ANOTHER WEEKEND GONE....

And yet another weekend has past and I wish we could have another tomorrow :)  Yesterday's weather was wet and dreary but today was perfect! We started the weekend off right on Friday night.  We found a new eatery, the Sandwich Bowl.  It is a locally owned restaurant with great food and wonderful service.  The kids loved it and it led to some fish faces, not sure why, but it was cute.

 After dinner we headed to Aimee's Coffee House for Coop's Art Show.  Of course we had to purchase a certain masterpiece made by Coop's class.  It was a great evening!  When we got home and I cleaned out Coop's back pack, I found my invitation to Mother's Tea at his preschool.  This is one of my favorite things to do and this year's invite was adorable!

 Saturday Raelynn was suppose to have a horse show but the weather put a damper on those plans so Raelynn spent the day at Aunt Bonnie's and Coop and I picked up his new sport glasses, shopped and went to a friends birthday party where we got to see old friends and a FIRE TRUCK!  It was so much fun!

 They sent a goodie bag home for Raelynn after the party as well and as you can see she was a little overwhelmed by the size of the sucker!

Today we worked outside yet again and the kids had friends over which made for a good day!  Now if there were just another 2 days to get everything done that I need to do :)!  Happy Monday right around the corner.

THANK YOU MOM!!!!!

What a fantastic weekend and we actually accomplished a few things.  We are soooo ready for spring now!  Mom came all the way to Lawrence to help me get my flowers planted just as she does every year.  I don't know that I would ever manage to get them done or decide what to do without her.  I love to decorate and I love to do dry flower arrangements but landscaping and flower pots DO NOT come naturally for me.  Mom got here Friday night and we started the weekend bright and early on Saturday as the Farmer's Market opened.  We bought lots of goodies for breakfast but that was about it.  Then it was Target, and then soccer, and then lunch, and then Home Depot, and then Ace's and then home to arrange and plant!  The day finally ended with a little grilling with Steph and Cody too.  It was a fun filled day.  Today we just tried to finish up what we started yesterday and clean up.  We are all exhausted tonight and hope to turn in early.  Thank you so much Mom, things are looking pretty good around here :).  Thank you to Terry as well!!!  He has built an incredible deck for me to decorate and today re-landscaped some of our front yard.  He is so good at every thing he does and everything he touches looks better than it did before.  I think I am a little spoiled all the way around.

We are ready for another week of work and then hopefully we can continue getting a deck and yard ready for the summer!!!

Last week Raelynn requested I put her hair in rollers.  It was really pretty fun, I put her hair in rollers why she read to me.  We had lots of good laughs but the best part was when Terry walked in and with a smile on his face said that it reminded him when his Mom would put rollers in her hair which she did often.  Raelynn giggled and they exchanged a few loving memories of Nanny.  I love how the littlest thing can bring a memory to surface and especially love it when that memory is about Nanny!

WE WANT A PET.......

WE WANT A PET.......has been a relentless request from Cooper and Raelynn lately.  I remind them that we do have a pet but they simply say Poho is Dad's dog not there's.  If you know me, you know I do not love animals.....really I don't even like them much.  They are dirty, smelly, time consuming and costly and not one of those characteristics do I like.  (You know until I typed this I didn't realize that my children have the same characteristics and somehow I love them dearly so maybe and pet does have a chance.)  Anyway, I was getting really tired of saying no to the whole pet discussion and was getting even more tired of the constant request and discussion about WHY they couldn't have a pet and I am not one to say, "because I said so."  That is one of my very least favorite things I hear parents say.  So, last night I decided to quiet them for awhile anyway.  When Raelynn and Cooper started in asking if they could have some pet, anything, I told them that if they researched the pet they wanted, the cost associated with the pet, the items needed to have the pet, the vet costs associated, the amount of food it ate, etc and then they could make a presentation to me and then IF their presentation interested me, I would entertain the idea of a pet.  Now my kids know they have their work cut out for them but they got to work right away.  I also told them that until their research was complete and their presentation was ready, I did not want to hear one word about it!  So I have temporarily curbed the pet discussion but it doesn't sound like it is going to take them long.  Last night the kids were on the computer researching and Raelynn even called a local shelter for information which was hilarious.  I did overhear that they are researching a Bunny which is sooo much better than some form of a rat I was afraid they would be researching.  I did hear Coop ask Raelynn if they could get a Monkey instead of a Bunny but Raelynn told him she couldn't find a monkey anywhere to buy and he could just visit the zoo to see a monkey or look in the mirror!  I also found out today she has recruited a few of her classmates to help with the research which her teacher found to be very efficient.  What the kids don't realize is that even if they complete their research and their presentation is amazing then I have a Plan B.  It is called a Trial Run.  I will have a fake Bunny that they have to care for for 2 weeks.  This Bunny will begin to smell, will have diarrhea and will even go missing before the 2 weeks are up.  I have it all planned and it is going to be horrible.  It is amazing what you can learn on the Internet about how to create horrific fake poo!!!  Anyway, after all that if they still want a Bunny I will tell them it is up to their Father, hahaha!  The point is I do not have to discuss the pet topic for at least a week :)

LIFE IS SO UNPREDICTABLE.........

