Home Alone

For the second time in the six years that we've been married and had kids, I am alone in our house. Dan took Billy, our nephew, up to Cragun's for the MN Bound Bass Fishing Tourmament. (http://mnboundinvitational.squarespace.com/about-the-event/)
It's such a weird feeling?
What does one do with all that time alone? Well, for starters I sat out on the porch and read a book for a while.
After that, I watched three more episodes of The Closer. (finally, I'm on to Season 2 and I LOVE it!)
While I watched them, I baked some cookies for my specialist at work, he's been going over the top on his work load right now and has been doing a great job. Of course, I forgot them on the kitchen counter this morning. . . .
It was a weird feeling going to bed last night. Our house was so quiet. I ended up turning the alarm on. Well, that was another ordeal. Dan changed the batteries in the smoke detector on Sunday because ADT called me while I was grocery shopping (Dan was home taking a nap!) to say that our alarm was going off? it hadn't even been armed?? Turns out the smoke detector was shorting everything out. So, he changed the batteries and didn't attach it to the base correctly so the system wouldn't turn on. I ended up taking the whole thing apart (at 11pm) and getting it back together again.
Once it got turned on, I slept like a rock with my little watch dog by my side.
Today, I have to go to my sister's house and pick up Emily and my mom and head to Gillette Children's, Emily has the follow up to all her neurological testing today with Dr. Tervo. We'll get the results of her MRI, blood work, genetic testing, chromosome testing, etc. Hopefully, it will all go well!

Summer TV is the worst!

For the last several years, I've realized that summer TV is horrible. All the reality shows are just too much for me. I can't stand it.

So, to avoid the constant reality TV crap, we've taken to catching up on whole seasons of shows that we've never seen before. First it was Gray's Anatomy, last year it was Brothers and Sisters. This summer, it's The Closer.

I don't know if you've seen this show, but it's great. I just love Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson.

We're still in season 1, but season 2 and 3 are next in queque from Netflix.

If you haven't seen it before, give it a try. You just may like it. . . .

The Weekend

It was a busy weekend . . .
On Friday, I took the kids to the White Bear Lake Relay for Life. They had so much fun, what a great event. It was held at the White Bear Lake High School South Campus.
We got there around 6:30 and immediately found my Dad's luminaria bags, he had several bags there. We were also able to find my Aunt Rita's luminaria as well; she is my Dad's sister, Rita passed away back in 1984 or 1985 (I think??) from cancer. They were in the "In Memory of" section.
After that, we walked around the track and checked out all the teams that were there. There was tons of stuff there for kids to do. When we located my mom's friends that had a team there, we parked our stuff and I took the kids around again. This time, participating in all the fun stuff.
We got glow stick necklaces, ice cream, popcorn and all sorts of $1 junk. The highlight for Louie, was seeing the WBL ladder fire truck. He got to wear the big fire fighter hat and it was all good. Now, he's all about fire fighters and fire trucks. He wants to wear his long sleeved fire truck shirt all the time now. He's been sleeping with it like a blankie.
At dusk, they started the slide show in the Memorial Garden. There was a slide show of 100 people who have passed away. It was supposed to be a peaceful place to remember those people. Until I got over there with my kids. . . . the fountain that was there soon became a splashing pond, there was running and jumping, etc. Then my dad's picture came up on the slideshow and both Emily and Louie started screaming that Papa's picture was there. They were so excited to see him. An older woman that was sitting there trying to enjoy the show asked them where Papa was. Louie said, "Papa is up in heaven with Jesus and the Angels." Emily just yelled "he's with Jesus." I guess it is sinking in to them where Papa is. They ask about him everyday.
I have lots of pictures, but will post them tonight. I haven't had time to get them all uploaded.

On Saturday morning, I took the kids on a bike ride over to the Wabun wading pool. Knowing that they were going to be tired and crabby early, we were out the door by 8:30! I was amazed that we got going that early. Anyhow, we were the first ones there and they had a ball playing. By the time we left, the pool was packed! We were home, with lunch done and down for naps at 11:45. We love the Wabun wading pool! It is so close and we get to ride across the Mississippi River to get there! Louie thinks that is so cool, he loves to say 'mississippi.'

No accidents . . .

Emily made it though the whole day yesterday without an accident. She went four times on her potty. One time was at the park! She was so excited and proud of herself when I got home from work last night.
She didn't do so well for Grandma on Tuesday, but she got right back to the program on Wednesday when Dan was home.
I haven't checked in today to see how things are going.
Emily's battle wound from her brother is gone, but she still won't let him get too close. If he does, she yells at him to get away and "no biting!"

Emmy and Louie are going to Auntie M's house next week for a couple of days while Dan goes to Cragun's with Billy for a fishing tournament. I was looking forward to being home alone for a night or two. No such luck. It looks like I'm heading to Milwaukee for an overnight for a closing on Wednesday. I'm still working a way to dodge this, I really don't want to have to go. . . . we'll see. Why can't they close the deals in Chicago or New York?

Sara is a new mom!!!

