tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44537923516474474352024-03-13T03:08:26.413-05:00Sykora SoundoffIn a house of 6 with 4 kids under the age of 8...every day is an adventure! The 3 boys are busy and boy o boy o boy crazy! The good Lord looked down and said you've handled it well so here's a girl. So no we are navigating in uncharted waters and living by the seat of our pants...loving every minute of our mayhem. Sit back relax and enjoy a few laughs on us.Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-27640376702806286792012-11-28T09:13:00.002-06:002012-11-28T09:13:11.308-06:00She's Here...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC0b5Asau-U9jTdcI9n1xDDyVrKdzJ62juvhh1jXBvbIyj5JD8kev5rjqKpyZ2mul-eXbPttNr5qw5oliltgNdS4LEDGxPvntL0esn8567oIY1hVwIq25hIuURHtigp4hdthIKOVQF4k/s1600/Segan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Segan Rose </a></span></span></span></span></div>
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Arrived Friday November 16</div>
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1003am</div>
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5 lbs 14oz</div>
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19in</div>
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<img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC0b5Asau-U9jTdcI9n1xDDyVrKdzJ62juvhh1jXBvbIyj5JD8kev5rjqKpyZ2mul-eXbPttNr5qw5oliltgNdS4LEDGxPvntL0esn8567oIY1hVwIq25hIuURHtigp4hdthIKOVQF4k/s640/Segan.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<br />Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-78028951191504880672012-11-05T01:20:00.003-06:002012-11-05T01:20:50.928-06:00A little bit of Catch up needed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello all...long time...my apologies...it has come to my attention that I needed to update the blog since the year is getting away from us...here are the highlights since we last met...<img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojlI4b7jX_h0KifN-9aCekr9yhkydQYc71HjHb6lHn7zx4Rx7RCb4sCUK_eWHQlgfum4dcQi1LSSgQc2w-bXCCtdhzO2NObIofBoamSbbWjejPisHWzuot7BrgVXucLNtOMyBfkEX6FQ/s640/Boys13.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Barett graduated from preschool and insisted on wearing a tie with his cap and gown...kinda brought a tear to my eye(OK lets be honest, a whole lot of tears) thinking in 12 years this will be him leaving for college!</div>
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A short 4 days after he graduated, he reminded us all that he is still a little boy and took a flying leap off the top bunk in an effort to place his hot wheels on the fan to make them "fly" when he turned the fan on(with a little help from his big brother). Dave and I had settled on the couch to watch a movie thinking foolishly that we had the boys tucked in bed early and it was a good night to just relax...10minutes into said movie there was a thud, screams of terror and pain that every mother knows and never wants to hear and blood...Again Dave never ceases to amaze me with his inability to handle blood. Kale was crying, Barett was white as a ghost flying down the stairs with his favorite stuffed bunny held to his face...sparing the gory details the bunny masked the 4in casualty of bunk bed-hot wheel flinging fun. Knowing there was no way I could "glue" this wound so close and deep to his eye I called upon (yet again) our go to doc, personal physician for anytime little boy antics(AKA grandpa Dan). My Dad knows any call after 8 and on weekends is never a good call...so I snuck this one in at 758 on a Wednesday ;0)</div>
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We managed to get Kale calmed, Laeth awakened and everybody into the car for a trip to Children's ER...Thankfully grandma and grandpa were kind enough to watch the other 2 as we sat 4 hrs in the ER with all sorts of "entertainment". Barett as the evidence shows was no worse for the wear and ended up falling asleep before they were able to suture him...have no fear though, once they strapped him down to the papus board he was wide awake and none-too-happy! With a little daddy loving and 4 stitches later we were on our merry way...chicks dig scars right...and that is how we would start a FUN summer!</div>
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Laeth turned 2 in June and is his big brothers' biggest fan...much of his summer was spent trying to do whatever they did, which included using the "big boy bat and helmet" and learning to ride big boy bikes with no training wheels. NO STOP RIGHT THERE...I am not crazy enough to let a 2yr old ride a bike with no training wheels, but he did master the scooter and it is quite entertaining to watch someone so small coasting around the sidewalks with a baseball helmet. He potty trained late summer and prides himself on "doing awesome job" going potty like a big boy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVMgSN0Q42b6lFJTsFbIgDS_p3daZdH_HRfZwlJvrC8gjNfGOnzYO1KGx1rNAtyJ4s7blmkTtNz34W1AKLhlnm3art15teifx5hZu2lN7sBzgkC5RfTz-rLCF08OQBUgb_JZ9rWqiFJo/s1600/Boys6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVMgSN0Q42b6lFJTsFbIgDS_p3daZdH_HRfZwlJvrC8gjNfGOnzYO1KGx1rNAtyJ4s7blmkTtNz34W1AKLhlnm3art15teifx5hZu2lN7sBzgkC5RfTz-rLCF08OQBUgb_JZ9rWqiFJo/s640/Boys6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Kale had a kinda bummer summer not being able to play baseball or do swim team because of his eye surgeries in the spring. Not to be left behind though, he found a new love for all things outdoors and was thrilled and that will be the understatement of the year...to join the cub scouts. He begged and pleaded for weeks to go to Canfields to get his uniform, so one late July Day we did just that. I am certain that the lady who checked us out may still be laughing as he proceeded to strip his clothes off in the store to put the whole get up on. He wore the outfit for a good 36hrs straight before I had to pry it off of him to take a bath...mothers win eventually. He is loving 1st grade and all things boyscout, much to the dismay of his father(Dave dropped out after his first cub scout camp out all those years ago;0)</div>
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What else's is cooking in the Sykora Kitchen...?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBQ9wz6YREM2XLMR6xh_67BwkhQOPipSi8Oh31yKgzR13qPyVGHvZUSilkE4sD6ugRYS-EJhmp9uZwubHZcqs2fx6e5Re2fX8Afs3DyfMg-h9dJXfqqB0rIW02uxVm_HE0_s-0NbrNH8/s1600/BOys4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBQ9wz6YREM2XLMR6xh_67BwkhQOPipSi8Oh31yKgzR13qPyVGHvZUSilkE4sD6ugRYS-EJhmp9uZwubHZcqs2fx6e5Re2fX8Afs3DyfMg-h9dJXfqqB0rIW02uxVm_HE0_s-0NbrNH8/s640/BOys4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Well this little chubby cheeked little muffin...and yes the flavor has changed this time around...much to the amusement of her big brothers!</div>
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We decided to tell the boys by sending them on a scavenger hunt around the inside of the house and then tying pink balloons to the outside on some chairs. Kale was the most thrilled since he has been asking Santa for a baby sister for 2 years running, Barett was more entertained by the balloons, and Laeth was just happy to be running around chasing the big boys as they hunted down the clues. When all was said and done we sent the balloons skyward to Baka Rosie so she could have a party...</div>
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I have done well with the PINK explosion purchases, but cannot wait to put this on her in a couple weeks...yes end of November she is due to make her much anticipated arrival...and now you wonder no more why I have been absent from the blog world.</div>
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With these 3 as older brothers, I told Dave she will get a pony for sure if she SURVIVES til she turns 1!</div>
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Biz turned 5 in August and started kindergarten at my old grade school. He just finished 1st Quarter and he is everybit as intelligent as his big brother. He enjoys the challenges of reading and math and is a little sponge of new "knowledge nuggets" everyday.</div>
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End of September...Dave and I ventured to New Orleans, leaving the boys behind, for a wastewater conference that Dave had to attend. Hello Shopping. It was the last week my OB would allow me to travel so I took full advantage of the opportunity to explore the big Easy. VERDICT: Nice place to visit, great people, fun shopping, swamps scary, cannot say that I would EVER want to be on Bourbon St. for Mardi Gras. A normal Saturday was enough for me, these 4 eyes have seen alot, but after Bourbon St. there are somethings better left unseen...</div>
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Well that is all for now...I will attempt to do a better job at updating and do promise to post pics when Miss Sassy Sykora arrives later this week...month...:0)</div>
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Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-59651634649172254042012-03-12T23:44:00.000-05:002012-03-12T23:44:05.101-05:00Kale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There have been moments in this journey of motherhood that have brought me to my knees. Before having kids I would not have considered myself all that emotionally attached to anything...then they came along.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I remember when Kale was born the feeling of overwhelming fear, joy, pride, and apprehension. Afterall, he was SOOOOOO tiny and helpless and somewhere and for some reason God thought Dave and I were up to the challenge of being the people to guide him in this world, teach him, protect him and above all love him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In that moment six years ago I never could have imagined that someone that small could rattle my emotions and make me dig down deep to find the strength and faith to do all those things. Loving him has been the easy part, some days I feel like the rest of it we, correction more I fall short. I have always maintained I didn't see my self capable of murder until I became a mother. I would do anything to keep my kids safe and protected from the evils of the world, but I have come to realize that even with the best of intentions, there too I fall short. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CVuf_irfxzoXe2rUCfkasIRrX30DdqU3YUOP3TNdl5Stt3o9tIHarpwKEiXAeMNP2r0Mq0b0okeTFQt7p_L9zu5nLOZ_C-R2NBulB7QQaApqphKu5_pF96ddgPfp9PDD6oFsVUxfrhE/s1600/k1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CVuf_irfxzoXe2rUCfkasIRrX30DdqU3YUOP3TNdl5Stt3o9tIHarpwKEiXAeMNP2r0Mq0b0okeTFQt7p_L9zu5nLOZ_C-R2NBulB7QQaApqphKu5_pF96ddgPfp9PDD6oFsVUxfrhE/s640/k1.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div> I thought I was doing so well, kids are healthy for the most part, rarely sick, no cavities, meeting all their milestones developmentally. Life is good. I got them to their doctors appointments on schedule, shots given, tolerated and all is well. Then, mid January we were out to breakfast and I noticed a red spot on Kale's left eye as he was looking out the window. Let's be honest he has his mother's temper so I figured it looked like a little burst blood vessel, nothing to worry about. We watched it for two weeks, afterall we had an appt with his eye doctor in about that time...wrong choice, though looking back I don't think it would have made a difference, or that is what I tell myself. Instead the red spot had grown bigger and raised....GREAT. I called the eye doctor and he wanted to see Kale that day. Long story short after being referred from a pediatric opthamologist to a another specialist, 3 weeks of steroids, loss of vision in his left eye, and growth of the red spot, we were scheduled for surgery to remove the mass March 9th. First case that morning. No one really knew what the mass was other than "we think it is scar tissue and most likely not cancerous, but we won't know til we remove it".<br />
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For the first time in his 6 years I was scared. The chances of the surgery working were 60% and 90% recovery of his sight if they could remove the entire mass. The surgeon performing the operation had perfected the technique of using an amniotic membrane to graft to the portion of the white of the eye that he would be removing. 10 surgeries like it done in the world and this doctor has done 4, but never on anyone as young as Kale. Put simply, our little boy's eyes and sight were in this doctor's hands and there was nothing I could do to help him. <br />
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</div> As his mom and a nurse I stressed about it from the moment I heard her would be going under the knife again. The two other times it seemed so different, we knew the cause and surgery was the solution. This had come outta nowhere and the after effects were so much more permanent and heartbreaking. I told everyone, losing your sight in one eye at 60 is an inconvenience but a 6 it is a disability for the rest of your life. Kale took it like he always does, happy go lucky and with a smile on his face. His biggest concern was that they were going to take his "whole eyeball out"-which he thought might be pretty cool...BOYS!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IPnVA1vYyiozLZhteDZol9CvqAeWBdgr5w-u1iHnuPWxRmunQLdRIo6nxPQhMlJWbIrnu66_FhsjB-IsJ0BpqM38-NSyx1MnOUFdeYaaQVMJ2Z6yJmTvIT_tEZqn_DC3Zv-Jila5yRk/s1600/k3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IPnVA1vYyiozLZhteDZol9CvqAeWBdgr5w-u1iHnuPWxRmunQLdRIo6nxPQhMlJWbIrnu66_FhsjB-IsJ0BpqM38-NSyx1MnOUFdeYaaQVMJ2Z6yJmTvIT_tEZqn_DC3Zv-Jila5yRk/s640/k3.jpg" width="480" yda="true" /></a></div> Last Wednesday, my last day of work for the week, Dave called me Thursday morning to tell me Kale had woken up at 330am screaming his ear hurt and had a fever of 102.3!!! When I got home I right away called school to tell them he wouldn't be in, called the surgeon's office to see if he would still go ahead with the surgery? The next 4 hours I was on the phone with his pediatrician, anesthesia at the hospital, and the surgeon. After it was agreed that as long as his pediatrician would clear him for surgery and start him on antibiotics, we were a go for surgery in the morning. That was noon on Thursday. Between my nerves and his ear pain I got an hour of sleep that day, only to wake up at 430 the morning of his surgery because I could not go back to sleep. I packed his bag with blanket and scruffy dog, prayed a rosary and had a convo with my grandma to watch over him and guide us to the best result...she has been known to work a few miracles and in life we swore had the gold phone to God.<br />
