Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Thank you


Thank you to the person(s) who anonymously paid for Shelby's week at Camp Winnebago. She is having a wonderful time! I wish I could thank you in person, but I pray that you will read my thanks on here. I was shocked when I called last week to pay to find out that her week was already paid in full. What a blessing to us right now as Scott's ex-employer put up a fight in Scott getting unemployment. Then he had the nerve to not even be available for the hearing! ARGGGGHHHH! What an a**hole! I digress...Shelby really is loving camp and I am praying hard and crossing my fingers and toes that she doesn't pick up any "bugs." Her last time at camp she caught Rota virus and spent about 3 days in the hospital.
Riley is just being Riley...just beautiful, smart and, truthfully, she exhausts me with her knowledge. I just can't seem to keep up. Scott took this picture of her a few weeks ago with his camera phone. Great, isn't it?!?! She's a little hottie! Yes, we are already worried about her pre-teen and teenage years. She's finding out things can be a bit boring when your sister is at camp. She's done it twice this year plus 2 weeks of 1/2 day camp. Shelby survived, she will, too. As long as there are books in the house, she'll be just fine.Here is Avery trying out her little chunky legs at walking. She's been taking several steps for a few weeks now, but still isn't sure about the whole walking thing. She is so wobbly and CUTE! Crawling is still her preferred mode of transportation and her dirty little legs can prove that! She's wearing a pair of sunglasses that were Riley's as a baby, handed down to Shelby and now Avery is sporting them. She had her 15-month check-up last week and weighs in just under 24 lbs. and is 30 1/4 in. tall. She was crabby on Friday and Saturday and running a temp between 100-102, but it turned out to not be much of anything at all. She still adores her sisters and is very fun to play with.

Just wanted to fill everyone in on our summer so far. Take care!

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Fun in Lovington, family time at the children's museum & the girls

We had a great time in Lovington visiting with our family. We took the big girls to a parade about 15 minutes south of my uncle's farm in Sullivan, IL on Friday. Not much candy was gathered as we were at the end of the parade route, but we were next to an awesome park with the tallest slide I've ever seen. The girls loved it! And, to make it even better, there was a carnival that started up next to the park after the parade. How much better does it get?!?!?! Scott and the girls made sure that I got plenty dizzy on all the rides. That evening we watched the Lovington fireworks from my Uncle & Aunt's 4-season porch along with the rest of the family.
4th of July

The next day was spent at the farm just enjoying our family. The girls donned swimsuits at one point to play with water guns and run through the sprinkler. Riley, our fish, dunked her head in a bucket I think in a desperate attempt to swim!

Sunday we all had brunch together. After we laid Avery down for her nap, Scott, me, and the big girls headed to Decatur to the Children's Museum of Illinois. That was alot of fun!
Children's Museum of Illinois

Monday started out with a bad thunderstorm and water standing in the fields and across the roads around my uncle's farm. We headed towards Normal around 11 to meet up again with our friends, the Tiede's. The weather cleared enough for us to spend the afternoon at one of their city waterparks. Lots of fun was had there and I got a GREAT picture of the 4 big girls before we left. They are beautiful little girls!Riley, Annika, Shelby & Frankie

Friday, July 04, 2008

A stop in Normal

Isn't this picture amazing? Annika and Avery...the 2 "A" girls. Just taking a moment to hang out together. So sweet. I always look forward to talking with Annika. Such a sweet voice; and the way she says things. Anni had a slight limp from her heart cath she just had 2 days before. Her spirits were great, though. We talked about the flavor of anesthesia that she had and she told me how she had to take it easy for a few days. We stopped for a brief visit on our way to Lovington, IL for my side of the family's "Christmas in July." Normal is halfway between Rockford and Lovington. If all goes well we will be spending Monday at a waterpark in Normal with the Tiede's on the way back home.

More pictures of our visit and this weekend to come.....