Live For Today

Project 365- Post 24

2012-01-24T20:20:00.001-06:00

A favorite toy here in the Hunecke house.

Project 365- Day 23

2012-01-23T21:51:00.001-06:00

YUMMMMMMMMY, Famous Dave's!

Our Weekend

2012-01-22T21:55:00.001-06:00

This weekend Justin headed out on his weekend fishing expedition so Madman and I had our weekend of fun. Friday after work we came home a little early and played in the snow. He was SO excited to get to be outside.

He dug out a spot on his jungle gym and kept doing the slide over and over again.

I showed him how to make a snow angel and he was obsessed. I am not sure if he was obsessed with the angel part or the throwing snow everywhere part.

On Saturday while Mommy went to a wedding show with a friend Maddox enjoyed some bonding with Auntie April and Cody. I think they had a good time. Nana and Papa stopped in for a nice dinner on their way back from Hawaii and it was great to see them! Maddox was spoiled (as were the rest of us) with a new outfit. (see previous post)

Today was pretty laid back, we had a fun movie filled morning and this afternoon I got caught up on some work and then did some shopping (fair is fair right?!). Daddy came back this evening and from the sounds of it, he had a great time. :) They came back one cell phone and cooler short but I suppose if that is the worst of it, it was a good weekend.

Project 365- Day 22

2012-01-22T21:24:00.003-06:00

Aloha from Nana and Papa!

Maddox modeling his new Hawaiian attire.

Project 365- Day 21

2012-01-22T21:16:00.003-06:00

Because who doesn't sit sideways in their highchair?

Project 365- Day 20

2012-01-20T21:56:00.002-06:00

Our first real snow fall! Bear LOVES it!

Project 365- Day 19

2012-01-19T20:56:00.002-06:00

a little family fun

Crayon Art

2012-01-18T21:53:00.001-06:00

So, just like many of you, I am addicted to Pintrest. I have been looking for fun things for not only me to do but trying to find things Maddox and I can do together.

I decided to make one for my office and decided to add the word "believe". I used the cricut to cut out the letters and I love the font if I do say so myself!

I just used mod podge to adhere the letters to the canvas.

I laid out the colors in the pattern that I liked

and hot glued them into place.

It was easy to get them aligned but it took about 15-20 minutes total to get them lined up.

I used a hair dryer to melt the crayons and started with it on high to get them "set" so I could start melting the colors. I went left to right and let each color start to melt and then turned off the dryer to let it set. I repeated the process 3-4 times until I was happy with the splatters/pattern.

one hint: the higher the blower, the more it splatters. :)

and WAAAA-LAH! The finished product

Surprise! It's Your Birthday

2012-01-18T21:33:00.002-06:00

Over the weekend we headed south to celebrate Grandpa Larry's 59th Birthday with a surprise birthday party. We were thrilled to spend the day hanging out with part of our family and had a great time getting ready to pull over the big surprise.

He was surprised!

Uncle Mitch was iced by his father-in-law. It was the perfect set up.

A celebratory shot of Root Beer Schnaps for the family

all our smiling faces

The party was a success and he was truly surprised. We were glad to be part of the day!

Project 365- Day 18

2012-01-18T21:19:00.001-06:00

Our new focal wall in our living room- LOVE IT!

Project 365- Day 17

2012-01-18T21:17:00.002-06:00

Turned out perfect and looks great in my office!

Project 365- Day 16

2012-01-16T20:01:00.000-06:00

Daddy and Maddox riding the carousel at the mall

Project 365- Day 15

2012-01-15T22:17:00.000-06:00

Our Trip to Iowa

Project 365- Day 14

2012-01-15T22:16:00.005-06:00

Celebratory Margarita for Grandpa Larry's Surprise 59th Birthday Party

Project 365- Day 13

2012-01-15T21:57:00.003-06:00

LEEP Membership Kick Off Party. Spent my whole day getting ready for this dance... Went off without a hitch!

Project 365- Day 12

2012-01-12T21:39:00.003-06:00

Is it Friday, yet?!

Project 365- Day 11

2012-01-11T20:37:00.004-06:00

Sleeping Soundly....

Project 365- Day 10

2012-01-10T20:31:00.000-06:00

5:15 pm on January 10...... How does this happen in MN? I am actually annoyed there is no snow and it isn't actually winter yet. We are SO in for it!

Maddox

2012-01-09T19:19:00.002-06:00

This boy.....

is by far the sweetest little boy I know! Yeah, yeah I am possibly a little biased but I don't think so. He has the sweetest demeanor and biggest heart around.

Anyone he sees or hears is in pain will be automatically be asked if they are ok. No matter if he knows you or not and he has no qualms about hugs just to make your day a little better. Just a few minutes ago I stubbed my toe. He came running said "you ok, mommy?" I told him I was but he rubbed my back and said it'll be ok....

Melt my heart!

He makes every effort to be a "big" boy and helps Mommy and Daddy around the house whenever he can. He LOVES letting Bear outside and has really been excited to help with so many things these days. He will even stand in the doorway and yell for B's to come in. (funny enough, Bear actually listens).

He is so polite too which I adore. He says "Please, Mommy" and "Thank You" and without coaxing. One of the cutest things he says is in response to asking him a question..... here's an example

Mommy: " Will you let Bear outside?"
Maddox:" Well...... ok."
proceeds to run to the door to let Bear outside.

The dramatic pause gets me every time! :)
Maddox. " I wanna dance!"
Mommy: "Go dance then, it sounds fun!"
Maddox: " Well...... ok."

He is into Dora a lot right now which must have come from Day Care because it was completely out of the blue. It's crazy to watch with him and listen to all that he is picking up. He answers her questions and points to things on the screen. Growing and changing, so fast!

There are so many cute things that he says and does but most of all he just makes me so proud. I am lucky to have him in my life. Best gift ever!

Project 365- Day 9

2012-01-09T19:16:00.001-06:00

Preparing for the big LEEP Membership Kick Off Party on Friday night!

Project 365- Day 8

2012-01-08T22:41:00.000-06:00

My weekend projects

Gone Fishin....

2012-01-07T20:27:00.002-06:00

Daddy left us today to spend the day on the water.... well, the frozen water. Even with unseasonable weather he and JB braved the ice (too thin for me!!) to catch a big one. Looks like he did pretty well.

He brought home some of his "keeps" and showed them off to Maddox.

Maddox was a little stand off-ish at first but warmed up to the idea....

I did my best to just stay out of the way. They creep me out! Can't wait to see what he brings back from his big expedition up north in a few weeks.

Project 365- Day 7

2012-01-07T20:12:00.003-06:00

Taking a walk in January.... wearing spring jackets!

Project 365- Day 6

2012-01-06T22:23:00.000-06:00

LEEP Staff Party at the Wow! Zone

Project 365- Day 5

2012-01-05T21:07:00.000-06:00

Baby Blues.... Makes my heart melt. Had to capture his poor ear, he's healing really well!

Project 365- Day 4

2012-01-05T21:04:00.001-06:00

Our family photo wall: before our big change!

Project 365- Day 3

2012-01-05T21:03:00.001-06:00

Yummy Tator Tot Hotdish - A family favorite

Project 365- Day 2

2012-01-05T21:01:00.000-06:00

Maddox's Art Gallery

Project 365- Day 1

2012-01-05T21:00:00.001-06:00

Well..... I am doing it. I am taking the plunge and joining my sister-in-law Jamie are going to challenge ourselves to take one photo a day (every day) for a YEAR! I don't know if I am crazy or just plain stupid to be trying this but I think it will be fun to take a look back at the end of the year.