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</div> We got to the hospital, checked in and they were ready or as ready as anyone can be for Kale and his hyper 6 year old self. Unfortunately, they only let one of us back in pre-op so Dave sat in the waiting room with my dad while Kale and I watched cartoons and he sat SOO STILL for 12!!! eye drops. (This is the child I had to chase down at home to get 1 drop in...) The doctor came by and said he anticipated about 45minutes to an hour for the procedure. He warned us ahead of time that the pain with this would be more intense than his previous eye surgery...that I could handle, I was prepared from the horror of last time, and as a mom/nurse I was prepared to be liberal with the pain meds and had some big hitters in my arsenal(all OK'd with his medical team...I was not going to be caught off guard again.) Anesthesia came and showed him the mask and "balloon" they would use to put him under and like only my Kale would say, he told them, " I can count to a hundred and blow up that balloon, no problem, better than Barett!" With a kiss and a hug holding back tears, they took my baby boy away.<br />
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I hit him with pain meds right when we got home and Kale and I crashed for a good 4 hours. When he did wake up it was more pain meds and snuggling for him to listen to a movie(it was more comfortable for him to remain bandaged with both eyes and the doc was OK with that. Bedtime was smooth with no brothers to bug him and he slept til 8am(a feat in itself) the next morning.<br />
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</div> We met the doctor at his office at 930am and I have never been so nervous. He had told me that if Kale was to regain his vision in the left eye, we would know by that morning. Kale did the honors of taking off the patch and shield and wasted no time reading the top line of the eye chart. I mean to tell you I have not cried tears of joy like that since this little man was born. Baby steps is the name of the game now. He will hopefully regain his sight back to his previous nearsightedness, but the plan is for that to be a SLOW process.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8D7PQAPA4xs9Ynepu4KfuhQV5O7IsbwmYVG-4W2ApyqXpXjmhQ4g_2FwMkHl-PLXla5P8TlbF07qyWauOEx-I6yOsFHgfeNPuW4HgZsRsv7j9DxReB1HChq0on0LVeQeCqVeqIUXIpE/s1600/k7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8D7PQAPA4xs9Ynepu4KfuhQV5O7IsbwmYVG-4W2ApyqXpXjmhQ4g_2FwMkHl-PLXla5P8TlbF07qyWauOEx-I6yOsFHgfeNPuW4HgZsRsv7j9DxReB1HChq0on0LVeQeCqVeqIUXIpE/s640/k7.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>The pathology came back today and the mass was indeed scar tissue, making the SLOW healing that much more important. Though no one really knows how or why Kale all of a sudden developed scar tissue 2 years after his last eye surgery, the best guess is he had an insult to the old incision...a grain of sand...brother's fingers...vigorous rubbing of the eye...who knows! Whatever it was, he is now on steroid drops every 2 hrs around the clock for the next six months so the tissue heals slow and correctly...sounds like fun right?<br />
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Out of all of this I have learned strength and patience...from none other than the Bravest little boy I know.Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-10933396462657054582012-03-03T22:01:00.000-06:002012-03-03T22:01:04.746-06:00Looking for some sunshineOK, I know it has been awhile, our computer has a virus and truthfully I have been OK with not fixing it. I wrote the following post 2 months ago now more as an escape and healing for myself. Feel free to read or not, but I have been meaning to post it for a while. Sorry there are no pictures, one day I will get the stupid thing fixed. <br />
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Since I wrote this last post Kale turned 6 and is loving life. We hit a hiccup in his battle against the evil eyes and he is scheduled for surgery this upcominmg Friday 3/9. It is intense to say the least so any prayers would be most appreciated. I pormise I have found some sunshine and plan to keep a little in my pocket. The following post is painful for me to read now, but reflects so well, I feel, how those 31 days rocked me to my core...<br />
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The last month has been a blur of tears of which I cannot seem to find an end. 3 days before Christmas my family very unexpectedly lost my Baka (Croatian for Grandma). I wrestled and continue to do so whether it would have been easier had I seen it coming, but I don't think anytime would have been an "OK" time to say goodbye to hands down the greatest and strongest woman I have ever known. My Uncle Joe said it best when he said " she was our lighthouse, no matter how far or where we went in life, all we had to do was turn to her and she led us home". She lit up not only my life but the lives of my boys. I have tried in the days since to look for a ray of sunshine, a good, something to set my mind at peace...what I've come up with have given me only moments, but I wanted something that would last. I struggled in the moments after she passed with most of my family at her bedside to understand why? My grandma was a woman of deep faith and I know her time with us was cut short to join and enjoy her eternal paradise in Heaven, but how in the world could I explain that to my boys who had loved her and loved on her that Sunday, only 4 days before she died? And then it came to me, I never knew either of my grandfathers, let alone great-grandparents...Kale and Barett got that for 5 years. That was my sunshine and the best Christmas gift, better than any I can, would, could or ever will put under the tree. Her love was deep and infectious. She loved the boys and they loved her, and for that I am grateful. That she got to be part of their lives if only for a brief time, their lives will forver be filled her love. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Like I said,Christmas was a blur, it felt more like going through the motions, but we had to make it special for the kids, that is what Baka Rosie would have wanted. The toys were in no short supply and the spoils of 4 Christmases clutttered the house longer than I care to admit. Then came strike 2, Dave's Grandpa Frank had a massive heart attack, landing him in the cardiac ICU with a bilateral pneumonia and buying him an implanted pacer/defibrilator. He is doing well and thankfully on his way to recovery. One would think that was enough for one family for a while, but alas the black cloud of whatever the hell keeps raining...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This past Monday our phone rang at 1030pm, never a good sign or happy call, especially as of late. My aunt was sobbing into the phone that my cousin Aaron had been found dead in his apartment in Colorado. First I had no idea that he had moved to Colorado, he was just over my house for the Husker game 2 weeks ago...this cannot be happening!!...what happened?....was my brother Andy with him?...does Andy know?...the answers were few and the tears were many. My first instinct was to drive to Colorado to get my brother no matter where he was. Aaron, Tom, and Andy were the 3 amigos, brothers, cousins, but most of all best friends. It didn't surprise me that he had gone to Colorado. When Andy had moved there, Aaron begged him to take him with him and even would drive out to visit whenever he could. A blizzard in the mountains and a little fatherly psychotherapy kept me here. My brother flew in the next day as we waited for answers, of which there are still very few. Again I find myself looking for sunshine. This time it came much easier. Aaron was with Baka Rosie who had loved him and mother henned him since he was a baby. He is a peace, and though his antics will be missed, my life and those he knew are better for the brief time we had</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">him in it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="http://www.crippinfuneralhome.com/images/WebAaronBall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: undefined;"><img border="0" src="http://www.crippinfuneralhome.com/images/WebAaronBall.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think myself to be a person seeing the glass half full, always looking for the silverlining no matter how long it takes me to dig to find it, there is good in everything and everyone. My grandma taught me a lot of things but the one I will carry with is God only gives us what we can handle and apparently this is it. So as I look for sunshine, I say Rest in Peace Grandma and Aaron, I know you are watching down on us</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-29493208450700367172011-11-29T20:01:00.000-06:002011-11-29T20:02:09.291-06:00Shelf elf's 1st strike<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">In our house Christmas is a BIG deal...partially because I make it one:0) I love everything about the holiday; the smells, the lights, the trees, and yes even the snow(comm'on who really wants a brown Christmas?!) Tradition since Dave and I have been together(10 years for those who have lost count) has been to decorate the night of Thanksgiving after feasting on turkey all day, not the greatest plan as years past would remind us, but tradition none the less. This year I decided to break from tradition and while the boys were all gone in Colorado, I decorated the whole house myself. Yes the tree was a bit to lug up the stairs all by myself, but after an hour and a half worth of problem solving and a little refresher in physics levers and pulleys(thank you Mr. Termuhlen) I got the tree up the stairs and assembled in quick fashion, complete with lights and ribbon. The stockings were hung by the fireplace topped off with some lighted garland and fuzzy Christmas animals from grandma and grandpa Halm.<br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2DbxyGhkFlc9Z18SncBDRkMziimilyT9j7J1OdvmlnTKorBRW6IimpVssQFa44UM4yJDkuYwQdaFDPcn59A2N_gR3BMyFN0KLV2GM_HgcBkF_3FibwrMmlcim295_uvjszThMTLldQU/s1600/DSC_0782.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2DbxyGhkFlc9Z18SncBDRkMziimilyT9j7J1OdvmlnTKorBRW6IimpVssQFa44UM4yJDkuYwQdaFDPcn59A2N_gR3BMyFN0KLV2GM_HgcBkF_3FibwrMmlcim295_uvjszThMTLldQU/s400/DSC_0782.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The reception the night we got home was all that I could have hoped for and more. The light in the boys eyes made the blisters, splinters, and sciatic pain all worth it. Laeth lit up and would not stop pointing. He tackled the bears on the fireplace and proceeded to pull all the ornaments off the tree...thanks...Kale and Barett immediately opened all the cabinets looking for the shelf elf because in their eyes, he was the one who had done all the decorating. If you are not familiar with the shelf elf, he/she is a watchdog for Santa and very vigilant and busy in our house. The shelf elf watches the house during the day to see who is naughty and nice and then reports back to the northpole at night. In the morning, the shelf elf returns, but never to the same spot, to watch again. Since our house is so busy and at times naughtier than most, we have a shelf elf for each of the boys. Kale named his S.H.S(Santa's Helper Snitch.) Barett went old school rhyme time and named his Melf the Elf.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMq4Cdl4RbenzJ0hpi1yOQSKP2Yg38G_23PEuPCJ7kzMosuD0OTkWYJVs4y1esz6B5SohitIFQnU73K_N2Qjn__xruRyWd-KKUd4gmsz0v4dgRr7AGzktpnhZWYBAWZ4iYeSmlMw8ORw/s1600/DSC_0797.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMq4Cdl4RbenzJ0hpi1yOQSKP2Yg38G_23PEuPCJ7kzMosuD0OTkWYJVs4y1esz6B5SohitIFQnU73K_N2Qjn__xruRyWd-KKUd4gmsz0v4dgRr7AGzktpnhZWYBAWZ4iYeSmlMw8ORw/s400/DSC_0797.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Though the elves whereabouts occupied them momentarily, Kale and Barett were more concerned about their trees. You see, everybody has a tree in our house, even the dog(the puppy Christmas tree), and obviously the biggest one is mine! What this means is that I get the main tree and each of the boys has their own to decorate however they would like. Well, Kale and Barett wasted no time in hauling out the ornaments and decorating each of their trees, Barett with anything he could find(old keychains from Dave's collection were a favorite). Kale opted for a more nostalgic approach and took out all the ornaments Dave's mom and my mom had given us. Laeth was content to leave his tree as is with the lights and the pointing.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg568AUdwmJUgxSAXjUKY6zflJQvMGuQ3fPH4V6jXRbWppPZm0HANn5lC6sfeaUdlWYS2ijRKHPEopjwE0F7eKRHzKD1oyNM1APTj65c2Rp2rQ-jH2Fdq2apvtR1DMTAMYwjL5167ndHAQ/s1600/DSC_0817.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg568AUdwmJUgxSAXjUKY6zflJQvMGuQ3fPH4V6jXRbWppPZm0HANn5lC6sfeaUdlWYS2ijRKHPEopjwE0F7eKRHzKD1oyNM1APTj65c2Rp2rQ-jH2Fdq2apvtR1DMTAMYwjL5167ndHAQ/s400/DSC_0817.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Today became a treat because half of the lights on the tree went out...to some this would spell disaster but to me it was a chance to let Laeth help rebuild what he was so intent on dismantling in the first place. So off to Walmart and 500 lights later we were back in business. <br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIvtf5mMU2MeKn2QXl3UalH6M9EsbAMEnEUFntG93fnYRG9lLsMqg0OMbgzPFQzcganDWrhDPjFMBF1A-0vazZMdauhtWG4dZealeXqc37dlmGgfJPGKwuWqjyLmOj1a4SaiByejl3YU/s1600/DSC_0770.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIvtf5mMU2MeKn2QXl3UalH6M9EsbAMEnEUFntG93fnYRG9lLsMqg0OMbgzPFQzcganDWrhDPjFMBF1A-0vazZMdauhtWG4dZealeXqc37dlmGgfJPGKwuWqjyLmOj1a4SaiByejl3YU/s400/DSC_0770.