Bike rat

Nelson spends most of his free time screwing around on his bike. This weekend I thought I should check out his moves. He was totally mortified to have his mommy at the bike park taking pictures until he saw himself in all his glory! Now he's telling me where he wants me to stand next time and his friends are asking if I got any shots of them. I knew he would appreciate me one day!

Back in the saddle

Hard to beat getting rid of a brain tumor, but finally getting rid of that nasty brown tooth comes pretty close! He was hoping the Tooth Fairy would give him more for that nasty thing...but I think he was lucky to get anything at all! Things are pretty much back to normal for Dean. I have been going to school with him for the past three weeks. Very Billy Madisonish. I'm gradually cutting back my time in class each week and hope to completely stop next week. I sub in for his teacher's assignments like yard duty and I've found that my true calling in life is crossing guard. Who would have guessed? Something about the cool stop sign. Every time I lift it I want to break out into Stop! in the name of love! I can also run three copiers at the same time while laminating sight words and making bulletin boards...not something I like teachers to see me doing! I prefer to remain one of those seemingly incapable parents, but now my cover is blown! Ten years of blending in down the drain!

Call him Duke

Last week Nelson was nominated to the Winter Homecoming Court at his high school! Each grade nominates 3 guys and 3 girls and Nelson was surprised to be one of them! There was a ceremony during the basketball half-time and our whole family got to walk out with Nelson. Actually, we got to walk 3 feet behind him...which is how he thinks it should always be! Burke and Dean were excited about the free candy, cake, and soda for the Royalty and their families. And of course there was a dance! Fun times for Nelson and his friends!

We're Home!

Here's the last picture we took in the hospital! Dean got to come home last night! We are all so happy. I was worried he wouldn't be able to climb the stairs because he is still a little wobbly, but he ran right up! Seems like getting out of the hospital was the best medicine:) And consider this your Christmas card because I think it is the best I can do right now! Merry Christmas!

Thumbs up!

What a difference a day makes! Saturday was a tough day with only bad news and set backs. But on Sunday we turned a corner and Dean is feeling so much better today! Here's a big, as-excited-as-he-gets thumbs up! Looks like we'll be home in a few days! Thanks for all your meals, help, prayers, and good vibes! We're trying to come up with some good brain tumor ryhmes to go along with his new rapper look.

Dean update

As most of you know, Dean had emergency surgery last night to drain backed-up fluid around his brain and secondly to remove a tumorous cyst that was blocking the fluid from draining. Everything went very well as they were able to completely remove it.

He has been having headaches the past few months and regularly the past couple weeks. We thought he needed glasses. He has been having trouble seeing the board in school. Yesterday at school he got a severe headache and told the teacher he felt like he was falling over (while he was sitting in his chair). Then he could not walk, talk or focus on people. They took him to the ER in an ambulance. Now we know why.

He will be in intensive care probably the next couple days, hopefully only a week or so until he comes home. We appreciate everyone's well-wishes and are so grateful for your prayers and support.

You are cordially invited

Today the kids made a bride for Dean out of Legos. Her name is Sabrina. They came and got me when it was time for the wedding. They both said, "I do"...

...and then he shot her!

Do you think they need professional help?

Soccer

When Burke plays soccer he is very hard core. He runs hard, kicks hard, falls hard, etc.

And then there is Dean.

First lost tooth!

Dean finally lost his first tooth! He was starting to think it would never happen, so he is beyond excited. We pulled it out this morning and of course he wanted to take it to school to show everyone. I'm betting the tooth is really lost now! If by some miracle he comes home with the tooth let's hope that the tooth fairy isn't on vacation or sick tonight! These things happen:)

Back 2 school

I spent the last six months kind of worrying about Dean being in 1st grade and having all my kids gone all day long. That was dumb. Burke and Dean went back to school and it has been, well, fantastic! Look at Dean (below)...I told him to turn around for his first day of 1st grade picture and he was like, are you kidding me?...that is sooo kindergarten!Of course he is loving school. He has a great teacher and a really nice 4th grade buddy to show him the ropes.And added bonus...he comes home exhausted at the end of the day!Burke likes 4th grade and is already working hard to beat his mileage record for last year. He ran over 100 miles around the track over the course of 3rd grade! That's gonna be tough to beat, but, knowing Burke, he'll probably do it! Leaving them at school the first day was kind of tough, but coming home to all that peace and quiet was awesome! Jamie and I have had tons of fun burning through her birthday money. I don't love shopping, but it is amazing how much we can accomplish without the usual hide and seek through the department store with the boys. Only one more week till Jamie and Nelson go back to school.The true great and dreadful day for me:)

