Day 1-Vacation

Friday we left for Colorado....We did not make good time but we stretched out the trip so the boys could blow off some energy and that we wouldn't hit rush hour traffic in Denver.

Our first stop was not intended but really needed. I went to the Chiropractor on Thursday because of my hip/lower back. It wasn't quite in place and Thursday night my leg kept falling asleep as I was trying to pack and couldn't walk on it. I finally got to sleep at 1:30 AM Friday (packing) and got up at 5:30 for kickboxing. My leg wouldn't quite work while doing certain exercises but knew it would really hurt in the car if I didn't work out. We left the house around 8:30 and after sitting in the car 20 minutes the pain was unbearable. Thank goodness my Chiropractor has an office in Salina and is there on Friday. I called the office and they said they would work me in. Yea! Once we got there Dr. J found the culprit in my lower back, issued me a "loaner tenz unit" and gave me samples of an all natural muscle relaxer..........ahhhh the trip was much better from that point!

The second stop was the Sternberg Museum in Hays, KS. Their T-Rex exhibit was still there and boys had a great time. I even liked it and I am not the biggest dinosaur fan. This was a great idea by Luke!

The third stop was in Colby at the Oasis on the Plains! The boys played and long story short Ben took off in a split second and I couldn't find him. He had to use the restroom and I told him to wait until Luke and Jacob got back.......thank goodness I found him in the restroom but was scared to death not knowing if someone took him or what........He was in the bathroom but didn't understand why he was in trouble because he looked both ways! Once again we had to have the talk that there are some people in the world that are not nice!

We stopped off at Limon and Luke let the boys talk him into drinks and chips that the boys aren't usually allowed to drink.....Orange Crush and Blue Gatoraid, we have found a correlation between dyes in food (red 40, yellow, blue) and hyperactivity in the boys. Mom was not pleased with the decision but was on the phone with the Vet (another story) when they went in to get treats. God must have thought I needed to lighten up because I went to take more Tylenol and used the orange pop to drink it and it exploded! I was so mad, it exploded on me, went in my shoes, on the tenz unit, on the seat, etc...........my skin looked like I used bad self tanning lotion (because I was orange), after a pack of wipes I got most of it cleaned up. THEN it was my turn to drive into Denver and get my "fix!" We made it safely across town to our hotel and I felt back in my element!

I waited until Thursday night to make reservations and there was a huge softball tournament in town and the only room I could find in Westminster was a smoking room. Not good for Luke's lung or allergies. I went to Target and got an air ionizer and Febreeze. It helped but needless to say we didn't spend much time in the room so the boys got to do ALOT of swimming. I found a different hotel not far away and will try that on day two!

swimming lessons

I would read July 4th blog and read this one second!

The boys began swimming lessons at the rec center from June 22-July 2. I thought the boys had good lessons this year. I realized on July 4th that the boys needed to learn how to tread water even if it was for just a few seconds. Based on Jake's scare on July 4th I called the Koop Brothers for swimming lessons on Sunday. Aaron had a cancellation that morning for the following two weeks and we got in the following day.
Jacob waiting for Ben to finish up his lesson.

Ben learning how to dive off the side after he passed all of the other skills with Aaron.

Here is Jacob with Aaron while Aaron is teaching him how to tread water AKA riding a bicycle with his legs. Afterwards Jake told me Aaron was trying to drowned him by making him tread water. Jacob is very CAUTIOUS now but Aaron is gently pushing him and building his self confidence as well.

The boys hanging out waiting their turn.

Aaron has done a remarkable job with Ben and Jacob. I really wasn't wanting spend the money this summer. However, the cost of swimming lessons far out weighs the alternative. Jacob is up to 12 seconds treading water which is 12 seconds I didn't have 10 days ago. Also, Ben is now treading water for almost a minute.

