The Orchard

Yesterday was a perfect Fall day - buckets of sunshine with just the slightest breath of a cool breeze every now and then, along with the views of newly turning leaves with colors of yellow, orange, plum and red. After all the rain storms and dreary days of the past week, yesterday seemed like the start of something new. We Adolphson's felt it was the start of a healthier family! Ella was feeling much better and was down to just a couple of preventative nebulizer treatments a day, and Claire seemed to be a little perkier as well. So we decided to take advantage of this fantastic day and headed out to the Apple Jack Orchard!






When the girls piled out of the van, they were thrilled to see so many fun activities!







We started at the pumpkin patch











Then we headed over to the land of the giant pumpkins. The Orchard was sponsoring a contest for the local pumpkins that had reached the morbidly obese stage of growth. These things were massive!











Then it was time for a Cow Train ride. Oh, so cute and so fun!







While the little girls were on their ride around the strawberry patch, Farmer Carl had to check out the field. After kicking the crop around awhile, he gave it his nod of approval.







Then it was time for the biggest event of the day . . . the corn maze. This corn maze is not for the faint-of-heart. It was 5 acres of corn with a intricate design cleared out for it's adventurists. A small map was provided along with some clues to help you out along the way.







We started out with our spirits high, but soon found out that this would be a challenging venture . . . and the deluxe travel system stroller was not helping our cause at all.







. . . but Claire didn't seem to mind the bumpy ride too much :)







After many, "I think we're lost" and "Are we ever going to find our way out?" comments, Carl's map-reading skills paid off when he led us out of the sea of corn!







After our big victory, we decided to head over to the big red barn for a fresh hand-dipped Carmel apple.







Victory is sooooo sweet







We sat down in the shade on the river's bank and enjoyed every bite.








Then we were off to see what else the Orchard had to offer.





















Ella took a ride on a pony that looked almost identical to Jocie's old pony, Jasper. It made me wish he was still around for the other two girls. We miss him.







Before we left, we hit up the gift shop and bought enough Honey Crisp apples to last us for a while. Washington apples have nothing on a Minnesota Honey Crisp (yes John and Beth - that is a challenge!!).










This little day trip was much needed for us all. It gave us a chance to have a little family fun after all of our yucky illnesses. I can't tell you how healing it was for me to watch my family have fun during the best season of the year. Thank you Apple Jacks Orchard!

Our ABC's

These past few weeks have been very trying. Since the first week of school all the way through the third week, we have had illness running rampid through our home. At school, Ella has been learning all about the alphabet and it's 26 letters. If I were trying to teach someone the alphabet by telling them what our family has been dealing these past few weeks, this is what it would sound like:

A is for Asthma
B is for Bowel issues
C is for Croup
D is for Drugs
E is for Exhausted
F is for Follow-up appointments
G is for Giving love
H is for Head aches
I is for Inhaler
J is for "Jesus, help us!"
K is for Kleenex
L is for Laying low
M is for Missing work
N is for Nebulizer
O is for Oxygen levels are low
P is for Puke
Q is for Quarantine
R is for Rest
S is for Snot
T is for Thermometer
U is for "U have got to be kidding!"
V is for Video watching
W is for Wheezing
X is for X-Ray of the chest
Y is for Yucky
Z is for Zzzzzzzzz's

Yes, we have been through A LOT these past few weeks. Out of the 13 days of school, Carl and I have missed a total of 6 days combined! Unreal. I just hope our little ones get better soon. It has been so sad watching them suffer :( Thank goodness Jocie hasn't been hit (yet).

Here's hoping that week 4 is a healthy one!

Running to the beat of her own drum

On Saturday, I had to set my alarm to go off before the 7:00 hour. I wasn't all that happy with such a notion, but I knew it was for a good cause. Jocie had decided to run in a 2 mile race with her friend Amanda to help raise money for our church's Fall Festival. I can't remember being all that lazy of a kid (mom and dad - you might disagree), but I know that I didn't ever get up early on a Saturday morning to run 2 miles when I was eleven!

It was an awesome autumn morning with more sun than clouds and a cool crisp in the air.

Jocie told me that she likes running, but she doesn't like right before the race starts because she gets pretty nervous. I think you can see that written on her face! I even caught her cracking her knuckles . . . this is one of Jocie's dead give-a-ways of either being nervous or lying . . .

And their off!

The girls make a nice, confident start.

