FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

This week's theme is "We are Family". Enjoy!




The start of our little family. Dad, Mom & Jake taken in July 2000

We've grown!! Taken in November 2001.

Look how we've changed! Taken in April 2003.

Hard to believe that those kiddos are so old. Taken in August 2006.

Wow! Everyone looks so different. Take in August 2007.

Check out the most recent family photo take in August 2008 at the top of the blog.

UNDER THE HANSEN BIG TOP

That is our theme for the upcoming carnival that I am co-chairing. The big day is Friday. It has been a whirlwind week trying to finish last minute things, but I believe it is all coming together nicely.

Silent auction baskets are wrapped & ready to be sold, game prizes are ready, cakes are ordered for the cake walk, the kettle corn guys confirmed they are coming, volunteers are set up, game tickets are selling nicely, we are OUT of raffle tickets (a good sign) and the halls of Hansen are slowly be invaded by cut out animals, clowns & circus tents. The windows are all painted to match the circus theme! Food & cash donation to buy food are coming into as well. We are ready to feed circus goer's dinner & entertain them all night long!

I guess at this point, I sit back, relax & hope it all works out! I'll be glad when Saturday morning arrives...then it is on to the Hansen Book Fair, Teddy Bear Tea for the Festival of Trees and Cub Scout popcorn....

OPPOSITES

My kids are opposites. Yes, they have some similarities & some of the same interests, but for the most part they are very different.

Take for example, gym class. Each Fall & each Spring the kids have to run a mile. The top 10 or so boys & girls from each grade are posted for the school to see. Jake thrives on this. Allie could care less. Jake stresses himself out about where he'll fall in the top 10. Allie isn't aware that there is a top 10. Jake wants extra protein, carbs and Gatorade for breakfast. Allie is fine with her usual oatmeal & Sunny D.

This past week, the kids ran the mile. Jake's time was 7:29. Allie's was 13:34. Jake wasn't happy with his time because Kyle, Nick, Carter, Adam & Peter beat him. Allie was thrilled with her time...she finished & she wasn't last! HUH?? Jake was appalled at her attitude. I asked why she was so slow, she brought to my attention that Andrea needed to talk to her & she didn't want to be mean & run ahead. Again, HUH?? She said that she was 2nd to last & Andrea was last in the mile & she was good with that. HUH???

So, my kids are definitely opposites. One can't understand why he wasn't first...the other is just happy she wasn't last!

Onto other news, Jake's football team played on Thursday night under the lights. They played another Hansen team & there was quite a bit of "trash talkin". Jake's team was 0-2 & the other team 2-0. The kids were sure that they'd get crushed. Funny thing, they lost but it was in OT by one TD. They looked awesome. They played so hard & looked great. After the game, they were bummed, Jake (& about half of the team) even cried because he wanted to win so bad.

Allie's soccer team won both of their games this week. They looked really good & Allie even tried her hardest.

Jake's soccer game didn't end well. They lost 6-0 & frankly didn't deserve to win. They looked awful. Everyone looked tired & like they had neverplayed the game before. The team was a lot bigger & had a lot better skills, but still!

Jake went to the UNI football game with his friend Nick. Nick's dad owns a local radio station & had tickets. They asked Jake & his friend Carter to go to the game. The neatest part was that they had sideline passes. The boys got high fives from the players after TD's, they were on TV, they got their shirts signed by the players after the game and they got to play on the Dome floor after the game was over...Jake was in heaven. He said it was GREAT!


This week will be a bit crazy...I have lots of last minute carnival stuff to do...our big day is Friday night. I am subbing all day in my old classroom at Hansen on Friday. I also am volunteering for a student council project on Wednesday. Allie has dance & her last 2 soccer games. Jake has soccer & football (2 practices each & 1 game each). Both kids have Religion. Jake has a b-day party to attend for his friend Ben G. & Allie has one for her friend Madison V. This weekend is the marathon too. The kids have playdates planned for mid week. Oh, the best part...my stove will be delivered on Tuesday and I think that the plumber is coming to install our water softener next week. We are picking out our new countertops this & sink today. Hopefully that will go well!


Go Panthers!! Carter, Jake & Nick. This was taken by Nick's dad & he sent it to my cell.


