October 10th, 2007

I am a true farm girl now. I have learned to use the John Deere tractor. The grass lines look more like waves than lines when I mow, but I'll keep trying. The kids love to go on the trailer.

We had a jam-packed weekend. Friday night we took the kids to Maureen and Bob's for a sleepover while Bill and I went to the Newsboys concert. We enjoyed the show from the 6th row. It was a great concert with lots of confetti and lights. Bill said he just "loves LIVE music." I told him I would like those seats for a Bon Jovi concert!!!

Alex had a game on Saturday. The boys played well, but were overpowered by an older and bigger team. They don't seem to mind too much if they lose. That's a good thing! We had dinner with Maureen, Bob, and Reece and then off to our friend's house for the evening. The boys played and played and played some more. We could hear someone playing the drums in the basement so we took a look. We found Joe just playing away on the drums. Bill was thrilled. Alex enjoyed the video game, Guitar Hero, for most of the night. He is hoping Santa will bring that game for him. I'm hoping it comes our for the Wii before Christmas!!!

I spent most of Sunday at church working the Bake Sale. After I came home we turned around and went to Alex's friends flag football game. It was fun to see the boys play-lots of different rules to follow. We kept the festivities going at our friend's house. It was a party for the flag football team and our family(I guess we were included as their fans). Katie and Joel had a great spread of food and the kids had a great time playing. Abby enjoyed Hallie's room full of dolls and pink stuff!

Abby is very cranky this week. She is fighting an infection as the result of being on her antibiotic for her ear infection. She likes extra rocking and cuddles. I don't mind that at all!!!

Tuesday, September 25th

Abby and Perri are keeping my days very busy and always interesting. Their favorite day of the week is Kindermusik day on Wednesdays. They both dress up in their sparkle shoes and leotards with skirts. Their teacher, Miss Tricia, calls them the two ballerinas. They love to go to parks, play in Abby's playhouse, and make me dinner in the play-kitchen downstairs.

Alex had a soccer game on Saturday. They played hard and lost by one goal. He is improving his soccer game with each practice and game. Grandma and Grandpa Rhomberg came to see the game and go out for dinner to celebrate Bill's Birthday. Mary made her famous 7-layer bars and nutty brownies for Bill (I had to try a few just to make sure they were OK).

Bill's band and their families came over on Sunday for a party. Although it was a great day to be outside, the kids were happy to dress-up and play inside. The adults hung out around the bar and came up with band name ideas and new songs. The rule in the band is that everyone sings a song. They have extended that to the wives now....yikes. If they are serious I will need some ideas for a song!!!!

Bill's 37th Birthday was spent doing the usual Monday night crazy activities. We watched Alex's soccer practice, ate subs from Jimmy John's, and went to Joe's swimming lesson. He is doing a great job learning the breathing on the front crawl. When he finishes swimming across the pool he always looks up and gives us the thumbs up!! I love it.

We all hung out in the sun-room while Bill opened his cards and gifts from the kids. We are going a concert (The Newsboys) in Cedar Rapids in two weeks to continue his Birthday celebration.

Monday, September 17

This week and weekend flew by quickly. A great deal of my week was spent in the bathroom watching Abby potty train. She runs around with only a shirt and her new sparkle shoes with her buns hanging out. I guess whatever it takes to get her potty trained. She is happy to sit on the potty for long periods of time chatting away. It's a great time to get caught up on my reading!!

Perri and Abby started Kindermusik class on Wednesdays. They love dancing and singing. Laura bought them matching pink, sparkle dance shoes. It's too cute with their pink leotards. They are music girls all the way. Their favorite car CD is Crazy Frog #5 ICE ICE BABY. I think Abby loves it because she can say ICE!!!

Alex had his first soccer game this Saturday. He is in the U10 league so he plays with fourth graders and they play on a larger field with more players. He did a good job learning to stay in his assigned position. Abby had a hay day running around and Joe chased her throughout the game.

Joe is in swimming lessons on Mondays and Wednesday. He is so much more outgoing and comfortable in his lesson. He is learning the front crawl and the front/back float. He loves playing "What time is is Mr. Shark?" at the end of the lesson.

Bill's band played at an outdoor party on Saturday night. They sounded great and Bill sang the Weezer song again. Everyone loved dancing to all the songs. It was very cold that night so the guys were ready to be done playing. The boys had their first friend sleepover at Payton and Paige's house. They packed their bags with every stuffed animal in the house-you would have thought they were leaving for a week!!!!

Monday, September 10

Bill and I are recovering from a quick trip to Minneapolis to see RUSH. It was a great concert. Bill loved that they played a lot of old songs that he has never heard live. I was happy to hear the classics and mildly disappointed they didn't play my favourite-Closer To The Heart. Oh well, maybe next time. We enjoyed seeing Steve and Holly. We went out to The Outback for dinner with them and their kids. Maddie, Andy, and Issac were adorable and asking about Alex, Joe, and Abby. We have to get the families together soon.