After seeing the girls off, I raced over to the Middle School so I could see them in action. The guy leading the pack is a friend of mine. Schmitty used to be one of our school social workers and the founder of the Pinewood (Staff) Running Club. He is a fantastic runner and an even better person. When ever I see him, he always greets me with, "Hey! Double A!" as he runs/skips/hops/schuffles by. I am pretty sure he is referring to my initials . . . but he could also be referring to something else . . . nah. He's not like that :)

The girls don't look too nervous here!

They both sprint through the finish! Gotta love the competitiveness!

Nice work girls! I can't wait until I get to rejoin the running world. Who knows, maybe I will be sprinting next to them at St. Henry's Fall Festival 2011.

Oh . . . it's coming!

thirty-isms

A little over a year ago, I turned thirty. I didn't mind starting the new decade of my life. I didn't feel self-conscious about it, nor did it make me feel "old". But as I travel further into this decade, I have noticed a few things . . . things that confuse me a little. Here is a sneak-peek into my 30ish-year-old brain.

Why is it that my complexion thinks it's 15, but my eye-wrinkles, breasts and butt beg to differ?
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Why is it so hard to find clothes that are not too high-school-ish, but aren't too old-maid-ish?
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I have figured out that you can be at a stage in your life where you are no longer young, but your not quite old yet.
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I have figured out that it is nearly impossible to be a good mother, a good wife and a good friend all at the same time.
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I am trying really hard to be the mother I've always wanted to be (you know, the cool and understanding mom), but am starting to realize that I am a lame mom who worries too much about healthy food and good sleep.

I am starting to understand that being 30 isn't so easy. When I was in college, I just wanted to graduate. When I graduated I just wanted a job. After having a job for a while, you start wanting something better . . . better hours, better office, better pay, etc. Now, we are trying to raise a young family and have fun while we still can because lord knows there will be a day where we are "old"!

What's a person in their 30's to do? I think I am going to try to stay "young-ish" as long as I possibly can! Any one else have any suggestions?

Goodnight Mess

A bedtime story for mothers everywhere

by: Anne Adolphson

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In the great living room

There was a juice box

And an old nasty spoon
And a scattered pile of -

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Miss-matched socks

And a heap of Lego blocks

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Old milk in a cup

And a smelly little pup

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A baby that fussed, not to mention the dust
And a disgruntled old lady wallowing in her disgust
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Goodnight mess
Goodnight stress
Goodnight dirty, soiled dress
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Goodnight dollhouse
I hope that's not poop from a mouse!
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While looking at her impending doom
The old lady knew her husband wouldn't help anytime soon
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But then she thought, "What's all the fuss?"
"And I'll try not to cuss"
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"For tomorrow is a new day"
"So I might as well go lay"
"I will put those kids to work"
"So it's sure to be okay"
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Goodnight mountain of laundry
And sink full of dishes
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She knows it won't get done tonight
No matter how hard she wishes
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So, goodnight gross house
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Goodnight musty air
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Goodnight messes everywhere

week one is done

This week was . . . a lot of things. It was exciting and scary, organized and chaotic, rejuvenating and exhausting. Here are some conversation pieces and personal thoughts from the first week of school.

Me - "Jocie! How was your first day of Middle School!?"

Jocie - "It was crazy."

Me - "Crazy in a good way or in a bad way?"

Jocie - "I don't know. It was just crazy."

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Me - "Ella! How was your first day of Kindergarten!?"

Ella - "Good!"

Me - "What did you learn?"

Ella - "I don't know."

Me - "Did you meet any new friends?"

Ella - "Yes!"

Me - "What are their names?"

Ella - "I don't know."

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Me - "Hi 1st Graders! My name is Mrs. Adolphson. If that is too hard for you to remember, you can just call me Mrs. A."

- about 20 minutes of class goes by . . . we are about to line up -

Me - "Okay, everyone. Pop quiz! What is my name?"

Student - "Mrs. Apple!"

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- A 1st grade class files into the gym and I introduce myself to them -

Student - "My teacher told me we were going to Music today"

Me - "You are going to Music right after Phy. Ed."

Student - "What is Phy. Ed.?"

Me - "This . . . you get to be active, play games, and learn how to be healthy"

Student - "Are you the music teacher?"

Me - "No. I am the Phy. Ed. Teacher" - - at this point I have to cut this conversation off so I can actually start class.

- about 15 minutes of class goes by -

Student - "Is this Music?"

Me - ". . . No."

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Me - "When you get tagged by the tagger, you have to freeze and raise your hand. When one of your classmates runs by, they will give you a high five and then you can come back into the game. Does anyone have any questions?"

Student - "It's my doggy's birthday today, and we are going to have a party for him later!"

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Me - "Did someone punch me in the face, or are those just bags under my eyes?"

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Me - "What did you learn in Kindergarten today, Ella?"

