Labor Day Weekend 2017

For Labor Day weekend we were all over the place. Joe, Piper and I had just returned Thursday night from Florida, and as soon as we got back and picked up the boys, Beau wanted to start the weekend off by going to see Nana. After getting off work Friday, we spent the night at home, relaxing and going out to eat. Saturday, Joe and the boys headed for Rathbun while Piper and I stayed back. As much as I didn't want to be away from the boys again, I needed to stay home and decompress a bit. My emotions had been running high all week while we attended Royce's funeral in Florida and it just triggered horrible memories. So Piper and I shampooed carpets, cleaned, organized, and maybe online shopped...maybe :) 

Sunday, Piper and I rode with Dennis down to Thunderhead so I could spend time with my family down there. It is so nice that my Aunt Joi's lake house is right next door to Tim and Kim's (Brook' in-laws). I was able to spend time with Brook, Austin, Banx, Bond and then my aunt, uncle and my cousins. Going on a boat ride was so relaxing and just going back to "normal" with the my cousins by spending time together, bickering, teasing each other, and of course making fun of each other. It was exactly what I needed...a bit of normalcy back in my life. It was also so nice to see Dennis enjoying his afternoon golfing with the guys and spending time with our family. Mom would be so happy to see him still spending time with us as if she were still here. 

While Beau and Baine were at Rathbun, they went fishing with Uncle Josh. Beau caught two fish and and Baine even caught a catfish! They ended their Sunday night by going to the lighted boat parade and watching the fireworks. 

We ended the weekend by eating at the boys' favorite restaurant, Mi Ranchito, and then going swimming at Nana's again. It was hard today since we would normally always end Labor Day weekend by swimming with her before she closed up her pool for the year. And today, I didn't see her or feel her at all, which was incredibly hard. I hope she comes back to me tomorrow. 

Swimming Days at Nana's/ End of Summer 2017/Farmer's Market

We have tried to make it swimming as much as possible the past couple of weeks. The boys still ask to go to Nana's all of the time, even though they know she isn't there. As hard as it is for me to go out there, I am slowly learning to "suck it up" and go out there for the boys' sake. And I must admit, at times, I find it peaceful there because for a short moment, I feel her there with me. 

A couple of weekends ago, Brook, Banx, Piper and I went to the farmers market in Des Moines during the State Fair. It was something we used to always do with mom, especially when we would come camp on the weekends during the fair. Mom loved the fresh flowers and food at the farmers market. It was the perfect morning with the four of us and I know mom was smiling watching us carry on these fun memories. The worst of it still is, is that we wish she was making these memories with us. 

While Brook and I took the girls to the Farmer's Market, Papa and She-She kept the boys and had a sleepover :) Of course a trip to the farm was necessary. 

Beau's First Day of Kindergarten August 23, 2017

Beau is officially a Kindergartner. How did that happen?! Beau has been so excited all summer to start school and he is in heaven now that it has started. His teacher this year is Mrs. Dawn Anderson and Aunt Joi also will be in his room every now and then. We are thrilled! Beau mommy and daddy are so proud of you and we hope you have the most amazing year ever!

Piper Collins: 6 Months

Piper turned 6 months old on August 20. 6 months! She is still the EASIEST baby ever. It is really making me fear for the teenage years ;) I am soaking in every day with her because life is too short to take any minute for granted. She is already exiting certain baby phases and I am not okay about it!

Piper, at 6 months you are:

-rolling over everywhere!
-scooting around
-getting on all fours and rocking back and forth trying to crawl (we won't say what Banx says it is that you're doing!)
-weighing in at 18 pounds
-99.7 percentile for height and 62 percentile for weight
-wearing 6/9 month clothes
-wearing size 2 and now size 3 diapers
-LOVING baby food too! You only eat fruits, you refuse to eat your veggies
-favorite foods: bananas, pears, pineapple, sweet potatoes, apples, mango, blueberries and cereal
-still sleeping about 10 hours at night
-you have been in daycare for 2 weeks now and you are rocking it girlfriend!
-loves to chew on your feet
-finally using your voice and you can definitely be loud when you want to!
-loves to play with your older brothers :)

Iowa State Fair 2017

Our first venture to the Iowa State Fair without my mom. It was hard, but honestly, it wasn't any harder for me than it is being anywhere else. I expect to see my mom everywhere I am at, so knowing I wouldn't see her at the fair was just the same as not seeing her pull up at my house or meeting her for ice-cream after school. Overall though, the kids (including Joe and Austin) had a great time watching our babysitter Kaylee getting hypnotized and riding rides until late that night. Brook and I had taken Baine and Piper to the camper to get the to bed since Baine had surgery the next morning and we just needed a break. I know that if my mom would have been there she would have been reaming ass for how much the guys were drinking and for Joe and Dennis smoking :). I miss seeing the nose flares and her shaking her finger when she was mad. I feel like I miss that because I saw it often...she was mad at me a lot!

Before going to the Fair, we took the boys to Build a Bear to use their gift cards they were given by my Christian School classmates after my mom passed. It was such a thoughtful and genuine gift and such a sentimental way to remember their Nana. It was so much fun for Beau to go through the whole process of making his bear, bathing it, dressing it and putting his heart in it. Baine wasn't as into it, but was in love with his final "Piderman Teddy Bear" product :)

Piper's 1st Day of Daycare

Yesterday was Piper's very first day of daycare with Jodee. It truly didn't hit me until I pulled out of Jodee's driveway that this was a "first" I was going through without being able to call my mom and sob about how sad it was to leave my baby at her first day of daycare. Jodee normally does not take babies because she does so many outdoor activities and field trips. However, she was going to be flexible with me this fall and watch Piper 2-3 days a week while my mom watched Piper the other days. Shortly after mom passed, I received a message from Jodee that she would love nothing more than to take Piper full time. To say this was a huge relief is an understatement. We absolutely love Jodee and I was NOT wanting to find another daycare. Thankfully Piper is truly the easiest baby ever and is already adjusting to being at daycare. Jodee has been sending me pictures throughout the days and even showed me a picture of Piper in the stroller when they walked to the park saying "Hi mom! I am on my first field trip and being a good girl for Jodee! I even fell asleep and napped all morning in the stroller :)" This made my heart melt. Knowing that Piper, and obviously the boys, are in such good hands while I am at work puts me at so much ease. 

She was so worn out from Jodee's after Day 1 she took 3 naps, and slept 12 hours that night :)