As part of this challenge we are supposed to take pictures of people in your life, new people you meet, places you go, food you eat, day to day things... you get the idea. I am not sure I can upload every day but I hope to post a few times a week (at least) to stay on target. Wish me luck.......

Hawkeye Chair; Maddox loves to stack, climb on, and just play with these chairs

Inspired

2012-01-01T16:58:00.004-06:00

Funny how January 1st can inspire a person. I mean, I know you can always change and/or start over but for some reason the beginning of the year always seems so much more doable. I was watching the ball drop last night, ringing in another new year and I just felt like I needed to do something. I started making a list of things I would like to change (all have been things I have been mulling for quite some time) and settled on a few resolutions.

Everyone says you have to write them down for you to stick to them so that is exactly what I did. I have nicely typed list that I have put inside my daily planner so I have to look at it everyday. Hopefully it will actually help me make some positive changes. One I am really hoping to work on is saying "I'm sorry" so much. Terrible habit that I can't kick. It started during a really rough time last year when I wasn't feeling overly confident and now that I have some of that back, I need to change it. I know it annoys people but the fact that it annoys me should be enough to make it happen.

Over my vacation I read "The Help" which very well may have added to my little spurt of inspiration. I am still shocked at how the world was just 40-50 years ago. As I was reading the book I kept thinking man, this must have been SO long ago only to realize it really wasn't. Still hard for me to wrap my head around. In some ways we have come so far as a country but in others we have SO far to go. Acceptance is something that is ironic actually. Everyone wants to be accepted but there are always those that cannot accept other people. I have never understood that. For those that have not read the book or watched the movie (I did that last night!) I highly recommend it. I think it helped me think of different ways to inspire people to do what they feel is right for them. Make changes if needed but most of all, believe in yourself and what you are good at.

I hope January 1, 2012 helped some of you find something to work on in the next year. I know it sure helped me!

Our Christmas Celebration

2011-12-31T23:00:00.003-06:00

With our various Christmas celebrations Santa wound up coming on Christmas Eve morning to our house. It was completely unplanned but Daddy decided he should see if he could get him to stop by a little early.

Maddox kinda got the idea of Santa but wasn't 100% sure of what we were talking about. (No, he didn't get the skill saw. That is Justin's that he insisted stayed by the tree) He was pumped to find cars under the tree for him. He adores little match book cars (way to go Santa!)

So we moved forward with all of our stockings and Justin was pumped to see he received a Hawkeye phone cover. Apparently Bear was excited for him as well!

Of course we didn't leave Bear out of the mix. He was spoiled with busy bones and raw hides

Those 2 are peas in a pod...

I got lucky and got spoiled as well!

After our quick opening we loaded up the car and headed to Iowa to hit up my hometown church Christmas Eve service. We got all dolled up and all 3 of us actually made it through the service this year.

Last year we were NOT so lucky!

One of our best family photos of the night.

After our 2 celebrations in Iowa, we came home Christmas night and finished our family Christmas. Maddox was loving his gifts and didn't want to stop playing with them and keep opening the rest of his presents. He faired pretty well and walked away with a nice wardrobe and a hot wheels track. I like to get a picture of the loot he receives so I can always look back and remember what he opened.... Something my parents always did with us that I had to carry on!

Justin has wanted cowboy boots for the past 2 years.... He found a pair he liked but I couldn't get back to the store to buy them. Instead, I wrapped up a pair of my boots and this picture is him trying to figure out what it means.....

These will go great with his tickets to the Jason Aldean concert in February.

Every year I insist on a family photo in front of the tree. Here is our 2011 shot! I have a frame that I put it in and look back at old photos each time I do it. A few things I love about this particular photo.... notice how all the balls on the tree are clumped together.... thank you Maddox. Also, I am holding Bear back because he wasn't having it. Ahhhhhhhhhh memories!

Gunderson Style Christmas Eve

2011-12-27T22:31:00.000-06:00

On Christmas Eve, after church, we went to visit my Grandma at her new residence. Part of our family was able to make it and we had a sweet celebration in her room. It was great to be together and I am happy we were able to do it.

Maddox was completely over being quiet so it was a little difficult keeping him entertained so we didn't get kicked out of the nursing home! Great Grandma got him a Mickey Mouse book that was a HUGE hit so he was sitting with her reading....

Four Generations

It was a relaxing evening which was just what Santa ordered.

Beadle Christmas

2011-12-27T22:11:00.000-06:00

Maddox and Grandpa catching up

Christmas Day we spent a little time with the Beadle side of the family. Unfortunately we don't get to see that side of the family as often as we like so it was great to catch up. Grandma Jo put on a great meal and I know no one left hungry (and if they did it was their own fault!).

Grandpa got to hang with all of his Great Grand kids which was pretty cool (wish we would have thought to get a picture....).

Father and Daughter on Christmas Day

Aunt Jess and Uncle Mitch..... always trying to steal my little man!

Grandma Jo and her man, Bill!

The Reason for the Season

2011-12-25T21:29:00.002-06:00

Celebrating the birth of Jesus is always an uplifting service to attend. We know the story so well and love to have the opportunity to share it with our son.

With that being said, my (Mandy) dream of enjoying Christmas Eve has come and gone with God laughing at me.... Maddox did NOT pay attention at all to the ceremony, we were all antsy and awaiting for the next "outside voice" comment ("HI Papa!", "Where are you, Nana?", "Cookie Daddy?" just to name a few). Anyone that has ever said taking a 2 year old in public is CRAZY! Especially if it means to some place where it is necessary to be quiet......

When all is said and done I was able to sing my 2 favorite hymns along with the congregation and which helped bring me back to the reason for the season.

Where's Maddox?!

2011-12-22T11:10:00.000-06:00

It has become a bit of a habit for Maddox to show up in random places.

I mean really, whats so cool about standing in a wastebasket?

Or playing in an excersaucer that is clearly too small for you....

And who doesn't sit in a play shopping cart when you won't sit in one while shopping?

What fun it is to find where he will show up next!

Hunecke Christmas

2011-12-21T19:57:00.000-06:00

Last Friday we loaded up the car and headed south to State Center to enjoy a little Hunecke Family Christmas. We were all able to make the weekend work so it was GREAT to get together. Saturday was full of food, family, and fun (in that order!).

Before nap time Grandpa Larry pulled out some Sugar Cookie dough for the "older" kids to help him bake. They did a great job staying focused for a little while but Maddox found it more exciting to play with the cookie cutters.

During a cooking baking break, Brody decided to take Blake for a walk.... Apparently all involved thought it was pretty fun as all of us were laughing as he pulled him around the kitchen. Such a funny kid!

Once the kiddos were off to la la land a few of us got busy icing and decorating the cookies. We didn't do such a bad job and I even got to do a little tribute to Green Bay as we had plenty of yellow icing and green sprinkles.

After the cookies were finished and the kiddos were up from their naps it was time to open gifts. Through the chaos there were lots of great gifts for everyone to enjoy. As always we were all spoiled!

Bowen ready to rip open the gifts

Brody got his first Marshmallow gun courtesy of Uncle Justin.... Aunt Mandy questions that idea....

Miss Jenna sporting her new hat Aunt Mandy picked out.... (I need a girl!)

One of the presents Justin was most excited about was this picture he made for his dad. The wood is from my parent's old barn that was taken down a few years ago. It turned out really nice.

