Creighton

 
 
 
 
Just a few pictures from the past month or so. Haven't taken any pictures since last weekend so I thought I would put up a few from days gone by... 

Vandals

The first call I took this morning was from the Fire Department. They are doing an investigation trying to determine who the idiot was that burned one of our local playgrounds. I just can't imagine why someone would think burning down a playground was enjoyable. There was a lot of hard work and money put into our local playgrounds a few years ago and I am just disgusted that someone would do this. I guess to look on the bright side, it wasn't someone's house and no one was injured. It still sucks.

Never Fails

It never fails...when I decide that Creighton has been sick enough that we should finally go to the doctor, he starts to feel better. I made the appointment this morning after he woke up still feverish and vomiting. And of course, by the time we got there at 3pm this afternoon he was acting pretty normal, temp was down and he stopped vomiting. Of course they did the check up and came to the typical conclusion of "it's a virus. it will run it's course. if not, call us back in a couple of days".

Next time maybe I will make the appointment on the first day he is sick. It seems to do the trick every time :)

Love Who You Are....

Someone will always be prettier.

Someone will always be smarter.

Their house will be bigger.

They will drive a better car.

Their children will do better in school.

And their husband will fix more things around the house.

So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.

Think about it. The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.

And the most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children.

And the richest woman you know, she's got the car, the house, the clothes....might be lonely.

So, again, love you.

Love who you are....




Remembering to love me and my circumstances.....

(Thanks, Nikki :)

Hi Ho...Hi Ho...

It's to the doctor we go. Creighton is still getting some high numbers on the thermometer so we're headed to his doctor in Iowa City today. I have a feeling it will be one of those visits that they check his ears and his throat and then tell me it's just a virus and there is nothing they can do for him. I hate that...

Still sick

Creighton is still sick today. More fever, started vomiting. Just plain yuck. Not a very pretty sight around here tonight. Can't wait to see his precious smile again.

Still praying that he gets over it quickly and Colby stays healthy. Better head to bed and sleep while I can.

Sweet Little Maddison

 
This is my sweet niece Maddison. Another miracle child that this family has been blessed with. A little tumble and a broken collarbone last night....

Thinking of you tonight little Miss Maddison. Hope you start feeling better real soon. Love YOU!!! 

Just One More

 
Mackenzie and Creighton whizzing by on the four-wheeler. 

Unanticipated Day Off

Unfortunately there are times when an extra day off from work isn't so great. After a full and active weekend, Creighton woke up about 3:30am crying and had a 103 fever. I was so suprised that it hit him so fast. He went to bed feeling fine.

I called his daycare and several of the kids are sick with the same thing--fevers, headaches and a few are vomiting. Hopefully, Creighton kicks this fast and Colby stays healthy.

UGGGHHHH!!!

I feel like I have just lost my best friend.....I can't get my pictures to load onto my computer. I am sure it is something simple. I just have to figure it out. I love technology when it works perfectly. Tonight I am just a bit frustrated with it...to say the least.

Grass is always greener......

 
Yes, this is our "little" puppy Lizzie. She has grown a ton and so has her sister Lucy.

Lizzie sticks her head through the fence and cries to get in the pool with the kids. Poor puppy. 

More fun and games

 
 

Colby had a great time spending the night with Mackenzie. It sounds like they did lots of girly stuff...right up Colby's alley. I guess they weren't quite ready to part ways so Mackenzie came out to swim at our house this afternoon. They played in the pool and watched a movie. Now were going to order pizza and probably call it a night. So thankful for Mackenzie and her willingness to play and interact with the kids in all their little games. 

Too Short!

 
Creighton is not tall enough to go on the big slides at the aquatic center. That just drives him crazy because he LOVES waterslides. So he was pretty sad a couple of times today when Colby and Mackenzie went to ride the big slides. I felt sorry for him as he splashed around by himself in the shallow area. I just happened to be taking this picture when he noticed Colby and Mackenzie coming back to play with him. Pure joy... 

At the pool

 
 
 
 

The kids had a great time at the pool with their cousin Mackenzie. They shared a lot of laughs, splashes, slides and snacks. So glad we got to spend the afternoon together.

