Hello all! First off, I would like to again Congratulate the newly wed Mr and Mrs Kelli and Nick Proulx, and Lars and Jenn Teigan! Best wishes to all of you in your futures together; marriage is a ton of work, but I can honestly say... I've never made a better decision!!!
The weekend was a busy one, but even though that was the case, I managed to get 2 nights of a solid 8 hour sleep!!! WOO HOO!!! Pretty sure it's been at least a few months since I've managed that!!! Friday we attended the "Proulx" wedding and enjoyed seeing old friends and my family. We didn't stay too long however, since I had not been to bed in over 30 hours! Miss Lila was a doll and everyone commented on how simply darling and delicious she is (not that we need reminders!!!). On Saturday, we had a laid back start to the day and my great hubby even let me take almost a 2 hour nap, even though I had just slept for 8 hours!! Hooray! Then the day kicked in, and we hustled to get out the door. Lila stayed the night with Granny and Grandpa Volovsek, while mommy and daddy went to Lars and Jenn's wedding in Mora, MN. It was quite a long drive, so I'm glad she didn't come with. That night she stayed with the grandparents and me and Ryan again found the bliss of 8 hours!!! What pure heaven!
Sunday was a working day. We inherited some old cabinets from my step-sisters husband that we refinished (kinda) and put up in the garage to organize some of our clutter. Barb and Rich brought Lila down to us, and then helped us until the early evening! Barb... let me just say, I LOVE YOU! Seriously, my laundry was completely done and I never touched the washer!!! What a great mom-in-law!
I'm now back at work for the next few days, but look forward to the holiday weekend! I'm so excited to go out on my Mom and Alan's boat with Lila for the first time, and we're hoping to get together with some friends on the 4th! Should be a great long weekend, I can't wait!
I know this is getting long, but I have to ask for one thing... a while ago, I emailed my family for some prayers for the daughter of one of my co-workers. Mary is 3 years old and has been fighting cancer for some time now. She is quite the fighter and has been very strong through chemo and all her treatments. She had been doing quite well and everyone was very optimistic. Last week however, they again found the cancer in her bone marrow, as well as in some of her bones and her prognosis in only 10% chance of survival. I ask that you pray for Mary and her family, I can't even begin to fathom the heartache they must be going through. Please keep this tough little girl in your thoughts! Thank you!

Volovsek Reunion 2009

This is a handful of pictures from camping this past weekend. I was REALLY dreading it, as camping is not my forte to begin with and then adding an 8 month old to the picture... eeh. However, I have to say that all things considered, I did rather enjoy myself. It was pretty darn hot, but cooled down nicely at night. ( So much so, in fact, that we brought Lila into bed with us because it was warmer!) I discoved that coin operated showers are a gift from above and $1.25 will get you 7 1/2 minutes of heaven!
It was good to see all of Ryan's extended family, as we really don't see them very often. Lila was a very good girl, aside from waking up in the middle of the night both nights. I of course, was worried because tents aren't exactly soundproof, but I was reassured that everyone has been there, and no one was upset about the middle of the night wails!
Lila got LOTS of love and snuggles from everyone there and was quick to share smiles with just about anyone! She did NOT like the water AT ALL, which suprised me because she loves her baths. She tolerated having her toes in the water, but anything beyond that prompted a full-on meltdown!
I didn't get a chance to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day, as we spent quite a length of time Sunday on the road, then unpacking here at home. Lila and I did however give Ryan his first official Father's Day present that night, and I think Ryan really liked his Ice Cream Maker!! We actually might give it a try tonight!
I have to go back to work tonight, which is always tough after spending a chunk of time at home, but ya gotta do whatcha gotta do, right? It makes it easier that I like my job, but the weather was forcasting some rainstorms, so I'm betting it will be busy. Actually, on my first night back, sometimes that makes it easier. Time goes quick and it's much easier to stay awake! Well, Lila is sick of playing by herself, so we're gonna go have some breakfast and take a nap!!! Have a great week!

Price of Children

My dear friend Gina just posted this on her blog recently and I found it absolutly amazing! I hope she doesn't mind me using it as well!

The Price of Children

Price Of Children

Here is something absolutely positive for a change. We've repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! And that doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into: * $8,896.66 a year,* $741.38 a month, * $171.08 a week.* A mere $24.24 a day!* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is : don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00? * Naming rights. First, middle, and last!* Glimpses of God every day.* Giggles under the covers every night.* More love than your heart can hold.* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to: * finger-paint,* carve pumpkins,* play hide-and-seek,* catch lightning bugs, * never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,* watch Saturday morning cartoons,* go to Disney movies, and* wish on stars..