Allie hustles at soccer.

The Falcons:
Front: Parker, Kyle, Nick B.
Middle: Jake, Ben G. Brad, Drew
Back: Coaches
Missing: Matthew & Jacob L.

Jake playing Wide Receiver

Jake at the soccer game

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

This week's theme is soccer...my kids have been playing soccer since they were really little, so I decided to choose pics from their VERY first season of soccer. Jake was 3 1/2 and Allie was 4 in these pics.

OK...I hit post too soon on the last entry & when I go back to edit the post, it won't allow me to. I know that I have some words that aren't spelled correctly & that my line spacing is way off...it all bugs me as much as it bugs you!

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

Allie had her friend Hunter over to play after school today. Hunter was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphomia on the last day of school last year. Needless to say, Hunter has had a rough few months battling cancer. He spent a lot of the summer in Iowa City getting chemo. He has 1 more treatment left and then he's done with chemo, hopefully FOREVER! He is now considered cancer-free. I can see why this little guy beat this horrible disease...for him it was 100% attitude. For a 6 year old, he is so grown up and so happy. He's a polite, sweet little boy that could have a conversation with anyone willing to chat. He questions everything & truly wants to know answers. I've never seen him without a giant smile on his face. What neat kid, who didn't deserve to have cancer. He even wears a scarf to cover his head, which is bald from the chemo, the scarf reads "Cancer Fears Me". Go Hunter!!

As I sit here tonight I am counting my blessings. I can't imagine being Hunter's mom. She told me that most moms wonder what their kids will be when they grow up...she just wonders if he'll grow up. Ouch! That felt like a punch in my gut, I can't imagine how she must feel. I wanted to cry for her. I hope that I never have to watch one of my kids go through what she's seen with Hunter. She is amazing.

So tonight, I held my kids a little tighter when I tucked them into bed. I was sure not to forget to go in and cover them up. I gave them one last kiss on the forehead. I was certain that they heard I love you more than once today. I am lucky to have happy, healthy kids. Sometimes, I need to be reminded of that every once in awhile. Thanks Hunter for making me count my beautiful blessings!

Hunter & Allie hanging out. Note Hunter's scarf says "Cancer Fears Me".

WAITING, WAITING & MORE WAITING

I've spent this week waiting. Yes, waiting seems to be the theme of my week!

On Monday, I was waiting for the appliance guys to call about delivery & installation. Of course the second I left to take the kids to school or pick them up, they called. Then it was phone tag time, trying to get them called back. I also was waiting for someone to deliver some cookies that I had ordered. Her time frame was late morning or early afternoon...HUH???!

On Tuesday, I waited for the appliances to be delivered (which I do love). My time was between 1 & 4! What??? Of course that meant I was held hostage here waiting. The dishwasher installer wanted to come at 3:30. I was home ALL day & he chooses 3:30, the exact time I have to pick up kids & frankly the exact time chaos starts in our house. He ended up coming at 3:45, which made us late for Allie's soccer game. I'm thinking the WHOLE time that I was here all day with nowhere that I had to be & now I'm late!!

Today, I'm waiting for the plumber to come & check out what needs to be done to install our water softener. His time frame...sometime late morning. So, here I sit waiting! I'm sure he'll come to install the softener another day...again I'll be waiting.

Next week, our stove is scheduled to arrive. I'm guessing I'll have a 3-4 hour time period of WAITING!!

Did I mention that I spend a good portion of each week waiting on my kids. Yes, I wait on them by getting them meals, helping them with homework etc. But I also spend a lot of time waiting for them to get done with practices or out of classes. I'm on their schedule most evenings!

I guess that the silver lining in all of this is that I have gotten a lot of paperwork done while here. My PTA stuff is done, the carnival is ready to go, my blog is up to date, my Festival of Trees stuff is on time, my bills are paid, Scout popcorn stuff is done and so on. Oh & laundry is caught up too. My upstairs is cleaned & I'm putting off cleaning the main floor, but it will get done today....while I'm waiting!

UPDATES

Here is what went on last week...

Allie Soccer: Al started soccer last week. She is on the green team & is having a ball. The first day they just did drills. The 2nd day they had a game & Al's team won! She has 4 more soccer practices/games & is done. Next year, she can play CVYSA (if she wants) which is the league Jake is in & will consist of 2 practices a week & 6 games over about an 8 week period in the Fall & Spring. UGH!

