Wisconsin Update

We went to Wisconsin and the boys were perfect on the plane. They both practically slept the whole way so we didn't need to pull out toys every 10 minutes to keep them entertained. Once we landed, we pulled out a DVD player that Susan DuBose let us borrow and that kept Eban very entertained on our two-three hour drive to Wausau! He watched trucks, trucks, trucks. Jack was happy as he got to look at Nani the whole way.

Once we got into the rural area east of Minneapolis, there were a lot of barns in the Amish country we were passing. Nani kept pointing at things and saying, "Isn't this funny?" So I kept wondering what was funny and she said...you know, the barns! She said they looked just like the barns int he movie Superman. She then asked if Superman was filmed in Wisconsin and I had to tell her that it was most likely Kansas.

We got to the hotel and Tutu was there and Eban was tickled to see her. She met us at the end of a road so she could walk back up the hill to the condo and Eban was perplexed and kept saying "TUTU?? TUTU???" We told him that she would be with us in two seconds. It was great that he remembered her so well. He also slept with her in a room with two singles bed pushed together and he did a great job. In fact, Tutu made him a fire truck fleece blanket which he loves. In Wisconsin, he called it fire truck blankie and in Colorado, he calls it Tutu's blankie. Sweet.

One morning, Tutu, Nani, the boys and I went to a northern suburb (if you would call it that) of Wausau to see our old neighbor, Holly Toole. She has seven kids and I have many fond memories of the Toole household with her three sisters - even going to camp for seven weeks with two of them. So as we were catching up, in walks Holly's parents and her three sisters! Talk about talking nonstop!! It was such a wonderful surprise to talk about what terrible pranks we did and how we still feel guilty to this day for ruining neighbors back screen doors, feeding one another spicy food without milk, and spraining ankles in front of one another due to bad choices - such as the time I was showing off that I could jump off an 8 foot tree branch. I was so smart. Ugh.

Anyway, I had the opportunity in the afternoon to hang out with Kara and her cousins helping her tie things to wedding reception stuff. We laughed and caught up with stories. The next morning, we went to the largest indoor water park in northern Wisconsin. It was insane for Eban. He was nonstop and loved the water and all the activities he could do. Tutu got stuck with him under a 50 gallon bucket of water that dumped right on her...it knocked her glasses off, but somehow Eban loved it and kept running without being affected by the pounding water.

The wedding was beautiful. It was outdoors overlooking a lake in a park. I wish I could have seen more of it but Jack was fussy and Eban wanted to run. Eban finally settled down and he blew bubbles at people as the exited the park...the reception was insane. Eban ran and ran and ran. Finally when the music started he stayed in one place...on the dance floor. Some guy did the worm, so Eban did the worm. But he danced and danced and danced. It was so funny!

The next day, we went to the camp where Kara worked and we went canoeing and played soccer in the big field, and did all sorts of camp-related activities. It was such a good time, but then my camera broke. I was heart broken. So all the photos you see in this post are from Nani's camera.

We left a tad early to take care of Jack's asthma. We took it easy in the condo for the rest of the trip until we left for the airport in the morning. Kara was so nice and checked in with Jack after we left. I couldn't believe she'd call after her wedding and right before her honeymoon.

Big news: Jack is CRAWLING! Finally at ten and a half months, he's learning independence and he's crawling to things - especially Eban. So this is new for Eban and he's learning that he has to share when Jack gets to him. Of course, Jack wants what he has and it can be a battle. There have been some time outs in this mix as Eban like to bonk Jack in the face with whatever Jack is trying to grab.

Eban is speaking in sentences. It's crazy to hear him. He'll say, "I'm cleaning" or "I'm driving the moto" or "I want the back seat Mama!". It's so new that it's still weird to hear him use the proper sentence structure.

The DNC is in Denver so that makes downtown a tad hectic. We will have a young college student from George Washington University, Kate, stay with us as she'll be blogging about service for the convention. It's a bi-partisan effort via ServiceNation to ensure that both presidential candidates incorporate community service or service learning into their platforms. I have been involved with them in a communications capacity and the director of communications asked if we'd host someone for the week...she'd even camp in the backyard. Ryan and I are happy to host her even though she'll be basically using the bed and then leaving again for the blogger's tent at the convention. She's going to try to get another ticket to Obama's acceptance speech and if she gets it, I'll give it to Ryan as I'm already attending some events and private parties. Such as tomorrow, I'm golfing with invited guests of Xcel Energy at Bear Dance Golf Course south of Castle Rock, Colorado! Tough gig...although I did receive two tickets to the philanthropy roundtable on Monday, but I gave my ticket to my boss (if you google that, you can see more info).

I almost forgot...we celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary! We went to the JW Marriott in Cherry Creek where we celebrated our first anniversary and then went to Morton's where we had our first date. My friend, is the GM of the Marriott and he was very kind to us as we were on the concierge level overlooking the city with a mountain view. While Ryan got ready in the bathroom, I got ready in the room. When he walked out, he couldn't believe his eyes as I had make-up on and he exclaimed that I had a beautiful summer dress on. He continued to say how pretty it was and asked where I got it. So I told him I wore it on my wedding and that I was pretty stoked that I could still fit into my "summer wedding dress" after having two kids! I can't believe he forgot what it looked like!

This weekend, we went to our friend's Danielle and Mark's house where they had a pool party and then had a band. Eban loved dancing again but got embarrassed when everyone was laughing at him. He gave everyone in the crowd the "stink-eye".

Enjoy your week and this past pic is from a sunset near our house! I promise to upload more photos after I get my camera back...I even have plenty of stellar video!

Check out Eban's first kiss! and popo

So I've heard that Eban has kissed girls in class but he was lucky to have Avery be his first kiss caught on camera. I just love how she's grabbing his head and holding him...so sweet!

We were at a benefit concert at the Rehm's house this weekend and Avery was so sweet to take him around and watch him. Well...he was quite smitten with her and stayed with her all night and through the fireworks. At one point during the fireworks, there were a bunch of kids all laying down on their back and I was in the middle...Avery left and then little Eban left me with no problem or guilt. He ran down the hill to sit next to her again to watch the fireworks.

The good news of the week is that Eban used his potty a couple of times! He's not completely potty trained but he's doing a great job and getting there 50% of the time. Not bad! I've heard that most parents reward their children for going in the potty but his reward is flushing the toilet which he loves. He's happy with this for now so I'm hoping it stays this way.

I chopped my hair and layered it for the first time in years. It makes me look like a mom...but then again, I am one so I guess it's okay!

Ryan and Eban left Jack and me to the house all day as they are having a boy's afternoon at the theater seeing Wall-E.

Check out the picture of the pool just below this paragraph...I went up two houses and got it for $2.50 at a garage sale. When I saw it all crinkled up in a box I thought it was one of the small little round pools that I had growing up...the one with the faded turtles or what have you all over it. Well this pool ends up being huge...check it out!! What a bargain for a "baby" pool!

Enjoy your week...we're off to Wisconsin to the bugs (and of course to see Kara and Rick)...will update this following our first family trip!