Zip-line Park

Q and I have been enjoying our Thursday morning "just the two of us" time each week. I think my favorite week so far was when we went to Mary Knolls Park (a.k.a. The Zip-line Park). We had originally went to go mini golfing, but of course it was closed due to the new Fall hours. Q was disappointed for about 2 seconds until we walked over the playground area. We were the only ones there at first. Q surprised me by saying "Nicki, being the only one here is awesome! I don't have to wait in line or share with anyone." as he giggles after he says that. He did enjoy his 20 minutes of being the only kids there, but he was also super excited once other kids started showing up.

The biggest hit at the park was of course doing the Zip-line! The first time I sent him down it was a a little slow. He enjoyed it but of course he wanted to go faster. When you watch the video below you will understand why I was hesitant to send him down too fast. When the zip-line hits the stopper at the end it sends its "passenger" flying in the air. Q is strong enough to hang on, but it still made me nervous. But he absolutely LOVED flying through the air!



Needless to say we took Sloan to the park last week as well. Quinton wanted her to experience the zip-line too. Even though I hung on to her the whole time. She loved it too!

Ohio Bound :(

Well the time has arrived and two of my favorite kids are moving out of state! :( It has been a lousy last couple weeks ever since I got the news. Not only for me, but especially for the kids and their dad, as well as uncle and grandparents... even close friends of the family. Divorce is never an easy things and just when you think things are settling down and everyone is getting into a routine after nearly 3 years, one of the parents wants to move out of state. Without going into details, this decisions has flipped many people's worlds upside down, mainly two children and their father's. It makes me sad to think they won't be near so that family and myself can go to school events, see them on a regular basis, be there if something bad should ever happen... all things good & bad that so many people have to miss out on now. No, I am not related to these two wonderful children by blood, but I was their aunt for four years and a "motherly" figure for them on the weeks for a good 2 1/2 years. Hailey told me herself a couple weekends ago, "You're still my Aunt and always will be no matter what anyone says. I love you too much!" As if that didn't bring tears to my eyes! I just keep telling myself the holidays will be here before I know it and I will be able to see them again. There will be moments when the day may seem to drag on, especially if it is a significant day during the year that is normally shared with Hailey and Logan or if I am doing something that reminds me of them... those will be the hardest moments. I know what this move is doing to me, so I can't even imagine what it is doing to them or their father. :'(

On a positive note (always have to have something positive), the past couple weeks have been all about the kids. They got to have a slumber party at my new place, got to go to a couple movies (one with just dad and the other with what use to be our family of 5), see grandma and grandpa 2 weeks in a row, have a wienie roast at the Pirate and Witch's house and just spend some time with Dad!!!

Back to the slumber party... I invited the kids, dad and Uncle Matt over for dinner and a movie, as well as a friend's daughter Shelby... then the kiddos got to sleepover! The kids chose "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" to watch... the one made back when I was a kid! Hello?! During the movie, poor Shelby conked out so it was like the Jack's Links commercials at my place. Only instead of "Messing with Sasquatch" it was "Messing with Shelby". Check the pictures out above. Logan and Hailey got a kick out of it! And in the morning when I showed Shelby the pictures she thought they were pretty funny too!! :) We had a great night that weekend... actually great time both evenings. The kids dressed up in Halloween costumes while at the wienie roast the following night. Hailey, Logan and Shelby had so much fun together two night in a row!!!

I am going to miss Hailey and Logan very much!!! What I thought I had lost with them a couple months ago, was nothing compared to this. As hard as it will be for everyone, I hope that Hailey and Logan will enjoy this new chapter in their lives, makes lots of new friends, and share all their wonderful adventures with us all back here in Illinois! I love you two!!!

Good Times

So Friday night some of the members from our RIPS group headed north to Mount Carroll to visit the Raven's Grin Haunted House. It is a year round haunted house that is supposedly actually haunted. During peak season (October) if functions like a normal haunted house with a big staff for scaring a large number of participants. But since we went in Sept it was manned by 3 workers. The owner is an artist who made everything that is in the house. It was amazing!!! His style is completely different from my own as is him taste, but I still have a lot of respect for the man and his work. He starts the tour out in the front room. It was a good 20 minutes or more that we sat there. He had some hokey things that gave some of us a scare. But the man was freaking hilarious!!! Some of the stuff he said was great! They gear the tours according to the audience so it can be adjusted if children are there, but since it was all adults there was some raunchy humor in the mix as well!


After the owner was done with us we had a tour guide take us through explaining history of the house, stories from past participant, employees and even his own experiences. Some rooms were creepy, others fun and i can't forget to mention the slides!!! Yes folks there were slides at this place! The first one wasn't too bad. It was short and sweet and you could tell where the ending was. The second however was interesting! Of course no one else would volunteer to go first so I stepped up to the plate! You get wrapped like a burrito in a blanket and padding. Why you may ask?! Well they pretty much pull a lever and you drop more or less straight down into a dark hole!!! Pitch black dropping down an unfamiliar slide which flings you this way and that was pretty exciting. I'm not one for theme park rides, especially roller coaster. The drop was very much like that first big hill you go flying down! Once you get to the bottom of the slide another worker tells you to scooch forward because the slide broke and you have another 30 ft to go down. Not to mention he told us he hoped we could swim because we were going to land in water. All a gimmick. But since i was so brave I got to hide in a coffin and scare all the others as they finished the slide and rounded the corner. I got a couple of them pretty well!

