I am concerned about with two little ones and one that has allergies and asthma. For now I am trying to focus on good food most of the time and treats and special things some of the time and not going overboard or else Frank and the kids start to revolt.

Happy Birthday Megan!

Dear Megan,
Happy 4th Birthday my sweet girl! You are 4 now, can you believe it?! You have been so excited for this day for months now and it is finally here. I hope it is everything you dreamed of.

Watching you grow in the last year has been so much fun. I can't believe how big you are getting. Some of your favorite things are: Princesses, Barbies, your stuffed animals and playing with your big brother, Mitch. You feel the most safe when Mitch or Daddy are around and you and I love to snuggle up and read books or watch your favorite shows, Max and Ruby or Olivia. You love to "do art" and and one of the best colorers I have ever seen! You are all girl, but you also love to play rough with your brother. Most times you are shy but you have a bossy streak that tends to run true as well. Daddy says you are a lot like me, but Daddy is just silly.

I'm sorry you have been so sick this year. If I could give you a big mommy band aide and take all your "froat" hurts away I would. It will be better soon, my dear, I promise.

Daddy and I love you lots and lots.

Happy 4th sweet girl!

Lots of love and a snuggle,
Mommy

Toothless

We call hime Toothless, but you can call him a First Grader now!!

July, really?!

As a kid I was never a lover of July. The 4th of July always meant the summer was half over and as I got older I was board out of my mind because, you know, back in those days we didn't have Internet, texting or 24 hour cartoon channels like these blessed children do. July always seemed to drag on FOR.EVER.!

Now, as an adult, I am starting to wonder where the first half of the year went and start turning in circles looking for it. I'm also in a state of panic because Megan's birthday is next week and I haven't even begun to shop for her! I guess it's okay because she is almost 4 and changes her mind daily as to what she would like to have. One day Barbies, the next day a Belle dress...your guess is as good as mine.

One thing that has stayed consistent, and I so glad I have passed this on to the kids, is my love for reading. There is really nothing I love more in the summer than to curl up and read a really good book. I'm way behind on my shows because the patio is much more inviting in the afternoons and I have been reading just about a book a week, sometimes more. We are making lots of trips to the library and the used book store and finding lots and lots of new and old friends. Megan likes Bernstein Bears, Mitch has started reading chapter books and likes the Magic Tree House series and I read just about anything that you set in front of me, book, magazine or newspaper, but my favorite from the summer so far has been The Help.

July will be here and gone before you know it and I can just hear my Grandpa Jack saying, "only 5 more months until Christmas." and we all would roll our eyes or look at him funny. Now I know that that silly man was right and it's important to enjoy these lazy days because the busy, busy, hurry, hurry that drives me crazy of the school year will be here before I know it.

Back 40

I am not a lover of yard work; it really has nothing to do with the hard work or getting dirty and everything to do with pollen, weeds, trees and lately mosquitoes. Every spring I have the best of intentions to have a really nice, simple garden(s) and every year I am up to my knees in weeds by July. Keeping up with the yeard work in May and June with allergies like mine is like seriously ridiculous. This year, just like last, the hail got to a good portion of my plants the first week in June and left me with little more than sticks sticking out of the ground as well. In my vegetable garden I have rhubarb and basil still growing...yummy! And then there are the weeds. Oh yes, I have flowers, lots of them, and lots and lots of weeds! So for the last few days Frank and I have been trying to dig out from under then weed garden in hopes that by August it might look decent. Like I so optimistically say in the Fall, there's always next year!

Fourth of July

We're a crazy bunch on the 4th!

My sister and I dawned the most amazing outfits this year for our family's annual water fight.

We looked HOT and stayed really quite dry.

The water fight is just the kickoff to the Annual Youngmann 4th of July party.

It really is the party of the summer!

Frank turns into a crazed pyromaniac every year on the 4th and this year was no different.

He lit up the streets with the help of my dad, cousins and uncles for a show that really topped them all.

June was fun!

My camera has been giving me fits so I haven't posted many pics on here lately.

Here are some of the things we have been up to in June in the way of pics, enjoy!

Megan at gymnastics.

She completed a Level 1 USGA routine on bar, beam and floor...so cute!

Mitch riding his 2-wheeler for the first time.

Frank and Mitch on Father's Day, and yes, that tooth is still loose and hanging by a thread!

Megan at swimming lessons last week.

Mitch after swimming lessons last week.

He got to go down the big blue slide in the background

by himself on Friday.

Noticing a trend

I was sitting here at the computer for a moment and reading past blog entries from the year and notice that a lot of them were about the kids being sick; Mitch more so at the beginning of the year and Megan classically every 4 weeks or so. ugh.... We really aren't sick all the time but you would think so by reading my blog so to convince myself more than anyone here are some of the fun things we have done in the past week:

Went to breakfast at McDonald's after swimming last Friday
Had a movie night last weekend and watched Toy Story 2
Celebrated cousin Kelly's graduation with lots of family and friends
Celebrated Grandpa Marty's 90th birthday with lots of family and friends
Took Mazie to the vet and Dr. S. let the kids listen to her heart with a real stethoscope!!
Stopped for ice cream at McDonald's(drive thru) after the doctor and the very yucky throat cultures

Sick days

Both kids are sick today. Not really sure how you "stay home" on summer vacation but we seem to be doing it a lot lately. Mitch was upset to be missing swimming lessons today but you really can't or shouldn't swim when you are sick I told him. They both have yucky tonsils and Megan has pink eye as well. Can it get more fun?!! Probably, but let's not try to find out, huh?! After an extremely fun experience with "the sticks" aka a throat culture at the doctor neither of them has strep, it's just a virus so hopefully it will run its course before the 4th of July and our family's HUGE party because no one want to be sick for the annual water fight.

