IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Yep, we are still keeping very busy & therefore I'm only posting every 4-6 weeks...here's the recap:

• The UNI Children's Choir that Allie sings with was asked to perform with the UNI Men's Glee Club during their annual Christmas concert in December. The men always put on an awesome show & the children's choir has been practicing very hard to sound as great as the guys do.
• Jake's soccer season ended. They didn't win a single game. He was really ready for the fall season to be over. Now to get through the spring season!
• I had a PTA meeting.
• The kids are still going to religion every week.
• The football season ended with a game in the UNI Dome. The team didn't win any games, but Jake loved every minute of football season. He had a great last game with a bunch of tackles. After the game we had a big potluck/tailgate in the Dome parking lot with all of the team and their families.
• Michael, Kim & the kids came to catch Jake's last soccer and football games. He was thrilled to play for them.
• Tiger basketball started for Jake. He got to stay on the same team as last year & we couldn't be happier. The coaches are great! They have played in 2 all day tournaments and they got 1st in one & 2nd in the other.
• I finally found contacts that work for me. Yay! I now have daily contacts & I couldn't be happier. No cleaning, just throw them away at the end of the day.
• Allie's pottery class ended and she came home with some pretty cool pieces.
• Allie & I went to the UNI craft show with a friend. What fun we had!
• Allie started playing basketball. She's doing ok with it. I don't see her as a basketball star though.
• Jake had another round of safety patrol.
• Allie is still going to tutoring once a week. It's really paying off!
• I went to a staff Halloween party. We had a ball doing a photo scavenger hunt.
• Allie had another Brownie meeting.
• Jake went to dinner with his friend for his birthday. He brought me home some shrimp and I ate it. I'm no longer allergic, but got very sick from eating the shrimp. I threw up a number of times & then felt great. I guess I won't be trying shell fish anytime soon.
• Jake had 3 sleepover parties and 1 pool party.
• Allie went to 3 Halloween parties.
• The kids went trick or treating. We let Jake go around with just his friends. They didn't get into any trouble.
• I hosted a Tupperware party and got lots of great free/discounted items.
• I hosted a baby shower for a co-worker.
• Jacob had his school concert. He sang and had a dancing part. My mom came up to see the performance. It was great to have her here.
• Allie spent the day with her friend Skylar while we went to one of Jake's basketball tournaments.
• The school book fair was last week. I worked a shift. I love the book fair.
• The kids had conferences. Jake got 3 A's and 2 B's plus wonderful comments. Allie got all B's and even better comments!
• Allie had her final visit with her plastic surgeon. Her mole scar is healing fine and she doesn't need to be seen again.

Coming up: basketball for both kids, Jake goes to a school play, Allie has 2 birthday parties to attend, Allie has UNICC rehearsals, Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Can't wait!

After the last football game in the Dome
Allie as a UNI basketball player for one of her Halloween parties

Some of the Christmas baking I've done
Jake guarding during a game

1st place

2nd place

Shooting

Allie with her pottery pieces from pottery class

Jake singing during his concert

Jake dancing during his concert

Jake & friends

The neighbor kids

Jake & Allie

Jake & the neighbor boy as Static & Cling

Allie ready for a Halloween party as an 80's diva

HELLO OCTOBER!



Yep, another 6 weeks has passed with no update. Here goes:

