What the?!

Can you even guess what this is a shadow of?

I am sort of embarrassed to admit it....

I thought about leaving this blog entry as it above but then what if years and years go by and someday I am not around to give the explanation?  I'd better tell.

It is my foot. 

For those of you that don't know me that well I am double jointed.  Especially in my fingers and toes.

I was sitting with my legs crossed and I looked down to see this shadow of my foot.

This is how I normally sit with my foot when I am 'just chillin'.

So, let's walk through this from the top left, that's my leg.  Then it goes down to my heel (rounded bottom thing on the left), and then over to the bottom of my foot (rounded bottom on right).  The things on top are my toes- the thing sticking straight up- that's my big toe.

Now stop laughing, it isn't nice to make fun!

Maybe someday if you're lucky I will take a picture of my foot in this position.  Or maybe not.

Good food, Good company

Earlier this summer I was talking to Brian about wanting to have the people from work over for a BBQ. 
We started talking about it earlier this summer and finally after working through schedules we settled on the 30th of July.  At the time it felt like it would take forever to get here and now it's time!

Menu included:  BBQ Ribs, Chicken thighs (on the Green Egg), dill and parmasean red potatoes, strawberry spinach salad, crab and cheese pasta salad, watermelon, fruit and more fruit, fruit dip, fruit pizza, chocolate/peanut butter bars, chocolate chip cookies, rice krispie treats, and freezies (thanks to my children).



Samantha, Hannah, Marlee, Hailey, Sirr, Talon
Missing:  Seth

Loriann snapped this picture of most of the kids while they were waiting for their dinner.  I was so mad after everyone left that I didn't pull my camera out sooner to take pictures of everyone that came.  I think I was sweating too much to worry about anything else.  Poor excuse but it's the best I got.

Before dinner we had the bouncy out - another photo opportunity missed.

After dinner the kids were hot and starting to get antsy so it felt like the perfect time to get out the pool.  The grown ups had made it this long without having soaked children on their laps but it was obvious that that wasn't going to last all night.

Sirr, age 2

Hannah, age 3 (almost 4)       Marlee, age 2 (almost 3)

Hailey, age 1 (almost 2)



Talon, a.k.a. Mr. Karate,   age 4 (almost 5)



Looks like the water was a little cold for Mr. Karate :-)

It was a great day.  The kids played great together and the adults stayed away from talking about work.

Attendees:  Amy, Brian, Hannah, Hailey, Jessica, Sirr, Lori, Nick, Seth, Samantha, Patty, Garry, Linda, T.K, Joanne, Loriann, Talon, and Marlee.  (we missed Jerome and Josh- hopefully they can make it next time) 

I did it!

For the past few weeks Hailey has been using the toilet for both #1 and #2.

Sometimes she will tell us that she needs to go, other times we ask her and almost always she answers with a 'yeah' and then marches into the bathroom and starts getting ready to show off.

She is pretty consistently going every morning when she wakes up and then at least another 1-2 times during the day/night. 

Next week when she is back at Jackie's for daycare we will start working with her more and more.

What a big girl!

Cousins by chance, Friends by choice

Today Kari, the boys, and Grammy Chris came over for lunch and a swim.
Hannah could hardly contain herself all day and it made me wonder (again) why I tell her what we are doing for the day.....when I do, she spends the whole entire day asking "Is it time for the boys to be here?" "I hear a car, do you think that's the boys?"  "Mom, I should proally (probably) sit on the steps and wait for the boys."

They finally arrived (right on time but it felt like we waited FOREVER).

The kids had mini corn dogs, french fries, watermelon, and mac-n-cheese for lunch.  Tin enjoyed dipping his french fries in ranch dressing- a  new found favorite condiment for him.  The boys always eat really good at my house which makes me happy because Kari often talks about how they don't eat so well.  Glad to see that I make them things that they seem to actually like (or at least have REALLY good manners).

