Let Me Help You...

People always ask me how do Josie and Jacob do together and I always answer, "They are the best of friends." They are a hoot when they are together. There are times when Jacob will get a little rough with her, not on purpose but because he does not realize how much bigger he is than her. But I have to say Josie holds her own. She gets even. I would have to say that Jacob is her best friend besides Halle May (the dog).

Here are a few old pictures that I have not posted yet. You be the judge to see how helpful they are to one another.

Here Jacob let me help you find the toy.

Here Josie let me plug you in. (Josie was fussing and he picked up her pacifier and put it in her mouth. What a thoughtful little boy!)

Go CUBS!

On Wednesday, August 6th, 20 of us ventured to a CUBS game. Our day started out not so good, however. The night before we were out of power. We could not sleep due to the house being so stink'n hot and the lack of an alarm clock, so we stayed the night at Debbie and Terry's. There was a little mix up as to where Brent and I were sleeping. To make a long story short, they forgot to wake us up. I had 15 minutes before we were leaving to get myself ready, Josie ready, and feed Josie. It was rush, rush, rush. However, we made it on the road a few minutes late, but still doing good. Besides not getting woke up to start our day off on the wrong foot, Bryant got car sick and ended up giving the side of the Explorer a little bath. There is one thing that I can not stand and that is vomit. He was leaning out of the car window doing his business and I was in the drivers seat just about ready to do mine, because I could here him. Brent had to crank up the radio to drown him out. What a way to start a day, huh?!

Instead of driving all the way there, we took the train. What an adventure! I had never been on a train before as hadn't Josie. Josie was a little sleepy due to having got up at 5:15 AM, but refused to take a nap on the way up to the game. The train took 4 hours to get there due to some problems with signals or something. But we made it. Part of us took the L and the other part to taxi's. What a rush it was to take a taxi. Josie had fought of sleep all the way up on the train. She only cried for about 15 minutes on the ride up. I thought that was pretty good for an 11 month old who was extremely tired and stuck on a train for 4 hours.

We were in part of the group that decided to take a taxi. At one point the driver was going 15 miles over the speed limit and was laying on the horn the entire time. What crazy drivers there are. Josie managed to get in a small cat nap in the car. I guess the going back and forth between lanes and not having to be in a car seat got her to take a nap. Did you know that on public transportation such as the train and taxi's you do not have to have car seats? Josie was in heaven not having to be stuck in her seat all day.

We got to the game and it was packed. We did find seats all together. However, it was a battle with all of the people wanting to also sit down. The weather was warm, but nice. Josie was so tired. Poor girl.

The CUBS WON!!!!

When we got back to the train to ride home they called for all handicap people, then women with small children. The lady came back to me and said you may get on. I informed her that I was with a group of 20 and would not board without all of them. Of course, we were towards the end of the line. She came back minutes later and said that it was fine all 20 of us could get on. I could not believe it. I felt sorry for those people standing in line that we were going to pass. That was until I got to the very front of the line. The very first person in the line was throwing a huge fit. She was saying, "they are letting 20 people on just for one &!* *(#) (bad words) baby. Can you believe that?" She was yelling this. I could hear it as I came to the very front. I was embarrassed, but upset at the same time. Then as Josie and I got right about next to her she goes, "That is that *@@*^@* (bad word) baby that cried all the way up here..." Which was a lie because Josie only cried for about 15 minutes out of 4 hours. She kept going on and on talking very loudly. I turned to Brent and said that if the train conductor would not have been standing there I would have given her a piece of my mind. I was scared I would get kicked off the train before I even got on it. This really got my blood boiling. I hoped she would get stuck sitting in the seat right in front of us. If she did I was going to do anything I could to make sure Josie screamed in her ear the entire way home. Unfortunately, she did not get to sit in front of us. In fact, she had to sit in a different car. Come to find out the other car had a small child in it who did end up crying all the way home. Services this lady right. I could tell either she did not have children of her own, or does not have grandchildren because if she did she would have understood where I was coming from. You can not make a child behave all the time. It just happens. On the way home, we were sure that Josie would simply just give in and take a nap however she did not. What a trooper! She went all day with just a 30 minute cat nap. What a tired, tired girl she was.

Overall, we had a great time. Brent and I decided we would not go up just for a day trip to much rush, rush, rush. We would stay over night and relax a little bit.

Here are a few photos from our trip.

Brent and Josie in the train station before departing

Brent and I waiting for the game to begin

Aunt Lori and the gang holding up her sign "WGN: Wrigley Goes Nuts"

Nice Butt!

Flirting with the fans

Can you see the ball?! Maybe the binoculars will help you.

Josie's first and last time on the "L." Brent carried Josie all day in the harness. Real men would.

Look at those bags under her eyes. What a tired looking girl.