• We've had 4 football practices per week since mid August & it ends at the end of October. We've had 4 games and so far we haven't won a football game or even come close to winning. Jake is still loving it though.
• Allie was voted the first kid of character in her class. When voted, you get to sit in a special desk for a week. She was thrilled to be the first!
• Jake has been going to soccer practice twice a week since the end of August. He doesn't love his team & is sticking it out because he loves soccer. They haven't won a game but Jake is looking good & has scored one of only 3 goals scored this year.
• Allie has been going to tutoring every Monday & boy has it paid off. She has taken 2 math tests & got 100% on the first one & 98% on the 2nd!
• We remodeled the kids bathroom. It is beautiful! New floor, new counter, new paint, new towels/accessories...I love it! Next project, my bathroom.
• Jake started safety patrol & likes it.
• Allie joined the UNI Children's Choir. She is an alto and so far thinks it is cool. The choir is singing with the UNI Men's Glee Club during their Christmas concerts. Pretty cool! She has another concert in December as well.
• We've been taking the kids to the CF Tigers football games at the Dome. It has been fun. Jake's football team had the opportunity to carry in the Amvets flag for the National Anthem one night. Very cool.
• I had a PTA meeting and am still the secretary. I also am the room parent for Allie's class & helping with Jake's.
• I took on the role of Treasurer for the union at work. I am not sure why I agreed, but I did.
• The kids had school pictures and they turned out good.
• Allie had to get a tooth filled. One of her first cavities.
• Jake went to his friend Ben's birthday party. They spent the night at his grandparent's cabin. There was fishing, wading in the pond & it sounds like lots of 5th grade boy fun!
• Jake came home the other day with the announcement that he had a girlfriend. He didn't understand why she stopped talking to him once they started going together. I told him it sounds pretty typical for a 5th grade relationship.
• Jake started basketball practice already. He has a tournament in November. It makes for crazy Saturdays with football & basketball practice plus a soccer game. Needless to say, Jake is exhausted on Saturday night.
• Mandy & the kids spent a weekend here. It was great to catch up with them. Mom & Dad also came up and caught a football game.
• Allie went to a swimming party for her friend Madison. Tons of 3rd graders were there.
• Allie had a Brownie meeting. She's dying for the annual cookie sale to begin. I'm not!
• The kids ran the mile. Jake placed 1st in his class with a time of 7:32. Allie ran it in 8:28, which is GREAT for Allie. Jake also got 1st place in the whole 5th grade in the pacer test with 87.
• I went to the eye doctor and got contacts. I love them & am getting pretty good and putting them in and taking them out.
• Allie had a field trip to Hartman Reserve. I got to go with her class and we had a wonderful day.
• Religious Ed started for the kids.
• We went to my cousin Abe's wedding a couple of weeks ago. It was a fun reception and great to see family.
• Jake went to a 5th grade party at his friend Makenna's house. There were TONS of kids there & they all appeared to be half crazy!
• The kids joined a running club at school and will run/walk a couple of days a week. I'm planning to help out the PE teacher once our schedule settles down a bit.
• Allie has decided to play basketball this winter. It should be interesting.
• I co-chaired my last school carnival. It was very successful. I'm happy to finally be done with that huge task.
• I went to haunted houses with a couple of co-workers. We had the best time filled with lots of laughs.
• I went to a baby shower for a co-worker.
• Allie started a pottery class at the Hearst Center. She can't say enough wonderful things about the class.
• We had our friend Bailey take our family pictures a few weeks ago. They turned out great!

The family
Miss Allie

Allie & Jake

Jake

The kids

Another

Jake

Allie

The fam

Jake is #44

Allie's class silent auction basket. It brought in $320 at the auction for her carnival

Morgan, Abbie, Skylar & Allie at the field trip. Her best friends

Allie's class on the field trip.

Allie on the field trip

Exploring the pond on the field trip

My favorite bakery in town

Allie & buds at the CF game

Jake & friends at the game

Ready for safety patrol

Jake's team with the flag

Allie was the kid of character in her class.

5th grade party

GOODBYE AUGUST!

Yep, another busy month is gone & lots has happened!