After they were done swimming and driving the Mustang, we thought we would try to get a picture of the 4 of them.  They actually did really good - all four kids facing the same way, looking at the camera, half way happy!  We'll take it!!

Didn't take any arm twisting here to get Hannah and Kas together for a picture.

These two just melt my heart!

Watching them play together makes me sad that they don't get to see each other (in person) more than once a year.   I hope they keep this special friendship forever and ever.

Lego my Lego

My nephews are amazing with Legos.
That is one thing with having two girls in the house.  There are no Legos around here.
Today after lunch we were going to go to the mall for a little while.  Before we could leave Tin wanted to play with his Legos. 
When we finally talked him into leaving, the whole time we were out he was reminding Kari that his 'project' was waiting for him at grandma's to finish. 
It is amazing watching them (especially Agustin) get lost in the directions and tiny colored blocks.

There is something special about this kid's mind.
Although what did I expect with Kari and Andres as parents. 



Sugar Bugs

Today was Miss Bean's first trip to the dentist.  Her appt was at Champlin Family Dentist with Dr Bauer.
The assistant that we had was amazing!  She was so good with Hannah, took her time showing her all the tools and explaining to her everything that was going to happen along the way.  When she laid her back and turned on the bright light she even provided sunglasses for Hannah to wear.  I wish I would have taken a picture but my hand was needed with the patient.
Hannah held my hand the whole time and a few moments along the way I could tell that she was really nervous but she never let anyone else see it.  She was a perfect angel.  Sat still and did as she was asked.
The assistant kept talking to Hannah about the Sugar Bugs on her teeth and told her the only way to get rid of them is to brush and floss every day.
After the visit we went to Target and while we were paying for our stuff, Hannah asked me if I would tell the lady what a big girl she was today at the dentist.  So we did and the lady was real excited for her.
We called dad when we got back to the car and was able to share our good news with Kari, Grandma, Grandma, Kas, and Tin later that day!

I should mention that Hailey was a little angel at the dentist also.  She sat perfectly still on my lap and watched every move, "Me!".  Hannah did a great job today showing Hailey that the dentist is fun and there is nothing to be afraid of!

Such a proud mommy today!

Terrible Twos

I should start by saying that she really isn't terrible.

She can be challenging at times, hence the name Hailey Monster, but it is all in good fun.

Lately she has been throwing temper tantrums.  Today she was drinking a glass of iced tea without a lid on it.  She was stumbling around and while watching her I could see that there was a good chance that the drink was going to end up on the carpet.  I asked her to sit on the step and stay still until her drink was done and she responded with a loud 'No".  We had a little discussion about how she is not going to be walking around so if she won't sit then she needs to give me her drink.  Thsi time the 'No' got louder and was accompanied with a swat.  I wrestled the drink away from her- without spilling a drop I might add- and she was so mad she went storming off.  She was feverishly turning in circles as if she were looking for something she had dropped and then it hit me- we aren't at home so there is no second step to lay on to throw a fit.  She settled on this corner but only after she knocked down those cardboard boxes that were in her way.

This one is going to be trouble....

At the lake, Day 2

Today was much better weather than yesterday.

The sun was shining and it was warm- not hot.

We spent a good part of the day down by the lake digging in the sand and jumping off of the dock.

Later in the afternoon Grammy Chris took the kids for a tractor ride.

Text from Brian: 

My husband is amazing!

Together again

Here they are, together again!

Today we packed up and headed to Pine City.  The boys and Kari love to be at the cabin on the weekends so typically during their time here that's where you will find them/us Friday through Sunday.

It rained most of the day today so we went into town in the evening to a local and family favorite pizza joint, Pizza Pub.

They did get a chance to play in the sandbox between the rain.

What do you get...

when you mix cousins that haven't seen each other in a year and an afternoon to play together?

She is wiped out!

The kids played hard today.  I was at work so Jennie and the rest of the gang watched the kids for me.

Tonight we plan to spend the night with daddy so that we can go to the cabin tomorrow for the weekend.

