Soccer, School & Springtime

Well, we are having a busy Spring and enjoying all the good (and not so-good) weather. Here's a quick recap and some pics....

Both big kids are in soccer. The first week was in the gym, then outside and as always, it has been hit or miss. Kate had some nice weather, Collin has been stuck with crappy weather. Kate is doing great, always wants to be goalie and blocked two goals last week! She also likes playing other "positions" (they haven't really learned about that yet) and is aggressive and runs the field like a pro! She often drops back to defend but if the ball doesn't come back that direction, she takes off to go get in the mix. It is SO fun watching her and Collin even stood there and cheered her on...so sweet. He was saying all the right things too!

Her biggest fan

Collin....well. He did great in practice. Dave has taken him to the last two "games" and well, he may not be ready for "games." :) He will go after the ball and kick it  - he's pretty quick and he's great at dribbling. But he has been losing his mind when someone bumps him, kicks him, the ball gets taken away, etc. He really just doesn't get the concept. Dave has been having a tough time getting him to calm down and so on Tuesday, he just packed him up and left. It was also miserable out there, so kind of an easy decision. But Dave said he took his picture great - so we'll be able to look back and say - see! He loved it!  :)

Standing, crying, in the rain - good times

On Tuesday, I registered Kate for summer school and swimming lessons. They have a free summer school session in June and offer all kinds of classes. She (and all her friends) are taking "Kids in the Kitchen" that is being taught by her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Dummer. She is really excited. While we were there, I learned there are swimming lessons offered right after the class (run by the other Kindergarten teacher:) and they make it all really easy and smooth. The pool is right next door to the school. So, sure! Put her in that with her friends (last year I put her in the pool at Mauston, so this is different) and added Collin in too! So they will both have lessons at the same time. Perfect. Now, we just hope for good weather. As always. 

Check out the options for Kate for summer school!

I also picked up the information for t-ball through New Lisbon Summer Rec. I totally missed this last year and her friends all played t-ball. It looks like they practice for 1 hour each week and have a game on Monday nights. Not too bad. I LOVE softball/baseball so I really want this, but we are trying to gauge how much we want to do. There are also short dance sessions offered throughout the summer.....hmmm....

They also had a little art fair on display last night and Kate was excited to show me the picture she chose to display. So fun to see that artwork. I'm not great at art but love seeing what comes out of the kiddos brains....it's amazing! 

Art Show! We had to go around twice before we found her picture:)

We also went camping again! Since we had the camper ready to go and we may not be able to camp for a little while...we decided to go for it. We had some other commitments but just crammed it all in! So last weekend, we booked a site locally, near Lyndon Station. We looked at the website and were impressed. We drove separately down there on Friday evening and rolled in just before sunset. The plan was to have fish fry at the restaurant right on site, on the water. Well, the campsites were super close together and the place was 95% permanent/seasonal sites. The office was closed the whole time and so Dave went in to the bar/restaurant as directed and some local drunk (self-appointed "Mayor" of the campground) came out to help him. Dave said the place was so smoky, we were NOT eating there. So, we set up and drove 8 miles into the Dells to eat. We had a good time at Sprecher's and then went back. We put the kids down and started a fire in our new fire pit from Ron and Bobbi (smoke-less!!)

The campsite

A tired, silly boy

They just love coloring! 

Another family was just pulling in and setting up in the dark (no fun!) when this drunk guy wanders down the path yelling, "Look out, Kudjo! Kudjo!" to his tiny little dog. He went up to these people and started talking to them THINKING THEY WERE US. They were confused. I was like, "Dave he is going to come over here and if he keeps yelling, he will wake up the kids. I am NOT having him wake the kids." 

Then we heard, "Oh, there's that guy...I'm going to go over and say hi.".... I started walking to him and said,"Sir, we have 3 children trying to sleep. It needs to be quiet, have a good night." He kept talking and his little dog ran circles around our feet, wrapping us up in the leash. He was clueless and just smoked in our faces and ignored our requests that he leave. We finally said goodnight and turned around and he did leave.

Oh my goodness...we were thinking - what did we get ourselves into!??!

