Pink

I bet you’re thinking this post will be about Amelia or that I’m with child. Nope. This pink post is all about Riley! Yes, he is so obsessed about pink these days and he can’t wait to wear the color swimming because that means he passed the deep water swim test at the YMCA. He now proudly sports a pink wristband every time he goes to the pool. And I think he’s more eager than ever to go swimming because he has all access to every stitch of the pool.

Riley is a timid and cautious lad. He actually didn’t want to take the swimming test for fear of failing. So on Monday I went with him and to take his test. 30 seconds treading water, 10 seconds floating face down and 10 seconds treading water. I don’t think a kid has ever put so much energy into 50 seconds of their life before.

When the instructor strapped on his pink wristband, Riley’s excited energy beamed out of his eyes and toothy grin. If he were a rocket, he would have gone to the moon and back with all of the happiness gushing from his soul.

Way to go, Riley, wearer of the pink waterproof bangle. I knew you could do it! I am so proud of you!

Let the tournament begin...

So Riley has taken to chess. He loves playing, and I really don’t know he learned all of the moves, but he does really well. A few weekends ago, he had a chess tournament. Since we ended up not being able to get close enough to actually see the match, I was more of a people watcher. I found a pretty mixed batch of about 150 kids.

Almost all of Riley’s team is from Mexico, and several of them have faux-hawks, so he kind of stood out. There was a group of inner-city kids, with a jolly African American coach reassuring them when they came to report their wins and losses after each game. There was the Indian kid who looked like he’s biding time until the next spelling bee. There were several white boys, with hair that is a bit longer (kind of like the mean kid on “Searching for Bobby Fischer”). Riley’s first opponent (who I think eventually won his age group) looked like he was born to play. His hair was kind of long, a little wavy. His skin was pasty white, kind of like he hadn’t been out in the sun much, or if he had, he was always carefully bundled up in some Land’s End parka. There were a few other kids who had the same look. Not nerdy, just eccentric, at age 8. One shaggy, blonde-haired boy played with his hood over his head, while sucking on it’s draw strings.

But most interesting was a man who I noticed and had the thought, “This guy must be a chief in the tribe of chess.” He looked distinguished, with a button-up shirt, buttoned all the way up. And he wore the most interesting, round, thick-rimmed glasses that seemed to be made out of wood. I’ve never seen any quite like it. I quickly gathered that he was a coach, as he would go out between games and sit with a student with just a few pieces on the board and have them do a focused practice. Later, I watched as students after each game would come up to him and say, “I won.” “I won.” “I won.” …. “I won.” “I won.” “I lost.” I won.” I heard almost all, “I won.”

It seemed almost like a ceremony. No high-fives, no fist-bumps, no “way to go tiger”. He would just take out his book and record the result. When they were sad at losing (which was pretty rare), he would just say a few sentences calmly, and then they would walk away.

Later in the day, I got close enough to hear him talk to them, and realized that he was either Polish or Russian. They called him Mr. K. I asked him how I should encourage Riley. As I came away from the day, I was again reminded how much I love to see people brought together in the search for excellence.

Trick or Treat

My kids totally crack me up! They were crazy this Halloween or should I say fierce?

Conrad originally wanted to be a mad scientist again, but then he remembered that he had an authentic Arab head dress, from Saudi Arabia, (a friend of ours went to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.) so with a little shoe polish and sunglasses he became a Saudi. (I think he looks like my brother Mason.)


No Arab would be complete without a white sheet and camouflage Birkenstocks.

My friend Stacy Miller (Noah's mom) painted all four of the army guys faces. She said while she was painting each of their faces, they had their game faces on. (see above) When she finished, they ran to the mirror, admired their reflections with an "Awesome!" and told her that she was their official camouflage expert. (now that's awesome.)

Riley originally wanted to be Concussion on the movie Zoom, but we couldn't find red, burgundy or maroon sweats anywhere. (go figure we live in maroon and gold U of M country.)
He remembered that some of his friends were going as army guys and since he had every piece of clothing in camouflage, he decided to work it. (even his Converse and socks are camouflage.)

These are the very serious army guys with their camo and Nerf guns:
Riley, Noah, Marvin, & Emil.