There are times when it is so apparent that life is completely unpredictable.  I think this week was one of those times.  As I mentioned before, our week began with Terry and Raelynn sick with the stomach flu, luckily Coop and I did not get sick but I cannot say the same for Karli!!!  Monday night I was exhausted and went to bed about 11:30pm just hoping that Raelynn was better in the morning and Coop was still healthy.  At 12:37am my phone rang which is never a good sign.  It was Karli's boyfriend and he was headed to the ER with Karli.  I jumped in the car and met them at the ER in Topeka.  Karli had the same thing Terry and Raelynn had except she was also having severe chest pains.  They ran every test under the son yet found nothing.  She was dismissed about 5:30am or so and is doing better but still worry about her.  I headed home from there, packed lunches, showered and off to work.  Tuesday was a very long day.  By today things seemed to be getting back to normal.  Raelynn and Terry headed out on a field trip and Coop and I headed to Kindergarten Round Up.  It's crazy to think he is big enough to be going to Kindergarten.  There are so many things I love about Coop's age.  He is learning so many new things and gaining so much knowledge.  He is confident but kind and just loves life.  I have been so blessed with amazing kids. I found myself often looking at Coop with his friends across the room and seeing in my mind the picture of him at 5 months old, lifeless lying in the hospital so covered in tubes and surrounded by monitors.  It is really quite amazing to see where he has been, where he is now and where he will be going!

One of Coop's friends from pre-school was there as well!  It made it even more fun having friends to share it with!

So Friday was a good day until........I received a call from my older sister and her ex husband was being life flighted to St. Luke's.  What was going on was very vague and confusing but his family had reached out to my niece's and they were headed to see him.  I had just spoke with him at the beginning of the week and things didn't seem perfect then but I had no idea he was ill.  The next call I received, he had passed away.  My heart sank for my nieces!  They had a difficult relationship with him but there was no doubt he loved them very much.  I felt so sad inside and when I told Raelynn and Cooper, tears came to Raelynn's eyes.  Coop did not remember him and just rubbed Raelynn's back and said he wished he remembered him.  It was so sad and so unexpected.  As if we have not had enough reminders, this was just one more that you should cherish every day we are given and NEVER forget to tell those around you how you feel about them.  I often do not know why things happen when they happen but eventually I always find the meaning and I just hope that my nieces find the meaning in this for them.  I cannot imagine what they are going through or even my sister.  Regardless the situation, he was a part of her life and our life for quite a few years and there will always be a connection there.  We are all sad and all desperate to understand, but as always we are a family and will all be there for each other both our side of the family and his.  To Cassidy, Chandler, Sherri and the entire Hornbostel Family~ I love you all, I always will.  I will say countless prayers for you and keep you all in my thoughts.  Lean on one another and know you always can.  Stay Strong!

HAPPY MONDAY MORNING.........

So we got back to Lawrence about 5pm yesterday.  Terry wasn't feeling great and went to bed early which is never a good sign. The kids were in bed shortly after 8pm as well and so I had plenty of time to get ready for the week ahead.  As usual however, my week didn't start as usual.  Coop was a hundred times during the night not really knowing why he wasn't sleeping.  Terry began throwing up sometime in the night as well so I was in and out of sleep most of the night.  The alarm went off at 4am as usual and I got up and started my morning routine.  I was literally walking out the door a little before 5am when I heard something.  Now if I had been smart I would have kept on walking but of course I stopped, closed the door and headed down the hall to see what was going on.  What I found was that Raelynn had the stomach flu too.  She had left a nice surprise all over here bed, down the side and onto the carpet.  So that is how my Monday began.  I spent the rest of the morning cleaning up and rearranging schedules.  Raelynn and Terry stayed home together while Coop and I headed to school and work.  Raelynn was sick all day!  Terry was finally feeling better around noon but had a horrible headache.  I was in and out checking on them and finally came home to be with her while Terry attempted to go to work in the afternoon.  Raelynn just laid and cried for awhile because she felt so bad.  We haven't had that kind of flu around here for quite some time.  This is where my "Mother" skills are seriously lacking.  I don't want to lay and hold them when they are sick.  I want to keep my distance. Anyway, it makes for really long days. I am only crossing my fingers that Coop and I will manage to escape the flu but and the Raelynn and Terry will be good as new tomorrow!