Friday night Bill's band had their second gig. They played at our friend's house for a party. I came in just as Bill was singing Weezer's Beverly Hills song. My friends were yelling "Leslie, get down here...Bill is SINGING." He totally surprised me. He sounded great. He's my ROCK STAR. The band had fun, but they thought their performance was a little rough. They have another backyard performance on Saturday.

The kids are doing well. Alex is busy with soccer and Joe starts swimming tonight. This is a picture of their treasure chest cake from the first day of school.

September 1-3

We came home tonight to three new pets in our garage!!! Three hummingbirds are flying around the roof of our garage. I tried to get a picture but they move way too fast. I keep looking out there thinking they will be gone, but they are still flying around. The other day one hummingbird came right up to Bill's nose. I think they were telling him to fill up their sweet nectar jar. That same day one flew right by the window trying to get close to Alex. I like them as long as they are outside at a distance. I don't need any more to take care of here!!

The boys had fun going to Barb's this weekend. They enjoyed the Children's Museum in Iowa City. At the farm they ran around outside and watched movies. We met them in Dubuque on Sunday. In Dubuque we went for a ride with Grandma and Grandpa Rhomberg and enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL warm and sunny Sunday. We saw Melisa for a little visit at the O'Brien's. She is doing great and her business keeps growing. We topped off the day with dinner at the O'Brien's and playing with bubbles on the patio.

Today was catch up day! I caught up on laundry, stained our garage door, took the kids to the park/McDonald's, and played board games with the boys. Bill has a long band practice tonight to get ready for the second show on Friday. I am looking forward to seeing the band-especially the BonJovi song.

I had a proud mommy moment in the van tonight. I put on BonJovi's new CD-Lost Highway #2 song=Summertime. Abby started rocking out and the boys sang the words. Oh-it was a great moment!!!!

August 30th

The boys are off to school-this might have been the first day we were ever ready early. I enjoyed watching the boys on the playground as they waited for school to start. Joseph is handling first grade great but I think it is still a little overwhelming. Alex talked to Joe this morning at breakfast and explained that first grad is"different" than Kindergarten. This conversation took place with Alex's hand on Joe's shoulders while they both munched on their Rice Krispies.

Today it is a gorgeous, blue sky day. I have Paige and Perri along for the day. Perri is with me everyday and Paige comes once a week. We hit Seerley Park (right by UNI) for a quick playtime. I watched a very tired college student try to parallel park his car again and again all the while the girls were saying "why is that man making his car go back and forth." He didn't know he had an audience of 4 girls!!

The next stop was for an oil change. I always hold my breath as I take the three girls in the waiting room. They enjoyed a full bag of popcorn and a huge chocolate doughnut. Probably will not have to do lunch today. That was an impressive and non-eventful trip to the car shop!!

We are hanging outside right now. The girls are playing in Abby's playhouse making me more food. Abby likes to get in her car, wave, and blow me a kiss. She pretends she is going to work. Of course, she ALWAYS has her purse on her shoulder.

Last Saturday there was an article in the paper about a family in Waterloo that lost everything in a house fire. I was really drawn to this story and felt like I should and could do something. I am sending out a letter to our St. Pat's families asking for donations. Our family will deliver them next week. The family has five boys from the toddler age to 8th grade. They need lots of clothes and household items. I hope we get a good response.

August 24-29

This weekend was spent catching up on yard work and relaxation for the boys after the first two days of school. We had a great time taking Irish for a walk at Prairie Lakes. The kids love throwing him a stick and watching him swim out for it. After about 6 turns he shakes off and lays down for a rest. He can usually be persuaded to go a few more times-especially when the whole family is cheering loudly for him.

Alex started soccer practice on Monday. It will be a challenge on soccer nights to get homework completed. After a little (ok-a BIG) talk about schoolwork coming first, I think we are back on track. He likes soccer and his coach is great. He will learn a lot from Tom and be challenged in his skills.

Joseph continues to transition wonderfully this year. He has really matured over the summer. He handles change so much easier. He still wonders why he has to wear a belt. He looks so grown up in his uniform. He was not interested in playing soccer so he will do swimming lessons and maybe tennis(if we can convince him to try it).

We had a new wood garage door installed this weekend. Now the kids can practice their tennis playing on the door!!! I guess that is how Bill and Jim practiced when they were younger. The boys love it.

Abby and Perri are coloring pictures and happy playing kitchen. So far this morning I have had 4 breakfasts from the girls. We had a great walk in the double stroller before the rain.