Normalcy of Everyday Life

As I figure it, life is about enjoying the daily ups and downs, the normalcy of everyday life, not the extremes. I think that is what this week has been about. I caught some sort of cold bug Monday night and went to bed immediately after putting the girls down - 8:30. I slept until 6:15 and woke up feeling equally as bad. I managed thru my day at work and left 15 minutes early. I know I should have listened to my body but my head said keep going. Anyway, I ended missing both girls' swimming lessons. Mack has decided she is dreadfully afraid of bugs and they are going to get her. These are the downs but at the same time there is good in them. I got some rest and the girls' loved on their momma. Mack's new fear is so extreme it's almost funny and you wonder where it came from.

As for the ups - Schuyler floated on her back by HERSELF! This is coming from Mark since I was at home. Mack is the entertainment of her supertots class. Last night, as Mark and I were briefly talking at the dinner table, the freshly bathed girls paraded around naked in dress up shoes, scarves, purses, and pink lipstick! We were cracking up.

So here is to life's up and downs and the normalcy associated with it. We'll take it any day!

The pic is of my very beautiful niece, Megan.

A new favorite pic.

I love this picture. It's so them. I wasn't ready for this moment, or at least at the time I snapped it I didn't think I was - a photographer no-no. You should always be ready. But now, looking at it, I did capture it and I LOVE it. A moment. A moment of sisterly love. Hopefully, this is what they'll remember from their childhood!

Mark made great strides in putting back up our privacy fence in the back (wind knocked it down earlier this year). It's nice not to see straight into our neighbors house (I'm sure they feel the same way too)! The girls, Papa, and I went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday. Love going down for the food and atmosphere. Got some great pineapple brats and sweet corn. Unfortunately, they were out of the farm fresh chicken and buffalo steaks and the homemade root beer man was not there. Just means we'll have to go again! I volunteered in the NurseryZone Sunday at church. Not sure that's my calling but we'll see. We had 6 babies and 3 adults and what seemed like a lot of dirty diapers for only an hour!

Hope everybody has a good week ahead of them!

The past week activities.

Let's see if I can remember all the fun and funny things from the past week. I have discovered that Mack has quite the throwing arm. On a trip to Walmart, she took her Vanilla Wafer she was snacking on and chucked into another person's cart. Luckily, the cart belonged to 2 teenagers who found it funny. The second incident ocurred at Schuyler's swim lessons when she decided to throw her sucker into the pool. In all incidents, nobody was hurt but there was one rather embarrassed mom!

Last Thursday, Mark's best bud, Dr. Justin Fogo, stopped to visit. It was good to catch up and he had some exciting news to share... He and Mary are engaged! Congrats and keep us posted on any wedding plans! Speaking of weddings, here is a pic of my bro and sister-in-law-to-be! Snapped this a couple months ago when we were visiting! Aren't they a cute couple!

Friday was my Dr. appt. The baby did not want to cooperate and kept hitting/kicking at us. Finally, little tadpole was still enough for us to hear. Baby is sitting very low but has a strong heart beat of 165.

Saturday, I enjoyed some girls golf time and lunch. It was extremely hot but we all made it through and of course enjoyed the social aspect = ) Papa took Daddy and the girls to Star City Shores, the Lincoln water park.

Sunday, Mark had a golf tournament in Beatrice. The girls and I went to Star City Shores w/ Papa. Afterwards, we headed to some friends where the kids had some more water fun with a slip and slide and water balloons. They had a great day and were exhausted by the end.

Next week is vacation bible school. They currently have 190 kids and are expecting more. I'm one of the crew leaders for the preschoolers and I'll be with Schuyler. I'm sure we'll have some great stories!

Fun with swim lessons!

So, last night we resumed swim lessons. When Schuyler was in level 1 of swim lessons, their group of 4 sat on the steps in the pool. Level 2, however, stands on a bench like thing in the water. She was VERY unsure of this at first. The teacher helped her in the pool and I sat next to the edge to hold her hand. She did not want do 'bobs' in the pool and you could tell she was scared b/c she wouldn't look at the teacher when she was giving instructions. A sure sign that Schuyler is nervous. They worked a lot on back floats. By the end of class she was much more relaxed. This will be a good class for her.

Mack on the other hand is fearless. She could barely contain herself while we waited (and it was only for 5 minutes b/c Papa was kind enough to take her outside to swim while Schuyler had her lesson). I think she provided entertainment for all who were watching. Here are some humerous things she did: yelled across the pool "Daddy I swim lessons", retrieved and threw a ball - almost nailing a dad in the head, and yes, the best is watching her jump in the pool as goes completely under and comes up w/ a big grin on her face.

These are sure to be some fun and memorable times! The pic is way back from early May when we were in Hastings for Mark's parents anniversary. Can you tell Mack is so intrigued watching her cousin?

Oh, update on Jack (posted previously about him). It is a benign tumore that needs to be removed but shouldn't cause him any problems. This is actually better the vascular abnromality which was what they thought it was initially. Thanks for thoughts and prayers. I

Back to the busy life

The 4th is past and we are now back to our busy lives. The girls are back to school after a week long break. Swimming lessons will resume this week. Schuyler on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 and Mack and I on Tuesdays at 6. Mark has his golf league on Monday which leaves Wed or Friday for mowing the lawn. I have a Dr. appt on Friday. Just a routine check but I always enjoy them. Maybe not the weight check but certainly hearing the heart beat is alwasy thrilling. Just knowing baby is growing and healthy.

The girls enjoyed their last night w/ Megan on Friday as they had a little slumber party in the basement and got to watch Thomas. They eventually fell asleep! Saturday, Schuyler and I participated in a UNL study that dealt in part with how children view themselves. Schuyler had a good time b/c I could hear her giggling and laughing. Can't wait to get the results in October or so. Sunday was a rest day for us and the girls. They enjoyed swimming in our little backyard pool. We seem to do a lot of that. Mark and the neighbor went to get more materials to replace/fix our privacy fence in the back.

Tonight, the girls and I are off to the library. Schuyler is doing the summer reading program. She enjoys it a lot and we get a free ticket to the state fair which is a bonus.

A good 4th!

Did everybody have a good 4th? We sure did. Schuyler ended up going down to see her cousins with Grandpa. She enjoyed spending time w/ them and of course adores her cousin Maddy. She came back on Monday and brought her cousin Megan w/ her to help us out. Mack shed some tears when Schuyler drove off and a couple of times asked where Schuyler was. Mark and I tried to make the time special for her. I took a 2 hour nap w/ her on Saturday and she did some swimming in our pool and made some great sand castles in the sand box. (All which she immediately destroys)! She was our shopping buddy on Monday as we headed up to Omaha. We hit some maternity stores, had lunch w/ uncle Brian, an of course had to stop at Dick's Sporting Goods for Mark. Yesterday, the 4th, Pam (my good friend and neighbor) and I helped the kids decorate bikes/trikes for a little parade. We had a pot luck and did some grilling w/ 4 families from our neighborhood. Schuyler continues to LOVE fireworks and was giggle box the whole night. Mack is not as sure. She doesn't seem to like the loud noises and runs to mommy for hugs. Megan was everybody's helper, a back up for me when the kids needed something and Mark's helper with the fireworks.

Mark is still recovering. The 4th was hard for him and he took a little nap between dinner and the fireworks. Nights are the hardest. His throat gets really dry despite the humidifier he has next to him. We're hoping this will soon change for him as he needs his rest.

Still behind on the pics. Here is one from Schuyler's b-day w/ her umbrella that she loves. And, of course she is wearing her YELLOW shirt. The girl LOVES yellow!!