Came home to this today:



Later that night:  Brody was at Chris and Steve's tonight and the kids were out playing.  I ran to Target and when I got back Hannah and Brody came running over to the car yelling "Steve is on fire and went to the hospital!"   Turns out he was fixing a car in the garage and was standing in the trunk of the car when something caught on fire and somehow caught Steve's legs on fire. He was rushed to the hospital where later he would be transfered to HCMC.  2nd and 3rd degree burns on his leg that would require a skin graft.

It's time!

This morning at 6:00 am, Kari and the boys boarded a plane and started their long day of traveling which would finally bring them to their Minnesota destination around 10:00 pm.
Andres' isn't coming until August 11th so today Kari travels as the only adult, managing 3 flight changes with the two boys.  Knowing how well the boys play independently and how well they travel, I am confident that there will be no issues.

You'd think that we would be professional 'waiters' at this point but the waiting game never gets easier.
For weeks now, even months, we have been counting down their arrival.  Today is the day!  We are so excited!  (and to think we get to do this again on the 11th when Andresee comes!!)

Today the girls spent the day with Kim.  Grandma Chris joined them and they went to the water park (Battle Creek).  Hannah went down the water slides, Hailey played in the sand.  All the reports that I got said they had a blast!

Today when I asked Hannah if she was having fun for the week she said "YES!  I love my aunties 189 20."
Not really sure if that means anything more than A LOT!

Hannah is extra excited because today is also the day that she gets to give her cousins their jelly beans.
These jelly beans were purchased a few months ago.  A random purchase on a daily Target run.  I saw them on the shelf and for a split second thought "The boys might think these are funny.  I should send them to them in the mail."  Hannah found them a few weeks later.  "Mom, what are these?"  So, I went on and explained that they are jelly beans that taste nasty with flavors like booger, baby wipes, vomit, pencil shavings, skunk, etc.  She was mortified.  For days she wanted to know why boys think that stuff like that is funny.  She wanted to know if they actually like to eat them or if they like to throw up (cuz she is certain that they will vomit if they actually eat them).    The more time that passed, the more I knew that this was NOT a good idea.  I don't think these boys are going to think that 'practical joke jelly beans' are a funny trick.  They are going to think I have lost my mind.   BUT it's too late now, Hannah is all in and won't let me forget about them.

Hannah was beside herself with excitement.  She went to the bathroom and on her way out came running through the living room shouting "I'm so excited for Kas and Tin!!".  Later that night, sitting around the kitchen table she was giddy.  Pure excitement pouring from her as she sat there and answered every question with a 'Nobody' and then would bust into gut wrenching laughter- not to mention she was loving the attention she was drawing.

I didn't get any pictures at the airport this year which is just as well considering that it's more important to be in those moments then behind a lens trying to capture someone else enjoying the arrival of the Parades-Millers.

Back at Grandma's Hannah and the boys sat around the table staring at each other.  It didn't take them long to warm up and within minutes they picked up where they left off last year.

Fence update:

Time for me to fly

Our babies aren't so baby anymore.

It's amazing to me how fast these guys grew and how quickly they outgrew their nest.

There are only two left now and soon they will be gone. 

I hope they enjoyed their stay!

This picture was taken about a week ago and this post was written on 7/26- since then all three of the birds have flown away and the nest is now empty.  Each time Hannah sees a group of three birds flying in the air together she yells out "Mom, look!  The babies are flying by!"

Today the girls were at Grandma Chris'.  They made cookies and had lots of visitors!

Another hot one

Today's heat index = 118 degrees

Today's progress on the fence = connector pieces (that's about as technical as it's going to get from me)

Today's daycare = Grandma Judy again.  Today Jennifer and the kids joined them for swimming and pizza. 

"Mom- take a picture of me by the fence."

*click*

"Can I see how I look?"

I skipped out on running last night because it was so hot.  Not a smart idea since today is worse and hearing that tomorrow could be worse than today, then Kari and the boys come home on Thursday, etc, time is running out this week!  That only means one thing- if I don't get out today it won't happen for a while and that isn't good.  So, off I went.

