Off the Bucket List

Over Memorial Day weekend my brother, James, was digging a drainage trench in his yard to help keep water out of his basement. We didn't have anything going on, so we decided to make the trip to Burlington to visit. Much to my surprise, he had rented this "Digger". I have always wanted to drive one, since playing on those sand toys when I was little. So I can now check it off my bucket list. I had so much fun. I wasn't very good, and it's pretty complicated to get it to do what you want, but I did it! (Check out my face. Total excitement!)
I even drove it up over the curb.

I attempted to pick up some dirt.

I only succeeded in picking up some sod. OOPS!

Paigey helping remove some extra dirt.

I love the tongue sticking out.

She was filthy by the end of the day.

Snuggles with Papa for nap time.

With her Uncle James.

Answers. . .Finally!

Well, I finally broke down and took Alaina to the Dr. She was fever free yesterday until she woke up from her afternoon nap with a 102.5 temp. I had truly thought she was over it. Then, when she woke up this morning with fever, I decided that she did indeed need to be seen. I'm so glad that I took her. Turns out, the poor girl has double ear infection. The good news is that she is such a laid back girl, that I don't realize she is in pain with ear infection. The bad news it that she is such a laid back girl that I don't realize she is in pain with ear infection.

Alaina-
When you read this, please note that Mommy loves you and I'm so sorry you had to suffer for 3+ days with ear pain before I took you in. Thanks for being such a great girl.

Are you for real?

Alaina's sick. . .AGAIN!!!! Seriously, I'm going to lose it. She has had fever since yesterday morning. It has gotten as high as 103.1. She also is really croupy sounding. We didn't have a horrible night. She just got up a couple times with the fever reducing meds wore off. The poor girl was burning. I didn't take her temp then, just gave her more meds. I feel so bad. It hasn't even been a week since her last virus. I don't know what the deal is. She must just be super susceptible to illness right now. We are running the vaporizer on her and she seems to be handling in pretty well. Oh, just to have healthy kids for a while.

Dancing Queen?

So this is how Paige wanted to go to dance today! Lovely!

The New Pool

It has been so nice and so warm here the last couple days, that I decided to get out the new pool my Aunt Lu gave the girls. I had to call Mark to figure out how to use the air compressor. The pump for our air matress didn't have a fitting small enough and there was NO way I was going to attempt blowing it up myself. I might have a lot of hot air, but not that much. It's better for both Paige and I to have something to do. If we are cooped up in the house together for too long we just start to get cranky with each other. This is why I love warm weather.

The poor girl had just slipped and fell in the pool. She got a little more wet then she was anticipating. And then no sympathy from Mom, she was too busy snapping pictures.
But she recovered and had a good time still. (Look at that quad muscle. The girl is lean!)
"No Mom, no more pictures!"

Thanks again, Aunt Lu, for the fun pool and the Barkers for the fun swimsuit! (By the way, Alaina was napping during the fun.)

Random Pics

Attention Cruisers. . .

We are planning on going on a cruise sometime next winter(without kids) and would love to hear about your experiences. What did you like? Not like? Cruiseline? Did you book through an agent or online? Any information you would like to share or think would benefit us in our planning would be great. Thanks!!!!

Trip to Kansas

We decided to go to Kansas after all. The girls did a great job travelling the 8+ hours it took us to get there. We were all ready to get out of the van. This carriage was my Grandma's when she was a little girl. She told stories of my Dad pushing my Aunt around the farm in it when they were little. I remember playing with it when I was a kid. I just love family history.
Just all hanging out.
Paige ADORES her Great Grandma and really enjoys listening to stories.

Great Grandma gives the BEST backrubs.

My crazy girl getting a foot massage from her Great Grandma.

Paige talking to her Great Uncle Bob.

Alaina and Great Grandma Vigneron

Alaina thought she was big stuff crawling up on the stool. Her Great Aunt Nancy Riley is in the chair behind her.

Here is Paige "hiding" behind her Great Aunt Lu Laswell. My cousin Corey was "looking" for her. He was so good with her.

Paige playing with the new graduate, my cousin Aaron Laswell.

Paige had a great time playing with my cousin Corey. He was so kind to her. It was so fun for me to watch them playing together. Whenever my cousins weren't around, Paige would ask, "where'd the uncles go?" They are around the same ages as my brothers, so I she thought they must be uncles, too.

