Chicagoland speed way!!

Here we are. We are getting ready to leave the hotel to go to the nascar race in Joliet. Last night, we watched the GooGoo G Dolls. It was a great time. Rob and I went gambling after. No luck. but a good time and lots of drinks! GO RYAN NEWMAN. Look fo rphotos soon.

quick update

Devin made the dance team! We are very proud of her. Great job, Dev!

dance tryouts

It's that time again. Dance has started in full swing. Tryouts are today. Devin and her friends have practiced for the past 3 days with nothing but pure dedications to the dance team. Good thing steph has her license because I don't get off till six. She has been devin's transportation for the past 3 days. Thanks steph!!! we are waiting anxiously for the the post on the website to see who has made the team.Last year, we stayed up till midnight waiting to see if devin made it. Our house was full of screams at midnight. yeah rob loved that. Today we are going to wish rob's step brother off. He has joined the navy seals. What courage he has! Hunter signed up for baseball again. His coaches are a little over board. Three coaches all yelling at the boys .HMMM.
I've been rather quiet which truly isn't my style. I'm being patience to see if their yelling strategy works.I doubt it. Three grown men yelling different directions to my adhd child who at this point can't even focus on the ball . i want to yell you've totally lost him. He sits and swats at the bugs in the field. Common guys!!! Karsen is busy with his new batter batter baseball game. trying to be like hunter. Too cute!!

Spent the weekend in the dells!

We had a great time at the Wilderness. It was a much needed get away.


The whole family went .My sister and family,my brother and his wife, my parents. Rob went and was rather crabby. He just can't handle change. he likes to be in the same enviorment. Alittle strange I might add. but hE HAS WAY GROWN UP ADD.



We allowed devin's boyfriend to go, also. Rob wasn't so sure about this but what could they possible do when I'm right there.

Baby Karsen loved the water slides. he went down a great big one flipping all the way down. But he loved it. He wanted to do it again and again.

9 to 6

Hello ladies. I've been very busy with work.So sorry I haven't blogged. but I'm still reading all of yours. My new work hours are 9 to 6. I started these hours last wednesday. So i'm just now getting the full affect. I actually am loving getting up at 9:00. I love not get up at 4:30. However, my little guy is still up at 6:30 a.m. I have been able to get some much needed clean up done in the morning and laundry started. Today I enjoyed takingt Devin to school. Yesterday, i got to finally help Hunter out with that dreaded call"mom I forgot my book at home". I laughed under my stern breath " You need to be responsible, Hunter." But I was so happy to be able to bring it to him. I just feel better beinig home helping hunter get ready for school. He kinda got left on his own. (well, with Devin but she was doing her thing.)But the sad part is I miss sitting down with them at dinner. Sometimes they just can't wait till I get home, so rob cooks and me and karsen are eating alone. Tonight it was pizza which I cooked at 6:30. But everyone grabbed a sliced and took off to continue playing. Ugh..
We took hunter to the allergist to find that he is allegic to soy(which we have been using soy milk since he is allergic to regular milk), peanuts, wheat, tomatoes,corn, and every thing outside.
He is on a preventative inhalor, zertex, nasal spray, and his regular inhalor. But he is getting better. No more hives anyway. Oh.. he is allergic to my poor dog. :(We are trying to keep him out of his room as much as possible but they are sleeping partners and the dog ends up in there some how in the middle of the night.
Devin has been practicing her driving skills. And practicing giving me a real heart attack. Karsen is getting used to all the comotion in the car as he now says to me "MaMA is the light red?" "yes,it is red. We have to stop." he responds "no mama its green GO.He is now giving out orders and asking quiestions about driving at the age of two. LOL.

Birthday presents &easter photos

My brother,mike,and his wife Jenny bought me this cool hp picture printer for my birthday.I was so excited. I got a red kodak easy share from rob. ter. I received money from my mom and flip flops, a hat,a purse from my sister. What a nice birthday. Thank-you everyone.

Me blowing out the big candle! What to wish for?

The family still has the tradition of singing "happy Birthday" Karsen was so excited for this!!

Easter at Grandma Leupkes with Alyssa and family.

Hunter's helping karsen sort through candy.

It was a great day!

