Max's Collander

This is Max's collander. What's that? Kids don't usually have their own collanders? Well, this one is technically mine, but Max stores it for me. It can often be found on the living room floor, in the bathroom or in a closet.

"Mom, I thought you liked it when I put the collander in the closet."

But, most often it can be found on his head!

Barrens Hike - A Closer Look

Fall is in the Air

Aaron and I went up north together for the weekend.

We took a long hike through the Spread Eagle Barrens on Saturday morning.

The day started out cloudy, but the sun soon peeked out.

Everything is just starting to turn colors up north. It was still beautiful.

By the end of the hike we were warmed through and smiling.

Suomaleinen Koti

The Finnish travelers will be returning home tomorrow!

We can't wait to see them!

And hear all about their trip!

Safe travels, Grandpa Richie and Grandma Karen!

In other news, Aaron and I are headed up north BY OURSELVES tonight! What?! I can't remember the last time we've done this. The boys are staying with Grandpa Ron and Grandma Meg while Aaron and I go to Florence. Aaron hopes to help my dad finish building the barn he's putting up in the backyard, and we'd both like to spend some time with Grandpa Howard and Grandma Arlene. Of course our car blew a tire and overheated and probably has a giant hole in the radiator because we have plans for the weekend. It's always something... I think we'll need this little break more than we know.

London Calling

I studied abroad in London during college and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I will always be a part of that city, and it's been hard to be away for the past six years. In one sense it doesn't feel like that long ago, but in another it feels like it's light years away. I met Aaron the spring after I got back and we've been busy getting married, having kids and keeping our household running ever since. I think about London almost every day...but going back hasn't been realistic until recently.

My sister Sarah is studying abroad this semester in the same great city and I've just come to realize that I need to go. I love this city. It's a part of me and my experiences there really shaped me as a person. It's a huge expense, but one that I would regret talking myself out of later. I spent two weeks in Europe with my sister Kimberly the year I studied abroad and the memories we have of that trip are priceless. I want to be able to have memories like that with Sarah, and this is the time to make them.

Can't wait to see you, Sis!

Can't wait to be back, London!

Maxwell Renquin, CNA

Maxwell gives Great Grandma Mitchell a hand with her wheelchair!

I thought this would be a good segue into a short discussion about my future employment plans! I'm thinking more about jumping into patient care and using my CNA certification to do either home health/hospice or hospice at a facility in De Pere. Part of my frustration with my present job is the negative view of nursing that it gave me. It really made me question whether I still wanted to be a nurse or not. I need to keep trying things out to see what exactly I like to do, so I'm going ahead with this hospice idea to start things off. I'm also drawn to L&D/Maternity nursing, so that might be something I'll keep an eye out for open positions for as well. Lots of decisions to make, but mostly just waiting to see what way things go from here!

Liam Says

Liam just keeps getting cuter and cuter. He comes up with the most adorable things to say.

"I'll miss you so, so, so much, Mom!"

or "I can watch Scooby Doo Mysteries now, Mom! Now I know that monsters aren't real and it is only my MAGINATION!"

Or, overheard at Grammy Pammy's last weekend:

"Come on, let's have a safari! I'm going to call you Max. Follow me! You're doing a great job!"

Decisions

I have struggled to make a decision on whether or not to stay at my job over the past few weeks. As I've been given more responsibility, it has become very apparent that the duties I'm expected to perform require far more time than I'm given in a night. My stress level has skyrocketed and I am just very unhappy. I finally decided that my mental and emotional health are suffering enough to warrant leaving this position. I have given my notice and will officially finish working at the end of October. It was a difficult decision to make, but the right one.

On to the next thing...a CNA position with hospice if it all works out...

Son and Shadow

Hei Alkaen Suomi

Hello from Finland! Well, we're not actually in Finland, but Grandma Karen and Grandpa Richie are! They are on the tour they've talked about taking their entire lives! Have fun Gramps and Gram! Can't wait to see pictures and hear all about it!

Focus

Going Home

We spent some time with family this weekend.

Enjoying the sunshine...

Savoring the sweet times...

...and the bittersweet...

Just being together.

Ivy League

It is worth mentioning that my 3 year old calls oyster crackers "hexagon crackers."

The end.

Sasswell

After we dropped Liam off at school yesterday, Max and I had some time alone together. It's rare that he is away from his brother, so he kept asking where Liam was at first and then settled in to being the center of my attention.

"I'm never going to school mom! I will stay home and play blocks with you all day long!"

School is only for two hours, but it's great for Liam to be with other kids again and for me to spend some time with my baby!

P.S. Max can now say his own name, only it sounds more like "Sasswell." Hmmm...maybe we tell him he's sassy so much that now he thinks it's his name...?

First Day of School!

Today was Liam's first day of school! He goes to Holy Cross School twice a week for early childhood class. He was very excited about going today, and only seemed hesitant about me leaving for a minute. He got a little nervous as more kids arrived, and I think I saw him wipe his eye a little before walking to his classroom, but he did great! Max and I came to get him a little later and he cried because he didn't want to leave. He's already asking when he gets to go back!

Liam is a lot taller than all of the kids in his class, and he's a bit older than most of them, but that's usually the case with this kid! It seemed like some of the parents were sizing him up though...it might take some time for them to see that Liam is probably the least likely kid to pick a fight or treat other kids badly. There are about 8 kids in his class with an equal amount of boys and girls. He made a friend right off the bat (Jackson) and asked him all about his Toy Story backpack. He was just chatting away with him! So cute.

So, all in all it was a good first day of school!

Summer's End

It's been a fun, and very busy, summer! Liam is off to school (early childhood class twice a week) on September 7th! He can't wait!

More Zoo-ventures

Max observed everything closely from the comfort of his stroller. He only arched his back and screamed to get out 1/2 to 3/4 of the time...

Liam checks out the ciclid fish tank.

Max escaped his stroller occasionally...

But it was nice and shady in there, so he'd always settle back in. Here he checks out the grizzly bears.

Liam liked the grizzly bears, too, but also became fixated on a spider web nearby just as the bears started wrestling. Everyone watching was pointing out the bears and Liam said, "Hey, mom, look at that cool spider web!" What a goof. He got to make one wax figurine as a souvenir and he picked a white polar bear. He was pretty excited to watch the bear being molded. Aaron and I both remember the wax figurines from our childhood, so it was fun to get one for Liam.

The boys both held up very well despite the heat and lots of walking.

 Liam eventually rode in the stroller with Max to rest his feet.

And then daddy brought both tired out boys back to the car. Such a long, fun day!