Vacation Here We Come!

This week started childless for us as Zane stayed in Iowa with Gaga and Papa Farmer for a couple of days. My school had their annual fundraising golf tournament Monday and I was helping with it, so we thought it might be a little easier to just leave Zane there for a couple days and get some other things done at home. Monday proved to be the hottest day of summer...not one in which I really wanted to spend outside, but my shift only lasted 2 hours and I was in the shade, so all was well! After that I went to school to work on my classroom. I spent Tuesday in my room as well. I really have most of the work in my room done already, but when you are starting your 6th year in the same classroom and grade, it is much easier! We met Matt's parents in St. Joe to get Zane on Tuesday evening. Here are a few pictures of Zane "farming" while in Iowa. He loves to hook as many tractors and wagons on as he possibly can! He sure comes up with some interesting combinations!



Zane had his 3-year checkup at the doctor on Wednesday. He did a good job and did everything they asked him to do. The doctor did hear his heart murmur again and said it was probably nothing to worry about, but if he hears it at Zane's next appointment, he will probably send us on to have it checked out just to be on the safe side. We will say lots of prayers that it is an innocent heart murmur!

We got to have our friend Madelyn over Thursday for a couple of hours while her parents were busy. We went to the grocery store...my first grocery store trip with 2 kids! Everyone looked at me like "lady, you have 2 kids a year apart and another one on the way...?" They had a good time together. You'd think they were siblings the way they get along and argue at the same time! Here they are at Hy-Vee getting ready to do some shopping!


My cousin Jamie and her husband Eric are in town, so they came to see us last night. We had a nice time catching up and talking about fun times when we were growing up! My brother Aaron was able to join us also, so we really enjoyed it! We grilled out and Matt did a great job of cooking! After Jamie and Eric left, Matt, Aaron, and Zane sat down and enjoyed some popsicles. They even "toasted" their popsicles...my picture just didn't turn out! Here is a shot of the boys and their snacks, as well as video of Zane licking his popsicle!

My pregnancy is going well, I'm feeling Bobby move around in there a lot more, which is reassuring! I've been noticing that I'm having a harder time getting comfortable when sleeping, so I bought this new pillow, which is a DREAM! Unfortunately I think Matt and Zane like it as much as I do...I may have to pry it away from them! Here they are cuddled up in my new pillow!

I'm posting this early because there has (again) been flooding in Iowa...so much that they have already cancelled the races this week. We actually are okay with that this week...we're heading to the Ozarks for a vacation, so this means we get to leave early! We're going to get everything packed tonight and then head out in the morning. We'll be leaving a whole day earlier than originally planned! This is our first vacation with just the three of us, we are really looking forward to it! We'll have lots of pictures and I'm sure stories after the week is over! Take care and thanks for checking in on us!

In Zane's Words

As we were getting relaxed and ready for bed one night, Zane was walking around on the bed with his arms straight out. He said "Zane on bowey beans...like nastics" (Translation: "Zane on balance beam...like gymnastics." At least he remembers!

A Weekend of Camping

This week, as every summer week, went fast! Monday was my birthday, so Zane and I just spent a relaxing day together. We didn't make too many plans, but did manage to go shopping for a little bit and out to lunch (McDonald's...Zane's choice). Matt came home after work with 2 red roses (one from Zane and one from Bobby), cards, and cupcakes. Zane couldn't wait to get his hands on those cupcakes! For supper, we went to Pizza Shoppe (my choice) and then Matt told me we could do whatever we wanted since it was my day. So, I wanted to shop! We went to Babies R Us and Target. While at Babies R Us, Zane thought it would be fun to try out some of the baby gear, so here he is in a jumparoo!

I have been itching to have sweet corn, so when I saw it at Hy-Vee the other day, I got some! Zane absolutely loves it also. He ate two ears! Here he is chomping away!

On Wednesday we went to the T-Bones game with Aaron and Michele. They also had some other people from work there with them, so we met them as well. Zane is really much more interested in the food and playing on the playground, but we kind of are too! He had his popcorn and cotton candy and was in heaven. We lasted about 5 innings before we headed to the playground. We had a good time and had great seats, right behind home plate! In this picture, he is trying to "hide" from "Sizzle," the T-Bones mascot. He did NOT want Sizzle to get too close!

