30 days... 30 posts = FAIL!

Well, that title says it all, as one of my fellow blogging/new parent buddies pointed out a while a go... here I am, nearly 6 weeks after my last post... and not much to show for it. 

I've been dealing with some health issues of late, and work related woes... I so need a real vacation from everything - maybe in the spring.  Sigh.

Hope that everyone is doing well out in cyberspace!  More I hope, sooner rather than later!

Hump Day

Well it definitely was a first day back to work for me after 4 days off... ugh, I hate heading back to work after having some time away.  I love the time away, and I like my job, it's just that the first day back can be murder!

I was greeted at daycare this evening with the news that Neta was tugging on her ear most of the day (not to mention her never ending faucet of a nose).  So, I've made an appt. for her to see the dr. tomorrow.  It's probably just her cold, but I'd rather have her ears looked at by a dr., than to have her in pain for another day.  So far Jaden is the only one of us four who is not showing any signs of having the family cold... of course, now that I've just typed that sentence out.... you know who will get sick within the next 48 hours!

Have a nice evening everyone - the week-end is almost here again!

Back home

We made it back home about 45 minutes ago.  It was a long car ride for poor Neta.  She's been battling a cold, teething, and a few falls with her newly found walking legs.  The babe screamed a good part of the way home, and we all finally found relief when I gave her a bath to calm her down.  At least for now she is asleep - we'll see if that lasts.  She's been up every night at the cabin.  Not sure if that was the cabin (new surroundings) or the toxic cocktail described above.  All I can say is summer colds are the WORST (I should know, cause I have a mild one too right now) - but add that to some sever teething - and it's a mix that is not fun!

Good night everyone!  Happy Wednesday to us!

He's Paul, Paul Bunyan...

Believe it or not, I started this post last night... then ran into computer problems - so here's yesterday's post!
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Early this am, while waking up to sunshine at the lake, we learned that some friends from back home were making their way to one of our family favorite destinations - Paul Bunyan Land.  We packed up the kids and headed East to meet them there.  The kids had a BLAST, and poor little Neta lasted well into the afternoon before crashing!

Yes, this is the same Paul Bunyan that
Dan & I visited as young children!

Mommy & Neta on the Merry-Go-Round

Our friends the Johnsons!

Jaden and Laura

After a while, we decided to lock the kids up!

Day at the Lake!

With Dan's new job, he is lucky to have the next few days off of work before a killer work week at the fair (he has to work 7 back breaking days in a row out there)... anyway, last night we headed up to the lake!  Here are a few pictures from this morning.  Enjoy!

Neta's Birthday!

Well, we did it... we managed to keep another babe alive for a year!  I can't believe that Neta turned 1 on the first of August...  Grandma & Grandpa C opened up their home to all of our guests.  I tried my hand at making a pinata for the older kids - and I don't think it turned out too bad!  The day was hot, the food good, and the family/friend wonderful!  We are all so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives!

 

Birthday girl with her cupcake!

  

Opening gifts!

My first home-made pinata.

Jaden taking a "wack" at the pinata!

More pinata fun!!

Pinata aftermath...

That's our girl!

Happy Birthday Neta - Mommy, Daddy, and Jaden love you!!

Why yes, I am a mom...

Yesterday, I touched on the fact that I'm not getting any younger. Today, I was reminded of the fact that I am also a mother...

Now, I've come to expect finding random items belonging to my children in my purse - cars, crayons, nuks, etc - but this is a first... cheerios in my wallet.  I have no idea how those got in there.

I explored my purse a bit further, and did in fact find some other treasures (I won't scare you with an actual photo of my purse and all of its contents....), and found:

Recalled medicine and an unrelated medicine "giver"
(where the heck is the bottle that, that goes with it? 
I don't want to look much further - it may be spilled in the bottom of my purse)

Dum, dums

and, the proverbial random crayon collection.

This time no nuks, no cars, no baby rattles... but quite a collection of things for my purse none the less!

So, yes in addition to being old, I am a mom, and the proof is in my bag.  Just take a look.

I am old...

Remember when you were a kid, and visited your State Fair, or some other summer gathering and FREE music was part of the festivities?   And most of those "free" music shows were groups or musicians your older parents (eek! - sorry mom and dad) listened too "back in their day"?

Well this week I have been getting our family ready for a trip to the Great Minnesota Get Together next week.  Trying to plan out fun things to do with Jaden throughout the day - kiddie rides, pet the horse, see the jams and pies, those types of things... I pulled up the Friday, August 27 flier of daily events... and guess who is headlining the band shell that night:  Boyz II Men.  Yes, you read that correctly, that boy band group of the '90's,  Boyz II Men.... the group that was hot the summer I went off to St. Kate's for college.

Now I have to admit "back in my day" I was not a huge fan of the group (let's be honest folks, they are no New Kids on the Block).  I'm sure listened to their music on the radio, and probably jammed to their music out at the dance studio or a school dance at least once, but seriously, the FREE show at the Fair?

Even tix to see KISS at the Grandstand (who have been around, way, way longer than either above  mentioned group), are going for $40-$70!!!!

You will NOT be seeing me near the bandshell at the fair during the Boyz show- I'll be heading home to bed (or already home)!

I really am officially old now - Ugh!

Children's Museum

Wow!  Three days in a row, and not a political statement among them!  This is a record for me!  Although from now on, I'm going to try to post before it gets tooooo late in the evening!

For Christmas this year Dan's parents were generous with a gift "subscription" to the Minnesota Children's Museum.  I asked for this family gift, knowing that we would go more often, and because Jaden has really enjoyed going in the past.  This year, we have tried to go about once every 2 months - so we are definitely getting a good use out of this pass.

This past trip (on 7/25), was the first time that we've gone that Neta was really mobile (crawling) - and was a TON of fun!

Out with the girls to St. Paul

Tonight I spent a lovely evening with two good friends.  We visited the Science Museum of Minnesota!  I know, it probably sounds "dorky" on the outside, but we had a purpose (besides getting away from our children for the evening!)... to visit the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.

For several years, my circle at church, Lydia Circle, has been meeting twice a month for Bible study and fellowship.  We've studied a few books of the Bible together over the years, and recently concluded a study of the book of Exodus.  This study was quite timely, in that the SMM brought this wonderful exhibit to Minnesota. 

The exhibit was worth the trip to St. Paul!  While there were a lot of clay pots to look at, it was interesting to see and learn more about the region in general, what was going on at the time of the Bible's creation, and the discovery of the scrolls near the Dead Sea.  We also saw the current Omni Theatre movie showing - Arabia.

But, the highlight of the evening for me was being able to view pages of The Saint John's Bible.  This is a current project that is hand writing and illistrating the Bible.  If you have the opportunity to see the Bible in progress, I would encourage you to do so!  I've seen various pages at two exhibits, and it is very cool to see the work being done by the artists in "modern" times.

Have a nice evening everyone!

30 days... 30 posts

Some of the ladies on my August 2009 "birth board" have inspired me to try to blog again!  Someone (I can't remember who started it) began a challange to begin blogging so many posts, in so many days... So, here I am.... writing away on my day off from the office. 

I will begin with posting several pictures from this summer - the first few are from the 4th of July week-end!

These are from a wedding Dan was in this summer:

Neta found a cool place on the dance floor!

Neta and Daddy!

Jaden on the dance floor!

Neta & Mommy!

Okay, I think that had better be "it" for the day - more to post tomorrow!!!