It was cold overnight, but we were fine in the camper!! They slept well, but were up early. I went for a run around the campground....real interesting place. Most of the trailers had decks/sunrooms/additions that were built on to them that were 1-2 times as big as the trailer. Crazy. I also took my first shower in the camper as you had to pay to use the showers at the bathhouse. Our camper rocks!

Yep. This campground has a riverboat.

And bayou fan boats. And there was a junky limousine
Super normal

Ay was tired after our run

I had to take Kate to birthday party back home and Dave took the boys to Home Depot to grab some more stuff (of course:). We met back at the camper around 3:30 p.m. The boys were napping. The sun came out and we had a nice afternoon/evening! Went for a walk/to the playground, rode bikes, cooked over the fire and played some more. Put Ayden down early and the big kids roasted marshmellows. Put the big kids down and had another drink by the fire. We saw and were bit by the first mosquitos of the season:)

The kids did love the various playgrounds

They LOVED this. And of course 2 of the 3 got hurt on it. Or maybe it was all 3

I only have one thousand memories of biking around campgrounds with Tony when I was younger:)

Nice evening!

Other playground! 

Amazing craftsmanship

Please make sure your tetanus is up to date

They don't care!!!

Dragging her long hair through the dirt

The pirate ship. I was a crocodile that they put in the dungeon

Marshmellows! She had waited all day!

He had one smore, but then he just wanted to eat the untoasted ones.
Kate was the same way previous years, but now wants to toast them.

All showered and getting ready for bed
TV on in our room while we shower them one at a time

And....a little bit of time out by the fire by ourselves

Our plans were to make some french toast the next morning, but it was raining and the kids had been in the camper for many hours and so Dave convinced me to go get brunch somewhere:) However, we forgot that the Dells are now busy. All the places had lines out the doors, in the rain. But we found Perkins and got in. It was okay. And we went back to the campsite, hitched up our Bullet and headed home. It was a bit of a rush once back home. We had to level the camper on our driveway, get a little unpacked, get Kate inside and ready for dance pictures, let them play and get changed, then I took Kate and Ayden to dance pictures and Dave took Collin to a CSA Core Group meeting at the farm.

Hanging out in the camper for hours on a rainy morning

Kate drinking water out of a "pioneer cup"

Kate helped do the boys hair...

Collin learning about growing plants from Farmer Craig!

He had a blast:)

Turns out Dave and Collin got the best end of that deal! (no surprise:) They had a great time with friends on the farm and enjoyed a yummy potluck. I struggled with Ayden waiting FOREVER for Kate's turn for pictures. Not fun, but we survived and Kate was a good sport.

Kate and her dance friends (Kate's way on the other side)

Her recital is coming up in a week! I will admit to being excited that we will have a break for awhile:) And I always love seeing her perform - she does so well. And it will be quite a distraction for the following week. We are trying to figure out the logistics of it all, which is quite hard when we have no idea when her surgery is scheduled for or how long she will be in the hospital. :(  But at least the boys aren't in school - that would be much more difficult.

Yesterday we started moving the boys into one room and Kate into her own room. It will be a long process (not sure exactly how we want it) but I need to go move some things around and keep these monkeys from completely destroying this house.....oops too late! 

Update: Surgery

Okay, so we now know the plan moving forward. 

I got a call on Thursday from Dr. Le's office. Kate is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, May 11 at American Family Children's Hospital. They will call us the day before to tell us what time she is scheduled and said we won't need to arrive until that morning. 

We just got the packet on how to prep her and what to expect. Oh boy. I know it is going to be fine. I trust it will be fine (slight lie...I'm starting to worry about complications) but it is just going to be tough. I'm glad we have a couple weeks. We are going to just have fun, do what we do and prepare. That is good.

Kate is doing really well, I think. She is talking about having surgery, doesn't get upset, but does say she doesn't want to get poked anymore. :( She refers to it as "the thing in my belly that shouldn't be there." 

Dave knows some CRNA's down there, so he has already been corresponding with them. 

