Goodbye August

Well, daycare has been going ok...we still miss hanging out all day but Oliver seems to be adjusting well--he's probably just happy Grandma Gay doesn't do silly things like make him hang out in the laundry basket. It's nice to have a three day weekend before school starts (kids come on Tuesday). We spent the weekend getting ready for work and playing a little too. Shawn's good friend Casey was recently hired as the assistant golf coach at the University of Tennessee. Isn't that cool? Read more about him if you want to... http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/082609aaa.html He was previously teaching at Shawn's old high school and so we went up to the U.P. on Friday night for a little going away party. It was Oliver's first trip to Perkins and he was very impressed. Here Oliver gets kisses from Jill and Casey's adorable daughter Madelyn. Oliver wasn't too fond of the attention but we'll give it a couple years and then see. Shawn is convinced that both Madelyn and her little sister Claire will be good friends with Oli eventually. Daina with her son Alex...I can't believe how big he got! On Saturday it was back to Wisconsin and off to the fair! I've been attending the Waupaca County Fair in Weyauwega since I was 8 months old so of course I had to take Oliver this year. My dad and Shaunie, Tonya, and Addy came too. Addy pets the pigs. She said they felt like Binford (their dog).Uncle Shaun and Oli hang out. Not sure licking the pig barn gates is a great idea but it was a cute picture.Oliver and Uncle Shaunie's goat It's been a couple of years since I've been to the fair and here's my observations... Five reasons "the fair" ain't what it used to be: 1. I couldn't get fried onions on my cheeseburger at the 4-H food stand. My mom would have found this astonishingly unacceptable too. 2. I always remember sunny fair-weather but yesterday it oscillated between chilly drizzling and pouring. 3. The Farm Bureau stand didn't sell cheese curds (!?!?)

4. The pig barns are WAY cleaner than when I used to show pigs--they shave the pigs these days!

5. I only saw about 3 people that I knew (my brother, of course, saw about 83 people he knew...some things never change!)

In all, it was a good time and I think Oliver will have even more fun next year. My brother was in the demo derby tonight but we didn't go cuz it gets soo loud there for Oli I wanted to hang out with him. Dad just called and said he did good and got in the finals. I'll have to get pics of his car to post next time :) Instead we went to visit Grandma in Waupaca. She's doing well and speaking of grandmas...

a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Grandma Debbie today!!!!

And so it begins...

We did it!

Another of our many firsts--we made it through the first day of daycare...and my first 9 whole hours away from my silly monkey. There were tears, but not from Oliver. "Grandma" Gay says he did a pretty good job. He didn't do so hot with the bottle but that she'll keep working on that. He didn't seem starved when I went to get him so that made me feel better. There are two other little boys there and it sounds like he made new friends.

Thanks to all of you who called, e-mailed or thought about us today.

D-Day

No more putting it off...tomorrow's the big day. I used to feel excitment and anticipation about the new school year. It's like in 'You've Got Mail' when Tom Hanks' character tells Meg Ryan, "I wish I could send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils." I've always understood that sentiment about Fall...new beginnings and clean slates. But this year? I just wanna stay home with my Oli-kins! I've been SOO lucky to have all this time with him. I'm sure all will go well and a part of me will be happy to be back in the swing of things in the classroom...right?

We just got back from Gay's house. We couldn't ask for a better person to be with Oliver when we can't. I'm sure he'll be fine...it's me I'm worried about :)

Not too many pics to share this week...

Dad and Oliver acting goofy.

Bug had the boys this weekend so we went to visit and eat some delish meatballs. He got tired so decided to lounge on Uncle Bug.

Oliver got a sweet new exersaucer from Grandpa...the pig appears to be his arch nemesis...

Dad and Oliver play dance party...

4 Months Old

We're busy trying to make the most of the rest of the summer. On Friday we went over to Fremont because Shaun, Tonya, Jenna, and Addy were camping. We didn't spend the night but it was fun to hang out.Kissin' Cousins. Addy practices her spiral with Kurt. Oliver and one of his Auntie Tonya's. Sunday was a big day...not only did Oliver turn 4 months old, it was also our one year anniversary. Grandpa Doug and Grandma Judy came down to spend some time with Oli on Saturday night while Shawn and I tried to remember what to do without a baby. We had a fantastic meal at Popp's and then went on the town a bit...well, until 9:30 when we decided we wanted to check on Oliver and were pretty tired anyway...we're so ancient! Oliver was in great hands with Doug and Judy and as always, they spoiled him. Check out his sweet new hat--almost makes me excited for cooler weather.

Later on Sunday we stopped over to see Grandma. She's doing well after having her pacemaker put in. We had a nice visit and then stopped to visit Aunt Bonnie and Cousins Krissy and Amanda. Grandpa Stanley is impressed by Oliver's blooming personality and strong legs. Oliver got grabby with Cousin Amanda.

Oliver's 4 month check up was on Monday. The pediatrician says everything looks good and he can start on solids whenever we want. He's up to 15 lbs and in the 73rd percentile for height...Shawn hopes that keeps up.

He tries to escape from the nurses with needles. Evan shared his backyard for Oli's maiden swing voyage. He was kinda blah from the shots. Oliver's first try at rice cereal. Messy but good.

Dad has been having some back problems so Oliver shares his floor space.

When dad feels better, he pretends he's Emeril and talks Oli through all his cooking prep.