Maddox's Loot

Thanks to the Burdorf's for hosting such a fun event. We had a great time and couldn't have asked for a merrier Christmas!

Looking for December

2011-12-20T21:13:00.001-06:00

Where on Earth did the past 2 weeks go?! I feel like it was just December 1st and suddenly here we are looking at the calendar on December 20.

I finally got our Christmas Cards out this afternoon which was a relief.

I have only had them since November 19th.... oy!

Hope they make it safely. I apologize if you do not receive one. I had to drive to 3 different drop boxes to get them all in. Have never seen a mailbox that full before!

When I was looking through pictures I needed to upload I came across this video and thought I had better share. Maddox was so darn cute that day. So excited!

I hope to get back to my usual blogging self here again soon.... I miss it but to be honest, I just don't have the time anymore. I'll work on it!

Christmas Crafts

2011-12-07T22:15:00.001-06:00

Justin and I caught the crafty bug this Christmas and we can't wait to share all of our goodies with everyone. Unfortunately we aren't able to quite show all of the goodies yet but after the holiday I will be sure to share.

After I caught the Pintrest bug, I wanted to try a lot of different projects. A Christmas ornament wreath was on the top of my list and I decided to add a little personalization to it as well. I learned a lot in doing it but it was really fun to be creative. Even though I took the "cheap" route it still turned into a more expensive craft than I wanted but I think it was worth it.

Now, to figure out how to store it................

Surgery

2011-12-05T10:25:00.001-06:00

The surgery was a success! Thankfully there wasn't a ton of damage to fix but the doctor did remove 2 cysts, one of which she figured was creating a hormonal imbalance and adding to the issues. With these gone, and the scar tissue cleaned up things should be easy peasy (or something!). Hopefully this means a little less struggle for the future.

While I was under the Dr did another tubal die study, which we did when we were trying to have Maddox. She said the die spilled pretty evenly which is fantastic news because last time one side wasn't very clear and took a very long time to spill/show up.

Friday was a bit slow for me. I was able to eat and wasn't in a ton of pain so that was great! Saturday and Sunday I took pretty slow and really only had to deal with a few bouts of nausea which was nice. I was planning to attend work but quickly realized I over did it yesterday and needed to be a little more cautious! I think that because the pain wasn't even comparable to c-section pain, I was feeling like this was a cake walk. Apparently you still need to take it slow. :)

Thanks for all the kind words and support. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Oh, Christmas Tree

2011-11-30T23:08:00.000-06:00

On Monday night Maddox, Daddy and I decorated our Christmas tree. It was pretty fun watching Maddox's eyes light up when he saw the lights on for the first time.

Now comes the tough part, keeping him from throwing the balls across the rooms.

The finished product

Surgery Update

2011-11-30T21:07:00.000-06:00

On Friday I will be having surgery. Hopefully it will give us some answers on our next plan of action. I am praying for good news, meaning that Dr. C. can get everything cleared up and we are good to start things back up again after the first of the year. We will probably know more that day and even more after my check up a few weeks later. Thanks for all the support and keep us in your prayers!

Inge

2011-11-29T23:07:00.000-06:00

The time has come where the Hunecke Family has to bid farewell to a great friend of ours. Inge and I used to work together and though we are great friends, we became more like sisters. We have the same kind of humor, work ethic, a lot of the same ideas about people, and just genuinely get along well. Justin once told me that he was glad I found a friend like her because now I had someone to laugh at my ridiculous jokes. :)

When Maddox was born Inge really hadn't had a lot of experience with babies. She was not afraid of jumping in and learning though and she and Maddox created quite a bond. I always knew I could count on her to help out if we were ever in a real pinch. While we wish her well in her new adventures in grad school, I sure miss her already. It was nice to have someone only a few minutes away when I needed a friend. She came into my life when I was really in a hard spot learning to be a new mom and trying to "find myself".

She has been a big supporter of me and I hate to say good bye. I really believe that people come in to your life for a reason but I sure wish they didn't have to leave.

We'll miss you, Ing-A!

Glasses

2011-11-28T23:01:00.001-06:00

One of Maddox's new obsessions, glasses!

He'll find them anywhere and loves to put them on.

Such a silly boy

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T22:53:00.001-06:00

Justin and I decided to host Thanksgiving this year which turned out to be a great event. My parents, Justin's dad and Linda, and 2 very good family friends made the trip.

Of course we didn't want to eat before the big the big game so we paused it at half time to enjoy a relaxing meal

Maddox sure loves having his Grandpa's around.

The day was full of relaxation and football. My mom and I even braved the early crowds at Wal-Mart (HUGE mistake) and then hit up Target. After waiting in line for an hour we got in and I even got the DVD player I wanted. :) The first 15 minutes of shopping was even stress free. It was so stress free that we even shopped for about an hour longer.

To say we are Black Friday shoppers would be quite an overstatement. We don't enjoy crowds AT ALL but it was actually kind of fun. So much hustle and bustle and even a few great deals. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

SO Behind!

2011-11-28T21:42:00.001-06:00

So sorry we are so far behind..... I am going to do my best to quickly update you on our latest adventures.

We actually put lights up on our house this year! I even braved the roof and did the hooking of all the lights. Justin was the "gopher" cuz I decided it didn't sound like fun.... I overcame one of my fears so that was a win for me!

please don't mind the blurriness... Somebody was walking by with their dog... I am sure I looked really awesome!

Justin and I turned 29 on the 16th. (forgot to take a picture-boo!) We celebrated together (Maddox free!) by going out to a child free dinner, Justin got his hair cut, did a little shopping and were home by 9:45. IT WAS GREAT! I loved every minute of it and I think Justin did too.

On the 17th LEEP hosted it's 4th Annual Special Olympics Banquet which was amazing as usual. If you have tie you should take a look at this video. My intern put it together and she did a great job.

Helps give a little insight about all of the great things our organization does. My favorite part of the night was handing out the "special" awards including Athlete of the Year. Absolutely warms my heart!

Justin worked the weekend of the 19th so Maddox and I pretty much just enjoyed a weekend to ourselves. Didn't do much but get ready for our big Thanksgiving celebration. You know, the typical scramble before everyone shows up kinda a deal?! ;) We hosted a small gathering on Thanksgiving but I will post about that in separate post.

Here are a few random pics of the past few weeks

"Mommy, look!" Planking....who knew 2 year olds knew what that was?

Can't believe I am showing you my bra but I guess this is a better way to wear it

Finally did a little scrapbooking.... hadn't touched my stuff since before Maddox was born and to

say I miss it is an understatement... I love having the chance to get creative.

Give to the Max

2011-11-12T20:18:00.001-06:00

If you just don't know what to get me for my birthday this year, I hope you consider making a donation to Leisure Education for Exceptional People (LEEP). I have worked for this non-profit going on 4 years and seriously love what I do. You support would mean the world to not only me but to all of the participants that take part in the program as well.

On Wedneday, November 16th (my 29th birthday) I would be honored if you chose to support such a great cause! Thank you for your consderation!

For the love of a bike....

2011-11-11T14:52:00.001-06:00

Maddox has been enjoying his time learning how to ride his new "bikes".

The funniest part is the fact that he insists on the helmet. Usually it isn't on the right way but it is adorable.
What a stinker!

Couldn't resist, had to post some pics cuz he looks so darn cute!

