Anniversary Weekend

Well, this is what 12 years of marriage looks like for us! :) Not bad, huh? 
I'm not gonna lie....Dave and I kind of spaced our anniversary this year. I mean....we didn't forget it exactly, but just didn't spend any time planning anything at all. And...possibly laughed about the fact that it was coming up on the way to our campsite...we had forgotten a little bit:) 

Unshowered and feeling a little rough..but hey  :) 

But, we had a super fun weekend planned with the whole family - what better way to celebrate this marriage! Okay, a date night would be good...we'll try to get that done sometime:) 

Here's the fun weekend we planned! 
A typical fall weekend in the Midwest....Saturday's high - 86 degrees. Sundays high - 68 degrees:) I packed a little of everything but thankfully we have that big camper. 

We wanted to camp near Soldiers Grove, WI where there is an annual Arts Festival we love to attend. I found a campground in Gays Mills, WI which was 7 miles away. We didn't get to leave until late on Friday night and with fall...we lost all daylight by the time we arrived. Boo. 

We also lost all cell service! We failed to print a map or directions...so, one of those stereotypical family adventure moments with cranky parents trying to figure where to go in the dark, in a new town, with the trailer behind...but we figured it out! 

There was no one at the campground, no office so Dave made a call and they said...put the trailer wherever we wanted:) So, we did our best to assess the sites in the pitch dark! But we found. great one. Dave is a master at this camper right now. He basically does it all by himself and I man the kids and try to keep them quiet and out of the way. It worked well! 

The campground was quite empty, so we had lots of extra space and it was perfect level grass. A treat! The kids had so much fun with some glow necklaces as Dave set up. Then off to bed. We didn't have any wood for a fire yet, so Dave and I watched Jerry Maguire in bed the first night:) Fun and wow that movie seems so old now! Hilarious. 

Playing in the warm darkness while Daddy sets up the camper!

We slept well and then Ayden and I woke up early and caught the sunrise through the hills...gorgeous! We had a nice leisurely morning, I showered at the campground/city pool shower house....umm...yeah. After a bit of adventure and bracing for a horrible shower, it was perfectly warm and good. Of course, plenty of moths and creepy-crawlies in there...who wants to shower alone?! Ha:)  (Our camper has tanks and I could have showered there...but we like to reserve it for the kids baths at night)

I badgered Dave to get moving (oops, we didn't get our little grocery run in the night before...no coffee!) and we headed to Viroqua. We hit the new Kickapoo Coffee - I've been wanting to go there for so long! It's beautiful. So yummy. So perfect. Then the farmers market where we got some honey, maple syrup, jam and a rug:) 

He was the pro. He'll be our coffee drinker for sure:)

We then walked up the street and went through an antique store where the kids were pretty consumed with the fountain and the two doves that were in a cage. Then we walked up to a local favorite cafe and I was just drooling and so excited for lunch! But it was closed. Ah!! They were randomly closed for lunch. Open for supper. 

So, we decided to grab some groceries and go back to the camper. I had prepped a chickpea salad and we brought tomatoes for BLTs..so that was a yummy lunch while we watched the Hawkeyes and the kids played outside. 

They had So. Much. Fun.

I know, Mom. No clothes. He took them off! It was 86 degrees:)

Kate and I walked over to a heritage park nearby with a number of local homestead cabins that had been moved. They are not being kept up...but are preserved I guess. It was interesting. 

The floor in the school house was amazing!

Then we hit the road again to check out an orchard! Gays Mills is known for apples and we'd heard about it plenty! Next weekend is AppleFest..so we missed that, but one of the orchards was having their Honeycrisp weekend...score! 

The famous ridge that these orchards are on...was breathtakingly beautiful. And the apples were insane. We bought a bunch of apples and some apple cider donuts. We drove the road and saw a half dozen orchards. 

Sunrise Orchard, the first one on the ridge

We doubled back to Soldiers Grove and decided to eat at this huge, beautiful Victorian Bed & Breakfast (The Acorn Lounge, at the...something Oak Inn) They had a lounge that was very 80s/90s and we ate there. :) It was a little ridiculous and but a whole lot charming. And when we noticed the lights above us...it felt right. :) Very Festhalle Barn, Amana, 2005. 

We did these flashcard things while we waited, was pretty fun

The kids were pretty good. Well, nevermind. Ayden took his shoes off and kept getting out of his chair. The place was like a living room...I didn't feel too bad that he did it. We indulged a bit with the food, but the bill was cheap. We then headed back to the camper to have a fire and smores. 

