Busy, busy, busy!!!

It has been a very hectic September! With the start of another school year and a filled weekend schedule, I feel as though I have rarely seen the inside of my own home over the last two weeks! My school year is going great. My students are an active, but sweet group. They will definitely keep me on my toes and have already stolen my heart. Russell and Sloane are off to a good start back at our beloved daycare center. Sloane returned to her same classroom while Russell has entered into the pre-k classroom. This has been an adjustment for both him and me. I have a hard time believing that he will be turning 4 soon.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go on my annual "Girls Weekend" with a group of sorority sisters. We had great weather and enjoyed a beautiful Saturday relaxing on a boat in the sun! Unfortunately Sunday brought a little anxiety to all of us thanks to me... I went out on a morning jog with the assumption that I knew the area. Within 45 minutes I had become lost!!! Over 2 hours later, my girlfriends had called 9-1-1 and sent out a search party. I continued to run for most of this 120 minute adventure thinking that eventually I would make it back around to the cabin. I ended up stopping to ask for help from a very friendly lady and later was found by two of my friends. What an ordeal! Needless to say I was very frightened and I don't quite understand how I was able to fight off tears until after it was over. I just kept telling myself to stay calm and to look on the bright side...I got one awesome workout and still have the blisters to show for it! I have learned my lesson and will NOT be running alone in unknown territory ever again!!!

This weekend my childhood friend, Heather, got married!!! It is such a small world because she married a man who grew up with Aron (we didn't even set them up). It was a beautiful ceremony and a FUN reception. I was honored to be able to do a reading for the couple during the ceremony. Aron and I took the opportunity to enjoy some time together without the kids and dropped them off at my grandparents home for the weekend. Russell and Sloane had a blast catching frogs, watching for deer, playing the organ, and using the race car track. My grandparents, parents, aunt, and cousin all helped in keeping them wrangled :-) A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM!!!

Singing and playing Great Grammy's organ.

Having fun with Great Papa's race track!

Catching frogs!!!

Frogs sure are fast, slippery, and jumpy!

Got him!

My childhood best friends: Cherri, Heather, Myself, and Heaven.

Congratulations Jake and Heather!!!

A Fun Farewell to Summer!

Labor Day weekend is always bitter sweet. It is fun to see family and enjoy a final blast of summer, but it is sad to see the season come to an end. Thankfully fall will be bringing us a lot of fun adventures to look forward to!

Aron was busy this weekend hosting all of his buddies in Detroit for a bachelor party in honor of his best friend, Gregg, who will be tying the knot in October. The wedding will be in Nashville. Aron is the best man and Russell will be the ring bearer. We are very excited for this trip!!! So, while the men were off this weekend tailgating at the U of M game and gambling at Greek Town, I packed up the kids (and dog) and headed north to my brother's home. We spent Friday and Saturday playing hard on Keith's gorgeous property! The kids love exploring the trails and swimming in the lake. I also enjoyed a wonderful shopping trip at the outlet where I found some amazing deals!!! We hated to leave!!!

On Sunday, we enjoyed a beautiful day at home playing in the pool and new playhouse. The kids were thrilled to have a bigger playhouse in which they both fit in along with both of their lawn chairs. Russell is particularly taken with the doorbell feature and insists that we must ALL press the doorbell prior to entering :-) We ended the day with a run through the sprinklers followed by a pajama walk around the neighborhood. The kids were all snuggled into the double stroller and were so quiet listening to the crickets and watching the bright moon and stars. Aron and I both agreed that we could have walked all night. It was so peaceful.

Taking a ride through the trails with Papa.

Russell and Grammy heading out on the trails. Russell insisted on safety goggles!

Russell helped Uncle Keith, Papa, and Great Papa with a building project.

Wheee! Time for some FUN!

What will we do this winter without a lake to play in???

Feeding the fish with Grammy.

Wrestling with Papa!

Back home for a pool party!

5 more minutes, Mom!

While the kids napped, I put together the new playhouse. Sloane had to check it out as soon as she woke up and saw it out the window!

Russell turned the playhouse into his mechanic shop. His tools lined every edge.

BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW!

Garage Sale Success!

With a little coaxing from some neighbors I decided to take part in a neighborhood garage sale. I spent the evenings last week pulling together items no longer in use at the Carlson house. On Friday night, I attached inexpensive price tags on these items that at one time were loved, cherished, and valued in the eyes of someone under our roof. I awoke early Saturday morning to set up the garage and hang signs out front. Upon awakening, Russell and Sloane ran outside to see what I was so busily up to. Russell quickly pulled out toys from a bin marked $1 and announced, "Mom, I still use these!!!" He then proceeded over to a clothing box, yanked out a size 2t jacket, pulled it on, and stated, "I need this." So...we have decided to hang on to the faded navy blue jacket along with a well used shape sorter and worn out dump truck. Sloane was much more understanding of the commotion going on. She settled down inside an old car seat (stained with spilled milk and spit up) grabbed my old and trusty book, The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, and read quietly as shoppers purchased our old treasures. I find comfort in knowing that many of my beloved, but no longer needed items are in the hands of new mothers on the brink of their own cherished memories.

Let's just hope that Sloane does not need to read this book again for AT LEAST 25-30 more years!

Back to School and All Grown Up!