Amelia was going to be a butterfly and I had visions of her being a magnificent monarch with huge hand painted wings. I almost had her convinced until she wanted to be Fancy Nancy to go along with her birthday party. For a split second she wanted to be a princess, but Fancy Nancy was going strong and then on Halloween day she wanted to be a butterfly again. I had no amazing wings or black and orange tutu, but she knew what she wanted and what a butterfly ought to look like. She found her pink butterfly headband, (no she didn't want antennas), pink fuzzy wings, pink tutu, pink galoshes and some pink hair spray. Of course no butterfly would be complete without tons of glitter and a black velvet unitard. It was a little chilly that night, so of course she donned her denim jacket and toted her gold trim purple leopard print treat bag. (She rocked it like the fashionista I knew she could be.)

Quinn has admirer of all ages. A friend from church gave him this oh-so-adorable pumpkin sleeper complete with beanie.

He stayed home with me and slept all of Halloween, while I passed out candy.

The scariest thing I've ever seen

10 days ago, Riley had a Benign Rolandic Epileptic Seizure. No, seizures don't run in our family, he didn't have a fever, he wasn't hit on the head and the day was anything but traumatic. We joke the Riley has a bladder the size of a walnut because when we travel he has to "go" more often than anyone else. Also to insure a "dry night", Hans or I take him to the bathroom around 11 every night. Riley is also a very deep sleeper and when we take him to the can, he never wakes up and doesn't remember anything about his nightly bathroom run the next day. We've been to the pediatrician and Riley checks out as a pretty normal kid when it comes to small bladders & deep sleeping. We are waiting anxiously for everything to mature and have just made this part of our nightly ritual.

I tell you this not to embarrass my sweet son, but because of this habit, Thursday night around 11:50, Hans took Riley to the bathroom and noticed he was drooling a lot. Hans woke me up to check it out and I noticed white foam accompanied the drooling and instead of a sleepy Riley with mumbling with half opened eyes, his eyes were wide open and unresponsive. Maybe a minute later his right hand and head started twitching rhythmically. I remember looking at Hans and his face expressed what I was thinking, "Oh no, this cannot be happening. He's having a seizure."

I then took Riley off the toilet (pulled up his underwear) and laid him on his side. I was screaming his name pleading with him to wake up. I looked up again and Hans was on the phone. He then scooped Riley up and told me he was taking him to the street so the paramedics could get too him sooner. Riley's body become more tense and he was still twitching.

I ran after Hans and almost the moment he got to the sidewalk, a police car drove up and within a minute later, the paramedics came. They took Riley into the ambulance and in a couple of minutes they closed the door. The ambulance then drove off and we followed them in the police man's car.

By the time we got to the hospital, they paramedics told us that Riley had calmed down and also told us that he had vomited and stopped breathing for 2 minutes. I'm thinking, "What does that mean? Is he going to be okay?"

In the emergency room at Hennepin County Medical Center (it's a learning hospital), Riley was the only patient, but there were at least 6 medical personal ranging from nurses, fellows, & residents. By then, Riley was asleep, but crying as they put in IV's, drew blood and stuck heart monitors all over his chest. He then calmed in to a deep sleep and they were able to run tests on him without him moving.

After Riley was transported to the Pediatric ICU, he woke up around 2 a.m. drowsy but normal. (I even quizzed him on his times tables and he was alright in the head.) Hans, with the help of Bishop Matthews, gave him a blessing and then he went to the bathroom, answered a few more routine questions from the nurse and fell back asleep.

Thankfully all of the results from the MRI, CT scan & EEG came back normal. The Neurologist was kind but confident that he would be fine and even went so far as to say he should get a check up in December, before she discharged him at 7 p.m. that same day.

We were told that he may or may not have another seizure and if he does and it last over 3 minutes we give him a Valium suppository. (no kidding, that should be fun, bleck!) If it goes longer than 15 minutes then we call 911. (I know, 15 minutes?) He will most likely out grow them when he hits his teen years and until then he must ride his bike with a helmet (oops), he can only take showers (no more relaxing baths), and he has to be watched when swimming.(thank heavens for lifeguards.)

I am so grateful he's alright. The whole time he was seizing and up until he woke up I was praying silently and verbally that God would help him to be okay and he is just fine. My sweet little Riley.

I am just so grateful.