It was a really lovely evening and then the kids went to bed well. Dave and I stayed up and a number of drinks:) It's been awhile and was lots of fun...but I felt a little peaked in the morning:) 

Sunday brought coffee in the camper:) and then packing up and heading to the Driftless Arts Festival. We met up with our friends the Plamanns and we had our regular good time! We bought a few pottery pieces, ate local food and enjoyed the sunshine and 68 degrees. The kids then got to play at the playground for awhile before we drove home.

They wouldn't leave this tree...

Great friends...:) 

They had a blast playing around in the open areas...the only problem on the day was the bees! 

A really perfect weekend! We'll be aiming to replicate this again next year for sure! Let us know if you want to join us!

Remember Us?

So....yeah. I'm super sorry. I haven't blogged in a year. Pretty crazy. Almost exactly a year. Basically what happened is I entered a new part of MY life...I'm trying to figure out what I want to do - career wise - and I let Beachbody take up the "mom cracks" of my day and devoted time to helping other on a similar health journey. 

And it was wonderful. I have learned a lot. I have a team of amazing women that are my tribe. I am propelled forward to MORE (more on that soon). But I also need to catch up a bit. And with school starting again...it feels like I need to update. 

Here's the thing.  There are so many ways to share our life. I use Facebook. But then backed off, then ramped up again. Ugh, I can't decide. I like Instagram but cannot keep up there. I don't regularly post and I can't write much there :) 

I want to do a blog that has many other things too...recipes, my personal/professional journey....but I'm not sure if that should be the same as our family updates...so the road may be bumpy yet. Sorry. Mid-thirties roller coaster here:) 

Eating beignets at Cafe du Monde in NOLA

My team:) 

New Orleans was so cool, historic and beautiful

Here's me catching up on the past year...(big breath in....)

1. School was great..Kate rocked 1st Grade. Her teacher loved her. Collin was very anxious to also go to school. 
2. The boys did great at home, but each year is different, we had plenty of challenges as well as fun times. I think I get more cabin fever as the energy of the boys increases and the winters stay the same length - long. 
3. We had a winter of more sickness than ever. Hoping that changes this year. We normally fare really well, so maybe we were just due. 
4. Thanksgiving was home with just us five. Mom and Dad moved to California. We made a big meal and had a blast...then I was so tired, I didn't want to eat the meal in the evening :) 
5. We spent Christmas in Missouri and soaked up a nice visit with Ron and Bobbi. We had a weekend with Andrew and Kylie at Mom and Dads and then hosted my brothers and their families at our place right around New Years. 
6. Not much skiing or snow fun this winter. Hoping for a better one this year. We now have hills to sled! 
7. We traveled to California in late winter and enjoyed a cool trip out there. It was their rental house...they have recently moved and purchased a beautiful new house. I'm hoping to visit them sometime soon.
8. Kate didn't get out of school until June 7. We headed to Missouri for a week and enjoyed wonderful time with Ron and Bobbi. He felt well, we had great weather and we totally maximized the time there. It ended with a big family reunion and got to see many relatives. 
9. We came back and both big kids got to attend the last 2 weeks of summer school. They loved it. Kate tried t-ball/coach pitch and did good...but we missed tons of games.
10. In July, I traveled to New Orleans for Summit -the yearly gathering of Beachbody coaches..it is so fun and amazing to be with my team. But I was pretty overwhelmed at the end and was ready to be home:) 
11. I took the kids to Decorah for a week of relaxing and we had our Rosendahl Family Reunion and golf tournament. We camped at Old Barn Resort..it was so fun! And hot and humid. 
12. The kids did swim and Kate moved up a level! She has lost so much of her fear lately...her favorite thing is going off the diving board without a life jacket :) Collin did fine. His instructor said he was her favorite student. His happy little personality showed through the screaming and short attention spans of the rest of Level 1 :) 
13. We went up north in Minnesota with Mom and Dad and Andrew and Kylie...such a peaceful and relaxing place. We LOVE that lake and it is such a beautiful home. We had a blast watching the solar eclipse and skiing and sitting still:) 

In Missouri...I don't know if I have the big family pics on my phone! 

Minnesota vacation

That brings us to now! We had lots of little adventures along the way. And school has officially started this week. So, lets dive into the school year and current situation of our family.

Kate (almost 8!) is in 2nd Grade! She is beyond excited and loves Ms. Haschke. She does not like the very disruptive boy she sits next to (I've been a chaperone....Jamin is....tough to deal with for sure). She is also finally struggling a bit and not just acing everything out of the gate...I think this will be our main lesson for the year. 