Ella - "Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow."

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I would be a liar if I said this week was all positive. There were many times where I felt frazzled, stressed, rushed, guilty, exhausted, and overwhelmed. In the mornings, I felt organized but rushed and guilty when it came to dropping Claire off at daycare. In the evenings I felt exhausted and overwhelmed. To top the week off, Claire woke up this morning throwing up! Poor little thing. She threw up over a dozen times before her nap. It as heartbreaking to watch . . . and really gross to clean up after. It's always really hard to let someone else teach your class on the first week of school. I hope the substitute did a good job, or I will have a challenging time reteaching what they should have learned the first time.

On a positive note, I think my school girls had a great first week (Jocie's days got less crazy as the week went on) and I know that I will "adjust" to the schedule. Everyday I looked forward to see Jocie walking into my gym at 3:00, and I swelled with pride everytime I saw Ella walking the halls or eating lunch at school. I can't tell you how awesome it is to have your children intertwined into your job.

Cheers to the second week! I know it will be . . . a lot of things :)

a day of firsts

It was a momentous morning here at the House of Adolphson. Alarm clocks were buzzing at 5:30am and soon the bathroom was packed with parents and kids trying to get beautified for their first day of school. It was a busy morning filled with bathing, brushing of teeth, dressing, finding lost accessories, blow-drying, straightening and curling of hair, breakfast eating and coffee drinking. We also had last minute lunch checks and backpack checks. Luckily, I had labeled most everything the night before (I know I am a loser, but at least I was a prepared loser).

The girls were all smiles and very excited to get out the door and on to their new school adventures. Both girls were starting brand new schools, so they wanted to make a great first impression. I know I am a little bias, but I think both girls dressed for success!

If you were to look up the phrase "School Girl" in the dictionary, this picture would be right next to the definition.

If you were to look up the phrase "Cool Middle School Girl" this picture would be right next to the definition.

What is a great outfit remembered by? Oh yeah, the shoes!

This little picture collage makes my heart swell! Oh, how proud I am of my girls!

This morning my big girls began a journey that is not only important to their academic career, but almost more importantly, they will learn vital life skills they will hopefully carry into their adult lives. In school, they will learn how to work hard, be kind to others and listen to authority figures. If they can master those skills, they will be successful in everything they do.

Cheers to a great year, girls!

BFF

Yesterday we packed up the family-truckster and headed down to North Field to visit my best friend, Christy Holt and her family. Christy and I have been friends since the 4th grade. We have been friends through almost every stage of life; elementary school, weird middle school stage, fun high school stage, even more fun college stage, we're getting married stage, and the baby stage. She has been there for me through my parent's divorce, past heartaches, when I got pregnant with Jocie at 19, moving away from home for the first time, wanting to be a stay-at-home mom but having to go back to work, . . . pretty much everything that has happened to me during the last 20-some years of my life. I can talk to Christy about anything I am feeling, no matter how raw the emotion, and know that she won't look at me any different, because she knows me inside and out, upside down and backwards. I love her dearly, and look forward to our friendship as we head into our 30-something-trying-to-raise-a-family-without-losing-our-self-phase. Stick by your phone, Christy :)

It was great to be able to hang out yesterday. We sipped cocktails while we watched our kids play together. Jocie and Noah played Rock Star on the Wii while Avery and Ella played dress up (and giggled non-stop).

After an amazing dinner, we decided to head into North Field to feed the ducks and walk around downtown.

"Claire, what does the duck say?"

"duck, duck, duck"

Jocie with Noah and Avery

These two giggle-bots were inseparable and had an awesome time together.

Just look at that smile!

Claire and Eli

The 4 big kids

After we fed the ducks their fill, we headed over the the adorable downtown streets. This town had "me" written all over it! It had gift shops, boutiques, art and photo galleries, wine bars and coffee houses. I can't wait until Christy and I can go there again, kid-free, and really enjoy everything it has to offer.

This town's claim-to-fame, is that Jesse James robbed a bank here and was actually shot!

This little bar called Froggy Bottoms (one of North Field's many cute downtown bars) sits right on the river and actually has little hotel rooms above it (genius). My sister-in-law, Beth, went to College in this town at St. Olaf. She went to school with one of the owners of this place, so I was really excited to see it. Unfortunately, it is closed on Sundays so I couldn't go inside, but I am looking forward to my next visit, where I will enjoy a beer on this deck!

We all had a fantastic time together, and can't wait to get together again! Maybe Christy and I will revert back to our 15-year-old selves and go for a Rollerblade while we sing/rap Salt-N-Pepa songs.

Good times, good times.