Wow 2 whole years!!!

I can't believe it's been 2 years since I've posted on here. So many things have happened I don't even know where to begin really. I won't lapse back too far but just try to stay current on what's happening now.

Sometimes I get a little freaked out about putting pen to paper and documenting too much since once it's on the internet it's always on the internet lol. I figured if I couldn't hold ALL of my memories here I wasn't going to document anything at all but to hell with that...I'm writing it all down!

Since my last post our family has experienced some big changes....so here we go!

Dennis & I - well let's see, what are the big milestones? I think bullet points are best haha


• Dennis started working at his dads garage in order to prepare taking it over and running it when Big Norb retires
• I quit Kohl's just recently and decided to embark on another adventure with United HealthGroup (Optum). So far I'm loving it!!!!
• We have moved out of Union Grove/Waterford to Franklin. Funny how this worked out but the landlord is the dad of one of Abbie's ex-boyfriends. Shortly after we moved in there, they broke up lol. Talk about a little awkward!
• Dennis and I became Beach Body Coaches and have started on a our healthy happy journey. It's a slow process but all good things come to those who wait right? At least I keep telling myself that.



Waiting for the concert to begin

• I finally got to see Kenny Rogers in concert! Man if you know me, you know I love my Kenny to the ends of the earth! It was the most amazing concert :) Tears were shed, songs sang, more tears....truly a gift to see him in person. He's such a funny person and so genuine, exactly how I hoped he would be.

Looks great for 78!

I loved that he worked in jokes and all kinds of life stories. Can you believe he has 11 year old twins? WOW




• We celebrated our 20 year anniversary in June. I have so much to say about this. I'm so in love with this man that its a whole body experience. I think I'll make a post just about him!

We had a lot of fun that night. Originally I had all these plans but when it came down to it we did very few of them and just enjoyed spending some time together. Went to dinner and then went home where we're most comfortable!






 

This was on our way to the races in Sun Prairie - it was fun and of course the kids were being dorks!

   


Norbert
     Norbert started college last year at UW-Platteville as an Animal Science Major. He's ultimately hoping to go to Vet School in Madison. He's currently in his Sophomore Year and has really turned into this fantastic grown up man. I don't know how this happened or when but WOW he just amazes me with his confidence, perseverance, and drive. He's got the work ethic of his dad and works 2 part time jobs in addition to shadowing at a local vet clinic and taking 18 credits...he's a busy guy!
     He still has a huge love of the outdoors and does anything involving hunting & fishing. That is a bond I see growing larger everyday with his dad....I'm pretty sure this make Dennis very proud lol.

Norb at the Farm

Back to school

Still loves cooking

 Abbigael
     Abbie also started college last year (in January). Things were pretty rough for her during the end of her Junior year and into her Senior year. There was so much drama with her so called friends and it was pretty scary emotionally for her for awhile. After much conversation we decided the best thing for her was to graduate early and head to college right away. Now I'll be honest, I didn't know if she was going to go! She really wanted to take a year off but finally decided to give it a shot. To my surprise she also chose to go to UWP (much to Norb's dismay) and blossomed hugely that first semester.

Graduation Ceremony



 

    There were some challenges with her being 17 and in college. There were so issues with her roommate but I will not go into that at all...that's for another day! Maybe I'll do a post all about college FAQ's. This semester so far started out great! She's moved in with a roomie that she picked last year and they get along well. She's happy to have her independence and make her own decisions. She's also started dating a very nice boy, Jordan. He seems to be good for her and they have a relationship like nothing she has had before. Makes me a little nervous because he's a lot like Dennis.....is this the forever one?!
    Sometimes when I'm talking to her I hear myself speaking...she's so much like me it's scary! She's still got her goofy side which you'll see from the photos, I hope she never loses that! She's really growing into a beautiful woman and I'm just so proud.

 



   

Abbie's 1st tattoo

      

Abbie & Jordan

                       

















Drake

1st day of HS

8th Grade Graduation

Drake has stared High School....WHAT? WAIT? THAT HAPPENED WHEN? Where does the time go? I really never thought about him being in high school....seriously thought he would just always be 10 lol. This past year has been rough on him with the move. We gave him the option to stay at his current middle school or transfer to our district school. He chose to transfer and here's the kicker, he chose to transfer because the academics are so much better in Franklin and he wanted to get ahead! Who makes that decision at 14? I know I wouldn't have!!!
     He finally made some friends and although it's not many he has a handful so that's good. The first day was pretty nerve racking...I mean this school is huge, I've never seen a school so big! He seems to be doing well so far expect having to wake up at 5:30 am to catch the bus in time. He'll get used to it!

Day after surgery

     One of the biggest things to happen to Drake this past summer was an emergency appendectomy. Wow that was pretty scary! He went through it like a champ and is glad that will never happen again.

