Take Them Out to the Ballgame

It is so amazing how well behaved our kids are when we take them to the Peoria Chief games. We went for the second time this year last night. Adam's employer has a get together twice a year and last night was a family outing at the ballpark. Sure you gotta fill you wallet for nachos, peanuts and ice cream, but it ends up being an enjoyable time for us all.
Friday night we had a cookout at a neighbors house. We have a new couple that moved on our street that moved from Monticello, IL, which was my first real establishment. So that is pretty cool.
Yesterday I was traveling to different Washington businesses to see if I could get some donations for our block party. I hit the jackpot with our little coffee shack. They are sending me 40 free drink coupons!! I thought that was pretty cool. Looks like our block party has been really well received. Only 5 houses on our street have said no or aren't going to be here.
Today Adam and I picked up the basement a bit. We are still harboring items that should and probably will get tossed, but there's always the thought... we might need this someday. It does look much better.. a little more organized.
We are looking forward to Grandma Rene's visit. I think we'll take a visit to Springfield to see Abe Lincoln. Tomorrow we are going to head to Bloomington to hang out with the Hubble's. Probably the last good visit before school starts.
Anyhow all are happy and healthy around these parts. Unfortunately there are no pictures to indicate that this week.

Hitch

I was going to post some pics of the kids playing with their GeoTrax and thought I should explain Brennan's eye. Allergies to something. It actually looks good here. I swear, when his eyes flair up like this from time to time, it reminds me of when Will Smith eats seafood in the movie Hitch! Poor guy.

Lived to tell the tale

It's been an interesting weekend. To start, I had this dream thursday night that one of my sister's friends came over to our house to give me something for Maya. It was a little white box (usually holds jewelry). I opened up and it was a big chewable baby Tylenol. The funny thing is, Maya woke up friday morning with a fever and I gave her Tylenol. Her fever got worse as the day went on nearing 104 degrees. She also wet her pants 3 times. I took her to the Eureka ER that evening and she had a bigtime UTI. They put her on Bactrum and as of Sunday morning she hasn't had a fever. Poor girl had horrible chills friday and saturday night. Saturday, my parents watched the kids for us as we drove up to Tinley Park for the Jimmy Buffet concert. It was an experience. Maybe the thing is just to attend the tailgating and refrain from buying a ticket and going in the auditorium. Huge bathroom problem! The show was really good though. Probably one of the best live singers in regards to him sounding good in concert.
I finished up my weekend at Target yesterday, where I got the kids a couple of clearanced remote controlled cars for their GeoTrax trainset. Brennan is in love with it. He actually woke up this morning and ran into his room to play with it. It's hard to believe July is nearing it's end. August 2nd brings Adam's mom in for a visit, the 8th I'm hosting a pampered chef thing, the 11th is the block party and the 12th is Daughtry in Springfield. August also brings Maya's meet the teacher night and empty your backpack day. I believe her first day of 3-year old preschool is the day after labor day. She's really excited.

Feline-less

It happened on Saturday. It had been planned for a couple days, but Saturday, Charlie and Lola returned to the pound. We spent the morning and early afternoon at an auction (oh my, I can feel the addiction to these things) and came home and just had the kids say goodbye and did it. It all happened so fast and I was a blubbering mess at the pound. Didn't realize how hard it was going to be. However, 3 days without them has been awesome. It is so nice to eat a dinner without a cat trying to get to the kid's plates. Really, it was the best decision. The good thing for the cats is, they said they were going to take them to the Peoria Petsmart this weekend for adoptions. I hope they get adopted by those crazy people that think a cat is a person and welcome them to eat dinner at the table. Maya says "we took the cats to a new home, because they didn't listen". Really, the kids don't even seem to mind.
Saturday evening our neighbors had a little party. A BBQ, cake and a keg it was bound to be a good time. We really love all of our neighbors. My neighbor and I are planning a block party for August.
Monday afternoon, spent the afternoon with my mom in the ER. She is notorious for burning herself during cooking. She had first and second degree burns on her hand from steam that came from trying to cool down a dry teapot in water. She'll be fine, but we got freaked out when the prompt care phone nurse said that she needed to call 911, cuz it sounded like second degree burns that may need skin grafts. Another burn story to add to her book.
Nothing much else to report. Looking forward to getting away to Margaritaville on Saturday.

Just another given week

This week has gone fast. Monday we went to the zoo with some friends. It was superhot, but fun for the kids to get out. The all enjoyed their snowcones and other treats. Tuesday was a new session of Camp Bugga Bugga, which I forgot to sign Maya up for. I took her, with the intention of dropping her off and then paying for the session. Well, that didn't work, cuz they were filled. The teacher said if I stayed today it would be okay for Maya to stay as well. So needless to say I ran around in a park with 23 kids playing games and singing songs. To be honest, I think I was doing more with the kids than the teachers were. Brennan had fun and did well with the group. That was Maya's last campday. Tuesday's also bring gymnastics. Maya is doing really well. Her little calf muscles are developing nicely. For all those who don't know, I'm obsessed with calf muscles. I don't have them and I am jealous of all those girls that do. Wednesday we went to the mall with Aunt Becky. Children's Place is having their 3.99 sale. I started the next summer box for the kids. Yesterday Brennan had his 2nd speech session. It went well, even though Maya was there talking her mouth off. That evening I hit Roth Auction with my dad. I got myself a bike for $12.50. It'll do the job in those future bike rides around the neighborhood. Adam has begun woodworking. He made a wood chair for our front porch. It actually turned out pretty descent. No plans for the weekend which will be nice.

MidWeek Holiday

A holiday in the middle of the week really screws with the rest of the week. Yesterday seemed like sunday and today doesn't feel like friday. But, I guess we have a nice, HOT weekend with daddy before we know it. We had some neighbors and friends over for the 4th of July. Luckily we didn't have any rain to worry about, but it was pretty hot and humid. The kids had fun with their neighborhood friends and their best buds Micah and Madelyn. We are heading down to Bloomington to see them again on Sunday. We took the kids to see some fireworks on the 3rd and after their reaction we decided it wasn't worth taking to the river for the big display. Maya cried the entire time and Brennan really could have cared less. I finally got Maya to hold her first sparkler. She did a good job as I am skeptical of those things ever since I burnt my foot from stepping on hot ash. Always wear shoes!!! Yesterday Brennan had his first speech therapy session. He did soooo good. The teacher was older, but really won Brennan over with her puzzles and toys. I was honestly surprised. He repeated words after her, which she said sometimes takes a few sessions before a kid will even talk. She definately thought he understood everything and was very bright. She also said she felt I was doing the right thing with him... getting additional help. After speech we spent the rest of the afternoon with my dad and brother. We took the kids to the park to feed the ducks and even got a little DQ in there too. Hopefully we get some rain after this weekend of scorching heat. We'll need it on our dry ground.