W.T. pool

I've been outta commission with strep throat this week. This is what my front yard looks like right now. Enjoy it while you can boys...things will be changing next week:)

Sickos

You know how things always happen in threes? Well I wish I could have planned for that instead of going back and forth to the doctor/vet (yep, vet) so many times this month. Jamie was earache #1. She looked like she got hit by a bus when I picked her up from girl's camp on the 4th of July. That's one trip to the E.R. (because everything else was closed for the holiday, of course). Poor Jamie...look how sad:( A week of antibiotics and back we went to the doc for different meds because the ear still hurt! She's all better now, though:)
Dean was earache #2. Too much swimming and he ends up with swimmer's ear. Actually, his BFF Kacee also got it, but I didn't have to pay for her, so I'm not gonna count that one. Ear drop antibiotics and no swimming for 5 days. Try living with a 6-year-old that can't swim in the middle of summer! Contrary to his expert opinion he did not actually die because he could not swim.And earache #3? Well that award goes to Sparky the guinea pig. Sparky hasn't been looking so good lately. So being the huge animal lover that I am, we took her to the vet today. $108 later (but who's counting?), she now has her own little bottle of antibiotics in the fridge and I am the most loved mom of the day. Too bad she doesn't count towards my deductible.

Promoted!

Nelson is off to high school...holy crap, am I that old?! It was fun to see all the crazy outfits...prom dresses, pimp suits, etc. Middle-school was way too short (for me). Now I look at the lady in the grocery store with the crying baby, the snotty toddler, and the two kids scaling the Mountain Dew display and think TO MYSELF, "they grow up so fast!"





Jamie is finally "outta that kiddie school" and on her way to Middle School. But she will never truly escape her 6th grade teacher, Mr. Zehnder, because he lives two doors down from us! The week before promotion the principal sent a letter home reminding parents to keep it simple by not having limos come to the school. Sorry Jamie, we had to cancel the reservation. How bout when you're...like 25?!




And here's the one I am most freaked out about. Dean will be in school all day next year. I feel like my stay-at-home-mom work visa has expired. And I also lose my lunch buddy. Who will eat the other half of my meals now? I'm gonna be the frumpy housewife alone in the food court at Costco eating BOTH slices of pizza. I used to envy her!



Congratulations to the promoted! Even Burke who doesn't get any cool recognition for moving from 3rd to 4th grade!

Suburbia

I'm reversing out of my garage and this is what I see in the rear view mirror. Look what we found mom! Between these two we have had concussions, staples, stitches and road rash over the years. What will they think of next? They sure liven things up around here though.

My boys!

This was a fun post for my kids because I had to pull out all their baby pix to find these shots. They had so much fun looking through their baby books...except Dean who cried because I haven't actually made him one yet! But Missy's post reminded me of my favorite pjs the boys wore on the above row. And just because I didn't have one of Burke (I suck) I put the bottom row together also! Do you remember them when they were this small?!

School Fun

I love my kids' school! They take care of my kids all day and sometimes they even make it fun! The boys were so excited about crazy hair day today. And what other school has a principal willing to wear a target and get pelted by caramel covered marshmallows?! Love the Murch! Love school!

Safe on 3rd!

Baseball is starting to grow on me. Full count...bases loaded...Burke nails it...a few errors make it a triple! I get some great shots...Dean gets a hot dog and Slurpee for dinner...life is good!

Ok, and the ump is a total cutie!!

Cousins

Our cousin T-man was snowboarding Saturday and got nailed by another snowboarder. He ended up with 5 cracked ribs and a small hole in his lung...yikes! We were all so worried, so we went to check up on him after he got out of the ICU. He is doing so much better and we were all so happy to see our cousins!

Father-Daughter Dance

Jim and Jamie went to the Father-Daughter Dance at school. Look how happy she is to be the little princess for the night! They were so cute! Kind of makes me freak out, though, to think of the next pictures she will have like this...Homecoming, Prom, etc. But she won't be with Jim! Aaagh!

It ain't over till it's over!

Baseball season started with a close one! Burke's team ended the 1st inning down 2-5, but they turned it on in the final inning and ended up winning 12-5! Burke owned 3rd base and scored 2. But mostly he stood around spitting!