As Time Moves On

Well here we are at the end of April and again so much has happened. This year is just flying by in the blink of an eye-does that always happen when you're kids get to a certain age? I feel like the older the kids get the faster the time goes by and that I'm missing out on so much :(

Most recently we have had a couple of big events -

Norbert turned 17 in March. Wow I just can't believe how grown he is now and can actually see his maturity level rising daily. He makes me so proud I constantly want to burst into tears lol. Not only is 17 a huge milestone but he has accomplished so much this year. He's starting to look into colleges for his chosen career of Veterinarian. He is actively involved in his animal classes as well as FFA (Future Farmers of America). He was just elected FFA Office - Sentinal for next years Waterford Chapter...what a great stepping stone for him. He's also been shadowing/interning at a local vet clinic to get hands on experience. This is a great thing for his resume as well as college application. I just can't get over how focused he is on making his dream job a reality. I could go on & on & on but that is what's happenening in the world of Norbert right now.



Accepting his award

 

Norbert w/his award

 

Norbert w/his certificate



Abbigael just turned 16 this month and wow that was big. Not only was it her sweet 16 but also her golden birthday. Now is where this will get long lol.

So she was pretty set on having plans for this bday since it was so special but what she didn't know was that Dennis and I had a surprise party planned for her. This has been the most stressful 4 months of my life keeping this a secret. About 75 people were in on the secret and 10 close friends that were actively involved in keeping her mind tied up elsewhere to keep her off the trail. At times I thought she knew but her face told it all when she walked into the hall and realized the party was for her. It was so wonderful to see so many friends and family together in one place and catch up with everyone. We all had a blast and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I won't post all 200 pictures here like I did on FB - I'll try to pick the most special ones. The best part of the whole thing was seeing everything come together after all the planning. We made 2 photo booth backdrops and set up props (so much fun!), we had a candy buffet...the talk of that was the enormous sugar ball pictured below, and we also had a lighted cake table for the majestic cake! Thank you to everyone who helped, came, and just made this day so special.



Setting up the homemade photo booth - masquerade theme!
Ashley took 2 white plastic tablecloths and taped them together
She then took black card stock and taped that to the tablecloth in a diamond pattern
After printing several black/white masks she cut those out and taped to cardstock
The finished product looked fantastic and was huge hit!



Yellow & White Candy Buffet
We had so much candy! The center piece of the whole table was the sugar ball
I bought the largest styrofoam ball I could and after 2 bags of dum dum sugars (306 to be exact) you have a finished ball
I was not able to place sugars in the bottom because they kept falling out. I would suggest floral foam for this as it grips much better!. We had rock candy, sweet tart ducks, gummy penquins, gum balls, mango gummy bears, popcorn balls, sixlets, unicorn pops, smarties, and lemon heads.
www.candywarehouse.com has the best custom candies ever
halfnuts.net in the Milwaukee area is great for those old fashioned candies



Cake table w/lights
I took a table w/white table cloth and hung white lights around the table w/tape
Placed yellow glitter tulle for effect and cake on top. Looked so beautiful once the lights were dimmed.



Bailey, Dawn, Abbie



Serious family photo

Drake hasn't really had much going on other than school and video games. He seems to either be playing Xbox or games on his Ipod. I guess that's the generation but it would be nice if he'd play outside a bit more too. I know the weather hasn't been the greatest but we've had a few good days lol. He is getting excited for football which we sign up for next month. Can't believe that all starts in August again!!!! He is still the ham is always was and continues to make me laugh daily with his antics.

Dennis is working a ton of hours - that never changes. It has finally hit me that we are starting to do more for ourselves now that the kids are getting bigger. Although we both still work very hard I feels like Dennis is doing more things he wants to do and I get to invest more time in my books & crafts. It feels nice to be able to take vacation days for myself and not have to save them all for kids sick days.

Spring break was a blast! I took the week of to do a tour of the Milwaukee area sights that we've never seen. We had so much fun discovering local history and partaking of being a family. Other than our overnight trip to the Dells (curtosey of a good friend Ms. Jackie Lee) Dennis went to everything with us. By weeks end we were all pretty tired so it was nice to have a couple days just to relax before going back to work.  

Pabst Mansion Tour

Chula Vista w/bff's

Jelly Belly Factory Tour

Serpent Safari



Serpent Safari



Rainforest Cafe



Sprecher Factory Tour

Our next adventure won't be until October when we embark on our cruise to the Bahamas with the whole family! I can't wait for that to happen...and with our family you never know what small wonders will arise!!!

So bad at this!

I started this blog as a memory keeper for all of the daily things my family goes through and mostly to keep intact thos especially funny moments that I don't ever want to lose sight of. The problem is I'm so darn busy and some of the funny stuff makes me want to go back and document everything that happened before this. There are not enough hours in the day to make this happen so I do the best I can. It's been year since I've posted anything and there is much to catch up on so here goes.

