Visiting Papa and Nana

We had such a lovely time in CA. I am so blessed with such a loving family!!! It was awesome to spend the days with my dad. The kids just absolutely love Papa and Nana. We spent many hours in the pool. What kid can say… I got swimming lessons from my Papa in another state? Dad you are seriously a good teacher. Caleb is now swimming without water wings. He jumps into the pool and swims across to the other side. He’s amazing. Madeline loves the water too and jumps in from the side and excitedly kicks her feet while she awaits the next jump. There is a video at the very bottom of this post of Caleb swimming.

The beautiful roses in the back yard.
My Dad
Madeline...living it up.

Watch me jump

Of the Rock. Talk about air.

Both kids swimming with Papa.

Maddie loving the water

Look at me I'm swimming with no water wings.

Love this picture!
----------------------------------

On the River

We went boating with a friends of Dads. It was so much fun! Caleb drove the boat and Maddie stole all the shoes that she could find. We boated down the river and stopped the boat on the side of a beach. Caleb loved the water and Maddie loved playing in the sand. It was so peaceful and the company was awesome.

Us parked right next to the beach.

Maddie stealing shoes.

Caleb driving the boat.

Eating a yummy lunch.-------------------------------------
Fairy Tale Town

Dad use to take us kids to Fairytale Town so it really meant a lot to go back and see the kids enjoying the same things that Steven and I did there.

This is the tree house that Steve and I use to run up and slide down. Caleb loved it. Maddie enjoyed it with her mommy.

Caleb flew a airplane.
---------------------------------------------
Donner Lake

We went up to my Uncle Fran and Aunt Diane cabin for a evening. We were able to see my 2nd cousins Dalton and Dylan. My Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Gregg came from Reno too. It was such a wonderful time. I am so blessed that we could see them and spend some time with them. My new sister and I were able to spend some one on one together and share a room. I’m just so glad that she is a part of our family. I just love her!

Fran built this with his own hands. He's amazing.

Uncle gregg and Aunt Jeanne

Madeline loved Elmo... Steven and Elizabeth's dog.

Hanging by the Lake.

Caleb and Dalton playing in the sand.

Uncle Fran and Aunt Diane

Family Photo

---------------------------

Caleb's video of him swimming below.

Family Update

We will start with the scary incident of the day…
I was talking on the phone and turn around and Caleb had play dough coming out of his noses and ears. I tried to dig the play dough out with my finger without pushing it back any further. Well it was really deep so I got a Q-tip, pulled some of the cotton off and then proceeded to get the majority out. The next thing I know there is blood. I FREAK!!! Call the doctor and they tell me that I need to see a nose, ear and throat specialist. So there I am in the waiting room crying my eyes out thinking I just damaged my son hearing. Good thing I am a silence crier. I’m sure the guy next to me saw me biting my lip and brushing the tears away but lucky the kids didn’t see. We get into the doctor and he ends up using a ear vacuum to suck the rest of the play dough out. Not only that but it’s way up in his nose but the doctor was not concerned about that… he said it will just come out. The blood was from me scraping the side of the ear canal and I didn’t touch his ear drum. Thank you LORD!!! What I learned today…. Play dough is NOT my Friend!!! The doc also said that if he complains about his ear in the next few days to call.

Eric’s 3rd Year
July 6th is when he will begin his third year. He will put away the jeans and the comfy T-shirts and be wearing slacks, a button down shirt with a tie and the white coat daily… sexy! The big change is that he will be out of the class room and following Doctors. Eric also applied for 2 Ophthalmology electives... Neural and General. He was given both. They only take one student for Neural and two for General during that semester block. His schedule is as follows…
Pediatrics – 8 weeks
Neuro/Psych – 8 weeks
Surgery – 8 weeks
Christmas Break – 2 weeks
OBG – 6 weeks
Family which is now his Ophthalmology elective. He will fulfill the Family portion during his 4th year – 6 weeks.
Internal Med – 12 weeks

Eric’s shoulder…
Eric shoulders has been killing him for months. It has become a regular routine for him to come home at night and ice it up. We have been trying to find a doctor but it was incredible hard so we switched insurances. Once we were switched, he was seen within 3 days from his phone call. Eric has loose ligaments and his shoulders pops out of socket easily. The doctor popped it back into place. Eric is not allowed to swim for 6 months and needs to build the muscle in his rotator cuff. He starts physical therapy this week.

