New School Year, New Sickness

We have crappy immune systems.  

Combine that with the start of school, the ultimate germ farm, and you have a recipe for disaster..  After being in school for less than a week, Alyssa got bronchitis and missed three days of class.  It could have been worse...it could have been pneumonia again. She shared with her sister and Hannah missed two days her first full week of school.  Then I got it...not fun.

If that wasn't enough, Hannah's ear started hurting. I assumed it was an ear infection coming on, but the next morning when she woke up the entire left side of her jaw and neck were swollen and she was screaming about her ear.  I took her to the doctor and found out her ears her perfect...it was her tooth.  

We really feel like rock star parents now...


Turns out the dentist was right when she told us, this summer, Hannah needed a root canal and 'princess' crown on one of her molars and a few other fillings done. Further more, because of the extent of the work and her phobia of dentists, they have to put her completely out to do it.  It was going to cost us about $2k to have the procedure done...to fix baby teeth.  We don't exactly have that money laying around, so we decided to roll the dice and see if we could wait it out since our medical insurance won't cover a dime of the anesthesia.  They say it is not 'medically necessary'.  I say BS. We don't have a choice now...her surgery is Monday. 

What more could go wrong...how about a UTI?  Alyssa got one of those last weekend so we spent 3.5 hours at Children's Close-To-Home.  That was a whole other fiasco which ended up with no antibiotic and me in tears.  I. Hate. Urgent Care.   

So, I missed four days of school in the first month...not including Hannah's surgery on Monday.  It has to get better from here...right?!?!?!  

Silly Song

Oh my. 

Alyssa just told me Kevin (a little boy in her class that has a crush on her...she wouldn't admit it, but she likes him too.) sang her a silly song today that went like this: 

"Alyssa and Kevin sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." 

Then she giggled and said, "I think he spelled out 'tree'!" 

YES, that is exactly what he spelled!

 No worries though. He also, apparently, sang it to Connor! ;)

Sister Love

Hannah is so in love with her big sister.  And, I am so in love with them both. 

Precious!

Go Team!

Alyssa had her first game today as a 'real' cheerleader for the youth football league. She has been so excited through all of the practices and was so proud to get her uniform and 'real' pom poms. She is by far the most attentive and well behaved girl on the squad, which ranges in age from 4-10. She is also one of the smallest...by a lot!  She was always ready and full of spirit.

I think this is definitely going to be her 'thing'. You know when you do something you really enjoy and it just energizes you and puts you in a great mood? That's how this is for Alyssa. You can see her glowing. Plus, it is one of the few sports you can wear a skirt...an absolute pre-requisite for Alyssa. She refuses to wear shorts or pants of an kind. That really only leave her cheerleading and tennis ;)

A little pre-game stretching...

 Waiting for the boys to finish warming up!

 Can we say 'excited'??

 Big 'G', Little 'O'...Go! Go!

 The sun finally gave us a break!!

 This is the face of a little girl who LOVES cheering:

 There is no doubt she IS a cheerleader.

Hannah wasn't impressed. To her, by the way, all the teams are 'Buckeyes'!! ;)  But in her defense, she developed a fever halfway through the game and was pretty miserable.  Poor girl got what Alyssa had earlier in the week.  I am hoping it is gone by Monday so she can go to her first day of school by herself!

The girls cheered the Packers to an impressive victory.  And it is clear that we have a lot of games to look forward too! Sorry, Daddy! ;)

One Decade

Ten years ago, all I was worried about was not tripping down the isle and my legs staying smooth until the end of the night. 

Now, there is a little more on my plate.

Even though life has changed drastically for us in the last decade, from graduating and starting careers to buying homes and having babies, I wouldn't change a thing. I LOVE our life. One of the blessings of getting married young is that we have grown up and experienced these things together and really built a life with one another. 

I could truly go on and on about how thankful I am for our relationship and how much the Lord has blessed us, but I am not going to.  There is a song by a singer/song writer couple named 'Jenny & Tyler' that really expresses our love for each other perfectly. I think I will just leave it at that for this year:

My bride, my bride, I can hardly hold myself together
This day, this night, I see you as your are and I never want to leave
No more words from my lips, just the look in your eyes
Says it all, so much more than I could ever
I won’t try

After the sunset disappears
When there’s no one around and there’s nowhere but here
O my love, let’s keep this up as long as we’re breathing
Forgetting the world outside of this room
While you’re holding me close, while I’m holding on to you
O my love, let’s keep this up as long as our hearts are beating

My bride, my bride, there’s something holding us together
With you, by my side, everything fits so much better, I remember
When you told me that you loved me for the very first time
With those tears in your eye, so beautiful, now you’re mine

After the sunset disappears
When there’s no one around and there’s nowhere but here
O my love, let’s keep this up as long as we’re breathing
Forgetting the world outside of this room
While you’re holding me close, while I’m holding on to you
O my love, let’s keep this up, let's keep this up

After the sunset disappears
When there’s no one around and there’s nowhere but here
O my love, let’s keep this up
Forgetting the world outside of this room
While you’re holding me close, while I’m holding on to you
O my love, let’s keep this up as long as our hearts are beating

 I hope our hearts beat for another 90 years! Happy Anniversary!!

Hooray for Pre-K!!

I cannot believe it, but today was Hannah's last first day of preschool!  She looked so grown up and was so excited to meet her teacher.  This year she is doing the 5-day-a-week program, still at Stonybrook, but more than what Alyssa did.  Last year Hannah was bored and lonely with Alyssa in school all day. Even though it is still only a few hours each day she will be gone, by the time she gets home and plays for a little while it will be time to pick Aly up!  I hope I don't regret this decision...

She was so excited this morning she wore her backpack around for 40 minutes before it was time to leave!

We talked about how she was going to have to let me take pictures for at least a week before to prepare her. I have found this is the way to get her to smile. She agreed as long as I took a picture of 'her back so we could see the princesses'.  I think this was cuter though ;)

 Sisters!!  They are truly BEST friends!  I can't believe that they will be in the same school next year!

 I know...I think you are growing up to fast too!

 Daddy and his girls.  I forgot to get one with me and them :(

 Gotta' have a silly pose to start your day off right ;)

 This is a slightly different picture than I got last year...and I didn't have to beg, borrow or steal anything to get it ;)

In front of her classroom door.  She has Miss Kim (who is also the music teacher) and Miss Susan this year!

 Making a hand print banner with Miss Susan!

Just playing around!

Waiting to music time to start! 

Because of my schedule this year I will be able to pick Hannah up from school some days this year like I used to with Alyssa.  I always loved seeing her midway through my day!  That time was always so special with her! I am really thankful it worked out how it did so I can have that with Hannah too!  Hope you have a super dooper fun year, Hannah-babe!

You Know What's Better Than _____________??

DISNEY!!

Just ask Hannah.  She is so funny.  Since we have been to Disney, she says this about everything.  For example:

"You Know what is better than chocolate?"

"Disney!"

"Do you know what is better than donuts?"

"Disney!"

"You know what is better than sleep?"

"Disney."

"Chipotle is better [than other fast food]."

"Noooo.  Disney is better."

Well played.  We get the point, sweet girl.  You loved it and you want to go back!  

Me too, babe...me too.