Same Day Baby!

Keira had her 4th set of tubes put in Thursday morning at St. Mary's in Rochester. Overall, it went pretty well, so I'm hoping this will lead to even more hearing improvement!  We will find out on Valentine's Day, Feb 14th, when we go for a re-check on hearing and to see her ENT.

We decided to drive up Wednesday afternoon in the rain instead of chancing an icy drive on Thursday morning. We stayed at Aunt Jeans where Keira made herself at home right away, checking out what was in the fridge! Our report time wasn't until 8:30, so our morning was pretty much on our regular time schedule.  We did have to wait a bit when we got there, and it became increasingly harder to divert Keira away from wanting anything to eat or drink.  So, we finally got in, got everything ready to go, Mom put on the clown suit and took her to OR, just a few deep crying breaths and she was limp!

I went for coffee, and a short wait later she was out... she cried for about an hour then finally calmed down, watched Tangled and we got to go! YAY!  It was fun walking around St. Mary's WITH Keira, looking at the beautiful pointsettia trees with the baby Jesus underneath.. checked out the gift shop and stopped at the cafeteria for cottage cheese and chocolate milk!

And of course, she slept most of the way home!  Overall, a success... but we stillhaven't been to the dentist... UGG!

My Favorite Things

Oprah move over... I have a lot of Favorite things as well that have topped my gift list year.. even though I may have stolen some of her ideas.. hee hee .. but I'd first like to say I am loving my Christmas List APP this year!  I do feel a bit more organized and don't chance the risk of Nick running across a handwritten list!  AND it keeps me very conscious of the amount of money we've spent!

These are a few of my favorite things:
 Slatkin & Co. 3-Wick candles from Bath n Body Works... Balsam is a Fabulous scent, the freshest, cleanest cut Christmas Tree!  and the silver candles sleeves are Gorgeous!

Philosophy... We are trying "Partridge in a Pear Tree" and "Peace On Earth" this year.

Melissa & Doug wooden puzzles and toys.. found this new "Snap" in toy, thought it would be good for Keira's fine motor skills!

Gymboree... I Love, Love, Love their skirt and tights combos and the holiday lines Snow Cute and Cheery All the Way were my favs!  They just released their first spring line today!! CRAZEE

Silpada... a little Bling never hurt anyone!

Freezer Mugs... icy cold... Yum!

Movies, video games, and technology gifts all top the list as well!!
Most of these are repeat gifts but that is why they are my Favorites!!

Hope you all get what's on your wish list this Christmas!

WTF?

It seemed like such a good idea this morning when I put Keira on the bus.. I really need a job, I should apply for that Bookstore Assistant position at college.  It's part-time, and Keira has attended the daycare there before if I ever needed it.. and its SO close! 

So I get on my computer, look up the job online.. they are reviewing apps today, and today is the deadline! So I request an app via email, receive the email with the app attached, proceed to take 2 hours of time to fill it out, saving frequently.  I texted friends, emailed old colleagues requesting them to be my references. I pulled up my old resume, filled in my past work experience, education and answered 3 questions. My answers were good, not great, but everything looked good to me.

Okay, let's email it in like the lady said to do.  Oh shoot, I should have printed a copy off, but I didn't.
Closed the file, clicked on Forward so as to email the document back to her, open the file to double check how it looks, and NOTHING, everything was gone!  Its gotta be here SOMEwhere... I clicked save a hundered times.. still nothing.

Really? WTF?  Tears, then whatever,  I am not filling it back out. Oh well, I'm gonna go paint.

Christmas in July!

So far we've had a summer full of weddings, ball games, and pool time and now in July we've been camping at Skipaway campground in Clermont! Looking forward to being lazy by lake during these upcoming hot days!!
Today we stopped by the house to pick up some things for the camper: -some cables, we are still trying to get one TV to work... yes they have cable there!  -ant killer, somehow our camper became infested with ants!  -Christmas decorations- for the Christmas in July celebration next weekend! -groceries, towels, and an air pumps for our floaties.
We like having company- someone to play with, drink with and talk to... So come over when you get a chance!

Holy Moly Guacamole!

I just ate a small container of the Coop guacomole for breakfast/brunch!  It is so good, I could eat it with a spoon, but I did have a few blue chips to go along with it!  So as you might have guessed I just did a little trip to the Oneota Food Coop. Everytime I go in there, there is something new that I HAVE to have. Today, I purchased some "Goodbelly" juice for kids for Keira, it has probiotics and vitamins in it!  Perfect for her! -And you gotta love the bulk section!  Today I rounded up some mini choc chips, dried cranberries, quinoa, and some Oregon Trail Mix for the kiddies! And to round out the healthiness of the trip I picked up a bag of Blue Chips and some baked Wisconsin Cheese Puffs!

We are excited to be camping at "Lake Harvey" for the beginning of our summer-- I am somewhat in a bit of SHOCK that the kids are getting out of school next week!!-- Anyway, I'd like to call it summer, but I won't be convinced until the weather decides to warm up a bit! It will be fun hanging out by the pond and relaxing! So my brilliant -hee hee- plan for the day is to get my house clean before the kids overtake it next week!

I don't think I have any new pictures! The kids did have their Spring Concerts.. Nick's was great with all Disney themed songs- he had to dress up as a pirate- and Keira's was short and sweet-Although she decided she wasn't going to partake, so she sat on the floor and pouted the whole time.. I was kinda sad.. but I got that on video too if you want to see it!  Happy end of school year!

When is Spring Gonna Sprung?

Keira had a Fantastic 4th Birthday Party!! She received a lot of "girly" gifts like makeup, a Tangled Princess Dress, a Tutu with matching headband,  2 princess crowns (one for Mom :), princess music makers, princess books... you get the idea!! She also received some nice puzzles, stamps, books, and clothes!! 

Mom and Dad re-did her bedroom since Nick has taken over the basement bedroom, we were able to add a fresh coat of paint, hung some new pink curtains, and got new Pottery Barn bedding or her "big-girl" bed!  Its really cute!

Nick didn't get too jipped though- we moved his curtains to the basement, added a blue/white striped quilt and a pottery barn sham and he is good to go!  Now I'm thinking I could use a new quilt or bedspread!

We had a fun time Friday night before Easter with the Reiningas! Can't beat Mabes Pizza and a few brewskies!  The kids pulled out the Foot Spa, which actually entertained them for a while, and they all had nice smelling feet- Ha!  See pics

The kids were actually very good at Easter Sunday Mass- I think it helps to sit up front :) Then we had a very nice and relaxing afternoon at Rhonda & Curley's! It was not raining so they kids (young and old) could play outside. Happy Belated Easter to Everyone!

Sugar, Sugar.

I guess it doesn't matter if you say it aloud or write it out loud, and the knocking on wood thing didn't work either! Keira came down with a cold the first weekend in March, missed a whole week of school, plus yesterday, and now is back in school today!  She was so excited she hugged/held her pink giraffe print backpack all the way to Decorah! Ha!

So last week was pretty much a bust!  Daren and I also got bad colds... I'm not sure how Nick managed his way out of it, but I'm glad he did! He hates missing school!  In fact, he was bummed school was canceled last Wednesday(snow), Ash Wednesday, because he was excited to get ashes on his head! Well, he didn't miss out since he made it to church Wed night with Rhonda and kids, and they also distributed ashes at school on Thursday!

They said on the radio today, the #1 thing people "give up" for Lent is their "egos"...I'm calling BS- I think thats just a cheap way of having to really give something up! People should always try to be nice to others- as for me, I'm giving up Sugar (exepet for the little bit that is in my coffee creamer!) Take Care!