Christmas Pictures

My Christmas Cuties! I promised some Christmas photos and here they are. Ainsley's favorite safety glasses of all things and Dino Aidan. This is still such a busy holiday since I have yet to clean up all the mess. The kitchen is clean and that is about it. I will catch up eventually I guess. We may actually have plans this New Year's Eve too. Miss J from church called earlier to see what our plans were and if we wanted to get together and make it an early evening since we both have small kiddos. Sounds like fun to me. I will let you know how it goes later. So I am off!

Parents Left

My parents went back to Texas yesterday and I am left here to deal with the after Christmas clean-up. Their visits are always so short, which is I guess why I enjoy it when they come up. I wish my Mom would retire so that they could stay longer on a visit. I will deal with some of the Christmas photos this afternoon and get something posted tomorrow. The kids had a great time and the adults did as well I think. We are very blessed with generous family and friends. SO sad today.

Parents are coming!

My parents are coming today and I am completely stressed. My hubby is taking Aidan to school and Ainsley and I will be headed to Milwaukee as soon as I change her diaper. The grocery store was a madhouse today so next time I know that I need to leave earlier! Happy holidays everyone.

Christmas Concert

Aidan's preschool class had their concert yesterday. Aren't they cuties! Their teachers worked so hard to get everything organized.

Well I finally did it

I finally sucked it up and scheduled my thyroid surgery. I guess I can still chicken out if I want to, but for now it is scheduled for January 16. My pre-op work is schduled for the 9th. I hope this will be minor and nothing that requires more than what I am doing. This surgery will be invasive enough as it is.

I spent the morning cleaining up and doing laundry. Aidan has his Christmas concert this afternoon and if I get some decent pictures I will post. He was so excited. I also made a dent in some of my Christmas wrapping. My parents will be here Friday...should be fun!

Ainsley's ears...

are finally better! After 3 days of anitbiotic injections and waiting 2 weeks for the results she is finally infection free. What an awesome Christmas gift!

My Christmas cuties!

Library fun

I did get the kids out in this cold and go to the library today. It was really nice. My friend came with her kiddos and A and A had a great time playing with them. Yeah!

I took about a dozen snapshots of the kids this morning to potentially use as a Christmas card photo. I will post one tomorrow if they turn out.

B comes home today

B comes home today and I am so thrilled. I have so much to do and I feel like I have so little time to get things done. I need to get started on Christmas cards. I am almost completely done with holiday shopping. I have 2 more gifts to purchase, otherwise I am just waiting of everything to arrive so that it can be packaged for further shipping or wrapped and set under the tree here. I also wanted to do some baking for us and for B's people at work. I need to make something that makes a lot though otherwise it will never get past the staff and get to the hourly employees.

Yesterday we had our women's bible study holiday luncheon. I had a blast! Some of those ladies are such a hoot. I signed up for the spring bible study as well, but unfortunately it doesn't start until the end of January. It should be fun. One of the ladies I have been becomeing friends with invited us to dinner and out to the library tomorrow with the kiddos. If the weather isn't horrible I might try to go. Should be fun!

Since the in-laws left

Since my in-laws left I have been so busy. We have also had quite a bit of snow. This weekend was pretty good. We headed to a mall I had not been to before, which ended up being really nice by the way, and did the whole santa thing. THe pictures turned out terrible because Ainsley was in clingy mode so she just cried and they did not give kids a chance to calm down. Aidan did great though and had a good time. Sunday we celebrated my birthday and today Brian left town on a business trip. My parents are worried that our cars are not sufficiently winterized, but we have taken care of everything short of putting snow tires on my car and Brian says people don't really do that up here.

On the Ainsley front, she had 3 days of antibiotic injections to help clear up her still infected ears. We go back on the 14th. Hopefully, they will be better otherwise will be looking at getting tubes put in her ears. SHe is still not sleeping through the night and I am not sure what that is about but it is starting to drive me crazy. I don't know how much longer I can go on being this sleep deprived.

A day to sleep

Ainsley had a terrible night last night. She was up from about 2 unil 5am. Today the family went up to see lighthouses in Door County so they left me at home with Ainsley to rest. I loved having the house to myself again. I was able to watch TV use the computer and sleep. Ainsley is still sleeping so I am not really sure what happened to her last night. It should not be her ears still, but we are getting them rechecked on Tuesday, but it could be her busted lip or the fact that we were out late and she got to bed about 9:30. Not sure, anyway, hoping for a better night tonight. Wish me luck.

