Supporting Our Kids...

So it's been all over the news/web about the teacher that told the boy he couldn't include a picture of his angel brother in his project. Now I haven't seen her response to the whole thing but I feel so sorry not only for him but for his whole family. Its hard enough struggling as a parent to know the "right" way to handle a situation like that and then to have a teacher, someone who is supposed to support the child, tell him it's wrong to smile at the fact that he had a sibling....   
We we're very lucky with Bugs' teacher and the whole school. We informed her teacher in advance there might be a chance Trysten wouldn't be coming home from the hospital. She was very understanding and willing to support Bugs with what was to come. After we lost Trysten her and a few others from school gave us a little care package including a book, stuffed animal and dinner and welcomed her back to class with wide arms. Bugs was also not only allowed but encouraged to bring photos of Trysten to share at circle time. her friends also knew what happened and were supportive and loving.  We got handmade cards and such from them with drawn pictures of her and her brother. Even now being almost a year since he passed she receives the same support. She misses her brother but she loves talking about him and imagining what he would be doing if he we're still here. I feel so lucky she attends a school that's like an extended family. They understand life happens and to embrace it instead of covering it up.

The worst part in their case is it wasn't something they expected. They didn't know ahead like we did what the chances were. Their baby was stillborn. How do you expect a kid to go to class, where's he's probably been talking and getting excited about the baby, to act like it never happened? That would be like a child losing a mother/father and expecting them not to talk about that parent anymore... That's just not going to happen nor should it. Keeping the silence time is over. People need to realize whether it makes you uncomfortable or not we will talk about out babies if we so desire. It is our right as their parent/family to do so.  We may not have had a lot of time with out baby but they still impacted our lives.

Photo controversy article.

Bugs is 7!

Holy moly crazy, Bugs is 7! That’s so crazy to think. I mean it doesn’t feel like just yesterday that she was a baby, yes I remember it but it’s wasn’t just yesterday. We’ve been through so much in the last 7 years. The fun joys of infancy, moving to an apartment, then moving again and Robert coming with us. Then we moved to Daddy’s house, got a few more animals, became a big sister, learned firsthand about loss and now becoming a big sister again. She’s grown up so much it’s sometimes hard to believe she’s 7. Though we’ve come to the attitude stage (yes worse than the 2s ha), you’d swear she was a teen already, I don’t know what I’d do without her. I love seeing her grow up and learn about life and grow into her own little-miss-self. Though somedays can be stressful, I’m so happy and blessed she calls me Mom.
She’s had a fun birthday day and it’s only going to continue this week.
Woke her up singing Happy Birthday and she just laughed! I made some treats for her to take to school…well I made two. It was a disaster! [Key info, two kids in her class have peanut allergies] I thought I was doing really good, got white cake and was going to make apple cupcakes with homemade frosting (butter, brown sugar and powdered sugar) thinking that would be great, no peanuts right? Not! I wasn’t really thinking and before I made the cupcakes I made peanut butter cookies and used the same bowl (washed it with hot water and soap but not through the dish washer) so scratch that batch to be safe. Then I decided I would make the cereal chocolate mix I made for her party a few years ago…again no peanuts right? Just Corn Chex, Lucky Charms, white chocolate and sprinkles…yeah got everything ready then read on the chocolate bag and it says “may contain peanuts”, what the heck! So I decided scratch the chocolate and use marshmallows, like rice crispies…what a sticky mess that was. Well out of time so we’ll just go with it. Then I picked up Bugs at school….those kids don’t eat the snacks anyways! Grrrr. I mean I understand better safe than sorry…but still grrrr it was very stressful for me, I tried really hard so they wouldn’t feel left out of the fun. So Bugs and I decided that from now on we’ll bring like fruit snacks and juice boxes. After dance class we made salad, spaghetti & breadsticks, Bugs choice, and she got to open “all” of her presents. She’s gotten a few here and there this past week but she was really excited to now get to open all of them ha. Silly girl.
Then tomorrow it’s up to Auntie Angee’s then to Papa’s for lots of food and you know more presents ;) .