Spring projects

Sorry for the time lapse since my last post. However, I am majorly busy with my new position!!I find it challenging and yet so exciting. My birthday was Friday. My husband surprised me with a new camera.karsen carried it into me and sang Happy Birthday.Today we are going to my mother n law house to celebrate Easter and my birthday. We are also, celebrating later in the day with my family. My Mom is making my favorite cheese cake. Last Night, we colored Easter eggs.Karsen was so excited. This is the first year that he really got to color the eggs by himself.

Rob and his find Mike put bricks around the front tree since the wood was starting to rot.If you look real close in the picture, you can see jacques sign vote for RUCH:) . We have been so busy painting bedrooms and just getting spring projects done. So when summer gets here we can focus on summer fun.

Have a GREAT EASTER!!! VOTE FOR RUCH!

THANKYOU JENNY!

My sister n law made me cd 's discs out of all my mom's home videos. I know it took quit some time to make. I watched my wedding video today. I'm anxious to see the rest . She did a awsome job and I'm so thankful to have all the memories.!

Busy. Busy.Busy.

Devin's Boyfriend, Koby, suprised her at her dance competition at Hononegah. It was on Valentines day. He got her a 1/2 dozen roses,teddy bear and chocolate.
So sweet.

My weekends have been very busy with birthdays and DANCE.Rob's dad celebrated his 6oth birthday.We had a great time with dinner,family, friends and a few much needed DRINKS!!

Devin had a dance competition at Navy Pier. I've never been there so I was very excited to go.

Uncle mikey and Aunt Jenny went with me. I'm so THANK FUL they went and DROVE in the weather. Thanks Guys!! I love ya!!

We waited in line forever for these competition shirts. They had their names put on with cool Zebra Letters!! This weekend, we are going to Downers Grover for a state competition. We are staying the nigh t. I am hoping they get to take a little break and enjoy some swimming at the hotel. The mom's and I are decorating the bus. We made cute tags for the doors and the coach has a really cute feathered door tag.We made really cute presents for the girls since this is there last dance together. It is so sad that this is thier last competition. I'm not sure what we will do with all the free time we will have.But tryouts for Varsity is in April. Wish her luck!!!

We have been delt a full house!!(of sickness)

Sunday night I woke to my poor baby boy puking.He woke just about every two hours to puke.
By noon, Karsen was still throwing up. My mom came over to watch him so I could go into work for a little while. I called to check up on him. My mom said he was still throwing up . I left work and brought him to RMH. It was so packed. I Was very frustrated. I finally told the lady if you can't get him in inthe next 20 minutes Ill go to saint Anthony. He finally got in still puking 20 minutes later. (Have u every noticed how Dirty RMH emergency room is??)My poor baby was so sick. I knew this was more than just the flu.Devin and I waited for them to run tests as he still was throwing up. His test came back with the rota virus and very dehydrated. The admitted him but didn't have a available room. UGH!!! I had to wait in a er room that wasn't even a er room. They had to open up a end of the hospital the was original not used for the er. There was no where for me to wash my hands or a garbage to throw his soiled diapers in. My hands burned from all the hand sanitizer I had to use. We were finally given a different er room around midnight No room still in pediatrics. We were settled. Karsen sleeping me sleeping beside him on some roll away chair. The nurse came in and said we finally have a room. We were once again moved to get finally settled in a pediatric room.He was so sick waking in the middle of the night with a fever and poppy diaper. By morning, he still wasn't better. When the doctor came in, she said we would not be leaving today. He was still to sick. I woke to a fever in the night and once again poopy diapers.Later that night, he was still sick fever and not eating. We spent another night at the hospital. he was starting to finally eat. But wouldn't drink.What to stay another not. He was starting drink but not the best. I thought for sure if rob would bring up juicy juicy instead of hospital grape juice he would drink. so that's what we did. Finally, he started to drink. We got to bring him home Thursday at about 2:30. I had to make a appointment with his regular doctor for today(Friday) and he was given a clean bill of health. Thank god!!!!
Before karsen was admitted,, hunter had not been feeling well either. I took him to the doctor,also. He had to have lots of test ran. We found out the h e is allergic to more than we thought. The nurse started out withe the food. He is allergic to wheat, corn,milk(which we knew)
Soybeans,tomatoes,and peanuts.UGH! How can one limited this from ones diet when everything is made with most of these ingredients.. Hunter is also allergic to oak, maple,hickory,cedar trees grass,ragweed,mold,and weeds. What???? Can he even go outside??? Probably not with out constant allergy medicine! We go see the allergist tomorrow. Hope the have good advice on how to get the hives down to a minimum.