Jake Soccer: Jake had 2 soccer practices last week, one in the pouring rain. He had a game on Saturday (it rained) & it was probably the most exciting soccer game I have ever seen. They ended up tying 5-5 and our boys looked pretty good. This is the next league up (U10) and there are new rules & positions, so Jake is still learning. I'm not a fan of soccer, but did enjoy this match!

Jake Football: Jake had 2 football practices last week, one in the rain. His team lost on Saturday 18-0. It was raining during the game & the ball was really slippery. There were a couple of fumbles that could have resulted in a score or two for us. Oh well!

Allie's Foot: Allie went to the doc again for her planter's warts. They are finally going away!! Yeah! We will have another follow up visit in a few weeks & hopefull that will be it! This all started in June & we've been seeing the doc every 3 weeks for treatment. I'm ready to be done!

PTA: I had our first PTA meeting of the year last week. Believe it or not, I didn't agree to chair anything new! I was pretty proud of myself. I also hosted a carnival meeting here last week & I think we are ready for the carnival to take place in less than 2 weeks.

Jake's Weekly Tests: Once again my brilliant (I'm biased, I know) son got a 100% on his spelling test & a 100% on his reading test. Yeah Jake!

No School: There was no school on Friday, which was nice. We got a few things handled around here. I still have a ton of catching up to do, but I am not subbing today or tomorrow so that should help!

Kitchen: Scott spent yesterday painting the kitchen. It looks really nice. I'll spend today moving stuff back into the kitchen. Tomorrow our fridge, dishwasher, water softener & microwave will be delivered. The stove is on back order & should arrive next week. I'm hoping we can pick out our new countertops over the weekend.

Popcorn Kernal: My job as the co-popcorn kernal has officially begun. The packets are ready to given out to the Scouts & paperwork is done. Now we are at a standstill until the orders have to be placed.

This week: Allie has dance & 2 soccer games/practices. Jake has 2 football & 2 soccer practices plus a game for each. Both kids start Religion this week and both are having friends over on Wednesday after school. Tonight is Jake's Pack kick off meeting & my popcorn info meeting.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PLAN TO BE GREAT MOMS
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GREAT MOMS,
THOSE WHO HAVE GREAT MOMS
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD GREAT MOMS...

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of shag carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...
4 YEARS OF AGE My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

I got this in an email from a friend & loved it. Thought I'd share it with my readers!

FALL

I'm avoiding a few tasks that I desperately need to get done today. I started this entry weeks ago & didn't get it finished. Here goes!

I LOVE Fall! Here is what I love about Fall...

• School starts. No more hearing my kids fighting in the middle of the day.
• UNI football! I love the Homecoming parade. I love tailgating. I love the Panthers.
• Flag football. I enjoy watching my little guy play the game.
• Soccer. I don't love soccer, but my kids do...I'm learning!
• Halloween. I can't wait to see my kids run from house to house getting candy. I love watching them count & divide their candy after they trick or treat! I love seeing the kids stalk Scott while he carves the pumpkin.
• The pumpkin patch. I can't wait to see my kid's eyes when we go to the pumpkin patch & pick out our pumpkins.
• The marathon. Scott runs the QC Marathon every fall. We love to cheer him on.
• Hartman Reserve. This year Allie's class will go to Hartman to hike & make apple cider.
• Jackets. I love wearing a fleece jacket because there is a chill in the air.
• Thanksgiving. Our quiet day at home. Sometimes it is just us & sometimes we have a few guests. Getting out our Christmas stuff has become our tradition. We love it.
• Day after Thanksgiving shopping. Yes, online shopping at 5:00 and then heading to Davenport to bargain shop with Kim & Mandy is so much fun!
• Leaves. I love the smell of burning leaves, I don't get to experience that with the burning bans though :(
• Crisp nights & needing a fleece blanket to sit outside.
• Chili. We make chili on cool Sunday afternoons & then watch Sunday Night Football on TV.
• I love fall colors. The oranges, yellows & reds are so fun.
• The leaves changing colors. Who doesn't love watching this take place?

