Sunday Fun

Sunday we spent the afternoon at Badger Sports Park.

Mini Golf. Arcade Games. Mini Bowling. Air Hockey.

 Little Boy Heaven.

(I will admit that my 3 year old legit beat me on some holes)

 After an afternoon of playing we stopped by Dane's parents house and Brode was in awe of all the "boy toys" (as if he doesn't have enough). We played action figures, pirates, and castle for a few hours. 

Needless to say he was out like a light after dinner and a bath!

Activities

I haven't done a very good Brode catch up lately, which isn't good because that is what this blog is for!

We've been having fun. Although his attitude is coming out, he is also very fun. Every summer I think of the fun things we'll get to do and every summer I think he is at a more perfect age. The same is true for this spring/summer. I just can't wait to get all of our fun activities started!

Last week we went to a free class "The Little Gym" was putting on at my parents work. I've looked into classes for Brode at The Little Gym before, but they are pricey and no parent-child that fit his age. I want to be able to do things with him because he is in day care all day and doing it all alone already.

I mentioned it was 'tumbling' before we went and he kept saying he was excited for his class. They ran, screamed loudly, danced, and sang.
(Brode is in the orange soccer jersey with the 7 on the back)

Brode' favorite song was the baseball song. This was his batting stance. She made them shake their booties. He was LOVING it.

When we were about to leave he had tears in his eyes and looked at me "Mom, why didn't we do any tumbling?" So we did some tumbling and wrestling at home afterwards.

A few other things we've been up to:

Swimming lessons. Brode is in a morning class this session so we get to sleep in, eat breakfast together and then head to swimming lessons. We went back a level after a little scare, but he is doing great. He knows what he needs to do and can recite the pool rules, that's my main concern.

His class is 5 boys. They are crazy, but adorable!

Haircuts. Last night I called to squeeze Brode in for a haircut. It never seems long and then one day he wakes up and it's sticking up and choppy and needs to be cut right then!

Here is his before.

and his after:

I always say go short. Ever since he has had it shaved for surgeries in the summer, the short and matted down style works best for him in the summer. He says it feels much better, and it's a lot easier to wash! His scar does show a bit, but he has been cutting it open a bit lately so that helps me keep an eye on it. He is ready for summer!

His mother inherited attitude has been coming out lately. He often thinks he can be the boss, gets serious and says "Mom, I do not like those words. Stop saying them and do not look at me" when he is getting in trouble.

He doesn't like getting blamed for anything so when he bumps his head or gets hurt in any way he starts saying "It was Libby, she did it" or, "No, I said do it like this so that wouldn't happen. It wasn't my fault!" I just try to make sure he is ok and he is busy explaining it through tears.

He does have funny 17-year-old expressions, "Seriously mom, did you really just make that shot?" in his pretend low voice.

Pure entertainment that boy!

(I apologize the pictures are all from my iPhone and one side of the camera lens is all clouded and dirty. I'll carry my camera with me more!)

Dance Marathon

Saturday night Brode made an appearance at the Fox Cities Dance Marathon for Children's Hospital.

In January when we did the Kiss for Kids Radiothon we also did a video interview with a group of high schoolers from the local Appleton North Career Academy.

20 kids have come together to create their first Dance Marathon. Students, family, and friends pledge to dance then dance from 8pm to 12pm straight. All of the proceeds from the event will go to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

In February we went to the Dance Marathon party so they were able to meet patient families, we could thank them for all of their planning and make some paintings for the event.

(Patients and families with the Morale Group)

Our video has been circling around the schools to promote the event. Our pictures are also on their website http://www.foxcitiesdm.weebly.com/ under About and Families.

Saturday night we met the group at the high school at 8pm for their opening ceremonies before they all started dancing!

(Brode's painting displayed)

(The event before the students arrived. 95.9 Kiss FM did all of the music)

Brode loved all of the balloons and all of the high school girls loved playing with him. He was warm, sweaty, and exhausted! They even took their pictures with him.