Drive-in Theater & Halloween

Wow it’s been a while since I’ve kept up with this… oops. Guess things just got away from me.
I’m kind of sad to see summer/fall go away. Yes right now the weather is still wonderful out I know we live in MN and that may not be the case in a few days ha. The snow could come whenever it decides.
We have enjoyed the weather these last few weekends though. Two weekends ago we took a trip up to Chetek WI. We had different plans for the weekend but with a few changes we ended up deciding to go for a Sunday drive (on Saturday) to Stardust for Bugs and Barry’s first drive-in movie experience. [ps. totally recommend the trip up if you have the time. From our place it was about 3 hrs but it's so much fun!] We had so much fun driving up, Bugs had no idea where we were going – early birthday surprise ha. We decided to bring Mable along with us. Thought it would be a good trip to help get her used to the car, don’t need another Robert who stands and cowards the whole drive  . She did great. Sat nicely, hardly cried and no accidents. Not to mention she slept through both movies ha. Bugs had so much fun going up there. Was even more excited when the movie started and she found out we were watching Hotel Transylvania 2, which she was Mavis for Halloween. We also saw Pan but she fell asleep pretty early in that one ;) . It was such a great way to spend a leisure Saturday. There’s been so much going on lately we all needed a relaxed fun day.



Then there was last weekend, of course Halloween! Bugs was so excited. We found her costume at Walmart for like $15 and I was happy about that ha. Just a black dress and some black and red leggings = Mavis! She looked so cute. She had glow in the dark fangs and did her makeup. I love Halloween with Bugs. She’s never been one that major needs candy. As long as she gets some goodies in her basket/bucket she’s happy. I think on average we hit like 15 houses and then she’s good. This year we decided to go to her school first for hotdogs, cookies and milk then she decided she just wanted to go to some of the houses there then go home, fine with us. Went up and down a few blocks, stopped by Crunchy’s of course and then headed home to watch a movie and have some popcorn. Love our Halloweens. The only thing we didn’t get done was our pumpkins…oh well now they can hang out as decoration for Thanksgiving, if they last that long.

Lounge Around

I love weekends like this, especially when there’s an extra day added on. This weekend we did a whole lot of nothing, which was great. Just lounged around, watched movies/shows. Daddy made Bugs a fort and we just enjoyed each other’s company. We had sleepovers in the living room every night, stayed up till late and then slept in. It was a good way to finish off the “summer” before school starts tomorrow. Even more so after the buys weekend we had last weekend /Bugs’ week of travel. Wednesday of the week before she went to my Grandparents to go to the Chanhassen to see Mary Poppins, then with Auntie Hannah to the MN Zoo and spent a few days with her and Grandma Tina. Then we picked her up, spent the weekend roaming around – went to the Como Zoo and MOA. Then it was off to GG’s house for a few days before coming home to go meet her teacher and bring her supplies to school. Busy, busy, busy. Though all of that was fun, we didn’t want to do a darn thing this weekend ha. Though I’m a mover, I really enjoy our relax time that we just hangout together. We don’t have plans, nowhere to go, just be here with each other.

fun at the party

I want to start by thanking everyone that was able to make it to our little get together on Saturday. I was a lot of fun. I’m hoping that as we continue to fix up the back yard that we’ll have more and more parties. Though winter is right around the corner (YUCK), next summer I hope we have a few get togethers with friends and family. I have decided that no matter what the party is for we are also going to have a piñata ha. The kids were so funny trying to break it. Apparently the piñata company thinks smashing things with a bat is too violent that they now come equipped with strings that you pull and one is supposed to release the hatch and let the candy out. This didn’t work for us, might have had something to do with the fact that we let the kids beat the crap out of it first ha.
Now with the party done it’s time to decide if we’re going to go to the State Fair or the lake and then get school shopping in. Bugs starts on the 8th and we haven’t started shopping. Not to mention going through her clothes which I’m not really looking forward to, so many and I’m sure 75% don’t fit. Think that will be my plan this week while Bugs is with Grandpa and Hannah. She gets to see Mary Poppins at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre tomorrow, very excited.
Getting excited to see what is in the future for us.