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

This week's theme is a little lame...I worked all week & remembered the I needed to update this late on Thursday...next week will be better! Anyway, the theme is "Hiding Places".

KEEPING BUSY

Yes, I know when I said that I wasn't going to work this year, just sub that I also was concerned about being bored. WRONG!! I worked every day last week & am booked this week too. I'm working more now by subbing than I did when I worked! Figure that out!! I am enjoyed myself & will start saying "no" to some requests to sub, but I want to remain available for now to get my name in so that I can have the option to work almost daily in the future.

Jake had his first football game on Saturday. His team lost 24-6. He was pretty bummed. The boys had a great time though & they tried their hardest.

My parents celebrated their 37th year of marriage this week. Scott & I hope to be as happy as they are after 37 years!

Allie attended 2 birthday parties this weekend. Her friend Jordyn had a party at Claire's. It was a spa party & the kids wore their PJ's & got their nails done & were pampered. She also went to her friend Gunnar's party at Chuck E Cheese's.

The kids had friends over on Wednesday after school. Jake had Paul over (like every Wed) and Allie invited Olivia over. They all had a great time.

Allie spent the night at Jordyn's house on Saturday. Well, almost spent the night. She was called to go to dinner at Olive Garden & shopping at Target with Jordyn & her mom. After that, they were spending the night at Jordyn's house. She's spent the night there numerous times with no trouble. I got a call at 11:30 that Allie wanted to come home because the cats were looking at her. SERIOUSLY!! So, Allie came home & slept fine in her bed. Jake had Paul spend the night here with no problems!

Jake has aced his 2 spelling test this year. He got a 100% and an 87% on his 2 reading tests. He missed 2 on the one test & it took his grade way down. He missed an essay question...he didn't read it right & answered it completely wrong. I suppose he needs to SLOW DOWN!

Jake had his first Cub Scout meeting of the year. The boys went swimming despite the cool temps & had a ball. We grilled out & they played some games too.

This week brings dance, 2 soccer games & another foot doctor appt. for Allie. Jake has 2 soccer practices, 2 football practices, a football game & a soccer game. I am working every day next week, have a PTA meeting, a carnival meeting & a Festival of Trees meeting. Scott & I are painting our kitchen over the weekend (we have agreed on paint).

Jake as QB at the game. He didn't do too bad.

Jake with his team
front: Jacob L, Kyle, Ben, Parker, Nick
middle: Brad, Matthew, Jacob G, Drew
back: coaches

Jake & his den after they got out of the pool at their meeting.
front: Paul, Jake, Sam B, Nicholas
back: Sam R, Aidan, Will R, Will B

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY


This week's theme is "Things That Make You Go HMMMMM....". I've chosen photos of my kids in playing...wearing odd items!

My mom bought Halloween costumes for the kids to play in at her house.

Allie in a Raiders hat, Jake in a wig

Jake with his cape on....hanging out in lawn chairs in the living room!

Brown paper bags were a hit at my parent's house

New boots!

WHEW!

I can't believe Labor Day has come & gone already. I guess summer is officially over! The kids went to visit my parents for part of the long weekend. Nana & Papa took them to the circus, to a Wizard of Oz display at a park, to Palisades Park to look at the cliffs, on a starlight walk & many other things. The kids LOVED every minute of being with Nana & Papa. Scott & I enjoyed dinner out both Friday & Saturday night. Not once did we hear "Mom or Dad". It was nice! It was also nice to get the kids back on Sunday morning, I missed them a ton.

We bought new appliances for our kitchen today. We've been talking about it for over a year & finally just did it. They are all stainless steel & gorgeous. My stove has 2 ovens & my new fridge has a bottom drawer freezer. All will arrive mid-month. Now we have to pick out a new paint color & new granite counter tops. Merry Christmas to us!

I just got all of our Fall activity schedules figured out...our weeks will look something like this:
Monday: dance & football practice
Tuesday: soccer practice (both kids)
Wednesday: religion class
Thursday: soccer (Allie), football practice Jake
Friday: soccer practice (Jake)
Saturday: football game & soccer game

This doesn't include the Sunday or Thursday football games or Jake's 2 Scout meetings each month or Allie's 1 Brownie meeting per month. This also doesn't include my volunteering, subbing or meetings. This also doesn't include doc/dentist appts. for the kids or any parties that they have. As I looked over our calendar, we don't have a single Saturday free until mid-December! Basketball for both kids starts right as soccer/football ends.