The Next Step

2011-11-10T22:27:00.001-06:00

I know I said I wasn't sure how much I would share of our current rounds of infertility treatments but figured I better do a bit of an update.... I met with my doctor on Wednesday and we decided to go ahead with surgery. The date was set for the first week of December and hopefully this will make our efforts for Baby Hunecke #2 a little easier. :)

I will undergo a Laparoscopy and hopefully (figures crossed) this will take care of any major issues for the next few years. I know they will be removing a rather large endometrioma and cleaning up any scar tissue they may find. Endometriosis can't be diagnosed until this procedure is done which is why we don't know how much scar tissue is actually effecting me. Unfortunately it doesn't rule out the possibility of needing it again in the future but hopefully this will get us through our child bearing years! While in surgery they are going to do a few other tests as well including repeating a tubal dye study (I did this before Maddox was born) again to make sure everything still actually works. From there we will know what our options are.

So for now, that is the latest news in the Hunecke House.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness- Day 2

2011-11-02T21:23:00.000-05:00

I am thankful for a job that I love. If someone would have told me in college that in 5 years I would be the Executive Director of a non-profit, I would have told them they were crazy. To say it wasn't in my 10 year plan is pretty much right on. Since accepting the position at LEEP things in my life have changed for the better. So, I am thankful to have a job that I look forward to getting up for when my alarm goes off in the morning.

Yard Clean Up

2011-11-01T22:15:00.000-05:00

Since last spring we have been thinking our bushes really needed to be cut down. Last winter was pretty rough on everything around here but we just never really got around to getting the crazy limbs cut down. While we had family in town for Maddox's birthday party Justin did some sweet talking and we had some help trimming and cleaning up.

Mitch and Justin made quite the team

Doesn't this just spell danger?

And the final pile..... yikes!

After the trees were trimmed Justin grilled a delicious lunch for everyone to enjoy. Maddox decided to entertain the ladies at his picnic table and even posed for a few pictures!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness- Day 1

2011-11-01T20:31:00.000-05:00

Today I am thankful for my super smart, barely 2 years old fluke use of the potty. Before bath time he requested to use his potty and went on a search to find it (we had put it away because he had lost interest). He found it in our closet, brought it into the bathroom, sat down and proceeded to pee. To say I was proud was the understatement of the year!!!!

Flashes of scenes from the movie "Look Who's Talking" where Kirstie Alley dances through the living room singing "pee pee in the potty!"

I am very thankful that we may be on the road to fewer diapers! :)

Happy Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T22:02:00.002-05:00

Happy Halloween!!!

This year Madman decided to go as a golfer (Zack Johnson NOT Tiger Woods- gotta show love to the Iowa boy.) and to say he rocked it would be an understatement. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Even Mommy and Daddy got some trick or treating in!

Thanks Scott and Lisa for the yummy treats!

1/2 way through our trick or treating Maddox got tired and thought Eddie's bed sounded like a great spot to land. I would say Maddox had a pretty successful night among the ghouls and goblins!

Hawkeye Wrestler

2011-10-29T22:07:00.000-05:00

Earlier this summer Cody (april's BF) and April gave Maddox a sweet Iowa Hawkeye singlet. I find it absolutely adorable. During highschool I spent my fair share of time around wrestling matches so I wouldn't be heartbroken if Madman really did take up the sport. I couldn't help but pass along these cute photos.

And she is pinned!

Full body shot, too cute!

2nd Birthday Party

2011-10-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

On Saturday we celebrated Maddox' 2nd birthday with family and a few friends. The Burdorf's had spent the morning being healthy by running in the Mankato Marathon 10K so it was fun to just relax all afternoon long. The party started around 5pm and thank goodness the weather was so beautiful!

The 3 older Hunecke Grand kids chillin in the wagon

The kids eaten the goods

Justin and I decided it would be really fun to have a pinata for the kids to hit. Unfortunately we forgot about it until the sun had gone down but it still went over pretty well. The kids got a kick out of it and I think the parents did too!

Can I say I was actually impressed with my 2 year old's form? Future baller, I think so!

Brody taking a stab at it

Then it was time to rip into the presents. I think present time was "a little" drawn out as Maddox couldn't get enough of his tractors (we actually had to hide them!) but it was worth it. He got SO many nice things and to say he is spoiled would be an understatement.

Since Maddox has been a little obsessed with "git-tarrs" for the past few months, we decided to go with the rock start theme. He was pretty pumped when he saw our $1 inflatable guitar we used for our decor.

yummy, ice cream cake!

So excited to blow out the candles!

Thanks to all of you that made the trip to celebrate Maddox's big day. I know he appreciates it but Justin and I can't say thank you enough for all you do.

Maddox is 2!

2011-10-24T21:58:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe it but Madman turned 2 on Thursday. Justin had to work that night so we had a quick party before he took off. I think he thought he was pretty special (as he should!)

It is quite a fight E-V-E-R-Y day when I come to daycare to pick Maddox up and take him home. There is NO easy way to get him away from the darn bikes (to say he is obsessed is an understatement). Because of this we had been on the lookout for something he would be able to use this fall but more importantly, something we could pull out early next spring. We found a bike at quite a good price towards the end of September so we decided to pick it up.

Really, a helmet? I haven't even had a chance to try out my new wheels!

When it came time to open the bike, we had just thrown a blanket over top of it. Maddox was dying with anticipation.... he flipped up the blanket and exclaimed " I SEE!! I see! I see a BIKE!" SO funny and he is still just as excited about it as he was then.

Look guys, I can ride it!

The entire night was spent sitting on the bike.... we watched TV on the bike, ate dinner next to the bike, took a bath with the bike in the hallway, pulled the bike from room to room. I think we may have picked a good present!

Then it was on to cake.... I don't know what happened but Maddox wasn't thrilled when I brought it out of the kitchen. Thankfully he warmed up to it!

I am not ready to be two!

who needs a fork?

Happy as a clam

Still trying to figure it out how this works........... eh, oh well I got it on my head!

The night was pretty laid back but fun none the less. Still hard to believe my baby is two but we are proud of all the things he has accomplished in his 2 years with us. We love you, Maddox!

Five Question Friday- 10/14/11

2011-10-13T22:24:00.001-05:00

Hadn't done this in awhile so I decided to indulge in a little "mindless" blogging.

1. Do you prefer your ice cream in a bowl or in a cone?
In bowl, for sure!

2. What three things do you love the smell of?
Autum Wreath Yankee Candles, fresh laundry, and

3. Giftcards or no? (In regards to gift giving...)
I think yes, I would rather give something people can use than give them a gift they dont' want.

4. What sports did you play in high school if any and do you still play them?

Softball, track, dance team, volleyball..... I played slow pitch softball this summer and love to play a good game of pick up volleyball.
5. Were you in band in high school? What instrument did you play?

Yes, I was a trumpet player. Couldn't play a note now I would bet!

Sibley Park

2011-10-13T22:06:00.001-05:00

There is a great park here in town that we really like to hang out in. It is perfect for the whole family and best of all Maddox can run off lots of steam. The first time we really went there was on Father's Day this year but it has become even more fun as the summer has gone on

Hi Cow!

A favorite spot for Maddox

Ride 'em cowboy!

ahhhhhhhh fall colors, I love it!

Maddox-ism's

2011-10-12T22:08:00.001-05:00

Maddox has really started talking A LOT more lately. There are so many cute/funny things that he has said lately but some of my favorites.

