DADDY'S HOME!!!

Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Hey Everybody-

First I want to say a huge amazing thank you for all of the love and support you have sent to us and the guys.  It has helped make a tough situation easier.  We are so blessed to have such fabulous people in our lives.

As for the update:
Chris and Nate are doing better.  They've been at the hospital every day to be with Nik and Dave.  Nik will hopefully be released tomorrow, but Dave may be there for a week or two.  Nik ended up with fractured ribs, broken sternum, lacerated liver, and concussion.  I'm not exactly sure of everything that is going on with Dave, but broken ribs, punctured lung, and he had to have surgery because of a trauma-related herniation to his abdominals (or something like that- I could be totally off base).  He was just given some liquid foods today and Chris says he is looking better.  Chris and Nik will be flying home late Tuesday night, the flight they had planned to come home on before this whole thing happened.

As for me, I've been keeping Callie and myself busy.  If I'm alone with my thoughts too much, my mind goes crazy with what-ifs and it is just not a good thing.  So I'm pretty tired and emotionally drained, but nothing compared to what they are going through in Seattle.

Thursday:
I showed up to pick Callie up after a long day at work and it appeared that we all called each other about our outfits...so we had to get a picture.  (This was about 30 seconds before I got the phone call about the accident).

Friday:
I was a zombie at work and left early, which worked out great because I was able to see Mari and Mom in the afternoon.  No pictures, though.  My brain was too fuzzy.

Saturday:My mom and dad came over and helped me CLEAN while Callie was napping.  It was amazing.  Then Callie and I went out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa at Dominguez, where Auntie Cat volunteers.  YUM!  After dinner we stopped by the 365 sunflowers that were planted off of 62.  They were really pretty!

Sunday:
We had a nice walk around Nokomis and a delicious brunch with friends.  Callie and Charlie were at it again at brunch.  They enjoyed watching for busses out the big windows.

After naptime, we spent some time outside- which means I spend time running after her down the block.  And in order to get her to turn around, I have to remind her that she gets to give trees and fire hydrants bumps.

Then Ciri and Casey stopped over for a bit.  The girls love to jump.

Then we headed to the Koch's for an end of summer BBQ, and Cal and Christine had fun playing.

Now we're home, Callie is down, and I'm trying to gear up for another full week.  The other thing about the past few days is that Callie has woken up in the middle of the night (3 out of the past 4 nights) screaming.  And nothing soothes her- she doesn't want her passy, blankie, or me to hold her.  But I do, and eventually she calms down enough to take the passy, and then she calms down enough to lay her head on my shoulder and fall back asleep.  I'm not sure if this is just a "night terrors" phase, or if she can sense that things are going on...but it isn't too fun.

Bottom line- I'm stressed but blessed, exhausted but thankful and I really just can't wait until Chris is home. 

Update

Some of you may have heard already, but Chris and his friends Dave, Nik and Nate were in a pretty bad car accident out in Washington yesterday.  Chris and Nate were in the front seat and (thanks to the airbag) made it through with only minor injuries.  Dave and Nik were in the backseat and have more serious injuries and are still in the hospital.  They will be fine, but it sounds like each of them will have a long recovery.

Please keep the guys in your thoughts and prayers.  They were supposed to be on a fun vacation and it started out like this.

Thanks for all of the love and support.

20-Months-Old!

Woo hoo!  We're in the 20s!  Which is crazy, because that means we are just 4 short months away from having a 2-year-old. 

I went back to work today and all is well.  I got out early, so we got to have some playtime this afternoon.  And, seeing as summertime is rapidly fading, we got out the pool to enjoy the summer sun.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The End of Summer

We managed to stay pretty darn busy the last few days of summer break.  Friday night we went to try out a water park that is super close to our house (why didn't we go there earlier????).  It was fun, but the temperature dropped about 10 degrees when we got there, so it was pretty cold.

Mommy it is COLD!

Oh well!

