4TH OF JULY 2010

My very favorite day of the year has passed. What a great time we had! We went to my parent's house for their annual 4th of July celebration. The forecast called for rain & guess what? The weather people were WRONG! We had a wonderful day spent with family & friends. We had great food, drinks, conversation & laughs. We had some new faces join our get together & missed some of the regulars who didn't make it. We enjoyed a water fight (with about 1600 balloons), whiffle ball, snakes, the ice cream truck & ended the night with fire works. What a great day!

Snakes!
Ice cream from the ice cream truck.

The Campbell's coming by during the water parade.

The containers with 1600 balloons.

Some of the kids waiting for the water fight to begin.

The grand daughters.

The 6 grand kids. Maddie, Ben, Delaney, Allie, Jake & Drew

Scott, the kids & me

Jake is ready to party

Allie is ready for the 4th.

SUMMER FUN

We have started out the summer being quite busy & having loads of fun!

• Allie went to her friend Hannah's birthday party. It was held where Allie used to take gymnastics. She now thinks she wants to give that a try again. I'm thinking "no".
• I went to a surprise 40th birthday bash for my friend Karen. We had a nice time.
• Jake has had several baseball games they have won 6 & lost 2 since my last post. Jake has been hitting well. The highlight was another double that brought in 2 RBI's. He got to pitch in one game & did ok. He has been fielding well & caught a beautiful fly ball in right while running. He still has practice twice a week.
• Allie had a presurgery appointment to make sure she was healthy enough to have her mole removed. She also attend a party at the surgery center. She learned all about what they would do the day of the surgery. It helped ease her mind. I am pretty sure I had an anxiety attack & almost passed out while touring the center. Allie's surgery went well & she has stitches to show off right now.
• Jake slept over at his friend Adam's house & at his friend Paul's house.
• Jake had Paul over to play a bunch, along with Adam, Nick & Ben. Allie had her friend Maddie & another friend Madison over.
• Allie started tutoring. She loves it and her tutor even taught her how to crochet!
• Allie went to the city pool with her friend Maddie.
• Both kids went to a late night swimming party for a friend's birthday. It was freezing that evening, but they both had fun swimming under the lights of the pool.
• The kids and I went to my parent's house last weekend. We got to visit with a lot of family. Mom had a get together with the Fischer's & there were cousins from all over the US there. It was a great time.
• Allie & I went to Drew's 2nd birthday party. We also attended Delaney's Baptism and I had the honor of being her Godmother. Jake had a ball game so he missed the festivities.
• The baseball team had a swimming party & potluck the other night. It was a good time.
• We went to the neighbors to roast hot dogs and make smores the other night. It was so nice hanging out by the fire pit.
• Allie got her hair cut. The stylist straightened her hair & it was so cute.

This week brings: baseball practices, tutoring, a baseball game, Allie gets her stitches out, I get a haircut and my favorite holiday is coming up. I love the 4th of July.

Allie enjoying a smore
Jake loving his smore

Paul, Jake & Adam roasting mallows

Lauryn, Sami & Allie

Some of the baseball team

Drew playing with his new tractors
Delaney & her Godparents
The 6 Fischer grandkids
Allie before surgery
Allie with a blanket Nana made for her
Jake with his blanket

The wind up

The throw

STRIKE!

The 14 roses that Scott sent me for my birthday.

SUMMER IS HERE

Now that summer is here, I hope to update more than monthly.