"love you, mommy/daddy!"
"Bear, sit down!"
"I go potty, later"
"I sit down. I watch Mickey"- after I repeatedly tell him that if he doesn't Mickey will be turned off.
"Ayla, blah blah blah. Ayla blah blah blah...." His best friend at day care that he constantly talks about or pretends he is talking about. Too cute!

But my favorite is his this.... Tonight when I was putting him to bed he was jumping around and accidentally kicked me in the face. (and it hurt- A LOT!) So, with my face covered in my hands he scrambles over to me hugs me and said, "You ok, mommy? Mommy! You ok?! I kiss it." Ahhhhhhhhhhhh just melts my heart!

Fun on the Farm

2011-10-10T20:51:00.001-05:00

In an impromtu visit to Iowa, Maddox and I enjoyed a few hours riding along with my parents!!

Maddox was very proud of himself as he found himself behind the wheel of the combine.

Perfect picture. This is EXACTLY how I know my dad.

Such a little farm boy

Hmmm, I think if I shut the door really quickly, no one will notice.

And now we drive with Grandpa.... He did really well, sorta!

"Stop Grandpa, I driving!"

We only visited for a few hours but it sure must have tuckered Maddox out. He was asleep within 5 minutes of leaving the field. Not sure but I am thinking he will soon be demanding a visit to Nana and Papa's when he knows he can drive the tractors and/or whatever else his little heart desires. Man I love this time of year!

Fall Photo Adventures

2011-10-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

Last week we took a few separate drives around the Mankato area to find some good photo opportunities. We had a lot of fun finding "secret" spots we had never seen before along wirh some old favorites in the mix. Hope you enjoy!

I think this captures his pure joy with being outside and playing in the leaves.

Ever the outdoorsman!

my little dreamer

Wish I could have some photos of his face but I can't keep up!

Wisconsin Sight Seeing

2011-10-04T22:48:00.002-05:00

I realized the other day that I never wrote about the little impromptu visit we made to Door County, Wisconsin on our little anniversary getaway. We hadn't really decided if we would come home on Friday or Saturday so we took a nice drive up through some beautiful countryside.When we reached Sturgeon Bay we stopped off for some tourist information and we were pointed in the direction of this beautiful landscape.....

We found a beautiful lighthouse and took full advantage of the photo ops

Happy 6th Anniversary hun!

I hope we can go back sometime to really get a look around. There were lots of shops (and more!) that we didn't get to see but we did enjoy the time we got to spend together!

Adventures in Bowling, with an almost 2 year old

2011-09-28T22:57:00.002-05:00

We decided to take Maddox bowling over the weekend... Neither of us were very sure how he would do but we gave it a whirl anyway

At the beginning it was pretty cool!

By the 4th frame he was getting a little bored

He still let mommy try to keep him involved but it wasn't all that interesting

Now watching the ball shoot out of the hole was pretty cool!

We told him it was his turn again.... guess he was over it! :)

Unloading.....

2011-09-28T22:46:00.000-05:00

I have started this blog post several times but I never knew how to finish it.... not the post I ever wanted to write again but the questions about when Baby Hunecke #2 will be making an appearance are never ending. Not that I blame people for wondering but..... it is always a tricky subject to navigate.

So, to answer the question..... we don't know. This time around has been MUCH more discouraging than when we were trying to have Maddox.

We've been back in the fertility treatment game since January-February-ish and here we are again. We had decided that around Maddox's 1st birthday we would start trying just in case we had issues again. Turns out it was a wise choice.

When we started everything again I went in with a positive attitude because really, how hard could it be? I mean we had Maddox and though the ride was difficult, we had a plan and it worked! Apparently it isn't that easy. ;)

Where do we go from here?.... Well, the answer is not very cut and dry. I've been pumped full of meds for one month and the next, I have to go back on birth control to shut everything down. VERY disheartening to hear/do month after month. (also not a fun thing to come down off of, lots of nausea, weight loss/gain, and mood swings- just ask Justin!) We have tried IUI's 2x's and neither have worked. (that is how we got pregnant the first time). My endometriosis has gotten much worse and my Dr. is concerned it is causing more issues than she anticipated. Each month that goes by more scar tissue grows. We are strongly considering surgery before the end of the year but it is still up in the air.

The reason we are holding off is because if I can avoid surgery now, I may not have to repeat it so soon to try for kid(s) in the future. It is something that will need to happen at some point though.

In conversations that I have had many people have suggested a 2nd opinion. I get it and maybe I will do that but to be honest, I trust my Dr. She knows me/us and when you are going through something like this it is much easier to talk with someone that has been through it with you before. She's supportive and helpful (most of the time) and that makes me stay (even when I hear things I don't like).

On the other hand with all of the changes at work, etc. it could be a huge blessing in disguise. I understand stress causes issues yada, yada, yada, but that change wasn't in "the plan" when we started. :) Now that life has settled down (some) that stress has been eliminated

I guess that is my story in a nutshell.... Now this isn't meant to be a sob story, just a statement about where we are with everything. I am not sure if I will continue to write about our journey but hopefully this help to answer some of the questions people have been asking.....

Cherokee

2011-09-27T22:22:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we headed down to Cherokee for a weekend full of fun! We headed down early in the afternoon and got there just in time for dinner. Friday night we spent some time with Grandma Jo enjoying time getting to know her friend Bill. (he's quite the character and fits in well!). After dinner we finally got to see the movie Bridesmaids which I had really been looking forward to seeing.

On Saturday we of course got ready to enjoy the Hawks game. Before, during, and after we enjoyed some yard games in Jess and Mitch's back yard. Maddox found a chopped of tree and decided it was a great launching pad for him to utilize for some energy burn!

And what is a Hunecke get together without some competition? Jess, Justin, Maddox, and Mitch all decided to play a little football. ( I felt photographer suited me much better!) Seems like they all enjoyed themselves!

Mitch is up for the pass.... If I remember correctly Maddox wound up with this catch.

Look at that face!

Great weekend had by all and glad we could hang out with everyone. :) Can't wait to see you all again, soon!

Hell Week

2011-09-19T22:26:00.003-05:00

You know how people refer to the week before finals as hell week?! Well, I think I just survived what I would refer to as hell week within my new profession. :) To say there were some obstacles would be a bit of an understatement.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was promoted to Executive Director of LEEP. During this time of year we are super busy with the biggest event of the year, Fall Elegance dinner and dance. To say I was stressed would be the understatement of the year. Well, I think all of the worry paid off.... All 715+ people had a place to sit, the meal was delicious and the program was a success. I can say that without a doubt, the event went off with out any major hiccups and everyone enjoyed their time. Now on to the next chapter!!

Packer Hall of Fame

2011-09-14T21:51:00.000-05:00

Of course no visit to the Frozen Tundra would be complete without a visit to the Hall of Fame. We HAD to see the 4th trophy (read that Vikings fans? the 4th trophy- ha) that was added after last year's Superbowl win. I would say whether or not you are a Packer fan, you would raelly enjoy all of the history the Hall has to offer.

All four in their glory!

NFC Champs

Don't let Justin fool you, he enjoyed seeing the new trophy too. Probably not as much
as me but still, he thought it was pretty cool.

Anniversary Getaway

2011-09-13T21:40:00.000-05:00

Last weekend JR and I enjoyed a nice get away with my parents. We were lucky enough to be able to go to the season opening Green Bay game which was AWESOME!!!

Since it was on a Thursday night we turned the trip into a longer weekend which was great but is worth its own post....

