Daddy's Little Fishing Buddy

"Come on, Dad! The entrance to Cabela's is this way."

I don't know who was having the most fun - Tim, Isaiah, or the fish!

- becky

Kiss Cam

A trip to Milwaukee to watch a baseball game is always a good time. Last year, Isaiah caught the eye of a Fox Sports North camera man, and we were on TV!

We have officially been on the BIG screen two games in a row now! Isaiah and Tim were shown at the last game we went to last season when everyone in our section won a free sundae from Culver's. Check out the picture below to see how we made it on the screen at our first game of the season this year! :-)

Mommy and Isaiah on the Kiss Cam at Miller Park

- becky

Rally Cap

Dad and Isaiah

I've got Dad's hat - hahaha!!!

- becky

First Game of the Season

New Definition of a Blended Family - part Cardinal fans, part Brewer fans

"I'm so excited! How in the world did we get into the TV screen?"

All that bouncing on Mom's lap finally wore out Booper.

- becky

Pictures Are Worth a Thousand Words

I have quite a few good pictures of Isaiah. My posts for the next few days will show Isaiah over the last week...

Goodness me, please help us! He's wearing his pants like a teenage boy already!

Isaiah walked around like this for quite a while until his pants finally just fell off.

- becky

Spring Break

Today is my Spring Break Day from school. Oh, happy day! Isaiah is eating lunch late today because of his nap. As soon as he is done, we are off to the library. It is beautiful outside! My mind is completely confused. It feels so much like summer vacation. I am enjoying my year with my class, but it will be really nice to have a break.

Last night, Tim and I played a game of P-I-G. (Surely you're familiar with the basketball game.) Isaiah had his own basketball to chase around the driveway while we were playing. He had a blast! This afternoon, we plan to walk to the park so he can play. Isaiah has no idea, but I am excited for him. He's still a little small for some of the things on the playground, but he'll certainly be able to play more than this time last year.

Hope the weather is just as beautiful wherever you may be!

- becky

A New Pew

I know - funny title for today's blog entry!

Isaiah can sometimes be challenging in church. He's not even 1 1/2 yet, so it's not much of a surprise. I decided to try sitting up front today. What a difference! He got a little restless at the end, but he seemed to enjoy having things to look at in front and behind. So, we now have a new pew to sit in at church.

I don't have much to say today, so buh-bye.

- becky

The Drinking Chair

Like other children, Isaiah really likes routine. He is not a happy camper when we get off his schedule. Every morning, he sits in his little rocking chair for his morning milk.

"Look at me hold my own bottle! Mom and Dad waited so long for this!"

The Drinking Chair

I don't function well when I get off my schedule either. I suppose people just like to know what to expect.

I expect Isaiah will wake up from his nap soon, so I should shut off the computer and get a few more chores done. Happy Saturday!

- becky

Shout Out

We have a few Birthday shout outs tonight. Happy Birthday!

April 17th - little Hannah Grace turned 1 year old yesterday. Hannah is our niece. You read about her brother Paul's birthday not too long ago. I hear you're walking, Hannah! I can't believe it! No more growing until we get to see you again. ;-)

April 18th - today is my friend Angie's birthday. Angie and I both taught 5th grade my first year in Denmark. She is now a teacher at the middle school, and I miss having her in the same building!

April 21st - Grandma Werder will be celebrating her birthday. We also would like to wish Grandpa and Grandma Werder a very happy anniversary on Sunday!

And now for more current events in our household...

Before

After

- becky

Looking Ahead

I just wrote a really great blog entry, but I don't have the guts to post it. It was all about pet peeves, and what irks you the most. Would it be tacky to blog about that? I should be able to write about anything, right? After all, it is my blog? I suppose I'm just afraid someone's feelings will get hurt.

Anyway, Tim sent me flowers yesterday for no reason at all! They are really pretty! I left them at school, so that I can enjoy them while I am at work. I'll take a picture of them, so you can enjoy them through my blog.

Busy, busy, busy. I'm so tired of being busy. We have only 34 school days left! Yippee! I can't wait for summer vacation. Isaiah and I are going to have tons of fun. Here is a list of the things I am looking forward to -

1. Vacation - visit family and friends

2. sleeping late

3. staying up late

4. play dates for Isaiah

5. time to read

6. sitting outside in the sunshine to read

7. taking walks in the neighborhood

8. eating lunch with Tim every day

9. watching baseball games - on TV and from Busch Stadium and Miller Park

10. Noah's Ark in the Wisconsin Dells

Notice that while a waterpark is on the list, wearing my bathing suit did NOT make the list...