Like I said although it wasn't a scary haunted house, it was a lot of fun! We all had a great trip... and I know my car load even had fun on the drive!! :)

Q and Nicki Time

This past week, Q and I took advantage of our time together Thursday morning. Since Sloan has "school" for about four hours on those days, Q and I get to spend time together, just the two of us like it use to be. On these days, Q gets to choose what we do before he goes to school after lunch. Well this week was jammed with quite a few things. After dropping Sloan off at school Q asked if we could go to Lake Ellyn Park. So as we rounded the corner downtown on our way to the park, Q blurts out "We could always get Starbucks so we have something to drink at the park" (he knows there is a Starbucks there) and of course I whipped it into a first parking spot I found. Like I'm going to pass up a Starbucks coffee offer :) We don't leave to house without water bottles so it isn't like we didn't have anything... but it's Starbucks!

So we swung in and got ourselves a drink and then headed to the park. Instead of playing right away, Q wanted to sit at a picnic table to drink his vanilla milk. We chatted about the other things we were going to do after the park and people watched. I think Quinton enjoys people watching as much as I do. Only he scans and listens for Star War fans so he knows who to play with :)

After the park, we headed to the Halloween store. Q wanted to look for Transformer costumes. Plus he is just in awe over all the stuff they offer. Between costumes, makeup, props, etc...Q had a blast. I think we could have stayed there until his school started, but he wanted to go to McDonald's for lunch so our visit was limited to half an hour. He had fun though trying on masks and checking the price tags on ALL the things he wanted.

We then headed to McDonald's for lunch. Q was excited to go inside and be able to play at the "Play Place." He informed me that at McDonald's when it says "Play Place" it is meant for younger kids, but if it says "Play Palace" that means they have play equipment for older kids, like himself. Just so you know, they are ALL called "Play Place" no matter what kind of play equipment they happen to offer. So even though the equipment at this particular McDonald's was geared toward younger kids, Q found some children his age to play and be really LOUD with!! As icing on the cake, they even had Star Wars toys and Dad met us there, so he could take Q to school! I think Q really enjoyed himself on Thursday and I hope we can continue to make these weekly Q and Nicki times special for him.

Miss Personality

Sloan has developed quite the personality! She sticks her hip out, pretends to chat on the phone (sounding a lot like mom), shakes her booty, TRIES to boss Q around, among other things. She can be quite the stubborn little girl as well... Wants to wear a million bows in her hair or 4 pairs of undies at once. But the stubbornness also comes into play when she wants her way. As if that's a shocker at this age. However, Sloan is learning it isn't always in her best interest to "test" the grown ups that love her so much... she's learning that consequences follow "icky" behavior. This little girl can't even listen to music without showing on her moves. It's like the music and beat takes over and she just stops what she's doing and the dancing begins!

On a daily basis Sloan's personality shines through bringing lots of smiles and laughs to those around her... just like her big brother! I can't wait to see how Sloan and her personality grow and develop in the future.

School = New Routine and LOTS of Adjusting

This is the first week of school for both Quinton AND Sloan. It is always nice to get back into the school routine, however, this year is a bit different. Q has preschool in the afternoon instead of the morning... which means no hustling around in the morning to get breakfast eaten, dressed and out the door. However, it does result in an awful tired boy at the end of the day since he doesn't have quiet time anymore. Not to mention Sloan getting jipped a bit on her nap in the afternoon. Sloan is now going one day a week for about 4 hours. Her biggest hurdle right now is having mommy or myself leave her there. The whole discomfort of the unfamiliar will eventually subside. Q went through the same thing at her age. Once she gets use to the teachers and the other children, she will be fine. She's needs the socialization with other children her age as well as the time to get use to having those constant familiar people in her life not around all the time. Gotta love learning independence :) Sloan even takes a sack lunch to school each week which is kind of fun!

Due to both kiddos being in school and the times of day they are, we have had to switch our story time at the library day. It looks as though Ms Judy won't be the one reading on our new day, which is a major bummer. The kids absolutely love it when she reads and the fun songs they get to sing and dance to with her. To be honest I'm a little bummed about it myself. I enjoy story hour with the kids just as much as they do. But change can be good and we will adjust to the new storyteller in time. We are all adjusting to this new schedule. It will take some time but I think it is going to work out well.

Star Wars, Music and a Birthday

A couple weeks ago we celebrated Q's 5th birthday. Those that know the child, won't be surprised that it was Star Wars themed. He and ALL the kids, not matter their age, had such a great time... as did us adults! There was Star Wars Food (Padme Pizza, Death Star Donuts, Light Saber Pretzels and Yoda Soda), Star Wars Games, Star Wars costumes and even Star Wars Music! The biggest hit was the Jedi "Save the Hutlett" Mission where each child had to defeat Darth Vader at the end! It was a great birthday for the little man :)


Back to the Star Wars music... Both Q and Sloan LOVE the Weird Al Yankovik song "Yoda" I don't think there has been a day that has gone by where that song has not been played. Even Sloan will yell "Turn it up!" in the car. You know it's a good song if she's screaming that :) So if you'd like to hear this "Awesome song" as Q always says, click HERE.

Catching Up

I have a lot of catching up to do over the past two months! I was behind before my "Big Boom" but things are all finally starting to fall into place and settle down to a degree. With that said here are some pictures I'd like to share. They are a quick overview of the summer and activities and an easy way for me to get caught up and hopefully back into the swing of things!







