The Thanksgiving Calomine Lotion

Thanksgiving started early this year.  We made it to Cheese-sconsin just after 2 PM on Tuesday only to notice our check engine light was on. So we turned around to go to a dealership- except the dealership by my parents house didn't have an opening.  So instead we stopped at a corner gas station/fix it place.  The ran the code and tried to fix our car while we waited.

And when that didn't work grandma and grandpa came to take the boys and our van full of things to their house.

The van was towed to a dealership that could fit us in that evening (huge hugs to Inver Grove Honda).

We made the best of the situation by going out for a dinner date while we crossed our fingers that they could get it fixed and fast! It was fixed when we went back (yay), just a spark plug (double yay) and the fix and tow was covered on our warranty (triple yay)!  We were back on the road at 8:30 PM. The boys slept as we made good headway across the state. I called my sister in-law after Dave took over driving for me at 10:30. I started complaining about my sore back and allergic reaction rash in the same spot. Right away she diagnosed me with Shingles.  

I got to visit my father in-laws doctor and drug dealer (pharmacist) and made an emotional attachment to an old bottle of calomine lotion in my mother in-laws cupboard. I was diagnosed with Shingles and told I'm way to young to have them.  Joy!

We ate the turkey on Wednesday afternoon. Eli told Dave that he needed a nap and didn't make it to our dinner.  

Later that day the three boys gave Grandma and Grandpa a concert in the basement and the parents enjoyed some adult time upstairs before Ann, Titus and James departed for home.

I wanted so bad to do a Turkey Trot on Thursday morning, but my body was telling me no.  Instead we slept in and went to a park to enjoy the beautiful 60 degree day.  This was the most amazing park I've seen and it was only 20 minutes north of my in-laws.

The boys played for a whole hour. The biggest boy wore himself out and was napping before we got home.  He napped in the car while we hung out in the front yard with beers- did I mention it was Thanksgiving day and we were outside sans-coats.

Friday we drove back to Minnesota. Black Friday meant cheering for the black and yellow Hutch Tigers.

It was a nail bitter, Hutch pulled out the win 67-7.  Way to go State Champs!

Saturday was my grandfather's funeral. I miss my grandpa, but I enjoyed spending the weekend with family. The boys had a great day allowing for lots of quality family time.  Sunday we hung out with at my parents house until it was time for Matt and Shar to go to the airport. Our good friends Andy and Brooke came over for the Packer game Sunday night and made the loss a little more bearable for David. I'm so thankful for our Thanksgiving and that old bottle of Calomine Lotion that is almost gone (and so are my Shingles)!

Grandpa Cyril

We lost my mom's dad today. He died peacefully in the farm house he was born in 87 years ago. My mom and most of her siblings were there with him. I know I am lucky to be nearly 30 and I had all 4 of my grandparents still alive.

Today we took the boys to the farm to see my family and especially my grandma. It was hard and stressful at times, but I am happy we went. It was like a close family wake.  We love you and are going to miss you grandpa!

We Don't Make 'Em Big

Eli had his 18 month check up last week.  His weight was 22 pounds 0.4 ounces which is the 19th percentile, his height is 31.25 inches which is 11th percentile and his head is the only thing above average at 86th percentile 19.25 inches in circumference.  And Adam was only a little bigger than Eli at his 18 month check up.

Our family doctor echoed the words of a family friend who told us, "those boys, you sure don't make them big." Yes our boys are small, but they sure are fun!

Big Boy Bed and Other Firsts

Thursday night we decided to convert Eli's crib into a toddler bed and after seeing how high off the ground it was we did a swap and put Adam in the converted crib and Eli into Adam's old toddler bed. The move to the big boy bed came because Eli did not like being confined to the crib in the dark when Adam would get up in the morning to go potty. He has been a crab in the morning and I don't blame him. So far getting him to sleep in his bed hasn't been an issue and in the morning he's a happy baby again!

Today Eli asked to use the potty, so I put him on it and he peed.  Go Eli! We called Adam into the bathroom and had family high fives.  And he did the same thing tonight before bed! We also had several false alarms (potty mommy, and two seconds later I have a naked boy running around not sitting on the potty with nothing in the potty).

Eli got his first real hair cut today. His hockey hair was impressive and he needed a cut. Grandma had to hold him and he needed a sucker, but after that he did pretty well- no tears.

 Big brothers a pro- "Hey Eli, look I'm getting my hair cut too!"