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!

Long Weekend

Our long weekend seemed longer than long!

Thursday Brode was diagnosed with pink eye and and ear infection so he was pretty wiped out. Friday night wasn't anything exciting as Brode went to bed early and I sat around. Saturday morning Brode still wasn't feeling well so we had to skip swimming lessons and he slept until 8:30 (14 hours!). He woke up with a fever so we did his antibiotic, eye drops and tylenol and he spent the morning relaxing. We ran an errand for some paint and Brode went right down for a nap. We're doing some major projects around the house so we rearranged for some of those happening this week and hung out outside. 3 hours later Brode woke up fever free and happy as can be. We spent the afternoon outside and playing in the neighbors pool! They're so generous to let us jump in and through this heat we have needed it. The water is extremely warm and Brode loves jumping and shooting at the basketball hoop on the side. He loves being home from day care with the family so much that we had a great time playing.

Sunday Brode slept in once again and got up to play. It was uncomfortably humid that morning so Brode and I played toys inside while grandma and grandpa did projects. A rash had slowly been developing on Brode cheeks and I was really nervous it was an allergic reaction. We already know he is allergic to amoxicillin and this rash was everywhere. He has had this medicine before so with the heat, sunscreen, a virus, and medicine we had no clue who the culprit was. I called so be sure we could continue the medicine and they thought it was best he be seen. This poor kid had red spots on his cheeks, forehead, between his toes, all over this stomach, down his back and every inch between those! We found it was only a rash from the virus that caused his cold, ear infection, and pink eye so there was nothing to worry about! After another long nap we packed up the car, gave into the heat and headed up to the cottage for the afternoon and night.

Brode loved playing at the cottage. We spent the afternoon sitting around while he played balls and trucks then grilled out for dinner. He was in bed late but after 3 days of long nights and naps we had room to spare. We played some cards after the little guy went to bed and I won a whole $1.80! Woohoo. This morning Brode had the house up at 7:00. We ate breakfast and got our things pack to come home. We still had a lot of prep work to do around here so we had to cut it short.

This afternoon Brode napped while we cleaned, emptied, and did homework. Once he was awake we were in the clear to do some demolishing. The wood floors in our foyer needed to be ripped out so Brode and I played outside and picked weeds while Grandpa, Daddy, and Grandma made a mess inside.
**Sneak Peak**

Our house is completely taken apart so tonight we had a nice picnic in the living room, Brode got a bath, and the rest of the night is relaxing. We're all very worn out. Every day seemed twice as long and all the sun wore us out! Wish we could have beautiful weekends all the time.

Lately = Multiple Titles

I started writing a post and it was ALL over the place. I will spare the confusion and give what everyone wants to see, the pictures and videos:

90 Degree Days: Sprinkler time

Blackhawk Cheering In All Its Glory
Learning To Save: One Penny At A Time

Daddy Brings Home a Giant "George" Cookie: Happy Baby on a Sugar High

(The videos were taking hours to upload - Ill try and update later)

Have a good long, warm weekend!

Quick and Silly

Brode learned to "pound it" (you know, bump the fists together) the other day from my dad and Matt when they were watching hockey.

He had to do it to everyone in the room numerous times he loves it so much. This weekend we were at a friends pool and he did it to all of the people that were there. The boys thought he was so cool now that he is out of the baby stage and can give "knucks". Last night at my cousins baseball game, same thing, to everyone.

This morning I'm brushing my teeth upstairs and I hear "Brode, you can't pound it with Libby. No, don't pound her in the face. Brode, Libby doesn't like your fist in her eyes" downstairs. I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head.

That little boy just wants to "pound it" with everyone and anyone. Poor Libby.

We Forget

One of the best things about having a one year old is watching his curiosity. We forget that everything is new to him so he is extremely aware of his surroundings and always exploring. Simple things like the sound of the planes and the trains that blend in every day catch his attention and he jumps up and down "PANE! PANE!" or "CHOO CHOO!!!" Other sights like the horses across the street or an annoying dandelion we've seen a million of get a big smile and he can stare forever!

Today we were playing outside and every plane that went over and train that went by had Brode stopped in his tracks listening and pointing. Then there were the bugs - every caterpillar or ant caught his eye immediately and he exclaimed "BUG! BUG! BUG! BUG!" until he somehow managed to squish them. Then came the tantrums.