It is 7:30pm, Greg is working, Creighton is in bed and Colby is spending the night with Mackenzie. It is way too quiet in this house. What am I going to do with all this time to myself. Time alone is something I long for at times, and then when I get it I realize it is not so great afterall. 

Hide And Seek

 
 
 





Creighton: "Mom, let's play hide and seek.
Mom: Ok.
Creighton: Come here, and I'll show you where I'm going to hide.





I'm not sure he quite has the concept of hide and seek. Although he did find a pretty good place to hide--emptied the toybox, got in and covered up with a fluffy kitty. 

Tonight

Off work at 5pm. A quick stop at Blains. Home at 6pm. Clean out Creighton's drawers. Replace with new clothes purchased last weekend. Clean out Colby's closet and drawers. This takes quite a bit longer than Creightons did. Replace with new clothes. She has enough clothes to outfit an entire family--looks like I went a little overboard with the school shopping :) It is now 8pm. Supper is cereal and applesauce--kids' choice tonight. I skip it altogether--I can stand to miss a few meals anyway :) The kids are ready to rest on the couch until time to head upstairs.

It's 9pm and I am going to tackle the kitchen and the rest of the laundry. Not sure where I will put it all once it is done. I think I need more closet organizers. Tomorrow's project.

Won't see Greg until Thursday. Bummer.

Stop to smell the petunias...

(I liked this picture in color too, so I thought I would add it)
  

Gramma Kaalberg

I am finding myself turning into my Gramma. I am doing, saying and eating things that only she taught me.

This week I have: #1-ate a green pepper with peanut butter on it #2-yelled at the kids to "get in or out, you are letting flies in!" and #3-found myself posted in the kitchen with a fly-swatter killing flies and then cringing with disgust when their guts squish out.

I have thought of her with delight on each of these occassions.....I have a feeling that next I will be re-heating the same cup of coffee about 50 times after continually forgetting it in the microwave :)

August in Iowa

 
You know it's August in Iowa when several meals per week involve ears of corn. I personally find it too messy, but the kids enjoyed picking and eating the corn they grew in the garden. Of course I got to shuck it and cook it....maybe thats why I don't find it as enjoyable as they do :) 

Lovey

Creighton's "lovey" has been a significant part of his life since he was just a couple of weeks old. Lovey is a soft little blanket in the shape of a giraffe and has a stuffed head and tail. It was received from my Uncle Tom and Aunt Linda as a gift when Creighton was born. He slept on it when he was an infant and as he grew older he snuggles with it, hugs it and wraps it around his head as he sleeps. We even had to buy an extra Lovey to take to daycare for naptime. After forgetting his Lovey there a few times I decided that I didn't want to be responsible for dragging that thing back and forth every day.

It was very cute when he was little to see him so attached to his Lovey. Little did I know that 3 1/2 years later we would still be hunting for Lovey when it's time for bed! A couple of weeks ago when he stayed all night with my parents he woke my mom up in a frenzy because Lovey had fallen out of bed and he couldn't find her--a very scary moment for Creighton :)

My kids have always been pretty set in their bedtime routine. If something doesn't happen just exactly as it should they have a difficult time settling in for the night. Creighton's routine includes Lovey being laid a certain way on the pillow so that he can grab it, roll over and have it wrapped around his head in just the right way. Just about any time you find Creighton sleeping he will have his Lovey so perfectly wrapped around his neck.

It is difficult to find a good time to wash Lovey. A few times Creighton has told me, "Lovey STINKS"! But of course when it is time to give Lovey "a bath" (in the washing machine:) Creighton doesn't deem it necessary. He has cried at the washing machine and refused to put it in the dryer. Not to long ago Creighton was outside playing and discovered Lovey hanging on the clothes line. I believe he considered that to be Lovey abuse and mom should go to jail for THAT!

And of course, Colby has thought on occassion that it would be fun to hide Lovey and see how big of a fit Creighton will throw as he searches for the love of his life. Not funny, AT ALL!

Lovey has gotten a little worn in places and is kind of dingy even when freshly washed, but overall Lovey has held up pretty well considering the heavy use.

Greg is thinking it is about time to break him of his Lovey. I think it's OK if Creighton wants to take Lovey to college....