They are hoping to do it laprascopically and will need to make a larger opening to remove it whole and without compressing the mass. There is also the possibility of "going open." I think that is the part I'm nervous about. Sending her back and waiting. Why can't mothers be with their children the whole time?!?!  I know why....but the packet said that one parent can go into the OR until your child is asleep, so that makes me feel better. Guesses on who that will be? :) 

Ron and Bobbi will be traveling up to help us that week, watching the boys for us back home, etc. My folks will also be coming to help and we do have some friends in town that have offered to help as well. I have been corresponding with her teacher and she will get some homework, but her teacher said she won't need to do everything she'll miss - since she is doing so well in school. We are guessing she'll miss maybe a week of school. She'll be able to make a field trip on Friday, May 6 and has another one on May 20, so that is awesome! Fun things to look forward to. And she will also be able to participate in her big dance recital on May 7. She is really looking forward to that!

Okay, we are camping and it's time to go have some fun. Here are some pics from soccer last week!

Team Cardinal Red

Heading back home after a scrimmage and pictures

She did awesome! Blocked a couple goals as goalie!

Update - No Update

Mini - update: No real news back from the doctors. They called yesterday to say that the bloodwork has to be sent to 4 different labs. ??!?!!?!?  So, they said they will call us back on Friday with the + or - on the crazy parasite scenario. At that point we will likely schedule the surgery. So, the update is...we don't really know any more.

Also, Collin had his first soccer "game." His age group is pretty "loose" with the term game:) Dave took him last night. It was cold and rainy of course. The verdict on the "game" was.......good and bad.  He did as I was worried about and did pick the ball up with his hands at one point (and ran to another field). He got pummeled by the other kids and stood and cried. He wanted to play with HIS ball and didn't understand that they couldn't use their own balls anymore. And unfortunately, there are some bullys on his team!! I saw it at his first practice. The coach's daughter was so awful - pushing him and stealing his ball (when they were supposed to use their own). She is older and bigger than him. It was one of those mama bear moments for me. I wanted to set that girl straight! 

Well, Dave said the same thing after last night. When Collin got hurt (blood!) she ran down the field and scored, I think, then ran back to taunt him about being a baby and crying. They are on the same team! Dave did his best to calm him down and help him understand what to do (not much instruction from anyone else.)

But the good news was that he also did well! He is awesome at dribbling the ball down the field and he actually scored a goal!!! So.....I was ready to say we will wait a year, but we don't want them to think they should just quit when it is hard. So, we'll keep trying. He is literally the youngest out there. And honestly, halfway decent weather would help!! Kate has her first game tomorrow evening. 

Here's a post about our recent adventures and camper purchase if you want to read - 
http://lenningerblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/adventures-here-we-come.html


I will do another update on Friday evening when we know more from American Family Childrens Hospital. Have a great week! 

Adventures Here We Come!

I'm on a mission this year to get to more state parks and hike and explore and see more of Wisconsin...all of it! We have so many amazing parks right around us here in central Wisconsin. But I want to go further eventually too! I vowed this same thing last year and failed miserably, so I'm started out this year much better!

I took the kids to Devils Lake State Park (Baraboo, WI) on Tuesday, March 29. It was warmish and sunny:) Kate was off of school, so this was our "spring break." 

He loves him so much and overwhelms him with "love" every day:)

"Don't worry, Mom. I got him."

Kate and I both love tree pose:)

Getting ready to head out!

Right along the water, so fun!
Is sometimes super buggy, but it was so early!

He did good after we got going. I need to adjust this with Dave helping me!
I don't think it was fitting me correctly :( 

Exploring up the hill a bit...

Being silly:)

Our fearless leader

So many tempting rocks on this trail!

We doubled back and then drove (good call!) to the playground on the other side of the lake.
Gotta burn off that remaining energy!

This guy thinks he can do everything!!

Then on Sunday April 3, Dave was in D.C. (Mid Year Convention - he is a Regional Director now for the Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists) and it had stopped SNOWING for a day and was warmer...so after church (staffed nursery!!) we went straight down to Mirror Lake State Park near Lake Delton to get those church clothes dirty! I didn't have a great plan and had not prepared enough. I didn't have proper shoes and I didn't have the backpack but oh well!

