Student of the Month

Alex was chosen to be Student of the Month from his class.  His school is a Great Expectations school. Each month they have an expectation they learn and practice.  He was chosen for Honesty.  I didn't think to ask what he did that was so honest to earn him this award!  Nonetheless, I am so extremely proud of him for showing his teacher he is worthy to be chosen as Student of the Month!  Yea Alex! 

Kate's Visit

Kate and I met years ago.  She was a bridesmaid in my wedding and has been a great friend.  She moved home to Minnesota several years ago, so our visits have been few and far between.  She had a work meeting in Dallas and when it was over, she rented a car and drove to Tulsa to see us!  How sweet!  It was a short trip, Friday night to Sunday morning, so we just hung out with the kids Friday night and had Hideaway. Saturday we just hung out and went for bike rides and then she went to visit another friend that had just had a baby for a few hours.  That night we went to In the Raw.  We always have so much fun when we eat sushi together.  After dinner, we went to a paint and sip studio.  I'm not going to say which one, but it wasn't Pinot's Palette like we wanted!  They were all sold out for both the Friday and Saturday at both locations the weekend she was here.  Bummer!!!!  So we tried a different one.  Our paintings turned out good, but it just was a very different experience from Pinot's.  So my tip is this: If you can reserve a spot in time at Pinot's-DO IT!  ha!!! 

Of course Abby needed a selfie!

Her visit was short, but wonderful.  Miss you so much Kate!

RSV

Aubrey has her first illness.  RSV.  I feel like we caught it really early, which is good.  I took her to her 4 month check up just 3 days ago and she had a runny nose, but it was all clear and only had to be suctioned a few times a day.  Now, 3 days later, I am suctioning her nose every 15 minutes and she has developed a little cough.  I'm not taking any chances with her since she's so young, so I called the doctor, even though she's never run a fever.  We were seen within 2 hours and she tested positive for RSV.  Her lungs weren't too congested and there wasn't a lot of wheezing, and her ears were not infected, so all good news.  The treatment was easy.  I just needed to feed her more often to make sure she didn't get dehydrated, and I had to give her breathing treatments every 4 hours, even when she was sleeping.

I've said it a million times, but she really is the best baby.  She is so easy going and doesn't mind when I have to do uncomfortable things.  She just lies there while I suction her nose.  It's almost funny how still she is while I do it!  She is also really good when she gets her breathing treatment.  She just kind of hangs out while I hold it in front of her face.  

Kim also gave me an oil to try on her chest.  So I believe the combo of the breathing treatments and oil, plus catching it so early, really put her on the fast track to getting well!  

Grandparent's Day

Today was Grandparent's Day at Alex's school.  Alex invited Pop and Nana to join him.  They got to have donuts, juice, and coffee together and then the grandparents were invited to the classroom to see where all the magic happens.  Mrs. Rhine, the biggest blessing for Alex, had a little project for the grandparents and kids to do together.  It was a poem about growing older and how important grandparents are.  Then they all traced their hands inside each other.  Alex's was in the the middle, Nana's around his, and Pop's around hers.  It was just precious!  Alex is so lucky to have grandparents that live here locally to join in fun activities like this!

Sleepover

Since returning from Chicago, the kids have wanted to sleep in the same bed again.  They said it was like a sleepover.  So tonight was the night!  We have always had pizza and movies on Friday nights when Brad is at work.  It's just something fun the kids and I do together.  Sometimes we make our own, sometimes we buy it.  Tonight we made our own and watched Despicable Me 2.  We also pulled out the hide-a-bed from the couch so they could lie down and watch the movie.  Then, of course, they wanted to sleep on it.  Even Aubrey tried to have a sleepover!

Once we read our bedtime stories and brushed teeth, it was lights out.  They weren't too sure at first.  The strange shadows and different sounds kept them from going right to sleep.  Alex finally conked out and Abby came to tell me she needed her songs.  So I got her music box from her room and put it on the endtable.  That did the trick!  It was so sweet to see them asleep in the living room.  I'm sure it'll be the first of many "sleepovers" with them in the living room.  

Thoughtful

Alex had basketball practice tonight and I just wasn't feeling up to going.  I was exhausted and Aubrey had been fussy and just off for most of the day.  Brad offered to take him to practice and to take Abby, too, so that I could relax and focus on just Aubrey.  Soon after they left, Brad called.  He said that they were looking at the most beautiful sunset and Alex said that they needed to call me so I could look outside and see how pretty it was.  He said he wanted me to see something beautiful to make me smile. I went outside and it was just gorgeous.  God really painted the sky pretty tonight!

Syrup

While we were in Chicago last month, we met my mom's Uncle Bill from Wisconsin.  He has a lot of maple trees and has started tapping them for syrup.  He has created his own label and he bottles and sells quite a bit of syrup!  He brought several bottles with him and passed them out to us while we were there.  I couldn't wait to get home and try it.  Pancakes are quite the Saturday morning tradition at our house so we cooked our pancakes and got to use Uncle Bill's pure maple syrup.  Oh em gee.  It is the one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted.  It only lasted for 2 breakfasts at our house!  I really hope we can get some more!