Matt has been working on building Zane's swingset and has the tower part done. We asked the Ottis family (Jason, Mary and Madelyn) to come over and help Matt move it to the backyard. So they came over and we grilled out. Madelyn and Zane act just like brother and sister...it is too cute! Mary is expecting also and we have named her baby "Bert" so we will have a "Bert" and a "Bobby!" Here are Madelyn and Zane waiting ever so patiently for supper to arrive!
On Friday we headed to Iowa to camp with Matt's parents for the weekend. They and some family friends were at Lake Icaria. We got there late, around 9:30, but they were up and around the fire. We stayed up a little while talking, then headed off to bed. Zane was very excited to sleep in the bed "up high" (the top bunk bed). Matt slept with him the first night, and I'm not sure Matt got much sleep! Saturday we just hung out all day, went on the boat, and spent some great time together. Steve and Teresa have a puppy named Chip and Zane loved him! He liked taking Chip on "walks." I am not sure if Zane walked Chip or if Chip walked Zane! (How do you like the boots with the pj's...nice, huh).

Matt golfed Sunday morning, then came out to the lake for some boating/tubing/swimming. It was a HOT weekend and I am learning that I am not a good pregnant person when I am hot! I stayed in the camper with the air conditioning quite a bit this weekend!

We left Zane in Iowa last night and will get him again on Tuesday. I have my school's annual golf tournament to help with today, so we thought it would be easier for Zane to stay there. I am also going to try to get a little bit of work done in my classroom.

In Zane's Words

Out of nowhere, Zane looked at us and said "Bobby does this..." and put his first finger up. I said "No, Bobby didn't do that." He then said "This?" and put his middle finger up. I said "Oh no, not that either." He was referring to Bobby giving "thumbs up" in his ultrasound picture...so we had to take his hand and show him how to do thumbs up!

When eating a treat the other night, Zane said "Mmmm, licious!"

The other day Zane was really wanting to be carried by me. And lately when I carry him, it has been hurting my stomach, so I have been telling him that it hurts Bobby when I carry him too much. He was getting frustrated that I wouldn't pick him up, so he put his hand out, acted as though he snatched Bobby out of my stomach, put Bobby in his stomach, and said "There...Bobby gone from your stomach now." What a problem solver!

We were in Target and going by their dollar bins. I pointed out to Zane that they had some Kung Fu Panda stuff in there. He said "Oh, Kung Pu Panda...my paborite!"

A Birthday Celebration!

This weekend was a busy one for us! Some of our classmates organized a golf tournament in memory of Shane Sweeney, our classmate that passed away in December from a sudden heart attack. They are planning on having it each year to raise money for the scholarship fund they have set up in Shane's name. This was the first one, so they had no idea what to expect. Originally they thought they might get 18 teams. It turned out they had 27! We were so happy that everyone showed up for a great cause and a great person.

On Sunday our class planned on planting a tree at our high school in Shane's memory. Here are some of the guys hard at work planting the tree.

Sunday for dinner, we went to my parents' house to celebrate some birthdays! We were celebrating mine, my dad's, and Matt's mom's. It was the perfect day to grill out and spend time with family! All of my family plus Matt's parents were there. Lots of great people are born in July!!

Zane waiting patiently for dinner:

Zane, our present!

Zane helping Papa open his gift

Craig and Keeta, Matt's parents

My mom, Michele, and Aaron (my brother)

We are trying to make the most of the summer we have left! I'm sure we'll be pool rats for the next three weeks!!! Take care and thanks for checking in on us!

4th of July and an Ultrasound!!!

I hear it a lot...once the 4th of July is here, summer is over...so we're trying to make the most of what's left! We had another great week! We've spent more time at the pool and playing at home. I was cleaning this week and Zane was watching me clean my bathroom. He was watching me clean the mirror. Next thing I knew, he was in his bathroom cleaning his mirror! I caught some of this on video:

We headed to our local 4th of July carnival on Wednesday evening. It was wristband night, so for $18, you could ride all the rides you cared to. We thought that would be a good deal since all the rides were $2-3 each time! So we got there, bought Zane's bracelet, put it on him, walked up to the first ride, and it started raining! Of course, there was a sign that said "No refunds due to rain." What luck! Zane was the only kid on that ride, and she kept it going for a little while...then it started to hail, so she turned it off. Matt and I ducked under another awning where we could see him. You should have seen the look on Zane's face...he looked scared to death and was trying so hard not to cry! We did have some luck though...the sun came back out, we had over an hour of no rain, and we got our money's worth out of that bracelet! We ended up leaving just in time for it to downpour!