We played at the playground and did a little hike. Played at a really beautiful amphitheatre and then left right before it started raining! 

Assessing the situation...

Bad picture. It was the only moment the bright sun came out.
He sat happily right there. Because he was eating dirt.

Swinging in church clothes!! :) 

The kids really love to hike, had to take turns being the leader:) Ayden did well but is TROUBLE on the playground, climbs everything, eats dirt and runs away. So.....not too much relaxing when I'm the sole adult there! I had more pictures, but they don't want to upload - grr. 

There are many local state parks, but we want to explore other state and national parks as well! To help in that endeavor and for the huge FUN aspect.....we bought a camper! We've been thinking about it for awhile. And by "thinking about it" I mean, Dave, Kylie, Andrew and other friends have been sending me links to campers for about a year:) 

I have always wanted one but didn't think we would make that jump very quickly. Well, for whatever reason....I decided it would be amazing this year. Ha! Maybe it was the potty training 3 year old or the frequent night potty breaks for our 6 year old. The ability to bathe the kiddos and put them right into bed. The fact that Dave and I are getting older and desiring to sleep on the ground less:) So many things! 

I decided I should probably get into some to see them. Well, it didn't take long then. Dave knows how to capitalize on timing:) So, we shopped them out pretty diligently. We went to see a used trailer at a big lot and ended up really not liking it. We asked if they had anything else and he showed us two slightly newer ones. The second I stepped into the Bullet (yep! that's her name!) I felt "home." She was ours. 

It just felt right. :) 

One slide out. Not too big. This baby is an Ultra Lite

Amazingly, that upcoming weekend we were free and had incredible weather. Done. We decided to surprise Mom and Dad and come down and camp in Decorah. Need to try it out. Near some people who can help us if we need it! And of course we needed it! :)

Dave's new (to us) truck!! Dodge Ram
Loaded up to pick up the camper!

Arriving at our site. It was hot. Like 80 degrees.

Set up! It's a long one!

Oops - out of order...this was pulling away with the camper for the first time

The boys playing at the camper place...in and out of a million pop-ups...

The perfect place for me to work!

We had some issue with unhitching it, needed Dad to come and help.
The men....doing what men like to do

Sunday night:)

We had a few hiccups and stressful moments, but we had a great inaugural trip. We CAN'T WAIT to go again. The kids loved it. I can't tell you much it warms my heart to see them have the excitement I had for camping as a child:) Though my kids are spoiled rotten - I'll have lots of stories about roughing it they can enjoy later! 

Practicing fishing

The kids bunkroom - 4 bunks! And Ayden's pack and play actually fit in there too!

It's perfect for us. The boys relaxing to some PBS show

Kate took the first shower in the camper!
She had to get ready for Grand March - Kelsey's senior prom!

Bubbles! They are such a lifesaver. I need to pack these along at all times:)

Eggs and bacon for breakfast:)

I didn't get to enjoy the hammock, but the kids did!

More amazing weather....went for a walk with friends

Love this chair for picnics! I think he was getting too tired to eat.

Man - these kiddos were excited for their fire.
Come on, Uncle Andy! :)

Marshmellows!!! Life is complete.

And our kids LOVE their electronic devices....I like finding things that hopefully engage them in nature more and more. Yes - the camper has a TV and we will use it to our advantage when we need to. But running around, biking, fishing, exploring will take precedence. 

And you know, we have new "guest quarters" at the house now....so come on up and visit!! :) 

Here are a couple pics from Olbrich Botanical Gardens. We went down to Madison with some friends for a nice brunch and then went to one of our favorite places!! The weather was not awesome, so we didn't go through the gardens - but it was fun to explore the arboretum with the kiddos again!

Clara, Collin and Kate looking at the Koi

A budding scientist?

Such an adorable picture: Clara, Kate, Collin and Harper

This was Ayden at brunch. The man was quiet and double-fisted breakfast the whole time.
Awesome meal out!

I like this one too:)