Little Oshkosh

Brode had a very fun weekend at home! I love summer weekends when we can spend so much time together and do fun things. His weekend a started early Friday afternoon when his Grandma Beth picked him up from day care. She packed up all of his things and headed to the pool for the afternoon! From what I could tell he had a great time outside all afternoon!

Saturday we spent the day playing outside - Brode was dripping sweat. It was very humid! By the end of the day he was ready for a swim in the neighbors pool and loved playing with his buddy Blake!

Sunday we spent yet another day outside. After nap Matt, Brode and I went down to the park in Oshkosh. It is a very large park on the water with lots to do!

We started at the zoo:

This large tortise was roaming around, Brode didn't want to get too close but wanted to see what he was all about.

We moved on to the sheep and goats. Again he wasn't too sure but liked peeking through the cracks at them. This poor bird was probably deaf after Brode left. He yelled "Tweet Tweet Birdie" in his face MANY times. He sure liked to use his manners with the bird too saying hello and goodbye.

The llamas were last on our stop. Brode liked them the most because he could get so close. They followed us as we walked in a circle around their cage. He wasn't too sure what type of noise they make.

Surprisingly Brode was all about the head signs. This large sign has a place to be "eaten by an alligator", the zookeeper and a monkey. Brode had to do each of them multiple times and every time he stuck those little fingers through and smiled innocently.

After the zoo we went to the park across the street. It's called "Little Oshkosh" - but it sure isn't little. The park is all wooden structures with many activities and tunnels to play in. The wood is shaped into a castle, an airplane, a tiki head and many more things. It is also very toddler friendly with small activities for Brode's size. (He didn't go near them of course he wanted to be a big kid)

Our last stop was the train. They have a mini train you can ride for one whole dollar! Brode was so excited to go on the "Choo Choo!" We had some extra fun when we saw lots of ducks along the way. Of course my child was the one screaming "WHA WHACK!" (quack quack) over the side. He LOVED it!

It was such a fun weekend outside. We all had a great time together before things start to get busy these next few weekends.

Fathers Day Weekend

We had a lot of fun this weekend!

Saturday couldn't have been better because we did.... nothing! We played here with each other, we relaxed, we all took naps and all enjoyed the nice weather. That afternoon we went to a friends graduation party. Brode was a hit, all the guys liked playing football and tag with him!

Sunday we celebrated Fathers Day! We had a nice french toast breakfast, played outside, then headed up to the cottage for the day! There were a lot of people and it was very warm so we spent the afternoon on the dock and in the lake. Brode loved swimming and playing with everyone. He HATED the boat, but got over that bump quickly and moved on. Here are some pictures from our fun day outside:

Of course some type of sports equipment had to come with.

Brode found out where the snacks are kept, worked his way in and ate half the bowl of pretzels.

Then SOMEONE gave him a bucket of water to spash in, on the table.
Which resulted in his swimsuit on and splashing on the ground instead.
Family swim time.
Brode didn't really love the floating puppy.
But he did love the horn on the boat!

Not Exaggerating

I know - It has been 10 days. I always have either too much to update on or nothing at all. Unfortunetaly I do not have any pictures for today, just some updates and stories.

1. Our Schedule - to be honest, it's packed. Somehow every single weekend just got booked up for the rest of summer! I wanted to find some time to go to Noah's Ark with friends and the Zoo with Brode but it is looking like I'm going to have to take some days off in order to make that work! I can't complain it did fill up with some fun things, but some also not so fun things! Between weddings, doctors appointments, surgery, camping, 4th of july, graduation parties, it's just crazy! It should make for a good summer!

2. Doctors Appointments - we added another Milwaukee trip. We're already scheduled on a Monday before surgery to get a CT scan done and officially go down the 27th of July for surgery. We added another on a Saturday for a secodn opinion on his eyes. I was just so unsure and uncomfortable that we didn't have a definite answer or if he should have treatment or not. Our doctor here thought the glasses may have been the wrong answer but she could be missing a condition of the eye muscles that is exremely common with the skull diagnosis he has so I will feel much better getting another opinion! The best part is that our doctors can work together and they often do in other cases that the conditions are linked. They are able to work together so well because their offices are RIGHT next to each other - 5 feet away. Too bad for us that we can't travel that 5 feet in the same day, we have to drive the hour and 1/2 home and go back down 5 days later.

