Ever Changing

Life never seems to stay very still for us over here. It seems like summer just began and now it's going to be over in 3 weeks when the kids go back to school. I thought with the end of summer sports and summer activities that we would have a breather, but I was fooling myself because I honestly don't know how to not be busy.

Ashley is excited to go back to school and has gone straight from summer ball to school ball. Softball try-outs started this week for the middle school and while she's made the team, we still have yet to find out if she will be on the Varsity or Junior Varsity team. Practices start immediately on Thursday and will be everyday except for Fridays and Sundays. Whew, here we go. Sometimes I feel more like a chauffeur than a parent.

Ryan has scaled down to just swim lessons, with only two more remaining, so things are momentarily calm there. With the start of school comes the whole stress of making sure Ryan gets what is needed with his hearing and learning disabilities. We've given him the summer off from working so hard, but it's time to get cracking again.

In other news, we're adding a new dog to the family. We currently have Daisy (see picture on masthead above) who is 9 or 10 years old. She is the biggest sweetheart and everyone commonly calls her the neighborhood dog. People love her that much and welcome her into their yards.

My aunt has a 4 year old Golden Retriever, named Luke. She's moving and sadly cannot take him with her. We've offered to take him and the kids are really excited and having a hard time waiting the 3 weeks until my aunt can bring him down here. It could have been sooner, but we have our upcoming annual weekend vacation to Grand Bear with Bret's brother and his family and didn't want to upset his adjustment period here.



So, that leads me to a question I've got for all of you. I've found a lot of valuable information in regards to adding another dog to your family online, but I'd love some advice from anyone who's been through this. Daisy has her annual appointment at the vet tomorrow and I'm going loaded with questions for him. Does anyone have any suggestions on making the transition easier on both dogs? I'm pretty sure Daisy will be the dominant dog as Luke is very laid back and easy going while Daisy is pretty laid back herself and very well behaved, but is very protective of her turf. I'd love some feedback!

Family Picnic - 2008

We made it up here to Chicago yesterday afternoon and stopped by Jon & Em's new house on the way. They use to live behind us in Peoria and were transferred to Iowa a year ago and then transferred again just this past month to Chicago. The kids got along great, as if they had never been apart and we didn't end up leaving their house until 9:30pm.

We are now at my mom's house, which is only 15 minutes away from Jon & Em. Today was my yearly family reunion in Indiana. The kids swam all day (while I alternated between playing life guard and swimming myself) and we stuffed ourselves with so much food that it'll be a few days before any of us can eat again.

I have to tell you that I am truly proud of myself. Quite a few of the people at the reunion today were smokers. Even after 7 months, 1 week and 2 days of being a nonsmoker, today wasn't easy. At first it smelled good and many times I thought about how great just one would taste. And how easy it would be to just bum one. No one would ever have known, but I didn't. I just tried to keep my distance from those that were smoking, which wasn't easy since I was able to smell it everywhere. I hung in there and eventually the smell really started to turn me off to the point where I really did NOT want one anymore. I'm really excited that we'll be taking our first smoke free vacation to Florida a week from now. We won't have to worry about where we can and can't smoke at. Our kids will definitely appreciate that the most.

Ryan and myself before leaving for Indiana this morning.

Ashley brought her friend along with us this weekend. They watched a movie on the way to Indiana.

The kids in the back on the right side of the pool are my kids -Ryan's swim lessons are really starting to pay off - he was really starting to swim today!

Holiday Weekend Review

It was definitely a busy one this past weekend.

It all started with a little league game. Ryan waits for his chance at first base.

Next on the weekend agenda, were the July 4th fireworks downtown. It's said that Peoria/East Peoria's combined display were expected to be in the top 3 percent of the nation's best fireworks.

Look closely to see what had us laughing. Can you guess?
Ashley waits for the fireworks to start with her friends.
Bret and Ryan wait, too.
It was the best show yet.
The two cities spent $77,000 on the display.
Yesterday we spent time with family. We met up with Bret's brother's family over at his dad's house for lunch. The kids tested out the in ground sprinkler system for Grandpa.
When did this kid grow up? And who the heck said that she could?
Thinking about it...
And we have lift off...

Chilling out.

We followed up the afternoon over at Bret's brother's house where the kids swam...
...and the mom's hung out.

How was your holiday weekend?

(Sunday's pictures courtesy of my brother in law.)

Storm Watch

If anyone needs me tonight, I'll probably be riding out these storms with blankets and pillows in the bathtub downstairs.

Go

I declare it to be "go the pool and get rid of your weekend softball game (times 6) induced farmer's tan lines" day. And take a million other kids that are not your own and only one other adult with you. Will be back later for a sanity check.

Pool Day

While Ashley has been to the pool numerous times with her friends, this was the first trip to the pool this summer for Ryan and myself. After swim lessons, we drove over and pulled my niece Brooke out of day care and took her with us to the pool with my friend Teri and her daughter, Skyler. It didn't get very hot outside today, so Teri and I never quite made it into the pool, but the kids didn't seem to mind and had a great time.

