Spiderman to the rescue....

Birthdays were never a really big thing when I was growing up.  We would never have big parties, and our relatives were never close enough to come over and celebrate with us. So, I took the opportunity to have a party for Drew, since my parents were in town and Jay's parents are only two hours away.  

Drew has never really watched Spiderman or played with any of the toys, but he really wanted a Spiderman cake.  I researched it online to see how to make one and it didn't seem like it would be that hard to do. Since my mom was in town and has an art background I figured I would tackle it. Jay is also good with details so between the 3 of us we could do it.  Drew was also running around all day yelling "Spiderman to the rescue."

I had planned a scavenger hunt for the kids and we were also going to hide treat bags around the yard.  The gnats were so bad that we were only able to do the scavenger hunt and then the kids just played.  It was so great to see all the kids play together.

The only time that they all sat down and were quiet was when they were eating cake and ice cream. It was amazing what treats and sweets do to kids. I overheard Drew saying to everyone while they were eating, "If you want to come to my birthday party you need to be nice to my friends." How cute.

Pap-pap decided that he was going to entertain the kids while we were getting dinner ready for everyone. He would blow up the balloon and slowly let out the air and have it make funny noises. You would think the kids had heard it a thousands times, but they acted like it was the first time. 

Jay is such a kid at heart.  Whenever we go to the store and let the kids play around in the toy department Jay and the kids always play with the Hulk gloves that talk.  I had convinced him up to this point that we did not need them at home and they would just cause problems. When we went on Friday night to get Drew's gift, Jay found the Hulk gloves again and of course they were on sale so he insisted that we buy them. I wanted nothing to do with them, but I think Jay loves playing with them just as much as the boys do.

I hope everyone had a good time, because I know Drew was really excited that everyone was able to make it.  We all had such a great time. Thank you!

Finally!!!

Finally, my parents made it to Wisconsin!  My parents arrived Tuesday afternoon and will be staying for two weeks. We have been enjoying every minute of it. As soon as Reed got home from school on Tuesday he quickly got out his new clubs that he got as an early Christmas present from Baba and Barbie and started showing Baba his swing. They have been to the driving range once already and are going golfing on Saturday. I am sure they will go a couple more times before Baba leaves.

Reed has been reading with Barbie every night and I think my mom is enjoying the book as much as Reed is.  

We are very lucky that they are able to stay near us while they are here. They are able to rent one of the units by us for the time they are here. Someday we will be able to have room at our own house, but until then the apartments will do. Since they are so close they are able to meet Reed at the bus stop in the morning and wait for the bus with him.

Drew is loving all the extra time that he gets while Reed is at school. It has taken him a little extra convincing to go to school now that they are here, but once we get him to school he is excited to be there. When Reed goes golfing we take Drew to his favorite place down by the river.

It has been wonderful to have my parents here. They will be staying for two weeks and as always I am sure the time will go by way too fast.  They are so great with the kids and it has been nice to have two extra sets of hands around the house.  

My mom has been holding Brett every chance that she can get, and my dad keeps kidding with her that he is going to have to sneak over at night so he can get a chance to hold him.

As you can see Brett is just as excited to see his Baba and Barbie as the older boys are. 

Proud Great Aunt and Uncle

Uncle Nick's dog had puppies over the weekend and they are adorable.  The boys are very excited to be able see them in a little over a month when we go down to Florida and see them.  I am not sure how it is going to go, since we will have 4 adults, 3 kids, 2 dogs and 4 puppies.  Yikes!  It is going to be a little crazy in their two bedroom apartment, but we know we are going to have a blast and can't wait to see Nick and Becky.

Are you sleeping?

It has been a week now that Brett has been sleeping through the night. He goes to bed around 8:30 and doesn't wake up until 6:45 or so.  There are some nights that he is sleeping better then the older two.  It is amazing how much more energy you have when you are not waking up at night.  

If I could only get Brett on a good nap schedule then things would be excellent.  Jay keeps reminding me that I can't have both right away.  Once we get used to all the new schedules and activities hopefully his naps will fall into place.

Sweet Dreams!

GO PACK GO!

Reed and Pap-Pap in front of Lambeau Field 

September, 8th 2008

Packers vs. Vikings 

24-19

My boyz and I sporting our Packer gear.

