Family night

Since Jeremy got back I 've been trying to do a couple of family things this week, we went to the fair, made cookies, played inside and outside, etc...I also thought it would be nice to have Jen, Pat and Gavin over for the boys to play and to say "Thanks" for babysitting Braylen.  We had the pool filled and the boys LOVED it!  We ate burgers, brats and hot dogs, pasta salad, fruit salad and cottage cheese, very tasty.  It was a hot night, but the boys wanted nothing to do with sitting inside, so we hung out in the heat, combating it with margaritas, mixers and a couple beers, while the boys drank milk and water!  We saw a few deer and used the binoculars to check them out, danced and "rode on the hammock stand", not sure exactly what they were playing, but must have been fun!  What's funny is that we all decided it almost easier with 2 around than 1, especially if they're not siblings!!  They play really well together, they really don't bicker or try to take each other's toys, just fun yelling and jumping aroundIt was a really great night and the boys were pretty wiped out at bedtime! 

Pool time fun

splashing around

rehydrating

"riding on the hammock stand" while eating cookies

looking for the deer

Braylen's teaching Gavin how to use the binoculars

I don't think you need the binoculars to see those bellies!!

It's rainin babies

Or maybe it's just raining, a lot, and there was a baby born on the same night.  I'm having trouble remembering it because we had a very late night last night!!

OK, I think it's coming back to me now...it started raining around 7pm and we heard it would be a stormy night.  With a night in Braylen and I made chocolate chip cookies, yumm.  He wasn't the biggest help, but he always ask to help cook and stir, so that's what I "let" him do.  They were so good, he was even able to enjoy a little cookie before bed!! 

We got a text around 9:45pm and found out that our newest nephew was born, Andrew Joseph Fluhr, to Angie and Jason and big sis Alana.  He looks like a peanut and we cannot wait to meet him.  Congrats to the Fluhr family and we are glad the boys to girl ratio is back to even!!

It was about 11 when it was getting really windy and lightening like crazy outside.  I decided to take the family and sleep downstairs around 12, I am afraid there will be a tornado and we will not hear the sirens!!  This was an all around bad idea that I now see, hindsight!  Braylen was sound asleep and was still sleeping when we laid down in the basement.  It was around 2 that I really began rethinking this "plan".  After about 2 hours of thrashing around, Braylen, not me, and him sitting up saying "Momma car.  Momma drive car.  Dadda truck."  I knew we were done for.  I took Bray back upstairs and laid him down just as he was beginning to enjoy his night with momma and dadda in the basement.  He screamed for about 30-40 minutes while I laid on his floor, I finally gave up and left his room.  I think his crying subsided around 3:30am.  Ugh... 

After our night from hell, we realized we fared quite well, with 13-15 inches of rain that fell during the night, our basement was dry, no flash flooding in our neighborhood and everything still in tact inside and outside the house, a few hours of missed sleep was something we could easily make up for the next night, unlike those with lots of water damage!! 

Everyone loves corn on the cob

And Dubuque has the best supply of Fincel's sweet corn.  Braylen helped me schuck it the other night and then he gobbled it up at dinner!  We had an all American dinner, hot dogs, cottage cheese, corn on the cob (off the cob for Bray) and cantaloupe.  Yummm.  Braylen was intrigued how I was eating my corn, he wanted to try and wasn't too successful, I think he appreciated his corn off the cob!!

While dad's away...

We will miss him like crazy, but be very busy!!  Jeremy was in Vegas for 5 days for Jimmy's bachelor party, so Braylen and I had some great mom and Bug time.  I had Thursday and Friday off and Bray and I went to the pool, he LOVED it, with Madison and Joleen.  We went to my friends house, Jill, to wish her a happy birthday and play.  We went to the mall to shop, play dress up and play on the toy.  Bray went to Jen and Gavin's to play while I went to a wedding.  On Saturday it was rainy and kinda quiet, but we played in the house and then a friend came over to watch Braylen while I went to Kristin's bachelorette party.  I must say the bachelorette party was such a blast and much needed!!  And on Sunday we went to Kristin's shower and played with all of the cousins and Grandma.  Then went on a walk and hung out while the weather was nice.  Monday morning, back to a normal routine, minus Jeremy, but he did pick Bray up early from daycare to spend some much needed dad time together!  It was great seeing Jeremy again, and I think we both realized, or at least I did, how much I appreciate him and not just as a co parent, but his companionship and presence in our home!  We were all glad to see each other back at home!!!

Braylen loved the crazy neighbor dog Jax

And he also loved Jill

I'm not sure who had more energy...

Time to try on hats

and glasses

driving the helicopter

playing naked in the pool

Most of the Fluhr girls, Kristin's close enough, Alicia maybe someday

Me and the bride to be

Braylen saying hi to Kee Ku (his name for Kristin)

Kids table!!

Back to normal

AKA, back to work, daycare and boring, at least I think that's what Braylen's thinking.  We are all glad to be back together and Braylen only cries for Nana when he's in bed and doesn't want to be, but still pretty regularly asks about both Nana and Papa.  His favorite thing is to find cars that looks like theirs or Mandi's and sounds so hopeful that they are here, I then tell him that they are in Jacksonville.  Here are some pictures of our normal life!

A little nakey outside time makes everything better!

As does a little dadda hug

Noodles on my fingers

He's learning all kinds of fix it stuff from dad

And he loves every minute of it!

