Rodeo

Did you know that here in St Cloud, the kids in school dont get off for Presidents Day, but they get the Friday before off for Rodeo Day? Thats right! Good ol St Cloud gives the kids the day off to go to the fair and the Rodeo. (this is also the town that when Bryan was a kid, they got the day off of school for the opening of Walmart!!) So, we did just that...went to the fair and Rodeo...well, we did on Saturday. We had taken the kids last year and they liked it so much, we did it again this year. It was not as good as last year. Maybe because the girls were so tired from fighting the flu all week, they just did not enjoy it as much. Maddie and Chloe were so tired, they were fighting and crying about what seemed like everything. Chloe was getting mad that she could not go down with the animals. Hana was good, as usual. They enjoyed most of the stuff, but they did not get overly excited like last year. It was nice being out as a family, though! Here are a ton of pics from the Rodeo.They had monkeys come out on little dogs wrangling the goats!Hana and Maddison still like the barrel racing the best. They always cheer so loud for these girls!The bucking broncos...these guys are insane.The rodeo clown this year was not as good as last year. He didnt do as much as the other one. He was funny when he came out in the fat suit, but other than that, he didnt do a whole lot.I dont know if you can see this real well, but the bull is actually on top of the rider.

A son for the weekend

Bryan was blessed to have a son 2 weeks ago. Our friends left on a cruise for the weekend and trusted us with their child. He is the most precious little boy. Even though Bryan worked most of the time and we were tending to sick children, he was an angel! What a trooper to put up with 3 little girls. He didnt even ask for mommy or daddy until he woke up Monday morning. Then he just stood at the window and waited for them. Here are some pictures of him when we played outside. He tried his hardest to ride the scooter. He gave up and tried out the bike, which didnt work out so well either. Then, he just decided to run in circles and laugh! Thanks so much, Sam and Kara for letting have the joy of your son in our home!

Congrats!!!

I just wanted to say congrats to my best friend in the whole world! We have been BFF since 2nd grade!!!!! Anyway, she just had her 3rd baby yesterday. A little girl named Hannah Elaine. And, she is one of the few that actually wait to find out what it is....not like some people who say they dont know, but really do know....Lisa really didnt know, so it was a big surprise. Anyway, just wanted to say congrats and I love you and miss you. Thanks for everything you have done for me. From coming out and helping while I was on bedrest to being there and helping me during the funeral a few weeks ago. I wish I could be there now and take your kids. Just know that I love you and miss you and cant wait to kiss your little pumpkin!

Flu, Flu, go away...dont come back another day...(not a post for the queasy)

It started 2 weeks ago. The flu...the cold/flu. The one where you entire body aches and you have a fever for 5 days and you have a runny nose and cough. We all had it. Then, I had said that Chloe came in and got sick all over me....the stomach flu. Well, this past Saturday, Maddison was crying all day that her tummy hurt. Nothing new...she always has a tummy ache. So, I was holding her and sure enough....you guessed it....she threw up all over me. Luckily she made it to the toilet all the rest of the times....screaming the whole way "no mommy, I dont like doing this". I felt so bad for her. Well, yesterday, Bryan and I woke up with it. I was better by the time I had to get Hana from school. Bryan went to work and took care of it there. So, when I was awakened by a little voice at 12:30 last night saying "my tummy hurts" I was NOT going to hold her...sorry Hana. Sure enough, she has had her head in the toilet since then. She got it the worst. Poor baby. But she has been awesome about it. Not even coming in to me, just going to the bathroom by herself. Oh, did I mention my kids have NEVER had the flu? Hana did when she was 2, but that is it. So, this was something new in our house. Hopefully she will feel better soon. Hopefully Austin, who was at our house all weekend while his parents were gone, wont get it. Oh, and did I tell you we only have 1 working bathroom in our house? 1 toilet for all these nasties? Thats right folks....but thats a whole other post....

I got these pictures from my cousin. They are some pictures of Jeremy. I loved them so much that I had to put them up here! Zach kept on mentioning how much Jeremy had grown up in the last month or so that he was alive. He said he was looking older. Looking at some of these pictures, I can't agree more!

Good Morning!