Last night our friends Jenny and Kevin stopped by. They live in Port Washington. Jenny used to teach with us and found that she loves Clintonville and all of us so much that she can't help visiting a couple times of year--and we LOVE that! We told a few people she was coming so they stopped over too. Of course Reese was among the visitors. Oli loves him because he gets a much closer view of the ceiling fan when "Uncle" Kevin's around. Another visitor was Miss Harper. Oliver has a little crush on her so I think that's why he looks a bit nervous in this pic :)

Other developments...

Oliver 's gotten a little conceited and recently decided he loves looking in the mirror.

And wouldn't you be conceited too, if you had a bod like this?!?

Babysitter Morgan was over again today to watch him while Shawn and I spent some time in my classroom. I know that all the non-teachers out there never feel too much sympathy for my complaints about going "back to work" after the summer off but I'm feeling especially anxious this year. My classroom is all moved but totally unorganized and we are still trying to force the bottle so it's not a total shock next Wednesday when Oliver sinks or swims with it. Wish us luck!

Other August Happenings

Other stuff we've done this month...

Well, we pulled a "Sweet Home Alabama" moment and took Mr. Oliver over to Shaunie B's for a burger last weekend. The place was empty cuz everyone was at the Corn Roast but when the hayride showed up we finished up our onion rings pretty quickly.Here Uncle Shaun growls for Oli.

On Thursday Aunt Joanne brought Grandma over for a visit. As you can see, Grandma is not afraid to get right down on the floor with Oliver. He loves the attention.

Aunt Joanne got to snuggle up with Oli too.

On Friday night we left for Menominee, Michigan for Waterfront weekend. Tonya and Bug make it an annual trip and invited us along for the ride and so Shawn could golf in the annual Saturday tourney. On Friday we slept in Tonya's grandparent's fifth-wheel and Oliver got to cozy up in his own little private bedroom--the camper's shower! He fit perfectly.

We know that school's going to be starting before we know it so we're trying to make the most of the couple weeks we have left. We'll see how much we can continue to pack into the rest of the month...Happy Almost-End-of-Summer!!

Our Sorta-Vacation

We'd been planning a trip to the Twin Cities for awhile but we decided to leave a day early and do a little road-tripping. We left Monday to head over to my old college alma-mater, Winona. Oliver was a trooper and slept the entire 4-hour drive.

We ate on Jefferson's patio...

Shawn and Oliver check out the town from the top of the bluff.

After hanging out at some old stomping-grounds, we headed north along the Mississippi to St. Paul. We realized in Red Wing that Shawn forgot his cell in the hotel. Oops. We made a quick stop at Ikea (people make fun of me but I am obsessed with the cheap-wonderful-ness of this store!!) then we headed over to the home of the Spiegelberg's.Shawn and Oli practice patience while I prance around Ikea.

Oliver borrowed Evelyn's "Bumbo" chair to practice. Cousin Addy has one we're going to steal when we get home. Lou chills in the background.

When we got to Dar and Len's we split up for some very important business--talking sports at home for the boys and shoe shopping and Mall of America for the girls. When Shawn and I got married last summer he bought me an amazing pair of wedding shoes from Cole Haan with Dar's help. He thought it was very cool that Cole Haan teams with Nike to create gorgeous-comfy shoes with Nike Air technology. I love my shoes (and a picture of them is STILL featured on our photographer's website--you actually click on them to read her blog--http://www.photosbynanette.com/ :) Anyway, Shawn got me a gift certificate for ANOTHER pair of Cole Haan's and of course I needed Dar's help again to pick them out. I chose slightly-more-practical black pumps. Then it was off to the MOA. If you don't go shopping in Minnesota, GO! It's so fantastic that there is NO SALE'S TAX on clothes! Oliver was pretty cranky most of the day so I don't think he share's my love of retail but I'm going to keep working on him.

For dinner we met up with the boys for a very fun dining experience. There's this place in a park by the Minnehaha Falls called Sea Salt (http://seasalteatery.wordpress.com/). You order in this little building and then sit outside with a pitcher of beer and listen to live music while you wait for your (amazingly delicious) seafood. They have great ice cream too. It was lots of fun to catch up and snuggle with baby Evie and be inspired by what a big boy Louie is. He's working on the potty-training thing and he's doing so good he says he'll teach Oliver too. We were sad to leave the Spiegelberg's but we had more visiting to do. On Wednesday we headed south to Lakeville to my college roomie Lisa's beautiful new house. We got to hang out with her little girls Amelia and Olivia. Olivia is couple months younger than Oliver and a roly-poly sweetheart. Here Lisa loves up Oli.

Amelia shows Oliver all the cool stuff she has to play with.

Oliver slept the whole drive home again and we got to rest for a day before our next travel adventure...this time up to Michigan for Waterfront.

Getting Ready for School

In anticipation of the school year, we decided to finally call Miss Morgan to baby-sit while we went over to the middle school to get my classroom moved. I am getting a room with windows this year so I've been excited to get settled in. We decided this would be the perfect first-sitter experience for Oliver because the middle school's only a block away so in case he wouldn't take the bottle from Morgan, we wouldn't be too far if he wouldn't stop yelling about it. So the day arrived and we got Morgan and Oli all settled but just our luck, when we got to the school they were waxing my floors. Shawn and I wandered the streets of Clintonville for a while, finally arriving to waste some time at Paully's. After about two hours we decided we'd go home to check on how the bottle situation was going with Morgan. She reported that he wasn't interested in the bottle so it was pretty much a wasted day. However, Oliver reported that he loves Morgan and later in the week we just brought him along with us to the school to get some moving done. Still dealing with the bottle issue.

Dad and Oliver going to help mom move...

Old, windowless classroom...

New, multi-windowed classroom...

Oliver was inspired to do some reading after spending all that time at school...