Reed was very foruntate to go to the Packer game last night with his Pap-Pap. Jay's family has had season tickets since the 50's and Jay had promised Reed that he would take him to a game once he got a little bit older. Now that Reed is understanding the game and enjoys watching and playing the game we figured this would be a perfect opportunity to go. He had really wanted to see Brett play, but since Brett chose to play with the "other green team" he would not be able to. He was still so excited to go to the game. He took my old digital camera so he could take as many pics as he wanted to. He bought a new Packer jersey, but instead of a Favre jersey he got a Rodgers one.

Reed wearing his Aaron Rodgers jersey proudly

Drew kept asking if he was going to the Packer game since we were all driving to Point so Reed could go. We explained to him that he had to be a little bit older and then he could go. When Reed would tell people that he was going to the game, Drew quickly responded with, "I am not old enough to go to the game, but when I get older it will be my turn." So instead of going to the game he cheered at Nonni and Pap-Pap's house while watching on TV. He, of course, still had on a Favre jersey.

I picked Reed up from school at 10:30 and a way we went. He was so excited, he kept asking, "Are we almost there?" every 20 minutes. Normally he does really well and doesn't ask how much longer but he didn't want to wait any longer. Once we got to Stevens Point, Reed ate his lunch and he and Pap-Pap took off. They left early enough so they could see the Packers practicing before the game.

You can tell by the lack of people in the stadium how early Reed and Jack got to the game.

Some of the players practicing before the game.

When you ask Reed how the Packer game was, he will tell you that it was awesome. He will then ask, "Mom, did you see that play?" I think he has all of them memorized. His favorite play was the punt return. 

The sweet little boy that he is, became a friend of one of the Viking fans at the game. Another Packer fan had "Vikings Suck" stickers and kept putting them on the Vikings fan back. We have always taught Reed to treat others the way you would want to be treated, so he nicely told the man that he had stickers on his back. What a great kid! Of course the Packer fan was not real pleased with Reed. Oh well.

 Reed was amazed by all the people that could fit in the stadium. He said there was hardly ever a quiet moment.  The only time it wasn't as loud is when the Vikings scored.

Great action shots that Reed took from sitting on the 27 yard line, 17 rows up.

He had so much fun and I am so glad that he was able to have that experience with his Pap-Pap. He will never forget it.

 Thank you Pap-Pap!

Drew's first day of preschool

Drew on his first day of preschool

Drew is now going to Montessori preschool this year. He was so excited to get to school. When Reed left for the bus stop this morning he wanted to leave right then to go to his school. It is so cute; he calls my car "his bus."  He wants to ride on a school bus so badly, but unfortunately he still has 3 years until he can ride the bus to kindergarten.

When we drove up to his school, he grabbed his back pack, jumped out of the car and said, "Bye Mom, see you later."  He didn't even want me to take him in to school. I guess that is a good thing. I would rather have him really excited about school than being afraid of it.  We walked in and he remembered where his cubby was from orientation, grabbed his popsicle stick with his name on it that they use for attendance, and put it in the slot with his name.  I didn't even have to show him where it was.  He got the right spot on the first try.  He wandered into his room and away he went without any fear or worry.

When I picked him up, he was waiting outside in the hallway with his new friends.  I asked him what he had done and he said, " I learned, played, and shared with my friends."  I was so proud of him.  He couldn't remember his teacher's name or his friends' names, but he will work on it tomorrow and Friday. 

He was so excited to tell Reed all about his day when Reed got home from school. 

There were so many things that he wanted to tell Reed. He told him about the screwdrivers, caterpillars, butterflies, their plants, and much more.

I am going to love hearing his stories each day.

Drew being goofy before school.

Showing off his new backpack.

Brett is 2 months old

I can't believe that Brett is 2 months old already...WOW, that went by fast.  He had his check up this morning and he weighs 10 lbs 2oz and they said he is only 21.4 inches long.  I don't think that part is right, because he is out growing all of his clothes length wise....who knows.  He had to get shots today and was not a happy camper.  Drew was so upset when Brett started crying and wouldn't stop. He is so protective of him, it just melts my heart.  For a kid who is so rough and tough to have such a soft side to him.  Brett is able to hold his head better each day and is following movement around the room.  He is almost sleeping through the night. He falls asleep at 8:30 or so and doesn't wake up until 4:30.  He is such an easy baby to care for.  Hopefully he will keep it up!