Chloe walked into my room this morning and said her tummy hurt. Then she proceeded to throw up all over me. Mmmmm, nice. She did it on the way to take Hana to school too. Hopefully she will feel better soon. Kara, I promise this house will be well by Friday!!

So, I am not feeling the greatest right now, but I want to get some pictures up. The girls were sick with the flu last week and gave it to me. 4 days of fevers...yuck. I am still stuffed up and have a horrible cough, but the fever is gone as of this morning, so I can at least function. Hana got it first. I went out one night to babysit a friends kids. I came home and Hana and Chloe had fallen asleep while playing together!

Chloe likes to follow her big sister around and act like she is a big girl too.This is Chloe when we were in Chicago. Little Ree Ree was so excited to see snow and play in it, she didnt want to go inside. Snow balls amazed her!

Give Kids the World

6 years ago, my cousin Jeremy was granted a wish from Make a Wish foundation, and he was able to come to Florida, from Chicago area, and spend a week at Disney with his mom and brother. They stayed at the Give Kids the World Village. They host the MAW families while in town. So, since his passing, mom and I wanted to go back to the village and walk around. When kids are there, they get a star and put their name on it and it is placed on the ceiling in this great big castle. We were wanting to find his star, which we didnt, but took pictures of the area which we think it was! We were able to get ice cream at the parlor where he ate every night. Maddison and Chloe had ice cream in his honor!!! Then they rode a couple rides, well, the ones that just stay put but move up and down. We had a good time keeping his memory alive. We just keep reminding ourselves that even though he is greatly missed, he is in a much better place where he can run now! His star is somewhere in this picture! Mom and Chloe in the Enchanted Forest. The ride that they would not get off!

Ice cream time!

Maddison does not like ice cream, but she wanted me to take a picture of her like this so it looked like she was enjoying it!

Have you had your Emergen-C today?

Years ago, I got hooked on Emergen-C. It is a powder you put in your water and it is 1,000 mg of Vitamin C, and it is very good! It not only boosts your immune system, but it also gives you an energy boost. (its a lot better than drinking a Red Bull in the morning, not that I do that or anything). Hana loves it. She came down with a cold/flu yesterday and has the fever, achy bones, runny nose...and all she asks for is her Emergen-C. Her new thing, if someone is sick, is asking if you have had your Emergen-C!

My new favorite product...

This tea infuser by Tovolo. My mother bought me one yesterday and I am having a ball!

It even comes with a stand so that you dont get tea all over your counter! How cute are these colors?

So, I love to drink my herbal tea in the morning. Lately, its been Celestial Seasonings...I cant seem to find good loose leaf herbal tea. Mom found some that is great. They come in these little tins and you open it up and there are big flowers and berries, depending on what you have....and it is so good. You know you are drinking real herbal tea when you put a flower and a berry in your infuser! Oh, and I looked up this Tovolo product online...it is sold at Target....I never knew....and, they have so many different products. Go check them out!

The new do

Maddison had been bugging me for a while now to cut her hair. The only thing was that she didnt want it done till Monday morning. Then it turned into the next Monday, and so on. Finally, this morning, she let me do it. I forgot to take a before picture, this is the best I could find. It is from Christmas. It was real long! And now! I must have cut off about 5 inches! I know, I should have waited a little longer then she could have donated it. My, what beautiful hair it was. But, Bryan and I always said, if they want their hair short, or long, or whatever, we will do it. I am not going to have them look back and say "why did you make me look like that". It will be their decision! So, she has been running around all morning making her hair "bounce"!

President Hinckley

Last night, Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the LDS church, passed away. What a great man. He was the kindest, nicest, most Godly man I knew. Well, I didnt know him personally, but you understand. Anyway, what an awesome man he was and he will be greatly missed.

With everything going on last week with the funeral, and it being Bryans birthday while I was out of town, Bryan and I needed some time together. I have a wonderful friend who told me we needed a date and she would watch the kids! So, Bryan and I got the kids ready, dropped them off at Brittney's house (she has a little boy and girl that the kids love!) and we took off too... It was so good! We had a table that was smushed in between two others, so it felt like we were dining with other people, but it was nice to be out and enjoy a meal, a good meal, together. And, of course, we had to get a piece of this Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake to go!

So, thanks Brit!!

