Back to school

Abby is back at school today. We are in a year round school, which I don't really like at the moment :) Abby has 3 weeks left and then she is done with Kindergarten. She gets a whopping 2 weeks off, then she starts 1st grade! Crazy!

We are having a low key morning here. I am out of coffee creamer, so no coffee. My Diet Pepsi is in the car. It's 100 degrees out, so I won't be drinking that! So I'm kind a tired. This afternoon some of our old friends are coming over to play, so that will be fun!

Last night we hung up some pictures. It's amazing how that just warms up the place. We put our family pictures at the bottom of the stairs and when Aaron came down this morning, he just said "WOWWWWWW! Abby, Tyler, look!" It was cute :)

Matthew has been talking more and more lately, even in 2 word phrases. This morning, he pointed to the toilet area in our master bath and said clear as day 'Bathroom!'. He's growing up so stinking fast! I can't believe he will be 2 in 2 short months.

We've been really enjoying our pool! It's been a little interesting trying to keep the chemicals right but we're learning! Fortunately, our problem is usually too little chlorine, so that is easily fixed and then we don't have to wait long to swim. I try to test it in the morning so that if we have to add any, its ready to swim by afternoon. Most days, we are out once a day, if not twice! Abby and Ty and I usually swim while the littles nap and then we will all go in after dinner.

Speaking of dinner...I'm turning over a new leaf. It's called menu planning. I really need to do this so I'm not constantly winging it.

I made a schedule based on what we have in the freezer:
Monday - Chimichangas
Tuesday - Ribe Eye Steaks (great Father's day sale!!)
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken
Thursday - Meatball Subs
Friday - Hamburgers
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Rib Eye Steaks

I know steak is on there twice but we usually try to have it on Sunday. However I keep forgetting to take it out of the freezer :) We need to get back on schedule! This will probably change, as I found a great deal on Salmon (I'll be getting 6lbs for $2.49 a lb at Von's!) so I'll put that in there somewhere.

Grocery shopping tonight...fun! But I have all my coupons printed, I just need to cut and they will be ready to go!

Ok, I'm going to go read a book now. My new/old, long lost/newly found past time!

Vevers

Do you know what a Vever is? I didn't...until dinnertime tonight. Apparently, when you feel your brow and you are really hot, that's a vever. It was determined that Tyler, Aaron and Abby all have vevers. Matthew though, has a fever. He got some tylenol, but since I wasn't sure what the treatment for a vever is, we just fed them dinner instead. Seemed to cure that darn vever.

Today is the day...

I decided that today is the day to make Marisa happy. Maybe then she'll quit pestering me about her lack of entertainment. Besides, maybe there are others who miss knowing about the crazy antics of my kids and the hectic life of the Bodens.

So *STOP THE PRESSES* Right after I typed that 2 letter word, I had to attend to a 17 month old who thinks that he should be allowed to climb on the kitchen table and chairs. Of course he fell and bonked his head. Poor baby. Ok, moving on, 10 minutes later.

Lots of things been going on here. The highlight of the last month was that my wonderful mother came out here for a weekend to watch her four angelic grandchildren while Pete and I went away for the weekend. Boy, she is brave. We didn't go too far, just to CDA. We had a great weekend of doing what we want, when we wanted (minds out of the gutter people!!!). We had a couples massage, I had a facial, we had afternoon coffee, Pete took pictures of a cool jet ski dude (you can see all his pics here ), we watched some movies (Burn After Reading was pretty dumb), did some shopping etc. etc. etc. We did miss the kids though, it was our first weekend away EVER without little tagalongs. But Grammy did GREAT with them! They even cried when she left *tear*! She must have given them lots of candy, they never cry when I leave. Well, except for Matthew. But that's what Grammys are for.

Abby had surgery on her hand last Friday. The wierdest thing. She has had this bump on her index finger for a few months now. It has been getting slightly bigger in size. The pediatrician and hand surgeon both had no idea what it was. Turns out, it was a tiny CHUNK of wood, which her body had encapsulated in some sort of cyst type thing. I say chunk because it was more than a sliver. It was about 2mm wide. Judging from the size, it would have HURT going in. Who knows when she got it. Very wierd. So now she has a cute little pink bandage on her finger. Sort of like a club finger haha. She's been keeping her brothers in line for me. Thatta girl. Is 'Thatta' a word? I think not. But we can pretend. Please? I was going to take it off tomorrow morning but she has show and tell on Mondays so of course I'm not allowed to take it off until tomorrow after school. We get to move on to a regular old bandaid.

Other than that, same ol same ol. Aaron has an ear infection. Matthew has a cough and a bad diaper rash. Tyler is bouncing off the walls. Abby has a sore finger. Pete is hiding out in the office. I'm trying to type this but keep getting interrupted.

I really should go now. I need to give my sore tushy baby a soothing bath.

I am the Grandaughter of two Heroes

Today is Veteran's Day. The kids are home and are settled watching Lighting Baqueem aka CARS. I wanted to take a minute to post some pictures of the heroes in my life.

I am the proud granddaughter of 2 Heroes. Both of my grandfathers served in the US Military; Grandad in the Navy, and Grandpa in the Army.

Commander Otto R. Noetzelman, USNR, Ret.

Grandad is my dad's dad. He passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. I miss him so so so much. I am so grateful for the memories that him and Grandma gave us (she passed in 1996). That is something that no one can ever take away. They had two children, my dad and my Uncle Duke. He had 13 grandchildren, one of which he never met (my sister was pregnant when he passed).

Last Christmas, he was able to come visit for a short 24 hours. It was so wonderful to have him here. He fell in love with Matthew and just loved cuddling him. He was so content to sit and listen to the banter of 5 of his now 13 grandchildren.

The best picture we could get of him with all the kids :) It was very important to me, and I was very glad we at least got this. This was the last time that the older 3 kids were able to see him before he became an angel.
Another picture with Matthew
About a month before he passed, we (Pete, Matthew, my dad and I) went to visit him. He was in RARE form that day. He was so happy, so chipper, so excited to see us. He instantly latched on to Matthew and held him for as long as he could handle. This was the last time I saw him before he passed and I am glad that this 'last' memory of him was such a great one.
Grandad was a US Navy Pilot. He flew in the Korean war (and maybe another?) He had a bunch of model planes, some of which he flew. He LOVED flying and boating. Here he is showing us one of his planes. I have them all upstairs in a basket; eventually they will hang from the ceiling in the boys' room.

This is a favorite picture of him. He is on the right, so young! I am not sure what plane this is but its one of the kinds that he flew!
Although he's no longer here with us, his memory and his legacy lives on. We all miss him dearly, but we know he is in a better place, living a pain free life.


Walter C. Venema


Grandpa recently celebrated his 90th Birthday! He served for 4 years in the Army and was involved in the invasion of Normandy. He was wounded and received a Purple Heart. Him and my Grandma raised 7 children while he taught English in school.

The next generation; cousin Kyle and Grandpa. They have 18 Grandchildren, ranging in age from 10 - 39. I think. Close enough :)
Here is Grandpa with Tyler. Grandma and Grandpa have 33 Great Grandchildren (I hope I counted right!) with many more to come.

I am so proud to be the grandaughter of both of these amazing men.