Catching Up

So we haven't posted in a while, which goes to show that we're back in the full swing of school and life in general.

Jaymeson is growing like crazy, she's crawling, standing, and has now started standing without holding onto anything. She'll be walking in no time. She has four teeth on the top, and four on the bottom and has started to eat some big people foods. Finally, teeth!

Ellie is loving school, her sister and pretty much everything else. She's such a happy kid. She had her preschool pictures taken a few weeks ago, and has been working on doing things independently, as well as learning about fire safety! She's got a great little song to sing if you have a few minutes.

The girls enjoyed their trick-or-treating as well. We had a beautiful day to head out and visit some family and friends, and wrapped up the night with a trip around the neighborhood. Ellie is loving all the candy, and Jaymeson is trying to steal it, with little success.

Josh and I are good. We are going to watch Josh's cousin, Ashley, play volleyball next weekend. She plays for the U of M, and the Badgers and Gophers square off in volleyball on the 14th. We're going to have an adult weekend and hit up the Badger-Gopher football game the next day since I scored some tickets from one of my co-workers. We're really excited, since we missed hockey this year, and haven't been to football for a few years.

We hope that all is well with everyone!

Oktoberfest

We have all enjoyed celebrating Oktoberfest over the past week, and may even wrap it up with a visit to the North Side Fest Grounds on Saturday. We attended the Maple Leaf Parade last Saturday. It was a beautiful day, even a bit warm for a Branson, and we had a great spot. We sat on the north side near Copeland, so we didn't have to wait for the parade to get to us, and there weren't any breaks in the action.

Ellie loved all the bands and was doing what we like to call "the booty shaker" most of the parade. Jaymeson started getting into things, and bopping up and down in her stroller as well. At one point she was even clapping her feet!

On Wednesday we ventured down to the South Side Fest Grounds for some dinner and rides. Ellie scarfed down her dinner, and was ready to ride before anyone else was done. Our friend Jason took her on the spinning strawberries, and she followed that with a trip on the kiddie roller coaster, and then a ride on the carousel with Josh. The picture of her filled with excitement were taken as she exited the roller coaster.

Jaymeson loved all the sights and was perfectly content (what's new) to hang out in her stroller and look around. She even posed for some adorable pictures.

Thursday night we bundled up for the Torchlight Parade on the north side. The brats were delicious, the weather was cool, and the girls had a blast. Jaymeson zonked out about half-way through, so I held her/she kept me warm. Ellie attempted to hula-hoop with her glowing necklace, which was pretty funny. We didn't get home until nearly 9, but it was worth it.

Tomorrow we're off to Pee-Wee bowling, Pumpkin Fest at Festival, Frank Bahr's 50th Birthday party, and possibly a little festing.

Five Years

Josh and I celebrated our fifth anniversary yesterday. Hard to believe we've been married for five years, and together even longer. A lot has happened in the last five years, both good and bad, and we've gotten through it together.

We spent our anniversary at Pee-Wee bowling...I tried to post a video of Ellie throwing the ball into the lane next to hers, but for some reason it wouldn't post. The video is very Uncle Don-like, but it is hard to hold the camera still when you're laughing so hard. I'll give it a shot again one of these days.

After bowling we went to La Crescent where Ellie walked in the Applefest Kiddie parade with the kids from her preschool. It was a short parade, just a trip around the block, but the weather was warm, and the meeting spot was the blacktopped school parking lot. Needless to say, both of us were sweating.

Josh and I rounded out our day with a trip down memory lane as we attended the wedding of one of my high school friends. I'll never forget her anniversary. The reception was at the Waterfront, and they had the UW-L Screaming Eagles band perform in front of the deck. It was pretty awesome.

The only thing I'd change about yesterday is the fact we didn't have any pictures of the two of us taken...oops! We have many more years for photos though!

Pee-Wee Bowling

We decided to bring Ellie to Pla-Mor lanes this morning for Pee-Wee bowling. I think it goes without saying that she had a fantastic time. Because she only rolled a 38 we will be practicing day and night until she can break 100.

Just a quick update..........there is nothing new to report. So, without further delay....more pics of the kids!!

Preschool

Ellie started preschool today!!! We dropped Jaymeson off at Kimmy's this morning, and when I got back in the car she said, "Just the girls going to school. I'm so excited!!!!!!" Except "excited" was screamed in a super high, drawn out way. It was great.

Got some pictures of her on the bench outside of school, as she found her cubby, by the welcome sign, with her teacher, and again as she waved goodbye to me from the waving window. Managed to hold the tears back until I shut the car door, and lost it.

It was one of those moments that made me realize that my baby is growing up, and reminded me that my dad isn't here to share it with us. Bummer. I reached for my phone to call him, but knew he wasn't there. Wanted to call someone, but figured my mom was sleeping in on her day off (she picked Ellie up at school), and that it was 6 a.m. in Idaho. Way too early to call Stephanie. The tears blended with the raindrops on the windshield and I made it to school, where the kids asked if I had allergies. I told them of my ordeal, and they all said, "Aw."

My mom and my grandpa picked Ellie up from school. She came running out yelling, "Great Grandpa!!!!!" The teacher said she had a great day, sent home a calendar, and Ellie got dropped back at Kimmy's. Ellie will be the "Special Helper" on Sept. 23rd. She gets to bring three things to share, and the daily snack. She's pretty pumped, and said it was a great day. What a big girl.

Just an update

Everything here is good. We took Jaymeson to Urgent Care again last night because she was fussing and just not acting like herslf. We found out that she has thrush. They said it is pretty common after being on antibiotics, and gave us a prescription that should get us through the next two weeks.

We all had a blast at Sesame Street Live on Friday night. Ellie used her free pizza certifcate that she earned through the library's summer reading program, at Happy Joe's before the big show. Both girls really enjoyed themselves.

Last night we attended the parent meeting for Ellie's preschool. She gets to go on Thursday for a little orientation, and drop off her school supplies. I was able to switch the day she visits to the 4th, rather than the 2nd, so I'll be able to drop her off for her first day. We're very excited for her, but sad at how quickly she's growing up!

We both head back for meetings tomorrow and Thursday, will enjoy Friday at home (or at least part of it), and then head back to school on Tuesday. We're going out with some friends on Friday night, attending a wedding on Saturday, and Monday is the Labor Day parade, also known as the Candy Parade in these parts. Should be a good end to the summer!