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"If you spend the majority of your days in the company of babies, toddlers, tweens or teens, then your happiness will be directly proportional to your ability to laugh often and enjoy the chaos. The child-rearing years, in particular, are meant to be hectic, playful, and fun!" -Rachel Campos-Duffy
Thrivent Financial sponsored a Pumpkin Patch outing the 1st Sunday in October. The weather was great! They had a yummy picnic lunch. Then, we went on a hay ride pulled by workhorses, rather than a tractor. They even had two bounce castles that Braeden, Preston and Laken spent the majority of time in. Then, each of the kids got to choose a pumpkin and we even got to take home a plethora of gourds and mini pumpkins.
The first Saturday in October, we attended my cousin, Nicole's wedding. The kids are loving these weddings gigs and behaved so wonderfully. They got many a complements as other cousins did not do as well. Clara enjoyed the yummy wedding cake.
My cousin Bryan and I. Bryan is Nicole's brother and was an usher. He and I are were born weeks apart and shared many a family birthday party together.
My Grandma, Mom and all the Sistas
My sweeties and I.
Clara and Nama bustin' a move. The kids, once again, had a blast dancing at the wedding. We even got to perform our signature family dance at some of my cousins request. The photographer even captured some pics of the kids out dancing. Speaking of the photographer, they had all their wedding pictures back one week later. Amazing!
So, how awesome are Terry's shoes! The wedding color was Red. Now I've since fun brides shoes, but never anything sweet like this coming from the Groom.
Brad was able to take Miss Clara to her 9 month appointment. Lucky him, she didn't need any shots. They finally measured the little knob on the back of her head that she has had since birth. Dr. Clubb brought in another Dr. and they came to the conclusion that it is either a sebaceous cyst or a high lymph node. All which are benign. They documented the size so we can continue to monitor.
Her stats are: 28 3/4 length 84% 18 11 oz weight 45% She is long and lean.
What we adore about Clara: * She has threatened to walk all month, four being the most steps she's put together at a time. * She can do the sign for milk * She gets upset if Brad doesn't come and pick her up when he gets home from work. * She loves real babies and baby dolls. * She adores her huge easter chick. * She loves her siblings. * She likes to clap and jump. * She likes to jump. * She's still a pacifer and blankie girl.
Clara woke up at 1:30 am on Sept 25th and had soaked through her pj's. She did not have any pj's in her drawer. I contemplated putting her in a onesie, but decided she should have pj's instead. I walked down to the laundry room to retrieve a clean pair and "squish". Our carpet was soaked. I was pretty petrified, because I didn't know where the water was coming from and it was raining sheets outside. Turns out our sump pump stopped running.
We quickly got Clara all situated and then, Brad and hauled everything thing we could out into the garage it took us until 6 am to do so.
It took us quite some time to get everything that was ruined hauled out. Not only did we have to deal with our own mess, but Brad had to worry about his office, too. I'll tell you I have definitely learned through this all that we live in the best neighborhood and have such caring friends and neighbors. I don't know what we would have done without them. Neighbors brought us food, helped us rip out carpet and padding, borrowed us fans and hauled out soaking wet carpet and padding. They were truly amazing! This is what we were left with.
It took the city FOREVER to pick up our pile of flood damage goods. But, it was interesting to watch the process out the window when they finally did. Laken was upset by it, because a doll Terry Kujawa gave her got ruined and was hauled away.
This fall Preston played hockey in a 3 on 3 league in Kasson. The rink is actually run by Howie, a Former UWRF Men's Hockey Player, so he had a soft spot for our Pudge. Pudgie loved finally being on a "team".
We were selected by Houseparty to host a Star Wars The Clone Wars Premiere party. We requested everyone come in costume and they obliged.
Laken's friend, Ava, even dressed as Princess Leia.
They sent us a dvd of the making of the premiere and an action figure board game. We held a tournament and Jacob was the winner.
Jacob in his awesome Darth Maul Costume. Then, they all watched the Premiere. The boys had such a blast and are requesting that we do it all again next year.
