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This is what we are doing....and nothing is stopping us this weekend :) Been enjoying the pool at my parents' house and the new slip n slide. Fun in the sun...school is out and a long weekend to boot!!!

Hummingbirds

We have three, I believe, who have been frequent visitors. Love these birds!

Time To Fly

As I went out to get the mail this morning I noticed a baby robin chirping, hopping...trying to spread it's wings to fly. And all the while, momma bird was not far behind kind of pushing it along. Then I got closer to take a picture and I noticed daddy bird chirping out the warning sound that something was getting way too close. It was a beautiful sight and a gentle reminder that when it comes time to fly, momma and daddy can only do so much...for it's the baby bird who can only make it happen.

5 Awards and 1 More Day

Got to attend Gabi's School Award Ceremony today. She walked away with 5 awards and boy, was she excited!!!

* Choir Participation Award

* Student Council Participation Award

* Certificate in Mathematics Award

* Honor Roll Certificate (all year)

* National Physical Fitness Award

So very proud of her and in 1 day she will officially be a 5th grader! PLEASE SLOW DOWN!!!!

Still that one...

I feel your pain, momma bird.
Trenton is still trying to find that house with his friends to stay in for the summer and possibly the year- they have lost about 3 houses already...Tyler is still looking for a summer job...Gabi is NOT happy with the 85+ degree weather and we do NOT have a pool. Less than one week left of school.

Back on the mat!

Tyler's return to the wrestling mat happened today at Michigan State for the Michigan State Duals. First up, Swan Valley. This kid was not bad, you could tell Tyler was a little rusty...but his last words to me as I repeated the question, "are you sure you are ok to go, Tyler?" were "yeah, I'm fine, but I probably won't be shooting much on my guy being the first time back and all." Boy, did he eat those words up. Instincts kicked in and Tyler went in for the shot. In fact, he got the takedown and that was pretty much all he needed to seal his first win back on the mat... 2-0. Next up, Shamrock. Again, Tyler did more shooting on the kid just letting him get an escape during the last few seconds, winning again 6-1. Coach Snyder decided he would forfeit Tyler on the next round to Samsons, a great team made up of all stars who had won Disney Duals three of four years. It ended up being a good choice, these guys were quite aggressive and playing it safe for now payed off. Tyler was back on the mat agains Rampage Red, but wow, this team was even better than Samsons! They were made up of all state placers in Michigan. Every single one of them. At one point in the match Tyler felt a sharp pain in his shoulder like he may have extended it too far, so he stopped the match, talked with Coach and decided to out the match. Good call. Tyler iced it up and called it a day. Didn't want to take the off season too far, especially with football on the horizon. The team didn't fair as well as last year, but again, considering we were one of two high school teams only (not all stars or placers, etc) we didn't do too bad. We lost to Samsons and Rampage Red (probably the winners) and beat Swan Valley 34-25, Shamrock 35-15 and Lightning 54-19. Not a bad day at all and very excited to see our boy back on the mat. And not only that, but a leader as well. Very proud of him and what he will bring to the team this year. Lookin good, lookin good.

Formal as a freshman

The setting is at Vinnie's (fellow wrestler) house...dinner and dancing. Invitation to all the wrestlers and their dates. Trenton took Jessie Chilson, a friend he met there at school. Looking very good I must say-wish I was there to take pics and gush all over him for being the handsome young man he is!

Presley

Got to take the birthday girl and her sis on a field trip to eat lunch with Gabi!! Needless to say, LOTS of smiles and giggles with these three! Had a great time with Presley today :) Happy birthday sweetie!

Always that ONE!

Doesn't the post below remind you that there is always that ONE in the brood who needs or wants something??? Never a dull moment in a household with children! :)

After the rain

Look what I found today, after a few days of nothing but rain...

the sun is shining again and that makes me smile!