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbBx0xxMfeQB-VcjbHg6v4HucnQWcZyAbEOdueB6yopPW3jBMwvDfd-YxjaOOIPg3wz7y32nEQEVGxDtphtyotKKCRlrUUnhWVmpgGRIwKE0yQuAgQFVcspS4eLwwTOuW4ANZXLFDLn8/s1600/DSC_0558.JPG"></a></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-22170439000243610052011-11-28T10:29:00.000-06:002011-11-28T10:29:44.380-06:00Rocky Mountain TurkeyTurkey Day this year was supposed to be the Halm Family getaway-our first family vacation in 15 years...that ws until mom got sick and landed herself a lovely stay in the hospital for a week. Plan revised slightly, the boys and Dave set out early Wednesday morning for the great rocky mountains. I was left home to work and flew out early Friday morning. Turkey day alone was not so bad or alone for that matter. I got the house decorated for a surprise when the boys came home and since Dad stayed back to be with mom, I got some good father daughter bonding time in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWckMK00idqodIyGkA7hO-69N_vaFuL4yGTSIQ0GUGYVEiA3fIBPNQutpO_MssD7jR_GD853Nrn7UDGE4Vhs-C9W5V5ItbEaTs9NUGAcj948HRkVE2CL1I1UXmeeSmmYplgmcrvMUPXI/s1600/DSC_0615.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWckMK00idqodIyGkA7hO-69N_vaFuL4yGTSIQ0GUGYVEiA3fIBPNQutpO_MssD7jR_GD853Nrn7UDGE4Vhs-C9W5V5ItbEaTs9NUGAcj948HRkVE2CL1I1UXmeeSmmYplgmcrvMUPXI/s400/DSC_0615.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Friday when I had finally arrived the boys were ready and roaring to go out on the mountain. So we signed them up fro ski school, visited Loveland pass and enjoyed some snowy mountain air. Friday night in the middle of a heated game of pool, the power went out to the whole house...not such a big deal at home but up in the mountains when it is 10 below and you are sharing a house with 15 other people it becomes a bit hectic. Thank God for my smartphone "little flashlight app" and a wood burning stove. We enjoyed some laughter and bevarage around the fire. When the power finally came back on at 2am it was lights out for everyone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS4V8Y-22CmfN4uadu6GUbdJfSw4_H-2A1H1G84SfWUDJ4RDoSeFgprQJepI6tN1dthUyTDZc8dtkYNG_8fh9WP9YLPl1pC_wz29QTdhScJi_QS5gUK8k-iBgj4lB3vaBG2Qeo8-EIH0/s1600/DSC_0616.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS4V8Y-22CmfN4uadu6GUbdJfSw4_H-2A1H1G84SfWUDJ4RDoSeFgprQJepI6tN1dthUyTDZc8dtkYNG_8fh9WP9YLPl1pC_wz29QTdhScJi_QS5gUK8k-iBgj4lB3vaBG2Qeo8-EIH0/s400/DSC_0616.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br />Oh and did I forget to mention the dogs...Rigger and Marley<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX73PlIIurjkkgXEtXtgRbTkzGphLc0UavXYZHjIF0bdXflQK9P1umWADdBISQICRlv31BfUsagVgsmdw4F8LUJDfi0PVJgrOD_ymKDD-1HQV9Fgr1s5Mw2glhH8tMQR6XI2ZqpRvVyr4/s1600/DSC_0649.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX73PlIIurjkkgXEtXtgRbTkzGphLc0UavXYZHjIF0bdXflQK9P1umWADdBISQICRlv31BfUsagVgsmdw4F8LUJDfi0PVJgrOD_ymKDD-1HQV9Fgr1s5Mw2glhH8tMQR6XI2ZqpRvVyr4/s400/DSC_0649.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br />Saturday the boys got dropped off at ski school and Dave, Laeth and I headed for the other side of the mountain to see what we could see. Wind blowing, snow falling, it was a beautiful mountain day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGAJkZgrK8zNPZMKYX7DHnb1KXGW0GNEKpB9jpo3sriQw_WgxVrzN9vTPFKMp5OkTuhrmp3xm8NCGrzKLjqH-zgEy79vrRF2uTZXg9SJxMWnrDmCSnqvkX3ko8l3Z6H43p6wYUlUxaqI/s1600/DSC_0685.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGAJkZgrK8zNPZMKYX7DHnb1KXGW0GNEKpB9jpo3sriQw_WgxVrzN9vTPFKMp5OkTuhrmp3xm8NCGrzKLjqH-zgEy79vrRF2uTZXg9SJxMWnrDmCSnqvkX3ko8l3Z6H43p6wYUlUxaqI/s400/DSC_0685.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixjGwDY7m0sVBDURiU0VZ7H5sAPZ8WJPRL4vGvph6_rqLv_nEO7SSEs5YuGNM4nftJl4HEcvqRc8sqvdRQPC_toumggqpfziWp1NPGefh5pqXtUGfTZNZcDumc6t6tnh0Bjy3BzSXiZk/s1600/DSCN1022.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixjGwDY7m0sVBDURiU0VZ7H5sAPZ8WJPRL4vGvph6_rqLv_nEO7SSEs5YuGNM4nftJl4HEcvqRc8sqvdRQPC_toumggqpfziWp1NPGefh5pqXtUGfTZNZcDumc6t6tnh0Bjy3BzSXiZk/s400/DSCN1022.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHkmKDnM-XiXlJpSjJKa6kZZMUgE93KxIWGs6us2SEf134zSL9V52F-RFiOz5qxrImSkwmAH8G1HL3H6qT_7kCTyE2RkQ5afeCn-KBahazI-c3tbbdnZdM7ZQBuauXmH0gkovoVTnDGA/s1600/DSCN1027.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHkmKDnM-XiXlJpSjJKa6kZZMUgE93KxIWGs6us2SEf134zSL9V52F-RFiOz5qxrImSkwmAH8G1HL3H6qT_7kCTyE2RkQ5afeCn-KBahazI-c3tbbdnZdM7ZQBuauXmH0gkovoVTnDGA/s400/DSCN1027.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br />After a jaunt into the mountains we stopped back at the mountain house for a quick bite to eat and warm up before heading to pick Kale and Barett up from ski school.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysS7ojAJfJKMpg6iQHrv94J0M0leeu87mh5te-akgYiYdESXZffT7YESizeoKXoSg7fw92bHt5KYYs07NVxcxWXVn_u6JXtmyBqXsy2m3tVYeAXkaJQ6Qa9ZuDdK9dRfitO7DhxgK63A/s1600/DSC_0693.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysS7ojAJfJKMpg6iQHrv94J0M0leeu87mh5te-akgYiYdESXZffT7YESizeoKXoSg7fw92bHt5KYYs07NVxcxWXVn_u6JXtmyBqXsy2m3tVYeAXkaJQ6Qa9ZuDdK9dRfitO7DhxgK63A/s400/DSC_0693.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeCeNOaxhDdWmmVirItHremTU9An_N0vG7GL1cKxStUpraZYqg_pQzSmOi83AUqL0MNewJIL7QR7Sumjyh7bp3VEUqpqLNTl-YCw0lVjzb7Zhs5ebuuPVxCdxF_J9216JPPmWYQJ5Wmo/s1600/DSC_0701.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeCeNOaxhDdWmmVirItHremTU9An_N0vG7GL1cKxStUpraZYqg_pQzSmOi83AUqL0MNewJIL7QR7Sumjyh7bp3VEUqpqLNTl-YCw0lVjzb7Zhs5ebuuPVxCdxF_J9216JPPmWYQJ5Wmo/s400/DSC_0701.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br />At the end of the day Barett loved ski school so much that he refused to take the skis off let alone leave without them. We had a small bargaining session at the base of the mountain for Christmas presents. Overall they both did awesome and cannot wait to hit the slopes again. I suppose we will be hitting the ice hill of Crescent in the very near future to buy us some time until the next ski adventure.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnq-H9g7n0fDAoBtwU0YTpegSrrLzMYKcnjziuYpTtlkYVokS4wtKIiYerQGUORQNPl3NuNLWYjnS0ML2GkeXTc8ctpNk-0SLDA0Jvg8pCD6cK-r1ZsKJTUuBwYlWuKswh7rp1-e6H38/s1600/DSC_0708.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnq-H9g7n0fDAoBtwU0YTpegSrrLzMYKcnjziuYpTtlkYVokS4wtKIiYerQGUORQNPl3NuNLWYjnS0ML2GkeXTc8ctpNk-0SLDA0Jvg8pCD6cK-r1ZsKJTUuBwYlWuKswh7rp1-e6H38/s400/DSC_0708.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m1fgLDrIUUen1oIWAg2hr2meHB7a8i5NuTZpYPqlbvJdY2GhRu9btps0n78-jE0EBS8g5xC_0MKFz9N3o-R57XGPWPtdu9Uf_tP27CIS2ixA-_jwyKMZlCGGySzSTxlDBdCGcqYESeg/s1600/DSC_0716.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m1fgLDrIUUen1oIWAg2hr2meHB7a8i5NuTZpYPqlbvJdY2GhRu9btps0n78-jE0EBS8g5xC_0MKFz9N3o-R57XGPWPtdu9Uf_tP27CIS2ixA-_jwyKMZlCGGySzSTxlDBdCGcqYESeg/s400/DSC_0716.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mEbXQwIjpR-gWQffJ-bcB8m3OgTwKhf09roc7GnWsT0aTrN49pCITLJ7L3n7bSh-08VlVa4eFE8krUksMzuTw-6d2LqiivbybX8_GH6kRvkmmrXiCQuYZR7NbM2k8E5lOT74zMuxhXk/s1600/DSC_0721.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mEbXQwIjpR-gWQffJ-bcB8m3OgTwKhf09roc7GnWsT0aTrN49pCITLJ7L3n7bSh-08VlVa4eFE8krUksMzuTw-6d2LqiivbybX8_GH6kRvkmmrXiCQuYZR7NbM2k8E5lOT74zMuxhXk/s400/DSC_0721.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75oRwxO5gExFGozakdVnWTIdOrN6cY7-Pd9wGUPDAkjJULleB8fSRuXSeJfZXAYBTcizRQ4HXXG6fmhjAVfouVjq_1ODBsN4Mv5VKnw2pj0I302vs5K61-H7FTOymIs_yT7v2NA-5gkM/s1600/DSCN0992.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75oRwxO5gExFGozakdVnWTIdOrN6cY7-Pd9wGUPDAkjJULleB8fSRuXSeJfZXAYBTcizRQ4HXXG6fmhjAVfouVjq_1ODBsN4Mv5VKnw2pj0I302vs5K61-H7FTOymIs_yT7v2NA-5gkM/s400/DSCN0992.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnwtGh_8R4ZyVxxgtxxZ_aved15M5s6Z9nubWEJNjqWNuP-d5zBGksiYX6o_HUsingDnEUzfWwQteDJfOmlbReY_EuaMMYSRm7NXheb7sK5vlvmAcSAiYvzbYdEjjOCHH-7El5EimzrY/s1600/DSCN0995.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnwtGh_8R4ZyVxxgtxxZ_aved15M5s6Z9nubWEJNjqWNuP-d5zBGksiYX6o_HUsingDnEUzfWwQteDJfOmlbReY_EuaMMYSRm7NXheb7sK5vlvmAcSAiYvzbYdEjjOCHH-7El5EimzrY/s400/DSCN0995.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_YsevK_-h0Pi9rBLxgvefKS2QZ-IMjM30xt5B2448S9IpQ4jLY1VUCPXZ_W_kDvncWM4I30tITYsxBtCVviOsFWzvz-fFdOZfFZGtcnf07Hk4OFytea4feF0w9kAP0vzsnkTMAKqj48/s1600/DSCN0999.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_YsevK_-h0Pi9rBLxgvefKS2QZ-IMjM30xt5B2448S9IpQ4jLY1VUCPXZ_W_kDvncWM4I30tITYsxBtCVviOsFWzvz-fFdOZfFZGtcnf07Hk4OFytea4feF0w9kAP0vzsnkTMAKqj48/s400/DSCN0999.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwzzC2_ML7vEBPt-ITNH8F8TZH7LN-yRbsF84Op55NXAGO0H1UvMrrBVWDlxthiyjZ8PFGIX_PcMDIYJTG0A1TVy33r3ePyiV9rY-kzVIYakFU5d_rlgRsMZW7ozLUitjmL64a-YXlrg/s1600/DSCN1000.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwzzC2_ML7vEBPt-ITNH8F8TZH7LN-yRbsF84Op55NXAGO0H1UvMrrBVWDlxthiyjZ8PFGIX_PcMDIYJTG0A1TVy33r3ePyiV9rY-kzVIYakFU5d_rlgRsMZW7ozLUitjmL64a-YXlrg/s400/DSCN1000.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ztJFCP2X8FgGphWeVrFHLxL2WuNwv4hhaW6y5cPFR_GZxoVc5j-rYlnXqv1ffQ75qctNS1cUhhD3EyGwDBu0nJGymmONyDp5q5iaTnpvFp9uclg5gr_wszOlc2JV8VVhAmhMaKjulTA/s1600/DSCN1020.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ztJFCP2X8FgGphWeVrFHLxL2WuNwv4hhaW6y5cPFR_GZxoVc5j-rYlnXqv1ffQ75qctNS1cUhhD3EyGwDBu0nJGymmONyDp5q5iaTnpvFp9uclg5gr_wszOlc2JV8VVhAmhMaKjulTA/s400/DSCN1020.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gJpkMtkXRCRaWskraNgJP6WkQn-VdjvJogf1hl4tG3jGqD5FvDd88xSyueZSZ5vAacaORIrb4rRKoV9Yv0Q83s0_8AIIe1DyUK65PMpxRyitx5rKK4i_wxL1s6K8UJkbZ9q2PD8s97g/s1600/DSC_0600.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gJpkMtkXRCRaWskraNgJP6WkQn-VdjvJogf1hl4tG3jGqD5FvDd88xSyueZSZ5vAacaORIrb4rRKoV9Yv0Q83s0_8AIIe1DyUK65PMpxRyitx5rKK4i_wxL1s6K8UJkbZ9q2PD8s97g/s400/DSC_0600.JPG" border="0" /></a><div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-62049180047809647602011-11-05T21:21:00.000-05:002011-11-05T21:21:27.764-05:003 days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFwSJHYZLAs8N3QXiy0wSuWlZv6odiGX0Z2XvLKWrxoLkiVttUlGmdx8kKxIF2qSvgayVfEtmx1zsJj_JwaQLLDxTOQQQ8c2hyKMUx4BFOq6mBxFi7ra6FbocvLaofoXD1ECpK6vuUCE/s1600/DSC_0500-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFwSJHYZLAs8N3QXiy0wSuWlZv6odiGX0Z2XvLKWrxoLkiVttUlGmdx8kKxIF2qSvgayVfEtmx1zsJj_JwaQLLDxTOQQQ8c2hyKMUx4BFOq6mBxFi7ra6FbocvLaofoXD1ECpK6vuUCE/s640/DSC_0500-1.JPG" width="640px" /></a><br />
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When you are a mom of boys everyday life is filled with super heros, swords, toads, farting noises, and other grossnesses too terrible to mention. I am amazed daily by the new "matieral" of conversation between my boys and how they have somehow managed to begin the training of their baby brother. Laeth has become quite the big boy with an attitude and personality to match. The days of doing things for him are coming to an end quickly as he wants to do everything by himself just like his big brothers. Lately it has been refusing to sit in his seat at the dinner table in favor of trying to bogart either Dave or my seat when one of us gets up. He is cute which most days is his saving grace and the fact that he is the baby...<br />
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All of this would lead me to the brink of losing my mind this past week as Dave left for three days and I was in piloting this parenting voyage solo for the first time since school started. <br />
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Wednesday morning I felt up to the challenge...Friday night I was begging for mercy, a glass of wine, and a handful of Advil. Don't get me wrong the boys were not THAT bad, just the combo of chaos that ensued made me thankful that it was only a temporary thing. <br />
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Wednesday was supposed to be easy, pick the boys up after school and then home...oh wait there was swimming lessons, no big deal...oh and then Kale's fundraiser pickup for school and you had to go into school to pick it up....oh and it snowed that yucky snow that really isn't snow but more like slushy rain, and Laeth has taken to hating anything to do with his carseat and lets just say it's gonna be a long winter with the apparel required and the Laeth man. Thank the heavens for the nice PTA dad that lugged all of the boxes out to my car as my sweet child with horns decided to pull anything he could get his chubby little hands on off and chuck it in the snow....not even 12hrs into this solo thing and I could tell it was gonna be a long 72. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a morning person, so when Thursday morning rolled around and I had to get Kale to school by 8:15, Barett to preschool by 8:30 and the alarm didn't phase me until 8:00...we were in some deep business. Lunch packed the night before(thank God !!), Kale couldn't find his book for library day, Barett lost a shoe, and Laeth refused to keep his socks on...GREAT! So needless to say we were late...something I HATE....I got over it long enough to shop, do some 4 loads of laundry and wrangle up some "fun" dinner. After school we ran a few errands and the boys were over the moon since Friday was teacher in-service day...I now know why parents world wide dread these days...I made an executive decision that night to let them take an extra hour before bedtime 9pm seemed reasonable for bed. In our house the bedtime routine we call the "B's"... Bath, Brush your teeth, Books, and Bed. Most nights it is pretty easy and well respected...that night didn't go so well. After aking, telling, pleading with them to go to bed for atleast 20min and settling into the couch to watch a movie(they had been quiet) Kale broke my peaceful lounging with a scream of terror and panic I have never heard out of any of my children..."MOM COME QUICK HURRY, BARETTTTTTT THERE IS BLOOD EVERYWHERE!!!!" <br />
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I am pretty sure I made it up the stairs in 2 long strides to find Barett clutching his mouth with both hands and blood streaming between his fingers, white as a ghost straring at his hands, Kale hysterically crying, and believe or not, not a drop of blood on anyone's pajamas or the floor. OK so the nurse in me went to work...Kale to his room, Barett to the bathroom to figure out the source of this blood letting. I will spare you all the details as it left me amazed at my stomach strength. The short of it is that somehow in his "playing so mom can't hear me" antics he managed to make himself a blow hole in his chin. Thankfully all is teeth remained in place. After a quick call to our personal doctor on call 24-7(grandpa) I was relieved to find a trip to the ER and plastic surgeon would not be necessary(this time). Thank God because had I needed to wake Laeth up there may have been some alternate blood shed. Well after that little "ordeal" Barett insisted he needed Daddy.. GREAT!!,.of course, why not!? I have no way to get ahold of him, not to mention that previous to this I had prided myself on my 100% injury free single parenting.(Kale split his head 2x on Dave's watch and Barett lost that tooth while I was in Colorado) After some mommy TLC, packing with gauze, and a slowing of the blood loss he finally calmed long enough to let me lay him down in our bed with a towel on the pillow. I thought Kale had gone to sleep, however when I went upstairs to check on Barett, I found them both alseep with Kale spooning his little brother...it melted my heart.<br />