Throughout the night the patient families went up on stage to tell their story and how Children's Hospital has helped them. Brode was very shy while I was talking but all the kids were "awwwing" at him.

They presented him with a Children's Miracle Network for being such a tough kid!

Brode was educated about the game of Dodgeball as the big kids played, but he wanted nothing to do with getting in there.

Half way through the event Culvers brought in individual ice cream cups. Brode put chocolate and sprinkles on his and sat down to watch the kids play Dodgeball.

He was sure exhausted by the time we left. We had a lot of fun and were so happy to help out, thank all of the kids for their playing, and give back to Children's Hospital.



Bucks Game

Saturday night Dane and I went down to Milwuakee for the Bucks game against the Pacers.

Of course we had to take advantage of being in Milwaukee and had dinner at P.F.Changs. We took our time and ate all the delicious food we possibly could (including a huge slice of chocolate cake) before heading to the Bradley Center.

We had great seats 7 rows off the floor. When we got to our seats we had a "You Are A Winner" paper taped on so we went up to find our prize and got a bobblehead. The game was good, except for the fact that bucks were always a few points behind and every time they came close to getting the lead they blew it - ending in a loss. We were a bit diasppointed as every game we have watched or listened to together they have won, guess we aren't the good luck charms.

It was a fun night to spend together and Brode even ended up with a bobblehead and red Bucks basketball out of it after staying home for a sleepover at Daddy's.

Beautiful Weekend

Could this Easter weekend have been any more beautiful?

As I left work on Friday at 3:00, not a cloud in the sky, I was excited to kick off the weekend! I picked Brode up from day care and went home to play outside.

Dane came over (yes I realize he has not made a blog introduction, just picture appearances. We'll get there.) to golf outside. After a good hour of hitting balls to the flag and collecting them all up Brode had blistered hands and we switched sports.

Grandpa was cleaning the garage while we were playing and Brode thought it was pretty cool he had a TV set up out there. The boys had to stay updated on the Masters and Brewers scores!

We had our last Friday Fish dinner of Lent and spent the night playing Go Fish. Brode showed me what was up and beat me every time. It is so much fun that he can really get into these games and understand!

Saturday we spent the day around the house catching up on a few things and playing. Brode and I baked mini cupcakes in the morning, then he was off with his Grandma Beth and Daddy for the rest of the day. I finally sat down and got my taxes done (only bummer part of the weekend and totally unlike me to wait this long.) Saturday night Dane and I went out to dinner with his whole family for his Grandma's 90th birthday! It was a great celebration and an amazing dinner.

Sunday morning we got up and out of the house for church before Brode could even find his basket because we knew he would be excited! After sitting pretty well through an hour Easter service we headed home to get ready for Easter with our family!

Libby (the dog) and I found our baskets before Brode, but he was having a bit of trouble. We walked him straight to it a few times but he still missed it. We finally gave a hint and heard a "MOM! I found my basket!"

Brode's basket was overflowing. He got 2 movies, "Hop" and "Despicable Me", a Cars interactive book for his LeapPad, a "My First Scavenger Hunt" card set, 2 "Auto Bingo" cards for the car, a pool squirt toy, a talking Finn McMissle car to go with his Cars set, and candy!

Of course all that wasn't enough and he had a pitching machine as his bigger gift. He has been so excited about his new red bat from brushing his teeth but I don't pitch well enough, or so he thinks.

I found my basket under our windowseat with Easter Junior Mints, Skittles, a Starbucks gift card, and Under Armour headbands I had been hinting at for work and working out! Don't you love the braided one!

 Easter is the holiday that my mom's side of the family comes to our house and we have an egg hunt outside and share dinner together. Everyone came over mid-afternoon and we had a few snacks then hid eggs for the younger kids outside.

All of the kids are a bit older than Brode so we designated his as the blue eggs and he was on a hunt for everything blue!

 Last year we had to drag him around with us and this year he took off running spotting them from a mile away!

After a dinner with ham, salads, green bean casserole, german potatoes, cheesy potatoes, and cherry cheesecake dessert Brode hit the wall and was ready for bed.

