Camp Confidence

Cale made a very important decision today. He told me that he has thought about it and he wants to attend Camp Confidence - an ADA sponsored Diabetes Day Camp - this June. I had asked him about it a couple of weeks ago and showed him the website (which included a video showing what the kids do all week - he was mesmerized!). At that time, I told him to think about it. (You can check it out at by clicking here: www.diabetes.org/diabetes-camp/about-ada-camp-confidence.jsp)

Today, I received an email from our representative at the ADA which explained how a child can get a scholarship to Diabetes Camp. There are 4 - $250 scholarships available in the Rock River Valley (our area). All he has to do is write 1 - 2 paragraphs about why he wants to attend camp. So I told him about it and asked if he had decided to go to the camp or not. He was very excited to tell me he wants to go and is going to enter for the scholarship.

This is going to be so great for him. I know he will be going there not knowing a single person...but I am positive he will leave there after the week is over with several new friends. There is also an option to send non-diabetic siblings, but I don't think Ryan would stay - or would he????

This particular camp, which is by no means next door, is located in Des Plaines. It will be a long week of driving to get him there by 9:00 a.m. and picked up by 3:00 p.m., but I think it will be well worth the time. I'm sure a few of those days can be spent tooling around that area. Even if I head home daily, it is a very positive opportunity for Cale. Next year, he is old enough for sleep over camp (need to start saving now for that one) which is located very close to our old house. That will be exciting!!! As it stand now, he will be one of the older kids at day camp.

Now it is time to fill out the application and get his doctor to complete several forms. At least we have (ok...he has) an appointment on Wednesday. I can give them to him at that time to fill out. I hope we can get all of this done asap. I don't want to be placed on a waiting list. Fingers crossed!!!!

Tis the season....

And I'm not talking about Santa and reindeer and candy canes. I am talking about Spring and the fun times that we get to experience with our tornado sirens! (Seriously...for me they ROCK!!! My kids would beg to differ!)

Here is a picture of what was spotted less then 10 miles to the south of our house as it traveled to just over a mile to the west of us. THEN...another funnel cloud and rotation was spotted less than 5 miles southwest of us that traveled right over our house!! All of this was going on yesterday as the boys and I were eating dinner. I didn't even hear the sirens until my mom called (as they were driving over to watch the boys) to let me know - she was a little giddy too!!

Naturally, the boys freaked out. We went down into the basement and sat under the stairs. It is amazing how small an almost 8 year old boy and a 5 year old boy can get when they both need to sit on Mommy's lap. The whole time I wanted to go upstairs to look, but that would have caused mass hysteria!! (And why does this always happen when Pat is not home???)

Finally, the sirens stopped and I went upstairs to take a look (Cale opted to stay in the basement and Ryan clung to me like a baby monkey). The sky looked so COOL!!!! If I had known where my camera was, I would have been going crazy taking pictures.

I am absolutely fascinated with tornadoes, but at the same time, don't hit my house please!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!

We hope you have a great one...which you will, because we are having Plum Garden AND Logli cake!!!!!!!

We love you!!!

Rain, rain go away...come again

AFTER SPRING BREAK!!!!!! Seriously! Cabin fever has totally set in! There are only so many forts to be made, movies to be watched, games to play.... I even looked into going to the movie theater, but there really isn't anything out for the kids to see. If Hollywood were smart, they would have released that new monster cartoon movie last week instead of this Friday. They would have made A LOT more money this week with a lot of kids off of school. I know we would have gone. This is nuts.

At least tomorrow, Ryan is having a friend over to play (his first from school - up to this point he has had to play with Cale and his friends - totally not fair to either one). Turns out his friend Bryce goes through the same thing with his big brother and there are only girls around his house to play with, just like here. So that will be fun for Ryan.

Then on Thursday, we are going to go over to Miss Trista's house. She is having a garage sale and the boys will help keep her girls occupied. It's been a while since they have been able to play together.

That brings us to Friday, what to do...what to do. Maybe I can get them their eye appointments for that day...WHAT FUN!!!!

So rain, go away. There are bikes to be rode, holes to be dug, balls to be thrown...ALL OUTSIDE!!!

My Little Man is 5!!

It's official...Ryan turned 5 years old (last week - I know people, I'm slow, but as you can see by the date, I did try and post the next day)!! A whole hand!! He is getting to be such a big boy, when he wants to, he does still carry his rag of a blanket wherever he can.

On the Sunday before his birthday, we had people over (those who wouldn't be able to come on Tuesday - his real birthday). We had dinner and cake and presents. His cake had dump trucks on it (his choice) and his presents consisted of Legos, legos, legos, clothes and legos. (I wonder how that stock is doing?) He had a lot of fun, as you can see in the pictures.

Ryan and his Construction Cake

I'm 5...I ROCK!!!!!!

Ryan and Auntie Lauren

Then came his real birthday on the 3rd (he loved that he had more than one). He had a fun day. We played, he went with me to Cale's school for recess/lunch duty so he was able to play with the bigger kids on the playground. We went out for lunch to McDonald's - his choice. Then when Cale got home from school, Ryan opened his present...Legos. After Daddy came home from work, Grandpa, Uncle Steve and Auntie Lauren we over. We had pizza and cupcakes and he opened his presents...even more Legos. Oh and all of the gift cards he received also went to Legos!!

Breakfast Birthday Boy

I LOVE LEGOS!!!!

Keep singing people!!!


Now that it has come and gone, Ryan loves to tell people that he is 5. It's weird, since last week, several people (checkers at the store, teachers at Cale's school) have asked him how old he is and he proudly says FIVE!!

Where has the time gone? I have found myself taking him out of the car and carrying him more. Soon I won't be able to do that - look at Cale, that kid is up to my shoulders, I couldn't carry him without needed my orthopedic doctor! Maybe I should have another...yeah right!!!!