Though we have been to a few games in the past this game will stand out in my mind for a long time. We were able to get to town by noon we did a lot of sight seeing we normally don't have time for. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch at Curly's Pub in the Atrium which gave us a perfect view of the players parking lot. We got to see Charles Woodson and Jordy Nelsen arrive which was pretty cool.

The weather was gorgeous and it was a first for my mom as she was able to wear shorts!! I must say it was very strange not needing to pack 14 long sleeved shirts, snow pants, and heavy coats!

My "Lambeau Leap"!

Because it was the season opener there were SO many cool things going on. There was a concert prior to the game where we were able to see Maroon 5, Kid Rock, and Lady Antebellum perform for free.

I was not a Kid Rock fan prior to his show but I will admit after his performance that night, he won me over. Justin was in heaven with him and Iw as pretty pumped for Maroon 5. I may have a wee bit of a crush on Adam Levine. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

As part of the crowd that night, we got to be part of 2 "card tricks" that turned out pretty cool. Excited to say I was able to be part of this!!

Nose Goes

2011-09-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Last night Maddox found a random chip clip...... After I thought it was funny to put it on my nose to make him laugh, he found it HILarious to put it on his own. So this is what we did for a good portion of the evening.

First try getting it on his nose

He's saying "cheese"

Owwwww! Get it off, get it off!!

Thank You, Craigslist

2011-09-05T21:48:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I was perusing the Craigslist ads and I came across this beaut of CHEAP child play equipment. I've been looking for something like it for quite some time but just haven't found anything I was willing to put money down on. As you can see, Maddox loves it!

JR- Bob the Builder

2011-09-05T21:34:00.003-05:00

Justin has been putting his handyman status to good use! He has been keeping busy building some super sweet bags boards and I think he's done a great job. A few friends have even requested that he build them sets.

Maddox wanted to play hide and seek. It was all fun and games till he got stuck! :)

I-O-W-A!

2011-09-03T16:55:00.002-05:00

Today was game one of the 2011 Hawkeye Football season. Of course we got dressed to impress!

Stinks the quality is so poor but that is what happens when I use my phone

Good day to be a Hawk fan, stinks that it was a 5 hour game with the 1.5 hour rain delay. Ready for some more games coming up. GO HAWKS!

R.I.P BA-lloon

2011-08-28T21:47:00.001-05:00

Maddox and I ran a quick errand this morning and he was lucky enough to walk away with a pretty sweet balloon. To say he was in love with it would completely understate the pure bliss he was having while pulling his balloon around with him.

Unfortunately the love affair was short lived.... He did not listen to Mommy when she told him he couldn't roll on, bite, jump, kick, scratch, or punch it. Let's just say when he laid on it the final time it didn't end pretty. A loud bang and it was over.... RIP BA-lloon, it was great to know you.

Coins

2011-08-28T21:29:00.000-05:00

Though I truly do appreciate Nana's lesson in saving money, I am a little over the phrases "Coins, Mommy. Coins! Feed piggy?"

Last weekend when we were back at home my mom taught Maddox where to put his coins and now that he figured out where his piggy bank is here, we can't get enough. Beware he is on the hunt for coins and has no qualms asking people for them!

Great lesson but now I have to figure out how best to hide piggy so we don't have a repeat of nap time this afternoon where I heard a loud crash. I opened the door and found the little stinker carrying his piggy around. Not good since it was on the 2nd shelf of his bookcase. SCARY!

Big Boy Bed

2011-08-26T22:02:00.000-05:00

We have made another change at house... Maddox is now in a big boy bed. We made the decision after several nights of discussing how he couldn't jump in his crib/toddler bed we knew we had to do something.

To say he adjusted well would be an understatement.... As you can see he has made himself right at home.

Farmageddon

2011-08-24T20:18:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we enjoyed the 2nd annual Hoedown at my parent's farm. This year's theme was Farmageddon so the requested attire was either cowboy/girl or farmer attire which quite a few people partook in this year. There was TONS of GREAT food and even more fantastic friends in attendance. Can't wait till next year's shindig!

In the Books

2011-08-18T19:58:00.001-05:00

Well, Day 1 is in the books.

Don't worry I won't recap every day of work from here on out!

For my first day I would say things went really well. No major disasters and no one quit! :) Though I realize I have worked for LEEP for a 3.5 years, today felt much different. I don't know what exactly makes me feel so different but I feel like the possibilities are endless now.

Please remind me of this when I start to get overwhelmed

I am excited to see what these next few days, weeks, and years will bring. Thanks for all of the support on my first day. I can only hope I have as much enthusiasm everyday as I do today!

Changes.....

2011-08-17T22:18:00.002-05:00

It's official, I now have a new job!!! A few weeks ago my boss took me to lunch to tell me the news that she was moving on to a new position and that her position as the Executive Director was going to be opening up. Nervous as I was to pursue it I bet on myself and applied.

Yesterday was my interview and they called me to offer me the position last evening! I am very excited to start this new chapter in my life and though I know there will be many challenges, I am ready for the change. Thanks to those that offered their support during my butterflies and I especially appreciate all the kind words when I needed them most!

So, I can finally announce that I am now officially the Executive Director of LEEP in Mankato!! (the wait was killing me!)

Minnesota Zoo

2011-08-14T08:12:00.041-05:00

Since the beginning of summer I have wanted to take Maddox to the zoo. I knew he would enjoy it and I was right. Even with only a 45 minute power nap he was SO good and was having a blast! He loves animals so being up close and personal was really "cool".

He figured out that if you moved your hand by the glass the otter would follow it.
He got lots of entertainment out of that.

I have no idea why but Maddox found laying on the ground in front of the exhibits pretty fun. He did it at several but I only captured a few.

The petting zoo went over REALLY big. Maddox may have hugged EVERY goat in the place. Thankfully they were all friendly. :)

Look at me Dad!

Well, hello Mr Tiger. Very nice to meet you!

The day turned out to be a gorgeous day and we had a good time together.We even made it home in time for Justin to watch the Vikings..... yay...... :) Can't wait to go back again!

Cody

2011-08-14T08:11:00.003-05:00

My sister's BF Cody is probably one of Maddox's favorite people in the world. Don't get me wrong, he loves April but as soon as she walks in Maddox is already looking or asking for Cody. Even when he isn't around we'll hear him talking about Cody.

We are careful not to mention his name because if we do that is all we hear for the next 12 hours!

The other night we had April and Cody over for dinner and he and Madman got to work playing. It wasn't long before Maddox was copying everything Cody was doing. Had to snap a picture just to show you all. Enjoy!

Thanks Cody for humoring Maddox, he loves you!

Wedding Weekend

2011-08-10T21:37:00.013-05:00

This past weekend Justin's best friend got married and he had the all important job of Best Man. I had the honor of being one of Hilary's Personal Attendants so I was able to be part of the action as well. There were 3 of us and I think we did a great job keeping Hil's nervous at bay (well for the most part!)

The Wedding Party- all the boys together again

The Three Amigos!

A quick family photo..... wish we could have kept our eyes open.

Maddox was at the wedding and did get to briefly see all 4 of his grandparents. Thankfully my mom had arranged for a sitter for him so we were able to enjoy the afternoon/ evening. After the ceremony the wedding party jumped on a bus and hung out together before the reception. We hit up a few quick local hot spots and then headed to the Community Center.

Matron of Honor and Best Man

Some of my favorite guys

I know Justin would never admit it but I think he was a bit nervous about giving his speech. I thought he did a GREAT job and he even went the sentimental route.

