Cool Beans

Cool Beans-Olivia picked this up I think from her Daddy, and it's been her new saying all day. Hopefully tomorrow will be cool beans when we start her at her yet again new daycare. The last one just wasn't the right fit, at all. We took her out Thursday, and she stayed with a friend of ours on Friday. It was the first day of no tears (and bawling, fits, heart breaking drop-offs, etc) all week. I was referred to an in-home daycare by someone I work with so we met her Thursday night and Olivia will start there tomorrow. Olivia seemed to love the home and the other little girl there, so crossing our fingers this is the right one!
Meanwhile, we had a great weekend with her and spent alot of the day today outside playing in her new pool.

Olivia's off to daycare :(

I started a new job yesterday at NU Telecom. I'm a customer support rep for our video, internet, and phone company and also do retail sales for computers, phones, cell phones, accessories, etc. I really like it, but the hardest part was taking Olivia to daycare. As you can see on her face, it wasn't easy for both of us. It broke my heart! Not even her new Dora backpack helped at the time. She cried dropping her off, and cried when I picked her up and wouldn't let me put her down. Today went a little better-she did really well dropping her off, which was good for Mommy-made my day a little easier. When I picked her up, she was crying-her new BFF, Callie, got picked up about 10 minutes before I got there. They did everything together today-played, held hands as they all walked to the park, and just got to be buds, so I guess when Callie left, Olivia thought she should be going home too, and cried and cried until I got there. Another heart breaker. It's a big adjustment for both of us, and hope things get easier.

Our busy weekend

Last weekend we were very busy with lots of company & activities. Thursday night, Pat and I got our first babysitter since we moved here, and went to the Bavarian Blast. It's another one of New Ulm's many festivals, and is held at the fairgrounds, just 1/2 block from our house. We went to see The Little River Band and had a very fun evening on our date. Friday, Andy and Molly came to visit-their boys Jason and Jack were at Grandma and Grandpa's. So, we got the babysitter again and checked out more bands that night. Sat, G & G came with the boys and the Larews went back to Mpls and we got to spend some time with G & G until they left Sunday. Sunday afternoon New Ulm had an awesome parade-probably the best Pat & I have ever been to. Sunday night we had some friends over to grill, and then finally called it a weekend!

Pat, Mike, Noah, and Olivia on our golf cart after our bbq. The kids loved it!
The big chicken in the shopping cart (Molly-you'll appreciate this one-it's the chicken that was running around the festival tent with the gnomes and mushroom)

Olivia and her friend Naomi with their new Vikings hats from one of the parade entries.

Olivia and her friends Avery and Naomi. Avery is the little girl (one of) that Olivia first bit right when we moved to town :( But, luckily they're really good buds now.

Grandma and Olivia playing with the hose-Olivia's all time favorite.

Grandpa pushing Olivia in her beep beep.

We got Olivia a new picnic table and all she wants to do is spray it down or climb all over it.

Olivia and her cousins Jack aka Buddy to her, and Jason

Founders Day in Algona

Last weekend Pat and I went to Founder's Day in Algona to get together with his family and also attend Pat's 20 year class reunion. It was a great time-most of Pat's family made it and Olivia had a blast getting together with her cousins. For the reunion, we went downtown Friday night and had drinks with his class; Saturday morning he golfed with his brothers, Dad, and some classmates; Saturday at lunch we had a family picnic with his class; and Saturday night we were supposed to have gone downtown for a dinner but we skipped that at the last minute-the Froehlich's were having a bonfire with smores & hotdogs so we opted for the family time instead. It was a relaxing evening!

Elmo's got some competition-Olivia found Minnie Mouse at Grandma's and that's all she talks about now. Every time the computer's up, we have to watch "Nahnny Nouse"

Olivia on the train ride-seems too little to be on by herself (or maybe just to me) but she did just great & if the line wasn't down the block we would have gone again and again.

I didn't catch it with my camera, but at times she was waving to the crowds as she went by them.

Olivia sitting at the craft table with cousins Lilly, Grace, and Elizabeth. Chloe is in the background playing on the computer.

At the class reunion family picnic.

5 little monkeys jumping on the bed...luckily no one fell off.

Sharing stories around the campfire

Olivia, Grace, and Chloe telling their own little stories.

Olivia giving Jack a big hug. She called him "Buddy" all weekend. One morning at 5 AM I brought her in bed with me and as we were lying there, she asked, "Where Buddy go?" I just love listening to everything she has to come up with!

Jason climbing the tree.

Olivia got a ride from Grandpa Froehlich in his jeep!

Andy and Molly competed in the Water's Edge Triathlon Sunday morning. They both did outstanding. Molly got 2nd place for women, and Andy came in 15th overall.

Molly on the bike portion.

Andy coming out of the water heading to his bike.

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July! We went camping at Lake Thompson this year and had a great time. Of course kept busy as ever with Olivia. The weather cooperated for the most part-downpoured one night but overall was nice. Pat and my Dad got some fishing in and caught their limit of walleye. Olivia got to play at the beach and despite all the moss, she had fun.

The most exciting part of the weekend was that my brother Justin had proposed to Jessica!! They went to Okoboji Saturday & Sunday where he proposed and then they joined us at the lake Sunday afternoon. It must be a twin thing, because I called it-I told Pat and Heath that I bet he went to Okoboji to propose and then they're coming to the lakes to announce it. I had no idea how right I was! When they got out of the car, Pat & I both noticed that Jes wasn't wearing a ring, but as soon as everyone was finally in one area-which I'm sure seemed like forever for them to keep the secret- Justin announced it. I couldn't be happier for the two of them!

Grandma and Grandpa taking Olivia to the beach to watch the fireworks. She loved them!

My Little Miss Independece (the pajamas couldn't have said it better) learned how to get out of the pack and play all by herself this weekend. Didn't make it too convenient for naps & bedtime in a camper. It was Saturday night and we were sitting outside with the monitor on & we could hear she was very fussy inside. Pat went to check on her, and there she was-out of the pack in play on the bed next to it and was pushing all the buttons on the TV and was mad b/c she had shut off the movie I had playing for her. We put her back in & had her show us how she did it & just like that-climbed over like it was nothing. (And the 3 paci's in the picture-those are 'hopefully' going in less than a month when she turns 2. She only has them for nap and bedtime, and at times when Pat and I need our sanity.)

Uncle Swede was Olivia's favorite this weekend. Anytime he was giving his grandkids a ride, Olivia would say "Swede, ride?" or if it was parked in her view, it was constantly "ride, ride?" This was on the last day before leaving and she got her last ride-Swede pulled back up and Olivia was OUT. She's never slept so hard with so much going on around her.