• We have moved! It's been a wonderful year in our new home and I couldn't be happier. We love the area, the people, and the schools. The kids have finally all adjusted and have impressed me with their new choice in friends, involvement at school, and dedication to making this work. Don't get me wrong, the first few months were absolutely horrible for Abbie! Drake is constantly lonely since he has nowhere he can walk to. Norbert is bored most of the time but what teen isn't?
• Norbert has gotten his license and it's still a shock to my system most days. I want to give him the freedome to be a teenager and drive all over the world in my car but I can't let go of this impending doom that something might happen that I can't control. He's a good driver but I have no faith with others on the road. Norb's also started looking at colleges which is very scary. His grades aren't strong enough yet to go to Vet school but he's addament he's going to make it happen. I really want him to go somewhere close so that he can live with us and continue saving money. I also want him to start working so that he has some kind of experience but Dennis wants him to wait until his truck is done so we don't have to drive him - we'll see!

• Abbie has adjusted very well really. She's got a ton of wonderful friends, joined cheerleading, and is always involved in something. Sometimes she amazes me with what she can keep up with and other times I'm amazed at the size of her attitude. She's definitely not growing up to take slack from anyone! Abbie also has her temps and is doing her behind the wheel now....it's getting scary in our house lol. She's in this new thing where she really likes taking pics of herself and herself with others (see below). When she wants to she really loves her brothers! She and Bailey broke up a few months ago and she's been spending time with a new boy. They aren't dating just yet but I think it's bound to happen sooner or later. She's been very happy and I like seeing that.



Abbie 1st Day of Cheer




Abbie Cheer Team - Varsity

 

• Drake is his normal goofy self. He is getting into the whole teen attitude thing but he really knows how to work it when he wants to pass for younger. He's such a ham all the time and has, of course, made a ton of friends. He doesn't really get to spend much time with his friends because of the distance and having to drive everywhere but he's loved that's for sure! He currently has a girlfriend named Abby (very weird) and he's finally moved to the hand holding stage. Even though he's a handful some days he's still my snuggler on the couch. I have done a good job of "letting go" since football started but it's still hard most days. He has turned out to be an amazing player and once he got over the intial shock of tackling his friends he gained a ton of confidence. His team won Superbowl Champs 3 years in a row - what a great accomplishment!

Drake after winning Superbowl

• Dennis and I continue doing what we do best - work & home life! We are so involved in what the kids are doing that it's like a 2nd job most days. I don't know what I'll do with my life when both Abbie & Norb are driving full time. That's pretty much it for us just rolling along the highs & lows and hoping for the best.

Pics from Abbie



Abbie & Drake at Walmart

 


Abbie & Norbert 1st day of school '13

 



Abbie loving herself AGAIN

  


Abbie & Norbert before school

 

How times change

How do you go from this.......

To this......?

I sometimes don't understand how my little pumpkin, no bigger than my husbands hands at birth can have such a large attitude sometimes. Not to mention he's much taller than me now?! I find that we struggle a lot with agreement on rules and restrictions which I know is normal for a teenager but I wasn't prepared. It all happened so fast, this growing up stuff.

When you have a child, especially your first, you think the moments are going to last forever. The giggles, hugs, laughter, and even the tears are what is burned in your memory and feel as if they just happened yesterday. You don't realize how time flies and how quickly you will get to see the product of all of your hard work and worry. As I write these statements tears come to my eyes at the lost moments, created memories, and the ones yet to come.

I couldn't be more proud of the man that my son is becoming. He is even tempered, loves everyone, smart as a whip....this list could go on & on. I know that he is a reflection of the type of parents we are and the life we've lived by example for our children - I'm bursting with pride! My husband has been such a wonderful role model on how to live your life as an honorable man, I couldn't ask for more.

I know that as time continues to go on we will experience many more adventures of a different kind. Our relationship will now go from a "mom I need you" to a "mom, I respect your opinion but I have to make decisions w/o you too". I'm so not ready ;(

Onward and upward Norbert. You are doing great so far and I only have the highest hopes and dreams for your future. I can't wait to see the full man you will be and how proud I know you'll make me.

Oh the most wonderful day ever

Today is my best friends birthday! He is my 1 & only, the love of my life, the best thing that's ever happened to me. Just knowing him makes me a better person and without him I wouldn't be who I am today. We don't get to do our usualy family celebration due to bow shooting tonight but Lorie and I will be taking him for Mexican this weekend to celebrate with drinks for sure.