Ringing bells, sharpened pencils, shiny new shoes, filled up backpacks, and giggles heard all over the halls. It’s that time of year again! I have been a busy bee trying to get my classroom all prepped for the 2009 – 2010 school year. As I rush to prepare, Russell and Sloane have been getting acclimated back at daycare 3 days this week. They joined me on Tuesday at my school where they had fun exploring every square foot of my classroom and schoolyard playground. However, the biggest event of the week happened at home today. My baby girl is no longer a baby. We took down her crib and put up a “big girl bed!” Can I say A-DOR-A-BLE!!! While she was out of the house, I quickly put together her bed and rearranged her bedroom. She is thrilled (to say the least)! This time of year is always bitter sweet. I hate to say goodbye to Russell and Sloane each morning, but I am so excited at the thought of another terrific school year. I truly LOVE my job! I cannot believe it will be my 11th year of teaching…time sure flies!!!

Russell had fun on my school playground's rock climbing wall.

Sloane enjoyed swinging on the monkey bars.

Sloane quickly curled up on her new bed while Russell grabbed a book to "read to her."

All smiles on her "big girl bed!"

Water, Woods, and Wild Adventures in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Whether I am floating in the water on a blow up chair or waking to the sound of the pitter patter of rain on the roof of the cottage, I am in Heaven on round lake! What made the last ten days so special is the fact my own children are now making marvelous memories at the cottage. I grew up spending every summer on round lake in our family cottage. The memories I have are endless… swimming, fishing, riding the wave runner, exploring the woods, building sand castles, walking the path along the lake, eating Grandma’s cookies or Aunt Mary’s popcorn, riding the paddle boat, visiting friends and relatives, I could go on and on! Russell and Sloane now have all of these memories as well. Today while making the 6-hour drive home, Russell declared that his favorite activity was “jumping off the paddle boat” into the lake. I am sure Sloane’s best adventure was riding Uncle Keith’s sea doo. I still cannot believe my 2-year-old was brave enough to let her uncle take her out on that crazy machine! She waved back at us the entire time while squealing with glee! Mac continues to amaze us by his swimming technique. I have yet to see a dog of his size and nature take on the lake as he does. Aron enjoyed fishing outings with my dad as well as a day of golf. I rejoiced during the kids’ naptime by fully indulging in the sun or taking a relaxing boat ride around the lake! Making the annual trip to the cottage isn’t exactly the same now that I have two little ones (and a dog) to chase around. There were definitely moments I questioned my sanity, but good and bad, I always hate to see the vacation come to an end.

Happy Birthday Aunt Mary!

Driving Papa's boat.

Driving Papa's "fast" boat!

Soaking my feet in the sun.

Ahhhh! This is life!

Making cookies with Mom and Grammy...mmmm...chocolate!
Russell riding with Uncle Keith on the sea doo.

Sloane's turn!

Lots of fun on the paddle boat!

Russell began to grow fins and gills by the end of the week!

The kids helped Papa fix the bridge over the creek.

Bath time outside! This was so adorable!!!

Family Fun All Across Michigan!

First off I have to brag... I AM DONE WITH MY THESIS!!! YEAH!!! I turned it in last Tuesday and have been enjoying summer vacation ever since!!!

The kids and I went "camping" in our backyard. Russell helped put up the tent with me and then we had snack and rested with our blankies and stuffed animals. This was a hit. The next step will be a real camping trip. Maybe this fall...

We headed back to Lake Michigan on Friday to enjoy time with Aron's extended family. His cousins from Naples were visiting as well as his cousins from Seattle. So we enjoyed the beach while the kids got to know their cousins.

Cousin Jake and Russell - Russell looks up to Jake like most boys do Superman!

Sloane with cousin Addie - As soon as we arrived, Sloane asked "where's Addie?" She was very anxious to spend time with her older cousin!

Another walk on the shore of Lake Michigan

Cousins Ben and Soren showed Russell how to jump off the pavilion into the sand below. Russell thought this was really cool!!!

On Sunday, we left the west side of Michigan and made the three hour drive north east to Carson City where we enjoyed the annual Wilcox Family Reunion located at my aunt and uncle's house. Thankfully they have a beautiful pool because it was a HOT day!!! The kids had a ball playing with more cousins and splashing in the pool.

Fun in the pool at The Wilcox Family Reunion!

Russell with cousin Nolan - they became fast buddies!

Cousin Katie and Sloane cooling off. Katie is our life saver at family events. She is always willing to lend a hand and keep her eyes on the kids for us!

"Fishing" for prizes - Russell caught a race car and bubbles while Sloane hooked pom poms and sidewalk chalk!

Russell, Aron, and my dad reflecting on their bean bag toss championship! Aron and my dad came in 1st place this year at the annual tournament!

Tomorrow we head north to my parents' cottage in the upper peninsula. I have been looking forward to this ALL SUMMER!!! More fun pictures to come...

No Pictures Week

I have no pictures to share this week and I wasn't planning on blogging, but here I am...

On the downside... We have ALL been sick. What began with Russell last week turned into Sloane on Monday followed by two more visits to the pediatrician and then when I thought we were in the clear, Aron and I got sick. We each ended up at the doctor's office yesterday and thankfully walked out with prescriptions!

On the upside... I FINALLY received the thumbs up from my advisor on my thesis!!! Yeah! I get to officially sign off on it Tuesday!!! I seriously can not wait to see that signature of approval! What a process it has been!

Pictures to come next week. We have lots of fun planned for the next few weeks so hopefully health (and weather) will be on our side!