Ashley figured out that the secret to staying warm is to stay covered in the water.


Ryan has no fear this summer. His swim lessons are paying off and he's got a lot of confidence in the water now.

Ryan and his cousin, Brooke.

Ryan on one of his many trips up to the water slide.

Now we're off to Ryan's baseball game...

We Call That March Around Here

It's been awhile since my last post and I still don't really have anything interesting for you. I seem to have hit a temporary little "blogger's block" here. That and I spent so much time on the computer in the weeks up until Rock The House that I'm just a bit computered out. I went from being insanely stressed out and busy to - nothing. My house is clean, the laundry is caught up as well as the DVR. It's like the calm before the storm. It's what we call March around here.

March is the month where there is nothing going on. March is still too cold outside to do much of anything, but it does give you a glimpse of what's to come - a spattering of days here and there that are springlike where you spend the day outside with your kids only to come back inside at night, exhausted and worn out, saying that you are so not ready for every day to be like today.

March eventually turns into April and your kids and their Spring sports swing into full gear. Spring sports turn into Summer sports and then there is no time to breathe again until summer is over - well no time except for those lazy days at the pool.

Which brings us back to March. We're already into the second week of March and we need to seriously get on this teaching Ryan how to swim thing. Last spring we enrolled him in swim lessons, only to have that end in major trauma. This spring I am determined to have this kid get over the fear of sticking his face in the water so he can learn how to swim before summer gets here. With Chloe able to walk this summer, I really need him to be able to swim on his own or our trips to the pool may not happen very often this summer due to high stress levels. So I shall be enrolling him again and will be praying for the locker room door to behave itself this year.

March also messes up the internal clock. We got up this morning and it was after lunch before we realized that we were suppose to set the clocks forward. By bedtime I couldn't figure out why the kids were so NOT tired when I realized that for them it was like being put to bed at 7:30pm. Now I'm sitting here at 10:40pm and am the furthest thing from tired, which means that I'll be dragging tomorrow morning.

Soon enough March will be turning into April and life will become hectic again. For now, I think I'll enjoy the break.

Destruction

Last week, Peoria dodged a horrible storm that went through Galesburg, IL, a town nearby. On our way home from visiting our old neighbors, Jon & Emily at their new home in Davenport, IA today, we stopped in Galesburg to fill up the gas tank and grab some dinner. On our way out of town, we saw first hand some of the devestation that the storm caused. Buildings were torn apart and roofs were blown right off. I just happened to have my camera with me, so I snapped a couple of pictures. Makes you count your blessings, doesn't it?

Our New Summer Hang Out

Here's the new pool that we and Teri and her kids have taken up residence at this summer. We have yet to do any kind of work out in the fitness area yet, but that will come eventually once the kids are back in school. (The one time that Ashley kicked my butt on the eliptical machine doesn't count, right?) The pool is huge and now that it's gotten hot outside again, the water has been much warmer this week. Another added bonus is that our neighborhood friend, Becky and her kids have also joined so now the kids have two more friends that they can play there with.

Can you find Ryan? (Click on picture to enlarge.)



Note the kid behind Ryan that followed him around all afternoon, trying to steal his innertube and noodles. Punk. Doesn't anyone watch their kids anymore?

Ashley usually isn't around much for a picture. She's all over the place once we get there with her friends.

Quentin, Ryan, Ashley & Skyler.

Can I Have Your Attention, Please?

Yesterday was Skyler's birthday, so we all headed over to Splashdown for a day of fun in the sun. Upon entering the park, I myself felt a magentic force pulling me straight to the lazy river. First, however I let Bret go off and hit the big water slide with everyone else while I stayed behind to watch Ryan play in the big water tree house area - but not before complaining about how many parents send their little kids off to play and go off and find a chair to sunbathe with their eyes closed or read a book.

So I've been sitting in a chair where I have a good view of the whole structure and can watch him play when it's been about 5 minutes and I've lost site of him. The treehouse is huge and it's really hard to find your kids in there because they're all over the place.

A life guard comes onto the intercom and says, "Can I have your attention, please?"

Hmm...

"We have a lost little boy here at the life guard station."

Aww, poor kid. Really. Why can't parents keep an eye on their kids!?

"He's 6 years old."

Nope, not mine.

"His name is Ryan."

Nooooooo, it can't be. Ryan's a pretty common name, isn't it?

"He's looking for his mom, Lynda."

S*#t!

I turn my head and look over across the water park beyond the big pool and see my son sitting in the lifeguard's chair, crying his eyes out. There's kharma for you.

Thankfully he still had a good time and wasn't too traumatized.

Party Of The Year

I think I had the most fun that I've ever had in my life last night. It helps when your with your best friends. It's moments like these that you'll always remember. I'm keeping it nice here, though. I'd like to keep those friends, so I'm only posting the nice ones here. Besides, I've already emailed all the other pictures proof to them anyway. Ha.

