Man on a Mission

So we bought Collin a walker for the house. He LOVES to be up on his feet and it is killing my back to keep holding him up and walk him around (on top of being up with him in the night:) He couldn't move too fast at first. But then another 24 hours went by. He was trying to chase Kate. Another 24 hours. He is pulling the towels off the cupboards in the kitchen, magazines off the end tables. He is so proud of himself, the look of mischief and glee is too much! Another 24 hours, he disappears and is found in our bathroom. He rammed right into Kate as she was trying to get past him - totally taking her out. Another 24 hours, he pulls the wood grid-thing off the big slider window, breaking it and knocking down a box, spilling the contents across the floor. He goes into our bedroom and moves my boots...he is currently in the laundry room and I'd better go check on him....this is getting interesting!

Mmmm..Mommy's sweater...

Here is a link to video of him in the walker...
http://youtu.be/zqm3Nt_rqss

Staycation

One of the amazing things about Dave's job up here is that he gets a crazy amount of time off. Total bonus, something we really appreciate and one of the reasons we came up here! We don't exactly get to decide when he gets that time off, though, something that is generally fine with us. It has been a little weird in the last year or so with the personnel issues they had, but basically, we are back to a rolling schedule of a week off every 4/5 weeks. Anyway, we forgot about it and all of sudden we were faced with a week off last week! Gotta love surprises like that:) We had no plans and that was just fine, there is always about a week's worth of house stuff to do, right?! 

Words can't describe how much I loved her in this:)

Happy boy!

"Mom, Mom, take our picture!!!" everyday...")

Much of the week, we were dealing with the fussiest baby we have probably ever had! Poor Collin was SO sick. Super fussy, spiking a fever, screaming and not sleeping. And here is where Dave and I win the worst parent awards...we didn't take him in to the doc. I know! He was drooling and chewing on everything (beware - he will try and bite your shoulder and he has sharp teeth:) he had a cough but wasn't doing anything with his ears. He wouldn't breastfeed very much (oh my God, I hate writing this out in black and white...) but we don't usually run to the doc at every fever, etc. He then seemed a little better and we had Kate's 4 year well-check on Monday, so we waited until then. 

Yes, that is a new (and her first) Barbie in her hand, she wanted to take her outside -
Barbie only fell into the leaves once:)

Chasing Mommy, she was the monster trying to scare me

Biking back to the house...

Our brilliant plan to rake the leaves into a pile at the bottom of the slide! I went down it too:)

Collin supervising from his swing...

Video of us in the backyard -  http://youtu.be/UZPEApS5fPU

Dave and I just alternated playing with the kids and tackling our to-do lists, we did get a lot accomplished! Yeah! We also went down to the Dells with some friends and ate at Buffalo Phils (food delivered by trains - Kate loves it). We also had dental appointments for the whole family - woo hoo.  :) It was Kate's first time and she did great. Was fine until the chair went backwards, then got scared. Collin chilled in the car seat while Daddy and Kate checked on me (in another room) and then she laid down on Daddy's lap and did fine the rest of the time. Highlights were getting a pencil and "blue sparkly toothpaste!!" She asked if she could go back next week.  

On Monday, I had to take both kiddos to Kate's doctor appointment. That morning I got a call that she couldn't get her immunizations because their fridge had failed. We went anyway, Kate has traditionally been...awful at the doctor. Won't stand on the scale, won't open her mouth, won't do anything. Oh - AND her doctor is one of our best friends of up here. She knows him and loves him! We had been working on being a big girl so I decided to go anyway and do the physical. Collin was a trooper, I took him out of the carseat and he just played on the floor, tried to eat my shoelaces. Kate was bouncing off the walls, but was perfect with Laurie, the nurse. Did everything right away - yay! Laurie and I both forgot to have her take off her shoes so her weight and height are a little inflated but she was 90% for height and 50% for weight - same as Collin! She's super healthy, developing fine. We all knew this. I had to take her (and Collin) back the next day to get the immunizations. She was cool while we waited, was talking about how the mist (flu mist) was to keep her healthy...I actually thought it wouldn't be that bad! 

Getting her blood pressure checked...