- becky

All Boy

As you can tell from this video clip, Isaiah is keeping us quite busy. In fact, he's smacking my leg right now as I type this. He loves to play under the table that I have the computer on. I finally took his tent down. It was looking a little cluttered down here, and I don't want to burn out the novelty of it.

This will be a short post tonight. It's time for Isaiah's night-night bottle. I am determined to get to bed early tonight. It's going to be a loooong week!

Tonight was Book Club.

Tuesday - play group

Wednesday - choir and youth

Thursday - Discovery Fair at school (6:00-7:30)

Friday - RELAX!!!!!

- becky

That Sunday Feeling

This picture was taken at Isaiah's Baptism on February 18, 2007.

Grandpa and Grandma, come back soon!

We want more pictures of you with Isaiah!!!

Anyone else familiar with the Sunday Feeling? The weekend might as well be over! It's like the "tomorrow is the first day of school" feeling. It can be so difficult to enjoy Sunday afternoons and evenings. My thoughts keep drifting to work, so I am unable to relax. Every week, it feels like my weekend is over after church.

Yesterday afternoon, we ran errands. We went to Simon's for cheese, dinner at The Machine Shed, Woodman's and Sam's for misc. groceries, and Target. Dinner was excellent. My pot roast was great! Before Darrel and Bette left this afternoon, we ate lunch at Uno's. My meal was, of course, the chicken sliders. (They're my favorite menu item there.)

Isaiah enjoyed his time with his grandma and grandpa. He went to grandma right away and gaver her a hug when she got here. It was too cute! He was very comfortable immediately. I really think that he remembers who they are! I was really glad about this because we don't get to see family too often.

We'll get to spend more time with Tim's parents this summer on our annual Missouri-Florida loop vacation. Thank you for coming to visit us, Grandpa and Grandma! I regret that we didn't take a picture of Isaiah with his grandparents on this trip. We really need to make it a habit to do that on each visit. I feel terribly that I didn't think about it at the time. It just came to mind - it would have looked great on the blog. Take hugs and kisses back to share with Aunt Rachel, Uncle Terry, Aunt Abby, Uncle Mark, Cousin Paul, and Cousin Hannah!

Time to make Isaiah's nighttime oatmeal. I think my kid is a bottomless pit.

- becky

P.S. Tomorrow will not be a Manic Monday! I am determined to make it a great day!

Weekend Visitors

Tim's parents are in town for a quick visit this weekend. They are passing through on their way to Minnesota to see Bette's parents. Darrel and Bette arrived early this afternoon, and they will head for MN tomorrow after lunch.

I made Dad's famous chicken salad for lunch. It turned out great, and now I have chicken stock in the freezer! (I cook green beans in the chicken stock for flavor.) Thanks for the recipe and for answering my questions, dad!

Tim is officiating at a wedding right now. When he gets home, we're going to run some errands and go out for dinner. Church is tomorrow, and then we'll go out for lunch. Tomorrow afternoon will be consumed by the usual grading of papers and laundry.

Completely off-topic, but last night was "Girls' Night Out" with my friends from church. We had so much fun at El Azteca! The margharitas were good, and I finally found the Mexican food that I have been missing from Florida! They even have the same combination dinner that I would always order - a taco, enchilada, and burrito.

Have a Super Saturday!

- becky

To Be Young Again...

Shelby after a stop at the Clinique counter

Holly the Homecoming Queen

Peek-a-Boo

Where's Isaiah?

There he is!

Don't you just love Isaiah's little St. Louis Cardinals shirt?

Anyone else out there watching Big Brother 9? I didn't care for this season at first, but it's gotten pretty good. As usual, the house has split into two separate alliances. I like both sides, so I guess you could say that I would be happy with whoever wins in the end.

Wednesdays are so busy! It's already after 9:00. I need to get my child and myself to bed.

Go Cards!

- becky

The Godfather(s)

Godfathers and Godsons

Nick, Jess, Hannah, and Ian

Wow! I had such a productive day. It really makes a difference for me when I write down everything that I need to get done. I am beat, though. I feel like I haven't stopped moving all day. My pillows are going to feel great tonight. Will summer vacaton ever get here???

Isaiah sure was a crabby-pants this evening. He took a late nap from 6:30-8:00, so I am dreading tonight. Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope that he will sleep tonight! Wish us luck!

