Disasters Avoided

There are many joys of being a parent of a two-year-old. This week, I also got to experience two heart dropping moments.

The first one occured on Wednesday. About a month ago we moved Eva out of the nursery and into the "big girl room," complete with a twin bed, new dresser, and her many cherished things. The transition went so well! (Sometime when the room is cleaned up, I'll post pictures). Anyway, after her nap, she called to me as she usually does. When I went to open the door, I found it locked. Before I panicked too much, I asked her to turn the knob. She did and it unlocked easily. Luckily, I didn't have to move forward with the "how to get trapped daughter out of her locked bedroom" plan.

Then there was yesterday... Our whole family was dressed and ready to get out the door when I decided to run downstairs to get a water bottle out of our basement fridge. As I was opening the door, I heard a little voice say, "I come too." Immediately after that, I heard the sickening sound of a toddler falling down the stairs (augmented by the sound of her frantic father dashing down behind her in hopes of helping). Needless to say it was a very unpleasant experience for all three of us. Eva, although scared, managed the fall with ease and had no signs of injury. She even calmed down surpisingly fast. As one of my coworkers quotes "her guardian angel was watching over her." (Common lingo at the Catholic college where I work.)

Reflecting on the week, I feel very blessed that both incidents were minor. And, for the sake of my poor heart, we'll hope we can breeze through the next few weeks without any more potential "disasters."

Happy Halloween!

Our family really got into the spirit of the holiday this year! We have been very busy with recent Halloween activities. Tonight was beautiful, perfect for treking round the neighborhood and making a few stops at friends' houses. Eva poses on our front porch with our pumpkins. This is the first Halloween that we have lived in the country. Although I left a big bowl of candy and a "help yourself" sign, it doesn't appear that very many people visited our house. We did have one neighborhood family visit before we took off for our evening.
On Thursday night, Grandma and Grandpa came over for some pumpkin carving fun. Grandpa and Dad proved to be very artistic...and efficient. They had these carved in no time while Grandma and I played with Eva, who was wearing out from the week's activities. (The Hollingsworth pumpkin pictured at the bottom is a ceramic one made for us by my aunt.)

Eva and Les pose with our big pumpkin, purchased from the Amish at Farmer's Market. Eva was hesitant to reach her hand into the pumpkins, but loved to yell "gooey" as we cleaned them out.

On Wednesday, the Children's Center hosted a "Spooky Supper." After the potluck, we visited Dobson Hall where the college students put on a bash and trick-or-treating for the little ones. Eva is pictured here with her friend Emelia.

Crazy for Uncle Ryan

Lately, Eva shows an affection for young men. She often talks at home about "Unko Wyan" and Mr. Aaron (her teacher in the 2-year-old room.) She had a riot with Ryan during our trip. Every morning she ran into his room and acted as his own personal alarm clock. While we worked to clean and organize his new place, she would often tag along after him, being his little buddy. Hitching a ride during our hike. She is wearing her WP fleece, a gift from him last year.
Notice the hands in the pocket...she was quick to imitate his every move.

Enjoying a gourmet McDonald's meal on our hotel room floor. Ryan and Eva dined and swam while Les and I went out for a grown-up evening with his coworkers. We had dinner at Maggiano's in downtown Denver. We were big fans but felt that one dish alone was enough to feed an entire family. Those Italians know how to eat!

Colorado Escape

Our family enjoyed a trip to Colorado last week. The timing couldn't have been better! Les had a conference to attend in Denver and Eva and I tagged along. Ryan had recently bought a condo in Winter Park. While Les worked, Eva and I stole away for a couple of days to visit him in his new place. We had a wonderful time. Here are some pictures (unfortunately they loaded in reverse, so we'll work backward...) Eva, Ryan, and I enjoyed a hike on a local trail. I was curious when I saw boxes that resembled file cabinets along the trail. Ryan filled us in. They were really secure trash cans so the bears can't get in them. Bears??!!