Hunter had a a great birthday party. I can't believe he is already 11. It seems like he was just at Circles with Miss Sarah and Miss Heidi. I was so happy my niece, Alyssa and her new baby brother, Cameron, came to help us celebrate. We don't see them often since their mom and I had a few not so happy words about 1 year ago. My words for her now" Get over it life is to short "My husband would like to know his niece and nephew. Ok. I guess enough said. I don't want to get on a roll here.

Last Saturday, Devin had a competition dance at Tinley park. I wasn't able to attend but the girls did great. They got 1st in hip hop and 2nd place in pompom. They have a basketball game Friday. Then next Saturday, they dance in Schamburg. They have a competition at Hononegah, Then they have state competition in Downers grove. I do believe that is there last dance of the seasons. Then they tryout for next year. She is a little nervous about this because it is for the varsity team. But I know she will do great!

New year's projects

Well, we had a Great Christmas. I think everyone got what they wanted from Santa. Karsen was so fun this year. He was so excited over everything he got. He even tried to open presents that weren't his. Devin got all her zebra bedding and lots of clothes.Plus lots of gift cards. Hunter got all his green bay packer bed set. Lots of video games and gift cards/money/clothes too. he bought a Psp. Karsen got little Einstein's bedding.Lots of toys and money,too.I have been busy trying to get all the bed rooms painted. I finished karsen's over the weekend. I want to put new doors in his room and then new blinds. Then I will move on to hunter's room which one wall will be green. He too needs new doors/blinds. Then Devin's turn. she wants to paint it hot pink to go with her zebra theme. Then I plan to do my room. We are so busy in the summer that we didn't get a chance to do much needed house projects. So I think my new years resolution will be to complete these projects before summer. We love to spend our days outside when summer is here.Hunter turns 11 January 5. He has accomplished so many goals this year. We are just so proud of him. This year he has gone to school with no anxiety issues. This has been such a problem every school year but he did great this year!!! He also played baseball this summer. His first time participating in any sport! He was a great first baseman. He made a awesome home run. It was the play of the season!!! Happy birthday, hunter!!!

lordy lordy my sister's 40!!

I didn't spend my day off curled up with a book.I finished christmas shoppping late friday night.
I did stay in my pj most of the day. I rented a movie with the kids "strangers" it was rather scary but so dumb!! Now i know why I just don't like the scary movies. There is never a good story to go along with it. But thats what they wanted to watch. soo... Most of saturday was spent shopping. Devin and Koby exchanged their presents to each other. He got her a beautiful heart neckless and opal heart earings. His parents gave her a gift card to the mall. Afterwards they went sledding. Still so innocent. That makes me smile> Sunday, Devins dance coach had the girls over to scrapbook dance memories. devin and I working on her page. It was really fun to spend time with her and the girls. Sunday night was my sister's 40th birthday. Last week, we went to her house and decorated the outside of it. we threw toliet paper from the top of the banister. we wrote 40 all over it. We put party cups and 40 plates all in her yard and a big sign that was lit up. We ate 40 pieces of candy and left the wrappers all over her counter. With the holidays upon us, I'm not sure i will be able to post with the busy holiday schedule. BUt I hope everyone has a merry christmas and to all a good night!!!!

Acting like a child!

OKay!! So I maybe acting like a child here but I'm surely praying for a snow day.I've been really busy with my new position at work. This has taken some adjusting to get use to dealing with 16 two olds to dealing with adults. However, I'm liking it. I love welcoming all the parents in the morning. I enjoy doing tours for intrested families. But I'm surely ready to curl up with a good book by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate, wrap christmas presents and enjoy the kids.. So if I may .......... I wish for a snow day!!!

Let it snow ...