Here we are doing what we do best. . .sitting around chatting. From bottom Left: Aunt Nancy Riley, Stacey Riley, Grandma Vigneron, my Mom (Nana), Aunt Lu Laswell, Aaron Laswell, Uncle Bob Laswell, and Cameron Laswell.

Alaina with my cousin Stacey Riley.

Me and the girls with their Great Grandma. If I look a little worse for wear it's because I got around 2 hours of sleep the night before. We were at breakfast in the hotel right before we were going to head home. Alaina refused to sleep anywhere, but laying on top of me. You just don't really get any sleep that way. She would scream if I tried to put her back in the pack-n-play, tried to lay her on the bed beside me, if my mom would try to take her. She didn't want to eat or drink. It was just miserable. I couldn't decide if she just didn't feel good, or if she had gotten an ear infection on top of it. As her mom, I just had no idea what to do. And I was ready for her to be home in her own bed.

Four Generations: Me, Alaina, my Grandma, Paige, and my Dad

The trip home went well. Alaina slept a lot of it. Hmm, I wonder why. We were ready to be home. I'm still not sure if she really did have Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. I never saw any more blisters in her mouth and she didn't get any on her hands or feet. But I prayed that she wouldn't, so I should probably thank God for answered prayer and leave it alone. I had a good time, minus during the nights. It was so good to see everyone. Congratulations on graduating Aaron! I'm so glad that I got to be there. We hope to see everyone again soon. I love you all!

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

So when we picked Alaina up after the Sesame Street Live show, Emily said that she had a fever. I felt so, so bad that I had left her with them sick. I truly had no idea before that. Bad Mom!!! This was Wednesday night and Friday morning I was going with my parents to Kansas to see my Grandma and other relatives. I thought I should call and take her in on Thursday just to see what I was dealing with. I thought for sure the Dr. would tell me she had an ear infection. Nope. . .the ears were clear, but she did see a couple blisters in her throat. The Dr. thought she was just starting Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. It sounds worse than it is, but apparently it is super contagious, they run fever for a few days and get a blister-like rash in their mouths, on their hands, and on their feet. There is nothing you can do besides keeping them comfortable with Tylenol and Motrin.

Well, now what am I supposed to do about traveling. The Dr. said it is a childhood disease, adults shouldn't catch it and I could go if I wanted. After talking it over with my mom, we decided to risk it and go. I'll let you know in my next post if this ended up being a good idea or not.

Sesame Street Live

Mark won tickets to Sesame Street Live on the radio. We thought it would be fun for Paige to take a friend, so she got to bring Hannah and Ellie Isaacson. (Greg and Emily kept Alaina.) The girls were soooo good and waited soooo patiently for the show to start.

The production was excellent. I was surprised that they truly had all the characters there, even Dorothy and Mr. Noodle.
Paige kept giving everyone hugs. I think it was really a special night for her.
It was so much fun to watch their little faces take it all in. They were the perfect ages to go.

They were just glued to the stage. And I did take the opportunity to deck Paige out in all her Elmo clothes and clippies.

Paige wanted to sit on my lap for most of it. I have to admit, I kinda enjoyed it.

The girls had to give the show 2 Thumbs up.

(And for those interested, I decided to grow Paige's hair out for right now.)

MOPS Picnic at the Park

I finally remembered to bring the camera to the park. It was a beautiful day for a picnic. The kids really enjoyed being outside. For those of you who have an opinion, I'm planning on chopping Paige's hair off tomorrow. . .into a bob, so no more pigtails. But now that she can do pigtails, I'm having second thoughts. I like her with short hair and she hates to have her hair done, so short would be better in that regard. But how cute are her pigtails?!! Oh, I just can't decide.

Fun on the tire swing.

Paige rolled down the hill about 10 times. Oh to be that young again.

This little girl was telling Alaina and Lauren a story. They were very interested in what she had to say. Little Alaina sat so content in the stroller. I truly couldn't believe that she was my child. It was wonderful!

Paige building sandcastles with Jaclyn and Abby.

Kim pushed the kids on the tire swing for about 2 hours. Thanks Kim!

This kiddos clockwise from bottom: Ausin Anderson, Jaclyn Pitcher, Aubrey Miller, Paige, Jenna Uden, and Abby Anderson

They had a blast!

I did get Alaina out of the stroller to swing. She loves it.

I just think that face is hilarious.

My happy girl!