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Friday morning everyone was bright eyed , Kale at 4am, not my idea of sleeping in on a NO SCHOOL day. "OK", I told myslef, "Dave will be home in less than 24hrs, just get through today with no new holes in any of the boys". We ran some morning errands and then landed at my parents for a solid 6hrs, wound up isn't so bad with grandparents to disperse the energy. They eventually laid down for naps and I crashed for an hour on a comfy old and familiar couch. Funny how I felt like I was in highschool again, though I don't remember 2 a day swim practice kicking my arse as bad as parenting boys. Dave came home late afternoon and I had to eat humble pie and acknowledge the tarnish to my record....an OK tradeoff to having to put them to bed, it was a DADDY night, mommy was off the clock for atleast 2hrs;0)<br />
I love my boys but the teenage years to come ...I feel Barett may be bionic by then...Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-30028850711186568492011-10-05T18:13:00.000-05:002011-10-05T18:13:46.555-05:00Projects<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">It seems the work of our house is never done. Blame it on a need for more space, utilizing unused space, or watching way too many home improvement shows. The fact is the boys have a lot of toys, books and games that need a proper home. So with the help of "Papa Bucket" and Steve, we are SLOWLY finishing the upstairs bonus room into the toy room. I suppose dry wall dust EVERYWHERE is a small price to pay for the joy of having no toys strewn about and a place for the boys to call their own. They are VERY excited and happily hammer and vacuum so that the job gets done faster!! Our hope is by Christmas, but this has been an all summer project, so I guess we will wait and see if Santa can deliver:0)</div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZIIM3Sc7Q7XK0Uh_w_jKQlaeTUipRGxtGJhyphenhyphenlhXMCZHw-RRO15bvAPYtktWzxD3lrxC4FEjtqoJSwcW8uinmKs1mVnUDsb2t9XnCmXSOb6NSEu-dp9APzO2eUBlRCS7WqCSPuL3s1FQ/s1600/DSC_0126.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZIIM3Sc7Q7XK0Uh_w_jKQlaeTUipRGxtGJhyphenhyphenlhXMCZHw-RRO15bvAPYtktWzxD3lrxC4FEjtqoJSwcW8uinmKs1mVnUDsb2t9XnCmXSOb6NSEu-dp9APzO2eUBlRCS7WqCSPuL3s1FQ/s400/DSC_0126.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jvRIvgWH3ZiTG7ziXYqCbSS6QV6_KNT5r69HPYJanTywYNSan1O6SrVwnL5WlLkmKoXqGJtrWJ1F8HbhDbzZ2LsyeuehJPPvT40ZtWMbF4ZdD8vgvU6tLeFVGtRsekOD866W3I686vc/s1600/DSC_0127.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jvRIvgWH3ZiTG7ziXYqCbSS6QV6_KNT5r69HPYJanTywYNSan1O6SrVwnL5WlLkmKoXqGJtrWJ1F8HbhDbzZ2LsyeuehJPPvT40ZtWMbF4ZdD8vgvU6tLeFVGtRsekOD866W3I686vc/s400/DSC_0127.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDJJzG_K_pL-BA0O0-8CqRNkJZUk6kyZydgI1wL5Ba3KqQz3FOxUUzKNIh6uDae7OhRSdhm7KiCiwNnB7qiACG2q4SwIZtN30Kh3wFGPGt8f0_y5Gx6fN6wypG5lHqAxg5WwOYOqgLaA/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDJJzG_K_pL-BA0O0-8CqRNkJZUk6kyZydgI1wL5Ba3KqQz3FOxUUzKNIh6uDae7OhRSdhm7KiCiwNnB7qiACG2q4SwIZtN30Kh3wFGPGt8f0_y5Gx6fN6wypG5lHqAxg5WwOYOqgLaA/s400/DSC_0128.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWAQOW3OqNA7w4ExY3KsVMVY71xa-g1WQpD9uUwOfaY9ymChf3auzp7nTg0cy8JanUiQ_DwMcIULQ-7pBF7DcXkTw90DXd7JLIafF_5gQZgu_qKlPlLT8slDVm4jmXPvPf-AMYU2lQF8/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWAQOW3OqNA7w4ExY3KsVMVY71xa-g1WQpD9uUwOfaY9ymChf3auzp7nTg0cy8JanUiQ_DwMcIULQ-7pBF7DcXkTw90DXd7JLIafF_5gQZgu_qKlPlLT8slDVm4jmXPvPf-AMYU2lQF8/s400/DSC_0129.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; 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text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-47512041794270021942011-09-29T12:13:00.000-05:002011-09-29T12:13:51.640-05:00Fall Fun Continues<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLT4H753E0GA0SdyZMtP7S0ybr-tEgbybIyMcCkzImAK6tWlT_y1LWzKIRWx7opYeBy8cDWwmkzSIeb56Jm_aaXmh8FicuZANTserdIuEIWyt_epr9ixmnbQilW21pTZlohzJmKwzrR0/s1600/DSCN0780.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLT4H753E0GA0SdyZMtP7S0ybr-tEgbybIyMcCkzImAK6tWlT_y1LWzKIRWx7opYeBy8cDWwmkzSIeb56Jm_aaXmh8FicuZANTserdIuEIWyt_epr9ixmnbQilW21pTZlohzJmKwzrR0/s400/DSCN0780.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>So given my love and the boys new found love for the season. Tuesday after school we made a trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vala's</span> again so that "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Laeth</span> could have fun too". By the look on his face when we put him in the pumpkin bin, I knew it was going to be a hard sell. We flung apples, tackled the Maze- yes the whole thing!, dived into the corn, and jumped on the pillows. It was a great after school little visit and in the end <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Laeth</span> enjoyed the spoils from the yummy bakery.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O20LZAoIdXoOi9o4ql-whlwEklm2nqJtNUXRqLmz-TWQKz9Xmejc6IEbUkT1q1fqgzJiMtHAnN7rg8WtwktfSkRxnOowrgJ4nAwMI3qRJJNlI4BsCfmutF0pyqZs2PznS9IxKFsIUQ4/s1600/DSCN0781.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O20LZAoIdXoOi9o4ql-whlwEklm2nqJtNUXRqLmz-TWQKz9Xmejc6IEbUkT1q1fqgzJiMtHAnN7rg8WtwktfSkRxnOowrgJ4nAwMI3qRJJNlI4BsCfmutF0pyqZs2PznS9IxKFsIUQ4/s400/DSCN0781.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdqA2RMAaUJsOijhTHP2YddPg0x0sHpTQr9IBd8eBPxdmYyrGM9zM-0OUgGogCfi_Ux48agV3-vqbArtgMQkrbPz6xcjMZWi_Xh-b7vUoaBDvadfQz8B3GadNrbAm8ivxWoEUC83gj0Y/s1600/DSCN0798.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdqA2RMAaUJsOijhTHP2YddPg0x0sHpTQr9IBd8eBPxdmYyrGM9zM-0OUgGogCfi_Ux48agV3-vqbArtgMQkrbPz6xcjMZWi_Xh-b7vUoaBDvadfQz8B3GadNrbAm8ivxWoEUC83gj0Y/s400/DSCN0798.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_uaPT4IkmofrU9ozWci4Ks6255Enb2MDM4P7z43ySZ5R1AlR3E4q2FS9NHVc7DtPIBwUvhPo0aQfHmMBSSdoFZVrqxdpgTZHCEYimew5pGDm8BdvtncYB6hZ2XlijUcDz_GV7OR_qAM/s1600/DSCN0799.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_uaPT4IkmofrU9ozWci4Ks6255Enb2MDM4P7z43ySZ5R1AlR3E4q2FS9NHVc7DtPIBwUvhPo0aQfHmMBSSdoFZVrqxdpgTZHCEYimew5pGDm8BdvtncYB6hZ2XlijUcDz_GV7OR_qAM/s400/DSCN0799.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UGmAMbB-btMbeeVaFjr21H-MDfCDGBZZx7oXl648hAW0veMfIruCMfIQutdBLKoblI4pSf600-hL_Vk4N6mW29RboRSeIqtIhmlEE2DBYJh-B-8Cqb_LnO-k1u8Pi7UP-14C2YwYtVo/s1600/DSCN0805.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UGmAMbB-btMbeeVaFjr21H-MDfCDGBZZx7oXl648hAW0veMfIruCMfIQutdBLKoblI4pSf600-hL_Vk4N6mW29RboRSeIqtIhmlEE2DBYJh-B-8Cqb_LnO-k1u8Pi7UP-14C2YwYtVo/s400/DSCN0805.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Barett</span> decide to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">try</span> his hand at being an ostrich in the corn bin making <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Laeth</span> laugh so hard I thought the child would puke. Funny how it didn't seem to phase B at all that he had corn <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">kernals</span> stuck up his nose, in his pants, shirt and places too polite to mention:0) Boys gotta love em<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8qA27LIms3bxqOZgnHxvyPdG4DluOtCwlwJGW31cm-6d9wGWzxbhJm-U-uWkQVn2X8rBxFTu_yb53P_bW1zZFoA8KnVYktv7ZS5C7m2WqentZbqEQNUGHRZIlzxlrEL2wMeNeMgeNeg/s1600/DSCN0809.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8qA27LIms3bxqOZgnHxvyPdG4DluOtCwlwJGW31cm-6d9wGWzxbhJm-U-uWkQVn2X8rBxFTu_yb53P_bW1zZFoA8KnVYktv7ZS5C7m2WqentZbqEQNUGHRZIlzxlrEL2wMeNeMgeNeg/s400/DSCN0809.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wvCtjdC_plUWrSTz-6pzV3iREqIKMdFchraXghlZarHGv5vfFlCjAe_ATHuavRblcVVX1ve_y_bmjk-l8gqNkb18HJOvDkqe6fmgE3Dq_avLNa4obiNQD8SsqEhCRioIjmR-hLjxvdA/s1600/DSCN0812.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wvCtjdC_plUWrSTz-6pzV3iREqIKMdFchraXghlZarHGv5vfFlCjAe_ATHuavRblcVVX1ve_y_bmjk-l8gqNkb18HJOvDkqe6fmgE3Dq_avLNa4obiNQD8SsqEhCRioIjmR-hLjxvdA/s400/DSCN0812.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Uncle Tom was back for 3 days before deployment to tide over the savage nephews for a few months since he won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Have no fear, no fun was lost and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">plenty</span> was had to hold the boys over until they meet again. It's funny how that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">obnixous</span> little brother I had not so long ago is now the boy's hero and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bestest</span> buddy for playing "bear" and telling scary stories about God knows what. I can claim my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">parents</span> bought him at K-mart on a double discount blue light special day, but the truth is, he is a pretty great guy to have around and I Love him no matter where in the world he is or is going.<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynHUdYhwyARrqSu69O0z7LATC7hkg9OdZ8U5BZn9gsZafO1AWYs0oUxIdaFc47ZJTmASWnveIB1356sPET-EUa8u2sgyHRRMIqRHGgpfQECYSjqflyws3BnXXHTZic0CK-2UQsg7WMsQ/s1600/DSCN0815.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynHUdYhwyARrqSu69O0z7LATC7hkg9OdZ8U5BZn9gsZafO1AWYs0oUxIdaFc47ZJTmASWnveIB1356sPET-EUa8u2sgyHRRMIqRHGgpfQECYSjqflyws3BnXXHTZic0CK-2UQsg7WMsQ/s400/DSCN0815.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-75161829253425166762011-09-21T19:19:00.000-05:002011-09-21T19:19:21.923-05:00Falling for AutumnThe air is crisp and the faintest smell hickory wood burning floats through the windows as the sun sets every night. Hot chocolate, cider and Carmel apples are a staple every day after school...I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR! Football saturdays, lazy sundays and golden fields, I am hooked! I took it upon myself to share my love of fall with the big boys this past weekend and take them to opening weekend at Vala's Pumpkin Patch. It was chilly and misting rain but that didn't stop us from exploring all the new attractions and a few of our old haunts. With a season pass, there is some damage to be done by the Sykoras this year.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsRm5gdewQ1PeSZXKZ82qzT5orXV1uQ2F4OmSMPrSUT02IiYmSILX4sbEVZeyVzXacy8AoEwpHZqEpsoUKKyWXGcRvYRAViCx2C13rdBrBH1EK-ayIQU6RSKh9S9KKW3b9M1hNLXnHpA/s1600/DSCN0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsRm5gdewQ1PeSZXKZ82qzT5orXV1uQ2F4OmSMPrSUT02IiYmSILX4sbEVZeyVzXacy8AoEwpHZqEpsoUKKyWXGcRvYRAViCx2C13rdBrBH1EK-ayIQU6RSKh9S9KKW3b9M1hNLXnHpA/s320/DSCN0760.JPG" width="183px" /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-66255030102572826812011-09-14T14:39:00.001-05:002011-09-14T14:41:56.019-05:00The Walking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/SsydznVhcLI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>And he's off! Nothing is off limits now...Laeth is up and about and taking no prisioners in his new found freedom. The first victim were my kitchen cabinets, tupperware, canned goods, cook books...you name it he has found it and claimed it in the name of Laeth the Walker.<br />
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This video is about 1 month old now and yes it took me that long to figure out how to get it to post so you all could see it<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-32916289531154848212011-08-23T20:32:00.001-05:002011-08-23T20:37:52.002-05:004 for fighting<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0UncZFD3s1Tcs8O7RaSOEcmTtVgTPGVcGkjCiF9RMiBlE01CduRqD1aTe3eU4nQ6rLpcZiAObYRqyk2qlH7vMx2BLS-GTR22zMibEJRQVxKQGA7W2_Pw7E7Xp5PNd6fH0qCEEAnbXo4/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0UncZFD3s1Tcs8O7RaSOEcmTtVgTPGVcGkjCiF9RMiBlE01CduRqD1aTe3eU4nQ6rLpcZiAObYRqyk2qlH7vMx2BLS-GTR22zMibEJRQVxKQGA7W2_Pw7E7Xp5PNd6fH0qCEEAnbXo4/s640/DSC_0184.JPG" width="640px" /></a> </div>Barett turned 4 on Saturday, and as is tradition, we got up and walked to Sunrize Donuts for the ceremonial birthday donut. Kale was beside himself with excitement as this was the very 1st year he picked out and bought his brother a gift all on his own(a blue Power Ranger). What was lost in the lesson of gifting and surprises was that the gift is not for you. Kale thought that as soon as Barett opened the PR that he has been waiting for all year, he would IMMEDIATELY give it up to Kale to play with in leiu of his other toys...WRONG! <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi8kQSsDt-BIOcOoh0lhFC8Dkdv0j8RALeAvzjskPoWA9PMMgXLeLdWVmk1LDZjlNfaqERcCJs0xyg2PzMW0MjWtXhnnn0ts-7hy1iaymbgFXFkFaWf7lGmBZREI6ReoDrb6K-yh3cck/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi8kQSsDt-BIOcOoh0lhFC8Dkdv0j8RALeAvzjskPoWA9PMMgXLeLdWVmk1LDZjlNfaqERcCJs0xyg2PzMW0MjWtXhnnn0ts-7hy1iaymbgFXFkFaWf7lGmBZREI6ReoDrb6K-yh3cck/s640/DSC_0187.JPG" width="640px" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5twNulid-UHpB0L8mCDOoiI1-AjAS3Mu_lrSX1fh77dPW4JH7Pwo9SDp5wjQupKHL1zLljcHL5IXc4s6KzOCq-_d8cmEY4MQJn27Ngimap0Nlgkt8b6JckbbYywNUSGU2g7FqFFfRcgg/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5twNulid-UHpB0L8mCDOoiI1-AjAS3Mu_lrSX1fh77dPW4JH7Pwo9SDp5wjQupKHL1zLljcHL5IXc4s6KzOCq-_d8cmEY4MQJn27Ngimap0Nlgkt8b6JckbbYywNUSGU2g7FqFFfRcgg/s640/DSC_0197.JPG" width="640px" /></a> , </div>Instead, he refused to open any other gifts(PR was the 1st opened) because he wanted to play with his new "guy". After a little bribery on the part of grandma and grandpa, the present opening recommenced and the loot did not disappoint. After icecream cake, the "guys" came out and so did the boys in my perfect little angels (with horns). <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfV0ITdnID8SfcrLyPxc5gsPwRP4Zwq98AEU1jMoxacWgRZha81t5mqlysPCOyil3lGtOYU4xkZcBZP3JYSjJ5Ev-iZ9TadMXEgcuKQD9IBpXb1O7lq2TxdxAOfhYohx4KBqq_88sehY/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfV0ITdnID8SfcrLyPxc5gsPwRP4Zwq98AEU1jMoxacWgRZha81t5mqlysPCOyil3lGtOYU4xkZcBZP3JYSjJ5Ev-iZ9TadMXEgcuKQD9IBpXb1O7lq2TxdxAOfhYohx4KBqq_88sehY/s640/DSC_0267.JPG" width="640px" /></a> <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtBgejccKMYMpOGwMgIgFjjsu0SyzIKTaaewU5zE66Vlwk8jPh39OWu-p9EhCXJg4DsyXBTsuQPInCUetMyR5jVyQsIT6Mb9rHvZH0eott8VlaClhiRN8jJgBGNKQV3XYrZjoWkNqDXw/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtBgejccKMYMpOGwMgIgFjjsu0SyzIKTaaewU5zE66Vlwk8jPh39OWu-p9EhCXJg4DsyXBTsuQPInCUetMyR5jVyQsIT6Mb9rHvZH0eott8VlaClhiRN8jJgBGNKQV3XYrZjoWkNqDXw/s640/DSC_0297.JPG" width="428px" /></a> </div>Somewhere along the line Feway threw a fit in his kennel and required a bath, which Dave so dutiful took care of without so much as a word. My mom confiscated the camera and thus we have this wonderful Kodak moment...man's best friend. <br />