2nd Grade - First Day

Collin. (4.5 yo)  is in 4K! He goes 2-3 days a week. Not very much but he is excited and loves it (1 day so far:) He did come home with wet pants...had an accident at the end of the day. Argh. He trained with NO accidents whenever that was....but lately, he is having them. I hope we fix this quick! He has the same teacher Kate had (Ms. McGuire) and has had NO separation anxiety. My only fear is he is stubborn and oblivious and has never gone to a daycare or preschool like Kate did. So she was better prepared. But he will do great - I know. 

4K - First Day

First Day!

Collin asks frequently if he is five yet. He knows his birthday is "when it snows" but he believes he grows and gets bigger every night while he sleeps. So he always asks:) 

Collin is pretty great at being a follower and playmate of Kate and her ideas. But he also gets to be the "leader" with Ayden....and he does well in both scenarios. 

He has a lot to say and since Kate has often monopolized the conversations, we are trying to let him drive conversation more. It is so fun to hear his mind:) He is a funny guy. He wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. And a jet pilot. He is also becoming quite obsessed with Daddy and wanting to be like him. If you ask him how something was (school, a trip) or what he liked...he's say "everything." Or "nothing." Not a lot of detail when you want it. Then random, confusing facts at random times. He keeps us on our toes.

Ayden (2.5 yo) is a parrot. He mimics and repeats what is said around him. He is a clown and has a mischievous smile and knows how to melt your heart. He is very polite - tons of please and thank you. He is the one that will do exactly what you think he won't. He will get hurt and rarely cries or seems bothered by it. But he is my most clingy and always wants mom if he can see me. I see that changing a bit....and wanting Daddy more...but he is my clingy babe. 

None of these looks is his really mischievous face...:)

Ay is happy playmate of both older kiddos and goes along with their ideas. He is a picky eater but changes day to day. And in general, doesn't eat much but I have admittedly gotten into some pretty terrible habits this summer. He asks for freeze pops every day. Or chocolate. He LOVES chocolate. 

Kate is a healthy eater, but she is always trying to earn/get a treat like a sucker or ice cream. Collin has become our best eater...after being SO picky for us. I've enjoyed this change very much! He will probably do an even mix of packed-lunch and hot-lunch at school. 

All the kids enjoyed our backyard/beach this year. With life jackets on...we felt safe and confident. Lots of playing in the sand. Some swimming and if we are in the water with them...they are real fishes and love it! Kate has fallen completely in LOVE with paddle sports. Paddle Boarding and kayaking...she is awesome at it and begs to go all the time. I'm so excited and grateful for this house! 

So that just about catches us up...here are just a few other things on the burners:

1. Ron continues to battle this awful cancer. The journey has been a roller coaster with some times feeling great and enjoying travel and friends. And there have been small procedures, bumps in the road and many side effects to deal with. He's had a number of different chemo combos and treatments. He is currently not feeling as well as the summer. He is starting his last option for chemo and we are hoping to buy as much time as possible. It will be important to spend time together in the coming months. Please keep praying hard for comfort, peace and pain relief. 
2. Dave is about to step up and become president of Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists. He is so good at this role (has been on the board for the previous year) but the next 12 months will have plenty of stress, meetings and travel on top of his normal workload at the hospital...so we are gearing up for that. 
3. I am looking into stepping back or altering how I am coaching through Beachbody for the next year. I am looking into getting certified as an instructor for Beachbody fitness classes and hope to start education toward a health coach certification soon. I think this is aligned with my ultimate goals and hopes for my career and what I can do in our community. I also have set the personal goal to keep up better with family memories (photo books and this blog:) 

I will try to post as much as I can. This is a great way to record life and I do hate that much of 2017 will be "lost" but I'm learning to not beat myself up about these things! Move forward and think positively. 

So, here's to a positive, peaceful and in-perspective year (school year) ahead. 

Peace~

  Erin

Life is Crazy

Here's another quick photo update. Last weekend I went to Decorah for a Girls Weekend. I was supposed to run the Loop de Loop 5K (my first one really running it and had been training a bit) but it was cancelled due to flooding :(  but I came anyway and enjoyed some "time off." It was wonderful, but I felt distracted and a bit moody. As I was leaving the house in Wisconsin, I was signing papers for the bank for our new house, deciding on a new master bed, was thinking a lot about Ron, and was leaving Dave and the kids when I kind of wanted to just be together. I know, totally ridiculous....enjoy the weekend off!! :) I did have a good time and there are some pics below to prove it!

Our house dealings have been so frustrating. Our buyers who have been a bit difficult, need to respond to us on our response to their remedy list (small repair on our logs was requested) and then they said they want to move up our closing date. As far as the new house, the inspection turned up some issues (more than we were expecting but I keep forgetting they grabbed this out of foreclosure) and they didn't respond to our remedy list. I guess there was an email late last night from them (to our realtor) that said, "Let's talk."  I'm not happy. I don't know when I'm moving or to where yet. Dave is confident that it will work out but we also know they "said" they showed the house - our new house - over the weekend. What the heck?!?! 