• Baseball season is in full swing. The boys are doing ok. They have won about half of their games. Jake has had hits & done well in the outfield. He had a couple of amazing catches in right field. I'm proud of him.
• Soccer season is over. They had a good season. They didn't do so well in the tournament. They did have a fun weekend of soccer though. I volunteered to work concessions and got to hang out in the Gator selling snacks. It was a fun time.
• Allie had her end of the year Brownie meeting at the bowling alley. She won a ton a prizes for selling the most cookies this year.
• Scott went to Chicago for business a couple of weeks ago.
• Allie had a playdate at Carter's house. They spent some time at their neighborhood pool too.
• My brother Michael & his wife Kim welcomed Delaney Rose into the world at the end of May. She is perfect.
• We celebrated Beach Day at school. The kids wore beachy clothes and flip flops. They had picnic lunches in the gym and got to listen to fun music.
• Jake had safety patrol duty again.
• We went to an open house for our principal that retired at the end of the year. We are sad to see him go.
• We had snow cone days at school. The kids love those 2 days at school and indulge in as many snow cones as they can.
• Jake had a taco party in honor of their last book report of the year. It was a taco shaped report, hence the party.
• Both kids did great in the Talent Show. I was pretty proud of both kids.
• I co chaired the Talent Show & it went off without any major issues.
• Allie had a picnic with her class to celebrate the end of the school year. She had a blast.
• Jake was supposed to have a picnic with his class, but rain cancelled the event. They watched a movie and ate lunch in their classroom instead.
• Allie, my friend Kristin & I decorated Allie's teacher's classroom for his birthday. He has never had a birthday at school, but since we got out so late this was the first! He loves chips so we hung 100 bags of chips in various places in his room. What fun!
• I had an end of the year para educator meeting. I can't believe this year has come to an end.
• Jake was recognized at the awards assembly at school for perfect attendance and being a member of safety patrol.
• We had an end of the year staff party at a co workers house. There are 4 staff members retiring so we said our goodbyes to them.
• Michael, Kim & the kids came up and spent the night. They wanted to catch one of Jake's games. Unfortunately, it was cancelled.
• The kids had vacation Bible school. They loved every minute of it. On the last night we had a pool party under the stars. That was cool to them.
• Scott and I celebrated our 14 year anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long! We celebrated with dinner at a Japanese steak house. YUM. Scott sent me 14 beautiful red roses too. I love that guy!
• I went outlet mall shopping again with friends. I am now set on warm weather clothes and about 1/4 done with cold weather clothes. I think one more trip before school starts will do it.
• The kids each picked a friend and we went to see the new Shrek movie. They had a good time.
• Mandy, my mom & the kids came to catch one of Jake's game. The team didn't do well, but Jake had a hit & RBI. I enjoyed their visit.

Coming up: pre surgery appointment for Allie, pre surgery party for Allie, baseball games/practice for Jake, Allie starts tutoring next week, Allie has her mole removed & lots of other things.

Jake loving his mom
Drew & Delaney

Delaney

Adam, Paul, Ben, Jake & Nick (Jake's best buds)

The special ed staff

Front: Barb, Sheryl, Denise, Me

Back: Leanne, Judith, Ana, Renee, Tempa, Ellie, Shelly, Shay & Cara

Mr. Wagner on his birthday (note the chips on the ceiling)

Allie & her besties (Abbie, Allie, Skylar, Morgan, Madison & Katie)

The Brady Bunch; Ben, Olivia, Jake, Makenna, Paul & Sophie

Allie & Jordyn

Soccer team: Carolyn (coach), Kyle, Paul, Matthew, Brady, Peter, Steven, Jake & Luke

My class

Molly & Allie

Jake

Jake

MONTHLY RECAP

Here's my monthly recap. It seems that is all I have time for these days!

• We went to Williamsburg and got some serious shopping done at the outlet mall. For those that don't know, I've lost about 40 pounds since January and was in need of a new clothes. I got enough to get by and have been slowly adding clothes that fit to my closet.
• Allie had a Brownie meeting. Her troop celebrated Earth Day by picking up trash around the school.
• Jake has had lots of soccer and baseball practices.
• We had our last night of religious education for the year. Now our Wednesday evenings are dedicated to baseball.
• Jake has had several soccer games. Since my last post, they have won 1, tied 1 and lost 1. Jake has averaged about 2-4 goals per game and is having a great season. He has decided not to play next year. He is good at soccer, but doesn't love the game.
• Jake had training for safety patrol. He'll be on the safety patrol team at school next year. Basically, he helps little kiddos across the cross walks before and after school on a rotating basis.
• Jake has had 4 baseball games. They have won 2 and lost 2. Jake has done a nice job hitting the ball this year. He has had 2 doubles and one of the them came with 3 RBI's, which won the game for his team.
• Talent Show tryouts are done. I've got the line up set for the show and will work on the script for our student emcees this weekend.
• Allie has been practicing for the Talent Show. Her group is doing the Locomotion. Jake's group is rehearsing too. They are doing a mix of Brady Bunch songs. Both acts are cute.
• Jake is all signed up for tackle football in the fall. He brought home his helmet and shoulder pads. I can't believe he will play tackle football!
• We celebrated Scott's birthday on May 10th.
• I went to a grill your own steak place with friends from work. We had a great time.
• My sister in law is due to have her baby soon. I have an order in for her to deliver over Memorial Day weekend so we can come meet Miss Delaney. I know Kim will do her best to have her when it works for me :)
• Allie is going to a tutor over the summer. She has struggled with math this year & my hope is that the extra help over the summer will make her more confident for 3rd grade. She did well on her end of the year test (87%), but she had to work SO hard to get there & I think the tutor will help her a ton.
• We are winding down the school year, but not fast enough. We had 4 snow days, so now we go until June 10th. Way too late!!
• Coming up: Jake has soccer practice and baseball practice, Jake has a soccer tournament, Jake has baseball games, Allie has a Brownie bowling party, Talent Show practice, Jake has a birthday party to attend and both kids have Beach Day, Field Days, Snow Cone Days, Awards Day and Talent Show at school. Whew!
• Pictures to come with my next post, which I'm hoping will be every couple of weeks once school is over.