Riley is 7

I love Riley. Right from day one he has been such a gem. His labor and delivery were only 3 1/2 hours and I was so excited, I didn't sleep all day. I just looked at him asleep in our bed. He was 9 lbs. 11 oz., 21 inches long and pink.
Riley is without guile and always honest. He is willing to follow or lead and bend with other peoples wants. He is loyal to his family and friends and will fight to the death if someone messes with them. He is sensitive and wants to do the right thing. Riley is kind and when someone is hurt or sad, he doesn't just wait and watch, he gets down to that person's level and helps and comforts them.

It is so neat to have a child like Riley.


He's growing up and almost as tall as Conrad. His favorite things are Star Wars, Legos, Star Wars Legos, Pokemon, riding his bike, the color blue, math and reading, soccer, archery, Converse shoes, sports cars, computer games, ice cream, Chicken Parmesan, cereal, and baby Quinn.


Riley generally doesn't like his pictures taken. He hates the whole process: the time it takes to get ready, the itchy church clothes, the crazy person doing the shoot. This year I promised it would take less than an hour and it would just be me and him. We were outside on the State fair grounds and he got to pick out his outfit. Notice the Star Wars tee shirt, jeans & Converse? Yep, it was smooth sailing this time.


I realized that to get a good picture out of Riley, I had to let him pull a few funny faces.


Riley is rather picky about what he wears. He doesn't like polo or button up shirts, unless they are "cool". (whatever that means.)



Riley is losing his teeth and I adore his toothy grin and his sweet dimple on his left cheek.

I love you Riley!

Eggcelent

Riley posed this question while he was eating his breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast:

"Why don't eggs taste like chicken?"

Life keeps moving on...

In my life, when something major happens, like having a baby, it seems that time stands still waiting for me to recuperate. But it doesn't, and my friends and family continue to live and change. So as I have been trying to hold on to the last glimpses of Quinn's birth, my children have said and done some very funny things.

Our community is all a blur with boys (including my two) between the ages of 5 - 11 zipping around on their bikes. They generally ride in a group, (I won't call it a bike gang) with my lovely Amelia trailing behind them. These are good boys and they are not trying to get away from her, rather she just can't keep up. But Amelia is a smart little girl and not easily daunted, so she finds short cuts and back ways so as to be with them as much as possible.



Amelia: I want you to take the training wheels off my bike.

Me: Oh really, do you want to go faster like the boys?

Amelia: No.

Me: Hmmm. (slightly perplexed) Then why?

Amelia: Because then Kinzie won't be able to ride it anymore.



Let me explain. Kinzie and her family just came from Egypt to live in our community and they are all very nice, but Kinzie only speaks Arabic. Ergo it is impossible to explain to her that Amelia has had a new brother come into her life and, although she doesn't know it, she is feeling displaced and needs normalcy in her life until she adjusts. AND she doesn't want to share her bike because it's her new toy AND she loves it AND if you keep taking it away from her, she's already made plans to push you off of it etc., etc.

Conrad's dream is to live on a deserted island and live off the land (definitely not my dream). And for a while he was not a big fan of Cub Scouts, but as more adventures are happening and outdoors skills are being learned he is discovering that Scouting will be his ticket to surviving on the island in LOST. This is his 2nd year of Cub Scouts and this past activity they went fishing. Well Conrad was happy to report that he was the first one to catch a fish and that it only took him 1 minute and it was a "Delicious Bass." (Actually it was about 6 inches long and he didn't eat it. I just wanted to quote Napoleon Dynamite.)

Hans & I have been busying Riley and Conrad with summer school, soccer and archery. Wednesdays are pretty long for everyone because of school, soccer and cub scouts, but Riley being the peacemaker and a cup half full sort of guy takes it all in stride.

Me: Sorry this has been such a long day.
Riley: That's okay. I like long days.
Me: Really, why's that?
Riley: Because that means I'm doing lots of fun things.

Isn't he sweet?

Happy Birthday Hans, Mason & Riley!

Where did the month of June go? I know I had a baby, but I wasn't asleep for the last 3 weeks.