This past week was a weird one. Filled with sadness. I talked to my grandma and we cried on the phone. We just feel sad. I only saw Jeremy about once or twice a year, so its not like I miss him...I just have this sad feeling inside of me. Sad for the family. That is the only way to describe it. I sleep at night and dream of him. He is playing soccer most of the time, and riding his bike. That is one thing I remember about him when he was a kid. He always wanted to be outside riding his bike or playing ball. Well, now he is! Please continue to pray for his mom and brother. Its is going to be tough for a while, and lonely, since he didnt go to school and she didnt work.

Anyway, sorry for being glum...love to all!

Jeremy (Jerms)

It was a week filled with memories, laughter and tears. Thanks for the prayers.

Dont feel like writing much. I am off to Chicago for the rest of the week with Chloe and leaving the girls home with Bryan. My precious little cousin passed away and I am going to spend some time with the family. I took care of this boy when I was younger for years. I thought of him as a brother. So, we are rejoicing that he is out of pain, yet mourning our loss. Please keep his mom and brother in your prayers.

A real day in the life of the Melicks....

My day this past Friday was a busy one...and I didnt even go anywhere. It began with Chloe waking me up because she wet the bed...through her night time diaper. (she WAS potty trained, but still has problems at night). Made pancakes for breakfast and got Hana ready for school. Dropped her off, came home, only to find that Chloe had peed in her carseat. Cleaned the house, did 5 loads of laundry...all the while, Chloe peed throughout the house in various places. I got Maddison ready for school. Dropped her off, dropped Chloe off at the sitter, went back to school to do cooking with Maddison's class, picked up Chloe...only to find that not only did she take a nap (which she does not do at home) her pull up was dry...after 2 hours! Came home, took her pull up off, only for her to go in her room and poop on the floor. Cleaned it up, cleaned up pee a few minutes later. Put panties on her. Picked up the girls at school. Came home. Chloe came to me and pooped in her panties. I made dinner. Put the girls to bed (after some more accidents), made 2 loaves of bread for my party the next day and went to bed. Now, by the time I went to bed, I had cleaned up accidents in almost every room of the house. Hana and Maddie's room, Chloe's room, the bathroom, the hallway, the kitchen, the living room....seriously, I think she does it on purpose... So, my goal today is to not clean up pee....I will let you know how that one goes. At least our dog is finally housebroken!

Christmas

We had a great Christmas. As far as the 5 of us go, we dont go overboard with presents. The kids get spoiled by the grandparents so we usually just do 3 small gifts. Jesus only got 3, right? That way the kids dont come to expect a ton from us every year. So, we woke up in the morning and they slowly opened gifts throughout the day. Instead of doing it all at once, we did it gradually...that way they dont get overwhelmed. Mom was able to come with Mike...and Hana fianlly opened up to him. Its only taken 5 years! It was just a nice relaxing day at home with family.The girls and I got matching aprons. Chloe did not take hers off all day! Chloe eating her Lingonberries with cheese!Hana and Uncle Mike walking to the pond out back to go fishingFishing with Uncle Monkey

New Blog

I have created a new blog. Check it out and check it often...I hope to post there at least once a week! Enjoy!

Melick Family Christmas

We had Christmas a week early with the Melick family. Of course, they spoiled us all. The kids got lots of toys, Bryan got Bowflex weights, and I got the most magnificent pans in the world...along with a ton of other things. We then went to Disney and spent the afternoon at MGM. I am not good about taking pictures when we are "in the moment". I usually look back and wonder why I didnt take more...oh well. Here is what I have!Hana and Sydnie, Bryan's little sister....they are inseperable.Uncle Ben

My New Years resolutions...

....to post more frequently...which I need to get started on, I have pictures from Christmas to get up here.... and not to be a "Lurker"...are you lurking? I love the fact that people read my blog but no one posts anything....I lurk a lot on other blogs..and never post...so, I thought maybe if I start posting and not lurking, maybe others will not lurk here, but post. Maybe not...we will see...either way, I would love to hear who is reading my blog...even if I dont know you!!! I have made it possible so that ANYONE can leave a comment! ...to run 2 miles 3 times a week...just to get up off my butt again will make me feel better... Whats your New Year resolution? Happy New Year