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-60945388705961932402011-08-18T11:31:00.001-05:002011-08-18T11:35:16.542-05:00You know its coming...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So if someone would have told me 5 yrs ago that August 18, 2011 would have been the beginning of my undoing; I would have laughed. I was on top the world with this perfect little brand new baby boy. Little did I know, 5 years later he would break my heart on his first day of Kindergarten looking me in the face with those big blue eyes and telling me "Mommy it's gonna be Ok, Kindergarten is only for a little while". I thought to myself yeah, I suppose it is, but then it turns into 1st grade, 2nd.grade...and before you know it he's off to college. <br />
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Anyone who has been around me lately knows that I have been dreading this day for a while. I wasn't exactly sure how to handle the goodbye, let alone all by myself(Dave is out of town). But we did our best. Up at 0630, lunch packed, last minute school supplies acconted for, everyone packed up into the car and away we went. I warned Barett it was gonna be a "tuck and roll" drop off at preschool since we were running late...and we ARE not going to be late for the first day of Kindergarten...NO WAY! Got B to his class, said a quick goodbye and then off down the road to Kale's new school. I must admit I did alot better than the mom's with the film crew who looked like they got up at 3am to get themselves ready for a hollywood photoshoot. We walked up, talked about remembering the way to the classroom(tomorrow he is on his own-school's request), and asking someone to help him if he gets lost. Finally we arrived at Mrs. Honeyman's Kindergarten class and he was ALL about it. After a few snap shots and a hug and kiss goodbye for Laeth and I, my little man was ready to take on the world one watercolor at a time. <br />
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That should have been the end of emotion and BIG moments, but not for this family. After weeks and weeks of coaxing and pondering whether he was ever going to let go of the push toy, Laeth walked all by himself!!!! We had been reading books on the floor when he crawled away to grab a block. He turned around a looked right at me, stood up, took 3 steps and fell into my lap...have no fear Kleenex will be in business for a while with the way things are going around here!<br />
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Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-29549744347596858692011-08-11T09:54:00.000-05:002011-08-11T09:54:19.940-05:00We Made It!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the summer draws to an end and school is about to start next week, I decided to depart from the routine of pool and park days. I opted instead to take the boys to visit Fontanelle Forest's Ice Age exhibit. It is outdoors with lots of places to run and explore and the boys had plenty of pent up energy to expend before settling in to a school rountine. Perfect combo for a beautiful day. We snagged my dad for a late morning stroll in the woods. Highly reccommend this exhibit for anyone needing a little outdoor time with kids(especially boys). We found spiders, catepillars, and bugs galore. The last time I had been to the forest was on a field trip in grade school, much cooler with children of my own.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8tG02tjfZl268_JpSCAV6LHqFi7688sQppFwhzZDPj830bLE-SEU-ynytrxVKjoXErIMWJgOAhpwcKY0s4dILgKsJTspBN_AyUYbqIU5TNxgCRncBBsl5OoLm9dyFzq4Tm2XubF6PHI/s1600/DSC_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8tG02tjfZl268_JpSCAV6LHqFi7688sQppFwhzZDPj830bLE-SEU-ynytrxVKjoXErIMWJgOAhpwcKY0s4dILgKsJTspBN_AyUYbqIU5TNxgCRncBBsl5OoLm9dyFzq4Tm2XubF6PHI/s640/DSC_0820.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-90052012549214712452011-08-02T17:29:00.001-05:002011-08-02T21:20:19.807-05:00Move Over Griswolds<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBie2BfYooTj5qVx1JJDCayY2Lyht2rkLHxiYhQblM-We8cNYiCtkCQ-9GqsdjTAdvoKq3WcOq8ie8QHbOXNBl2kPZCKPFn1zVNFZQd0imdBOH_Vic4ZdtRy-EvGSDSDynAJ34oKuuEk/s1600/DSC_0880.JPG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JBECSRHNcGUW-zmKCjYxaeoQRH-XqUr-zqNDjPxNutWYAwW5Qavr9n-5l6vvgOh9U_KOxeSm7Sm_9f9mz7qDsIMSSeZnryDjP1hljBZyjt3Iv8HVd7V1H0qDbAiO3ALSNE5P_hGZbsc/s1600/DSC_0550.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JBECSRHNcGUW-zmKCjYxaeoQRH-XqUr-zqNDjPxNutWYAwW5Qavr9n-5l6vvgOh9U_KOxeSm7Sm_9f9mz7qDsIMSSeZnryDjP1hljBZyjt3Iv8HVd7V1H0qDbAiO3ALSNE5P_hGZbsc/s400/DSC_0550.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div>Summer vaction with the family. When I was younger this was a staple in the break from school. Sometimes we drove, once or twice we took a train, but mostly we flew. So, when Dave's buddy decided to get married in Idaho I was on the wagon to fly to Washington and rent a car to drive the 3-4hrs it would take from Seattle. Dave...had other plans, thus began the planning that would become an unforgettable adventure and trials in marriage and family. Originally the plan was 12 days driving from Omaha to Coeur d'Alene and visiting National parks, monuments and memorials along the way. I had every intention of blogging along the way, but with our accommodations being in less than high speed Internet ready spots, this will be my catch up. I kept a mini-log of each day with the highlights to share...Let the National Lampoons Sykora Vaction-Westward Ho commence<br />
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Day 1-Gretna -Denver<br />
When Planning a trip for 5 people, three of whom cannot pack anything for themselves, it is quite the chore. The original plan had been to leave early Saturday morning and make it 1/2 way to Jackson, WY. No dice! I could not get anything in order and hate to be rushed trying to get out of town for 12 days and not forget anything. So Sunday morning bright and early, 5am, we hit the road. The boys did great, and by great I mean we stopped an hour and half into the trip for the 1st of hundreds of potty breaks. They slept for 2hrs somewhere between Grand Island and Ogalalla. We made it to Denver and Colorado Springs by 2pm MT and enjoyed a run/stroll through the Garden of the Gods, Barett found an eagle feather, and we enjoyed dinner with my cousins Paula and Mindy. My brother kindly offered up his house for us to bunk for the night since he was in Omaha. Problem #1-he is 20 something, single, and lives with a bunch of guys in a nice house Problem #2 -all the roomates were gone for the weekend so the air was turned off when we got there ans it was still 80 degrees outside 79 inside. Problem #3(relates back to #1)-No one bothered to take the trash out after they had feast on shrimp tails and God knows what else the night before they all left. What we walked into was a hot box of horrid ripeness! Needless to say I opened all the doors and windows, turned the air on and made Dave take the trash out. Somewhere along the line I called my brother and thanked him for the Colorado Bachelor Welcome! Day 1 came to a close late 2am our time...<br />
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Day 2: Denver - Jackson, WY<br />
With my middle brother as our guide we set out at 7am for Jackson. Our GPS said it would be a 14hr journey which I later came to believe. The day started with our child life line(the DVD players) DEAD! Should have know this day was going to be long. Thankfully my brother's roomate had some doo-dad that allowed us to charge one of them while we were driving so the boys could watch something. Onward we travelled, the boys learned the fine art of roadside "relief" with Uncle Tom(I am sure that bus of church ladies didn't see a thing:0) We attempted to eat lunch at 3 different places in Rawlings, however 12 noon is apparently not the time anyone eats lunch there because NOTHING was open. We opted for a bumper lunch out of the cooler in the highschool parking lot. Wyoming for all intensive purposes was one construction zone after another complete with a lone stoplight in the middle of nowhere. When we finally arrived in Jackson, it was late, everyone was hungry so we opted for the "Garage". Nice restaurant, not kid friendly, way over priced. The day came to a close at 2am again only to wake up at 3am to a buring smell. Turns out the hotel next to us was on fire...GREAT! The fire department was quick and no one was injured....<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfSM7y6eksH1ldrLBwfYtFTCuPS3beCJucdQxg5nVNiuEnl3K7Zlrbnd-kmzSpRbrNY7ZnFPRUGk50Bv-NlErnRLr9iOlmvYcAxXJrV-8b0VbciIRwuv9wCIRpvYNYhVSQaxSu8EQN-c/s1600/DSC_0640.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfSM7y6eksH1ldrLBwfYtFTCuPS3beCJucdQxg5nVNiuEnl3K7Zlrbnd-kmzSpRbrNY7ZnFPRUGk50Bv-NlErnRLr9iOlmvYcAxXJrV-8b0VbciIRwuv9wCIRpvYNYhVSQaxSu8EQN-c/s400/DSC_0640.JPG" /></a> </div>Day 3: Yellowstone bound<br />
Our intention was to get up early and see Yellowstone when most of the animals would still be out....no such luck, everyone was wiped and slept til 9am. Most days this wouldn't bother me, but dammit I wanted to see some animals! Tom left us early heading back to report in Seattle. We arrived in Yellowstone around noon and saw Old Faithful erupt 3x. The boys were thrilled with each eruption but the hike around the geyser basin left them a little...ok alot crabby. The highlight of the hike was the buffalo sitting along side the trail no more than 10ft from us! A dutiful ranger reminded everyone to keep walking, he must have seen my boys before. That would do it for our animal sightings that day...VERY disappointing. We did visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Zone in West Yellowstone(thanks Sage) this was a hit with the Grizzlys and Wolf behind cages at a safe distance. On our way back into the camp, there was a brief and welcomed sunny rain shower that yielded double full rainbows(no leprechauns to be found-believe we looked). <br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Day 4: Teton and Yellowstone</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInRZqsWjyazMcoyw_cno7xQxmBJDPJm010YUFmwx_3rjif2hbpjrpEe0hIKefaQAtxZILbJN5b2bzvKQUYpklNtPIHItbEFNhG9a3MFk-3o4BT3aYbDxxbcxhXapPNeSuwyDiM2znc5k/s1600/DSC_0939.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInRZqsWjyazMcoyw_cno7xQxmBJDPJm010YUFmwx_3rjif2hbpjrpEe0hIKefaQAtxZILbJN5b2bzvKQUYpklNtPIHItbEFNhG9a3MFk-3o4BT3aYbDxxbcxhXapPNeSuwyDiM2znc5k/s400/DSC_0939.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This was the day I will not soon forget. Hiking with the boys we met baby Grizzly. Thank you immensely to the park rangers who descended with lightening speed and shoo'd everyone off the roads and trails within any respectable distance of this little/BIG furry friend. After that little encounter we headed to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the great falls. The views were breathtaking, as was the scaling maneuvers performed by none other than Barett himself. As we readied ourselves for a family photo-op, B took it upon himself to climb atop a ledge with a 400ft drop. As I calmly(as calm as one can be with a child about to fall that distance) coaxed him down and then proceeded to have a major melt down with the Asian tourist contingency watching. That would end any hiking/climbing/out of the car sightseeing we would do at any appreciable altitude for the remainder of the trip. Needless to say there would be no "family picture" taken at the falls and explains why there is a death grip on Barett in the pictures that were taken. What a day it had been already and it was only 10am! We ended up spending lunch in the area of the fishing bridge where we had our first of many encounters with the Bison of Yellowstone . These mammoth creatures could care less if they are in the way of anyone or anything. They lazed beside the road and munched on grass til their hearts and bellys were content. The boys enjoyed this view much more than the bear...I would have to agree. As we wound around way through the northern part of the park I was amazed at how high and steep the mountains became. Being afraid of heights, this was NOT my favorite part. We ended the day in Bozeman, MT with a much needed swim, hot tub and fine meal prepared by Outback (ie the Kangaroo Guys). </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mlc4eYIEA4f9dLyFcDZr6MiE4gsNEWC_A_KaxVoPt11GA24jhcTmmOWaevPRz1dTJbrNVR-sFmpHJrwd_Q95HZsKCYCMYHfyaCHDXaRQQMxgtZVy7Md1_iNRRx2LbT-0oqhawq42D88/s1600/DSC_1009.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mlc4eYIEA4f9dLyFcDZr6MiE4gsNEWC_A_KaxVoPt11GA24jhcTmmOWaevPRz1dTJbrNVR-sFmpHJrwd_Q95HZsKCYCMYHfyaCHDXaRQQMxgtZVy7Md1_iNRRx2LbT-0oqhawq42D88/s400/DSC_1009.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqpc36wT44iXke68ZUkO1dqBfjIm63EFO2kzCzT_rAHJSqfOFWP3SzVrIhyphenhyphenyJ3unXU_XFyHdjlv71mZrEdyztMkey3X3vzqrTFCaD8DgWAXgabT8skGp92bipVD4OVuWgTPCjaRYKOw8/s1600/DSC_1061.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqpc36wT44iXke68ZUkO1dqBfjIm63EFO2kzCzT_rAHJSqfOFWP3SzVrIhyphenhyphenyJ3unXU_XFyHdjlv71mZrEdyztMkey3X3vzqrTFCaD8DgWAXgabT8skGp92bipVD4OVuWgTPCjaRYKOw8/s400/DSC_1061.JPG" /></a> </div>Day 6: Glacier National Park<br />