This week brings the usual soccer & football practices. I sub 2 days this week & have a carnival meeting. I'm also supposed to volunteer at school. Allie has a b-day party on Saturday. Jake has a football game, soccer pictures and a Scout meeting this weekend. Allie has a doctor appt. for her planter's warts on her foot, again! Whew!

Ben, Allie & Jake by the river

The kids in the Haunted Forest at the Wizard of Oz display

more by the river

The house on the witch!

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

This week's theme is "Babies".

Scott

Maggie

Jake

Allie

SICK

Ok...it is the 4th day of school...I shouldn't have a sick child already! I got a call at about 1:45 today (school got out at 2:15) telling me Allie was in the nurse's office & her tummy hurt. I said fine I'd pick her up. I chewed her out all the way to the car about crying wolf & always having a tummy ache. There is a new nurse & I figured she just got her way & got to come home.

Well...I was wrong...she really was sick...she had a fever of 103 & she threw up all over the bathroom floor...about 8 times! So, I did apologize to her for not believing her & babied her quite a bit. I feel awful for her & I feel awful that I didn't believe her. I guess in the end, she may have learned a lesson to about crying wolf!

In other news, Jake got a call from his football coach & he is on the Falcons this year. He is excited about his teammates & ready for his first practice which is tomorrow night. We should find out about his soccer team this week...I hope his soccer & football practices don't conflict.

Also, I have 6 dates to sub in September already on my calendar. I guess I will keep busy!

GET TOGETHERS

Last week, Jake had a birthday party for his friend Nick. They went to the batting cages & then to the pool. The parents joined the kids at the pool for pizza & chatting...a last hurrah of summer.

The kids got together with friends mid-week to meet their teachers at back pack night. They had so much fun seeing kids that they hadn't been in touch with all summer. I even saw some parents that I had missed over the summer.

Wednesday, I got together with friend for coffee & lunch...KID FREE!!

Friday night, I attended a going away party for a teacher at Hansen. We went right after school & then a group of us came back here for pizza, drinks and chatting.

Today, Allie & I went to CR to for a get together at my aunt's house with my mom's family. It was a meet Drew & a good-bye to my cousin Annie & her hubby TJ who are moving to Germany soon.

What a great week of getting together with friends & family!

This week brings a Festival of Trees meeting for me, a room parent meeting, school pictures, Jake finds out about his soccer & football teams & will possibly have a practice or two as well. A busy weekend is in store too. I have lots on my "to-do" list as well....so far I am keeping busy not working every day.

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY


This week's theme is "Good-bye Summer". Here is a recap in pictures of our summer!

4th of July/Waterfights

Cool Treats

Bike Riding

Floods

Camp

T-ball

Sturgis Falls

Baseball

College Hill Arts Fest

Corn on the Cob

Adventureland

Kid's Day

Birthday

Zoo

Waterpark

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

What beautiful words...the first day of school! I was ready for my kiddos to head back to school & so were they. They have spent the last week fighting & picking at each other. They are sick of each other & need a break. That break came on Wednesday. I didn't end up going back to work this year & will sub instead.

Both kids had good first days of school. Jake had little say, mostly things about recess & being done first. Allie didn't shut up for an hour after I picked her up. She told me who she played with at recess, who she had lunch with, all about the story they read, about some rules and so on.

I spent the day with friends celebrating the kid's big day. I did get some errands run as well, so the day wasn't all play! Today, it is back to reality...housework & laundry...tomorrow errands! I'd guess after Labor Day, I'll get into the swing of volunteering in each child's classrooms & I'd also guess that subbing jobs will start popping up. I don't think I'll be bored!


The kids by the traditional place that I take the school pictures...this was on Back Pack Night.

Allie & Mrs. Wyckoff at Back Pack Night

Jake & Mrs. Marshall at Back Pack Night

The kids by the Hansen sign at Back Pack Night

The first day of school

Jake & his buds (Paul & Ben)

Allie & her gals, Katie & Jordyn