- becky

Ian's Baptism

We made it home safely. The ride was very uneventful. Isaiah slept for 2 hours, and we ate dinner at an A&W in Neillsville, WI.

Yesterday, we spent the day with the Werder family - Nick, Jess, Hannah, and Ian. We had a great time! They live in Delano, which is just west of the Twin Cities. We ate lunch at a local establishment, then went shopping at an outlet mall in Albertville. The weather was fantastic for outlet mall shopping. No jackets - sweatshirts only. Dinner was at the Ox Yoke Inn. Isaiah was kind of a cranky pants at lunch and dinner, but he had fun with Hannah and Ian the rest of the day. Thanks for spending the day with us, Nick and Jess! Living in Wisconsin gets us closer to you guys, but still not close enough. We hope to see you guys again very soon. :-)

Ian's Baptism was this morning. He was just adorable! He didn't even move as the water was washed over his head. What a good baby he is. He is very mellow, and obviously already knows his parents' voices. His big sister Hannah is great with him. She really enjoyed playing with "cousin Isaiah", too.

I have work tomorrow, and I am so exhausted. I can't wait to get some sleep! Good night!

- becky

Tour de Minneapolis

Sometimes mapquest isn't the greatest. We made it to our hotel - after touring around the entire city of Minneapolis. We are partially to blame. We must have missed an exit for I-494 just before St. Paul. Well, add to our stupidity the detour/construction on the I-35W bridge and we ended up going all the way north and west of the city to get to our hotel - in the southwest corner of the city.

Oh, well. We made it safe. Isaiah got a little cranky after the sun went down, so we had to drive part way with the light on in the backseat of the car. Thank goodness for graham crackers! We also remembered to bring his "Tracy-blankie" and Leap, so he slept AWESOME last night! We used a pack-n-play from the hotel, and once we got him down (around 11:00) he was sound asleep until 8:00 this morning.

Isaiah's been eating great, too. He enjoyed Wendy's chicken nuggets and french fries for dinner. We had a scrumptuous breakfast at the hotel this morning, where Isaiah chowed down on oatmeal w/ banana, strawberry yogurt, breakfast potatoes, and french toast sticks. He is quickly becoming a bottomless pit!

I'm not sure what we are doing today. If I have some time this evening or tomorrow morning before Ian's Baptism I will blog again. Enjoy your Saturday!

- becky

Bitsy Girl

I grew up with dogs. First was Barnie. We called Barnie by the name Bud. You know, like Rudy's friend Kenny on The Cosby Show. Then came Duchess. Her nickname was Duchie-Poo-Poo-Baby-Doggin-Baby-Girl. Next were the Whippets - Taylor (Tator-Bud, Tator-Tot, Tatoo-lee) and Cody (Codykins, Kakoo). Now there's Scarlet, or as everyone calls her - Bitsy. I sure do miss Bitsy. She lives in Florida with my family.

"I miss Becky. I'm just going to sit here and watch the door until she gets here."

"I wonder if I someone would bring me a cookie while I wait..."

I love the pictures, Mom. Thank you for sending them! (She also sent some adorable pictures of my two nieces. I'll post those on a different post later.)

- becky

P.S. Get that dog a cookie! It's a long time until July.

What's the deal?

Why do I have to have another cold? I am sick of being sick! My energy is completely gone because of being under the weather again.

Really short post tonight. Isaiah is cranky. I am exhausted. We both need sleep!

- becky

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday, cousin Paul!

My mommy told me that you turned 4 years old yesterday. I am sorry that I couldn't be there to celebrate with you. We'll have to celebrate when I see you this summer. My daddy, mommy, and I have been thinking of you lots. We miss you, and can't wait to see you again soon!

We hope your day was great!

Love,
Isaiah

Isaiah with Paul last November

We also want to send out birthday wishes to my cousin Mary Beth. Happy Birthday, MB! Isaiah can't wait to meet you! We'll be in STL in July and would love to get everyone together for an afternoon at the Zoo.

And, of course, Isaiah's friend Gracie from church had a birthday yesterday. She is 3 years old!!! Isaiah is quite jealous of the beautiful cake Gracie's mommy made for her. I told him not to get any ideas. I am no where near that talented in the baking department! (Gretchen - it really was an awesome cake! You go girl! Can I post the picture of Gracie and her cake on my blog?)

Have a good one everybody. I better scram. Isaiah needs a tubby quite badly.

- becky