Back to School

Reed first day of 2nd grade

Reed started 2nd grade today. I can't believe how old he is getting. He wasn't very excited this weekend about starting up again, but you could tell by the time he went to bed last night he was getting excited.  He wanted to pick out his new clothes and make sure that everything matched so that he looked good.  He was a little more at ease going to school this morning than he was last year at this time.  He already knows his teacher and all of his classmates since his class looped this year.  He was excited to see all of his buddies that he didn't see over the summer and start up their football games again at recess.  

Drew was a little upset that Reed got to go to school today and that he had to wait another day until he started, but he quickly got over that.  

We got Reed out to the bus stop with plenty of time to make sure that he got on.  Well, we waited and waited and it never showed up. Luckily one of Reed's buddies drove by and they took him to school.  Hopefully the bus will come tomorrow and get him.

I can't wait to hear about his first day of 2nd grade!

The boys anxiously awaiting the bus....that never came!

Together Again

While we were living in Stevens Point 2 years ago, I watched one of our friend's daughters on my day off from work. Drew loved having "Baby Kate" around and was always giving her kisses and hugs. It had been almost a year since Drew had seen Kate and he was so excited to see her again. Of course Kate didn't remember Drew, but Drew certainly remembered her. He still called her "Baby Kate" even though she is 2 now. It was so great to see them interact.

Drew and Kate 2 yrs ago

"Baby" Kate

They were just making each other crack up; it was so cute!

A week away

Last week Reed and Drew spent the whole week with their Nonni and Pap-Pap (Jay's parents). The boys had such a great time. When we arrived on Friday night, Nonni already had a list of things that they were going to do during the week.

1) Treasure Hunt----made Pirate ship with wagon, hats and swords

2) Camp fire and make smores

3) Flash light walk

4) Help around the yard to earn a movie

5) Reed go golfing with Pap-Pap and Drew to the park with Nonni

6) Jurrustic Park in Marshfield

7) Olympics

8) Make a fort on the deck

9) Paint rocks found on treasure hunt

10) Create center pieces with dried prairie plants, pine cones, and acorns found on treasure hunt

They were able to get just about everything done on the list. Reed loved mowing the lawn and wanted to mow it everyday. Drew watered the flowers with Nonni and also did some grooming of the flowers. Every time we talked to them on the phone they had something new to tell us about that they had done that day. Of course I missed them so I had to call them each day and talk to them. They had a blast and didn't want to come home when we went to get them.

Jay and I also had our first time alone with just an infant in the house. It was a weird feeling. It was almost like we were home alone without the kids at all. It was a great break away from the kids; I needed it and so did they.

Flash light walk

Reed mowing the lawn and Pap-Pap watching to make sure Reed got the rows straight.

Just pictures

A night out

This past weekend Reed went to the Dells with his dad, so Jay and I took the opportunity to hang out with Drew.  He has been needing some one on one attention since Brett was born.  Saturday I had a baby shower to go to, so in the morning it was just Jay and Drew hanging out.  They played cars, baseball over at the baseball field and water guns.  Drew had so much fun.  When I got home Drew told me that he had on his Cubs jersey since he was playing baseball with daddy.  Later that night he wanted to eat outside, so we decided we would try to find a restaurant that we could eat outside and see the river.  The setting was perfect. We were outside, on the river and an area for Drew to play in the grass.  It was so beautiful to watch sunset. When we were done eating dinner, we did Drew's favorite thing for dessert.  He loves to go and get ice cream and then take it down by the river and watch all the boats go by.  It is so relaxing.

Drew watching the cars drive by after eating dinner.

The view of the sunset as we were eating.

Brett is 1 month old

I can't believe that it has been 1 month already,  the time goes by so fast.  Brett has been putting on some weight, so he isn't so skinny anymore.  He has also gotten longer because his pants are starting to get a little short.  The boys are still loving having him around.  Both Reed and Drew hold him any chance they can get.  Drew loves it when Brett is awake and he makes sure that everyone knows Brett is awake,  it is so cute.

I love the expression on Drew's face.  Brett had just made a mess in his diaper and Drew thought it was pretty funny.

Could these two be any more handsome.