Silly me. We went back to the room, she was holding Laurie's hand. Got quiet and sat on my lap and did fine with the nasal spray. I hadn't been sure where she would need to get her shots (was hoping shoulder as that is where Kate was expecting it) but of course, it had to be her thighs:(  She would not do it. She was almost hiding behind the furniture in the room. I didn't know what to do. Laurie was good but then finally said that I'll have to hold her. So we got her up on the table, and I was hugging/holding her and then I had to lay her down. It was awful!!! She screamed and wouldn't stop crying. Laurie gave her some fruit snacks and I had a little dum dum sucker for her. Laurie stayed until all her tears were dry and we left. She was fine by the time we got out front - distracted by pushing the handicap button thing for the doors. She said her leg was sore later that night, but obviously she is fine now. Collin is due for his round of shots next week...

When we got home from dance last night, she let me take a picture of her in her new tutu...so I ran with it and did a mini photo shoot (about 50 photos on the camera:) Dave laughed when he got home. I told him that I had to go to the bathroom so bad after running around town with both kids for a couple hours, but was going to run with it if she was cooperating! When you are pregnant, you keep going to the bathroom and once the baby is here you don't have time to go anymore. Gotta love it!

New tutu from Samantha!

Trying to convince me to eat her snack in her dance outfit. Sorry sweetie...

Oh, I forgot to mention...so as I was chatting with Dr. Ryan about really important things like if Dave is hunting this year and when we are going out for pierogis again...:) He checked Collin's ears since I said he had been so fussy last week. Ear infection. Both ears. Yup. Felt pretty awesome right about then. He prescribed antibiotics and asked me again when his last fever was....ugh. So, Collin is currently taking amoxicillin (silly me, I mean he is currently spitting amoxicillin out on Dave and I) and we get his ears rechecked next week, coincidentally on his nine month "bday." So, I'll have a nice little recap of his stats next week! He is doing much better now:) Sleeping a bit better (by his standards, not most babies:) and is much happier. Here's hoping for a week in the Lenninger household where none of us are sick!!!....yeah, I'm not holding my breath:) 

Peace! 

Catching Up!

Whoa! It's been way too long since I last posted! So much has happened in the last few weeks, as always. I'll have to be brief and catch up to November!

We put in a new kitchen back splash! It was kind of on the fly, my parents were able to come up and we put in a new back splash in the kitchen and the laundry room. Dave and I generally agree on plenty of decisions like this, we have the same taste, but we ended up wanting two different tiles for this project. We compromised in doing the second option (my first choice) in the laundry room:) The worst part of this project was running around Madison with Collin trying to get enough of the tile - not fun. I was skeptical of the tile at first, I have a hard time picturing things sometimes! Of course, Dave was right, I love the tile. It took another week or so before Dave could get the under-cabinet lighting up and it looks SO good. I love the lighting more than I thought I would too:) We had some of the tile that I wanted (a thin glass tile) and so we just needed a couple sheets to do the small laundry room, so we did it. I need a photo.... 

Love it!

We hosted the Swoboda's/Peterson's again recently!! My best girl friends/sisters from college:) we have been "family" for 13 years now and I cannot spend enough time with them.  I am so thrilled that we continue to make the effort to spend time together. It is admittedly harder now with five kiddos between the three families! Friday night, Peterson's were up for attending a Harvest Party that was being held at the church that does Kate's preschool. The kids dressed up and played games, won prizes, ate, it was a lot of fun and was indoors:) The highlight for me was maybe trying to the get the group picture with them in their costumes...what were we thinking?! 

I have been a little nervous since the last two boys were born (2 months apart) about our available space in the house, but honestly - it was fine! We had enough space and the kids played great together. We were able to catch up, play with and hold each other's kids, and celebrate Kate (4) and Aniyah's (2) upcoming birthdays! I tried to take lots of pictures, we should do more video, though, given the difficulty of getting group pictures and to capture their little conversations and interactions. Too cute. The ages of the kids are Kate (almost 4), Waylon (3), Aniyah (almost 2), Collin (8 months) and Lawson (6 months). :)  Fun times!! Our night with everyone there was rough, all the kids were up at some point...tired parents the next day! We also had a little sickness roll through...after cupcakes for the birthdays, Waylon felt sick and ended up throwing up and Dave later that day:(  Waylon was a trooper (Dave too:) and we continued to have a great weekend.

Kate and Waylon playing outside

The little boys:)

The crew!

These two are too funny...

After spending the beginning of the week thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the house:) we were gearing up for Kate's birthday (Oct. 30) and Halloween! Kate was definitely more aware of the holiday and trick or treating...she would go around the house and say "trick or treating!" with her bag:) It took me awhile to convince her it is just "trick or treat." 