Enjoying the little things

This last month has been crazy yet amazing. I've been crazy exhausted yet enjoying all the planned and unplanned fun we've been having. Very happy that the unplanned has started to happen more. We used to do it all the time, just taking "Sunday Drives" and such...but a lot of times lately we just get stuck in the motions of life and forget to have fun. Either we get to much going on that it becomes stressful or we’re too exhausted from the week that by the time the weekend comes were just out of it. Nothing sounds good other than sitting around and being extra lazy…which isn’t always bad.
Early July was an eye opener. All we had planned that weekend was Jenna & Chris’ wedding and then staying the night at Angee’s house. We originally had planned to just spend the night then head home to have time to do things around the house or such…but we got distracted. We ended up pit stopping at MOA. Barry needed Cinnabon and Bugs wanted to go to the American Girl store then it just grew from there. We went to Build A Bear, Lego store, got lunch, saw Steve Wiebe play Donkey Kong, played legos and Bugs got her face painted. It was so fun. Just a leisure day at MOA just hanging out. Then on Sunday Bugs and I decided that since it was such a beautiful day out that we would go to the pool. It was such a good idea :). It was warm but not too hot and the pool wasn’t packed. We packed a lunch and were off. We spent all day there. Was just a simple fun afternoon, mommy & Bugs.
The next weekend we had a few more plans, but we're finding time to fit in some simple fun. Bugs and I went to the St. Mane Theatre to see Mary Poppins. Just a last minute splurge thing but was so fun! We didn’t have dinner before we went so during intermission we ran over to Gil B’s and split a sandwich, was so much fun and Bugs thought it was so cool. After the show we were still a little hungry so we put in an order for chips and dip to go, picked it up on our way home and then watched part of a movie and snuggled when we got home. Then Saturday she had a birthday party at the park down the street, though there wasn’t much time for extra stuff, we took the extra little time to chat and walk to the park instead of driving. Not that it really seems like a lot but it’s the little things that count. We also fit in a family reunion that weekend.
The next weekend we were heading to Lutsen for Sophia & Kevin's wedding. We left Friday and headed to Dads cabin, a little midway stop and Bugs was spending the weekend playing in the lake. Then we got up early and headed for the wedding. It was such a beautiful service and party. Extra excitement after all the celebrating...had a fire and a fire guy (proper term not sure ha) but he swung fire around, it was amazing. We spent the night in Grand Marais. We had planned to spend the night, get up early and head home...but plans change. We decided to walk around Grand Marais a bit. Walked out to the light house then went for breakfast. Was really nice to just have some us time. Then we also stopped at a few other spots along the way and it was wonderful.
Then last weekend was Buffalo Bill Days, if you don't know what that is it's Lanesboro's city days and it's always fun. This year we took it light but it was still fun. Friday Jaime, Dwayne and I went out around town. Saturday we got up, had a filling breakfast then went tubing. Tubing is always the best part. After was cleanup then back to town to check out who was in town and fireworks. Sunday we were going to go to the parade but it was really hot. So we picked Bugs up, went back and grabbed Winnie, got her hair cut and decided to stop by the Rochester Fair while we were waiting. Little time spent together, I'm enjoying it.

At first when we lost Trysten it was a little hard to see the little things, to be interested and exited for things. Now as time goes on I’m finding myself again and remembering memories doesn’t have to be extreme, it’s the small things you really remember. Finding time to just be together and enjoy each other’s company. Sometimes it’s hard to think of the time we could have had with him…but we’re taking it slow. Knowing that it’s still a joy just to think about him but also know that we’ll see him again someday. I'm really trying to slow life down and enjoy things every day. Like a sleepovers on the couch with Bugs, as we are tonight. :)

PS. Pictures from our trips to come.

4th of July at the Cabin

Sometimes when you're getting the car backed up and ready to go to the lake you get that feeling of wanting to just stay home. Feel like is it all worth the packing for a few days...last weekend it totally was!
We had so much fun 4th of July weekend. We went up to Dad's cabin and had so much fun. Bugs was so excited to get there, she loves the lake. Then we got there and she found out there was a jet ski and she was in heaven. She didn't want to get off at all :) We had a relaxed weekend hanging out with family and spending time on the lake. Bugs was so brave, made me so proud. She just jumped in the lake and played. We asked one of the guys in the area if we could barrow his inner-tube. I thought she was going to be nervous about getting on it but nope...she begged me to go on with her :) I was so proud. Barry hauled us around with the jet ski and she thought it was amazing. One of our favorite places to go... the lake :)