One of the coolest parts of the day (which of course I don't have a photo of) was Tommy's dad got up and spoke about Justin and Tommy's childhood relationship. PB&J's and "Duke's of Hazard" re-runs along with some funny stories. He then talked about the ring that Tommy is now wearing..... it was the same wedding band Tommy's mom had put on his hand 41 years prior. (can you say tear- jearker?!)

Time to get the party started!

Friends Forever

Thanks to both of you for allowing us to be part of your special day. We wish you the best of luck in your future!!!

Things Kids Say

2011-07-28T21:45:00.003-05:00

Every night Maddox and I have a routine. We read 5,230,262,697,582,039 (one more always leads to 4-5-6 more) books, sing some songs, and then Maddox cries for 2.2 seconds as I leave his room. In the past month or 2 he has really started doing the actions to songs that we sing. He loves to sing "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" so no night is complete without those two songs.

Obviously most nights JR is not home because of his work schedule but tonight he was! Daddy read the books and Mommy did the singing. Apparently Mommy wasn't good enough tonight and we had to have Daddy come sing... Maddox stood at the door and said "Daddy, Bitsy!.......... DADDY!"

I continued to sing but no one was paying attention. :) Finally Daddy came in and all was well with the world.

The other day I realized just how much more Maddox is talking. We had just gotten home from daycare and he found his cup in the diaper bag, walked over to me, pushed it in my side, and said "Mom, I want juice!"

WHAT?!

I looked down and asked him what he said and he responded, "I want juice." Now where did that come from!? My baby is getting so big!!

I Wear My Glasses

2011-07-28T21:29:00.005-05:00

For some reason Maddox is obsessed with the "Mr Potato Head' glasses. Everytime wew are at my parent's house hehas to get them and he wears them like this. Silly kid!

Riding in style!

My Boots

2011-07-25T22:56:00.004-05:00

Who cares they aren't on the right feet, I can do it myself!

Another recent obsession for Maddox would be his boots. To say he is in love would be an understatement! I have now seen him wear them with pajama's, wearing just a diaper, and of course his regular clothes.

gotta have my boots on to go riding!

Probably the funniest thing about his love of his boots would be the way he actually says the word. I have tried to catch him saying it on video but he won't actually say it when I get a camera pointed at him. Stinker!

Ny-night

2011-07-25T22:50:00.003-05:00

Lately Maddox has really taken to blankets. To say he is obsessed may be a bit of an understatement. He will come home from daycare and immediately grab a blanket, jump on the couch and curl up while he continuously yells "ny-night" over and over. The other day the couch must not have been as good of a spot to cuddle up. He meticulously chose his blankets (e-HEM, he dug through the drawer in his bedroom!) and proceeded to lay down and cover up in the basket. Surprisingly he actually laid in there for quite some time.

Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties

2011-07-25T22:45:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend JR and I both celebrated an upcoming wedding with some great friends. The boys headed off to Des Moines and the ladies were out in Okoboji. Sounds like the boys had a good time and to be honest, that is all I really need to know! The ladies were laid back but that was OK.

As per tradition the bachelorette party had a theme. We were all supposed to wear sparkles and since I don't own much that has sparkles on it, I went with some WAY out of my box sparkly shoes. Trust me I got a good deal but even still, I really love them. Too bad I am not sure I will ever have anywhere to wear them again. :)

Shutterfly Mug

2011-07-19T21:40:00.002-05:00

Blank Project Collage Mug

Shutterfly offers exclusive graduation announcements and invitations.

View the entire collection of cards.

Check out the sweet mug I got for free! THANKS Shutterfly!

Fun Days 2011

2011-07-13T13:08:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was our town's "Fun Days" celebration. The main area is only about 5 blocks from our house so our neighborhood was pretty hopping. They had a stage that had bands on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night along with a 2 hour parade on Saturday.

Grandpa Larry and Linda came up for a visit and it was nice to hang out with them. We took in the parade which was full of lots of really cool floats and great marching bands.

My boys enjoying the parade

After the parade we headed to the carnival where Maddox tried his first carnival game and rode some rides.

He won!

First roller coaster ride. Though he doesn't look overly thrilled he actually really liked it.
We know this because he didn't cry the whole ride like he has done on carousels before. I think he gets
his fearlessness from me.

This was by far his favorite ride. We did it 3 times. I think this picture captures me pretty
well but, what you can't see in this picture is Maddox jumping off my lap and climbing the steps as soon as we stopped!

After the carnival we were all very hot so we decided to head out to a county park to cool off in the water. Maddox could spend days out there I think. He digs in the sand, splashes in the water, floats on his belly, and just plays for hours..... We love being out there.

Before Grandpa and Linda left on Sunday we were watching Maddox play outside. JR decided to turn on the hose and turned Maddox loose. He absolutely loved splashing around and spraying everyone. It was lots of fun till he figured out he could get us all wet.... not cool! :)

Alexandria, MN

2011-07-10T22:25:00.001-05:00

This summer I am only taking one trip with LEEP. In late June I headed up to Alexandria, MN for a quick 3 day getaway. Unfortunately the weather didn't hold out and we were not able to do much because of the buckets of rain that fell. Though it was nice to go somewhere different, we didn't get to do much...

The view from our cabin when we arrived

The fire pit where we were enjoyed sitting by the fire and making smores
during the only evening that we didnt' get rained out.

On our last evening in our cabin we had a "surprise" party for the birthday girl traveling with us. She was thrilled with the surprise and the group was happy to celebrate with her.

This "vacation" was a very difficult one for me. There were many things that didn't go well but the one that sticks out (besides the weather) was having to call the ambulance for one of the travelers. After spending 4 hours outside a bathroom trying to help her and then another 3 in the hospital ER, she was admitted and we had to leave her behind. Thankfully it wasn't anything serious and she was able to come home a few days later.

Though it was VERY difficult, I learned a lot during that little trip. Something I will take with me for many years.....

SO Behind

2011-07-10T14:37:00.003-05:00

Where has this summer gone? I can't seem to get caught up on my blog posts but I will do my best..... There will probably be about 5 coming all at once with another lull but don't worry, we're keeping busy.

I'll start with our 10 year reunion. I feel like it went really well. I think everyone that helped to organize it did a great job and we had a great turn out.

Out of 36 graduates we had 22 people in total come to celebrate the milestone (more came after we took this photo). I was happy with the turnout.

The atmosphere was super laid back but it was still nice to visit with everyone. We had everyone fill out some surveys and I wrote up short paragraphs for everyone that turned them in. I think it worked out pretty well and everyone seemed to enjoy reading about what classmates had been up to. All in all, it turned into a great day!

Just Keep Swimming

2011-07-06T22:50:00.002-05:00

While back in Iowa for the 4th, we decided to take advantage of the weather and take a swim in the pool. Since we knew Maddox loves the water and slides, why not combine them and see what he thinks?!

Trip 1258464823471694848338941597 down the slide, I don't think his smile ever got any smaller.

Hitting the last hump

READY?!

When he was finally tired of the slide, we started playing "catch" with Maddox. He LOVED it!

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-06T22:14:00.000-05:00

This year we headed home for the 4th of July. As I mentioned earlier, JR and I had our 10 year reunion on Sunday so we just decided to enjoy the entire weekend down there.

Before the parade Maddox wasn't having much fun.......

On Monday we headed up to Armstrong's famous 4th of July parade and fun in the park. Maddox really liked the parade (once it got started). Prior to I think it was just WAY too hot for anyone to enjoy being htere.