Potato Creek

Headed out today for a little walk in the woods with my babies: Ben, Gabi and Maizy. Had a good time! Even learned something new on this 2 1/2 mile hike! Found a snake in our pathway. It actually started to sit up like a cobra would and hiss. Ben immediately grabbed the dog, put her on a chain and we checked it out. Since he didn't know what kind it was, Ben refused to mess with it, had me take a few pics and we discussed it the whole way to the Nature Center. Learned it is an Eastern Hognose. The Nature Guide also told us that if we would have messed more with it, the snake would have really put on a show. She explained that it sits up like a cobra does to scare off enemies. If this doesn't work, the next trick would be to turn over onto it's back and act dead, tongue hanging out, blood oozing from mouth and all! Interesting! Had even more fun sitting back at the Nature Center watching when two raccoons decided to come and eat the left over seeds from the bird feeders. They look so cute, but wow, seeing those teeth close up were definitely a wake up call. Enjoyed our time just walking, enjoying the nice breeze, talking and being together on this Sunday afternoon. Welcome sunshine!!!

Fire and a Favorite

Finally got to use our new firepit we bought while vacationing over spring break and got to have one of my favorite things in the world... s'mores!!! Just the right setting...not too cold, not too hot, just turning dark outside and Gabi noticed the first star of the night!! A wish was made :)

Look what we found...

Always fun to find one of these to watch...

All City Track Meet-Champs!

The weather broke just soon enough to allow for the All City Track Meet. Gabi was to run in the 70 meter and 200 meter (they took only the top two from each school in each event so she was very luck to compete in these). First up, 70 meter...and yikes. I looked at the size of those girls and my jaw dropped. They were all at least a head taller which means longer legs. But she ran hard and she gave it her best. She finished 6th out of 7 runners. No break was allowed, for they were calling for the 200 meter runners. She got lined up and she gave it all she got placing 3rd in her heat. Minutes later she was in my arms upset that her tummy was hurting. I wasn't sure if she was upset because of her placement, still intimidated by the looks (even though "the measurements are still the same" I reassured her over and over) and size of the track at Mishawaka, or if running back to back races in the humidity did upset her little tummy. Regardless, she sat on my lap and I ran cold water down the back of her neck, just holding her. We waited, anxiously, to see if her time would put her in the final race for the 200 meter but she didn't make it. And funny enough, when we figured that out, she piped up and felt better :) Regardless of what was upsetting her little tummy she did very good. And even though daddy told her at the beginning of the season that if she won the all city track meet he would buy her a digital camera, she got that gift - because she tried her hardest and that's what it is all about!!! So we have a very happy little girl! Good job, Gabi! We are proud of the way she tries her best at everything! And congrats to the Hums track team - Champions this year! Can't beat that - lots of cheers and smiles when the announcement was made. Special thanks to Coach Lewinski!!! Gabi loves him! Below... a video of her running her heat in the 200 meter...

5:11 on 5/11

Our all nighter began Monday evening...well, actually Saturday. We took my parents to Das Essenhaus for their 40th Anniversary and Ben was kind of complaining of some stomach pain and just not being hungry. He didn't eat nearly as much as he normally does there but we kind of wrote it off as being a "bug." I do remember him saying he felt a little nauseaus that night before bed too. So Mother's Day came and Ben was still saying he didn't feel the best and didn't eat much there either...again, untypical for him. When he got home Monday from work he mentioned that the seat belt on the forklift really bothered him and it hurt near and around the center of his belly. We settled down for the night around 9:30 pm and started looking up pain in the center of the belly. We found a site on appendicitis and we read about the symptoms. Every one that I listed he had, except for vomiting. His pain was annoying but not excruciating. It was more or less uncomfortable at this point. We layed down to try and sleep and the whole prior conversation must have bothered Ben enough to say "let's just go to the Emergency Room now." We decided to go to St. Joseph (new hospital) since it was closer and I thought they would be quick. Little did we know...