So this is the last couple months summed up in a quick few pictures! Enjoy! :)

** BOOM **

What I thought was,
And was looking forward to,
Blew up in my face,
And is no more.

And my whole world just came crumbling down!

More Freebies and Savings

It has been a while since I mentioned my daily freebie/coupon/discount website that I love so much. But, after being gone for two weeks straight I had a table full of freebies waiting for me when I returned home last Thursday. My sister and niece got in on the action, helping me open all my goodies!! I will say it again, it is like Christmas when you have all these packages to open. Needless to say, Kim was shocked at everything thing I got. Plus not everything is pictured below because I found a few more things hiding under the weekly grocery ads after the little photo op!

As you can plainly see my babies got some more food to sample (Halo, my picky little eater will love it most) as well as some all natural doggie cookies. The heart burn sample came in handy over the weekend for one of the guys, and the gum did everyone wonders by clearing our sinuses. Seriously I think the brand "LA Fuel" was no understatement. Whatever they put in it was close enough to fuel!!! Kidding :) More diapers for Sloan which will stay in my car in case of accidents while we are out and about, Starbucks instant coffee for me (nobody gets my coffee), Caress body wash, and a coupon for $4 off any Pace Picante product... I won it on their instant win sweepstakes thing after trying about a dozen time and coming up short handed. Pays off to be persistent. Other things I received but are not pictured we more feminine products... I have not had to buy any for a couple months because I keep getting free samples, which is a good $10 savings alone. Also some Coconut Hair oil which was going to be given to my niece next time I saw her. Who knew it would arrive in time for her to get it so soon?!

So if you want to get in on the action Hip2Save.com is a great site. Not only are there freebies, but there are great coupons you can print out, sales to match with coupons which gets you many items free or nearly free, as well as online discount codes and deals!

Prepared...?

Not sure if I am ready for all this, but I will be returning home after being in Chicago for two weeks straight, to a house full of guests! That's right, I have not been home to clean, catch up on laundry, or to make sure the essentials groceries are in the fridge before all these guests arrive. My sister, her boyfriend, niece, brother, mom AND my buddy from college will all be staying at our house tomorrow night! What was I thinking?! LOL :) Honestly, it is going to be a lot of fun. We use to have 15-20 people stay overnight at my grandma's small two bedroom house during the holidays, so my family members are definitely pros at this. My buddy Shane, however, might have a whole different view of things. No worries, I warned the poor guy and he is extremely laid back, so like I said, it ought to be fun. Not to mention he will only be there Thursday night before heading out to finish the remainder of his journey south for the weekend.

Although I feel completely unprepared I am excited to see them all. We always make the most of our time together so I can't wait to get home tomorrow!

Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum

Last weekend Matt and I wen to go see Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum at the Amphitheatre in Chicago. One of my best friends and roommates from college invited us to go and we jumped on the opportunity. I've turned Matt into quite the country music listener over the years :) We had such a great time and can't thank Keri enough for inviting us.

Instead of me driving home at the end of the week, Matt came up here instead. We stayed at the S family's house Friday night, walked uptown for breakfast Saturday morning, went to a birthday party Saturday afternoon, concert Saturday night, and made a stop at Ikea on Sunday. It was nice having Matt see the area I am at during the week. I think he has a better idea now when I say the kids and I walked here or there and the houses I have explained to him. I even took him to Portillos which was a must. Awesome Chicago style hot dogs which were right up his alley! :) I even made him bring a cooler, because I love Valli Produce prices on deli meats & cheese, fruits and vegetables! Now you can all see the penny pincher in me :) He thought I was nuts at first asking him to do this, but after seeing that I spent only $31 on a whole cooler full of food, plus 2 bags of none fridge food, Matt changed his mind.

All in all I hope Matt had a good weekend in Chicago, despite the drive, because I know I did! :)

Today in Review

Here is a run down of our day! First, Sloan had her dance class this morning. I must mention that she did not want to wear her leotard today, but rather a onesie with a little skirt attached. I knew from experience that other girls wore shorts and t-shirts, even though most moms dress their girls in fancy dance attire. Whatever is most comfortable for Sloan is best, in my mind. Mom and Big Bro were able to come watch this week which made it all that much more special. Sloan was so much more comfortable in class with her instructor and the other children. She joined in right away and did everything her instructor asked. Major difference from last week when she stood there observing for most of the time.


The children do little warm ups, then do dance moves back and forth across the room, and at the end they have a dance party. Although I took many little video clips through out class, the Freeze Dance Party at the end is what I am sharing. Enjoy!



Then later this afternoon after nap, quiet time and snacks, we headed to a near by park. Q rode his bike and Sloan pushed her baby in the stroller. Q is extremely conscious of my bicycle safety rules, on top of the basic ones. He knows that he must be at least one side walk square away from the street. He also knows he does not have my permission to go ahead unless I can see him. So if I am waiting on Sloan and there is a corner or big tree that will block my view of Quinton, he is not allowed to go. However, if I can see him, then he has permission to look both ways and walk his bike across the street. I am usually about 10 yards away when he is allowed to do this so I can see all the streets and on potential oncoming traffic. Quinton feels like he is being independent doing it on his own, even though we all know, I am there to tell him to wait if need. :) I must also add I do this when we go to Forest Glen which is only two blocks from the house.