He managed to get a sticker off of his John Deere tractor today and took a good thirty minutes sticking it on, under, behind, and inside his car, tractor, chair as well as putting it on the cement, door, his hair, and the bushes. Who knew it could be so intriguing?

What else caught his attention? A band aid. He scraped up his elbow at day care today and got a bandage to keep it clean. Everyone so often Brode stopped bent his arm almost backwards and took a little peek at it, just to make sure the sticky was holding up!

We had a little summer fun as well. I got Brode's water toy out from last year and just those few months it was in the basement had completely cleared it from his head. He loved figuring it out again yesterday and today we took it a bit father. Some days running in a sprinkler and swimming is all I can think about, but on a cloudy day in the shade I may opt out, "No Brode, I don't want to stick my face in the squirting water and get my work clothes all wet." The little boy on the other hand was all for sticking his head in the water and having a little fun:
(Yes I joined after that cute face looked at me, "Do it, Do it, Do it?")

Sometimes we just forget to take the time to enjoy those small things, to notice things, and take a break. Brode may be a fast moving wild little boy, but he allows for slow down in life to notice all the little things and crack a smile.



Just another note from our afternoons outside: BRODE LOVES HOCKEY (for the millionth time). I took a lot of pictures and videos of him hitting the balls today - hopefully one day you'll see them playing on the news when he is famous or getting an Olympic gold medal!!Doesn't he look so much older in this picture? Such a little athlete.

Shoes

Love is an understatement for the amount of emotion Brode has towards his shoes.

We have never had this before, he has always been fine with wearing other shoes.

He has now been in the same pair for quite a while and he is extremely attached to them. It's adorable and every so often, frustrating.

Brode wears his size 5 and 1/2 velcro black Airwalks everywhere. He puts them on when the sun comes up and takes them off when the sun goes down. They are his little boy play shoes.
Days like this past Sunday come around - we were getting family pictures done at the park - Brode is wearing a nice polo and plaid shorts but once his brown deck shoes were on he threw himself on the pavement kicking and screaming scraping his legs and scuffing the shoes. He only wanted his worn down fraying and fading Airwalks. We went back in the house, put on his beloved shoes as tears fell down his cheeks. I pushed down the last strap the tears immediately stopped Brode sprung up like it was Christmas morning and started running towards the door starring down and giggling at his favorite shoes.

He does have a perfectly white, comfortable, sporty pair of new shoes waiting to be worn but he refuses! He won't even give the poor guys a chance to break in. He also has a few pairs of sandals and water shoes but those are collecting dust as well. This little boy is NOT ok with change.

What am I going to do the day there is a hole right through the bottom? I hope Payless has BOGO and black velcro Airwalks to get Brode through high school. Heck, he'll probably be wearing them on his wedding day!

"Only my child...."

Have you ever had those "only my child would..." moments as they do something goofy or outrageous.

I had three large "Only my child" moments today. One nervous, one funny, and one "WHAT?"

1. We're playing outside and get Brode's rollercoaster out. I only put one of the steps on so as Brode is trying to get on he tips right off the side and takes the long fall to the cement. I'm not a 'gasper' but this one got me and I gasped, Brode got up and said uh-oh as blood started running off of his hands from scrapes, climbed back up and did the same exact thing but got up faster this time and skipped the uh-oh. He then decided there was no point in even having the car and he would just run down the track - I then moved the track to the grass as I thought... "Only my 19 month old child would run down a roller coaster fearless land face first on the cement twice and not care"

2. We were all finished with dinner, Brode is still sitting in his chair after he inhaled all of his food screaming "MORE BROCCOLI" even when there wasn't any left. I just asked myself, "is he serious?" and said... "Only my 19 month old would demand more broccoli after he already had 3 servings worth"

3. Last, Brode is taking a bath splashing, playing bath-ketball and throwing rubber ducks. After he was all clean I let him play and watched. It wasn't long until he was whipping the foam 7 around so I asked what he was doing, "Hockey! Hockey!".... "Only my 19 month old child would flip the 7 upside down to make a hockey stick"

Brode is a great relief to finals studying.