Winter Wonderland

I love this picture and have e-mailed it to everyone. I haven't posted in a while because I have been busy and had a lot on my mind. Not really sure what to do about this thyroid thing except have it removed. Even if I get a second opinion the lab results will still be inconclusive. So my big problem will be when to schedule my procedure so that I have someone here to take care of me and the kids. Argh!

My inlaws are here for the Thanksgiving holiday. They will be leaving next Tuesday so it is a long trip for them and a long stay for me. At least I was able to get some shopping done today. I ordered most of my Christmas gifts on-line so far and I have some more shopping to do still. I have no idea what to get for B. The man that has everything or buys it for himself.

Adventures of Little Red Riding Hood and the Red Power Ranger

Our town had TorTing on Sunday afternoon. The kids had a blast and were as cute as can be.

I had my thyroid biopsy yesterday afternoon. Man, my neck is sore. I look like I have a really funky mosquito bite. I need to put some more ice on the spot to make it feel better. My follow up is next Wednesday, so hopefully I will find out that everything is benign.

Back in town

We are back to the sad state that is my house. The roofing is going painfully slowly. There has been one problem after another. At least the siding is almost finished, Bob should be done by the end of the week.

Had my appointment with the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor today and I have an appointment for a biopsy on Thursday. He did not seem to be very concerned but felt that we needed to check to make sure so I am comfortable with that. I still have to take Ainsley in to get her ears rechecked. This is just Doctors appoinment central around here. Well, I have tons to do, I am tired and in avoidance mode.

Aidan started with a terrible cough before we left Houston and he starts swimming lessons on Wednesday. Hopefully it will not be too bad a combination. The pool is heated. I think we are asking for trouble.

The kids were all trick or treating yesterday and I will post formalwear and Halloween pictures soon.

Headed Out

We are headed out of town to Texas for M's wedding tomorrow. Tons to do! We had a new water heater installed yesterday and it is leaking water all over the basement floor. They are replacing it yet again and thankfully they will be able to do it this morning. I won't be able to run my errands like I wanted but maybe if I can get Aidan to leave for school a little early we can at least stop at the bank to deposit some checks. Big weeked coming up and hopefully next week will be relaxing. Ainsley is better but I am going to load her up with Tylenol just in case. Out for a few weeks!

Pumpkin Picture

It has been a busy week. THe roofing and siding is underway. Ainsley has her first ear infection. We are getting ready for our trip to Houston for M's wedding. B has been working like crazy. We did make time to get together with our friends this week and went to a little play place around here very much like Chuck E Cheese with bounce houses and such. Very fun. I think we will have to have the kids birthday parties there. Last weekend we carved our pumpkin. I think B is going to carve our other one today since we are going to be away this week. I love the kids faces in this picture. Priceless!

Always sick busy and tired

I seem like I am always saying that I am either sick, busy , or tired. I was all three this past week with Ainsley sick and her giving whatever she had to me. With all the storms we have had the past few days I have had trouble with the kids sleeping through the night so I have had a longer time recovering from illness. This week so far has been better, but I am in catch up mode. I have been trying to get the house back in order, work on bible study, work on Michelle's recipe book, and catch up on things that I have been neglecting like the ironing all in one week.

Aidan's trip to the dentist went very well, no cavities so next time he goes they will try to do a bit of a cleaning and flouride treatment. One more thing I can cross off the list.

Tomorrow my plan is to take the kids to playgroup at LFR. Then if everyone is behaving I will drop off some film for developing, and stop at Hobby Lobby. I think I will have to put something off because then I will have to get them home quickly for lunch and get Aidan off to school. I think we can do it though. I will have to post later to see if I actually got both errands done. The priority will be to stop at Hobby Lobby though so that I can use my 40% off coupon on that scrapbook I have my eye on for Michelle.

Roofing materials and siding materials have arrived! We are apparently next on the work list so if the weather holds, I am thinking we will have roofers by Monday. We shall see.

Missing old friends and meeting new ones

So I haven't blogged in a while...I just have not had much to say. I have been too busy to mess with the computer. I have been tired too. Anyway, I am a little sad I have not heard back from the one friend I have here. I hope I did not upset her or something. I just hate to call and bother people especially if she is not interested in talking to me. I will send her another e-mail and see if she responds. I really like her and her boys so it would be a shame if we lost touch. Hopefully I will hear from her soon.