My friend Sara just found out a few minutes ago that her adoption of Charlotte has been approved!!
This is what Sara just sent to me:
"My file is OUT-approved. Charlotte “Leticia” is legally a Wenzel. I could have her new birth certificate by this Friday 7/25/08!!!! After that, the file goes to the US Embassy to do the 2nd DNA test. Once that is done and results received back at the USE, I will be notified and TRAVEL!!!!! I may just be there by her first birthday!!!! I am still in shock and so excited. This is the greatest day in a LONG time!!!!"
I can't even express how excited I am for Sara. It has been such a long and emotional journey for her. She is going to be such a great mom.
Let's all keep hoping and praying that she gets her notice to travel soon. It would be so awesome for her to be on her way to Guatemala by August 18, Charlotte's first birthday!

The price we pay for having fun . . .

Dan and I have paid the price for all the fun we had this weekend.
Emily and Louie were completely worn out and tired yesterday. They were fighting and hitting all day. This drives Dan nuts.
I got home yesterday afternoon so Dan could go to baseball over at the Babe.
After dinner, we went outside to look at the clouds and chill out a little bit before baths and bed.
Louie completely hit the wall in the tub and bit Emily in the face. She has a huge welt under her eye, on the side of her nose. Poor kid.
This morning, she woke up and with a little bit of a bruise and a big swollen welt.
Needless to say, Louie spent some time in a time out and Emily won't let him near her. She screamed at him, "get away, you biteted me!"
Louie told her he was sorry and tried to give her a hug, she was having no part of the love fest. . . .
I'll try and post some pictures tonight.

My kids want to party all the time, party all the time, party all the time!

Whew, what a busy weekend.
Friday night, we went to Carol and George's house and the kids had a ball playing with George and Bailey. Louie was having the best time with George and Emily and Baily played so well together. Bailey is going to be 3 on September 13 and she's the same height as Emily. I guess I always thought that Chinese people were short? I guess not . . . she's going to be tall.
George smoked ribs on the Big Green Egg and they were awesome. I have always been fascinated by them on cooking shows, not I'm hooked. Very cool. Someday, maybe we'll have one. We topped off the night with a hummingbird cake. It's was delicious.
Saturday night, we went to the Slade's house in West St. Paul. Louie and Emily were in heaven. Trains and trampolines. What more could a kids want. Food was awesome. Fresh green beans are my favorite! Michael picked some for dinner and they were so good.
It was a late night, but the kiddos had fun playing with Peter. Louie loves watching bigger boys.
Tonight, we had the Jansen's over along with my mom to our house. I made pizza on the grill and some apple and chicken sausages. Let me just say, I've perfected pizza on the grill. It was so delicious. The crust was perfect! I love it.

Saturday morning, I took the kids over to the Wabun wading pool and playground on the bike. They had so much fun riding in the Burley over the Mississippi. Louie thinks it's funny to say that word. It was fun playing at the pool.

Now, it's late Sunday and past my bed time. I'm tired . . . . good night.


ps. potty training is going well. We got off track today, but tomorrow we'll be right back on and doing great. I'm sure of it!

Pavlov is working . . .

Yesterday, was the first full day of the kitchen timer and it seems to be working. Emily went three times! Maybe it's just because she wants the M&M's?? whatever it takes.
This morning, Dan went fishing with Grandpa Don to get ready for the tournment they're fishing on July 26. Grace Lynch came over to babysit. She got the rundown on how things are going and what to do with Emmy. Grace helped Emily to the potty right away and she went!
It was so nice to see her respond to someone different. We're moving in the right direction!

Auntie M picked up my bike at SportsMart last night, it was there getting a tune up. It looks like a brand new bike again! We're going to take it for a spin tomorrow. We picked up a Burley bike trailer off of Craigslist last weekend and got bike helmets for the kids. I think we'll head over to the Wabun Park wading pool for a little bit.

Tonight, we are going to a BBQ at Carol and George Watson's house. Carol was in all of my business and finance classes at St. Kate's. She recently retired from 3M and is LOVING life. I can't wait to hear what she's been up to. The Schmidt's will be there too. Annette was in my classes as well. They adopted Bailey from China two years ago. Wow, how time flies.

Pavlov's Potty . . .

On Tuesday, we decided to go about things differently. Emily was really resisting anything to do with Dan having her sit on the potty. She would tell him that she wanted Mommy or Auntie M to help her, NOT Daddy.
So, after talking and doing a little research on the web, we decided to take an approach that would make her feel a little bit of responsibility. This approach involves a kitchen timer. We set the timer for 60 minutes and when it dings, she has to sit on the potty for 5 minutes or less if she actually produces. So far, so good. This way doesn't give her an opportunity to say "NO!" when we ask her if she has to go and to try sitting on the potty for a few minutes. It's nice not being met with resistence.
Funny Louie story, now he wants to watch the Barefoot Contessa all the time . . . so he was sitting on his potty this morning and I turned on an episode for him. He looked at the TV and said, "good morning Ina. Ina's my friend." Dan and I just laughed. He's a Food Network junkie, just like his cousin Maria. He said that the brussel sprouts with pancetta that she was making looked "delicious." Maybe we'll have to make them and see??

Charlotte and Sara . . .

Please keep my friend Sara in your thoughts and prayers. She is in the process of adopting a cute little girl from Guatemala and is getting put through the ringer. Sara has been on an emotional roller coaster for almost a year now. You can read her journey here.
Right now, she's waiting hear if she is finally going to get out of PGN, which is the big court in Guatemala. She's been kicked out a couple times on minor technicalities and it's getting old. If she gets out of PGN successfully, birth certificates and final DNA testing will be done and . . .
Potentially, Charlotte could be getting the best first birthday present ever, on August 18th: A mom.