* * * *

Shawn, me and Emily.

"Pucker up!" (The stuff was called Pucker.)

Em, Shawn, Me, Rod and Jon.

The Bunco Girls. This is the group that gets together once a month for a girls night out. I don't think we've actually played in 2 years though.

I said I would be nice here, but you know I can't ignore it when Bret and Emily broke out the worm!

Great night. Great friends. I'm going to miss them so much!

Saw My First Funnel Cloud Today

We met up with a bunch of neighbor's at the pool today for some fun in the hot humid sun over in Chillicothe. Upon arriving, as the kids were getting ready to jump into the pool, I looked up and saw a dark cloud moving over the area to the north of us. Out of the dark cloud looked to be a funnel slowly forming and dropping lower and lower. Everyone was watching, including the lifeguards, but within 5 minutes it had lifted back up into the clouds and was gone. It was a hot one today, and we lasted about 3 hours when the thunder started and lightning was spotted. The pool was evacuated and we took off for home. We're all brain dead right now, but heading out for Ryan's t-ball game anyway.

And I'm kicking myself right now, because I had the camera with me but never thought to take a picture of it.

Camera Dump

Ryan's First Year Playing T-Ball

(Taken last Tuesday.)

He didn't even need the Tee.

Run, Ryan, Run!

Safe at first.

First Pool Trip of the Summer.

(Taken last Friday.)

Ryan no longer needs to be caught at the end of the slide. Yes!

Wow, that's cold water!

What a pro.

Heading back out to a different pool today with the kids. This will be Chloe's first trip to the pool with us.

Disney Or Bust!

Well, it's all booked. It took us until 2am this morning, but it's decided. We're going to Disney World in June with Teri and her family. We'll be staying in one of the Disney resorts for 5 nights and 6 days. I think I might be the most excited out of any of us. I've never been to the state of Florida before. Never been to Disney, nor have I ever seen an ocean. I guess the ocean will have to wait, but at least I'll get to finally say that I've been to Florida. I only have one concern, though. What if a hurricane wipes out Disney World before we get there? Then what?!

Where Have You Been?!?!

I have been submerged in the endless digging of Disney World Family Vacation deals for a 5 night, 6 day vacation.

Why? Because of this awesome special event at MGM. Ryan will truly pass out from the excitement when he finds out. It will definately be a moment of awe for him when he sees the storm troopers marching down the street.

I'm not sure how our kids will do on their first airplane flight, but it will definately be an experience to remember. Teri and her family are considering going with us. Which means we'll all get a chance to go out at night without the kiddos if we're still able to function after putting full days in at the theme parks.

I'm pretty excited my self since it's only taken me 30 years to get to the state of Florida.

On a sadder note, I'm losing one of my babies. Kelly, Dan and Cecelia are moving to Ohio this summer. I've already told them that she can't go with them, but I don't think they'll go for that.

In The Dog House

. . . And probably not getting out anytime soon! I attempted to mow the lawn today for my husband. You know, to surprise him. So he could relax and spend time with the kids when he gets home. Well, let me tell you. He's definately in for a surprise. I scalped the grass and killed the lawn mower. I don't think he'll ever suggest that I mow the lawn again after today. For the life of me, I simply cannot figure out why it cut so low. I kept checking it and the mower was definately set at the highest setting. But after taking a closer look, I discovered that the little black plastic thing at the back of the mower that keeps things from spitting out at you is stuck under the blade. How in the world did that happen? Is that bad? I'm thinking it can't be good. Uh oh.

The Evidence . . .

Exhibit A: The scalped park strip. I should have stopped there.

(Yes, the sprinkler is my last ditch effort to save the grass.)

Exhibit B: The side yard. I told you I should have quit before it got worse.

Exhibit C: The broken down lawn mower. Stupid thing! (It had nothing to do with the person operating it, of course!)

Exhibit D: The front yard. Actually if you don't look at the edges that I scalped, it's not too bad.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Update...

After a call into Bret and a not so happy trip home for lunch, Bret got the mower fixed. Somehow I had managed to get the black plastic flap stuck under the blade of the mower. (Never said I was a genius...ha!) Then he asks me if I want him to show me how to use the weed wacker/trimmer thing before he leaves. Um, what do you think?! I think absolutely not. I prefer to keep my limbs. The whole front and back yard are mowed and nothing else got scalped. (I did however run out of gas, which baffled me, resulting in a few swift kicks to the mower before I realized it was probably out of gas.) (Remember? Not a genius?) It's done, I'm dirty and exhausted and never doing it again. Bret's birthday is in a week and a half. I'm thinking that maybe this is his present. A week off of mowing. If he ever decides that he wants a riding mower, I'll never scoff at the idea again. This whole brainy idea of mine was an excuse not to go to Body Pump at the gym today. I think next time I'll just go to the gym.