BACK TO BLOGGING

Another month has flown by and it is time to catch you up on our lives.

• We went to visit my family for a couple of days at the end of our Spring Break. Maddie & Allie made bunnies at Build A Bear, we played outside and we had a birthday bash for Kim, Will & Tesha. We had a wonderful time.
• Jake had a tooth pulled over break. He did really well at the dentist and didn't complain at all after leaving.
• We had a party here to watch UNI play in the Sweet 16 game. About 40 of our closest friends came over. About 4 minutes into the game, our cable went out & didn't come back on. We turned on radios and listened to the game. We were pretty bummed that they didn't win.
• Jake went to a pool party that his friend Nick had one evening.
• Baseball is in full swing. Jake practices 2 nights a week. Games start at the beginning of May and end in mid-July. He's batting and fielding well. Coach wants him to pitch...I'm not sure he can do that!
• Allie had a Brownie meeting.
• Allie saw a plastic surgeon about the mole on her lip. She is going to have it removed after school is out for the summer. It has been changing and we've decided to play it safe and have it removed.
• I volunteered in Allie's classroom.
• I saw an allergist to see what is going on with my shellfish issues. Long story short, I have a severe intolerance to shellfish but am not allergic. Bottom line, I will get violently ill if I eat it, but won't die! I love crab, shrimp and lobster...I might see just HOW sick I get if I eat it...
• Soccer season has started for Jake. They practice 2 nights a week and have games on Saturdays. His team won their first game like 10-1. Jake had 4 goals and played goalie for awhile too. They won their game this afternoon 7-4 and he had 1 goal and played goalie again.
• Allie went to a birthday party for her friends Elena and Hunter.
• We had our final PTA meeting of the year. I didn't agree to any new duties next year!
• Allie made her 1st Communion. My family came up to celebrate the occasion. We also celebrated Ben and Maddie's birthdays since they were the week after.
• I took an online autism class that was very interesting.
• Jake's class went to the symphony.
• Talent Show tryouts have begun. Jake's same group is doing an act. They've done something together since 1st grade. Allie and her friend Jordyn want to do something, but can't agree!
• The kids are still attending religious ed.
• Scott had an angiogram in March due to some unusual symptoms. We spent a long day at the hospital waiting for results. Long story short, they found nothing and his symptoms are pretty much gone. He's started running again and feels pretty good. I am praying that he continues to be healthy. Thanks to my friend Kristin for keeping the kids overnight and getting them to school. Thanks to our sitter Alishia for bringing the kids home from school.
• We had a nasty hail storm here a few weeks ago. We had to replace our roof and are waiting for our new siding and gutters. We are ordering a new garage door since the rest of the house will be done.
• We painted our bedroom and the spare room. This summer, we are tackling the kid's bathroom and our bathroom. It seems to always be something!
• Coming up...baseball and soccer, brownies, religion, my class goes to museum school, Jake has sign up for tackle football and gets fitted for pads, more talent show tryouts and practice and much, much more!

Drew
Allie & me

Happy Birthday Maddie & Ben

Jake playing goalie

Fischer Grands

Allie, Nana & Maddie

Me & the kids before 1st Communion

Allie & Father

Scott, me, Jake & Allie before Allie's 1st Communion

Me & Allie

Celebrating Kim, Will & Tesha's b-days

Fischer Grands

Jake on Easter morning

Allie with her eggs

Drew & Allie over Spring Break

Maddie & Allie at Build a Bear

Jake with his new hoop

Allie at her musical. She played the principal

Jake and Paul with their science fair project

I'M BACK

Yes, mom I know it has been a LONG time since I posted. Life just got away from me! So, here I am back & will catch you up on what's been going on!

