Fast and Fun Fall

We've been busy so far this fall (I'm basically considering fall when school starts) and haven't taken too many pictures but I'll do a brief post about what we've been up to.

I have a couple days of the week where we don't have school or activities and I have to be honest, I really love those days. The busy days are nice because they go fast and Kate just adores all that she has going on, but Collin is happiest (and easiest at home) and I already spend so much time in the car - I only have one big kid - good grief! Last week, however, brought somewhat unexpected trips/errands on all my "days off." Thankfully, the kids mostly do great in the car and out and about and I am super used to dragging them all over and back by myself. And let's face it, life is an adventure, right? I can't remember which day, but we had to run to Baraboo and after shopping/errands we had lunch at a yummy cafe on the square. 

My lunch dates:)

We had a busy weekend last week, Mom and Dad came up to finish a project - the sun room project in February was completed (well, almost) when Dad and Dave (okay, mostly Dad and actually Mom and Kate and I tried to help too) put the trim up on the exterior of the new windows. Friday night we all got to Face Time with the Brown's in Oki (yay!) and then on Saturday Dave, Kate, Collin and I went to Soldier's Grove, WI (not far from Lansing!) to the Driftless Area Arts Festival with our good friends, the Plamann's. After a later start, we hit the festival just as it started to rain:( A normally awesome car rider, Collin, did not nap and was NOT happy for the last part of the trip (was a 1 hr 40 min-ish total trip). So that was surprising and left us a little ragged when we arrived. But, all we needed was some friends and super yummy local food to cheer us up:) After we ate and the rain let up, we wheeled our dueling double BOBs around the festival checking out the booths and corralling the four kiddos (ages 4, 2, 1 & 1). 

Super excited for the festival

Then things started looking up!

We bought a few small things, Kate painted a pumpkin and we enjoyed the really sunny and warm weather that came after the rain! When we hit the road to come home, we were sure Collin would fall asleep immediately, but again - no! It is a VERY curvy and hilly route back to Juneau County and the combo of the screaming and the road was not very much fun. Good thing I had purchased a Ginger Brew from Driftless Brewing Company for the road. We stopped the van and turned his car seat around to face forward. We have kept this option open for this very type of occasion when we thought he would be totally distracted by it:) It did work and he calmed down and then fell asleep. So, we now have our 19 month old facing forward...supposed to wait until 2 years old or longer, but ugh. We tried. 

He loves it!

When we returned home, Mom and Dad were hard at work (God bless them, how did I luck out with these two?!) We tried to jump in and help and soon made some plans for supper out on the lake. Dave was itching to take the boat out and it was nice out, so we packed up for a boat ride across the lake to Carlson's Rustic Ridge - a pretty classic Wisconsin supper club. Collin was a little antsy so we throttled down and got there a little quicker:) Kate's preference anyway. 

Just starting out on a nice evening cruise!

It was a busy but wonderful supper where the kids devoured the soup and salad bar and we watched some weather approaching via radar apps on our phones. All of sudden, Dad and Dave were telling us it was time to leave - some rain coming our way! It was pitch black at this time and I was not quite as comfortable on the water at night, but it turned out just fine. Another quick but calm ride back across the black lake. We docked, got back home and started bath/bedtime with the kids when we heard the downpour! It was so loud! We all came out to the great room and commented that the timing could not have been better - if we had been caught in that....uff da, not good. The wind was super strong too and took down some small trees. But thankfully, we were fed, happy and cozy inside watching football:) Barely. 

These girls love boating!

Like Kate at his age, Collin loves waving to all the other boats on the water. In fact, he wouldn't stop:)

This week is Homecoming week in New Lisbon and Kate attended two days so far and has a Family Fun Day tomorrow - it is only for 1.5 hours and Collin and I come too! It's our first one and I'm excited and curious as to what it is like. On Tuesday, it was Sports Day and I tried to put her in a Minnesota Twins jersey, but she insisted on a Hawkeye shirt. I was proud but literally reasoned in my head, "They won't be too cruel in 4K, right?" Today was Wacky Day and it was supposed to be mismatched clothes and funny hair. I spent a half an hour trying to come up with an outfit with her last night. That was difficult and then I braided her hair into five braids for bed to make it super curly in the morning. She didn't fight the outfit this morning but was not cooperating with the hair so we ended up with just a big headband and I put three weird ponies in the back of her head. I was thinking of all the crazy things we could do, but I guess we'll save that for the years to come.

Wacky Day

Just a normal day in Kate's life...big difference, huh?  :) 

Let's see, anything else about the kids...Collin is just silly. His naps are still all over the place though I guess I'm not expecting too much any more and that is better. Last night, he had a bad night so I'm hoping that tonight goes better! His big word of the week is, "Owie!" He says it all the time (well, he is getting hurt all the time) and sometimes says it when he is not hurt. He likes to watch and yell at football games. Dave does too, but he definitely has some Rosendahl in him:) He has a big, "Wow!" for almost anything. Loves his new cat sound, "Meow," it is very drawn out and any squirrel or small animal will elicit this response right now as well. He will sit and watch TV when Kate gets a show. I like this/don't like this. It is obviously hugely useful but I don't love the fact that they both are so into the television. Something I definitely try to use only when it is super beneficial. And he is only 19 months! Obviously, my first child never watched TV so young;)

When he falls (all the time) he usually bounces right back up. We have had some bigger falls (a pseudo-black eye/cheek right now) too and I hate it! Tonight, I set him down on the garage floor (cuz he fell on the one step up to the garage two days ago - so was trying to avoid that for the time being) and I hit the button to open the garage door. I stepped back in to grab a coat from the closet and he just went running out as soon as he saw daylight. Hit his head on the rising garage door. Gift idea for Christmas...cool band aids, ice packs, etc. :)

Kate is loving school, does SO much art and tells me she likes it when she can go two days in a row and doesn't have to wait a day to go back. Dance and gymnastics are also much anticipated and I don't have any convincing to do with her (unlike me at her age - sorry, Mom:) Their favorite thing is still to chase each other. When Kate came home from school today, Collin was asleep (Dave picked her up) and she did not like this. "Mom, I just want to come home from school when Collin is awake!" 

On our walk tonight, I had the kids in our new double BOB, pushing them both around with, you know, my little finger:) and was so happy we did splurge to get the stroller. I felt pretty swanky. And then we got passed by a guy "walking" his dog. On a Segway. Then Kate asked what it was and I was describing it and trying to convince her I was saying, "Segway" and not "subway." Then she paused and said, "Ohhh...I get it. It is for older people. Great Grandma should get one." That would be pretty cool and it is her 88th birthday today (what?!) but I think the drawing Kate did is probably more Grandma's style:) 

Baby #3 Update: Still have not even talked about names. Ahh!! At the last appointment we couldn't find the heart beat, had to call in someone else to eventually find it. Such. A. Stinker. The second ultrasound is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon finally (please pray everything looks good!), feeling good! some heartburn and a little bit of sciatic pain but finally feeling more movement. I'm 23 weeks!