We arrived and got checked in, got right into a room. A couple of workers came in to get blood work done and collect a urine sample. They were quick up until about this point. It wasn't until about 11:30 pm (we arrived at 10:30 pm) that the doctor came in to actually look at Ben. He told us that his white blood cell count was a bit elevated and he wanted a CT scan. He left and no one returned until 12:15 am when the nurse brought 2 cups of a drink for Ben to down within 5 minutes. She said he would have to drink those and wait 45 minutes....what??? Why didn't she bring those drinks 45 minutes ago??? I was irritated at this point. So, Ben downed the drinks and we waited 45 minutes, 60 minutes, then about an hour and half later (after the nurse came in with the drinks) they came in to get Ben for the CT scan. This was about 1:45 am. Ben came back to the room about 2:15 am and the nurse then told us the results should be ready within 15 minutes. HAHAHAHA 15 minutes to them = 45 minutes

Ben kind of went in and out of sleep but for me it was a bit more uncomfortable so I texted Trenton back and forth until he finally fell asleep. The nurse decided to peek in about 3:15 am and asked if the dr. had been in yet and I irritatedely replied, "no." I was not a happy camper at this point. She said she would go look for him and right around 3:45 am the dr finally made it in and said the CT scan showed a swollen appendix, possibly burst, and surgery was required. About 3 other personnel came in at that point...about 4 am and said the surgeon and anesthesiologist was on their way. The surgery was scheduled for 5 am. My head was spinning. Ben was in disbelief when the dr. said that Ben didn't act nearly as bad as what the CT scan showed. I was floored as well.

5 am came and the they indeed moved us up to surgery and I waited. It was kind of funny...the clock said 5:11 am when I left for him to have surgery and the date was 5/11 as well. Something we made light of and will remember. It lasted about an hour and the surgeon came out and explained that it looked bad inside. They were glad they decided to cut him rather than use laparascope. The appendix was removed and was bursted. It also looked like his intestines were a bit inflammed and he had possiblly been trying to pass a kidney stone as well. Ben would probably stay overnight but he would check on things later that day. Ben came to the room about 7:15 am and was very sore. I made sure he was comfortable at that point, headed home to sleep a couple hours, shower and head back. Ben was slow moving at first but I kept enforcing the fact that he needed to eat, it would make things better faster. He ate some lunch and come to find out, I was right :) The doctor said he could go home after his last 6 pm antibiotic by IV if he wanted to and Ben couldn't pass up the opportunity. We were home and in bed by 10:30 pm. Zonked out. Ben is feeling better. Sore but he will recoup quickly. He is a tough one! Thanks so much for everyone's prayers, concern and help this past 48 hours. It was a whirlwind. I am just glad we caught everything in time.

All About Moms Weekend :)

We started the weekend off by getting a visit from Trenton! Ben and Dad R. made a quick trip to Naperville to get Trenton on Saturday morning because he had mentioned that he wanted to make it home for Mother's Day. Ben offered to go get him if he couldn't make the train work out. It was really nice to see him. Dinner was planned at Das Essenhaus for a 40th Anniversary celebration for mom and dad that Chad and I had planned out. Just a nice dinner with our family of 12 :)

Even though Essenhaus was busy, it was a great dinner and a good time to reflect on such an honor of 40 years of marriage! Glad we could all be together!
Later that evening Ben, Tyler and I made it over to the cemetary to take mom R. some pretty faux yellow roses I found. Seems like yesterday that she went to be with Jesus...and it's been almost 11 years...and still miss her. I am just glad she is able to be with us all now and watches over us with her whole being I am sure. An angel on our shoulders.
We all made it to church this morning and next up was the annual get together at my parents' house for Mother's Day. My whole side of the family was able to make it and what an awesome spread of food!! Ribs, chicken, potatoes, pasta, mac and cheese, corn casserole, eggs, beans, strawberry desserts, brownies, etc. etc. etc. Always yummy food!

Gabi was so excited to give me her gift she made at school. It's the handmade cards made with notebook paper and markers that mean the most and Gabi is a pro at them. Makes me cry every time. Ben and the kids got me a gift card to JaRoss for whatever I want :) and I got my wind chime that I hang on my front porch to remind me of home when I was a kid. Trenton handed me a card with a gift card to Old Navy this morning also...Super great ideas and I loved them all. But ya know what, the thing I LOVED the most...having ALL my children and my husband there at the breakfast table this morning. NOTHING could outdo that. NOTHING. A good day all around...a happy day. I am so BLESSED.

4th and 5th

Gabi had another track meet this evening against Emmons and LaSalle. Came in fifth place in the 70 meter and fourth place in the 200 meter. Not her best times, but she was going up against some really tall girls and she TRIED her best and that is all that matters. Great job, Gabi! We are proud of you!!!