Today was Week 6, Day 1 which is 5 minute warm up walk, jog 5 min, walk 3 min, jog 8 min, walk 3 min, jog 5 min, cool down walk 5 min.  I ended up taking a different route so my last walk was much longer than 5 min but all together jogged/walked 3.7 miles.

My sisters and I decided to do a 5K on August 21st.  Not too convinced yet that I will be able to run the whole thing or even 1/2 of it but confident that between walking and running I can do it.

Makes me a little nervous....



Is there anything he can't do?!

We have been shattering records with our heat index this summer and today I believe they said that with the heat index it feels like 106+ degrees outside.  Lucky for Brian (not!) he has this week off of work and has been planning to build a fence.

I came home today to see that he is well on his way to finishing this by the end of the week.

I was happy to hear that he was taking breaks and staying well hydrated in this heat.

Jackie is also on vacation this week so the girls are going to have a week with their favorites!!

Today they were at Grandma Judy's.  They spent their day playing, swimming in the pool, watching movies, eating snacks and cuddling.

The many sides of Me

Hailey has been starting to talk more and more lately.  Every so often she will pull a full sentence out that you can understand perfectly.  "Here you go"  "I go" "I do"  "I wanna go" "I did it!". 

Other times it sounds like she is speaking in Chinease.

She has plenty of words that she can say: Mom, Ma, Mommy, Dada, Hannah, Bruce (from daycare), Jackie, Nol (Nolan), Yeah, Yay!, ball, broke, stuck, No (she's real good with this one!), more, baby, some sort of Thank You (too hard to try to spell but it is clear that that is what she means), she makes animal sounds, Poo (yes- what you think she means...but it's fun because she is starting to use the toliet), and me.

'Me' is by far the most universal of the words.

Point to a shoe and say 'Me' = I would like to wear these, help me get them on?

Point to what you are eating and say 'Me' = I would like to eat some of that too

Point to your sister playing with something and say 'Me' = Hey, I want that!

Point to the buckles on your carseat, say 'Me', point to the person trying to buckle you in = Hands off- I wanna do this myself!

Point to your baby while she is sitting on your lap and say 'Me' = This is mine

Point to your crib after rocking for a few minutes and bedtime and say 'Me' = I am ready for bed now

Point to the outfit you picked out and say 'Me' = Daddy, look at me!  I'm cute!

When in the bath, point to the soap, point to your belly and say 'Me' = My turn to get washed up and get out

Carry books over to the couch, climb up and say 'Me' = Let's read these, please

Point to Hannah and while crying, cry the word 'Me' = Hannah took that from me and I want it back

Choose your freezie, run to the 'cutting-counter', point to the scissors and say 'Me' = Cut mine first!

Point to a picture of yourself and say 'Me' = probably doesn't need a translation

Watch mommy and daddy hug or kiss, point to us while running over to get in the middle, shouting 'Me' =  I want some too!!

Left out

The girls were in Hannah's room listening to Hannah's new mix CD.

Love Me, Justin Bieber

Never Say Never, Justin Bieber

Born This Way, Lady Gaga

Lido Shuffle, Boz Scaggs

Just the Way You Are, Bruno Mars

DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love, Usher

Hey, Soul Sister, Train

(Taking My) Life Away, Default

Free to Be Me, Francesca Battistelli

Raise Your Glass, Glee Cast Version

One Time, Justin Bieber

One Less Lonely Girl, Justin Bieber

U Smile, Justin Bieber

Baby, Justin Bieber

Teenage Dream, Katy Perry

Alright With Me, Kris Allen

Poker Face, Lady Gaga

Misery, Maroon 5

Party In the U.S.A., Miley Cyrus

Kiss Me Thru the Phone,  Soulja Boy

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme,  They Might Be Giants

Hot Dog!, They Might Be Giants

Splish Splash, Bobby Darin

All you could hear from the outside was music, singing and laughter.  Every so often you could hear a bounce on the floor- either really getting into those dance moves or jumping on the bed or off of something.  Sometimes better if you don't know.