Sunday was our first full day in Denver. The Denver marathon was also going on. We enjoyed walking around the downtown and cheering for the 3 Luther runners who entered the event. In this picture, Eva shows Ronald she can spin plates with the best of them!

We landed in Denver on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed a dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shack right across the street from our hotel. Les and I split the "Big Bucket of Boat Trash." We had a lot of fun with the lobster claws.

Eva loved the restaurant. It was equipped with colors, balloons, and lobster....she loved playing with the claw and, later eating it.

All smiles on the plane. Les and I actually flew out of different airports. (His flight was booked through work and I found cheaper fairs at another nearby airport.) I was a bit nervous about traveling with my "busy" two-year old at 28 weeks pregnant. But, my fears were for nothing. Traveling was very easy and Eva enjoyed the airport, plane, train, and taxi that we took on our journey.

The Pacy Fairy

Yes, Eva is a pacifier user. For the longest while, her need for the pacifier was limited to naps and bedtime. She had a tough time while Les was gone this summer. It was very apparent she missed her daddy. Suddenly comfort objects like her blanket and pacy were used to calm and comfort herself. While this has improved, she is more dependent on her pacifier than we liked.

Last night we started to tell her about the "Pacy Fairy:" a fairy who comes to the house and takes pacifiers from the big kids who no longer need them and gives them to babies. (Yes, already we are telling our child made-up truths.) She listened carefully to our story and pondered the idea.

After some thought, she responded, "Pacy help me be happy." Followed by, "Pacy help me feel much better." (You've got to hand it to her, the kid has logic).

Later, after more mention of the fantastical Pacy fairy, Eva replied, "I think about it."

We'll let her marinate on this one for a few more days until the Fairy's appearance sometime soon.

Apple Pressers!

For the first time in many years, Grandpa Ron's apple orchard produced some great results. Earlier in the fall, we harvested the McCintosh apples and made apple crisp and apple butter. Yesterday, we shook the remainder of the McCintosh and Red Delicious apples and made cider. 50 gallons of apples yielded 15 gallons of cider. Yummy! We had the perfect fall day to tackle this project. Enjoy the pictures of the pressers at work:

Mom's Trip to Maine

Last week I was fortunate to attend a conference with a favorite coworker of mine in Freeport, Maine. Our adventure began with a trip to Milwaukee and visit to the Johnson Creek Outlet malls. We spent the night at an airport hotel and caught our 6 am flight the next day.

Our first day there was a free day. We rented a car and drove up the coast from Portland. We ate Lobster Bisque at a little restaurant on the ocean, did some sight-seeing and more shopping (Freeport is the home of L.L. Bean) before catching a little nap. We enjoyed appetizers and drinks in the hotel lobby and a beautiful evening walk before calling it a night.

The next day we attended a conference put on by Katie Wood Ray, a guru in the field of teaching writing to students. I was familiar with her work and was excited to see her in person. Her approach was new to Nancy but she found it engaging and refreshing. Our afternoon consisted of a visit to a local State Park and a great hike. Then, we enjoyed a fancy dinner that night in downtown Freeport.

The next day was our return home. All in all, it was a great little adventure!

Nancy and I at the Park.
The beautiful colors of Maine in the fall.

Homecoming Week

Eva has been living up Homecoming week...more so than her dad and I, although we do plan to take part in festivities this weekend. The Children's Center is hosting dress up days all week. On Tuesday, she wore her new pink Elmo hat for "Hat Day." Today she was a "cool dude" for sunglasses day. And tomorrow, she has the choice of three pairs of socks to wear for "Silly Sock" day. She has been having a lot of fun with all of the themes.

Every day we get a daily report on how her day was. Sometimes they have comments. I have saved a couple of my favorite ones. Oh the life of a 2-year-old! Read on:

"Eva had fun on our walk today. She especially enjoyed climbing on the big rocks with her friends."

"Eva had fun rolling down the hill outside today. She also played with boats in the sensory table for awhile."

"Eva had fun decorating a paper air balloon for art today and enjoyed crawling through the long red tunnel."

Such innocence!