4th of July

This year for the 4th we went to Tawnya and Loren's house. Normally, Luke is on call and we can't venture too far from home. Also, Jacob is NOT a fan of loud noises and the 4th is NOT his favorite holiday because of the fireworks. Last year we had to cancel our plans because Jacob was so scared. BUT, we figured we would try it this year because the Schroeder's have a big shed (you can see in the background). Plus, Jacob could go into the shed and still see the fireworks through the windows if we needed to go inside.

The guys had fun with some bean-bag game while the ladies watched the kids swim.
There was so much to do here and not much the boys could hurt until.............I turned my back for just a few seconds to find Jacob unable to get his head out of the water while in the swimming pool. It as if everything went into slow motion. I had to jump in the pool to get Jacob. I don't know who was scared more, me or Jake.......

Here is my picture after jumping in the pool. I may be smiling, but the inside of me wanted to throw-up (matter of fact, I still feel sick when I think about it). The running joke that night was that I jumped into save Jacob and didn't even spill my one and only daquari.

On a side note (especially for you Auntie Al), I was wearing my Keen's when I had to jump into the water. They are waterproof and stayed on quite nicely and dried quickly!

The music, food, camaraderie was awesome!

Finally, it was time for fireworks and Jacob DID IT! After about an hour of his brother doing fireworks, Jacob decided to try it. His hands were over his ears most of the night but at least he wasn't crying and scared. It was a good time. Jacob was pleased with himself too. Jacob also told Mrs. Kirtley the next day at church that he wasn't scared of fireworks anymore!

Uncle John

Uncle John stopped by to see us on his way to Louisiana from Colorado.

The boys got to check out his semi and be "nosey."
The boys got to play with the air seats, honk the air horn, get on the bunk bed, etc. I am sure everything was touched 5 times over in 5 minutes!

Luke asked Ben if he wanted to go with Uncle John to Louisiana. Ben was excited and said yes! Luke told him it would just be him and Uncle John and Ben didn't hesitate when he said....

"NO! I have to have two adults with me to go."

I'm not quite sure if that means Uncle John is still a big kid or if he just wanted his mom and dad to go too! Thanks Uncle John for stopping.

Harvest 2009

We went to Offerle to see the "Schmidt" side of the family for Jake's birthday. We knew a lot of the family would be in the fields so we drove out West. We had a great visit with Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt.

We took a late lunch to Aunt Re and Uncle Doug while they were working the field. Aunt Re requested birthday cake on the phone so we took out a big piece.

Uncle Doug gave the boys a ride in his combine while he cut wheat.

Aunt Re said this was the best wheat they have ever had in 20+ years of farming. She was glowing and I can't blame her!

The boys exploring the wheat truck and drinking Gatorade.

Ben playing in the wheat after Uncle Doug unloaded.

The boys went with Aunt Re to the Coop to drop off the grain.

Grandpa Schmidt use to run this very elevator during harvest before he retired from the Coop.

The boys had a great time.

Thanks Uncle Doug and Aunt Re for letting us visit you in the field during Harvest.

2 Minutes

Really, two minutes doesn't seem like a very long time. Unless you have the energy of two boys.

We got back from swimming lessons and it was very cold in the house. I realized it was cold but didn't think twice about it. The boys started eating thier kids meal from Burger King because of course they wanted the new "Transformer Toy." I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to email Renea and thank her for taking time to show my "Intensive English Student - Aey" around her office yesterday. Well, here is what happened in the time I wrote her "short" thank you note.

The boys started burping among other things. I tuned them out so I could concentrate. The next thing I hear is Jake's little ornery giggle and Ben yelling "ohhhh, Jake you peed on the floor." I thought it was water from the swimming pool but indeed it was not.

I told them they were having quiet time in their rooms and when I went back to the bedrooms I stepped in another big wet spot on the carpet........yeah great..... Then I noticed we could have hung meat in our bedrooms. I looked at the thermostat and Jake had turned it down to 70 degrees and we normally keep it at 78 (because we are cheap)! Jake must have turned down the thermostat when I was getting dressed this morning (is all I can come up with).

Since quiet time began, Jake has come in the kitchen two times and now it is time for me to go and intervene!!!