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, handprints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for: * retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,* taking the training wheels off a bike,* removing a splinter,* filling a wading pool,* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and * coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.! You get a front row seat in history to witness the: * First step,* First word,* First bra,* First date, * First time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and, if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great - grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren & great-grandchildren!!!!!!! It's the best investment you'll ever make!!!!!!!!!

playing with Picassa

Happy Monday

Ok, so I know I said I would be updating this over the weekend, but it was so damn GORGEOUS outside, I couldn't bear to be inside on the computer! I was absolutely THRILLED to have an entire weekend, at home, with my family, and the great summer weather only made it better!!! Friday night we had our first fire of the season and had a great time just sitting around and visiting with the neighbors! Saturday we ran errands and spent time outside in the afternoon cleaning cars. (well actually, Ryan cleaned my car, while I sat in the sun and played with Lila!) Yesterday was more of the same. We cleaned up the house and tackled some of those odds and ends projects, then enjoyed the great outdoors! It was really an amazing weekend!!
This week is going to busy, but good too! I work tonight, but then I'm off again until next Tuesday, sweet huh? We have the Volovsek family reunion this weekend in WI and I won't lie when I say I'm none too thrilled about going camping. Let alone camping with an 8 month old. I'm trying to stay positive, but I'm just not too sure about this.... That being said, we've got a little planning to do and some shopping to get done, so our evenings this week will probably be taken up by that. We do have plans to visit our friends, the Pearson's, on Thursday, which I'm very excited about. We haven't really spent any time with them in a long time!
Quick update on miss Lila... well, she's a busy little bee, let me tell you! On the go constantly! She makes me laugh when she crawls, cause all of a sudden she get these little bursts of speed, and just zooms away! Ha! She also crawls up on EVERYTHING and likes to "walk" around. We dismantled the Exersaucer and now it's a play table that she can walk around. I'm also very happy to report that "mama" is now included in her vocabulary along with "da-da". Yes, I know they don't mean anything yet, but it still melts your heart! She babbles all the time, and sometimes I swear she carries on a legitimate conversation with us! Those horrible top 2 teeth came in, so she's pretty much a happy girl again!
I know this is ridiculously long, and I want to get out and take Lila and the pups for a walk. I do have some pictures I want to share, but I have a new program "Picassa" that I'm trying to figure out, so once I do, I'll get them up! Have a great Monday!
This video is from about a week ago, I was just making some funny faces at her and as you can tell, She thought they were a riot!!! Haha!

Congratulations

I wanted to say Congratulations to my co-worker and friend Jilanne and her hubby on the birth of their son, Brady, today! I'm so happy for you all, hang on for the ride of your life!!!!

I have a ton more to update on, but tonight we're grilling with the neighbors and getting some sleep... I'll do my best to get things up tomorrow! Have a nice night!

Who needs teeth?

It's been a tough couple of nights for Lila, meaning it's also been a tough couple of nights for me and Ry. Seriously, it's been like having a newborn again. Up every few hours, soothing a crying, unhappy baby.
Lila's top front teeth are trying to make their appearance, and they're really taking their toll. When her bottom 2 came in, we had a few cranky days, some excess drooling, the usual.... this time it's a whole new game. Fevers, diarrhea, on top of all the other stuff makes for a crabby kiddo. Let me tell you, Motrin and Tylenol are our friends!!! Poor thing, it makes me glad we don't remember that time in our lives, can't feel good to have big ol' teeth pushing through your gums, OUCH! Anyway, wish me luck tonight... up all night last night, no nap today, and work through tonight... guess we'll see how that goes, ugh.
I do have a really cute video of Lila laughing and a few good pics I'd like to share, but I'm going to go to bed the SECOND I get home, so you'll have to wait a few days. Good night to all, send any spare "soothing" vibes you have down to Belle Plaine, Ryan will probably need them just as much as Lila will! Ha! Oh the joys!


Oh, I almost forgot...
Congratulations to my DEAR friends Amy and Jim on their great news! Can't wait to meet the newest addition!!!
And Happy 2nd Birthday to my Rio! She's a big girl now, hopefully we'll try and make her a mama sometime this winter!

Walking (well, kinda)

I have such a good hubby!
It was a busy hour and a half today from the time Ryan and Lila got home, till I went to work and I really didn't get to spend much quality time with them. It makes me so sad leaving in the evenings, usually they are playing on the floor when I leave and I just want to be with them. Lila (aka Scooter) is just zooming all over the place lately and now pulls herself up like a champ. I can't believe how quickly she's turning into a little girl, it's exciting and heartbreaking at the same time! Anyway, back to why Ryan is so great....
I get to work and get report and have a few minutes to check my email... and he's sent me the sweet little video that I've now posted to share! It makes me so happy to be able to watch my little sweetie, even when I can't be home!!! What a great treat to start my shift!!! I love my family!