Not much changes around here. Norbert is pretty mellow and remped up to move. Abbie still can't spell to save her life and is very emotional over the move. Drake is developing quite the pre-teen attitude and still my snuggle bear. We have seriously started packing now and looking forward to moving even a small bit this week if the inspection goes well. I have to admit I'm getting pretty nervous...well wait....I've been nervous for about a month thinking we aren't going to make this deadline. I know in reality everything will work out fine but it's in my nature to stress over things I can't control. And I'm really to the point where I just want to be done with it and move on from here. For the first time ever I'm so ready for a new year.

In other news, there is nothing! I'm at a loss of what to write about. Nothing funny has happened lately other than our usual antics. I love my life, my family, and my friends. I love to laugh at all of the rare moments that are truely worth the gut ache afterwards.

Oh wait, 1 more thing. In my constant strive to become the thin me that I know is hiding under all of this fat I have embarked on the Paleo Diet way of live. Day 1 was mostly successful but then I got home and totally bombed trying to figure out what to make for dinner so of course I ended up eating everything I shouldn't. I'm going to try my very best to stick as closely as possible and not stray to far until I can go shopping this weekend. Wish me luck!

I'm back......

Wow I can't believe it's been a month since I've blogged...I just have the hardest time with juggling everything going on right now. A long list of events are currently happening in my life and it doesn't seem to ever slow down. First of all the move is finally right around the corner so figuring out all of the final details is driving me mad. Then I have one child that is trying to buck the system at every turn and really hating that we're moving. Onward, I have been having some pretty major health issues and doc finally told me if I don't make a lifestyle change I will die. I think out of all of it that is the hardest to swallow...but more to follow shortly.

So let's address the move first. Looks as if we'll be starting to move things in slowly in about a week. Their new house is getting the hardwood floors in 11/28 and then carpeting 12/5 so right after that we start working our butts off to make it happen before New Years! I'm sickly nervous about the whole thing but have faith that it will happen without a hitch. Sad to say that we'll be moving over Christmas but what can you do? Our POD is being delivered 11/28 and that will start clearing out the house.

My problem child...but o'how I love her. Abbie is such an angel in disguise. Sweetest girl you will ever meet but in the end she is also the most opinionated, stubborn girl ever. She's not afraid to speak her mind and is currently fighting the "every other weekend to see her friends" compromise that was mentioned a year ago. I know that her social life is most important to her right now but also don't think she understand that there are determining factors to all that driving. The funniest thing is that everything she is doing to me I did to my mom at some point. It really does come true when you're parents say "Just you wait until you have a child of your own, then you'll understand!" Ha, I get it now

So here's my laughter for the day....Drake has been coming up with some dandy things lately. His comments just kill me such as:

1. No but thank you very much
2. I would much rather not
3. I'm thinking no

The best thing he's said recently is "I wonder what it's like to be married. What is it like for you mom?" To this my response was automatic (and a bit deep for my 11 year old).

Being married is like having your bestfriend by your side for the rest of your life. It's like constantly having a coach with you to help you solve problems and cheer you on. It's also like having a parent forever because you always have someone else to think about when you're making decisions....it's the greatest thing in the world.

With that I close for the day thinking much about how children can really make you re-evaluate how you look at your life!

The things kids say.....

I think it's hilarious when kids start using words that they don't know exactly what they mean. All of my kids have had mis-pronunciations and mis-spoken words but it's just so funny. Abbie for example used to tell us all the time she was saving everything for her 'clitiorun'. What? It took us about 2 months to figure out she was talking about her 'collection' that she kept in a box of random stuff. Norbert used to refer to his pillow as a 'punya'...love it! Drake is now saying 'seriously' to everything no matter what the reference. If Norbert does something he doesn't like he'll look at him and say, "SERIOUSLY?". Another one of his favorite words is "literally" as in, "You know Jake from school? Well you don't know him literally but you know that kid with....". Just makes me chuckle.

Lots going on this week as always. Getting Abbie ready for Homecoming this weekend! Norbert had a blast at his and was glad he decided to go. He looked so handsome :) I can't figure out if Abbie is supposed to buy something for her boyfriend since he's buying her a corsage and some of the kids are exchanging garters but I think that's a bit overboard for her age. Maybe just like a key chain or something with their names on it? idk I guess I will have to talk to her about it.

So I talked to our landlord lastnight to let him know that we're moving in December. The conversation went so much better than I expected and I left feeling a sense of relief that it is finally done. I can't stand the feeling of keeping a secret or lying about something. He seemed very appreciative that we were giving him so much notice and thanked us for fixing everything we could before moving. I just don't know what to do about some of the bigger stuff, things that I consider normal wear & tear from living there 3 years. Oh well, we'll figure it all out! I'm just so glad it's happening.

Work is still crazy busy and I'm in the process of training by replacement for the other team. I have to be honest it's going to be a huge adjustment only working 8 hours a day once she's on board with everything. I'm so used to get here crazy early, which I like for the great parking spot but it's also so quiet in here. I really need to get prepared for coming in an hour later and leaving at a normal time. Well onto work I go!