It was definitaly a great weekend with family and just made us more excited for summer weekends of fun!

Hope you all had a blessed Easter!

The Dentist

This really does not deserve a post of it's own, but it is something I want to note and look back on as I tend to put anything and everything dentist out of my mnid as soon as possible.

I 100% completely and totally despise hate the dentist. I do not know why. I have not had a crazy traumatic experience, our dentist is the one our entire extended family goes to since they opened their practice therefore they are friendly, social and accomodating. I'm not the biggest fan of the noises (but really who is?). I just don't like it. I do not fear it and I always get good reports so I do my regular 6 month check-ups and get out of there. I'd much rather be in the doctors office over the dentist.

Guess who is up for his first dentist appointments?

This little boy:

I have to put on my brave face and show how much I LOVE the dentist. For him.

Yesterday I had an appointment so they put a few extra minutes on the calendar for a "chair ride" for Brode. Yes he is 3 and 1/2 and is completely ready for a full check, but I wanted to see how he would handle it first.

To get better at brushing his teeth we keep a calendar sticker chart on the bathroom counter and he picks one out at the end of each day. This really helps between me, my parents, and Matt all putting him to bed, a good information system for us as well. At the end of the month he earns a prize he has been asking for (March: the shiny red bat from Scheels he was dreaming of at all times of the day).

When we walked into the dentist he was SO excited to tell them he was bouncing in his seat wanting to tell the receptionist. The hygeniest called our name and he sprinted across the waiting room "I brush my teeth EVERY day!" They all had a good giggle at him.

Brode spent the majority of my cleaning an inch from my face watching, pushing the pedal to make the toothbrush spin, and debating what color toothbrush he was going to pick out for me because "mom, you sat really really good".

When I was done Brode jumped right in the chair, rode up and down and opened wide for the hygenist to peek. It then took him a good 5 minutes to pick a new toothbrush for himself.

It's safe to say we'll be fine to come back for his cleaning. He was very inquisitive, he has the ability to sit still long enough, and as of right now his teeth and bite look amazing so we can get away with another 6 months.

Brode is defintelay a nervous boy a majority of the time. He does not like to try things the first time (the fear he has in the kazoo I gave him the other morning is a story in itself), but once he does he is fine. It usually requires a large melt-down first which is what I anticipated at this appointment.

He did great and I am very proud. At least one of us likes the dentist.

No More Sickness

Whew, Saturday morning Brode took his last dose of antibiotics (have I ever expressed how Brode's allergy to amoxicillin (10 day dose) has benefited us in the long run, because the other option is only a 5 day dose. Faster fighting and less medicine battles. Love it!) and got the strep out of his system. The scarlet fever rash can hang around for a bit so we're watching for that, otherwise he seems pretty much back to normal.

Lucky for us because we were taking Brode to a Green Bay Gambler game Saturday night and wanted him at full strength. After going out for pizza we headed over to the game.

 Brode had a great time in the big arena and really wanted to see a fight. Lucky for him we saw our fair share of game ejections, 10 minute major penalties for fighting, etc.

After getting home late Brode went right to bed and slept in a bit on Sunday morning. We then spent our Sunday morning dyeing Easter eggs!

 

 We started with plain colors, then did a few of them multiple colors and added designs to each of them. Brode was in love with his green egg and wanted to add some paint. I poured all the paint on a paper plate and tried not to look while he went to town. At one point I looked at it was everywhere and you couldn't see green anymore. He even had to hold it with the napkin so he could paint the other side. When he started diving for the purple I decided I shouldn't have peeked. He finally told me he was all finished and I took a look:

I love it! I don't want him to eat it because it's so good. It looks a bit tie-dyed but somehow his huge mess turned into a cool colored egg!

 Here are the rest of our eggs:

You'll see one with an M, one with Ovechkin's 8, one that says Brode, another that says Grandpa, a USA one, Brode's painted egg, and others with stars and sequence. Hopefully they'll hang around until Easter!