Sharing My Career!

I had a chance to come to Isaac's class to talk to them about what I do for a living. They were studying a unit about families and part of it was how parents take care of their families. Throughout the week parents were able to come in to share. I contacted the marketing department at Prevea and they were able to give me some cool pencils that were shaped like stars for me to give to the kids. I made little "goodie bags" that had a kid-size mask, a pair of gloves, two tongue depressors and two band-aids. I wore my lab coat, ID badge, and brought my stethoscope. I had so much fun with the kids! They were great listeners and asked some AWESOME questions! I talked with them about what I might do when they come to the clinic like listening to their heart, lungs, and tummy. We also talked about how and when the pupils of your eyes get big and small, which they really seemed to like! We also practiced "panting like a puppy", so the next time someone needs to look at their throat, they don't need to use the tongue depressor! We also brainstormed reasons why we might need to wear gloves and masks. Isaac seemed to like having me there and I had a great time!


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Later That Weekend....

Isaac and Piper had fun with their grandparents. Eddy, Isaac, my Dad, and I went sledding at a local golf course and then walked around the course with snow shoes. We also went to the local winter farmers market. The kids were off of school on Friday, so they got to stay home with "Grammy" (as Piper has started to call her) and Grandpa J.


















It was hard to have them leave, but were so grateful for their visit. I had to leave in the morning for work before they left and when I got home, we started to find notes they (well, my mom!) left around the house. I love them!


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Visitors!

My parents came for a visit this weekend and we were VERY excited to have them here! They had never been to CherryBerry, so we had to take them!


Not a bad selfie :)


Sweeties!


We matched!


They were watching YouTube videos of acapella groups.


We celebrated my dad's 65th (!!!) a little early. Part of his gift was a picture made by Isaac...





...and one by Piper.


I made a yummy chocolate lava cake in the crockpot for his birthday cake. But I didn't count on the warm cake melting the candles from the bottom up! We had a good laugh over that!










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January 15-23

We've been busy around here! The past nine days in photos...

While I was getting ready for work one morning, Piper decided to fold and organize my running hair bands. She's taking after her mama and grandma!


Piper got a new sweater dress for Christmas from my parents. She was very excited to wear it to school!


And later that night....


Isaac has to read for 20 minutes every day for school. Every once in a while he will read a book to his sister!


Piper was playing the piano and I tried to get a good picture of her. But she stopped playing, put her hood over her head, and pouted. So this is what I got...


Roles were reversed later that night and she snapped one of me playing!


Going to school is hard work!


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Another Lost Tooth!

Isaac has had one more baby tooth to lose (more will come out, but not until he's about 10 years old) that has been kinda wiggly for awhile now. As he was getting ready for bed, I asked him to let me wiggle it. Piper was already in bed, but she had to get up to get in on the action!


He worked on it for quite awhile....even got Auntie Lindsey and Uncle Paul on Facetime for encouragement.


And he pulled it out himself!


Now those two top teeth finally have some room to come in...not sure where the teeth on either side are going to come in though (dentist has already prepped us on his future need of braces). My baby is growing up too fast!


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Busy

Piper has taken a liking to washing the dishes, nearly BEGGING us to let her do them. Who am I to deprive her of this experience?!


She was so happy working with her Easy Bake kit she got for a gift.


A close up of her new haircut! I did it while she was watching a movie. Took off a little more than I thought I was going to, but it looks good!


Isaac needs to read 20 minutes every week night as part of his class work. I had him read a story to Piper while I was busy.


When I was done, I laid down with the kids to listen to Isaac read. Piper crawled over to me and fell asleep....at 7pm!


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Two Things I Don't Want To Forget

While we were at my parents' house for Christmas, the kids were awake and playing with their cousin when I woke up. My sister walked up to me and said, "Piper says 'girl' now". NNNNOOOOO!!!! Let me explain. Ever since Piper could talk, when she says the word "girl", it sounds like she is saying "geel", like she is saying a fish gill. I would ask her if Isaac was a boy or a girl, and she would say "boy!" and then I'd ask if she was a girl or a boy and she would say "geel!". Oh, it was so cute!! I knew there would be a day when she says it correctly, but I LOVED how she said it and knew I would be sad when it went away. On Sunday, Dec 22, 2013, it changed and I was sad. My baby girl says "girl"....but every once in a while she will humor me and say "geel", because she knows I love it.

Also, this week in the usual school weekly email, there was a blurb congratulating the kids that were nominated for showing the behavior of "caring" for the month of December. Isaac's name was there! When we asked Isaac about it, he said "oh yeah. Well, SOMETIMES I'm caring, but not ALL the time". First of all, I think we are going to have to pull information out of Isaac about school for the rest of his schooling career. Second of all, I think it's hilarious that he said he is "sometimes" caring. What a stinker! His teacher emailed me today after I asked her about it. Apparently one student from every class is nominated each month (with a different character trait each month) and there is an all-school assembly to announce the nominations. The kids' pictures go up in the hallway and the principal has a special lunch with those kids....seems like kinda a big deal!! We're proud of him.


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Milwaukee County Zoo

Eddy had a baseball camp today, so I decide to take the kids to the Milwaukee County Zoo. It was also a free family day, making it even better idea! After taking a slight detour (aka, getting lost), we made it. Never having gone to a zoo in the winter, I prepped the kids that we might not be able to see all of the animals.

Just like I thought, it was too cold for the flamingos!


This cheetah kept pacing past the glass. Isaac loved it; Piper did not.


So majestic!


We got to see four giraffes! I snapped this picture a couple minutes before the mating ritual started! I diverted the kids before I got questions I wasn't prepared to answer!


We decided that we'd like to go back sometime!


We stopped for hot cocoa on the way home and then ate dinner at home. I grew up watching a PBS Christmas movie called "Miracle Down Under". We hadn't taken an opportunity to watch it over the holiday, so we watched it tonight. The kids seemed to like it. We had a goo day. Would have only been better if Eddy was with us.

Last Day of Christmas Break

Eddy and I took the kids to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum in Milwaukee. They have a whole section of "Our Town", which is adult-like activities (bank, post office, car mechanic, factory, bus etc) but are kid-appropriate. They've added/changed a few things since we were there last. I think the kids could stay there all day!


She's ready to do the real thing at the cabin this summer!


We have snow, but it's too cold to do the real thing now!


We also went out for dinner. Eddy hadn't ever been to CherryBerry (self-serve frozen yogurt bar with LOTS of topping options), so the kids and I took him there.


We had a great Christmas break. We certainly hadn't had a chance to develop a "new normal" with moving before the holidays came, but hopefully now we'll be able to get into a good rhythm.

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