Happy Birthday, Honey!

To the best hubby and daddy in the world!!!! Happy Birthday! I love you more than words can say!!

2nd and 2nd

Just got back from the track meet against Twin Branch and Battell. Gabi did softball throw again (and got 8th this time). Her spirits rose a bit because she didn't come in last in that event. She did AWESOME running the 70 meter...2nd place to the 1st place Hums girl and 2nd place in the 200 meter to the 1st place Battell girl (so she was the 1st place Hums girl)!!! Needless to say, she is smiling from ear to ear tonight!! :)

Radial Neck Fracture

Trenton made it to the orthopedic specialist today to check out his arm. He has a radial neck fracture which is at the base of the elbow. His wrist is still very swollen and bruised so he has to return to the doctor next week for another x-ray. Until then, no cast (good news), just a sling for now...pray for a quick recovery!

Trenton's Wrestling Banquet 2010

Took a trip to Naperville today for Trenton's wrestling banquet. I thought it was really nice...complete with grilled chicken sandwich or hamburger, pasta salad, french fries, brownies and all the fixins. Showed a slideshow for the year and added lots of personable touches...one being a time when any of the wrestlers could get up and share "Remember When's" - these were funny! One of the boys shared a story about Trenton's first varsity wrestling match, him being so excited and nervous that he forgot his wrestling shoes!! We actually had to bring Tyler's for him to borrow that time!!! lol Trenton received Academic All Conference (over a 3.3 gpa during wrestling season) and his varsity letter (starting 5 or more times for the team). It didn't stop there, however, Trenton received the Coach's Appreciation Award (shared with Zobac) for just being where the team needed him whenever they needed weight wise, etc. and never complaining about it. It was a nice honor. And then to complete his awards, Trenton and Jake got one of the "cutest couple" awards. This was more of a jokester award for a few of the guys who stayed with the same workout partner all year. It was funny. Had a good time listening to the Seniors' speeches and talking with some of Trenton's teammates and coaches. It was a good year and I know he is looking forward to next year. His arm looked sore...all wrapped up ready to be looked at tomorrow morning by an orthopedist. Pray for good news. So proud of you today, Trenton. Keep up the good work.

40 Years

of marriage!! Happy Anniversary to my parents today. 40 years ago today...my world started all because of the love between them! I am so thankful for the parents God gave me. Dedicated, hard working, self sacrificing, loving, Christian parents. The example I have had set with these two is almost intimidating, but I would not have it any other way. It makes me strive to be the best mother and wife I can be. Thank you, mom and dad. I love you with all my heart!! I hope this day brings you much love and happiness with the memories you have had together. May you have many, many more!

Opportunities and Bad Luck

Trenton has had a bit of both lately...
The bit of bad luck came on Thursday night. I dread seeing Trenton's cell phone number on my caller ID past ten o'clock at night...it can only mean a couple of things...he is in trouble or he is hurt. It ended up being the latter (and I am proud to say he hasn't been in trouble at all yet!!! Hopefully will stay that way). He had called to say he got a wheel of his longboard stuck in a crack and it threw him off, landing on his arm. He believed it was broke and asked if he should go to the Emergency Room. I told him to wait if he could, to see a doctor but he insisted it was really hurt and needed immediate attention. A friend took him and they told him it was broke and put a molded cast on until he could get into an orthopedist. His appointment is Monday morning so he has been in quite a bit of pain all weekend. I am glad we will be making a trip there tomorrow (for the wrestling banquet) to assess the situation and take him some things he needs. Please say a prayer for him...
As for opportunities, well, last weekend he helped out at the Special Olympics that were held at North Central. Trenton said he basically just gave high fives and escorted the olympians to and from events. He seemed very proud and told me it was very rewarding for him...made him more thankful for what he is able to do. Trenton also had the opportunity to help out with a Relay for Life held there as well this weekend with a theme of "Kickin' Cancer Out Of This World!" - LOVE IT! He even sent this picture via text message and it touched me...I mean, think about it, every one of us knows someone that has or has had cancer. It touches EVERYONE. It's big. And we need to be bigger than IT. That's why I love the Relay for Life time...people come together and that's the only way we will beat cancer. Together.