Warming up with Daddy

On Saturday we went to a beautiful outdoor wedding in Stillwater.  We managed to take a nice picture in the evening before we left (VERY early because I had to get up VERY early this morning!).

While we were away having fun adult conversations without having to worry about a toddler running around, the certain toddler hung out with MorMor and Bops and had fun of her own!

Playing at the park

A fun game: Where's Callie?

Cheering on the Lynx- courtside!

Checking out the court at the half.

This morning I got up and ran the half marathon I've been training all summer for.  I did it, and got a PR!  I finished in 2 hours 5 minutes 44 seconds.  I think my best time before that was 2 hours 7 minutes, and that was a few years ago.  So I am really happy with how it went, and once again very thankful for all the people who came out to support me.  And I know there were plenty of people who couldn't be there that were thinking of me and sending good vibes my way, so thank you too!

Beautiful morning for a run!

Terrible picture of me, but my #1 cheerleader was there!

Sweaty and Happy

The rest of the day was spent eating, going to Chris' cousin Sarah's bridal shower, and relaxing at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Callie had fun feeding Kona, bumping trees outside, and playing a new game with Grandpa.

Scoop...and...

ooooops!  Good thing Kona is patient.

Tree bumps

New game...put the rings in the bucket slots.

And now, bring on the fall!

Summer Wrap-Up

The hours seem to be getting shorter, and I'm at the point where there is really only 48 hours left of summer vacation.  My heart breaks a little bit more as time ticks away.  I thought I was okay.  I've been feeling good.  But yesterday afternoon, when I was watching my little girl (who I have truly seen blossom into a girl this summer, and leave baby-hood behind) play, reality hit me. 

Transitions are hard.  Knowing the end of stress-free living is fast approaching is hard.  Knowing that sunshine-y days will be harder to come by is hard.  Knowing that I'll be away from home for 8+ hours a day is really really really hard.

But there are things that make reality easier to swallow.  Knowing Cal gets to go back to spending her days with her grandparents and daddy is wonderful.  Knowing that I love my job and the anticipation of seeing how my students have grown this summer is great.  Knowing that, though summer's sunshine is quickly going to be gone, fall and winter bring fun and exciting things too.

We just need to make it through this transition, establish another new routine, and life will be good.  Amazing, actually.


At the beginning of the summer I set goals for myself:

1) Learn Spanish (weekly Spanish classes with Cathleen!)-Check! I may not be fluent, but had a fun time anyway.
2) Attempt(healthy)cooking (regular workout/cooking dates with friend Bethany)- FAIL!  I had a few great dinners with Bethany, but I think I actually only cooked one meal.  Maybe next summer.
3) Train for another Half Marathon (registered for one on August 21st)- It's tomorrow at 7am.  Send prayers and good vibes please!
4) Lose 5-10 pounds (see 2 and 3)- FAIL! I love food to much.
5) De-clutter our house (and make our office into another playroom)- Hmmm...we're halfway there.  Our new goal is Thanksgiving.
6) Enjoy every second with my toddler- Check!  If you've been following the blog this summer, you know that this is true!
7) Soak it all up because it is going to go WAY too fast- Check Check Check.  See #6.

Despite some failure, I think the summer is one for the books.  And now I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pictures from the past few months.

June

July

August

 

Music Class and Lunch Date

Today was our last music class of the summer.  Remember my post about the first music class in July?  The one where I was so thankful that Callie wasn't one of the crazies running around the room in circles?  Well, 7 weeks later, she was.  And the two little boys who usually run in circles weren't even there today!  It's like she figured that that was supposed to happen and picked up the slack since none of the other kids were doing it.  Today I also was "that mom" and took some pictures.

With Charlie and Ms. Jessica

Running around the room while everyone else was playing with scarves in the circle

Playing instruments!

After class we went to lunch with Jenna and Charlie, and the toddlers enjoyed being silly together.

Charlie and Callie's Lunch Date from Baby Goose on Vimeo.