While Sloan played with her baby on the equipment, Q made a new friend and played Star Wars or something with him. Both kiddos had fun. After the other kids left, Q decided to try the high monkey bars! There are two different sets at this park. Lower ones that have maybe a foot between Q's feet and the ground when he goes across, and then the high ones which has a good four feet from Q's toes to the ground when he goes across. After practicing a couple times when we first got there and having me there just in case, Q decided he wanted to try while I video taped him. So I'd like to share an exciting accomplishment of his :)

Dance

Today was Sloan's first day of dance. Man did she look cute! As you can see for yourself I am not biased!!! :)


At this age parents are allowed to be in the room for the first few weeks until the children know the instructor better and are familiar with the class routine. Sloan watched and observed for most of the class. She would join in at the tail end of each activity. About half the class did the same where as those who had taken it before followed Ms Sherry's every move. It will take Sloan a few times, but she was enjoying herself. She only came over to me once after she jumped over the block when it was her turn. I gave her the reassurance she needed, and she joined back in without any tears. I have a feeling she is going to enjoy this more than she did her gymnastics class. Only time will tell :)

I forgot to bring my camera this week, which is a major bummer. Don't know what I am going to do! :( Fortunately mom got a few pics of Sloan before we headed out the door... as you saw above. Can't wait to take pictures during class and maybe even some video next week!

Until then you might just want to DANCE yourself!

Whispers Estate

For those that know me, know that I am a paranormal investigator. A couple years ago I became a member of a ghost hunting group here in Pekin. After about a year and a half, things weren't going well, so with a handful of great friends, we started our own group. We are the Rural Illinois Paranormal Society (RIPS) located in Tazewell county. We have investigated residential houses and businesses where concerned owners have asked for our help. Over half of RIPS members met in the previous group.

RIPS Members

Although the majority of our investigations are local, we do try to take trips to haunted places out of state. This year we decided to go to Whispers Estate, located in Mitchell, IN. Ten out of the eighteen members went to this old Victorian home to investigate potential paranormal activity. After getting a tour of the house and finding out the owner had not been completely honest about a few things (AC on second level, having house to ourselves, etc) we made the most of our time there. A few members checked out the basement seeing if there was anything that could be debunked. Next we set a digital recorder on third level. It was even hotter than second story and we refused to put our health at risk by staying up there. The group then split into two groups, one on second story and the other on the main level. After an hour, we met in the parlor for an EVP session and then switched levels for another hour. It was after 3:00AM when we finally got to bed. Due to the heat, most of us slept in two jointing rooms that had air conditioning. One member braved the second story although by 7:00AM it was so hot in there he couldn't sleep any longer. Another member stayed up all night to keep an eye on the workers (2) that stayed. We didn't want an funny business or stories say this and that happened after you all went to bed. Most of us that went have been doing this for a few years now and know what types of stories we'll get. One of the reasons we were upset that we didn't have the house to ourselves.... the other was that they kept talking and walking around during our investigation which contaminates our evidence.

Although we didn't experience any obvious paranormal activity, which is always disappointing to be honest, we may have caught something via digital recorders, video camera, or photographs. Going over evidence isn't fun. You have to concentrate on every little detail or sound. It takes HOURS to go over everything. Each individual has hours of their own material to go over. But if we find or debunk something it is all worth it.

Although the drive was long, I enjoyed the time I got to spend with my awesome friends! We all had fun and I can't wait to go on another out of state paranormal trip!!! :)

Last Week Run Down

Here is a run down of last week with the kiddos...

Q started t-ball on Monday! He absolutely loves it. A buddy from soccer camp ended up being in t-ball with him. Q loves his coaches and comes home talking up a storm from all his excitement.

Sloan had her last gymnastics day of the session. Although we are still adjusting to the difference from Ms Angie's, Sloan did enjoy herself. We met a few little girls that had the same love for shoes and bow as Sloan. Although she isn't going to be in gymnastics this next session, in the future she would enjoy seeing Coach Donna and Coach Beth again. Starting this week, Sloan will be in Dance! Can't wait to see what it is all about :)

Between scheduled events and play dates throughout the week, the kids and I were able to squeeze in a trip to the library, sign up for the summer reading program (hope mom and dad remembered to log their times over the weekend), go to some parks, have a picnic, and go to Splash Park! Just so you all know, Quinton and I read 2 1/2 Magic Tree House books last week. They easily suck you right in and it is hard to stop. Since we have been logging reading hours for the library reading program, Quinton is more reluctant to put a book mark into his book. Q also practiced reading some of his beginner books. He is getting there. I think I will be buying index cards tonight to take with me... you can never go wrong with homemade flash cards!

Splash Park is an great place for both kids. Q is old enough that he runs around and doesn't mind if he is soaking wet. It took him some time to really start enjoying himself, but he found a friend from t-ball (Jack) and met a new one (Shawn) as well. After that he was all over the place, using the water cannons, running under the water tunnel, and playing on the train. The ground is made so it isn't slippery when wet, which helped calm my nerves greatly. Q had a ball and was not thrilled when we had to leave. But he understood why and didn't argue at all... he knew Burger King was in his future for good behavior ;)

Sloan was a bit more apprehensive at Splash Park. It took nearly half an hour, but I finally got her to enjoy a small fountain. First she would only stick her toes in, then her hole leg got wet. Eventually she walked through it a couple times allowing her tummy to get wet. I think the next time we go, she will be more willing to get wet sooner :)

Overall Splash Park is a great place to take the kids. It is easy to keep an eye on both of them without being afraid something might happen to one... especially being the only adult there to keep an eye on them. I am much more comfortable taking them to a place like Splash Park than a pool. There is a great picnic shelter and playground next to Splash Park which allows kids to take a break from water or eat.