My week with Nana and Papa (Or My week to Stay Up!)

Sorry it’s taken so long to write. Mom says I can write better about my week away from them. I got to spend almost the entire week with NANA and PAPA!!!!!

It was so much fun. Mambi and Andriy brought me back from Buque, and they took very good care of me. I got to Nana and Papa’s house on the fireworks day. I got to swim in the pool, and play with Norbert, and my bestest friend, Ellllllllla. I could tell she missed me, because she barked a lot.  My favorite snak was a banana ice cream cone that Nana shared with me on the big porch!

Nana, Papa, Mambi and me swam in the pool. I wasn’t sure at first, but later, I got to jump to Nana. Even when she wasn’t looking.

That night, Nana and Papa took me to a park, where I got to play with my new spin toy that really made Papa dizzy. Mambi and Andriy came along. They all kept telling me to watch the sky for something special. But, it got so late, and I fell asleep. Still not sure what fireworks are.

But, it was still neat, because when I go to Nana and Papa’s house, I got to stay up until midnight. Really, though, Nana was trying to get me to sleep before that, but I decided against it.

The next day, I got to go to Shari’s house. You may not know her, but she’s got another person in the house, named Zach, who just cracks me up and they have a dog with no tail called Stubby.  I got to like Shari a lot too.  I even got to swim in Aunt Suzi’s pool, who ever she is. I also got to see Bella, she’s cute, and Aunt Katie, and my supr Nana.  She let me play with whatever I pointed to...it was fun!

Then,  we went to some saint’s home. I think his name was Louis. Papa was really excited about a bird there, the Cardinal. Nana had to work earlier in the day before we left, so Papa and me got to spend time together. We wrestled, watched cars and trucks on the front porch, and played with Norbert and ElllllllllA! Then we got in Nana’s car, and Papa drives.

When we got to Louis, we went to a new home, called a Motel. It was real tall, and I got to ride in an upalator. It made my tummy giggle. I liked it a lot, and didn’t want to get off. Our bedroom had a big window that I could see all the way to the ground.

We didn’t stay there long. Papa wanted to go see the Cardinal bird. The bird was in a park where a lot of other people were, even Uncle Brad. I got to see a pretty yard, and a lot of kids playing ball. Nana and me went up to a room where I got to run around and eat. It was cool and fun. Then we went to sit with Papa, where I didn’t get to run around and it was hot. Papa was mad at the Cardinal for giving up 6 runs on 12 pitches.  We stayed a sweated for a while, before we went back to the Motel place. That’s where I heard a loud bang. Papa said it was the fireworks thing. It was loud and scared me.

Papa and Nana tried to watch the game when we got back to the Motel, but couldn’t Papa seemed happier about the Cardinal. It must have been doing a lot better.

The next day, we got to see a bunch of animals in a big farm.  I got to feed goats, and watch monkey things and bright birds. The birds had a lot of lellow that looked pretty. It started raining, and elephants went inside to get dry.  That’s okay.  That gave us time to go see the big horses I saw where Nana and Papa live. They are called Eyedales, and they are big.

Friday was Nana’s day, because Papa had to work. I got to swim, take a walk, play with the dogs, eat num-nums with Nana, and get ready to come home.

The trip to Buque was fun. Norbert and Elllllla came with us. I fell asleep a little, but woke up before I got to my house. Nana and Papa let me stay up until 1 in the morning. They are a lot more fun than Momma. She never lets me stay up that late.

Momma and Dadda came home the next day, and I was sure glad to see them. I played shy with them first, but was soon running and jumping on them.  That night, they tried to get me to go to sleep early. The nerve. I miss Nana and Papa. But I sure love seeing Momma and Dadda and Molly and Reilly.

Can’t wait til we’re all together again. Just wish I could convince Momma that going to sleep early isn’t the best idea.

Vacation

Jeremy and I headed out to Washington DC early on the 4th and were looking forward to a relaxing and fun vacation.  We went to Iwo Jima to watch the fireworks lit off right at the Washington monument, it was fabulous!! 

Getting ready for the show

The next day we walked approx 100 miles around DC and saw the Washington Monument, White House, WW2 Monument, Museum of American History, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial and then Nationals Stadium.  We had an unfortunate loss that night, but it was a fun game and nice to have a few beers after a hot and tiring day!

The next day was another busy day around DC.  We walked around Air and Space Museum, National History Museum, Holocaust Museum and Smithsonian Castle.  We headed back to our hotel and had a great dinner out at a Tapas restaurant.  A wonderful end to a busy and educational time in DC!

Smithsonian Castle and garden

Our next stop  was Pittsburgh and after a frustrating drive around town looking for gas, you wouldn't think it would be that hard, we went down town on a boat tour and then Station Square for dinner and drinks.  

Pittsburgh has 410 bridges, wow!!

It was a rainy Friday, all day!  We tried to walk around, but just ended up getting wet!  We did find the oldest restaurant in Pittsburgh, The Oyster House, and then back to the hotel to warm up and dry off!!  The night was beautiful for another baseball game.  PNC park was awesome and the area around it was great too.  We went to dinner at the Tilted Kilt and then into the park to watch another loss :(

 

We had an early flight on Saturday and then finally home to see Braylen and mom and dad!!  We really enjoyed our single vacation, but we were also very glad to get back home!!