I think someone was feeling left out...



I will protect you buds

Brian sold his snowmobile trailer this week.  The night after it was gone Hannah was helping him pick up behind the garage where it was stored (hence the gloves).  As they were picking up leaves and sticks they came across a huge toad.  They put it in a bucket and set him free in the grass near the garage.

Hailey's curiousity got the best of her and she had to go check him out.  Once she got close enough to lay eyes on him she screamed and started running in place signaling for someone to come to her rescue.

Leave it to Hannah.  She went running over, picked her up and carried her away saying "I will protect you buds."

These two might not always get along but that's part of having a sibling and moments like this make me forget what it's like when they are fighting over the same toy or arguing about who gets to sit on my lap.

Amy Hair

Hannah has a Make Your Own Princess App on the iPad.    When it was my turn to make a princess, I was looking through the hair options and she yells out "There mom!  Pick the Amy hair one!"

Beauty Shop

Hannah: "Mom, can you get the things down so I can do Hailey's hair?"

Mom:  " Hailey, do you want Hannah to do your hair?" 

 (just had to make sure that this arrangment was agreed upon)

Hailey:  "YAY!"

Then Hailey runs over to the couch, climbs right up and sits clapping her hands until her hairdresser arrives.

Ahhhh, the life!

I used to love when Hannah was little and she would sit with her feet crossed. 

Now Hailey is following in her sister's footprints and I couldn't love it more!

It's so cute and makes me giggle to think that even at that young age it feels so comfortable and normal to sit like that.

Visitors

We have babies!!

We saw this nest being built at the back of our garage this spring.  I have to be honest, it didn't even occur to me that the bird would be building a nest to then lay eggs that would then hatch.  Another sign that life is way too busy.  So, you could imagine my thrill and excitement when Brian pointed out that we had babies!!

Ever since then I have pretty much been obsessed with these three little guys.

There are two birds that come to feed them throughout the day and many times as I am walking up to the nest to check them out I can see their mommy perched out on the fence, worm in her mouth, waiting for me to finish gawking so she can feed them.

I don't ever remember before this summer ever actually seeing a nest low enough to see that there are babies inside.  So either I had seen this before when I was younger but didn't really care or it just has a different meaning now that I am a mom myself.

There are three of them in there.  Lately if you stand back far enough (usually when I don't have my camera) you can see three necks shooting out.

Kids say the darndest things

Lately Hannah has had some pretty funny things to say.

Sunday, July 3rd

We had spent the day at the lake.  On the way home I looked to my right and saw a beautiful sunset.  It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.  "Hey Hannah, look at that sunset.  Isn't that beautiful?"

Hannah replies "I think it looks horrible."

Funny thing about this is that she wasn't being a cranky-pants about it.  She was just ever so serious, made a comment, like no big-deal.  Made Brian and I giggle.

Short while later she was going on and on about random things.  Talking about her time with her grandmas (this includes both Gma Judy and Gma Chris).  At one point she said "Mom, remember when Grandma took me in the weeds that day?  We had so much you fun wouldn't even believe it!"

When we were eating lunch she walked over to me (shaking her hips from side to side and using her right hand to move the hair from her eyes)  "Ma'am, can I take your or'da (order said with an East Coast accent)?"

Sunday, July 10th

Last night we had a little get together with the neighbors out in the driveway/yard between our house and Chris and Steve's.  Around 9:30 or 10:00, Steve and Amanda (Brody's mom) came home from their golf outing.  They had been at the bar and Amanda had had a little to drink.  She kept yelling to Chris to make her some food.  It was obviously 'coming-home-from-the-bar' talk.

Today as Hannah and I went to get the paper she looked over to the yard.