An interesting side note is that Eric doctor is awesome!!! He has seen Eric for Free once and told Eric that if the ladies would have told him that he needed to be seen for this he would have taken Eric for free again. I think that is incredible nice.

Eric went out with a bang…
He honored his OBG class and was ranked number one in class with a few other students in Bedside Diagnosis.

Madeline…
Oh boy… is all both Eric and I can say. Madeline is just adorable!!! Those blond locks, that natural curl (we don’t know where that comes from), those blue eyes and that beautiful smile. I think we are in serious trouble when she gets older. Yesterday, at Caleb’s T-ball practice Madeline went running to the playground. There were 7 little boys (maybe 6 yrs old) playing and within a minute (less than a minute and they came to her) of Madeline going over there… they were circled around her and she was in the middle. It was crazy to see. I told Eric to look at Maddie, he looked up and said Oh boy… we are in trouble! And that we are! She loves to hug and kiss too. You should see the process of her having to say goodbye to her teddy bear and leaving him in the car. Oh man… we are in trouble!!!

Caleb….
Loves to play Monster Trucks and ride his “2 wheel” bike. He’s still really proud that he can ride with just 2 wheels. Caleb finished up his first year of preschool and told his teacher that he was going to be the leader on the first day of pre-kindergarten next school year. Caleb is so independent but he has these moments where he loves to snuggle up next to me. I love the mornings when he crawls in bed and we get to cuddle before we start the day or when he stops playing and climbs into my lap and just wants a big loving hug.

Tammy
Talking about hugs… hugs and cuddle time have become one of my favorite parts of the day. The kids and I are staying busy. The last few morning we have been hitting they gym before our big adventure. Today we ran to the mall where I ran across one of my favorite shower gels called Juniper breeze. I would never initially enjoy the sent in the common shower but it’s a special treat for my baths. I think it’s because it reminds me of hot tubing at my dad’s house when I was younger. There was a big tree right next to the hot tub and we use to take the leaves, rip them, place them in the hot tub and there would be a really nice aroma. It smelled so good. I ran out of it months ago and was very sad because I couldn’t enjoy it any longer. But it was supper “cheep” today because they were getting rid of past product. Yeah… for me!!!

I also wanted to share this soup with you. It’s SO good that we just can’t get enough of it. I like to make homemade bread rolls with it too.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Comforting-Chicken-Noodle-Soup

Memorial Day

I have no idea why this picture is sideways but it's late so it's just going to be that way. This picture was taken of my brother steven, my dad, baby Eric and myself at my Grandfathers gave. I wish I could have gone there today with my father.

As the flags fly high in the sky, blowing in the wind, I am reminded of my loved ones and others that have fought for this country. I am reminded of their love, dedication, ambition and drive for this county. I am reminded of memories that I cherish and hold dearly of my Grandparents. This year, Memorial Day has become extremely personal. Today, I think of my brother Steven who is currently in boot camp. Today, I think of his wife. I reflect of my Grandma and my Grandpa who have passed. My father-in-law Jack. I think of how sheltered we are because they protect us from more than we could imagine. How at peace we are because they have decided to step up and fight. I think and pray for the safety of my brother. And today I say thank you in a different light and a new appreciation.

Steven... I pray for you daily and even at night with Caleb. He talks about you all the time. He actually calls most guys Uncle Steven. You have made a huge impression on him and he loves and miss you so much. We love you!!! XOXO's

Cardinals Game

Last night Caleb’s T-ball team took the field. It was actually really cool because we were able to walk around the whole field. This was also Eric’s first major league baseball game. I love that I get to experience some of his first with him. Anyways, we had a great time. The kids really got into the game. The crowd was going wild which added to all the excitement. Caleb wanted so bad to go bad and play with the Cardinals. He kept asking if it was his turn to bat and we had to explain that we were here to watch the Cardinals.

Some of Caleb's team.

Walking onto the field.

Madeline friend who she plays with at all the T-ball games.

Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks State Park (1st beach)
We were on the a "Treasure Hunt" the whole time we were there. Caleb loved to look out the window and try to find where we were going. We gave him a map and he would find where we were going and tell us to go straight or turn... of course it was all pretend but he loved it. One of the "treasure" we found was the state park that had a swimming beach. The kids of course loved to swim around and play in the water.

The kids jumping right in.