3. Streetball - last weekend the large 3v3 basketball tournament was downtown. It's where everyone in Neenah is that one weekend. We had some friends playing so we took Brode down. The obsessive boy he is with sports LOVED it. He sat contently watching every game! Everyone else thought he was so funny because he was so intrigued.

4. Wild Boy - this is where the title comes in. I'm NOT EXAGGERATING, Brode does not get tired. He just runs. When you ask a mother how their child is and they say "Wild, he runs everywhere" she is NOT EXAGGERATING. Sunday night after dinner Brode ran, NO EXAGGERATION 50 laps inside our house. Between the foyer, living room, kitchen, etc there is a large circle around the stairs and he just ran and ran and ran. There was no stopping him. Last night Brode, Matt, my dad and I are playing in the living room and sports highlights comes on the news, mostly about the World Cup. Brode got so excited and asks for more soccer, more hockey, more golf! We channel surf for a while and can't find much so we just say "lets go play sports outside"... "OK!" Brode exclaims. You may remember the football helmet chip bowl from last post. Brode runs outside with this 'helmet' on his head and searches for the dog toy football. For the next, NOT EXAGGERATTING 45 minutes Brode ran circles around the ball, throwing it, diving on it constantly yelling "Fumble! Hut, Hut, Hut, Hut, Hike! Fumble!" over and over again. He was sweating up a storm. We tried to get him in the grass but there was no way to catch his attention and he just kept diving on the cement. Needless to say, my abs hurt afterwards from laughing so hard. We did get a chance to catch a video so I'll try and post it later!

5. Class - the majority of my reason for not posting! I started my first of two summer online classes on Monday. We've got a chapter to read, questions to asnwer and a quiz to take every night. This means with working 730 - 330, getting Brode, running errans, playing, dinner, bath, and bedtime reading for school does not come until 8:00. By the time it's all finished I've spent a good 9 to 10 hours of my day starring at computer screen and even more does not excite me! I've been trying to work ahead a bit so that I can have at least one night of not reading so I don't get sick of it too fast! Over the weekend when we're finished with all of our readings we take our tests then start all over the next week! I'm just hoping I don't forget to take the test!!

6. Fathers Day - we're looking forward to the weekend. Brode started this Fathers Day weekend with his grandpa at breakfast. Day care is doing a breakfast like I had for Mother's Day but if dads are able to make it (Matt works at 6 AM and breakfast is at 8) Grandpas are just as welcome. All of the boys in Brode's class love to share his gramps so they were planning on having some fun. We've got a graduation party and then we're heading to the cottage for Father's day this weekend so hopefully we'll get soem nice weather and be able to take a break from school and work!

There is my 10 days worth of updating! I won't take so long next time and I'll try for pictures as soon as possible! (I may or may not have lost my hand held video camera and the camera battery charger in the midst of all the remodeling movement and replacement - not happy!)

Fun Weekend

I had a fun weekend - but got nothing productive done. Friday Matt and I ran around with Brode and I worked on a project. We were going to a bridal shower Saturday afternoon so I made a cupcake flower pot to give to the bride! I thought it was going to be difficult and was nervous to start but it turned out really well! Everyone loved it!



Saturday my mom and I went to the bridal shower for a neighbor girl I grew up with that is getting married this summer. It was beautiful out so we were able to sit outside and relax with friends! After the shower we all took a break at home then got right back together for the bachelorette party! We started with a little get together at the maid of honors then went out for an amazing dinner and ended up at a few bars downtown! It was a lot of fun just hanging out with the girls. I think Brode had a wonderful afternoon and morning with his daddy and grandpa as well when they were doing "boy things".

Brode took a good 2 and 1/2 hour nap today like usual at home and then we headed right back to playing outside. We're in the process of changing some things in the house so the cabinets are emptied into a big pile in the living room. Brode - the explorer he is found a chip bowl shaped like a Packer helmet in the middle of the pile. We went to play outside and of course the "helmet" had to come out as well and Brode was running around yelling "football football football!"


The strangest part is that he hates hats and it takes a lot to keep them on him, but this hard plastic bowl with a cage on the front stayed on his head the entire time we were outside!

He loved being a little football jock!
We don't own an actual football so we had to improvise with the dogs football (she was NOT happy about it). I guess we'll have to get him some form of football to practice his touchdown spike!