Sleeping Issues

When our other kids were growing up, we kept the little ones in our room until there were two to send upstairs at once. We were cozy with a crib, toddler bed and our bed, but it worked. That way there were at least two kids together. We live in an old house with lots of noises. When Alair came along, she was in our room until she turned 5. We had the two exchange students up there and thought it would be fine and she would get used to it. She did. BUT this summer was very hot and she slept downstairs alot. So now she is six and we started upstairs again and we have crying and tantrums every night. She had her tantrums and crying also,first. It takes and hour or so to get her to sleep. I really need to pick my battles so we cleaned out the library and moved her bed and dresser and things in. Much better. And since I don't do steps that well, I don't have to go up and down several times a night. We assume she won't stay there forever?

Brandon went to Mayo this afternoon. He was admitted to the hospital in Mankato with a fever and possible seizures. He was sent to Rochester to hopefully find a diagnosis and treatment. All the tests so far have been fine.

St. Paul Farmers Market 2

Well we went to the farmers market again Saturday. Aubrey and girls and Emily and Andy and Carly went with us this time. We also ate lunch at the same restaurant. We went to some different shops and some the same. It was a lot of fun. The kids all stayed for supper after. On Sunday,we smoked a brisket for lunch. It was really good. I also made peach pie. Emily was pretty wiped out from Saturday and we won't be doing any more days with alot of walking until after the baby comes...I think.
Emily and Emily announced that the baby's name will be Corine Lyanne. I went to a dr. visit with Emily today and got to see an ultrasound. Allison and Chris's baby's name is to be Mila Joy. Just a few weeks to go.
Alair started school today. She had mixed emotions. Last night she couldn't go to sleep. She was very excited this morning. Tomorrow she takes the bus for the first time. She has to change busses once in Waterville and then stop at Morristown and then on to her school. There will be another girl from her class on the bus with her and her driver is to get her to the next bus. Hope she can sleep tonight.
I have a dress fitting today and another tomorrow. Business is picking up. I keep my fingers crossed. Last year we drove her every day so the bus is a new thing.

St Paul Farmers Market

Friday, as Kim, Alair and I were driving home from shopping in Mankato, I got the idea to go to the St. Paul farmers market on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. I called Kris Felber and we decided to go the next day instead. Kris and I had talked about meeting there earlier in the summer. We got there about 9am and were just in awe. The first thing we saw was a stand with the most beautiful flowers. Alair picked out a dark purple arrangement and it only cost six dollars. There were so many vegetables and they were quite inexpensive. Needless to say, we bought a lot. Next, we went to Grand Avenue and ate at Axel's Firepit. The food was very good and they had a nice gluten free menu for Kris. After that,shopping! There's a nice yarn store down the street and I got some wool felting things there. We also went to Penzys spices and bought some interesting smelling things. There are other stores we want to go to the next time we go up there, hopefully this Saturday with the kids. On the way home I was trying to come up with something to make for dinner on Sunday and DUH,vegetable soup. It was very good.I also made a raspberry pie. Yum!

The Great Minnesota Get-Together

We went up to the State Fair yesterday. Aubrey and the girls and Emily, Andy and Carly. It was a lot of fun and very tiring. We had decided to leave when Emily said she had enough. Being 8 months pregnant, she isn't able to walk a long time. She did last about 4 hours though. We saw almost everything we wanted to. The girls all loved the animals the best. soft bunnies and big horses most. We all ate way too much. They all stayed at our home for supper and baths. It was a very good day and we all had a great time.

August 22

We had a very busy weekend. Alair had her birthday party with friends and nieces on Friday. They swam and ate pizza and wore hula skirts and leis and played in her room. She had a blast.
Saturday we went to mankato and bought food for Sunday. We went for burgers at the legion for supper and then to Louise and Al's for dessert. The Vikings didn't start until 9:00 pm, so I was up pretty late. Everyone else went to bed.
Sunday, we had tacos for lunch and byo sundaes. Alair got some more presents and most stayed through supper. We watched Carly for the evening and Alair and Carly fought alot as they were both very tired. Finally put on Little House on the Prairie and they both watched it.
Today I am baking oatmeal raisin cookies for Christine to ship to her brother. He is on a ship somewhere and had surgery to remove an infection from his rear. I guess he's in a lot of pain. Hope cookies help.

6 years

Six years ago today, a little girl was born with alcohol and cocaine in her system to a mother addicted to drugs and who used just about everything there was all the time. The little girl did not go through withdrawal. She was put on a 72 hour hold at the hospital as she was born on a Friday. Monday morning, I got a phone call from the county asking if we wanted a baby. We were foster parents. I said sure. She came with a few diapers, a couple bottles of formula and a sleeper. I thought she would go back to birth parents after they were released from treatment. That was not to be. We decided when she was four months old, that if the opportunity arose we would adopt her. It did and when she was 21 months old she legally became ours. We were able to have her baptized the week before that. We have never regretted the decision. Last year she started kindergarten and successfully graduated in May. At this point there are no symptoms of FAS or anything else. Her mother did not want to continue the pregnancy, but it was too late by the time she talked to her doctor about it. Thank God it was!!! This world and our family would not get to have this wonderful little girl be a part of it.

Just Got to Thinking.....

When we had little ones, we would got to my parents for Sunday Dinner most Sundays after church. My brother, his wife and their children would be there and sometimes our sister and her kids. Dad always loved these days. Mom did most of the cooking until her car accident in 1987. We would stay the afternoon and usually find something for supper also. Dad always played with the grandkids and they loved climbing on him. He would carry around a fussy baby for what seemed hours. After the accident we would bring meals down there at times, but found it esier to have the family here at our home. Which we tried to do often. Holidays were here and my siblings and families would come some other times, but not so often. Flash forward to now.... Most of the kids come here for Sunday Dinner,after church, most Sundays. Kim's sister and her husband come often. The kids stay most of the day and then find supper out of the leftovers in the fridge. I get to rock little ones to sleep in the afternoon for their naps and usually fall asleep with them. I just love these days and hope I am blessed with many years of Sundays.