Mother's Day & Other Updates

We've been a little too busy the past few weeks.  I'm hopeful that come May 23 (post-board meeting and the last day of school) we'll be fancy free and just slightly less busy.

The boys are doing well.  Jacoby is a reading machine right now.  He's reading chapter books on his own plus really anything he can get his hands on.  Morgan loves all of the reading Jacoby is doing and is content to sit with him and listen.

Justin is really busy.  The class he's teaching is sucking up huge amounts of time, especially on the weekends.  He took a lot of time today to make sure my Mother's Day was special.  He made us french toast for breakfast.  And I requested a family project this year instead of a gift or flowers.  So, we traipsed off to Lowes for a few supplies, came home and put together a container fountain for our patio.  I love it!  It's just perfect and is lovely to listen to.  We've been busy in the yard with some landscaping projects.  The seeds went into the garden today and we finally decided on a tree for the yard, so that and other flowers will be going in around Memorial weekend.

I'm so looking forward to having my meeting behind me.  I've been enjoyed long runs in the morning, getting ready for the BolderBoulder 10K on Memorial Day.  I'm trying to decide if I want to pursue a half-marathon in the fall but sort of on the fence about it.  We're going to participate in the neighborhood garage sale in June, so I've been sorting through our stuff looking for things we're ready to pass along.

We have a busy summer ahead.  Morgan will be joining his preschool friends for another round of soccer in Boulder.  Jacoby wanted to do gymnastics again, and both will be in swimming lessons.  We've already got a weekend of camping on the calendar.  And we're going to participate in the summer reading program at the library.

Here are a few pics.  Have a good week everyone!

The start of our new edging and flower bed.  I'm sure I had the neighbors worried when I started covering the grass in newspaper.  (:

That's better--now for some plants and flowers!

Morgan's teacher appreciation gifts (Jacoby gave these as well).  The boys loved putting them together--they chose the cups and the treats to go inside.  The teachers loved them.  And I heart Pinterest even more...

We got a ton of rain last week.  So we went puddle jumping (or worm hunting if you're Jacoby) one evening during a break in the showers.

Jacoby reading & Morgan listening

The boys working on our fountain

Ta-Da!  It's so lovely!

Getting reading to plant our seeds

Mother's Day 2013

A Weekend...

We're coming off of a beautiful weekend--70 degrees and all sunshine.  I love spring in Colorado...when it finally decides to be spring.  I hear we have snow coming again on Wednesday...sigh.  Anyways, we've spent a lot of time outside.  The boys really enjoy watering our plants and tulips and trees and anything else they feel needs to be hydrated.  We went to Lowes to gather material for our first major landscaping project and we also spent time out at the Tree Farm trying to decide how to best spend a generous house warming gift we received when we bought our house.

Our second big event last week (after Justin's dissertation proposal defense) was Morgan's upper endoscopy and pH probe.  He did so well and we were just amazed at how composed and mature he was about the whole thing.  Jacoby had been coaching him the week prior about what to expect, so he was well-prepared.  He didn't complain about anything and came out of the anesthesia very calm.  The initial views down his esophagus show furrowing and areas of white, which likely indicate eosinophilic esophagitis.  We'll know more later this coming week once the biopsies are back.  I'm not sure Justin and I felt any emotion about this--we sort of knew this would be the news based on the symptoms Morgan's been having at home. Our hope and prayer is that he responds as well to the medication as Jacoby has.  The second procedure, which was a new one for us, was a 24-hour pH probe to check for reflux.  Out of all the tests we've been through, this was one of my least favorite.  He had a probe placed through his nose and down his throat, attached to a monitor that we had to use to record when he ate, when he laid down, etc.  It was a royal pain in the rear end, but Morgan was a super trooper about the whole thing.  Justin and Morgan had to go all the way back down to Children's on Friday to have the thing removed.  We'll get those results this week as well.

I think the week ahead will be less exciting and stressful--just work, school, soccer, and swimming lessons.

Hope you all have a good week!

Here's my little buddy after his ordeal.  He's got no-no restraints on his arms--we only had him wear those on the way home and at night.  He did a great job keeping the probe in his nose, despite how uncomfortable it must have been.

Our brave boy.  He could tell you all about the wires, and the "pipe" in his nose, as he called it.  He also got very proficient at pushing the buttons on the monitor when needed.

 Nothing but quiet activities when we got home.  He didn't really smile or laugh at all that day.  ):  Boy those are things I sure missed!

 Having a great time at the children's museum during a birthday party

 Riding in the car together...they used to be itty bitty in this thing!

We're re-doing the edging around our yard and will be creating a new flower bed area.  Sheesh--based on this picture, our lawn really needs some TLC this year!

I broke out a power tool today (and had my own "I am woman, hear me roar" moment) and turned my very favorite porch chairs into planters.  Nothing planted yet until the stinkin' snow takes a hike for good.  (:

Defended.

Big news:  Justin defended his dissertation proposal today.  The committee accepted the proposal and he is now free to write his dissertation.  The hope is to write one page a day and have a draft done by January.  You can guess who will be first in line to help move this along toward that goal.  (:  The end is in sight, my friends.

Other news, winter continues here in Colorado despite it being spring.  We really can't complain about the moisture.  I've got a bunch of landscaping projects brewing in my head and can't wait to get outside. 

