Loving September-Sort of

We're loving this cooler weather, but I am surprised to still be getting mosquito bites. We've been taking more walks, bike rides when it's not raining. I'll jog with Ellie in the stroller to pick Kayla up from school when we can. Saturday we went out on the Douglas trail for a couple of miles. Nate pushed Ellie in our stroller, Kayla rode her bike, and I jogged next to Kayla. Sunday I took Kayla to the Northwoods Orchard with some friends. I think we've already eaten 1/2 a bag of the baby Gala apples.






What I haven't appreciated about September so far is that Elyana has been feverish and coughing. We are on day 8 now. Thursday they said it was Bronchitis. At Urgent Care over the weekend her lungs sounded good, but they are thinking that there was an underlying flu virus. I'm waiting for the Motrin to wear off today to see if the fever is actually gone or if I need to take her back in tomorrow. From the lack of sleep getting up with her in the night, we're worn out. I'm starting to get a sore throat and am fighting not to come down with whatever Ellie has. She's missed her first week of preschool. I'm praying that she can go back on Wednesday. We've been eating tons of Popsicles around here. So I think this picture is a good summary of our September so far.


Next week we are scheduled to have our 2010 family photos done by our good friends Scott and Jen with Midwest Lifeshots. I'm really excited although I have no idea what we are going to wear and am now praying we'll all be healthy.

First Day of Second Grade

This is right before Elyana burst into tears. She was going to miss Mikayla. Poor Elyana has a fever and a cough and it looks like she'll be missing her first day of school tomorrow. She was also crying because she wants to go to school.


Nate walking Kayla to the crossing guard.


Cute shot of Nate and Ellie.


Last minute hugs goodbye! Very sweet!


The teachers came out with their name on signs to meet their classes. Here is Kayla's new teacher, Mrs. Winters.

Labor Day Weekend

The girls started our weekend off early by going to the House of Bounce. We got there right when it opened and had the place to ourselves for an hour! I'm always amazed at how sweaty the girls can get! A friend of ours that moved away wrote on her blog recently about something her little boy said, "I'm so sweaty, it's like I peed all over myself!" Too funny! Nate worked the sound board at church all weekend and I taught Ellie's Sunday School class. My assignment was Adam and Eve. It seemed to go well. Sunday after church we all ventured to explore Niagara Falls Cave. I felt like it was a great workout. I was hungry and sweaty afterward and we followed it up with some frozen treats at Dairy Queen. Nate and I took turns napping when we got home. Here's a few photos from our cave tour. I think Ellie's eyes are closed in most of these pictures.

The playground in front of the gift shop.


The Waterfall.


One of the many steep stairways.


An actual wedding chapel deep inside the cave.


Tourguide showing us "baby" (50 year old) stalactites.

Fire Pit

Ellie went to bed early tonight and Kayla, Nate and I had a fire in our fire pit. It was the perfect night for it. Cool weather, no bugs, bright stars, full moon...shall I go on? After we ate our fill of smores (which were extra yummy with the new limited edition chocolate/vanilla marshmallows), I layed down on the trampoline with Kayla, wrapped us in a blanket and we stargazed. She brought a little notebook to draw pictures and take notes of the constellations she saw. When she filled up a few pages, she read them to us: "A trapezoid, a triangle, a square, one that I don't know, a diamond, and a squid." Very precious. The memories I have of my childhood are various snips of here and there. There is no reasoning why I remembered some things and not others. I'm constantly wondering what will become a memory with the girls. I have a feeling that moments like this might.

Ellie

Ellie and I were sitting on the deck today eating orange sherbet push-ups together. She looked like she was really thinking about something and said, "You know, sometimes naughty happens." "What do you mean?" I asked. "You know, trouble happens." Wow, thanks for reiterating for me. I wish I really knew what in the world she was thinking about.

Minutes later, we were climbing onto the trampoline together. We noticed she was still wearing her big pink slippers. Elyana cracked me up once again when she said, "Kangaroos can't wear slippers...cause of the springs on their feet." I don't want to jinx myself, but I'm really really enjoying her at the age of 4! Very very loving, caring, potty trained and cute.

On a side note and as an update, I had another post surgery check up. I'm going to have physical therapy on the scar tissue issue twice a week for awhile. I had a splint made for my left hand and are trying to figure out when I'm going to get surgery on my left hand now. That's all for now as my left hand is already going numb. : (

New Trash Bin/Cabinet

I have wanted a new trash bin cabinet. One that will hold the trash and recycling. It also has a beautiful glass hutch on top. I'm ordering half of the whole thing at a time as I save up for it. I received the trash bins and counter top in the mail this week. They were padded with great Styrofoam boards. We had a slow day and so crazy as I am, I told the girls to be Karate pros and karate kick the boards in half as I held them. They loved that idea. Right about then, I received a phone call and stepped out onto the deck so I could hear better. I swear I was only gone a few minutes. When I returned, my living room had turned into a winter wonderland. They had broken up all the boards into tiny snowflake pieces. Ellie was doing snow angels and throwing them in the air. Kayla was trying to make the biggest indoor snow pile. Instead of being mad, I grabbed the camera. It's not everyday it snows inside! I'll take a picture and add it when I have the complete cabinet/trash bin/hutch set up. You can peek at it the modular cabinets at: http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/XGN.aspx?SearchString=modular+cabinet&submit+search.x=0&submit+search.y=0&JSEnabled=false&mscssid=&cmResetCat=true&hdnOnGo=true I'm annoyed because I can't find trash cans to fit inside! I think I might make a trek out to Lowe's today...








Oh yes, this picture must be added. Mikayla received a rock star guitar from her cousin, Sophia. With some crazy colored hair, and maybe some boots, she wants to be a rock star for Halloween.

Mikayla's Birthday Party

It was a few weeks after her actual day, but it was wonderful for my sister, her daughter Sophia, and my mom to come up for it. Mikayla wanted a craft party at our house this year. We had 4 different card tables set up in the basement with a craft project on each. At one we had some plastic masks to glue feathers to. Another we had a make your own chalk station. Another we had markers set up to color little wood castle people. And the last station we had make your own foam sticker photo frame. During the present opening, I took a picture of Kayla with each person, got them developed and stuck them in each child's frame to mail with their thank you cards. They turned out great.

Mikayla wanted a #7 cake this year. Easier said then done. I didn't want to waste cake so I decided to cut it just right and make a double-decker cake. I ended up using a dozen toothpicks to hold it together and tons of frosting. Designing cakes aren't my specialty, but it tasted amazing! I can't believe my baby is already a second grader!