One thing I learned on this trip was that Montana is by far the largest state with the least amount to see between the tourist traps. Waking up in Bozeman, I being the master navigator inquired to a local how far/long Glacier was away from us..."3 to Billings and another 2hrs after that" Ok so factor in 3 little boys, lunch, half a dozen potty breaks...we'll make that 8hrs. We visited the Missouri River headwaters for Dave's piece of mind. Interestingly enough, it looked nothing like the flooding beast that we had left at home, instead it was a peaceful mountain like stream winding its way through the dusty hills of south central Montana. Bored with the scenery, Dave and I invented a game "how long can we go without seeing another car"-the record stands at 36min(not too shabby). We wound our way through the mountains across an Indian reservation and into St. Mary on the eastern upper half of Glacier Nat'l Park. Dave was determined to drive the going to the sun road which had recently opened for the year due to the record snowfall. Entering the park I thought, no big deal, these roads were no worse than northern Yellowstone...WRONG! We had driven the GTSR backward and the cliffs and valley were on the later half. The highlight of this little adventure for the boys was hands down the group of motorcylcists that had followed us into the park. With only a 2 lane road that wound through the mountains, they were stuck behind us for the duration. As they were still plowing (YES P-L-O-W-I-N-G) some of the roads, we had a few areas to stop and stretch. It was at one of these stops that "the motorcycle guys" let the boys be men and hop on their bikes. I thought Barett's head was going to explode he was so excited. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuuPH5oslIic9Bgi9ZvLjYEkfPLWR2-3u63STPs1aglpxV5x31zIJ8RCjtriMeatdBMWzUo_y4jUfD47Nzff7IeDuPB48A6sWJY4gWC2Iy5LTahdmHJrvUp-qcLMLaxSWkY4zHbPhnN8/s1600/DSC_0166-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="214px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuuPH5oslIic9Bgi9ZvLjYEkfPLWR2-3u63STPs1aglpxV5x31zIJ8RCjtriMeatdBMWzUo_y4jUfD47Nzff7IeDuPB48A6sWJY4gWC2Iy5LTahdmHJrvUp-qcLMLaxSWkY4zHbPhnN8/s320/DSC_0166-1.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4r5QbFc823OU5-ejrNBJhaG7wlKvOMGOiqOBt1jBfnLZaIXZc7ENhhlgX2iHkvkwzrY-6q3JNmkD0km44Tqi6RiE2rnORmhMJVkBFyOFzaTYHKv-3LFghGfJUSEYmliAA2ySz_W2I_nE/s1600/DSC_0162-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4r5QbFc823OU5-ejrNBJhaG7wlKvOMGOiqOBt1jBfnLZaIXZc7ENhhlgX2iHkvkwzrY-6q3JNmkD0km44Tqi6RiE2rnORmhMJVkBFyOFzaTYHKv-3LFghGfJUSEYmliAA2ySz_W2I_nE/s320/DSC_0162-1.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
Eventually we reached the halfway point at Logan's Pass where we had to break out the winter gear and turn on the seat warmers!! The snow there was unbelievable as were the views of the Glaciers and waterfalls. As we began our decent, a friendly Mountain goat took the liberty of greeting Dave with a leap in front of our car!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E1f0b5HTmfFrkdODlY8Z-Eb3iIW2rjJFDJuyd8FlTuk7UEE9Qe5xt0beffVAnmVoeH21gQup8lweHWzUJXlc4nBGLjnw4QBD2fuclRycVerpSvd7T800o148_cfu1Ykup_m-hyDQvnw/s1600/DSC_0823.JPG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoTPt8fctB9Rds444pW5zg0YZ0Wk2PznJe2N8Z0R-BHoCsvnEIoYaVArhNwFmI3AOo1WaDka2K1DIrC6VJTYyluqwf9pOOlvqzUEYtxjh82bgizBQZPjKvusQEMtjOQrs7zUJKgLHRjg/s1600/DSC_0395-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoTPt8fctB9Rds444pW5zg0YZ0Wk2PznJe2N8Z0R-BHoCsvnEIoYaVArhNwFmI3AOo1WaDka2K1DIrC6VJTYyluqwf9pOOlvqzUEYtxjh82bgizBQZPjKvusQEMtjOQrs7zUJKgLHRjg/s400/DSC_0395-1.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 7: Couer d'Alene </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally we made the trek from whitefish to the wedding. We got to the "heart of Alene" a day early for resting purposes. The boys enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the lake and the local Treasure Hunt Trail based on a local book about a Mouse and a Moose-Mudgy and Millie. The night was spent scouting out the FANTASTIC shopping and finding a fun little restaurant where the boys became the chefs and made their own pizza. Mudgy and Millie made a special appearance at bedtime complete with book, plate of warm chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk...YUMMY!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uCy62TnhTNK3z0GsLlnbRZcx4fi7hTmSeWf6m_TcdcQBVKSQump5_q9XKauNKZg332oR1ukIR7AcIPI0vwghbjcZbaDC9UtNBMBoDC5bh-TCjfdw7VKYl5yrqi1_Vx4isa8B__uI7Nw/s1600/DSC_0545-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uCy62TnhTNK3z0GsLlnbRZcx4fi7hTmSeWf6m_TcdcQBVKSQump5_q9XKauNKZg332oR1ukIR7AcIPI0vwghbjcZbaDC9UtNBMBoDC5bh-TCjfdw7VKYl5yrqi1_Vx4isa8B__uI7Nw/s400/DSC_0545-1.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 8: Coeur d'Alene-Wedding day</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Somewhere along this trek west the boys managed to lose my wedding attire, so it gave me a fantastic reason to shop!! Dave and the older boys set out in the morning to go find a place to do the laundry that we had amassed since Denver, and Laeth and I set out for a morning stroll around the boardwalk and lake...nothing like a little mountain air and lake to cleanse the mind and soul for a long night of partying. The shops didn't open until 10am so we had a good little bit of just mom and Laeth time. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Our plan was to let the boys nap until 115, walk the 10minutes to the church for the wedding at 2 and then stroll around until the boat left for the reception at 530. Sparing all the chaos that happened in the interim...the wedding was at NOON! So, you can imagine my surprise and embarrassment when we came up to the church at 5 til two and there was the grooms mother asking where we were sitting in church. "HA you are funny...we are just getting here" The look on her face couldn't have been more serious as I burst into tears! Afterall, we drove no less than 3000 miles to attend this wedding and missed it by 2HRS!!! It became the laugh of the night(we DID NOT miss the boat) as I had checked the invite atleast half a dozen times on the way up and never bothered to check the time- LESSON LEARNED: Never rely on your husband for time of ANYTHING! The reception was spectacular set on the lake. The boys danced the night away. And, when it all came to an end, my shoes, stroller and gift bag got left at the reception(it was a GOOD Night!!)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPkMxuBZ2uabF44w3254Gm5yWAsl6ihE2ItBqm_jcrhS65ufRZwVA8Y-XaSkBOEg5qBogz7UREP_0quinG5i7fEMAOQOikvdtHpsvYcS5fNFegtPYsvHt-pjlC8KF7YVODfroNgymmeM/s1600/DSC_0642-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPkMxuBZ2uabF44w3254Gm5yWAsl6ihE2ItBqm_jcrhS65ufRZwVA8Y-XaSkBOEg5qBogz7UREP_0quinG5i7fEMAOQOikvdtHpsvYcS5fNFegtPYsvHt-pjlC8KF7YVODfroNgymmeM/s400/DSC_0642-1.JPG" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Day 8: Homeward bound <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">It was an early start but we wanted to make it as far as we could across Montona to make the following days drives less strenuous...and so it began the longest drive of nothing to see. We ended the day in Billings at a divey hotel that gave Dave the eebie jeebies...but it did have a waterslide at the pool so the boys were occupied. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 9: Mt. Rushmore and Home</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">After a night of no sleep for Dave this was the landmark day. We started in Montana, crossed Wyoming for 20 or so miles, saw Mt. Rushmore in S. Dakota and hit up Wall drug. At some point Dave decided that he was done...spent...no longer willing to spend another night on the road so he drove 20hrs all told to get home at 5am the next morning. Note north Central Nebraska in a thunderstorm in the middle of the night is a VERY SCARY place! We made it home in one piece...all 5 of us! The next morning we opted to sleep in and spend the afternoon at the pool. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3kDf5vhWo550tQ_7OFtk32_yVuSMSFtH0Et8JWLSwnhh3n7MkoV1tBadN3ug0-nrNKSS54FbwkIskzCApjvNGFPOTQK0xStgildZQZ_rKA19TURnrYjlAFzAUzdrlQQilNZJ9fWlYUQ/s1600/DSC_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3kDf5vhWo550tQ_7OFtk32_yVuSMSFtH0Et8JWLSwnhh3n7MkoV1tBadN3ug0-nrNKSS54FbwkIskzCApjvNGFPOTQK0xStgildZQZ_rKA19TURnrYjlAFzAUzdrlQQilNZJ9fWlYUQ/s320/DSC_0761.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzTQ29QNkPoaeZhWiN0NxERVeskceohNX0VXRUCANdaD6HAgFUJoLs-cR96YECzT6AELzfKQOaJBWx8DH48OYDkcK0qRL0c3Usb-3l61xUIpsehWM7vuN5opAT8vnbo82uwrP58AQIlQ/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzTQ29QNkPoaeZhWiN0NxERVeskceohNX0VXRUCANdaD6HAgFUJoLs-cR96YECzT6AELzfKQOaJBWx8DH48OYDkcK0qRL0c3Usb-3l61xUIpsehWM7vuN5opAT8vnbo82uwrP58AQIlQ/s320/DSC_0762.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR6kWFQG7y3FsgD7x7bZfzaFGF2SHlJosHz5RIWyY3YHC114CaUUTw5XDSS_FgGa1iGacIpwD6egQVvnb3dRv4uMnhtOxj39ykoF2zOL10EYG1582V2marV8CFuJon3GEWIU9H5dWAlw/s1600/DSC_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Warning to all...while I enjoyed this trip...I WOULD NOT reccommend it again for anyone with 3 kids(boys) under the age of 5! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-76548043248423088432011-07-11T16:18:00.000-05:002011-07-11T16:18:40.266-05:00Sunny Sunday Summer<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It seems that the summers go faster and faster every year. As a kid I remember dreading and rejoicing the 4th of July. It was great because it was time with family, but also signaled the halfway point of summer vacation and time back to school seemed to go so much faster after that point. Now it all just flies by! We had our annual 4th party complete with bounce house, slip n' slides, horseshoes, margaritas (mixed to perfection) and lots of good food, family and friends. </div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lO6IMVOkZVk0eEMW4HQ2TXkdlZJq6PIaoRDyTgivqCE5Bp-pYq2PvAK31jNtPs6eh_lOEX_SUHVTEH0END96aPUvaaiQYkVl2sCNhca0L-DIvVdliSxUtaki3YFuWZmcmU23FXKhut4/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lO6IMVOkZVk0eEMW4HQ2TXkdlZJq6PIaoRDyTgivqCE5Bp-pYq2PvAK31jNtPs6eh_lOEX_SUHVTEH0END96aPUvaaiQYkVl2sCNhca0L-DIvVdliSxUtaki3YFuWZmcmU23FXKhut4/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" width="320px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkhSRL1EalJsqyg9uethQctZdrUrVKmZyanRfpv5cxICXXGzl3mNuxnxp-eLhTCwOafhy_jgLbDmOLpE5IDiMN2Y5r8f4n7Vgo3PfsEHsrjtbfx0pTWZISl7yQ7x9dZ2hNlI7wzGhSac/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkhSRL1EalJsqyg9uethQctZdrUrVKmZyanRfpv5cxICXXGzl3mNuxnxp-eLhTCwOafhy_jgLbDmOLpE5IDiMN2Y5r8f4n7Vgo3PfsEHsrjtbfx0pTWZISl7yQ7x9dZ2hNlI7wzGhSac/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I should say the 4th of July turned into an entire weekend of non-stop action. We climbed a hill to become a mosquito buffet, learned the "art" of Polish horseshoes, and spent time learning why NOT to trust people who tell you there is such thing as a "safe sparkler"(no injuries thanks to some quick thinking by uncle Paul).</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Needless to say after that whole weekend of fun we had a hard act to follow and keep little people occupied til the "National Lampoons Sykora Vacation". I feel like we did a pretty decent job, going to the pool at the gym, the park, riding bikes, catching toads(not my idea) and taking walks around the lake. Dave and I have been working pretty oppisite schedules so Sunday was our day together...the 5 of us. Last minute vacation needs tackled, and then off to Grandma and Grandpas pool for a evening swim and deck dinner. Kale perfected his throwing cannon ball. Barett is in the process of learing to swim with his mouth closed. And, Laeth was just content to sit and float, watching his brothers dive for their diving rings. Dave cooked, I became the "launcher" of children. All was well and right for a Sunday night.<br />
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</div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-40549170808592024962011-07-06T15:28:00.000-05:002011-07-06T15:28:01.195-05:00#3 and the BIG 1!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AcWXY7chKVEWSNQFa4ItGaSjbUOassHsXvgGkSZSuUFMgj0tC4KkzKFUfPho1-UnDRZkXP_NlPJRzMTKfdaXSvwUr0HSxvHcNHe96TgE4UeE7y3SEpDlZDn7JdpOVEruWugX25XVLCo/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG"></a>When your baby turns 1 it is a BIG deal. Way back when Kale celebrated the turning of day 365; I was in nursing school, working full time and pregnant with Barett. Exhausted from my life, I had worked the night before and had neither the time or the energy to make him a proper official birthday cake for the day. So, I did the next best thing and stopped at Hy-vee on my way home from work and got him his very first donut....thus was born a tradition in our house of "the Birthday Donut"! Kale's was raised pink and white spinkles for Valentine's Day, Barett's was straight raised with Chocolate frosting, and Laeth had a raised with chocolate frosting and red, white and blue stripes...his brother's had hoped for a flop, but Laeth did not disappoint and devoured the whole thing!! </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4vcoND_9zgCAMmCG16ervvhm9pIRXW4hykkjU0bKUKSAifS2kg9w1fRjfJ-LGnDgpX8EvrrntyStCEgNdODYJbaf0OK9uiaLukBpjx-2g2Awj9myHKmzco8ei4cQbYtdisKpt84DcBU/s1600/DSC_0025-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4vcoND_9zgCAMmCG16ervvhm9pIRXW4hykkjU0bKUKSAifS2kg9w1fRjfJ-LGnDgpX8EvrrntyStCEgNdODYJbaf0OK9uiaLukBpjx-2g2Awj9myHKmzco8ei4cQbYtdisKpt84DcBU/s400/DSC_0025-1.JPG" /></a> </div>Later in the day, with Dave working so much and not knowing when and if he would be able to make it home, we made a smaller demolishing cake. Yet again, Laeth did not disappoint with his food eating antics. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by. It amazes me everyday with what he learns. He is not a walker yet, but makes up for it with his personality and "word slews" which involve "NO" and "DA-DAH" somewhere and when the day has been enough he is the first to cuddle up and say "Na Night". I am so grateful to be the mom to all my boys, but my baby has got me wrapped(atleast for now)!<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiRxqvaZO-wyQ0y-KfEh4JqhcOOIpoJ-aV_6ttg1bplpWyJq7IJI2OzkyOTxhDlS8OYaXY0sZvye5am0tEfoJ6CzUdXmZc5lWtMQjeTUPhyphenhyphenffKRuQGkLrB8U1KBi4ubs4DewXYe6pPCM/s1600/DSC_0048-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiRxqvaZO-wyQ0y-KfEh4JqhcOOIpoJ-aV_6ttg1bplpWyJq7IJI2OzkyOTxhDlS8OYaXY0sZvye5am0tEfoJ6CzUdXmZc5lWtMQjeTUPhyphenhyphenffKRuQGkLrB8U1KBi4ubs4DewXYe6pPCM/s400/DSC_0048-1.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9_34M9oZbtIweG14TRDPaARZWXAPecnqUwKAm8rN9w8rwsQqHc1lg4XrX3K2OgQ0pJNQVo2NbI9M68Ok0-IpHmOJ-A5qSYamUCAaQBJwu7NxQibIbFPypjki2nmsngLQ9LO3UXPG80M/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9_34M9oZbtIweG14TRDPaARZWXAPecnqUwKAm8rN9w8rwsQqHc1lg4XrX3K2OgQ0pJNQVo2NbI9M68Ok0-IpHmOJ-A5qSYamUCAaQBJwu7NxQibIbFPypjki2nmsngLQ9LO3UXPG80M/s400/DSC_0104.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-35441016376569730302011-06-21T23:33:00.000-05:002011-06-21T23:33:48.054-05:007-10Today is over for all intensive purposes but man, woman and child I am wiped! We (the 3 boys and I) ventured to the zoo tempting the skies to downpour, thankfully it did not, this morning. Innocent enough. It was the afternoon that left this mama begging for mercy and someone to tag off to, but alas the mighty Mo has yet again claimed dibbs on my partner in parenting crimes. First it was the naps...the two little ones took them for 2 1/2 hrs(YES!) Kale, however, felt being a "schoolager" he did not need one, OK fair enough I know they won't give him one at school in the fall so might as well phase that one out over the summer(<strong>BIG</strong>...