For Kate's birthday, I was prepared to make her pancakes for breakfast, but she refused and just wanted an apple. They were allowed to dress up at school and were celebrating Halloween/Harvest for two days..I let her dress up as a princess on her birthday and we brought treats - chocolate covered strawberries with sprinkles! I picked her up and we had to go straight to dance class, she wore a new tutu that we had bought for her (ordered from Sam Aceto - a friend of T&T that we met at the wedding!) She handed out treats to her friends there and then we went home. Unfortunately, Dave was on call and was getting stuck at the hospital. We were maybe going to take her out to a restaurant, but since he was still working, we just went home. Just a normal supper and no dessert - I figured there were enough sweets between the weekend and Halloween....We watched a movie and waited to see if Daddy would make it home...turns out he wasn't going to make it and he said to let her open gifts. So, Collin and I were there for her:) I recorded it so he could watch later. She was thrilled with her gifts and was super sweet. We waited up a bit, but ended up going to bed before Daddy got home:( He did go up and give her a kiss later, but I don't think she realized it. Some of her gifts this year: tutu, lots of books, flashlight, two puppets, some slippers, a Boo doll and book (Monsters, Inc) and a superhero costume:)

Her new tutu!

SuperKate!

On Halloween, she headed off to school with her fire chief costume. She was very happy when I dropped her off, I went home and was going about our day when I got a call from the school (first time ever) and her teacher said she wasn't feeling well, was crying...:( Of course, Collin was sleeping, but I got some things together, woke Collin up and went to get her. When I got there, she was in the bathroom after having gotten sick. Her teacher was so sweet, Kate was crying and covered in....sick. Poor baby!!! We had to gather up all her things (of course, there was her fireman costume, candy and treats, her bag, coat, etc. and then her sleeping bag and pillow which were also covered...)  Goodness. Mrs. Homan came out to the car with me and helped me get everything settled. We came home, took a bath, and she went right to sleep. Dave did make it home at a decent time that day and she cuddled with Daddy when she woke up. She got sick one more time after trying to drink some Gatorade :( but after a few more hours laying low, she finally started to perk up. Asking for food. Getting loud again. That is always a good sign! 

We were supposed to go to a friends house and trick or treat, but we obviously stayed home. Kate didn't really realize it and was fine. Dave and I felt terrible as our friend had gone ALL out and done a total themed dinner and made extra food. But what can you do?! I had been talking about how great Kate's immune system was, when the rest of the house got a horrible cold/flu, she escaped, she really doesn't get sick at all! I totally jinxed it:(

After waiting a bit to see if she was truly better and the rest of us weren't going to be sick, we made a quick trip down to  Burr Oak to get in some time harvesting corn with Andy and celebrate Kate's birthday with Mom and Dad and Andrew and Kylie. It was cloudy and rainy when we left Saturday afternoon, but in Burr Oak it was gorgeous! So awesome to be out in the fields at sunset. Dave and the kids rode with Uncle Andy, while Mom, Dad and I took some pictures. I was joking about what Andy thought of all the terrible paparazzi:) We went back to Mom and Dads, Facetimed with T&T in Japan! had supper and eventually let Kate open her gifts (princess dolls, puzzles, sketch book, pen, tennis Barbie that she named Kylie, fleece, movie) It was awesome, she loved the gifts and we learned a valuable lesson. Don't have your 4 year old open gifts late at night and then tell her she needs to go to bed and can't play with anything she just opened! Oops. 

Awesome family pic:)

Pretty

Hehehe...:)

Who's having more fun??? :)

We stuck around on Sunday to relax and so Dave and I could go out on a date (gasp! what is that?!) We went down to Old Armory BBQ and then to the Tap Room for drinks. Better planning would warrant a non-Sunday night date so more places would be open:) But it was so fun and refreshing! Collin was pretty good, but a stinker at the end. Though he has been for us too, he has another cold and is endlessly teething...blah. We are seriously talking about crying it out again too, I am getting less and less sleep, how can it be going in that direction?! I can't do it!

Fun in the leaves!

Our cuties

Our four year old!

It's exhausting being cute:)

Dave is off this week and we are enjoying just being home, catching up on house stuff, shopping for Christmas!! and cuddling up. Maybe we'll have our first fire of the season in the fireplace! Maybe I'll get outside for a walk by myself! Maybe I'll take a nap!! I'm so excited.