Dancing Machine

Last night, we attended my cousin Nate's wedding reception. It was a beautiful event with great food, entertainment and people. Although we had an opportunity to chat with lots of my family members, the highlight of our night was watching Eva. She bounced back and forth between the dance floor and a "kids' room" complete with bouncy balls, puzzles, and art activities (what a great idea at a reception with many children.) At one point, the dance floor was full of people doing the cult classic Chicken Dance. And, in the middle of everyone...Eva was showing her stuff. I couldn't help but scan the floor and see most people fixated on her entertainment. It was a cute moment for us to enjoy.

We left the reception and headed home while she slept peacefully in the backseat. Upon arriving at home, she woke up, crying and demanding "Dance! More dance!" Apparently she was having sweet dreams of her own about the evening.

Our little party girl.

Eva adores cousin Steve.

(Although, while looking at this picture, she smiled and named him "Aunt Sue." Oops! I often pair the mother and son when I talk about them. She seems to have gotten slightly confused.)

The Negotiator

Eva's developing language is beginning to take on new functions. Lately, she has become quite the "negotiator." Here are some examples of her little mind at work:

Her newest phrase is "right now," which follows most requests. She is getting more and more demanding so I've been reminding her to say please. Tonight, at supper, she loudly announced "more milk right now, please." (We'll keep working on those manners.)

If she'd like another treat (cookie, candy, cake....anything with sugar), she'll say: "one more," then "just one more," and finally "a little bit more, please." Grandpa Ron often falls the victim to these requests.

Yesterday she wanted to stay at the park longer. While holding up her pointer finger, she announced "more park....one more minute."

I find her 2-year-old qualities more endearing than anything. Of course we cope with the occasional temper tantrums, but I am continually fascinated by her growing development. We see new evidence of it every day.

Back to School

The start of the school year has been a happy time for all of us. I think we're adjusted to new schedules. My college recently kicked off its academic year with Convocation. Faculty, students, and staff participate in the program and tree-planting ceremony. Here is a picture of my fabulous department all decked out in academic attire for the ceremony. The colorful robes indicate the doctor's (and there are four new ones this year!!) I should have stood in the back with the other ones wearing master's robes. Maybe in a few years....

Dairy Days Fun

Our local fair is in town this weekend. Les, Eva, and I made a pass through the midway last night before Les headed up to Army duty for the weekend. The parade was this morning. Eva and I walked with "Family Connections," a local agency that puts on a lot of great programming for the community. I sit on their board of directors and enjoy supporting such a great cause. We were in the front of the parade so we were able to run back and catch a good seat to see the rest. She loved the bands with the flag girls and drum lines. Anyone who threw candy was also a favorite. Then, tonight we ate dinner there, caught a few more rides, and socialized with the people in our town.

Hobbies

With the new space and land we acquired, I was excited to plant a garden this year. Despite all of the rain, our plants did remarkably well. Between my parents' garden and ours, we had an abundance of vegetables. So, my dad and I decided to do some canning. And then some more....and some more....we now have a surplus of canned goods stored downstairs in our basement. Making our second batch of salsa...

One night we canned 25 pints of pickled cauliflower and bread and butter pickles.

Our third and final day of canning salsa produced big results.

And, the fun isn't over yet. Three jars will be entered and judged at the Belmont fair next weekend. We're hoping for some big prizes!

Snapshots of Summer

Some fun pics.... These "corn eaters" enjoy a first cook out on our new deck.

Mom and Eva pose in front of a "Ted Weier Wagon." One of many welded by my grandfather. Grandpa Ron got inspired and bought one of his own shortly after this picture was taken.

All smiles at her birthday celebration with Grandma, Papa, and Uncle Ryan.

Eva and I made a weekend trip up to visit Dad at Fort McCoy.

Our little swimmer enjoys a lake on post.

Back Blogging

Hello family and friends!

It has been awhile since I have made a post to the blog. We had a wonderful summer, but I'll admit, I got a bit behind. I began teaching an online course which had me working at the computer more than I cared too. Also, our camera was temporarily out of comission so many of our summer memories weren't captured on film. But alas, I committed to doing some posts tonight.