<u>HUGE</u>...<em>EPIC</em> <strong><em><u>MISTAKE!!!!) </u></em></strong>Not only did I not get anything done because he felt like I should be entertaining him, he decided to make an even bigger mess in the melt down that ensued after I refused to let him watch TV and told him he needed to sharpen his mind in quiet time. Once the other two woke up and dinner was served Dave dealt me the news he wouldn't be home tonite so I had to take the boys to 7pm baseball practice(this was at 615pm mind you). No problem super mom whipped into action...baby changed, blanket, stroller, cheerios, sippee cup, dog out of kennel...grass burning pee...dog back in kennel, cleats on feet, baseball bag in car...this was the point at which Kale went MIA around the back of the house only to return in his socks soaking wet..."where are your baseball shoe's I just put on?" In the back in the mud pit that is Dave's regrading project. He had attempted for reasons only known to him and the Lord above, to retrieve his brother's flip flops from another adventure to the very same mud pit. Kid walked straight out of his shoes. So, off I went to rescue the shoes and the flip flops only to become the pit's third victim along with my jeans, flip flops and car keys(multiple choice words flew!) After a quick hosing and explanation why he would not be wearing his cleats today, we were off to practice...or not...the coach decided to cancel 10minutes before start time...guess who is not on the call list! All was not lost yet though, another teammate and his mom did not get the memo either so his dad met us at the batting cages for 15min of hitting practice. (NOTE there is no such thing as batting cages for 4-5y/o boys so we used the slow pitch softball) After I rounded them up from this little adventure home to bath, bed, teeth brushing and books...though this was not their plans at all. After tears on both sides and light bulbs unscrewed(I am desperate) they are down for the count and I am hoping tomorrow is a better day and somehow I can find energy and patience to last another go around.Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-48472378888587324042011-06-16T12:26:00.000-05:002011-06-16T12:26:34.085-05:00Where does he go...?<div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">With all the river flooding, Dave has been spending ALOT of time at work...the boys ask why he leaves so early and comes home late more days than not. I have tried to explain it to them, we drive over the river to show them but I don't think they get it, in fact I was starting to struggle a little with it myself as it seemed that no matter how many hours he put it, the results were the same everyday...water up...levees breeched...people's lives devestated. That was until I saw the behind the scenes stuff...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2RFoJB-wgxM50Zu_rGuAVsrpeMSg4zv0R8dD152WveS3X-1l9-0T251FoDI7GahSQk78Sqd2Cb5DFlSpnZvt887GyZTGTld_TTgIaQ5qy4wFYy9XICYAncvdPsuvoYKxgGtmp3wE_0o/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2RFoJB-wgxM50Zu_rGuAVsrpeMSg4zv0R8dD152WveS3X-1l9-0T251FoDI7GahSQk78Sqd2Cb5DFlSpnZvt887GyZTGTld_TTgIaQ5qy4wFYy9XICYAncvdPsuvoYKxgGtmp3wE_0o/s640/DSC_0038.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb3Oza5OiQqlONF7KjVbnmN4QtVXPMGF7szyYLKavniKft4OUQYGeMvHdfzD1zokw-Y2iuEiuoOm8fHMGdlqK5ozvGYO3XQntlQTwNIN3YNOKTcsOzdQaon0k-fLuE-Ny_DSk3ZwPkGI/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb3Oza5OiQqlONF7KjVbnmN4QtVXPMGF7szyYLKavniKft4OUQYGeMvHdfzD1zokw-Y2iuEiuoOm8fHMGdlqK5ozvGYO3XQntlQTwNIN3YNOKTcsOzdQaon0k-fLuE-Ny_DSk3ZwPkGI/s640/DSC_0041.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grassy area in the ledt(with the trail on it) is the levy to the right is the river way out of its banks and in the distance on the right is Dave's worst nightmare the ground water coming up under the levy ie. with water on the "dry" side of the levy they are at increased risk of failure</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPhCeYloXQbquB0qyfEISo-uz0q3aJN0ur77mRoljA1t740qaF2e9KItVv33NERsZzb09X4vu87YHQmg-u7GriXRFvpW-ZIZdkp6LVjiVtn7dmmu5hn-0mtDkS5zzc0qSGI1FYMSYv1A/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPhCeYloXQbquB0qyfEISo-uz0q3aJN0ur77mRoljA1t740qaF2e9KItVv33NERsZzb09X4vu87YHQmg-u7GriXRFvpW-ZIZdkp6LVjiVtn7dmmu5hn-0mtDkS5zzc0qSGI1FYMSYv1A/s640/DSC_0052.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playground equipment the boys used to play on that had 3 decks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9ttB5p_w5TPRVnV3o7RD4XMYTHkL0Btx8gxBI7Aw_B-0tSykvnlbbQGXkHIBdU6OYovF_QRoGyhyphenhyphenOHgZMD4a74ruL35j8M8DAmIYyI7dDKnqbsfrfy6u4bXQZU1pgVkeXkjGfRPUKRU/s1600/DSC_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9ttB5p_w5TPRVnV3o7RD4XMYTHkL0Btx8gxBI7Aw_B-0tSykvnlbbQGXkHIBdU6OYovF_QRoGyhyphenhyphenOHgZMD4a74ruL35j8M8DAmIYyI7dDKnqbsfrfy6u4bXQZU1pgVkeXkjGfRPUKRU/s640/DSC_0079.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miller's Landing Trail head</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywIlogQjYBrUkU5Pfv_ki8HLtZv4W3NnXSUqwoRsoQwTSpRIvAxjFqR_H4c6zIxoyocTkvM4B48r7ZLoiF1dJtgJb83zOwPlL5OltgpQ4-u-D9hmiPs6aua_yzRa5WVDCxpfJ5EuACgw/s1600/DSC_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywIlogQjYBrUkU5Pfv_ki8HLtZv4W3NnXSUqwoRsoQwTSpRIvAxjFqR_H4c6zIxoyocTkvM4B48r7ZLoiF1dJtgJb83zOwPlL5OltgpQ4-u-D9hmiPs6aua_yzRa5WVDCxpfJ5EuACgw/s640/DSC_0100.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a <strike>little </strike>lot of help from the US military the plant is better protected from the creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MSIckpxNKkIiR5iyGo4O9QMHUNqGoAqF1lf17HB2BaTAj4x8pKbMzqvl9Ofji2m4V9Rgox5cLBxvK7otujf3a_mYvcsccsGSJmIlaZ-vQnC3qWrBtLwUBKa_xMmWLwgf7IO6eNyVcvg/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MSIckpxNKkIiR5iyGo4O9QMHUNqGoAqF1lf17HB2BaTAj4x8pKbMzqvl9Ofji2m4V9Rgox5cLBxvK7otujf3a_mYvcsccsGSJmIlaZ-vQnC3qWrBtLwUBKa_xMmWLwgf7IO6eNyVcvg/s640/DSC_0103.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently this was a manhole that was dry 2 days ago but the river started coming back up through it even after they closed the gate so they had to try and sandbag it to protect the plant from flooding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXaLdtcMDx2FuQw0DBXW_H5_8b2sNAVr30EHxRgobnYcCNy6G2vOTlYkCKv6LiGggd-S4OmP9E7KtO_AIS3KthD3bH7EOm2IPbCt2O7Ux6lif75BP7XB1ZAtYRk7oxgv0tN751D1hsRA/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXaLdtcMDx2FuQw0DBXW_H5_8b2sNAVr30EHxRgobnYcCNy6G2vOTlYkCKv6LiGggd-S4OmP9E7KtO_AIS3KthD3bH7EOm2IPbCt2O7Ux6lif75BP7XB1ZAtYRk7oxgv0tN751D1hsRA/s640/DSC_0105.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exiting the plant onto the levy that follows the papio/missouri</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EVOPHyJCmlNqkvUyAxuJ-EGwBE253pZCpSfSdVW1hmvCEZ6T_s1NH9bvFhRIzIMaMRjqaLv8ZmoB66fNO98HYyqpVQhAiNLPw9gO3xMxkFL3CgTP19jPgduXsNDC7_sLBNMuY1u2PXY/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EVOPHyJCmlNqkvUyAxuJ-EGwBE253pZCpSfSdVW1hmvCEZ6T_s1NH9bvFhRIzIMaMRjqaLv8ZmoB66fNO98HYyqpVQhAiNLPw9gO3xMxkFL3CgTP19jPgduXsNDC7_sLBNMuY1u2PXY/s640/DSC_0106.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't even begin to tell you how many and how far</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU2MTjPxgsAdVgXV4rnJBAqsbLmy6P_YJHnnEAWUMFdnRr1jKkt6s5dBOdE9REpfZML0_cTwG7JPoF25vSxu_WNxmuqp0wwxfRuQfGpAlTC7zUSHKebMuHqItf6HMapauVQzEEjm_YTI/s1600/DSC_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU2MTjPxgsAdVgXV4rnJBAqsbLmy6P_YJHnnEAWUMFdnRr1jKkt6s5dBOdE9REpfZML0_cTwG7JPoF25vSxu_WNxmuqp0wwxfRuQfGpAlTC7zUSHKebMuHqItf6HMapauVQzEEjm_YTI/s640/DSC_0107.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVrEKY7WlMXULuW8_hDl1cLmlMP3LqS9nqpSU-yQW0kCIcV5wWF9obPKpZ1l1z1ekvlL2CIdzrmHa01fg0BkBwYGH8_RuWDJPW-pr7j3O-EYGlhuDmCDEbkby7O5_m-qmT-A2Q_Jz-Qo/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVrEKY7WlMXULuW8_hDl1cLmlMP3LqS9nqpSU-yQW0kCIcV5wWF9obPKpZ1l1z1ekvlL2CIdzrmHa01fg0BkBwYGH8_RuWDJPW-pr7j3O-EYGlhuDmCDEbkby7O5_m-qmT-A2Q_Jz-Qo/s640/DSC_0109.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the papio creek meets the Missouri is normally behind the trees<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqQiCZWtZyej6z2k2hrsikLFhmxvlLs79ZJ0gMIbp-Q9WAPSzIYMajXRRe6ojRrrYxIEuDySvy53jq6qsz9-6in6IxO3fwQxAl6f2B-6wLjaXhechOSbqDfJX5Nfz31tfsG2BN4QTc4g/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqQiCZWtZyej6z2k2hrsikLFhmxvlLs79ZJ0gMIbp-Q9WAPSzIYMajXRRe6ojRrrYxIEuDySvy53jq6qsz9-6in6IxO3fwQxAl6f2B-6wLjaXhechOSbqDfJX5Nfz31tfsG2BN4QTc4g/s640/DSC_0134.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave's Family cabin...the bottom of the windows are about chin height on me and the water is a lttle bit above that from what we could tell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExuu3RLWwVmsTYJPURd4Riu2DWZDTza6u-fbS3xx6v2OWcXyqKP22RpDhvByfSawx_hsY7F79pbfVhLd6QEuw5KIhq93lHetrGyn7DXeBh2avy55hz6Ay53JHhkhHcEkxyVNm1JUxIdQ/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExuu3RLWwVmsTYJPURd4Riu2DWZDTza6u-fbS3xx6v2OWcXyqKP22RpDhvByfSawx_hsY7F79pbfVhLd6QEuw5KIhq93lHetrGyn7DXeBh2avy55hz6Ay53JHhkhHcEkxyVNm1JUxIdQ/s640/DSC_0140.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The way back right in front of the grass is the main channel of the Missouri, this used to be a road for boat access that you cannot even see anymore</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dfEi0gIhE5WY-e8JdyaFzydanKZgsSIGFWrezOO5FtkKqQHM4Hq6GPeb7q_-d9x5_w77dblZ_m8_Qmq2Dn8X8Bd2xz7_LZ4tHuHiEXXLP9JPznSJOziHZbrBny9DsCppT_YBRc2v0iE/s1600/DSC_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dfEi0gIhE5WY-e8JdyaFzydanKZgsSIGFWrezOO5FtkKqQHM4Hq6GPeb7q_-d9x5_w77dblZ_m8_Qmq2Dn8X8Bd2xz7_LZ4tHuHiEXXLP9JPznSJOziHZbrBny9DsCppT_YBRc2v0iE/s400/DSC_0141.JPG" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxZYszEo7etolySOd_wUc6Lbxmn1Ngv_2srop6RJ2hWHus94mTLep9tA1AOnXgtPKJ_XEJfjuJdU6rW-7PPHPE7uxOLaED5qaiDa1lC9RPMZ0tnG0Bla2j30mrhu2mQUiweDnQOqmHLw/s1600/DSC_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxZYszEo7etolySOd_wUc6Lbxmn1Ngv_2srop6RJ2hWHus94mTLep9tA1AOnXgtPKJ_XEJfjuJdU6rW-7PPHPE7uxOLaED5qaiDa1lC9RPMZ0tnG0Bla2j30mrhu2mQUiweDnQOqmHLw/s400/DSC_0142.JPG" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Night</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-48507549005168811822011-06-13T15:12:00.001-05:002011-06-13T15:22:31.823-05:00KC 24Life has been pretty crazy lately in the Sykora house, so this past weekend we have been looking forward to for awhile...a quick weekend trip to KC for an old friends wedding with the two older boys and then a MUCH anticipated visit to Schlitterbahn(aka Oceans of Fun on crack!) To save time and readers eyes these are the highlights:<br />
1. Detained by the US military at Dave's plant(Dave's Fault)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIs2ve2iFfVK5coeRE6yNT9MKL1rZ5tfxtg_dYXkgy5rXM8l55zWUyOujsnVWJAd_5WgncUr2uJa0lqRlD3azZ4ckUkRJiKIaPhDpfRzheH3BQR5wjsXK6AQrDGl1zjPwlekawnuiIgM/s1600/DSCN0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIs2ve2iFfVK5coeRE6yNT9MKL1rZ5tfxtg_dYXkgy5rXM8l55zWUyOujsnVWJAd_5WgncUr2uJa0lqRlD3azZ4ckUkRJiKIaPhDpfRzheH3BQR5wjsXK6AQrDGl1zjPwlekawnuiIgM/s320/DSCN0510.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. Rescued a woman pinned between two vehicles at the hotel (Emergencies seem to find me :( Side note, woman OK just a deep tissue bruise and a very apologetic husband(not mine...HERS!)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. Barett creamed me in the calf with a whiffle bat at the first, and only time I presume, I will witness whiffle ball being played at a wedding</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 4. Dave was literally attacked by red fire ants in his pants...not so funny but the events that followed were quite amusing to the unknowing spectator...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All in all a good little weekend getaway and practice for our next BIG adventure into Big Sky Counrty with all 3 boys...Stay tuned</div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-33730026400810934972011-05-31T16:42:00.000-05:002011-05-31T16:42:23.434-05:00Memorial Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRizqw-1-Ccc1EoX_7Df-P6F2huKXwNjtjvHoqmGQuj98vRb4EbBvohfbs3pEQGz0qARybtZzOEb8JQCApPWy4NznKtiaGqGiUq9XQedFLOmJcWMYOA49VEmvDSf5pMGjesr3wMiiz_I/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRizqw-1-Ccc1EoX_7Df-P6F2huKXwNjtjvHoqmGQuj98vRb4EbBvohfbs3pEQGz0qARybtZzOEb8JQCApPWy4NznKtiaGqGiUq9XQedFLOmJcWMYOA49VEmvDSf5pMGjesr3wMiiz_I/s320/DSC_0385.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div> Kicking off summer in style...the boys thought it best to put on their trunks and make the side yard into the slip n slide fun zone...let the fun times roll. Fenway spent his time jumping in and out of the water and had to have his shock collar turned up as his "stop and don't run over the kids" filter needs a little fine tuning. Amazing how the boys get along so much better when there is water and minimal clothing involved.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEpgdN2B7QYVSDiUJ-6STNTPeRlzjkvsyCDMq15PmhNeE61b7EUysumTVO7Nj0fmI1rrMe9-GXJHFSoD1z6qCHtnauONdFUUdNiyCpfyjKSrsE1NsQqBJp6H0QHmVB4TbvmTFAyoDSqA/s1600/DSC_0393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEpgdN2B7QYVSDiUJ-6STNTPeRlzjkvsyCDMq15PmhNeE61b7EUysumTVO7Nj0fmI1rrMe9-GXJHFSoD1z6qCHtnauONdFUUdNiyCpfyjKSrsE1NsQqBJp6H0QHmVB4TbvmTFAyoDSqA/s320/DSC_0393.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaGo7NvwVFZ5SM8_FiEL0nSS5QU7OEaCqdP_T9MZX64HaMpb_I7WbOW0-loOGyEiA-6oAqkdIn-C84ZTGZxcLl23kDrhhyqHzBWjHcYHT4LbyhtAIRmrRf3tRKpsLHhvBl3rSxa2wtMU/s1600/DSC_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaGo7NvwVFZ5SM8_FiEL0nSS5QU7OEaCqdP_T9MZX64HaMpb_I7WbOW0-loOGyEiA-6oAqkdIn-C84ZTGZxcLl23kDrhhyqHzBWjHcYHT4LbyhtAIRmrRf3tRKpsLHhvBl3rSxa2wtMU/s400/DSC_0423.JPG" t8="true" width="400px" /></a>Laeth was unsure of the grass as it was his first "voyage" into the green yonder....Never fear big brothers to the rescue with their big dump trucks just the right size for a little brother to ride in! I am not so sure Kale and Barett know that they may have created a monster and will be pushing him around in the trucks all summer:0) He LOVES everything about these trucks and squeals with excitement when Barett makes the "BEEEP BEEEP" and "VRRRROOOM" noises</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2vSzUf7tsfPWQI-BDsehp7DirIZjUBbTL0XBoHBijYu7bSb1hVQMVdxV07L1Rk0WHFSezbgMRHe_IjrZ5rMYYWQRs8bGjpplJPo08dIAvrc58yFzUo96FORWtxRBqmRkxBHDCIGrhek/s1600/DSC_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2vSzUf7tsfPWQI-BDsehp7DirIZjUBbTL0XBoHBijYu7bSb1hVQMVdxV07L1Rk0WHFSezbgMRHe_IjrZ5rMYYWQRs8bGjpplJPo08dIAvrc58yFzUo96FORWtxRBqmRkxBHDCIGrhek/s400/DSC_0478.JPG" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></div>Laeth was unaware that this was the drop off from the dump truck ride...I guess not everyone was so excited about the slip n' slide! <br />