We've started purchasing a ton of furniture, I'm trying to pack up more and more and I just want to feel confident or at least comforted with what is happening next. So, please pray for the next month to go smoothly in that regard. Thank you:) 

This week has been a little topsy turvy too...I forgot about Kate's dental appointment until the night before. Messaged to confirm my babysitter but she couldn't do it anymore. So the boys came along down to Madison for Kate's filling on Monday. It was a debacle. The dentist office is awesome, but Collin had a poopy diaper right before they were going to start (like, Kate has the funny nose on and was super ansy) the hygienist insisted I could change him there in the room. Ayden was everywhere and dumped Goldfish crackers on the floor. Collin was moving around and climbing on Kate's chair. And Kate was going crazy. She could not handle it. I don't know why I didn't know that was going to happen. I guess I thought that the laughing gas would mellow her out. Nope. 

She was kicking and screaming when they gave her novacaine. When they tried to just put that little bracket thing on the tooth, she flipped out. So they gave more novacaine. But anytime he came near, she went nuts. They were soothing and sweet but then honestly, he (very calmly and softly) got tough with her. That worked. But she was rigid, and squeezing my hands so much. Better than kicking and flailing like before. But either her pain or her anxiety was through the roof. They were maybe going to do a cap but did a filling. It wasn't as deep as he originally thought. She never had any enamel on that tooth, from birth and we've been watching, knowing we'd have to do this. If the spring of this year didn't give her issues with some medical procedures, we just cemented it with this little visit. Should be good motivation to brush and floss well, right? 

Then the next day, I was supposed to attend a Women's Night Out as an exhibitor for my Beachbody/fitness stuff and I was excited. But had given it so little thought. I forgot to dig deeper into my contacts for a sitter. Realized I was supposed to set up before Kate even got home from school and learned Dave was on call. I couldn't find anyone to watch the kids. And I couldn't bring them. So, I missed it. I was bummed, mostly because they asked me to get a table there. I know I'll do it in the future and I did get a lot done at home and that did feel really good. 

Today is gloomy and cold but good packing weather:) We have dance and church tonight, that is always a little stressful with timing and logistics but I love going to church, so that will be nice. It's a good mid-week pick me up! 

Then tomorrow is our last day all together again as Dave is gone all weekend for anesthesia meetings. :(  I'll have to plan on lots of movies/packing/sorting and then something fun for the kids and I to do if the weather is nice. 

Okay, that was more than I expected to type, here are some pics from my phone....

Ayden will wake up from his nap and you can often get him back to sleep. He cuddles up with you and then zonks out again (depending on other noises, etc) He is also wanting to cuddle/rock before bed too. Not his normal, but we are soaking it up.  

 Look at this crew. On my runs we have ample snacks and this time Katie's dog as well:) 

 The boys eating red pepper at their request.

 I went to the bathroom. This guy climbed up and was putting some powder on. The bedspread. 

 Lots of "packing" going on....

 Collin practicing writing his name. He prefers to do this on boxes or the driveway. 

 Every box is made into a rocketship, his favorite thing.

(backward "C", o, l, l, i - up above, and then n over the last l.

This is actually his name :) he's getting better and better lately. And I have also realized he learns, works, practices differently from Kate. I can already see how we need to "parent" each one individually. Collin needs more verbal praise, cues and "tricks" to get him to keep going. But once he is excited about it or feels some success, he goes, goes, goes... so interesting. 

I was so scared we would be buying whatever the kids broke/ruined....so far, so good.

 This is us furniture shopping with our children late at night. Not recommended.

He was in here a long time. And we thought...cool. We know where he is.  :) 

He loves grabbing his legs when he poses....do I do this?!?!

 Kate's room in the new house. The boys just tackled each other for an hour.

Possibly my SIL and I have a love of Moscow Mules:)

 Girls Weekend! 

Randee, Kylie, me, Mom, Stacey

 My almost-forgot Madison trip was good, I finally got my oil changed. The kids destroyed this lounge kids room. 

Poor Kate. She was numb for a long time. We did get ice cream afterward at the dentists suggestion. Look at that half smile! Her whole side of her face was red for a long time, she looked rough. 

I haven't taken a good pic of the boys recently, we finally got their hair cuts while shopping for furniture in La Crosse. Collin (who cracks me up all day long) looks so grown up. Ayden still just looks like trouble:) 

I didn't really take time to proof this...sorry! Love you all....