MORE HOURS IN THE DAY PLEASE...................

Once again I have let way too much time past between postings and have missed documenting a million funny things that have happened.  Everyday seems like an adventure around here but at least it never gets boring.  So let's see, from where I left off last, our most excitement was coming from the NCAA Basketball Championships.  Our family brackets were going fantastically because I was winning!  This time of year is so much fun to live in Lawrence Kansas at least until KU loses!!!  So that fun came to a screaching hault the Friday before Easter.  We had been watched the games with friends which makes it all that much more fun.  We are all a little supersticous so once we started watching the games together, everyone had to be at the same house, in the same chairs.  On Friday when KU starting losing, our friend even grabbed Coop and made him sit with him playing the iPad just as he had done the games previous when we won.  Unfortunately, even with these efforts, KU was eliminated and therefore ruined a large part of our excitement. 

 However, the rest of Easter weekend was a blast.  Saturday morning I overslept by 3 hours which made for a hurried day since I was questioning whether I would get everything achieved even without oversleeping!  We managed to get most things done and even snuck in decorating Easter eggs with our friends which, by the way, made that dreaded task a whole lot more fun for me!!!  I think next year I will move Easter Egg Decorating to an evening and make a family/friend gathering of it with snacks and wine!  That should make it even more fun!!! (Wine for the parents, not the kids :) )

Anyway, we were almost ready for the Keefer Family Easter on time (please note that "on time" means within only 30 minutes late) when Coop bumped the containers of deviled eggs and sent them falling to the floor.  So there we were with 48 deviled eggs all splattered in containers.  Raelynn began to cry as she had helped make each of them, Coop stood silent, Terry frustrated and me initially panicing as we had no more eggs to prepare.  However it didn't take long to realize I had to regroup and make this disaster work.  So Terry took the kids to the car and I began repairing the pile of deviled eggs.  We ended up only an hour or so late for Easter, which for us was not bad.  We all ate the deviled eggs and didn't complain about how messy they were.  And we had a fantastic Easter.  It is always fun and the kids LOVE being at Aunt Bonnie's!

Then Sunday it was church, Easter Egg Hunt and Lunch with Aunt Karli and Chad.  We played some Bball in the afternoon and again ended a great Easter!!!

This week has been pretty great as the sun is finally shining for multiple days in a row!!!  We finally visited the new arrival of one our friends which Raelynn loved.

Coop and I had eye doctor appointments last night and Coop's eyes are getting stronger.  Our eye doctor was astonished at how well he was doing. He will always have to wear contacts/glasses but every aspect of his sight is improving and he eyes will not be as big of an issue as mine were.  We are however going to have to look at getting some plastic/durable ones for sports.  We spend more time getting his glasses adjusted and fixed than we do anything else.  They literally laugh when we walk in.  If only they knew that half the time Terry fixes them and we never even make it in to see them.    My eyes were actually better this time as well.  We switched my contacts last time I was in and they were much more comfortable which also must have made my eyes happy!

Friday Coop went in for another weight check.  We are still battling weight issues with him.  I know so many people that would kill to have his problem :)  Anyway, Coop weighs to the ounce the exact same as he did almost 2 months ago 34lbs 8oz.  The good news is he did not lose weight so I guess it was good news but we have worked so hard to get weight on him and nothing. I really think this is just Coop and as long as he doesn't lose much we are not going to worry about him.

This weekend was a special one.  We drove out to Scott City and celebrated Mom's 60th Birthday with a surprise party! There were so many family and friends there it was incredible.  My Mom loved it and it was nice to give her something special.  It was great for us too ecause we don't get to see all the family very often at all.  They are a fun group of people so we really wish we did see them more.  We also celebrated Chandler's birthday as well so it was a great celebration all the way around.  As we left I asked Coop if he had fun.  He said he did and he met a new friend and it was his cousin!!!  He was so excited as if he never knew he had other cousins than Sherri's kids.  It was super cute  Anyway, it was an fantastic weekend!!!

Things are starting to get busy.  The spring/summer fun is beginning and the sun is encouraging us to get out and about.  Coop started soccer again this week with practice one day a week and games on Saturday.  He will also start T-ball in May with another night of practice and gameson Saturday for that too.  RL will start riding soon and this year she is racing sos she will practice 2x per week and horse shows ALL DAY on Saturdays.  2 kids, 3 sports and 1 parent that works on Saturdays........boy am I going to have fun.  I just call it the kids shuffle and as long as nothing begins befre I get my morning run in, I will be just fine!!  Actually this is what I love; the weather, the kids, the friends.  It really can't get any better.