A- has his first trip to the dentist today. He is excited to find out how many teeth he has. Hopefully it will go well!

These pictures go with my previous post!

Yesterday was a dud!

I was up all night Monday night and was so sick on Tuesday! Brian had to come home from work Tuesday evening and take over the kids and bring me saltines and 7up so needless to say I did not make it to the bible study. I did however talk to one of the ladies in charge and will try super hard to make it next week. I feel much better now.

The electrical work has gome much better than I expected. The new light in my kitchen is awesome. They are out at another job today and will be back tomorrow to finish things out. Hopefully it won't be too long of a day.

Aidan is in school this afternoon and after I finish blogging I am going to take some laundry out of the dryer put it away and lay down to a short nap before I pick him up. Wknows maybe I will sit down to ready some of my study since I do have the book already. Sounds like a plan.

I am also posting these pictures from when my parents were here and we took the kids over to a kite festival at the lake. I post these because I just like them.

9/11/06

Five years ago...I guess most blogs are on this topic today. I am always crying at the coverage so I decided to stop watching. The electricians started work today and tomorrow I have to let them know that they put the wrong outlets in. Urgh! Brian mentioned it and I got busy and did not check what they were doing. I have too much to do to manage two kids, get one to school in the rain and manage two guys too. I signed up for bible study at our new church tomorrow and I am kind of dreading it. I have a really hard time getting out of the house in the mornings these days and this thing starts at 9. We will see if I make it. Ha!

Parents Left

My parents left Tuesday. I have been wicked tired and struggling to kick a migraine. I have a ton of laundry to do and groceries and want to take the kids out to do something fun since Aidan starts preschool Monday. We went to orientation yesterday and while I think that he will love it I am sad to see him go. I have enjoyed having him home all the time. He will be happy though and that will make me happy. Hopefully he will make some new friends quickly.

Bye Friends!

Our friends that are moving to Texas are leaving tomorrow and we got the kids together for a little while today at a park. I am a little sad they are leaving, but I did not know them that well. Hopefully we will meet more new people since Aidan starts school soon.

Lots to do before the parents come visit. My in-laws will be coming for Thanksgiving and staying a week. I was not concerned about the visit until I realized B's 93 year old grandpa is coming as well. I am glad that he is coming, but where is he going to sleep! I don't think he will be comfortable on the couch.

Busy

Busy is all that I can say. This is my second time trying to post this as my daughter is trying to drive me crazy. My sister was here this past weekend so we were running around like chickens but a good time was had by all. Monday was my Dr appointment and she did not seem at all concerned about my thyroid enlargement. She ordered some blood work and a thyroid ultrasound and said we will see what the test results bring. I really don't think it is much of anything since I have no symptoms. We shall wait and see though.

This picture is one from this weekend, my hubby and kiddos at the lake. Such a nice evening.

Been tired

Well, I haven't posted much this week because I haven't been feeling too well. Mostly not enough sleep. Finally sucked it up and bought some sleep aid and I took that for a couple of days and now I feel better and was able to sleep on my own last night with no help. Ainsley did wake up a few time as she is still really congested, but I was able to go back to sleep. Yeah!

Yesterday was our 10th anniversary. After agreeing not to get ourselves any gifts, Brian had a gorgeous pendant made for me. The liar had been working on it for 3 months! I felt lousy that I had not purchased him a gift, but hi did get his Madden 2007. Michelle is in town this weekend so I will not post until after my drs appointment on Monday. We shall see how it goes!

Meltdown Morning

We had a pretty great weekend. The kids and I went to the park to meet up with friends. Brian demolished the ceiling in the basement. Sunday was church day of course. The only serious problem is that I am still having trouble sleeping, last night it was the smell of wasp spray that was stressing me out, it smells like jet fuel to me. I finally put Vicks under my nose and that seemed to soothe me to sleep. This morning I was so tired and found a lump in my neck. The lump caused the freak out. Called the clinic where I take the kids and found a doctor who could take me. I have an appointment on Monday AM while Michelle is here. Hopefully we can get this thing taken care of quickly so I can get her to the airport for her 3pm flight in plenty of time. It is a small clinic so I can't imagine them being too busy. I think it is probably my thyroid considering the location so it is hopefully nothing major especially since I have no other symptoms. I am going to insist on a thyroid test though. People have suggested to me in the past that I should have it checked but I never brought it up with a doctor before. It just stinks that I had ot had the opportuinty to check around with people before just picking one off the insurance list. I have always had pretty good luck with physicians. I have not had too many that I have not liked.