The boys are doing well.  Our next hurdle this week is Morgan's GI procedures at Children's on Thursday.  We're looking forward to having that behind us.  Jacoby is doing great in school and is working on a book report to present on Wednesday.  Work is really busy for me as we head toward our spring board meeting.

Hope you all have a great week!

 Spring in Colorado

 Morgan at soccer

  Running!

Our Winter-Spring

It seems that winter has finally decided to arrive in Colorado.  Last week school was canceled one day due to snow, wind, and cold, so the boys and I had a snow day at home together.  We made donuts and enjoyed being inside together.  We've gotten around seven inches of snow today and more is on the way this evening.  I've been riding the bus to work for the past few months (it's made a huge difference with our gas bill).  It's a 10 minute walk to my office from the stop, and by the time I got in this morning I was covered head-to-toe in a thick layer of snow!  It's so pretty and we desparately need the moisture.  Morgan keeps saying that it must be Christmas time since it's snowing. (:

In other news, Morgan started soccer last week.  He really seems to like it and has a good time running around with the other little guys in his class.  The boys started another session of swimming lessons.  They're both doing great and love being in the water.  Jacoby goes underwater like a pro now and was diving for rings last week.  Morgan goes to Children's Hospital next week for an upper endoscopy and Ph probe.  Sigh.  ):

Justin is super busy with work, teaching his graduate class, and getting ready for the dissertation proposal defense.  He works all the time, except when the youngest child decides he really needs a "Daddy fix"...and then I find Justin reading Dr. Seuss to Morgan in the middle of all of his piles and papers.

I am itching to get outside in our yard and begin a few landscaping projects.  But this crazy snow has that on hold, so I'm working on stuff inside.  I did manage to sell the fence we took down last fall on Craig's list!  It went to a really nice couple in Fort Collins.  I meet the nicest people on Craig's List!  I was asked to join the PTO Board at school, but I quietly declined the very nice offer.  I don't think it's my scene, and I just really like being at the classroom level.  Jacoby is doing really well in school.  His teacher had very nice things to say about the changes in his behavior when I was there on Friday.  I think we have finally made it through the rough patch, both at home and at school.  Jacoby is finishing up a research project on South America -- yes, you did read that right, a research project in Kindergarten. 

 Morgan practicing stopping the ball with his foot

I don't know exactly what's happening here, but I love that Justin got him in mid-air

Running, running, running...just what little boys need!

Morgan made the goal!

Two boys swinging at the park

Jacoby's project on South America.  He can tell you about the poncho his doll is wearing and what animal provides the wool for this apparel.  He has to present this and the information he collected to his class this week.  And yes, I am the mean mom who requires him to write his answers in complete sentences.   (:

Spring Break Trip

The boys and I had a great time in Montana last week.  We really enjoyed spending time with our family.  I couldn't ask for better travel partners.  Justin wasn't able to make it because of work and teaching responsibilities, but we'll be back this summer with him in tow.

Here are some of the highlights (and then a flood of pictures, of course):

*We visited a new park each day with Grandpa Bill.  The boys thought this was great and it successfully burned up lots of energy.

*We enjoyed going to Easter service with all four grandparents.  Such a blessing!

*We made a trip to the bookstore with Grandpa Michael and Grandmanette and also enjoyed a movie night with them.

*We visited Aunt Megan at the hospital where Grandma Pam had some surgery.  The boys got to see Aunt Megan in her nursing gear and also got special stuffed animals from the surgery center.  I'm also happy to report that Grandma Pam is making a full recovery and all the pathology reports came back clear.  Stage 1 Melanoma is serious stuff--skin checks every year, people!

*We had a wildly successful trip in terms of managing our food allergies.  We're still very careful but traveling is getting easier each time we attempt it.  And we're really grateful to our families for their patience and willingness to work with us on this.

Thanks to everyone for hosting and making time to see us!

We hit the ground running tomorrow and have two very busy months ahead.  The boys and I got our tiny garden seeds planted this weekend.  They'll grow indoors for awhile before they move out to the garden.  A good plan considering we're supposed to get up to 13 inches of snow tomorrow night!  We are hoping to grow broccoli, brussel sprouts, miniature pumpkins, a white pumpkin, watermelon, carrots, peas, and zucchini    We'll see how the harvest turns out!

And now for the flood of pictures.  (:  Enjoy and have a good week!

 Having an Easter egg hunt

 Finding an Easter treasure

 Me and the boys

Reading with Grandma Pam

 iPad time at Grandmanette's

 Racing Cars

 Playing with blocks at Grandmanette's

 More park fun

 Momo checking in before making his move on the slide

 These two can spend hours on a slide

 Jacoby listening to Grandpa Bill's heart

 Having Aunt Megan listen to their hearts

More books with Grandma Pam

 Swinging at the playground Mommy used to visit with Grandma Haggerty when she was little

 Jacoby navigating a new park in Billings

 Reading together

 Throwing balls at each other and giggling like crazy

 Reading with Aunt Megan

Playing cars in the garage

A break in Glenrock on our way back to Colorado

These guys did so great in the car.  All they needed was a pile of new books from the library and the Disney Channel on Pandora and they were all set!