All in all we had a great week and I am sure this week will be just as fun as the last!

Cousins

Family Fun!

The week after Memorial weekend the kiddos were in Morton staying at Papa's before heading down to see CC and DD in St. Louis later in the week. Which meant we were able to spend a couple days playing and hanging out with their cousins. We went swimming one day and then made a trip into Peoria to visit Ms. Angie the next!

Swimming Fun!

Ms. Angie Fun!

It amazes me how much more Sloan talks around her cousins. All four kids had a blast and I know they can't wait to see each other again when M&M head up to Chicago land in a couple weeks!!! Then they'll have some Red White & Blue Fun! :)

Weekend of Surprises

Memorial weekend ended up being full of surprises! For starters, we (my parents, Matt and I) surprised my little brother by bringing the Taurus back for him. He had been hoping... wishing... praying for a car on his 16th birthday back in April, but of course didn't get one. I mean honestly, did he really think my folks would just buy him a car?!?? Kim and I both had to buy our own at that age. Since Matt bought me a new cat, I talked mom and dad into buying my Taurus below value for Billy. Matt and I made the dreaded 7 hour trip back to Southwest Iowa in separate vehicles. Although we did have fun with the 2 way radios :) Upon arriving, billy came out to greet us only to find just me.

He asked "Where's Matt?"

"He didn't come. Ended up having to work Monday" I fibbed.

"Oh" Just then Matt comes walking up the sidewalk from the far driveway at my parents' house. Billy looked so confused. We both just smiled at him.

I then proceeded to tell him, "We brought the Taurus back with us."

"Okaaaaaay?!?" He looked confused and just shrugged his shoulders as he started grabbing luggage out of my car.

"The Taurus is for you. Surprise!"

"Oh" he said and shrugged his shoulders again. I just looked at him with my eyebrows raised, then after a few seconds it sunk in what I had said. "Oooooh" and a HUGE smile spread across his face. "Thank you!"

Billy's Surprised Face?!?
(not really, just a silly picture he was tagged in on Facebook)

I hadn't been sure if my parents had kept it from him or not. Unlike my sister and I at that age, Billy doesn't have a job. I know I was busy with sports, community service, and other extra curricular activities, but Billy has way more going on than I ever did. So for now mom and dad are footing the bill for the car. That was surprise one for the weekend!

The next morning, we planned to go to a early movie in Council Bluffs. It has become a tradition to go to an early matinee because it only costs $4/person versus $6.50 for afternoon matinee or $10 in the evening. Hello, it is me we are talking about here... the Penny Pincher Queen!!! So Kim got Jayden up and out the door by 8AM so they could get to our parents by 9:00. Kim hadn't told her why they were up so early or where they were headed, nor did she know Matt and I were back. Jayden fell asleep in the car ride over so I got the joy of waking her up! I love seeing he face light up. It was probably the best part of the whole trip!

We went to Shrek 4, then headed over to the Omaha Humane Society to look at the animals that were up for adoption. This is something else we enjoy doing as a family as well. Jayden was probably three years old when we started going to shelters for an afternoon activity. She has learned to appreciate what shelters and donations can do for animals who without them would be a lost cause.

*~ Jayden with a grumpy looking cat ~*
(he was actually quite loving despite his permanent scowl)

After all that we had a late lunch then met our parents at the Bodies Exhibit. If there is ever an exhibit near you, I highly suggest you go. It is expensive, $22 for adults and $12-18 depending on you child's age. Jayden thoroughly enjoyed herself. She learned a lot not only from seeing these amazing cadavers, but also from reading about the functions of the different systems throughout our bodies.

Sunday we spent the day in Nebraska for Jayden's birthday. It was nice to get all of our running around the day before. Jayden's "step sisters" were able to come over to celebrate her big day with the rest of us. The girls showed me the tree house their dad is building for them and played catch since I was unable to see a softball game while I was back.

We made homemade egg rolls and crab rangoon. Everyone helped!! It was a random dinner consisting of Egg Rolls, Crab Rangoon, Corn on the Cob, Fruit and Brownies; Jayden prefers brownies to cake much like her Aunt Nicki! :)

As always, leaving the next morning was hard to do. We are never able to make it back for very long so it is sad when we have to leave. We swung by my parents to dig up some ferns to bring back, as well as go to lunch with them. The ride back was a lot easier and enjoyable since Matt and I were able to ride together. We had a wonderful time seeing my family, but it was also nice to get back home.

Catching Up

Sorry for the two week absence! Between my trip back to see family in Iowa and Nebraska over Memorial weekend, a busy week of researching contacts, materials, and who knows what else for house remodel and of course hot summer days with the kids... time has gotten away from my, yet again. Thus, resulting in my blog taking a back seat to it all. I am currently working on editing pictures and writing posts to catch myself and the rest of you up! :) Hopefully, you will start seeing new posts as early as late tonight!

In Honor of Q...

In honor of Quinton and all the other Star War fans out there, I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY Star Wars!!