Karsen was so excited to see the snow. Daddy bundled him all up.And out the door the went. They built a big snow man with a carrot nose.
I hope everyone had great Thanksgiving.We went to Rob's moms and later to his dads. It was a nice 4 day weekend. Friday, I didn't get to do any shopping. Rob had to work.I sat and did laundry all day. I did watch tori spelling marathon!!ALL DAY. I don't thimk I moved from the couch but to switch loads of laundry. But saturday Devin and I shopped all day !! I got lots of xmas shopping done. We went to our friend's scott and amy to play cards.I went to take Karsen to see their horses. We were feeding it carrots and it bit my finger . It wouldn't let go until amy flicked it in the nose.ugh! Sunday, I spent the morning visiting with my sister and brother. We watched a old christmas video that Jenny had made for us. It is so nice to have .It starts when I was a kid and goes up unitl last year. ILOVEIT!!! The christmas music and video's got me in the christmas mood. I tried to hang my christmas lights out. but some of them didn't work. I have half the bushes out front done. O'well I'll finish it next week.
My brother, mike, and his wife, Jenny, brought me a nice card with a target gift card inside to celebrate my promation at work. I'm the new assistant director. I'm very happy and excited!
That was so nice of them!!! Thank-you guys!!! In devin's dance video, she is second in the middle row.But changes place alot. There is 3 girls in the first row. She is behind the girl in the middle. Check it out!!

JV dance video (:

Harlem's Jv team placed second.Honnanegah got first.
The girls did great. Devin was so nervous.
But she did awesome. I'm so proud of her.

Funny moment

My poor baby karsen. He pooped the other day.(sorry ladies hope your stomach can handle it) Hunter was yelling ugh you stink. Karsen began to cry. I told him come on I will change you. Well, Then he took off his pull up. You can only imagine the sight. Poop every where. I yell for rob to come help. Karsen sits on the floor Poop everywhere. Through the poop craziness. He's crying i stinks. He was very upset that hunter said he stinks. I explain to him" Its okay everyones poop stinks.(like the book)Then we went though everyone in the family mommy,daddy,hunter,Devin, grandma and grandpa. This morning he woke and sang his new song very loudly!! " Everybody poops stiiiiiinks" Hope he forgets the song in public. LOL

On Another note. CONGRATULATIONS TO STEPHANIE FOR GETTING HER LICENSE.
D EVIN IS ready for a shopping adventure. CONGRATULATIONS TO JEREMY (my nephew )WHO ALSO GOT HIS LICENSE
One Big thanks to my Brother <> and his wife who read my blog"rude people" and called me. You always listen .I'm so thankful that you let me ramble on and on....It made me feel much better,
What would a sister do with out the two of you!!! I love you guys.

Where are the nice people of the world??

Where are all the nice people in the world??? I truly have already met all the rude people in this world.Does the rude people every stop to even consider that what they have said may truly be just words to them but truly upsetting to the person the just ran their mouth too!!I mean honestly does the high gas prices,slow economy and unemployment lines really have your undies so tight u can't see out your a**. Do the rude people honestly not have enough problems in their life that they have to start adding problems to mine. Rude people just is too nice a word. Sly slithing snakes is more like it.Deceiving conniving people is more like it. Just thought I'd share my not so happy moment with you. I'd love to give details (lots)but can't!

trick or treating post late

My baby really enjoyed trick or treating. He made it to every door with a big smile and a treat please he dressed as a bat. No pics though at least they ain't loaded in the computer yet. Mommy wasn't to good though. I had the stomach flu. Yuck! My mother n law came over to take the kids to lunch Monday. She did some of my laundry. It was rather nice. last week, hunter was sick and threw up all over his mattress so.. we said o well lets throw it away. we wanted to get him a full size bed any way. So that's what we did. now he loves his room. lets see if it stays clean. I. too, jacque have piles of laundry and I'm trying to get it all done but some many things need to be done first. I did do 2 loads yesterday because I felt bad the my mother n law made the comment to the kids. "This is all dirty" yeah grandma it is. well better go fold the clothes during my lunch break< ugh

Can u look up pharmacy in the phonebook???hmm..

My baby boy has been a little sick with his allergies. Coughing, coughing, and more coughing. I had to take him to the walkin clinic last sunday. Well, when I went to fill his perscription at walgreens they were closed. So I called the doctor back and they faxed it over to CVS Pharmacy.
I asked rob where in the world on east state was there a cvs pharmacy? Rob starting looking it up in the phone book. It was taking rather a long time. I thought I'd tried to see what the problem was and went to look up cvs with him. I saw he was in the black pages under "F" What are u doing under "F"? He said I'm looking up CVF Farmacy?? I rolled on the floor!! It is cvs and farmacy is with a ph!!!!!Devin and steph were going to die laughing!!!! Who knew husbands were so....... ummm....shall we say.........(lets just leave it blank)