What a great weekend! Busy, but great.
It started off actually on a frustrating foot, because we realized something is wrong with the clutch on the Jeep. So Skip and I had to do some coordinating on how to get us each back and forth for work, considering he drives all around the city all day (his new job is going splendidly, by the way!). We managed to figure it out, and in the middle of the day were able to get a loaner from the shop, so problems were relatively solved. Thursday night was quiet, as Skip rested up for work that night (his holiday shift at Elmbrook for the year), and the kids and I took it easy watching the Jeep get towed away...
Friday, we were lucky to have my parents come up to watch the kids while Skip slept again and I went to my parade. I've been doing this parade for I think 5 years now? It's a little parade and celebration coordinated through a couple of schools and community organizations in Sherman Park - a diverse neighborhood in the middle of the city. It's just our little band (10-12 of us) and the neighborhood kids/families follow behind with their bikes decorated. Once we get to the park, the kids have games and races while we play marches off to the side. It's really a great event for a neighborhood that is often underserved when it comes to things like this.
I got home from the morning's activities, and my parents took me and the kids to lunch, then we met Skip back at home to head down to Racine. We had been down to the Yacht Club in the past for the 4th, but never stayed for the fireworks. This year, we packed to spend the afternoon and evening there, then sleep on Mannings' boat. The kids had a great and exhausting time playing in the sand, riding paddleboats, kayaks, and even a speedboat trip out to see a shipwreck in the lake. We cooked out and visited while we waited for the fireworks to start. The fireworks display was awesome - we couldn't have asked for a better view! Rose zonked out in the middle of them. By the time we finally all fell asleep, it was almost midnight - so it was a late night for all. Though the boat was comfortable, it was a new place for the kids, so they were up with the sun on Saturday morning. After some coffee on the RYC patio and breakfast at Cliff's Boathouse, we headed home - the kids were back asleep in the car by about 10 minutes into our drive. The rest of the day was spent just working in the yard and taking it easy. Skip cooked a delicious dinner out on the grill, then we crashed early.
Sunday we got up and searched for a farmer's market to find veggies for dinner. When we came home, we had lunch then got our house ready for some visitors. So, here's a story: When I was pregnant with Preston, I joined the "October 2009" birth club on BabyCenter.com. From there, a smaller group spun off as a "drama free" group, then has had a couple various other spinoffs to become what it is now. At this point, it's a group of about 40 of us moms, who all have in common an October '09 baby (most of us now have other kids, or had a couple beforehand). We're all over the country, and keep in touch mostly via Facebook. It's really a unique community to be part of, though I had never had an opportunity to meet any of these wonderful ladies in person - until now! My friend Corinne from Madison and her family happened to be at the zoo, so we invited them over for a very impromptu dinner. It was a crazy couple of hours, but it was so great to finally meet and have the kids meet as well. I think everyone was pretty exhausted at the end of the day, but we look forward to being able to meet again soon!
Rose crashed at 7:15, Preston had a meltdown at 8, then Skip and I were asleep by 10. Lol, the end.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
~The end of an era, and the winds of change~
I've often mentioned how our schedule basically runs our lives. I actually had this whole post written out, then read back through it and realized, "geesh, I sure talk about this a lot." Well, it was true. I didn't ever think or plan to have a job function as such a dictator to our lifestyle, but a healthcare job just sort of does that. I could ask any of our firefighter/EMS/nurse friends and they'd probably tell you the same thing. But they'd probably also tell you that the job is also one of the most influential and positive things in their lives (no matter how much they complain ;) ), and that they wouldn't give it up for the world. They might tell you, though, that they'd give up the weird hours... hence why I'm writing this.
Our third shift life is over (at least for a while). And we are thrilled. Weekends? Holidays? Evenings? All together now as a family. Skip has taken a job with the Milwaukee Center for Independence as a nurse case manager. He will be working (first shift!!) out in the community, and is quite excited for the drastic change from the confines of an emergency room in the middle of the night. Hopefully, he will also be staying on at the hospital to be able to work occasional shifts, which will keep up his skills in that aspect of nursing.
With that end, comes changes for the kids as well. When we first got pregnant, one thing that we agreed upon was that we didn't want our kids in full-time childcare during the week. However, we've decided that any detriment we found in having our kids under someone else's care a couple more days a week is drastically less than the detriment this crazy schedule has had on us. We're all tired, and socially isolated, and if this new schedule means we'll gain a hell of a lot of sanity back, then we're okay with the new childcare arrangements. We have been blessed to find Cassandra, who has been patient and understanding of our crazy schedules for the past four years, and has done an amazing job helping to raise our babies when we can't - and she'll be sticking around :). We've also found another wonderful girl who is going to be coming to our home and helping out the other days of the week that Cassandra isn't.
So lots of changes, and they've happened quickly. Skip wasn't looking, per se, but when opportunities present themselves... well, sometimes that's God's way of saying a change is in order. We're excited to see how this change goes...
Preston will be starting t-ball next weekend, and this former utility infielder and catcher couldn't be more tickled. I went and got him the cutest little glove (even made by Franklin), and he hasn't taken it off his hand since. I'm irrationally excited about this, lol.
Um, and Rose is going to be 2?! How in the heck have two years passed with this little girl?! All I know is she is going to be more than happy to finally face forward in her car seat. The poor girl has detested the thing ever since she was born, so at least now she can look around better. She won't know what to do with herself. :)
Our third shift life is over (at least for a while). And we are thrilled. Weekends? Holidays? Evenings? All together now as a family. Skip has taken a job with the Milwaukee Center for Independence as a nurse case manager. He will be working (first shift!!) out in the community, and is quite excited for the drastic change from the confines of an emergency room in the middle of the night. Hopefully, he will also be staying on at the hospital to be able to work occasional shifts, which will keep up his skills in that aspect of nursing.
With that end, comes changes for the kids as well. When we first got pregnant, one thing that we agreed upon was that we didn't want our kids in full-time childcare during the week. However, we've decided that any detriment we found in having our kids under someone else's care a couple more days a week is drastically less than the detriment this crazy schedule has had on us. We're all tired, and socially isolated, and if this new schedule means we'll gain a hell of a lot of sanity back, then we're okay with the new childcare arrangements. We have been blessed to find Cassandra, who has been patient and understanding of our crazy schedules for the past four years, and has done an amazing job helping to raise our babies when we can't - and she'll be sticking around :). We've also found another wonderful girl who is going to be coming to our home and helping out the other days of the week that Cassandra isn't.
So lots of changes, and they've happened quickly. Skip wasn't looking, per se, but when opportunities present themselves... well, sometimes that's God's way of saying a change is in order. We're excited to see how this change goes...
Preston will be starting t-ball next weekend, and this former utility infielder and catcher couldn't be more tickled. I went and got him the cutest little glove (even made by Franklin), and he hasn't taken it off his hand since. I'm irrationally excited about this, lol.
Um, and Rose is going to be 2?! How in the heck have two years passed with this little girl?! All I know is she is going to be more than happy to finally face forward in her car seat. The poor girl has detested the thing ever since she was born, so at least now she can look around better. She won't know what to do with herself. :)
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