Our summer was very enjoyable even with Les's 6-week army duty. He enjoyed his training and courses for the most part. Eva and I did the small town summer scene with lots of visits to parks, the swimming pool, and some local events. We also spent a lot of time with family and friends.

As always, the months passed quickly and we find ourselves back at work and "school." Les is enjoying his job and the new course he is teaching this fall. I am also happy to be back and am enjoying the second year with much less anxiety than I did one year ago. Eva has adapted well to the Children's Center she attends and comes home with more new words and stories every day. The baby is growing quickly. Les and I got to take a peek during last week's ultrasound. I'm feeling healthy, happy, and hungry....life is good!

A Great Day

Our day was full of fun events and good news!

First off, Eva and I met her physical therapist at a local park for our bi-weekly session. Eva did great and Stacey commented on her developing strength and coordination. She said she has seen so much growth in the past month. In our next session she will formally assess Eva to see how she is doing. The last couple of times there has been a 4-5 month delay in her abilities. We're hoping to see that gap close.

Then, Eva, Grandma and I headed out for lunch and over to our favorite boutique which was having a sale. We found lots of cute things for our homes and had a nice time.

I returned home to find 2 dozen of the most beautiful long stemmed roses waiting for me!! They were an anniversary gift from Les - 1 day early. The were quickly followed by a phone call from him checking to make sure the package was delivered.

After a hot afternoon, I filled up Eva's swimming pool and she swam like a little fish while I watched. Days like this make me think that the stay-at-home life could be a good one!

Happy Birthday Eva!

Eva turned 2 years old today! We started the morning by visiting a park in Lancaster with Angie and Shane. The park was amazing and the kids loved exploring all of the areas. Then, it was lunch at A&W. I gave Eva the option of having Root Beer or milk. She choose Root Beer and downed it! She hardly ate anything else....but that's what birthdays are for.

She spent most of the afternoon napping after yesterday's trip to the river and today's excitement. When she woke up, Grandma and I took her to the pool for a swim. Tonight, she and I watched her favorite "froggy" movie and ate popcorn. She talked on the phone to Grandma H, Dad, and Uncle Ryan before going to bed.

We had a mini-celebration with Dad before he left for training. We'll have a party with my family on Saturday and the Hollingsworth's the following Saturday.

Eva and Shane try out the tire swing, one of many novelties at the park

The kids at A&W. Both were too full to eat the ice cream that came with their kid's meals. Lucky for them, their pregnant moms were happy to indulge!

"On the Move"

Eva has been getting an education about "things that go" this summer. We have had many opportunities to take some fun rides. Check out these pics! Eva and Mom enjoy a train ride at a local museum on the 4th of July

Cousin Nathan gives Eva a lift on a 4-wheeler. (She wasn't excited about stopping for a photo op - which explains the face.)

And, yesterday we enjoyed taking a spin on the Mississippi in the Kieler family's beautiful boat. Here she is pictured with Maddie.

Ladies of the House

Eva is sound asleep and I am enjoying the quiet of the house. Les left tonight for his first of two summer army commitments. In total, he will be gone just over six weeks - two weeks now, a return home for a week, and another month away.

Thinking back, it is amazing how things have changed. In the past, I can remember feelings of emptiness and lonliness while he was gone. While we were dating, I was the one to leave for Spain or a semester in Minnesota. I was not used to being the one left behind. The time was usually filled with work, hobbies, and nights with the girls and it always passed quicker than I anticipated.

This time, my feelings are completely different. Left with a house to keep up, a busy toddler, and two part time jobs, I feel more anxiety about keeping my head afloat than I do sadness. Thankfully my pregnancy is progressing and I am much less tired than I was in the first trimester. I do feel a little sad though, more for Eva than anything. While Les and I understand the idea of duty and obligation, she only knows that Daddy is not home. On the sunny side, he is only away for a brief time and is a short drive from home. He could be across the world for an extended time in a dangerous scenario. It's all about perspective...

