Ice Bucket Challenge

So every one knows about the ice bucket challenge that has been going on. I got called out by two different people. So I took the challenge and donated as well. I did not donate to ALS though. I donated to a cervical cancer group. Here is my challenge!

First Day of School

I cannot believe that Nora is in 1st Grade! We moved her to our neighborhood school this year. She rides the bus in the morning and some days in the afternoon. The other days she stays at Flyers Club. They had a very nice, but crowded open house and we were able to take her supplies up to school and meet her teacher. She did so well for being 5 days post surgery. Her teachers name is Ms. Burns and this is her third year teaching at Long. Nora is very proud of her new school and we hope for a great year. She does have homework every night though, reading for 15 min and a math worksheet every day. She is doing great and loving it. As tradition has it I bought donuts for the first day and grandma and pappy came to get her on the bus! I just cannot believe we have a 6 year old first grader! Where has the time gone?!

tonsils

Nora had her tonsils out on Aug. 8th. She had strep a totaly of 8 times since September 2013! We did not talk about it much this summer because every time it was mentioned she cried. I did decide to tell her at not a great time at dinner one night after my surgery while I was on narcotics, but oh well. Peter and Grandma looked at me like I was crazy. So the surgery was scheduled and we did not talk to her until the morning of about where she was going and of course there were tears. luckily grandma and grandpa had sent a get well gift and we let her open one before she went to the hospital. It was Anna and Christoff from Frozen. That pretty much quit the tears and we walked right on in to the hospital.
Once we got to the floor we needed to be and checked in we had a few more tears and major tears as they were taking her back. The surgery was about 30 min and she was out in no time. The staff was excellent and took really good care of her. The doctor confirmed she needed them out. He said they were all scarred up from all the strep that she had. She did have morphine after she came out so she was pretty out of it for a while. We waited and sat and they then sent us home! Only tylenol for the first three days and then we could alternate tylenol and ibuprofen. She was a champ! We set the alarm in the middle of the night and kept up on the meds like our friend had said. Nora was spoiled and had friends and family visit. She received a balloon bouquet from her friend. Aunt Boo and Kiki brought shakes, Grandma brought movies and Grandma and Grandpa gave Elsa and the other dolls mentioned above. The doctor had recommended not going to school almost a week later, but we did end up sending her because she was doing so well! So glad it is over and fingers crossed to no more strep this year!

Feising

Nora has been dancing for two years now at the Clark Academy of Irish Dance. I have to say that when she began I wasn't sure if she would ever get it. It is really hard, but wow has she come such a long way! She can do the light jig and the beginner reel and is doing great. So instead of a recital irish dancers participate in feises and did three weekends in a row of feising. She had a great time and she really has improved. The thrid weekend on the second day she finally placed and was so excited about it!

Warrensburg

Every summer we try to get to Warrensburg. And this summer was no different. I had wanted to stay longer, but it did not work out, but I was glad to get the few days with one of my besties! Things have changed in the last 6 years and now between the two of us we have four kiddos. I just love hanging out and catching up with Valerie while the girls played and played. We took them to see where we went to college, had a picnic at the park and went to the pool while we were there. As always we had a great time and as always I am always sad when we leave. Those friends who have known you for so long and you are so comfortable with are always the hardest to say good bye. I am so thankful for her friendship and we have been through so much and are still friends. Don't know what I would do without her!

The Lake

I had the opportunity for my first girls getaway in a very long time! I have a core group of women that I work with that are just fabulous friends. These women are amazing and make me laugh and help me through hard times and have become great, trusting friends. So anyway we headed to the Lake of the Ozarks for a few days thanks to one of the girls whose family has a condo, boat and jet skis that we had access to while we were there. We had fun boating, eating, jet skiing and swimming! We played games and laughed and laughed, which is the best medicine anyone can prescribe.

Chicago

The girls took their annual trip to Chicago again in July. I think it was the coldest July trip to Chicago they have taken yet. I am glad that we packed jackets for them because they sure did need them. The girls had a lot of fun hanging out with Naomi and Isla while they were there. They saw them everyday! They took adventures to the library, Navy Pier, Build a Bear, and the exploratorium. We went up to get them and drove to Milwaukee with Grandma and Grandpa so that they could see Nora feis. I was excited for them to see her dance and so were they. It was her warm up for the next three weekends of feising! While we were in Milwaukee we visited the zoo and I realized how lucky we were to have a free zoo! We had a lot of fun and the girls always have a blast during their week in Chicago. I am so blessed that they have the opportunity to be there with out us and from those cousin bonds with Naomi and Isla. Until next summer!