Our family was asked to be in a video as part of our church's building campaign. We didn't need to say anything in it, just do different things and our hands our featured a lot. The ironic thing is we filmed it the day I learned of my grandpa's passing, so it just felt so peaceful being part of this project. Place close attention and see if you notice us or our hands in the video below. It gives me goosebumps and leaves me teary-eyed every time I watch it.
At 8 months Clara is learning new tricks. She crawls in, out and up on anything she can. She loves to climb in the dishwasher.
She is often has a visitor in her crib in the morning. Laken still thinks Clara is her real life dolly.
She weighed in at 17lbs 6 oz. Then, we got to experience another new illness from her (1st RSV), Roseola. She broke out from head to toe in a rash. I don't think there was anywhere it was missing. And, it must have been really itchy or painful because she was exhausted, but could not get comfortable to sleep. After getting the diagnoses, Dr. Clubb had has put Calamine and Hydrocortisone cream on it. Also, she had us alternate motrin and tylenol. Apparently Roseola starts out with just a fever and then, after the fever is gone. A couple days later the rash appears and that is exactly what happened with Belle. She didn't want to eat either and was done to 17ibs at the doctor's office. She keeps us on our toes.
Braeden, Preston and Laken had their 1st day at their schools the day after Labor Day. Braeden entered his last year at Washington Elementary and in Mrs. Melcher's 5th Grade. He ran for Student Council President, but was unsuccessful. It was a hard lesson in how sometimes people treat these things as a popularity contest and no who may actually do the best job. There were tears. But, on the positive side one of the other 5th grade teachers, Mrs. Hawkins complemented him on the speech he gave and told him he should be in theater. This year Preston is going all day to 1st Grade for the 1st time. He is in Miss Stolpa's class and was accepted into a program called lopping. This means he will have Miss Stolpa and all his classmates in class again next year. Being in school all day is really tiring business for Pudge.
Braeden was a proud big brother helping his brother get on the bus that morning. Last year the bus picked Pudge up in the afternoon right at our door, so this was a new experience for him. So, is school hot lunch. And, boy is it expense when you feeding two of them lunch. I can only imagine the bill for all 4 some day.
Laken is in Mrs. Kingland's 4B class at Trinity Nursery School. She loves her teacher with poofy hair and all her friends as many of her classmates from last year are in her class this year, too. She is working hard at learning how to write the letter "k".
The following week, Little Miss Clara had her 1st day of baby ECFE. Some of her classmates are: Heidi, Marty, Zeke, Cole and Nora. We love going each week to sing, play and have mommy talk.
The first Saturday in October, we attended my cousin, Nicole's wedding. The kids are loving these weddings gigs and behaved so wonderfully. They got many a complements as other cousins did not do as well. Clara enjoyed the yummy wedding cake.
My Grandma, Mom and all the Sistas
My sweeties and I.
Lucky him, she didn't need any shots. They finally measured the little knob on the back of her head that she has had since birth. Dr. Clubb brought in another Dr. and they came to the conclusion that it is either a sebaceous cyst or a high lymph node. All which are benign. They documented the size so we can continue to monitor.
This is what we were left with.
This fall Preston played hockey in a 3 on 3 league in Kasson. The rink is actually run by Howie, a Former UWRF Men's Hockey Player, so he had a soft spot for our Pudge. Pudgie loved finally being on a "team".
At 8 months Clara is learning new tricks. She crawls in, out and up on anything she can. She loves to climb in the dishwasher.
Braeden, Preston and Laken had their 1st day at their schools the day after Labor Day. Braeden entered his last year at Washington Elementary and in Mrs. Melcher's 5th Grade. He ran for Student Council President, but was unsuccessful. It was a hard lesson in how sometimes people treat these things as a popularity contest and no who may actually do the best job. There were tears. But, on the positive side one of the other 5th grade teachers, Mrs. Hawkins complemented him on the speech he gave and told him he should be in theater. This year Preston is going all day to 1st Grade for the 1st time. He is in Miss Stolpa's class and was accepted into a program called lopping. This means he will have Miss Stolpa and all his classmates in class again next year. Being in school all day is really tiring business for Pudge.