Otherwise I have lots to do this week before Michelle arrives. Basic cleaning, groceries. The kids are really stuffy and runny so I am not even going to try to take them to the store with me. The plan is after they go to bed tonight that I will hit the grocery store. Brian will take Alex and Dot to the vet this afternoon and I will do all the picking up junk off the floor, dishes, and laundry after I get off the computer. Spagetti dinner tonight since I have the sauce already prepared and frozen so I will prepare some sort of veggie so that will be easy too. Sound like a plan? We will see how much I actually get done.

Babysitting and more

My friend that is moving to Texas ended up calling me yesterday morning asking if I could watch her son while she took her daughter to the doctor. We all got dressed really quick and as a thank you she invited us over to their house for lunch so we ended up not having quite the at home day I had originally intended. I did lay down and take about a 45 minute nap before my doctors appointment that afternoon. It ended up being a rainy day and Brian was not feeling well when he got home so we ended up not going to the picnic we had planned on going to. The doctors appoinment went better than I expected, but I have some things to think about as far as how to proceed in the future. Don't panic, it was just the dermatologist and I went in because my face is continuing to break out and no there is no melanoma. The PA I saw immediately says Accutane though which just amkes me cringe. It apparently is very strictly regulated now so it is not something I can just start taking right away, but I really don't think I need something so strong. We will see how the antibiotic, face wash and medicated foam work for me though. It will probably clear up the acne but not remove the redness. Anyway, enough about things that embarass me!

As far is today, Ainsley had another semi-bad night. She woke up about 10pm and settled down quickly, then she woke up about 4:30 am and slept until 7. I am so sleep deprived that I am just dragging this morning. Hopefully we can stay in today, I can finish up the laundry, vaccuum the floor, mop the kitchen and generally pick up junk. Tomorrow we are headed to the park with some friends so I wanted to be able to take the day off and then next week I will hit the stores for some shopping therapy! Michelle is coming next week!

Long night last night...

Well, today is not going to be vrey productive. I think Ainsley is getting sick. She was up most of the night just crying and she has been up since 5am so we are going to have an at home day. I do have to call the jewelry store and my insurance agents office, but hopefully that will be it until my drs appoinment this afternoon. I am also hoping to take a nap before I go if possible. What a bummer! I had all these great plans to get more work taken care of.

Yesterday I ended up walking down to a local park with the kids. While we were out another one of our friends gave us a call. I was so excited that they would think to call us when they were in the area. We are getting with them on Saturday and I hope to remember to take a camera and actually take some pictures. I still have more getting ready for fall to do. Ainsley is going to need some more clothing. Aidan is fine in that department so I don't need to worry about him until it is time to get winter gear! This kiddo is already prepared for school. More next time I guess and we will see how tonight goes.

New Friends moving!

Wow, we have only been here two months and one of the ladies I have started to become friends with is moving away. Guess where? To Texas of all places. What are the odds that in small town Wisconsin I would end up meeting someone who was so quickly going to end up moving to Texas. My son will be sad because one of his little friends will be leaving, but at least he will be starting preK soon. There will be tons of little friends to me made there.

By the way, here are some cute pics of the kids from when the in-laws were here last month. Aidan did not want to be photographed with the grandparent but did not mind being photographed alone. Ainsley can just be a ham for the camera when she wants to be.

Anyway, I have a ton to do today. Besides the basic housework, I have tons of work to do on the computer with family pictures and getting my sister's bridal shower invitations ready. So much to do! Not that anyone is truly interested, but here is my list...clean bathrooms, Kids laundry, work on pictures, and clean printer to prepare for printing invitations. Next week will be heading to the seamstress for dress alterations and picking Michelle up at the airport. Let's see how much I get done.

Getting started...

Hi! My purpose for this blog is to hopefully help me keep in touch with my old friends and eventually new ones. I will probably post more later today while the kids are resting and I will learn how to use this a little better. I have to say thanks to a friend to introducing me to blogging.