Happy Birthday, My Love.

Last week was Derek's birthday.

He doesn't make a fuss of birthdays.

I do.

my version of D's favorite Maple Blondie Sundae

We celebrated him through the week because on his birthday he had knee surgery.

He is recovering well. 

We spent the weekend at home relaxing and "RICE-ing." 

D has been doing great in his recovery - he is walking with no crutches today and is basically released from PT already.  It's a good thing, I am going to need his help 'cause it's looking like we are going to be ice/snowed in for a day or so!

Happy Birthday, Derek.  I wish that we could have celebrated with more style - - I guess life happens though.  I hope you know that I want to celebrate you - on your birthday and every day.  I am so grateful for you and I truly love you more each year.  I am so happy to spend my life with you, sharing our life and love each other and for our growing family.  I know that you are my partner for life.  Here's to many more birthdays together to celebrate you!  And - here's to many more hours of Mario Kart with your boy!

Final Family Florida Day

Our last day in Florida started with a huge breakfast at the Athenian. While we waited, we entertained ourselves with silliness! Apparently the Brenningmeyer nose works better for spoon holding than the Albracht nose. Opa just couldn't make it happen & it didn't come easy for D! ;-)

I felt like a lucky girl to spend the day with these handsome fellas!

The afternoon was spent with "more of the same" glorious relaxation!  

Poolnaps + a novel = a happy Mama!

Our last dinner together was out at Bubba's for bbq.  Derek and I remembered the salad from our last visit to Oma & Opa.  It was a nice evening with the guys!  Cole loved the peanuts more than anything!

That night Derek loaded the car with Oma's things from the house for Opa's spring garage sale.  The following morning Derek and Opa headed out around 5 am while Cole and I slept until around 7:30 (<3 vacation!).  Cole and I packed up our things for Mr. Randy & Mrs. Joyce to drive us to the airport.  Our flight back was far better than the flight down.  We didn't depart Ft. Myers until 3:20 and Cole lasted until the tarmac before he passed out.  He woke later in flight to play his Leapster (thank you, Na!) and peacefully land.

I'll say again - what a treat!  Not only was the weather really great, but the company of Derek & Cole, Opa, and JayJay was wonderful.

Thank you Opa, for allowing us the getaway and treating us so well on this trip (as always)! 

Thank you Jamie, for chauffeuring us, putting us up, and putting up with us in your environment!  (and thanks to Erica & Kate!)

Thank you Derek, for all you do to help with Cole.  Your help may go unnoticed at home...or at least un-thanked.  I realized on this trip how much I need and appreciate your help!  Cole and I are so lucky to have you!

Thank you Cole, for being fun and cute and reminding me to re-lax and enjoy! 

Until next time, Community!  I am ready to retire!

Sunny days in the Community

We spent Tuesday, our first sunny day together in Florida, at the pool...all day!

It felt so nice to get some sunshine (mid 70's weather was perfect in the heated pool!) 

and take a swim in the middle of January!

We stretched our day in the sun as long as possible, including nap and snack time!

Such a good day!

Life in the Community on a rainy day.

 golf cart rides and gator hunting

 putzing on the computer and playing Wii

dinner with Lowel & Arrilda

...and it feels so good!

Sunday morning we woke in Tampa and tiptoed around Jayjay's apartment, played with Milo, drank coffee and milk, pedi'd some neglected Midwest-in-the-winter toes, and tried not to wake Jayjay and her roommates!

We eventually woke Jamie and headed to the beach at Siesta Key!  However, Cole didn't make it.  He fell asleep just a few minutes into our trip.  I decided that since he had continued to be on (*ahem) the crabby side, we should drive on to Ft. Myers and let him sleep.  Good in theory....until he wakes up just a few minutes past our exit in an even more awful mood!  ....and that mood stuck around for the next hour of the drive.  >;-/  There was no consoling the boy.
Luckily Jamie and I had enjoyed the first hour of our drive chatting about life and sister-stuff.  <3
We arrived at Ft. Myers to find Derek working around Opa's.  Reunited!

We reloaded and headed for the beach with D in tow!  Not knowing our way, we flip-flopped between following signs that read "beach," following the advice of Jamie's out-of-touch Tom Tom, and reading the map.  We encountered a lot of traffic and had a limited amount of time due to the retirement community rules*.  Eventually we landed at the first beach we saw en route to Sanibel Island.  

 It wasn't the biggest or most fabulous beach...in fact it wasn't even away from the Intercoastal waters...but it did the trick for our Midwestern-selves!

 We were happy to be together!  (I have never been more relieved/happy to share parenting with Derek.  We make a far better parenting team than I can do on my own!)

Baby's first trip to the beach.

After a short trip, we loaded up, got Jayjay's car all sandy, and headed back to meet Opa for dinner out.  It may have been a short trip to a 'weak' beach, but it fed my soul (that and being reunited with D)!  Please tell my why we lived in the landlocked Midwest!?