Yes, that's right, today is the Star Wars Saga's birthday. The original Star Wars movie premiered on May 25th, 1977. How do I know this you ask? Fun Facts have been brought to you because of Swagbucks :) Q thought it was pretty cool that Star Wars in general had a birthday. Even more interesting to him was that it is the same age as some very important people in his life!!! So again I say, Happy Birthday Star Wars :)

Hot Days of May

Oh the hot days of May are about to do me in!!! Okay not really but walking outside in the morning and immediately sweating is not my idea of a good time. But the kiddos and I have made the most of it so far. Monday, Sloan and I walked to pick Q up from school. Thank goodness I brought water for him too otherwise it would have been even more dreadful. We were all dripping with sweat by the time we made it home. Quiet time after lunch was welcomed by all three of us.

Afterward, I lathered up the kids with sunscreen and we headed out back so Q could do the slippin' slide and Sloan could play in the water table. She isn't too fond of the slippin' slide yet; it still scares her. The kids had a blast cooling off in the water. Of course eating Popsicles may have been their favorite part of the whole 'Outdoor Heat Fest Activities Monday!' <-- Now that's what I call a title! he he :) So today was just as hot as yesterday. Not sure it the thermometer read the same but it felt just as hot! The plan was for us to go to a park in the morning so that in the afternoon we could do the whole water stuff again when it was the hottest part of the day. Mom brought the Morton Arboretum pass in from her car and Q decided that is where he wanted to go. I have blogged about this place a couple different time in the past, but it is seriously an AWESOME place! For kids and adults alike. On the way there, Q says, "Nicki remember we said we would close our eyes and go strait to the end. Then we can work our way back and play. We are still going to do that right?" I told his as long as that was what he wanted to do, it sounded like a good plan to me. We started out doing our usual routine, we stop by the restrooms to get it all out of our systems; with a recently potty trained 2 year old it is a must! For the record, Sloan did awesome without having a Pullup on in public today. I think we will try undies for gymnastics tomorrow. She always tells me in time, but I am always nervous with all the equipment. But I have a feeling she will be just fine! :) Okay, on with the story...

Then we headed into the Children's Garden where a volunteer offered Q a map of this wonderful area with kid activities. He gladly accepted. Q looked like such an explorer with his red baseball cap on and map in hand leading the way. Every time we saw a sign stating what the new location was, I had Q match it to the sign on the map. He wants to learn to read so bad, so I figured this would be a good exercise for him. "Come on guys. This way. We have to go straight ahead and then we will get the stone with tadpoles" he said. "Am I seeing that right?" He would always double check with me to make sure he was telling us correctly... and he was right each time! The map has detailed enough pictures so Q could figure out where each place was. He was a superb leader :)

After Q led us through the garden maze near the entrance of the garden, we made it all the way to the end which is Look Out Deck. It looked kind of like a giant tree house. The kiddos ate their snacks under the shade of the trees and structure. From there we made our way to the tree house play area. There is a lot of climbing and rope bridges that Q loves. Last we stopped by the Tadpole pond where you can wade in 6-8 inches of water, or use the stepping stones, and examine the tadpoles that are swimming all around and their habitat. It has been a few weeks since the last time we went. The tadpoles have gotten pretty big. Not huge, but a lot bigger than the last time we were there. Q actually took his socks and shoes off and waded in the water. I was shocked! Last time we went he had not interest in it and looked disgusted that I had even suggested it. But today he did his own thing while I helped Sloan. Maybe with all the school age kids there for field trips made him feel like he could do it. You know he always wants to do what the older kids are doing :) So those were the stops we made today. Oh I for got to mention that we were yet again, dripping from sweat from head to toe, on another Hot A** day in May!

We did the slippin' slide again this after noon as well as the water table. Popsicles followed as usual along with hot exhausted children. The sun takes so much out of them... well okay, it takes a lot out of this fair skinned girl as well. Sloan has been sleeping like a log during her naps the past couple days. When we go to wake her she is still fast asleep no where near ready to wake up. Hate waking her, but mom and dad would like to go to sleep at a decent themselves at night, so it's a must. I think all babies and children are so cute when you first wake them. They are go out of it, looking all over the place trying to focus. So cute.

We only have six more days of May left. Enjoy your own Hot Days of May while they last!! :)

Speed Demon

I mentioned it in my last post about Quinton learning to ride his bike, but wanted to post a video of him also! I am so proud of him!!! He got the hang of it quickly. Q even got to ride his bike to Stacey Park today and practiced bicycle safety by walking his bike across the streets (even a super busy one). After lunch he made a few laps up and down the sidewalk and again this afternoon. Quinton is enjoying his new 'freedom" and I know we will all enjoy it with him in the future.



Q is quite proud of himself which I absolutely love! He gets a huge smile across his face as he tells others of his accomplishment or hears one of us adults telling someone. Q even told the guy at the shoe store today that was measuring his feet what he learn in just one weekend!

Quinton is already talking about learning to tie his shoe. So I guess we are ready to move on to #3 on the list of things he wants to learn this summer :)

Big Boy Bike

Well folks it happened this weekend... Logan learned to ride his bike without training wheels! He is the type of kid that would rather stay inside and play videos games all day (much like his uncle Matt) but this weekend he brought his Big Boy Brave Britches and was determined to ride his bike. He was so dedicated that he even practiced in the rain. Okay it was actually sprinkling out after a pretty good rain, but you get the picture. Although he is still wobbly, Logan can now get himself started without any help and go, go, go! We are all so proud of him!!! Matt and I got him a new bell for his bike as well as a license plate to put in front. We also have plans to go to Safety Town (a.k.a. The Bike Park) in Peoira, this summer!

