what's been going on??

*not much computer time AT ALL
*kids swimming in our CLEAN and CLEAR pool!
*baseball, baseball, and more baseball. Season is done next weekend. On to soccer for Kaycey. (Cal wants to take tennis lessons. Anyone with suggestions on where to take tennis lessons, let me know. I don't know of anything out our way.)
*sorting through baby stuff (realizing I don't have as much little baby girl stuff as I thought. Lots of summer 0-3/3-6 months, which was from Kaycey, and I don't think Maddie got much, if any, use out of. This babe for sure won't get to use most of that *adorable* summer stuff.)
*making lists of everything I want to get done in this unfinished house
*making lists of things I want/need to buy (top items being a pack 'n play and a crib; both of which we have, both of which seem ancient [our playpen is 10 yrs old and crib is 20+years old] and I really like the newer pack 'n play models with the bassinet thing. Hoping to find a good deal at a rummage or resale shop on both items.
*have been going to rummage sales looking (haven't bought anything)
*saw 2 friends for the first time in 8+ years because of facebook in the past week or so. Yea for facebook!!
*my friend, Sarah, has been staying with us for the past week. She just finished pilot training and got her wings as an officer in the USAF. Been hanging out with her (only see her twice a year, approx.)
*been getting landscaping ideas
*kids went to Vacation Bible School this past week through our church/new school and LOVED it.
*been able to tell it's getting closer to August...kids are starting to get a little restless!
*laundry, laundry, and more laundry
*cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning
*discount shopping off the clearance racks at Boston Store for summer clothes for next year
*I'm WAY too excited for fall to come (not just because of a new baby, I love fall!! Favorite season. School shopping, fall clothes, leaves...)
*pretty sure our baby girl has a name. I'm not telling : ) yet, anyways.
*in the process of rouding up a team for our annual Make A Wish Walk/Run, August 22 (if you are interested in joining or donating send an email or message! : )

My Sister's Keeper

So I was in Walmart a while back, and this paperback book was only $6. I knew what the story was about for the most part, and heard it was a good read. So I bought it. I've been looking to read more. Anyhow, it sat in a bag for a month. I thought maybe I shouldn't read it, given our history...that maybe I'd be an emotional wreck and relive the past (to a point). But, I finally pulled the book out the other day and began to read.

I am only about 50 pages into the book. Rather than being an emotional wreck, quite honestly it is making me angry because it is too eerily familiar. Angry at the doctor lingo, angry at the danorubicin and cytoxan (chemo drugs), angry at the lack of info for the parents, angry that I know so much about all of it. Geez, Elizabeth, it's just a story. But it's so real. I honestly feel like the author took some of my very words and thoughts from 4 years ago and put them into this book (mostly from the mother's point of view in the book so far). Hmmm...do I keep reading??

Welcome, Norah!

We visited our new niece/cousin today. She's a little doll!! I don't remember the last time I held a brand new baby.I think I forgot how to hold a baby. I guess I better get used to that... : ) Though I was sort of freaking out! And I don't know that Maddie has ever held a new baby, really. Cal didn't want to hold the baby (actually he didn't want to wash his hands, and was much more interested in playing catch with Uncle Scott!).

Those poor boys. The ratio of boys to girls in Mike's family (our kids and Mike's siblings' kids) will be 3 boys to 7 girls. Even if you take my Mom's side of the family and count first cousins, second cousins along with their kids, I think the ratio is 3 boys to 10 girls. Cal was the first boy born on my Mom's side in about 30 years. My Mom's little brother was the last boy before Cal to be born. Apparently the girl genes dominate on both mine and Mike's side of the family!!

God Bless America!!

The fourth of July is absolutely my favorite holiday. I usually even buy the kids red, white, and blue outfits or t-shirts (usually on clearance the year before-though I didn't last year), but we all wore red, white, and blue anyhow, of course!

We celebrated by going to a parade, listening to the AWESOME Brewers game, & a family party in the afternoon (my side). Then every July 4th for as long as we can recall, we've done fireworks in Greendale with my sister, Dad, and stepmom.

Auntie & the girls

Grandpa Bo & Grandma Ria

How Blessed we are to live in this country and have such freedom. God Bless the USA!

pool party!

Well, the pool is officially up and running (and clear!!). I pulled into the driveway to find 3 kids and a husband in an icy cold pool. Hopefully we'll get some warmer days to heat up the pool a bit. I wish I had a thermometer to see just how cold it was. It is really a good size pool. We can add about 6 more inches of water or so, but wanted to see how deep it was for the kids first.

Speaking of pool parties, I have the grand idea to have a pool party/birthday for Cal at the end of August (even if his birthday is at the end of September). This will ensure kids outside, having fun, and polly pockets will stay upstairs instead of over the balcony (I am still finding little pieces in the living room...)