*retirement community rules: 

community members shall eat two meals per day - breakfast at 9 am and dinner at 4 pm.
community members shall eat at least one meal per day in a restaurant - bonus points for those restaurants that offer senior menus.

community members shall transport as slowly as possible - via golf cart as much as possible.

community members shall complain about the pool water temperature at all times - when the pool heater is on, the water is too warm - when the pool heater is off, the water is too cold.

community members shall think that my child is the cutest ever - I can't blame them!  ;-)

Tampa Night

For dinner, Jayjay suggested Acropolis.

Greek food - yum.

Entertainment - wonderful.

Company - excellent!

Cole was thrilled when the wait staff danced through the restaurant and threw napkins into the air!

He clapped along and kept his eyes peeled for the rounds!

He got an up close view of the wandering guitar.

And he fell in love...with the belly dancer.
His eyes followed her round and round.

He and I shared some yummy dessert and left stuffed and exhausted.

We headed back to Jayjay's apartment for continued good company, Wii Mario, and...swelling.

Build-A-Bear

After landing in Tampa and settling in a bit at Jayjay's apartment, we headed to Wire Grass to grab some lunch and do some shopping.

Cole spotted Build-A-Bear and I landed in a place I had never planned on.  His persistence was impressive and his sense of direction spot-on when I tried to distract and trick him out of it.  I broke down and we walked in....

Aside from feeling sensory overload, it was a good experience.

Cole (love this kid) chose the cheapest bear in the store, even after we explored all of his options. We stood in line and waited while two girls and their mothers had 5 animals stuffed (?!).  Cole entertained Jayjay and I with some of the songs provided to put inside of the bears.  Luckily, he didn't realize that he could purchase the "Happy Birthday" song and relive it over and over and over....like in the store.

Finally it was our turn to stuff Cole's bear.  The cutest thing was putting the small, soft hear inside the bear.  Cole got to rub it between his hands to warm it up and then put good wishes and love into it for the bear to live a happy and loving life.  So cheesy and so precious!

Next came the accessories.  Again, Cole surprised me with his inexpensive reserve.  We walked away only $20 poorer with a bear, Ozzie, wearing a Tampa Bay hat and a guitar.  Most importantly, Cole loved it!

Flight to Florida

Normally a day of travel doesn't merit an entire blog post.

But this one did. 

I was nervous as this was my first time to fly with Cole by myself.  It's always nice to know that you have 'backup' and can share the stresses of travel with a child.  We started our day early and got the dogs to Na & G's house for their mini vacation.  Na took Cole and I to the Airport by 8 am for check in.

This face should have told me what I was up against....

The airport was more crowded than I've dealt with in some time.  Lines were long for ticketing and security.

Cole did well, but I could tell that his mood was not going to hold for long....

At the gate we started to break out some toys and got breakfast.

The ride started fine.  Cole was enthusiastic and excited to fly.  Then we were on the tarmac for too long.  Then flight became boring when he realized that it involved a lot of sitting still.

Toys.

Distraction.

Snacks.

All failed.

Cole sassed and even hit me.  I was at a loss.  There is no timeout on an airplane.  I couldn't remove anything because he didn't like any of his toys, snacks, etc.  So, we talked and fussed.

Eventually he fell asleep and I got an hour of peace in which I chatted with our seatmate (and apologized and offered her a three year old for the week - wouldn't her parents be surprised!?!).

Cole seemed like a new boy when we landed after he woke.  He was all smiles as we waited for our baggage.  Some of the sass returned in the car with JayJay...but then he found chocolate.

We headed back to Jayjay's to regroup and plan for the rest of our afternoon, hoping that Cole would become his normal 'go with the flow (for the most part) self'.....

Quick Recap of Florida!

We're back!  What a treat that was!
Florida, 70 degree weather, pool, golf cart, fun...Why do we live in the Midwest again?

Here's a peek of our trip...

More to come. Stay tuned....

Missed Moments: Cole's THIRD birthday

 Cole's third birthday also marked his last day at Miss Dawn's house.

As a big-boy, potty-trained, three-year-old, he was ready to begin KinderHaus daycare & preschool.

Miss Dawn celebrated Cole with a birthday cake and balloons and some cool gifts from the Busch Stadium gift shop where she took the boys on a field trip earlier in the week!

What a fun last-day, birthday, celebration day!

PARTY TIME

 As mentioned, we celebrated Cole's day on Friday after work in Yo-Gabba-Gabba style!

Cole was so lucky that his family loves him so much and traveled that afternoon/evening to celebrate with him.

 We kept it simple with salad, Pizza Hut pizzas, wings, and cake & ice cream!

Gigi & Alberta; Grandma, Grandpa, Adam & Rachel, & Aaron; Na & G all made the evening so much fun!

 Homeboy is spoiled.

Homeboy is lucky to have such an amazing family.  

We all are.

 Saturday morning we headed to Carlinville to spend time with Oma & Opa...and of course, celebrate Cole some more!

Of course, the material things and party are insignificant in the grand scheme.

(They sure make the celebrating fun though!)

I hope Cole always knows how much he is loved.

He has lots of family and they all think the world of him.

Not such a bad way to be spoiled....

Happy Birthday, Cole.

It's been amazing to watch you grow and become yourself.

You are spunky and loving.

I am so proud of you and so proud to be your mom.

I can't wait to celebrate you year after year.