The rain just starting (Zane protecting his head)

Matt worked on Thursday but left early and we headed to Iowa. We stopped for some fireworks on the way. When we got into town, we picked up Matt's parents and brother and headed to the annual tractor pull. The adults were all really there to eat, but Zane got a kick out of the loud tractors and pickups! He could not sit still...he was cheering and yelling and just having a blast. We left after awhile and headed to the farm to let off some fireworks. We didn't spend much on them, and you could tell...they were a little disappointing. Zane didn't know the difference, he loved them anyway!

Zane & Papa watching "pireworks"

Friday was the 4th and it was a great day! We woke up at my parents at had some breakfast, then headed to the lake! Matt's family met us there with the boat. It was a gorgeous day to be on the lake. We were surprised there weren't any more people there, but we went at probabl the best time. We got in the water around 10 and Zane, Gaga, and I left at 2:30 so he could take a nap. The rest of them left around 4:30. They said by the time they left there were more people waiting to get into the lake than waiting to get out, so it was getting pretty crowded by then! We went to the local 4th celebration in town. During the parade, Zane got a gallon sized ziploc bag FULL of candy. After that, there were kid rides (rides there are only 25 cents each...much cheaper than KC). Zane LOVED the big slide...he could have gone on it all night long! We ended the night watching what Zane calls "big pireworks" and then going home to crash for the night.

Matt "saving the day" by jumping in to save Zane's hat!
Getting candy from the parade

In the space pillow

His favorite, the big slide.

The other kids ride...Zane checks to see how it works!

It was nice to still have 2 days of the weekend after the 4th! Saturday was a pretty calm day. Zane stayed at my parents' house that night. They went to the park, had ice cream, and taught him how to ride the scooter. He had to show Matt how to ride it correctly!

Sunday we celebrated Celine's (Matt's cousin) 13th birthday. Uncle Greg brought his go-cart out and Zane wanted everyone to ride it with him!

Brent & Zane "scaring" all of us.

Zane & Celine

Monday Jo invited us over for a cookout and some swimming time. We all had a blast and it was so nice to see everyone! It had been a month since we'd seen the other kids and Jo!

Jo & Zane

We also had our second ultrasound on Monday. It was so nice to finally get to see Bobby and make sure s/he was growing and moving around! I've been feeling lots of kicks lately, so that's also reassuring! We did NOT find out if Bobby is a boy or girl...but Zane is convinced it's a boy, so I find myself saying "he" or "him" most of the time! Bobby wasn't too awful cooperative...the tech couldn't get every measurement she needed, she kept having to prod around, but ended up getting most of it. When she was looking at the heart, she saw all four chambers, but she said it didn't show up well on the pictures, and the doctors like to see it for sure, so we are going to get another ultrasound in 8 weeks! She said it is NOT something to worry about because she could see them all, but convincing someone else of that would be hard with the picture she got. Bobby is right on track with growth and is weighing in at 9 ounces! S/he gave us thumbs up, kunckles for Zane, and even put hands together like s/he was in prayer! It was darling!

Looks like Zane?

My favorite...thumbs up and knuckles for Zane!

"Praying hands" and getting ready to suck his/her thumb!

In Zane's Words

It seems like Zane's been really worried lately about us not coming back to pick him up from places. We were talking to him about going to preschool in the fall and he said "No!" I kept explaining the types of things he'd do there and told him that he would have so much fun. He looked at me and said "Mom stay too?" I said no and he said , "Mom leave, come back?" When I told him that yes, I would come back to see him he said "All right."

We stopped at Home Depot the other night and I decided to stay in the van. Zane looked at me and said, "Mom, stay here. Zane and Dad come back."

I was showing Zane pictures of my belly when I was pregnant with him. He looked so confused! All of a sudden he looked sad, pointed at one, and said "Zane go back in mommy's tummy!"

Also while I was showing Zane pictures of my belly, we saw pictures of him the day he was born. He was looking at them, saw one of him without clothes (before his circumcision) and said "Mine peeper broken!"