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***NOTE****<br />
He was rescued very quickly after this shot was obtained for the memory and blackmail purposesDave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-74356106091109332162011-05-25T09:11:00.002-05:002011-05-25T09:22:31.374-05:00Daily remindersSo now that Kale is graduated from preschool; we have decided to keep all the boys home this summer rather than leaving Barett in preschool/daycare for the summer. Have no fear those of you who fear for my sleep the days I work, I have reprieve on Mondays and Fridays from the grandmas...God Bless them! Yesterday was my first full day with all three and I have to say it went smooth. Zoo in the morning, naps, projects(gotta have them) and then outside. It was the outside part that provided the most entertainment. The boys favorite past time is to flood the sandbox, much to the dismay of their father. Yesterday was especially entertaining as Kale went to go fill his bucket with water and found that the ground squirrel that makes his home in our down spout had other plans(scaring the @&$* out of Kale). Well in the mayhem the poor chipmunk fell in our window well along with the four resident toads...right away the boys smelled adventure...what I smelled was not so clear at first, a waft of trouble?...trip to the ER for rabies shots and a broken limb?...or was it pure side aching laughter to come? They decided it best to get out the squirt guns and "bathe" the toads since they were "getting dry"...that was mission #1-harmless. What happened next is a blur as it has taken me this long to organize what I witnessed from the sliding glass door...<br />
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The little neighbor girl, and unassuming accomplice to all things involving Sykora Boy adventure, Mallory, came over to see if she could play. Kale and Barett right away had to show her their "capture". Kale informed her that he was going to head a rescue mission for the chipmunk and she and Barett would be in charge of the toads...oh here we go....Mallory off to her garage to retrieve her fishing pole, Barett to ours to find his "baby pole"(ie his fishing pole with no reel) and Kale rummaging for "something to grab em". All returned, Mal with her fishing pole, Barett with his, and Kale with a net(not too shabby). Mallory inquired which chipmunk had fallen in, Alvin, Simon or Theodore? Kale without skipping a beat told her that it was their cousin the spotted African Chipmunk...WHAT!?!? This made me giggle, where does he come up with this...onward...more of a jumble....there was a bucket brigade to help the toads swim to the top-BUST...laying the poles at an angle in the hole for all the creatures to climb up-BUST<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">....somewhere in here Dave came home and muttered something about the car...I was glued to the window with Laeth watching little minds explore and problem solve...then it happened, I looked away for a moment to be attentive to Dave's rant...next thing I know Mallory is screaming like only little girls can, Barett is swinging his pole like a baseball bat (nice cut I might add) at the net that Kale is wildly swinging in a helicopter type motion..."Oh no way" I thought....OH YES! Dave to the rescue! Mind you this all happened in mere seconds but it was like slow motion to me...Kale has caught the chipmunk in the net and now it was stuck, Barett wanted to hit it out of the net, Kale just wanted it out, Mallory was OUT and the poor chipmunk may have suffered permanent brain damage from all the violent movements! Dave took the net from Kale and <strike>walked</strike> ran the net complete with chipmunk, fishing pole, 3 little masterminds and a curious and hyperactive dog across the street to the open field to liberate the prisoner...according to Dave it took a moment, but happy to be alive, the African Spotted Chipmunk ran for his life...presumably never to return to the crazy house! I have not laughed so hard and so long in I cannot remember...reminding me...in a house of all boys this is only the start....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCKu0QnM35TYqLCb0p86fm669ftlse-qrjFZo25CpJtQ48TtgoFQJLDXmp2y4pnybQSc3W_0mNTmMoeZgp_AnMNs7WokODMY1kZkGKpkVyx38L2OqKKw5Ny0MjaEbA_MsprM2-6XZIfM/s1600/DSC_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCKu0QnM35TYqLCb0p86fm669ftlse-qrjFZo25CpJtQ48TtgoFQJLDXmp2y4pnybQSc3W_0mNTmMoeZgp_AnMNs7WokODMY1kZkGKpkVyx38L2OqKKw5Ny0MjaEbA_MsprM2-6XZIfM/s400/DSC_0329.JPG" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-57946721566245675832011-05-22T08:33:00.000-05:002011-05-22T08:33:52.193-05:00As Promised<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFtxbYW_9KP2E3PXdokAKCr7-GhBwqHOS_GPmMRfd4Uh4HbtJTpjvMR4qB0KKGQHTg1R7hTHlS3srvvTScgs6xtE8LW34XoidrPslqqNifKVenhwzhl7jxqAkVLh308ITTCclwC3UiGA/s1600/DSCN0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFtxbYW_9KP2E3PXdokAKCr7-GhBwqHOS_GPmMRfd4Uh4HbtJTpjvMR4qB0KKGQHTg1R7hTHlS3srvvTScgs6xtE8LW34XoidrPslqqNifKVenhwzhl7jxqAkVLh308ITTCclwC3UiGA/s200/DSCN0432.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div> Some of these pictures will speak for themselves and then the others explainations will be left in Vegas for the alcohol and atmosphere has erased any memory that I would have of them:0)<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAi8SvMeALhzLqpffMtWUSMaJzZHyV7V-QfBTx7I3ZnB_VDqH3EMjUbf6QEPFYoDKuedbMxHwqxz1EzNOvWRW0eeK0gq6s798F5jCzPxzVhSn4Gorec8fVRYWb1j3Ty_qM1xYGuKIrl8/s1600/DSCN0448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAi8SvMeALhzLqpffMtWUSMaJzZHyV7V-QfBTx7I3ZnB_VDqH3EMjUbf6QEPFYoDKuedbMxHwqxz1EzNOvWRW0eeK0gq6s798F5jCzPxzVhSn4Gorec8fVRYWb1j3Ty_qM1xYGuKIrl8/s640/DSCN0448.JPG" width="640px" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCTC8uwBji8uuT58nVNiMBLOcAqHzp7ZoZB4gynPwntKL30PWOBxK6ybzNlS4yxL9bXI6pEJnpn9h55Xl4YXMMAVLIx8VtklO0hGvIe5z81GFXkTmFAHGgWJlq-R3zZfdyFrh2ZjwRUQ/s1600/DSCN0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCTC8uwBji8uuT58nVNiMBLOcAqHzp7ZoZB4gynPwntKL30PWOBxK6ybzNlS4yxL9bXI6pEJnpn9h55Xl4YXMMAVLIx8VtklO0hGvIe5z81GFXkTmFAHGgWJlq-R3zZfdyFrh2ZjwRUQ/s640/DSCN0450.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S8HVbCHZUGgZ1uLyA-WbHJkCdVUYqxWeNhF5UKxlnKy2t-5zodqvtn11axrua2pqcXfw1mBoVEo_eI1arsp6I2LSMt9tPBda787GvHQ6JIC7PGoGcS_ZlG0n-sFpuiPUSONmvhEWRYw/s1600/DSCN0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S8HVbCHZUGgZ1uLyA-WbHJkCdVUYqxWeNhF5UKxlnKy2t-5zodqvtn11axrua2pqcXfw1mBoVEo_eI1arsp6I2LSMt9tPBda787GvHQ6JIC7PGoGcS_ZlG0n-sFpuiPUSONmvhEWRYw/s640/DSCN0427.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-31346340684410305682011-05-19T23:40:00.002-05:002011-05-21T03:37:22.141-05:00All sorts of emotion<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy9K8CpkAcM5_EB7j_kqr0ch3JokA9yj2vPm9TaYweCtj8gpS5WkiEEPDq0HaMhHFRnPK0Gyo9SJdReJKlEnfYyDgAt3QeF4Bu4JDRHWeMts97U07FDXtBv2aPm_dFN4FKVHR7dMxQ64/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy9K8CpkAcM5_EB7j_kqr0ch3JokA9yj2vPm9TaYweCtj8gpS5WkiEEPDq0HaMhHFRnPK0Gyo9SJdReJKlEnfYyDgAt3QeF4Bu4JDRHWeMts97U07FDXtBv2aPm_dFN4FKVHR7dMxQ64/s320/DSC_0180.JPG" width="214px" /></a> Kale graduated from preschool today ....my 4lb baby dressed in a blue cap and gown complete with tassel and diploma...the class of 2011 and I was a teary eyed mess! He looked so handsome and grown up I couldn't help but think that this is the beginning of a 13 yr whirlwind of homework, tests, sports, girlfriends, cars, long nights of worry, early mornings of practices...right now you think I am crazy but I could see him graduating high school in the same blue just a little taller and with his amazing brain so much more full of knowledge. It is amazing how becoming a parent I have become so much more emotional than I was at my own graduation. Granted I don't remember my own preschool graduation, but I would venture to say that my parents had much the same swell of emotions and fears. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsV9TDCi4bln9rnJs3EqRXDGpmlG2B8tu0YED4lBVMRbrUiniNJiDAfcvOZ4O6zoKKESaUBPLEGna4CXbdFeJWgzp5ZopFXEi1YOWXPiS4D6yFBg8NOWpoZp4qZzQqmrHN_70_ssop6M/s1600/CSC_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsV9TDCi4bln9rnJs3EqRXDGpmlG2B8tu0YED4lBVMRbrUiniNJiDAfcvOZ4O6zoKKESaUBPLEGna4CXbdFeJWgzp5ZopFXEi1YOWXPiS4D6yFBg8NOWpoZp4qZzQqmrHN_70_ssop6M/s320/CSC_0309.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vtE27SjaHMFAnJKUaDTkcUySR7_0_WPRRVSe_XffcqoCTEveddSV6SXaGG4JYFXK8q1Ap___kUE_MGJyqBVrsYCONulMPp9U0ghmfr8PUvqPshgSF8Dq4dtquKQFqGJ4xtwkA6_2Seo/s1600/DSC_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vtE27SjaHMFAnJKUaDTkcUySR7_0_WPRRVSe_XffcqoCTEveddSV6SXaGG4JYFXK8q1Ap___kUE_MGJyqBVrsYCONulMPp9U0ghmfr8PUvqPshgSF8Dq4dtquKQFqGJ4xtwkA6_2Seo/s320/DSC_0303.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably the last time Dave will be able to lift Kale up when he's <br />
wearing a cap and gown!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5Yrmic5IK-n8Roblb1JcQoZFhzv-gdzlgyYHUOGxX5tobyZVeZHPgH-WkxWCdmUwKeNuC3nb5TwV-AOlGHh-XorIzNaK7hJ3_d31QZMSfc8tSW2K4CnJLadRCz9fZpqbWkqq-mULXc4/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5Yrmic5IK-n8Roblb1JcQoZFhzv-gdzlgyYHUOGxX5tobyZVeZHPgH-WkxWCdmUwKeNuC3nb5TwV-AOlGHh-XorIzNaK7hJ3_d31QZMSfc8tSW2K4CnJLadRCz9fZpqbWkqq-mULXc4/s320/DSC_0202.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kale and his buddy Jackson...2 days apart in age 2in in height</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpRWk2GLl3EgcPFinDdfNO8shZTdIAtGp7MHzkqVIqVR_2UAANu1pko8TyhqpFEJfvpft8DHyrad2hvzabqQSBvqurZMcbX494ffBfS5S-yeBiqShjmJpdiyvS_9kUxtgUk8RCrUUOYo/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; height: 214px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 300px;"><img border="0" height="214px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpRWk2GLl3EgcPFinDdfNO8shZTdIAtGp7MHzkqVIqVR_2UAANu1pko8TyhqpFEJfvpft8DHyrad2hvzabqQSBvqurZMcbX494ffBfS5S-yeBiqShjmJpdiyvS_9kUxtgUk8RCrUUOYo/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Those Sykora Boys</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In other news from the house of blues...just came up with that thank you very much:0) I visited the real House of Blues in Vegas this last weekend with a girlfriend from work...Vegas is so much different than it was when I was 15 and not able to gamble. Biggest disappointment...the weather was 60's and low 70's and windy the whole time we were there...epic fail when you stay at the hotel with the best pool and you have to hit the gift shop to buy a sweatshirt to check the pool out! All was not lost though, David Copperfield did not disappoint with his mastery of illusions, we drank with true coyotes at the "UGLY" bar and walked the whole strip in search of a pirate sword for my little swash buckler Barett. Kale did not lose out either with a chameleon puppet and frog hat from the Rainforest Cafe. Pictures will follow soon. It was a nice little break for 3 days and I came home to my house clean and kids alive in one piece...props to my hubby! </div> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Family</td></tr>
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</div><div align="right" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4453792351647447435.post-26293831329882716322011-05-02T18:23:00.010-05:002011-05-02T19:00:40.637-05:00Babies Marching?Time flies when you are having fun...Laeth is 10months old! He is busy BUSY! He is so close to walking and the two black eyes from the past week prove his heart is a little ahead of his feet!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTG9JAnSUoFhVvmXUDQQeEmatYeikqebcIj_KAi_mulWVjAT4KVpIommhdjRfagZwTAk9kGfZoeBaNESayayQ22EyHasS9k9iKcPcV2a5B2y5Tkj-cJlJv7PQ6oyxhVlRfJUBJpXpda0/s1600/DSC_0038-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTG9JAnSUoFhVvmXUDQQeEmatYeikqebcIj_KAi_mulWVjAT4KVpIommhdjRfagZwTAk9kGfZoeBaNESayayQ22EyHasS9k9iKcPcV2a5B2y5Tkj-cJlJv7PQ6oyxhVlRfJUBJpXpda0/s320/DSC_0038-1.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday we marched for the babies...much to the dismay of Kale and Barett, there were no babies high stepping it with a "parade marching stick". It was a great day to be out and about and I think the highlight for them was being able to feed the horses at the barn. I however enjoyed seeing one of my "old" babies and watching Kale squeal like a little girl when the horse actually got close enough and took the grass out of his hand...the picture does not due the moment justice.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFIfO4tmJOmYSex_0U7-NfhlpKm0qh0GkzaCtqgSs93aj7SgXpMEpw86V0izy0teX6GFn0fhaT7JYs6XSltJszLj9yCR9toPp9c-BbvKMReuijCqaPEdcZ4KNuvmmCCkY9cXuxVc8VEw/s1600/DSC_0069-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFIfO4tmJOmYSex_0U7-NfhlpKm0qh0GkzaCtqgSs93aj7SgXpMEpw86V0izy0teX6GFn0fhaT7JYs6XSltJszLj9yCR9toPp9c-BbvKMReuijCqaPEdcZ4KNuvmmCCkY9cXuxVc8VEw/s320/DSC_0069-1.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi2C5xH-LycoOMJ36EfI7iccILxRUoFyHAsMHlvImjIzw8mpNxOjYEmXJoB4Hcf_4junZNrM0kMa7P2SaUoUomttYgo3z8_1p3oXSSoTZaqdQAJ8DrO31ExAyuDYk5T667pwGPfc2joo/s1600/DSC_0076-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi2C5xH-LycoOMJ36EfI7iccILxRUoFyHAsMHlvImjIzw8mpNxOjYEmXJoB4Hcf_4junZNrM0kMa7P2SaUoUomttYgo3z8_1p3oXSSoTZaqdQAJ8DrO31ExAyuDYk5T667pwGPfc2joo/s320/DSC_0076-1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m8Qj4jcRXXSrUKHWEBkz2mvZLsIWfEoJMYjNIL7Ae45NbxOr03TWMSQ5rw5xXpsSc7Yrl-pKefw9Cu8hq2icJsCjBflV8kazny30eZQmXmb_y2uKbYRTv_b2JxvLwM6uqJxK645aOTg/s1600/DSC_0075-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m8Qj4jcRXXSrUKHWEBkz2mvZLsIWfEoJMYjNIL7Ae45NbxOr03TWMSQ5rw5xXpsSc7Yrl-pKefw9Cu8hq2icJsCjBflV8kazny30eZQmXmb_y2uKbYRTv_b2JxvLwM6uqJxK645aOTg/s320/DSC_0075-1.JPG" /></a></div></div>Dave, Helen, Kale, Barett, Laeth, and Seganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18307809260343578655noreply@blogger.com