As Summer Fades...

There are those pointed times in life that when they come, you know that something else is about to draw near. Two of those things stick out at me, telling me that the end of summer is very, very close.

First, the Minnesota State Fair. When the fair comes, you know that summer is almost finished. The kids and I went, along with my mom, my sister and my aunt, who were amazing helpers to me! However, the next time I go to the fair with my kids, they better be old enough to pay for themselves! They broke the bank with all their, "I want a third corn dog Mom!" from Jonah and "Mo! Mo! Mo!" from Aphia when sharing mini donuts, cheese curds, roasted corn on the cob, a smoothie, nachos, a corn dog and more! The kids enjoyed the John Deere equipment and riding the big slide. Although I did enjoy the fair, I really enjoyed getting home, showering, and kicking back to watch a movie once the kids were in bed :)

The second is my brother Michael's birthday- August 24. This year was his Golden Birthday and so we celebrated with friends and family on a boat on the St. Croix. It was a surprise to him and Susie pulled it off remarkably!!

I just thought I'd thow this in... Where did my daughter get curls from?! Her mom and dad certainly don't have curly hair, or even wavy for that matter!! I'm just loving them!!

Webber's Cabin and Crazy Times

This past weekend we went up to Daddy's Uncle Wes and Auntie Colleen's cabin. We got up there late on Friday and spent most of the day there on Saturday. Daddy did some work for Uncle Wes on his ATV and lawn mower, but he also had a good time playing with us too.

Saturday morning we went out for a boat ride on the pontoon and I loved watching the motor and the wake it created. I also really loved to drive with Uncle Wes, although I wanted to do more donuts than him! Phia had a great time too, she was so relaxed just sitting on Mommy and Daddy's laps, watching the beautiful scenery. We got to see a big bird flying over head and some loons out, not too far from us. Daddy even got in some tubing time (not behind the pontoon!) with Ken and had a great ride! Although on Sunday he said that he must be getting to be an old man because he was sore!

Here are some pictures that Auntie Colleen took. She's a great photographer!

Mommy is wondering when life will slow down? We had a great time at the cabin, but had to leave not even 24 hours later to head down to Grandma Lollie and Grandpa Jeff's for Auntie Gina's Golden Sweet 16th Birthday! Then on Sunday Mommy went to the Twin's game with Michelle, Auntie Debbi and Uncle Ron. They got to sit in a suite, just up behind home plate, which was sweet (pun definitely intended!). Mommy says she feels like she spent half of the weekend driving! And life is so busy on the weekends. She always thinks that with the start of a new season that it's going to slow down a bit, but it never really does. Stuff just creeps up on the calendar and things get packed in! Whew... life is nuts. Michelle and Mommy in front of the window of the suite
Mommy and Auntie Debbi with their mits... they were ready to catch one from Joe Mauer!
Great seats for watching the exciting game!!

Video Games, Chocolate, and God

My sister and I went to Auntie Becca and Uncle Tim's one night while my mom and dad had a wedding to go to. It was such great fun because Uncle Tim bought a special new video game that he knew I would LOVE, it was a "Cars" game!! I was so excited, and I especially loved it when I'd ask Uncle Tim to smash the cars and he did!

I'm such a good eater that whenever we have dessert, I always get some, because I always finish my dinner! This night we each got some chocolate and it was so yummy! As you can see, I got it all over my face as I was devouring it! Jonah and I will be my mommy's treat buddies, since Daddy isn't too into them.

On another note, my mommy went on a weekend away with her MOPS Leadership Team. She came home a such a happy camper! I heard her telling Daddy a few of the things that she learned and experienced during the weekend. She talked about the friendships that continue to deepen with her friends. Being in the exact same place with so many people makes her feel so supported. She said that it's amazing to watch God do wonderful things. She learned more about prayer and depending on God, expecting the unexpected, and not limiting what God can do!

One of the biggest things that she took away from the weekend was that it is not her job, but the Holy Spirit's job, to convict me, Jonah, Daddy, and herself, of the things we should or should not be doing. She knows (but often times forgets) that God can do anything, and if she spent half as much time praying about situations as she does trying to correct them herself, then she could sit back and let God handle it... And I know too, that He can do a better job! God will work with all of us, I know that, to make us the best workers in His Kingdom that we can be. Mommy is working on holding her tongue in times when she should not talk, but instead talking silently to God about the situation. She's laying down her pride and laying down her requests to the Lord, instead of icky words or tones of voice she might have used before.

When she came home for the weekend, Daddy (along with Jonah and I) had cleaned up the whole house really well (he sorta owed it to Mommy, but that's for another time). It was so nice and clean and Mommy was SO happy to be home to us and a clean house. She was only gone from Friday afternoon until lunch time on Sunday, but she missed us so much and was anxious to get home to us!!

My daddy bought me a cabbage patch doll when I was born and up until now, she has just sat in her box on top of my dresser. The other day, after I woke up from my nap, I was reaching for her and wanted her out of the box. So Mommy and I took her down and opened her up! It was so much fun to play with my new Cabbage Patch Doll, Marlene Anastasia... we call her Anna for short. I'm a great Mommy to her!

The other day was SO hot, but I wanted to play outside. I had a grand time, playing by myself, which I haven't done in a very long time. It was nice to have some time to play while Mommy took some pictures of me. I just got to do my own thing, without having to answer to anyone! Every boy needs some time like this I tell ya!