Here he is...



It must have been a great weekend to learn to ride your bike because I got a phone call from Q letting me know he has been practicing and is getting the hang of it also! After letting me in on a secret earlier this week that he was embarrassed to still have training wheels and didn't want other kids seeing him use them, there was major motivation on his part to say "Adios" to the training wheels. His cousins' little bike they sent home with him last week was perfect. I can't wait to see Q ride his bike in a couple days. He is learning so much this summer. First the swing, now his bike, next will be tying his shoes and reading! I'm so proud of you Q!!! :)

A Cute & Creative Gift Idea

Twice in the past week I ended up using the same gift idea. One was for a friends birthday and the other was with the kids as a Mothers Day craft. For the birthday gift, I was only given "... Willow Tree, candles, and out door plants" as ideas to help me get my dear friend a gift. Our friend Dee is a wonderful woman. She is so kind and doesn't have a single ounce of bad in her body. I have known her for a couple years now. So with the hints her hubby gave me, Matt and I concluded in making a Cookie Bouquet, in a "Friend" flower pot with a gift card to Hallmark so she could pick out her own Willow Tree figure. We don't know what she has for sure, so this way she could get what she wants. In a creative way, Dee got flowers. Here is what it ended up looking like.

While trying to figure out what kind of craft the kiddos could do for their mom for Mother's Day, I figured we could do the same thing only the kids would paint their own pots for mom. I suggested it to Q and he told me "No wait I have an even BETTER idea. We can go get some pots to paint and then we can put pretend flowers in them. Not real ones, but pretend ones. Like cookies or something. Isn't that a great idea?!" Um... are you thinking what I was thinking? His great idea was what I had suggested from the get go?! Yep, you were thinking the same thing as me. But I enjoyed seeing him 'come up' with such a great idea. The enthusiasm in his voice was so cute and heartfelt. Pictured below are the gifts Sloan and Quinton made. Aren't they cute?! They worked very hard on these special gifts for mom. Enjoying frosting and sprinkles along the way! :)

Morton Arboretum

Today was absolutely beautiful so the kiddos and I headed to Morton Arboretum. Last time Sloan and I went we were there just briefly before heading to pick Q up from school. Today I got to see more of the place, but not even remotely close to the whole place. We headed straight for the Children's Garden that houses educational play equipment, water features, playgrounds, etc.

The kids had an absolute blast!!! They ran, climbed, and were all smiles. We all wished we could have stayed longer but we had an important errand to run, lunch and Sloan's nap to contend with. I promised Q we would be back. Any time he wants to go, we will be there!! Here are a few pics from today!

There is a cute little area that has these acorns with tunnels and cut outs like a rock wall. The song "I'm a Nut" immediately popped into my head. That was one of Sloan's favorites to listen to at Papa's house. Q and Sloan were 'nutty' over the acorns as well :)

Things Are Looking Up

Things are starting to look up for my Matty Matt!!! After feeling like he had hit rock bottom (although I know things could have been worse) due to his never ending lawsuit things are finally starting to come together. As you may remember, back in September, I was excited to share the news that he was starting work for the first time in nearly 4 1/2 years. He wasn't making a whole lot but he was back to work. That lifted his spirits considerably. Just being around people again was good for him.

About a month or so ago, a settlement offer was finally made. A whole year after his benefits had been cut off without warning where we struggled to make ends meet. The offer was more than what we anticipated their first offer to be (found out later it was technically their second offer), but a lot less than what his lawyer had proposed. After a week or so of negotiations they reached an agreeable amount. It has been two weeks since Matt signed the settlement contract. They have 30 days to give him the money otherwise they are in default and will be fined or something (I personally don't know the logistics of it all). So he should be getting it within the next couple weeks. He will be able to pay off all his bills and pretty much start over, which is exactly what he needs. This long horrible chapter in his life is nearly closed. Matt is ready to move on with is life!

Which brings me to some recent GREAT news!!! Matt got a major promotion at work and started training for his new position today! He's in a different building on the other side of town, but still works within the same company. Matt has salaried pay now versus an hourly wage. Plus, I don't think they have much if any overtime. From the sounds of it his boss is very laid back as is the work environment. Not to mention hour lunch breaks! I will be able to meet him for lunch the one day during the week I am home :) Yay!!

Things are starting to look up in our household. You know the phrase "Something's Gotta Give?" Well it finally has for Matt. I am so proud of him!

Potty Party

We have had a number of "Potty Parties" in the S house the past couple days. Sloan is being potty trained and doing AWESOME!!! Don't get me wrong she has sat on the potty a few times over the past three or four months, but never showed an interest. After talking, Janelle and I decided this would be the week for no diapers around the house. I think I feared the worst, because Q was so easy and going potty on a regular basis around 18 months. Not to mention, up to this point Sloan definitely wanted nothing to do with it.

Man has she proved me wrong! Yesterday was the first day. She went potty with me as soon as I got here (my bladder is always ready to burst after the drive up). The diaper came off and didn't go back on until nap/bedtime. She had only one accident but otherwise went on the potty when she needed to go. Yes people, she knew when she had to go and would run in without any reminders. Only exception to that was before and after nap, as well as before we left the house for whatever reason... getting the routine started now, just like with Quinton for those particular times of day. Today Sloan did even better!!! Yes, there were still a couple accidents, one with the #2, but she realized she was going and rushed to the pot to finish. Today I only asked her once to go try.