Dells Get-away

We recently made a little escape up to the Dells. We tried out a time share deal where we were given some vacation perks in exchange for hearing their sales pitch. Unfortunately, the weather was not that great and we weren't huge fans of our lodging. But, we made the most of it. Beautiful weather greeted us on our last day and we took in some of the tourist attractions. Here are some pictures from our visit to Timbavi Wildlife Park and Mount Olympus. Les ride the camel to Eva's pure delight!

Eva imitates the "arms-up" motion she saw some girls do on an amusement park ride.

We had a lot of fun with the mother and baby giraffe. They loved the food we had and stretched their long tongues for a lick.

Eva plays Goldilocks and has porridge with the three bears. This set-up has been around for years and we have some old pictures of me doing the same thing as a little girl.

After a hot, fun-filled day at the parks, Eva and mom cuddle on a lawn chair.

5 Experiences You Can Only Get in the Country

Only in the country can you....

#5 - enjoy views of wildlife...in our case it's all the stray cats roaming around

#4 - revel in the natural scenery out the back windows...recently they have included our neighbors' underwear out on the clothes line

#3 - get a call from the sheriff's department complaining that your horse is tearing up neighbors' yards (okay - this was actually my dad's experience and the horse wasn't his).

#2 - be stranded over the weekend because the snow plows don't make your road a priority

And #1 - my motivation for creating this blog entry...

#1 - lay awake all night listening to the sounds of a distressed cow in labor. (It's no wonder why I'm so tired today).

You, Part Deux

Two more funny stories about Eva's use of the word you. If you didn't catch it earlier, she calls herself you. So, if she wants a juice, she'll say either "you juice" or "juice you."

#1 So, last night we were grilling out with Ryan. We were having Eva's favorite food: corn on the cob. She watched me butter her corn and then proceeded to stick her fork in the butter and copy my motions. All the while, she was happily saying "fork you" over and over.... only her r's aren't quite right... so you can imagine what this sounded like.... Ryan and Les were dying over this one.

#2 Then later, the three of us were playing cards and this conversation ensued:

Les: For the baby, I like the names _____, _____, and ______.

Lindsay: I'm open to your suggestions, but I just don't like those names.

Les (to Ryan): I've come to terms with the fact that she'll pick the names again.

Lindsay: Well, I am the one who is home with the kids the most. So, I say their names alot more than you do.

Ryan: And yet, Eva still thinks her name is you.

(Les high fives Ryan after that one and I can't help but laugh.) We've still got plenty of time to agree on names we like...

Wednesday Surprise

I surprised Eva today with a trip to Henry Vilas Zoo and a visit with Sue and Steve. We left in the morning and Eva enjoyed watching Shrek on the new DVD player in the car. We ate a picnic lunch with Sue and Steve and visited the zoo's animals, park, and carousel. After a busy afternoon of keeping up with a 4-year-old, Eva conked out for the whole car ride home and continued her nap at home (along with mom). Sue and Eva smile for the camera

Eva and Steve are "joeys" in a giant kangaroo's pouch

Eva the archaeologist

We enjoyed two carousel rides - a clear favorite at the zoo

Next Wednesday's Surprise: a day with Beth at the park and pool

Happy Father's Day!

This past Father's Day I was reminded of holidays in Arizona. Les has been saying for a while "we need to find some friends in Platteville." And, just as he ordered, our family spent Father's day in the company of friends. First stop, a walk and a trip to the park. After lunch we headed to the pool. Both places we ran into other young families in town. Then, the Bjork's stopped over with Ali for awhile. We enjoyed a gourmet Pizza Hut supper before Les and I headed out for the night to a party of one my coworkers. All in all, it was a great day. Les and Eva dine together

After many weeks and much patience...a finished deck to enjoy! Along with this, Les got a new workbench and backyard game of Ladder Ball.

Eva and Les spent some time together today while I worked out. I arrived home to find them out driving around the yard on the lawn mower. Both were all smiles!