On the home front I have not gotten a thing done in about 3 weeks. I literally feel like I walk in circles. Today I put off vacuuming for another day because really, who is going to come to my house with 2 sick kids, especially with one that has pink eye!! I just roll my eyes at myself and started picking up clutter until I couldn't take it anymore and then went and watched Ellen for 20 minutes. She always makes me laugh and laughing is what I needed on a day like today. Keep praying for us. I know there is a reason somewhere amongst the sickness. Maybe we just needed some close family time this summer. Whatever the reason, I am trying to embrace this season and know that this can't last forever because I just might go nuts!!

Scheduled

Megan's tonsillectomy is scheduled for August 31st. I know, I know, it seems like a heck of a long way off and I have really been stressing about it this week and after much prayer and a major conniption fit decided that this is just how it is meant to be and I really have no control over it. I am now looking at the positive in that we will have lots of time to prepare for it.

Frank says, "relax..."! So I am trying to.

PS. If you see us soon...at my Grandpa's birthday, 4th of July or at Megan's birthday, please keep her surgery hush hush. We don't want the kids to know just yet. We will tell them in good time, but I don't want Meg to be freaked out all summer. Thanks!! : )

Megan update

Megan still isn't feeling well. We are on about day 12ish of this virus and I am hoping to see her perk up soon. We've been to the doctor twice this week and yesterday they did urine and blood tests which all came back normal. I'm glad they were normal but still a little frustrated that we don't really know why she isn't feeling well and has been running a fever for so many days. We are just hanging out this weekend and trying to keep her quiet...lots of barbies, art and movies. Send her some loving prayers if you could!

The rest of our week Mitch kept of busy teaching us about science and economics that he was learning about at Camp Invention. He spent the week with other kids learning about robots and building one of his very own that was battery powered. I was amazed because I never learned stuff like that until I was in 5th grade. I already know he is way smarter than I am because on Monday he used the word tessellation correctly in a sentence! WOW! His smarts amaze me everyday.

Next week we have swimming lessons but we'll have to see how Megan is feeling. It might just be Mitch out there swimming around like a fish this year.

We have an appointment

I called the pediatric ENT at Children's today and we are all set up for a follow-up consult with Megan and her tonsils...on August 20th. It seems so far away! Me, never the optimist and always the worrier, immediately thought that she could be sick 2 more times before then. Ugh! Everything happens for a reason though and God must think I need a heavy dose of patience and understanding. Till then...

Magical number 6

Megan isn't feeling well again and this makes for her sixth, yes sixth, round of pharyngitis since January. Like clockwork she seems to get these nasty tonsils almost every four weeks. When I saw her tonsils looking nasty again today I called into the after hours care at our doctor's office and told them that this was a chronic problem and was lucky enough to talk to our actual doctor and not the nurse. He kindly agreed to document this as her 6th case and said it was time to call back the pediatric ENT at Children's and for her to be seen again. Will that mean she gets her tonsils out around her 4th birthday or just after? I kind of hope so but she is so stubborn that maybe waiting a few months wouldn't be so bad either. Who knows! Honestly, I just can't believe she's had six rounds of this in six months. I feel so bad for the little thing. Pray, please, for her little body, my patience and the doctor's wisdom.

On another note...we've been working on re-doing her room into a "big girl" room. She is so thrilled. I let her pick out the color, cotton candy pink, and I painted it this week and this weekend we are starting to decorate and put it all back together. It's taking a bit since she isn't feeling well we are doing lots of snuggling, book reading and watching TV. We're having fun though and oh my is it pink!

Neat site

I love a good food website and I found this one that has the shelf life of all thing food www.stilltasty.com If you like to eat, cook and eat some more like I do then check this one out!! : )

2 Wheelin' it!

Mitch learned to ride a two-wheeler last week! (I have desperately been trying to post pics and just can't get my software to work, but I promise they are coming!!) He really had no interest until the 2 neighbor boys coaxed him a little; peer pressure really can be a good thing. He did it mostly all by himself; man does he remind me of myself and not it a good way! He's had a few meetings with the pavement, but other than that he's been free wheelin' it for a few days now.

It's June 8th and we are having a blast! This is such a fun summer and the kids are just so cute and both at really fun ages.

This is nothing?

Sometimes I forget that Frank does read my blog, on occasion, and he wasn't thrilled that I said we did "nothing" last weekend. Over the long weekend he did put the finishing touches on our fire pit. He did an amazing job and we have been able to sit out there and enjoy a fire in the fire pit at night and roast marshmallows. Here are a few fun pics from last weekend and our first fire.

Megan bringing the marshmallows to the fire or as she calls in "mincing marshmallows" and she likes to cook them but not eat them cooked.

Frank's work

Mitch chill-axin'

Almost perfect to start roasting