The best part about Sloan going potty is how excited she gets. You can see in her eyes how proud she is of herself. Just sitting there concentrating and serious. Then once she feels herself going Sloan's face lights up. A big cheesy grin spreads across her face followed by "Yaaaaaay!" Sloan loves to wipe herself. She'll tell us "My do" every time she wants to do something for herself. Afterward a special treat (not every time) as a reward. I know I tell her multiple times throughout the day, as do mom and dad, how proud we are of her, but seeing her react to her own accomplishments makes this milestone that much better!

Quinton is also very proud of his sister. I think at first he was just excited to get a special treat too, for her accomplishment, but now he enjoys the celebration itself. He has been very supportive and helpful these past couple days. Holding a door, running upstairs to grab a new pair of pants, even helping Sloan wash her hands (explaining step by step how and why we wash the way we do) after the deed is done! Check out proud Big Bother below with his super cool summer haircut :)

I am so proud of both kids and their accomplishments. Once Quinton gets another one or two checked off his summer list (yes, he has a list of some major things he wants to learn this summer), there will be a post, probably a long one, to share with you all.

Quinton's Scavenger Hunt

Last week Quinton and I set out on a scavenger hunt to help familiarize ourselves with the new neighborhood. Many of the items were similar to the ones I had the kids do over Easter, but I changed some of the items and added a few new items as well. We headed out early Thursday morning to begin our hunt and make our way to the library (about a mile away). Sloan was strapped in the stroller and Q walked with me as we kept our eyes peeled for different things. Quinton got to take all the pictures proving we had indeed found each item. There are two items we did not get pictures of. A tree house was one. There is one less than a block from his house but we never walked in that direction with camera in hand to take a pic. The other was Something Star Wars that didn't belong to Q. A library book was the item of choice but again a picture was never taken.

Here is a slide show of Q's Scavenger Hunt. Enjoy!! :)

Customize a photo slideshow

Driving in My Car

For the second week in a row during story time at the library the kids and I sang and danced to the song "Driving in My Car." It is such a cute song that has fun actions. You may have seen Ralph on Disney singing between shows, on Sesame Street, or other kid friendly channels. His newest CD is called "Ralph's World" which has this very song on it.


What made this song even more fun this week was that the kids were heading to Morton in the afternoon. Sloan was singing it not long after she got up from her nap. Of course we changed the lyrics "Driving all the way to Minneapolis" to "Driving all the way to Morton, IL." The song was fitting for our day. I heard Q singing it as he was getting buckled into his seat, just before I pulled away in my own car. To be honest the song was stuck in my head almost the whole way home. That's for 2 1/2 hours!!! So if you need any new kid friendly CDs for the car I highly suggest any of the Ralph's World discs. There are nine different ones to choose from :)

Click here to listen to a segment of the song. Scroll down until you find the title "Drivin' in My Car." Unfortunately, I could not find a youtube video or the whole song :(

Cosley Zoo

Today the kiddos and I headed over to Cosley Zoo. It is a lot like Wild Life Prairie Park, similar animals. Only this place is a lot smaller. No trails, train or playground equipment. It is free to get in and the kids enjoyed the educational caboose as well as seeing all the animals. Especially the new baby lambs and goats, which were two weeks old and younger.

One of the first exhibits we looked at was the Red Tailed Hawk. We got to watch one take a bath in the little pond. It was font and center only a few feet away, which made it more exciting for the kids. Later in the day Sloan was trying to tell her mom about it. We had previously been talking about the lambs.

"Bath. Takin' bath" Sloan says.
"The lambs were sun bathing" She nods.
"Bath. Ducks swimmin' bath"
"The ducks were swimming?" She nods then quickly shakes her head no.
"Ducks. Bath. Funny" as Sloan bounces her arms around and makes a face. That's when it clicked for me.
"The hawk was taking a bath wasn't he. Then he fluffed is feathers to dry off" Sloan laughs. "Yeah. Fluff" She imitates what she saw and giggles.

The things kids think of. Who knew talking about the lambs would make her think of the hawk. Obviously that "funny bird" made quite the impression on her today!

You Wanna Piece of Me?

Just want to say that the new Almond Joy Pieces are to die for!!! They are Almond Joys but in M&M for. Let me just tell you, these little bits of chocolaty coconut goodness, really hit the spot for "The Monthly Cravings" if you know what I'm saying ladies?! I discovered them over Easter weekend :) There are four different flavors to choose from... check 'em out below! Anywho, thought I'd share my yummy new discovery.

Freebies!!! Round 2

I have received more freebies in the mail last week. Check them out! I'm telling you I love these sites: Hip2Save.com and Shop4Freebies.com

Seriously, who wouldn't want Puffs tissues sample pack to keep in you purse or diaper bag especially with seasonal allergies in full swing?! Or a big pack of gum for the avid gum chewer? My picky puppy that get bored with food so easily is loving the new mixes she gets a time or two each week, thanks to more dog food samples. Yes, folks, that is a sticker for pets to put on the window in case God forbid, a fire would occur. Breath Right strips for Matt who has always wondered if they actually work. As well a few other things as you can see.

Whether these freebies are products I already use or new ones I'd like to try, I am lovin' it!