• Allie finished up her summer tutoring. We'll start up again after school gets into full swing.
• Jake went to an end of summer pool party at a friend's neighborhood pool. There were a lot of his friends there & he has fun.
• I met with my carnival co-chairs to discuss some things before our full committee meeting this weekend.
• Jake went to a 3 day football camp sponsored by the high school. He had a great time there.
• Football practice started and they practice 4 nights a week. He loves it. He is playing quarterback and full back.
• We registered for school and found out the kid's teachers. Allie has Mrs. Marshall, who Jake had. We loved her and hoped that is where Allie would end up. Jake has Mrs. Oldani & I couldn't be happier. She runs a tight ship & makes it clear what she expects out of her kids. Jake needs that!
• Allie celebrated her 9th birthday. She had a party at Claire's with her friends. It was spa themed and they had fun being pampered. We went to Carlos for lunch and then Allie went to her friend Jordyn's to play. We went to Sakura (her choice) for supper. She loves the way they grill the noodles, rice & other food right at your table. After supper, she opened her gifts and had Bishop's Pie. A great day!
• A few co-workers came over for pizza & beers after a very long day at registration. We went to outlet mall shopping the next day & found lots of back to school bargains.
• Jake spent the night at his friend's Will & Sam's house. Allie spent the night the same night with her friend Jordyn. Scott & I went out for drinks!
• Allie had a planter's wart & we went to the doctor to have it treated. I felt so bad because it was a very painful treatment.
• I went to a friend's house for an At Home America party. I bought a couple of candles that smelled wonderful.
• My parents spent the night one evening. My great aunt Helen passed away and since she lived in this area they stayed her after the visitation. We took my dad to the Brown Bottle for dinner while mom stayed at the whole visitation. Yum.
• Jake had his friend Mason spend the night. Allie asked her friend Morgan to spend the night. Morgan wasn't ok with sleeping over, so she came over in her PJ's and watched movies, at junk food and hung out until about 10. Allie was ok with that!
• We spent an afternoon at Lost Island waterpark. We hadn't been there all summer & Allie really wanted to try out the new roller coaster slide. She loved it and we had a ball.
• Jake went to a bowling party and sleepover to celebrated his friend Nick's birthday.
• I watched our neighbor boy Paul a couple of days while his little brother had a small outpatient surgery done.
• I had a meeting for work one morning. We went over bloodborne pathogens and some HR stuff.
• I woke up the other night with severe stomach pain. I had only been asleep for about 15 minutes or so & was up the rest of the night. Nothing helped & the pain worsened. I ended up at the doc & after many tests, we found out I had a UTI. All is better now.
• Allie & I went to our salon for back to school hair cuts. It was our stylist's last day & we are so sad.
• I had an eye doctor appointment. It had been quite awhile since my last appointment and we found out that my eyes had gotten much worse. I ended up getting bifocals. I'm going to get used to them and then move to contacts as soon as possible.
• Jake participated in a fund raiser for his football team. He basically stood outside of Fareway and begged for money with some of his teammates. They raised about $600.
• The kids had dentist appointments. Allie has a small cavity and Jake checked out fine.
• I met with the teacher that I'll be working with this year. We got lots figured out for the school year.
• Allie and I checked out a new bakery in town. It was SO good. We ordered cupcakes for some of our favorite teachers/coworkers as a welcome back gift.
• Allie and I also checked out a new nail place and got pedicures while Jake was at football practice one night. We had the WORST pedis ever and will NEVER go back.
• We went to Backpack Night and met the kids teachers and dropped off school supplies. I also met some of the kiddos in the classroom I am in.
• Our first day of school was great. The kids love their classes and so do I.
• I went to input conferences for the kids. I warned the teachers about my kids!
• I went out with co-workers because we survived the first week of school. Scott met us out and then the two of us went to dinner. Our sitter stayed with Allie. Jake went to the football game with his buddies.
• Jake played in a scrimmage called the Jamboree. They played a team that was much bigger than them. Jake held his own & did well for his first game. I was a proud mama.
• Coming up: football practice, soccer practice, carnival meeting & a long Labor Day weekend. Allie's 9th birthday

Allie & her best friends (Morgan, Abbie, Skylar, Katie & Allie)

Allie with her party attendees

Allie's birthday donuts for her party

Jake & friends after his scrimmage (Paul, Nick, Will, Sam, Jake & Tanner)

Jake handing off the ball to Parker

Jake carrying the ball as QB

Jake's football team (he's number 44)

Jake & Allie on the 1st day of school

The awesome cupcakes from Scratch

Allie & her teacher

Jake & his teacher

Me & Allie on the 1st day

Me & Jake on back pack night

Allie & Jake before back pack night

Awwwwww

Lost Island

Allie at Lost Island

Jake at Lost Island