While I was baby-mooning, (get it? instead of honeymooning.) Hans had his 33 birthday and Father's day on the same day. It was so sad, Hans wanted some new running shoes and while we were out on a random shopping trip, he picked out the ones he wanted and I said "Happy Birthday/Father's Day." No spontaneity, excitement or pizazz, just running shoes. :(

I did sort of make it up to him the next week, while my brother was in town. Mason's birthday is on the 26th, so on his birthday we had Hans' favorite meal: steak and potatoes and homemade mint ice cream cake (Mason's favorite.)

Mason came up to visit and help out a couple of weeks ago, just before he left for his mission to San Antonio, Texas. (Spanish speaking.) My kids were in heaven. He took them all swimming almost everyday, played chess with Riley, held Quinn, entertained Amelia and talked about scouting & out door adventure stuff with Conrad.

Mason was determined to get the 1st extended family picture with Quinn.
I think to make our mom jealous.)

Quinn is such an angel. Mason wrapped him up and I snapped a photo of my little sweetheart.

Riley's birthday landed on a Sunday and he wanted to do the friend thing on Monday, so his birthday was fairly low key. But the kids did go out and play with sparklers and I got to play with my camera's shutter speed. (These pictures are all taken with a 10 second shutter speed.) Below are pictures of them all writing their names, err, backwards. ( I need learn how to invert pictures.)

Conrad

Riley
(his is actually the most legible.)

Amelia (with the help of Hans)

I think Hans might legally change his name to this symbol, just like Prince.
(You know Prince is from Minnesota.)

Tent Caterpillars

As I look out the window, I can see so many signs of Spring. Not only is it warmer and my allergies are flaring up, but the trees and flowers are in beautiful bloom and all of the animals and insects have come out of hibernation. There are massive amounts of tent caterpillars. I don't have a picture of these little sweethearts because they make me want to vomit. The boys (including Hans) enjoy stepping on them and Conrad especially likes to step on one end and watch their guts splirt out the other. It is so gross.

This year these caterpillars are so prolific that they fall from the sky onto unsuspecting mothers and they lazily crawl up ones shoe and just keep going up the leg. Eewww. They eat the leaves on our beautiful trees and poop all over the sidewalk and in people's hair. Many a picnic has been ruined because of ill placed tables. It is so gross.

Apparently I once called them jerks and a few of my friends and husband thought that was funny. Tent caterpillars are jerks; pooping on someone's food or hair and touch others who don't want to be touched, is pretty jerky in my opinion.

My boys and several of their cohorts have taken to filling buckets full of them and filling those buckets with water, in hopes of drowning them. Unfortunately they are pretty hardy and they just crawl out of the bucket which is disgusting or I think the adjective I've been using is gross.

One morning Hans and I were watching videos posted on Facebook and came across a Christian comedian/singer, Tim Hawkins. He sang a song entitled "Fire ants" That rings all too true to our boys and their "wonders" with nature.

A new tradition

Hans & I want to start new traditions that don't involve food. Not that there is anything wrong with making memories while eating at the same time. But traditions that leave us feeling healthier and focused are the ones Hans & I are trying to make and keep with our family as well as the Thanksgiving Turkey, birthday cake,St. Patrick's Corn beef and Cabbage, Valentine chocolates, and Christmas pies. Anyway... so for New Year's Day we went to Red Rock Canyon. We had hoped to get there as the sun was rising to make for a poetic watching the dawn of a new year, but it was new years day, so we got up a little later, because of the night before. but the view was fantastic!

I remember thinking as a teen, how ugly the mountains looked with out trees on them. (teenagers...)

Although Amelia was pretty sad about not being able to scale the rocks with her big brothers, she did enjoy her own personal photo shoot.

The boys (Hans included) climbed up the red rock too high for pregnant women or 3 year olds.

I can always count on Conrad to strike a sweet pose.

My boys are so fearless. It's a good and bad thing for a mother to watch.

I'm surprised that Riley wasn't wearing his light saber or rubber band gun.
(I think there might have been a law forbidding weapons.)

I finally bought a new camera and after this trip realized that I need to read up on lighting, focusing and the whole SLR thingy.

September Morn

We had a fantastically busy summer and as of Sept. 2nd, my boys are finally back in school. They were not exactly excited to get back on a sleeping (7:45 p.m.) and waking (6 a.m.) schedule or having to do home or school work of any kind, but the free juice, doughnuts & espresso, (offered by our student housing community) Tuesday morning helped them to get energized at least for one day. (Please note that neither Conrad or Riley had a shot of espresso, that would have been pretty funny, but I'm sure their teachers would have thought otherwise.)