"Whoa- look at the mess our party made!"  (still a few random beer cans that didn't make their way to the recycling can)

Later today as we were cutting up a watermelon she put her knife down (one of the 'circle knives' 'butter knife) and looked to the ceiling as if to be in deep thought "I wonder if Brody's mom ever got food?"

Same day, came home from Target.  Walked in the door and saw the syrup from breakfast still sitting on the counter.  "Mom, you forgot to put this away."  "Your right honey, could you do that for me?"

She replies with "What do I look like?"

A little later that day, "Mom, did your party juice (Midori, Malibu, and Watermelon Vodka- that I called mom's beer) make you sleep good last night?"

Badonkadonk

What do you get when you mix a toddler, a diaper, and a swimming pool?

A badonkadonk booty!

Summer lovin' happened so fast

Jackie was closed today.  Her dad passed away this past weekend and today was the funeral.

I took the day off to stay home with the girls.

I texted Karri Schnur this morning to see what her, Courtney, and Greta were up to.  I was feeling a need to be outside doing something.  Lunch?  Shopping?  Zoo?  MOA?  Just hanging out around home?

We decided to head to Snuffy's for lunch and follow it up with a trip to the Como Zoo.

We pulled into the parking lot- literally turned off of Lexington to the road that would lead us to the parking lot and my little baby genius in the back seat yells out "Mom! Remember Jennie brought us here last year when you were working!  Her friend and Maddie came with! Member that?"

Umm, yes I did but how in the heck did she?!

Entered the zoo, turned to the right and saw this building.

This building brings back so many memories for me.  Remember when we were little and this was pretty much the zoo?  Inside there were exhibits and the information center.  Later through years you would find the gift store within these walls.

Still can remember when there were actual animals in these cages. 

We walked around and looked at all of the animals and you KNOW I had to get a picture of this guy!

We ended our trip to the zoo in Como Town. 

It was 90 degrees outside today and when we pulled in the driveway we saw that daddy filled the pool when he got home from work and there is was, calling our names.

She isn't terrified, she truly loves this!

Push-Up

Tonight was a much better night at dinner time.

The reward = a Push-Up

A few years ago, when Hannah was the age that Hailey is now, I gave Hannah a Push-Up.  I knew she would make a mess but I really wasn't expecting how it turned out. 

She made the biggest mess ever.  She was covered from head to toe, her dress, her arms, her feet, toes, legs, face, nose, inside of ears....you name it, she covered it.

And if you know me, messes are not a huge deal to me.  It's one thing that I have tried hard to let go of.  Clothes and skin can be washed.  It's not worth getting all worked up over- this particular summer day, I was worked up.  That's how bad it was.

Fast forward a couple of years- Hailey puts Hannah to shame when it comes to eating Push-Ups.

This was her first and although she had a dripping orange chin when it was all said and done, she did a great job keeping the mess contained.

Night = Horrible

You know it's a bad night when Dankie and Dolphie end up on top of the fridge.

Tonight was one of those nights.  From the moment I stepped foot out of the car until the girls finally went to bed there was constant (CONSTANT) crying, whining and talking back.

It started before dinner as the girls cried and begged for chocolate milk and snacks- right before dinner.
When they were told no they lost it.
Then we sat down to eat and neither of the girls would eat - same girls who sat and cried for 30 minutes "I'm so hungry, I can't wait to eat, I need somepin' now!"
Hannah spent most of dinner time in her bedroom in a timeout.
Brian made fish and macaroni and cheese and she wasn't having it.  Or so she thought. 
"If you aren't going to eat, get in your room.  If your not going to stop crying, get in your room."
This went on and on for about 90 minutes.
Both girls lost their snack privileges and Hannah was working on losing Dankie and Dolphie for the night.

I ended up making Hailey a hotdog - since every time the noodles would go in her mouth she would literally gag.  I needed her to eat or she wouldn't sleep tonight.
Hannah finally ate all of her food and you can bet what happened next.

"Mommy, can I have a treat?  I'm so hungry."

Just about lost my mind tonight.