We're having a family night tonight because a whirlwind weekend starts tomorrow...and then back to real life on Monday.

Another Busy Day

The summer clock is ticking down and we're not wasting any time.  My mom, Cal and I went to Eau Claire today to visit my grandma.  It was great!  She pulled out toys that she kept from when my dad was a baby...toys that my sisters and I played with too!  So Callie was the 3rd generation to play with these toys, and she LOVED them.

She had fun showing off her new talking skills to Great Grandma (she was definitely a little ham!), and they enjoyed sitting together and watching pictures go by on the computer.

 After we got back to the cities, we went to Mari's apartment to hang out and have dinner.  Callie continued being her crazy, talkative, and dramatic self.

Telling a VERY dramatic story, obviously.

Then she and Mari had a really hilarious conversation.

Convo with Auntie Mari from Baby Goose on Vimeo.



Gotta love a babbling toddler!

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!

Grandma and Grandpa are celebrating their 38th anniversary today!  We helped celebrate by going out to dinner.

Earlier in the day, Callie and I hung out with Cathleen's friend Debbie, who has been visiting from England for the last week or so.  We had fun shopping at Target and seeing the ducks and throwing rocks at Centennial Lakes. 

Real ducks aren't yellow...ever.  Are they?

Hanging out with Debbie

 After nap time Callie got some fun Grandma-Time in the hammock.

Quality Grandma-Time

Today via Cell Phone Pictures

I got a new phone (well, actually, one that has been lying around our house for awhile).  But nonetheless, it is a smartphone.  I haven't had a smart phone before so I've been having fun playing with it.  But the best part is the quality of pictures that it takes.  It most definitely does NOT take the place of my regular camera, but I have been using it more when I don't have the camera handy.

So, here are the pictures from today, from my cell phone.

Throwing a bit of a fit.

The Yellow Room in the Guthrie

Awake from a 2 hour 40 minute nap

 Okay, so the video quality is definitely not as good, but oh well.  Here she is showing how she cheered me on during our run.  Please excuse the OBNOXIOUS baby voice.

Go Mom! from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Soaking wet after running to the car from music class tonight...and signing "More!"  This girl LOVES water!

After music class I decided to treat us to a little DQ ice cream.  We don't let her have treats very often, but when we do, Callie gets VERY excited.  She is very patient.  And polite.

YUM! from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

Thanks, smartphone, for helping me document our fun day.

Weekend Wrap-Up

ONE WEEK.

One more week of summer.

One more week until my 5th half marathon.

One. Little. Week.

Okay.  I'm not dwelling on it, but I had to get it out.  This summer has been...indescribable, really.  To have had the opportunity to be home for so many weeks, during this time in Callie's development, is priceless.  I'm sure later on in the week I'll do a summer recap, but I'm just so thankful to have had so much special time with my girl.

Anyway, on to the weekend wrap-up.  I've been lazy, so I need to include Wednesday and Thursday in it too.  We went to a BBQ at Josh and Alison's on Wednesday to celebrate the end of summer softball.  Callie had fun playing with Sydney and the myriad dogs that showed up.

Chinese Golf, anyone?

Sydney taking after her daddy

So many dogs to chase!

 On Thursday we went to the zoo with Kylie and Calvin, and then over to see Casey and Ciri!

How to keep toddlers entertained? Kiddie pool! Bathing suit optional!

Friday was pretty low-key.  Then on Saturday we went to the condo for a nice dinner...sadly I was really bad at taking pictures that day.  Uncle Dan and Barb Suurmeyer were even there!  Not sure how the camera got so neglected.

Today (after my pitifully slow 10 mile run) we spent the day with college friends.  Our friends Jake and Ayaka came up from Iowa City with their little 6-month-old Leon.

Leon, Sydney, and Callie in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard

Callie enjoyed showing the babies her toys

Chris, Dave, Nik, Jake

One more week.  Here we go...