A Big Scare- updated!

*** Update at Bottom of Post!! ***

Good Afternoon, it's Aphia here!

Just wanted to tell you about the little scare I gave Mommy and Daddy last night. Mommy was putting my jammies on and I didn't want to get a new diaper on, I love to run around nakie! When she layed me down I started to cry, and then scream! Mommy knows how I can be sometimes, so she didn't really think anything of it. But then something happened... When Mommy looked down I had my mouth open so wide, but no sound or air was moving. I'm not sure if I was so mad that I was holding my breath or what, but Mommy picked me up and said to Daddy, "Jeremiah! She's not breathing!" So Daddy grabbed me and put me on my tummy on his arm so Mommy could see if I was choking on something or what was going on. My eyes started to glaze over and my whole body was rigid. Mommy was right up in my face saying my name and I finally took a small gasp of air. But then my eyes went glazy again and I didn't breath for a couple seconds. Mommy thought it looked something like a seizure, or choking, or something weird that made me look like I was going to pass out. She was saying my name and trying to get me to focus on her, then I took a couple big gasps of air and Mommy took me in her arms. She held me close to her to listen to me breathing. I came out of whatever was keeping me from breathing and I was a little out of it. I just clung to my mommy and she held on tight to me.

It really scared Mommy and Daddy. I'm not sure what was going on, if something physically happened, or if at just shy of 18 months, I know what it is to hold my breath when I'm mad! Mommy says that her gut tells her otherwise... that it was something out of my control, but who knows!

Mommy kept checking on me all night when I was sleeping, even though I agreed that I wouldn't ever do that again. She doesn't get afraid too often or worry too much about Jonah and I, but she was afraid last night and worried too. This fear festered in her for the night, making her mind wander to horrible things, things that no mommy or daddy ever wants to encounter. Since fear isn't something she deals with a whole lot, it seemed to be something that ripped at her heart, almost making it hard for her to breathe. I guess sometimes being a mommy can be really hard. I know that she loves me so much, that it's a whole new realm of fear when you have a baby.

So this morning she went and had her date with Jesus at the coffee shop (which she does once a week now. Not always at the coffee shop, last week she just went and sat my Lake Pulaski) and He pointed out a lot of scripture about not fearing because the Lord is with her. She knows that He's in control and He's SO big! Each time that she goes, God teaches her something new! It's pretty cool.

If you think about it, say a lil prayer that I will never do anything like that again to scare my mom or dad. I don't want them to be afraid like that ever again. I'm back to my bubbly-self today. I was running around with Jonah and his friend Jake at the park today having a grand ol' time! I just laughed and giggled the whole way through!

Hope everyone has a happy Wednesday!

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UPDATE:

We think we have a hold on what's going on. After talking with family and medical personnel we're pretty sure that it's Aphia holding her breath on her own. Rob talked with one of the Pediatricians (the same doctor that took care of Jonah while in the ICN in Willmar) he works with and he said that it's not uncommon for children Aphia's age to hold their breath following an emotional, traumatic, frustrating, or anger inducing experience. It can be both a consious and subconsious doing on her part- meaning she may not realize what she's doing at this point, but it's generally an attention getting ploy. They realize that when this happens they get big-time attention from mom and/or dad and that's what they want. The best way to treat it, is to ignore it. At 18 months... not so sure that I can do that. If it were Jonah, I know I could, he's older and I can reason with him (maybe that's why HE doesn't hold his breath!!). I'm going to do my best to give her the attention she needs and wants when she's acting in positive ways and not feed into giving attention over negative actions on her part. It will be tough, but I'm tougher :)

Our mom went to her 10 year High School Reunion a couple weeks ago and had a great time! The girls all met at Trang's house first and then went on a boat on the Mississippi. Here are all the girls, all dolled up. Back: Molly, Trang, Mandy, Mommy, Melissa. Front: Shauna, Holli, Missy.
Here they are in front of the Paddleford Boat, it was a bit windy!
Here's Mommy and Molly- they have been friends for 25 years!! They met when they were 3 and have stayed constant friends ever since! Molly was in Mommy and Daddy's wedding!
And to top of Shauna's visit from Seattle, they all met at Pittsburgh Blue for dinner on the Tuesday after the reunion for one last time together. Daddy had prime rib and Mommy had filet mignon. They said it was outstanding- being the beef lovers they are!
Back row: Mike Moeller (Trang's husband), Daddy, Shan (Shauna's husband), Craig (Melissa's husband), Melissa
Front row: Trang, Mommy, Mandy, Shauna, Holli, Missy
Missing: Adam (Mandy's husband) who was there for a bit, but had to go back to work, and Molly

"Forchuly" Baby!

My Great Auntie Mary posted a blog about her grandfather (so my great-great grandfather) who came over to America from Finland to dodge the draft into the Russian army. He was a communist and a draft dodger, but he loved America. She has a picture of him in the Kingston City Band celebrating, "Forchuly"- that's how he'd say it with his thick Finnish accent. His legacy of love for this country has been passed on. Here I am sporting my Red, White and Blue and waving my little flag on Forchuly.

My brother was being grumpy and would not pose for a picture, whining because the sun was in his eyes. But I was being a good girl and posed so nice. I'm proud to be an American and thankful for my independence and freedom.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Forchuly :)