Riley & Conrad's First day of school wouldn't be complete without tie dye, jeans & new shoes.

Sunday after church is pretty lazy at our house, if we're not napping, we lying around reading or posing like supermodels ready for a candid.

Ever since Riley found out that he could get a dollar for a tooth, he has been diligently wiggling & yanking at his chompers & finally it "paid off." I pulled that puppy out just before they had to go to school.

My little Riley is growing up.

I had to take 10 pictures & most of them came out blurry because I was laughing at all of his silly faces. what a ham. I love you Riley!

Amelia wanted to get in on the picture taking action



Isn't she lovely?

My little brother pays a visit 2

It's nice living in Minnesota, state of 10,000 lakes because if one gets bored there's always a nearby lake that is naturally beautiful and entertaining. We took Mason to Lake Calhoun and the boys brought their bikes. The weather was lovely and it was a fabulous mix of everything. Bottom line everyone went to sleep happy and early. :) Unlike Conrad, Riley is not a ham and does not like his pictures taken. He won't put on a smile and is generally too busy to stand still for a posed picture. Above is a stand still, no smile, no pose, shot. Hey, I take what I can get. (Riley & I both love his galoshes.) Funny story here. Conrad & Riley were riding on the side of a bike path and Riley was going full speed and fell over into the Lake! Just kidding.... There was a 3 foot ditch by the lake he slid into, didn't even get wet and he was stuck and had to pose for me. Again, because he was stuck, I got to pose him looking as if he were trying to pull himself up from the very jaws of death. The smile totally gives is away.

Here is the proof to my accusations that Mason & Conrad are a ham & cheese sandwich when it comes to photo opps. Mason-poser. Conrad-poser. Riley-what would one call that?

Keepin' it real.

Pictures Mason took while he was in Minnesota

Mason got a nice point and shoot camera for his graduation and He took some sweet pictures while he was here spending time with his niece and nephews. Below are just a few of his many fantastic pics.

Mason was a wonderful guest and came baring gifts which made him an instant favorite at our home. The boys were suited up in their Nerf gear the second they came home from school and with coordinating Velcro Nerf guns they ran around the house chancing & shooting at their uncle. Of course this can get tiring, so they would stop and play a rousing game of Pokemon to catch their breath.
Here Amelia is standing in front of a man made waterfall at Como Lake. I love how Amelia's hair naturally flips in the back.

At Como lake the dandelions were in full bloom and Amelia was in flower picking Heaven.

Mason took this shot of Conrad as he was coming home from school. Oh... I can't get over how handsome my little 8 year old is.

I know, this picture is gorgeous! These little purple pansies were growing by the sidewalk where the boys bus stops.

Riley had a field trip to the Como Zoo and he wanted his very cool uncle to chaperone.

Mason thank you for being such a great uncle and brother. My family & I truly loved every minute of your visit. I love you. -monica

Field trip to the Animal Farm

I must admit that whenever I say Animal Farm I think of George Orwell's novel about the talking animals, who form a coop and overthrow their farmer. (Weird & slightly demented thought, I know.) The Hugo Farm is not as riotous or scary, it's actually a very lovely farm filled with well fed animals, happy farmers, new life, and (most importantly) no overwhelming smells. I went with Riley and his class on a field trip there and had a fabulous time watching him interact with other kindergartners. I'm happy to announce that Riley's behavior is normal, so very normal in fact that I think he may be the most mature and well behaved 5 year old of his class.

Maccario & Riley on the bus talking about Pokemon cards.

With fists full corn, Mary Grace & Riley can't wait to feed the mules & Belgian horses.

This piglet was 3 weeks old. When someone asked what his name was, the farmer plainly stated, "We don't give them names, they aren't meant to be pets." I totally chuckled under my breath. This was my view for the 4 hours we are at the farm. You'll notice that all 3 kids are holding hands and all 3 have their jackets tied around their necks. Yes, they are super heroes.....
with bunny power, crocodile power, force field power, laser power, speedy power & flying power.

and yes, Riley is the coolest impromptu super hero, complete with: furrowed brow, curled lips and flipin' sweet moves.