MMM 6/22/09

Whirlwind of a weekend. Addy's soccer tournament, Father's Day, the summer solstice, Valleyfair, oh yeah, and Trent's 8th birthday!! Really, I don't think we could of packed in any more action even if we tried!Saturday was the big trip to Valleyfair. We were up early and got there early, and rode everything we wanted to and many things twice. In fact, Trent & Russ rode Wild Thing and then we parent swapped and when I rode it, there was only one other person on it besides me. Now that was weird...yet, I still screamed. Trent rode the Corkscrew at least 5 times and we got soaked on the Wave. Addy wasn't tall enough for most of the big rides, but she enjoyed herself on all the various kid rides, and on the Mild Thing (pic of Trent & Addy below) and by the end this mom had had enough of the going 'round and 'round stuff.

Trent & Addy riding in the front on Mild Thing:

Trent and Russ on the Corksrew:

All of us on the Tilt A Whirl (Russ took the pic):

Sunday, of course, was Trent's 8th Birthday! And I know everybody says this, but it's so true: I can't believe how big he is! It seems like just yesterday he was a little baby and now he is playing baseball and football and taking swimming lessons and being, well, a boy.

In-between celebrating Trent's special day, Addy had her last two soccer games. Despite the rain, we had a great time cheering on the Pickles and her team won both games. They ended the season with only one loss, one tie, and the other 7 games as wins! She absolutely loves the game, had a great first soccer coach, and wants to keep playing.

Oh yes, Sunday was also Father's Day, and luckily both Russ's dad and my dad were able to make it up to our house for the combo soccer tourney, Trent's birthday, Father's day celebration! I told you we were busy!

Another good read

I just finished the book The Testimony by Anita Shreve. A darn good read; one you must pick up and read this summer. I read it in just over a day's time.

It set at a private school and centers around how a scandalous act committed on campus affects the lives of those at the center of the incident, the school, and even the town. How one decision, in turn affects another decision, how emotions, perceptions, and actions are all related and come crashing together one night.

The story is told through various characters and the circumstances leading up to the incident, how they dealt with the incident, a sort of flash-forward from another character, and the aftermath of it all.

MMM 6/15/09

This past weekend was Trent's baseball tournament. He played a game Saturday (loss) and a game Sunday (won) out at the YAC where there are real bleachers dugouts, concessions stands, and most importantly no weeds growing rampant between first and third base for Trent to try and pick! Nice treat for the boys to play on a "real" baseball field with all the trimmings! Here are the Bulldogs before the game in the dugout:

In-between all that, Russ worked on the yard. He pulled a ton of buckthorn out of the corner of the yard where we have the landscaping. It looked so empty to me at first, but now we can try and get some good bushes and shrubs in there that won't overtake everything in it's path. The kids also helped pull all the buckthorn into the woods to compost and ended up with a few scratches for their effort. Good thing Russ also set the pool up this weekend too. We told them if they keep helping us work so hard around the yard, they can work up a sweat and then jump into the pool! Here's a pic of the newly de-buckedthorned corner:

Saturday night, after an awesome dinner of T-bone steaks, corn on the cob, and grilled Italian bread, we got a call from our friends, the Dusbabecks, to join them at their house for a last minute bon-fire and get together. The kids chased each other around well into the night, Russ played some horseshoes and the ladies and I tackled world peace with some Mike's Hard Lemonade! It was a late, great night!

Sunday, after getting up early to cook & clean for Missy's baby shower, I then headed over to the ball field to catch an inning of Trent's game. Then back home for the shower. Missy (and baby) are looking wonderful and she received some very nice gifts from everyone. I had one game for us to all play, guessing how big around we thought her belly was, pretty fun and got some good laughs out of people's guesses.

After the party, I rested on the deck and read a book for a little while. Then headed down to the neighbor's house for out National Night Out Meeting. We weren't able to go last year as we were in Kentucky. Should be a nice event and good for the neighborhood. It was a beautiful night, so we enjoyed some ice cream out on the deck:

Friday Fill-Ins: Off the top of my head and my answers in bold! And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking, until age 10, that Barbie and Ken were based off real people and I really wanted to meet them and live with them and have all their cars, horses, clothes, and homes.

2. http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/ was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you two stop fighting?

4. Having Russ rub my feet helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the memories.

6. Empty lots with weeds over 4 feet tall are very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chillin' on the deck with my hubby & drinking a Mike's Hard Raspberry, tomorrow my plans include cheering on Trent and his baseball team the Bulldogs at their tournament and Sunday, I want to make sure everyone has a wonderful time at the baby shower I am throwing for my step-sister!