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Cooper Ball and Maddox, our families have been intertwined for 4 generations. Lindsey grandparents and my grandparents were friends, our moms were friends, we are friends, and now our boys are friends!

So serious about everything going by. He got really good at collecting the candy that was thrown

oh, so tired!

My cousin's husband had ridden a horse during the parade and after, he offered to give Maddox a ride. He was so cute up on horseback!

our little cowboy!

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After a busy afternoon, it didn't take Maddox long to give in and fall asleep

After a quick little snooze we were off to catcth the fireworks over the lake. Minus the bugs it was a perfect night to take in the sites!

A quick snap shot of our view

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Danish Days

2011-07-01T14:54:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, Maddox and I traveled to Iowa to partake in the Danish Days/ All School Reunion event taking place in Ringsted. We headed down on Friday night and got in some great quality bonding. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the greatest (it was actually kind of cold) but we saw lots of people and Maddox enjoyed his first parade of the season.

Saturday morning I helped my mom in her booth at "Art in the Park". That afternoon we enjoyed the first parade of the season. Saturday night there was a street dance that was fun. They had a live band performing and the music was pretty good.

My Great Aunt Dagmar is the oldest person in Ringsted and was crowned
the Grand Marshall of the parade. She was a very proud lady that day!

enjoying a freezy pop

During our stay Madman was getting very cozy with my parent's
kittens. I think he wants a kitty but his dad said no....

and of course he had to drive his car around the garage.

10 Years

2011-06-30T22:43:00.000-05:00

This weekend JR and I will be taking part in our 10 year high school reunion..... Can you even believe that?! 10 years just sounds like it has been SO long when in fact, I don't really feel like it has been that long at all. Looking back though so many things have changed it will be interesting to chat with some of those I haven't seen since leaving high school.

I have been doing the planning with a few other classmates which has been interesting and fun. Who knew people moved so much and so far!? (JUST kidding!) We decided to do a short questionnaire and I have been putting them all together. Its been fun reading them and now I am just excited to get a chance to actually catch up with everyone.

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend! If you are back in our hometown, we hope to get a chance to catch up!

Random Photo Stories

2011-06-27T23:16:00.000-05:00

After a long weekend on the farm we were cleaning out my parent's garage Maddox thought it would be a good idea to hide in Bear's kennel. Little did he know that it didn't bother us that he was "hiding" in there. It kept him busy for awhile

When that got boring, he decided that rolling on top of a ball was much more

interesting than actually throwing it.

After our big garage sale we were planning to hit up the band "Hairball" at an outdoor concert. Unfortunately the weather got really nasty and the concert was cancelled. So what do you do when you can't go to a concert but already have a babysitter?? Hit up the town!!

We've been loving the beach at a local park lately. Maddox has really become a water baby and we spend a few hours there each week if we can. So glad he likes the water! Now if only we had a boat.........

but I wanna go play with the big kids!

As usual, we have to take a trip down a slide whenever there is one in sight.

Happy summer everyone!

Our Father's Day Adventure

2011-06-22T21:37:00.000-05:00

To celebrate Justin's day, our family spent some quality time together. We started our day of adventures at a park/petting zoo here in town. Maddox and I had been there earlier this spring but not all of the animals were out so I knew it would be a great place to start our day.

These 2 are 2 peas in a pod

Maddox thinks horses say moo...... It would be cute except that he knows better. :)

This cutie got my heart (and all my food!)

Our little family

After the feeding was over, we headed over to wear Maddox out on the playground equipment. He did great sharing the slide (kinda) and really got great at jumping off everything (including the slides-yikes!)

After an afternoon nap we headed off to swim and play in the lake. It took Maddox a little time to

re-adjust to life in the water, he loved being in there.

Looking for Daddy in the water

Getting a little braver, almost ready to get in the water

Here he is!

Daddy and Maddox played in the water for a bit and it was off to the playground equipment again. The day was great, and very relaxing. Exactly the thing Justin ordered and I am glad we could deliver!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

He asked and he received!

Apparently Maddox was listening when Daddy was hinting and he got his "bigger than my bedroom" tent. Though no plans have been made to use the tent, Justin insisted on trying it out. I think it would be a great Father/Son bonding experience.... I still say they can count Mommy out! :)

Gone Missing

2011-06-18T22:30:00.002-05:00

Anyone that has ever spent any time with me probably knows that the sight and sound of other people brushing their teeth completely grosses me out. I mean the I-wanna-throw-up-on-the-spot- if-I-see-or-hear-it kind of grossed out...

Well, obviously we have been brushing Maddox's teeth for awhile (and strangely enough it doesn't bother me as much as you would thing) but he has suddenly taken a real interest in taking his tooth brush EVERYWHERE with him.

GROSS!

I take it away and put it away but not 20 minutes later he has it in his mouth.

Weird....

Last night JR and I went out for the night and Maddox stayed home with a sitter.... When we left we both had our own tooth brush safely in their respective place to suddenly having NO tooth brush! I have been looking everywhere but have not come across anything yet. Darn kid!

Too Big!?

2011-06-18T13:23:00.004-05:00

One would think that if you had a "full size" 4 wheeler that you could ride, you wouldn't find it

necessary to ride one that is a toy.....

Apparently Maddox missed the memo!

Maddox Milestones- 20 Months

2011-06-15T22:59:00.003-05:00

Maddox's vocabulary has really started to take off in the past few weeks. Since he has babbled for so long I think it took us a little longer actually start "listening" to what he was saying.

What can I say, the kid can talk!

We've been working on animal sounds and he has some of the basics mastered: lamb, cow, dog, duck, and my favorite, the pig.... for some reason he doesn't actually make the oink noise, he does the funniest thing with his tongue. My goal is to get a video of it soon but so far I can't get him to "perform" while being taped- shocker! Some other favorite words are Mom/Mama, Dad, Bear, Bonnie (a friend's dog) Maddox, Nana, Papa, Grandma, Cody, cup, foot, nose, tub, bed, dog, cow, outside, coat, shoe, truck, tractor, yay (while clapping) and several others I can't seem to remember at this time.

He repeats everything and gets so excited when we clap and give him praise. I am really working on please and thank you but he is absolutely resistant to both of those for some reason. Maddox is starting to put words together and says things like "sit, Bear" which gets old (especially for Bear when he is ALREADY sitting or even better, sleeping!)

We sing lots of songs and though he isn't really singing along he dances and knows which songs he wants to hear. He will clap if I "guess" the right one. (our repertoire isn't that large, Mommy needs to start playing more kid music) A favorite is "Wheels on the Bus" by far. the actions are coming but "swish, swish, swish" for the wipers gets him pumped every time!

Ever the busy body we cannot sit down when Maddox is awake. He will jump around the house- hopping from place to place, running if hopping isn't fast enough and when he's tired he MIGHT walk.

The kid LOVES the outdoors. I sometimes wonder if it would be better if we didn't have a full pane glass door out to our backyard because Maddox will just stand there and whine if we don't go outside. I think he plots with Bear to see who's turn it is to whine more so we can go outside. I have been known to leave the park down the street with one ticked off, screaming kid who is fighting my every move as I try to get him back in the wagon... Those days are not fun. I guess you could say we have an independant child! :)

Something new is always coming up and he is growing and changing every day. Hope this update finds you well!

New 'do

2011-06-10T13:50:00.001-05:00

After Jess and Mitch's wedding I couldn't wait to cut my hair off!!! I really missed how easy it was to get ready every day went for something a little different. :)