• The Hansen Giving Tree went up at the beginning of February. This is an event that I co-chair for the PTA. We had the teachers give us leaves of classroom wishes. Parents then buy them the item on their leaf and give it to the teacher.
• Allie had many dance classes. She took her friend Skylar to the bring a friend to dance day. She decided at the end of February that she was going to quit dancing. I was surprised, but let her end the month & now we are free from ballet and tap class each week.
• Jake had his last basketball tournament in New Hampton at the beginning of February. The got first place in the tourney. My parents made the journey up to see him play. I'm not sure who was more excited, Jake or my dad!
• The kids had their friends Nicholas & Skylar over one Friday night. We took them to Carlos O Kelley's for dinner. Nicholas spent the night too.
• We spent Super Bowl Sunday at a restaurant with friends. We came back to our house for the 2nd half since the snow moved in. It was a fun night.
• Allie brought birthday treats to school to celebrate her half birthday. She brought them on my birthday, so I made several dozen cupcakes for our 2 classrooms.
• Jake and Allie both had their annual musicals for school. Jake's was called "We Haz Jazz". He was less than thrilled about the play. Allie on the other hand, couldn't have been more excited. Her play was called "The Principal and the Pea". She had a speaking part and did a great job. My mom snuck away from work to see her big performance.
• Valentine's Day came and went. The kids had parties at school and enjoyed the games and treats.
• Jake finished up indoor soccer. He enjoyed keeping active all winter.
• Allie finished up her clay class. She came out of it with several new pieces that are displayed around the house. My favorite is a bowl of peas.
• Both kids had conferences and did really well. I couldn't be more proud of the two smart, friendly and well behaved (for the most part) kids that I have.
• Both kids had dentist appointments. Allie checked out just fine. Jake has an infection in a baby tooth that will be pulled tomorrow. He's not thrilled, but it has to be taken care of before it gets worse.
• Jake's basketball team got to scrimmage some other local teams and they did very well. They also were invited to play at half time of the UNI women's basketball game on a Sunday afternoon. It was in honor of breast cancer awareness. One of Jake's teammate's sister has cancer and she was being honored at the game. It was really a cool night.
• Jake has been having baseball practice at one of the indoor gyms at UNI. He is ready to be outside practicing.
• The kids and I gave up soda for Lent. We are doing really well. I have had a soda in 41 days, but who is counting?
• Allie had a Brownie meeting. Cookies have been sold and distributed to the buyers. She sold a ton! Her prizes will be in soon.
• We are ready for Allie's upcoming 1st Communion. She still fits into the white dress she wore when she was in Kim and Michael's wedding. She is excited!
• Allie had playdates with friends Sklyar & Renee at their houses. Fun. She also went to her friend Maddie's birthday party.
• Scott and I went to a Murder Mystery Theatre with some of my co-workers. It was a good time.
• Allie went to a fundraiser with our neighbor. It was for one of my co-workers. She adopted a little girl who has been hospitalized for many months out of state. Allie loved the movies and games.
• Allie went to the doctor to have her mole on her upper lip checked. We have been referred to a plastic surgeon to see about having it removed.
• The Hansen science fair came and went. Jake and his buddy Paul had an entry about which falls faster, snowflakes or raindrops. They went to a lab at UNI and did several experiments to see. It turned out really good.
• I volunteered in Allie's classroom. I got to help out with math and a giant dinosaur construction project.
• Jake got to spend the night with his friend Paul and see a UNI game. He also stayed with his friend Adam and went to a Black Hawks hockey game.
• I went to my annual doctor visit and have been referred to an allergist to see how severe my shellfish allergy is (or if that is what I'm allergic to).
• I had several PTA meetings where I'm happy to say that I didn't volunteer for any new jobs!!
• My job is going really well. I love my class and am really enjoying every day with them.
• Jake played in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament for Spring Break with some friends. They took 3rd place, but had an awesome time.
• Scott took a couple of days off over break and has tiled the basement bathroom floor, repainted the bathroom, put up a basketball hoop and cleaned out the garage (hauling 1000 pounds of trash to the dump).
• Coming up...both kids have sleepovers (date night for Scott & I), Jake is having his tooth pulled, I'm visiting my family, Jake has a pool party, Jake has baseball practice and the kids have religion. Pretty quiet week and a half ahead!

I think we are now caught up. I hope to go back to weekly posts. Oh & I'll be posted pics in the next couple of days.