MMM 6/8/09

Friday was the last day of second grade for Trent. Addy and I went up to the school at lunch time and played with his class on the playground and got a few pics of him and his buddies. His teacher, Mr. Churchill gave me a nice plant as a thank you for helping in the classroom every Thursday afternoon (I will do my best not to kill the beautiful thing!) After that, Addy and I left for home and to get ready for the BBQ.

We had 4 families join us at our house for a end-of-the-school-year-hello-to-summer party! It was so great to visit with everyone and enjoy a drink or two and eat some great food. And because it's a Soukup party we had to throw in some excitement: First, the Dusbabeck's lost their car key. Their son Colt was insistent that he had put in on the couch. We have a 5-piece sectional, so we took apart the couch and looked under, around, and in-between the couch cushions. And found 2 pencils, a few Legos, a marble, a dime, and Pokemon card, but no car key. It wasn't until several minutes later when we were getting ready to move the middle section of the couch, when Simba jumped up from where he had been quietly sleeping the entire time, did something slip and fall from where he had been laying. Yep, the car key! Safely being protected under Simba the entire time. I think I laughed for a full 5 minutes after that!

Secondly, the youngest invite to our party, Max Nordquist, somehow managed to slip out the door and we couldn't find him. It was a heart-pounding (especially for me-my heart monitor went off- and his mom) and frantic search. Luckily, he had wondered down the sidewalk and ended up in the McCoy's backyard. Heather and walked back down to her house with Russ and Max's dad, Jay, to get the portable fire pit, and Max had seen them from the front door and must of decided to follow his dad. The ended up missing each other as Max veered from the sidewalk to the backyard and the guys returned on the sidewalk. Heather returned Max a few hectic minutes later and the party continued!

Saturday, Russ went to New Ulm to see Grandma Rose. She was moved to a hospice care site and we are taking each day as a blessing. Russ said they (his brother Ross, his uncles, and several of his cousins were there as well) had a nice afternoon reminiscing and trying to keep Grandma in good spirits. Grandma Rose you are in our prayers! The kids and I hung out and watched a Disney movie and made some pretty cool Lego creations.

Sunday, Russ worked on some more sheet-rocking in the basement. It was wet and raining all day Saturday, and Sunday turned out to be windy, wet, and rainy as well. But, he took a break and we all played Monopoly for a couple hours before dinner and Trent's batting practice. I always seem to lose at Monopoly, but the kids love it!

This morning, was busy with sleeping in (Addy until 6:50 and Trent until 7:05 -Wahoo!) and then getting ready for swimming lessons. I am glad they were inside! It was only 49 degrees and raining when we left for the lessons to begin! We stopped to rent some Redbox movies and I think that is the plan for this afternoon!!

The Cutest Baby Bump!

Some of you know the story of my best friend Rachel and her husband Dan. They struggled with infertility for 5 years, and had undergone several insemination's and one try at IVF, all with no success. After taking a bit to re-focus and consider what step to do next, they decided to apply for adoption. I wrote a detailed letter of support that is required for the adoption file and they had worked hard to put together the entire file to be handed in once they returned from their vacation early this February. Rachel and Dan came to find out that they never had to turn in the file, as Rachel surprisingly got pregnant on her own. (Now I dare you to tell me that you don't believe in miracles!) Anyway, here she is 23 weeks pregnant. Seriously, I have never been so thrilled for someone! And she has the cutest baby bump!

MMM 6-1-09

Good Afternoon! Addy and I just returned home from a visit to Rochester, MN and I am now writing up MMM...maybe I should just change it to Monday Minutes or MM since I never seem to have it completed on Monday mornings!...hmmm, that's a thought.

This weekend, Russ and Trent were in Spicer helping Tim tear down the old garage and prepare for a new 2-stall one to go up, and I'm sure they got some fishing in as well. Addy and I headed to Rochester, Mn on Sunday morning to attend a baby shower. We then stayed over night in a hotel with a nice water park/pool area and had our good friends and old neighbors over to join us. Monday morning, Addy and I headed to the college where I used to work so that I could visit with my old colleagues and see some of the new buildings that have gone up since I've been gone. Many things have changed, and yet some things are still the same. I had a great time laughing with the Kromminga brothers and getting all the good gossip around the college campus!

I'd better get dinner ready and then to take Addy to soccer practice. Hope we get some sunshine this week :)