Caleb showing us his skills

Cute Caleb.

------------------------------------------------------------

Lakeside Resort

We were really happy to have such a wonderful view, walk a few feet and cast the fishing poll, and just the peace of the waters around us. The resort was pretty quite, we knew our neighbors... well we knew everyone because Caleb announced happily to each and every person that he caught a fish or just wanted to know what they were doing. He is so social.

In the mornings, Eric and Caleb would get up and go fishing until Maddie awoke within a 1/2 hour. We ate breakfast on the deck and fished for about an hour or two until we were off for our next adventure.

In the afternoons we would return while Madeline napped which I loved because I snuggled up next to her and I bet you can guess.... Caleb and Daddy grabbed those fishing polls and hit the lake.

After napping we traveled to the lake side beaches to swim. Then we would return to the cottage for a late supper and hit the juccizie. Eric BBQ each night and the dinner was wonderful and so relaxing sitting next to the water. Then the kids were off to bed.

Eric and Maddie on the padio.

Caleb ready to go fishing the minute we got there.

Just a cute picture.

View from fishing, notice the swing. Maddie and I enjoyed holding each other in the mornings and swinging on it.

Oh, there we are.

Caleb is a true fisherman. Takes after his Grandpa Jack.

Us fishing. No I didn't catch anything. But honestly I didn't fish much. Just enjoyed the beauty and my family.

The kids having a converstion about who knows what. But it was really cute.

Look the first catch... and Caleb caught it. Caleb also caught a cat fish. Eric and Caleb ate 4 fish while we were there. Both the guys didn't like the taste of the fish and after hearing that I decided not to try them.

The view.

-----------------------------------------------------

The Outlet Mall

We had to stop at the Outlet Mall just because everyone talks about them.

The kids like Cliford.

Having a goofy, good time.

The kids love to be "back packs."

----------------------------------------------------------------

Ha Ha State Park

This was a European style castle. The stone was imported from Scotland and it ended up burning down and this is the remains.

Eric made up stories of Tigers being in the woods and all sorts of stuff. Let’s just say that I heard a lot of stories this weekend. But Caleb found them fascinating and built onto them. Then he was afraid the Tiger was going to come down and eat us and I told him it was sleeping. Of course, I rolled my eyes at my husband and smiled inside for the joy and excitement of make believe and the fun that he was having with Caleb.

Beautiful Madeline May

I believe this is the horse's stable. (above)

Caleb and Madeline

This is taken at the bottom of the cliff. We decided to hike into the Spring.

The natural spring is coming from under the rock.

Our climber.

365 stairs plus... actually I think we were told the first set was 160. The kids loved jumping down them. On our way back Caleb and I held hand and jumped. He loved it.

------------------------------------------------------------

Bridal Cave

We were actually looking for a different cave that offered lanterns for the kids to carry but they were closed. We ended up reading about the Bridal Cave that is rated as one of the most scenic caves in America so we couldn't pass that up.

This picture above is not the cave. This is right outside of the cave and is not connected but it was beautiful so I took the shot.

Above is the spot that is used in weddings. The pictures does not do the cave any justic.

Once we were 1/2 way in the tour guy decided to show us how people us to see the cave in the old days... he ended turning off the lights and showing us what it was really like with a can and a candle. After that he blew it out and left us in the pitch dark. Then he fell down. Luckily he was not hurt. Madeline kept asking me "what's that" after about three minutes she was starting to get nerves and the lights returned. At the end of the cave is "mystery lake."

The kids feeding the fish.

Our hike outside the cave.

------------------------------------------------------------

Lake of the Ozarks State Park (2nd beach)

This beach was of course breath taking. The water was cleaner from the first and warmer which made it more enjoyable. Caleb loved to take off and swim with Daddy. Maddie also loved the water but seemed to enjoy the side of the beach and all the wonders and findings on the shore.

Maddie and I decided to make a sand castle and surprise Caleb when he returned from exploring with daddy. Caleb was so excited about the castle and continued to build onto it feet away.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bagnell Dam

The Dam was actually kind of pretty. It was very interesting to see the before pictures.

The kids got a lesson on electricity. While we were there we were able to talk to some researcher that had a HUGE fish. The researchers were explaining to Caleb that they were going to cut open his tummy and place a beaking unit in it so they could follow it. Caleb kept explaining it as an "Owey".