Finally, a little cat nap.

New Teeth

Yesterday, August 19th, Josie got her 3rd tooth. YEAH! She has gone nearly 4 months without getting any teeth. The last time she got teeth was in April when she got 2 within the same week. Overall, even though she is teething she has been really good. The new tooth does not seem to faze her very much. As you can tell from the photo, she is still very playful as ever playing with Halle May.

Back to School

As all of you have noticed that for the past few weeks my postings have been well, non-existent. Sorry about that. I have spent every day for the last two weeks trying to get ready for the beginning of school and today marked that first day.

School is officially back in session. I had a full institute day today and tomorrow my very first day with my very own class. I am extremely excited and scared at the same moment.

So, I know this is all at the top of your list...How did Josie do today? Today was the very first day Josie had to go to the babysitters. Of course, I did not want to leave her and tons of stuff were going through my mind. When I got to the sitters, I realized I forgot her breakfast and lunch in the fridge. What was I thinking? I had to come home and get it. At least my sitter is only next door, but still. Shame on me.

Josie did very well, as did I for the most part. She was not crying when I left, in fact she was laughing, which was an excellent sign. I told the sitter to call if she needed anything and no phone call so I knew she would be ok.

When I went to pick her up, her face simply lit up and she started to scream happy screams and could not get off the couch and over to me quick enough. Lets just say that Josie broke in the new sitter today. She REFUSED to take a nap. But did take about a 30 minute nap with her holding her. Spoiled rotten! Other than that she was an angel the entire day. I told her not to lie to me and to tell me the truth and she swore she was good.

Oh, and she had a major blow out for the sitter. What a way to make a first impression. That means she had two, because she had one for me this morning, so I thought it was not going to be a problem, but I guess I was wrong.

Josie is now at 4:30 PM taking her afternoon nap, she looks so tired.

Overall, we both survived. Barely for me, but I got through it. The first day is always the hardest...RIGHT!?

Well, I will keep you posted on how my first day with students go and I promise now that things may settle down more for me I will post more often and add more photos.

Till then, see you all later.

1st Pedicure...And Loving It

On Thursday, August 7th, Josie and I joined some of Brent's family for a little relaxing time at the nail salon. Some of us got pedicures, while others got manicures. It was such a fun time. Josie, only 11 months old, even took advantage of the good time and sat in the vibrating chair. She had a ball. She even soaked her tiny feet in the water. If only she would not put her feet in her mouth, I would have had them paint them also. Perhaps next time.


After our toes were beautified, we ventured out for lunch. While we were waiting for our food, Grandma Debbie took Josie out for a walk. When they came back, Josie was licking her lips really funny. I said "what are you doing?" Debbie confessed to putting peppermint lipgloss on her at Bath and Body Works next door to the restaruant. That explains why she was licking her lips. When I told Brent what she had done when I got home I thought Brent was going to flip a lid.



Here are a few photos of our fun filled afternoon.

Getting up in the chair.

Enjoying the vibrating chair.

AH! This is the life.

3rd Grade Here I Come

On Monday, August 4th, I went in to the local school for a job interview for a full-time 3rd grade position. I had already accepted a position at the school as most of you know for a full-time substitute teacher. However, this position opened up and I applied for it. And...

I GOT THE JOB!

I am now an official 3rd grade teacher. Yeah for me! I am super excited, but sad at the same time. I have had a year off already, can you believe that? It is going to be so hard to have to leave my little girl. My neighbor is going to watch Josie when Brent is working. So, that will be good. Besides leaving Josie it is going to be really hard getting up early in the morning. I am used to sleeping in with Josie until around 10. It is going to kill me to have to be at school by 8 AM. But we are going to love the extra money.

So, for the last week I have been trying to get everything ready in my classroom. The plan is the same for this week as well.

Wish me luck!

11 Months Old

Can you believe it she is 11 months old?! This month she has learned several new things. She has learned she can pull toys over to the couch and climb on top of them to get into the recliner, pushes toys to walk, says "yes" along with other words you have to really listen for, and has been practicing her blowing out candles.

Weekend Getaway

Sorry it has been so long since there has been any postings on the website. Brent was off for 9 days, we had family in from out of town, and so we just relaxed all week. We were up late every night and up early every morning.

On August 2-3, we ventured out of town to the farm for a little R and R time. We had an excellent time. We swam in the lake (Josie did not get in), went on a long 4-wheeler ride, ate lots of food and much much more.

I had never played poker before until our weekend trip. I must of had some beginners luck because I ended up getting 2nd place during the first game. Yeah me! However, I made up for it the 2nd game when I ended up getting our first.

Brent and I had a little run in with a opossum, at least we think. It was in the early AM hours I hear a scratching noise from inside the wall. It kept getting louder and louder. At one point, I thought it was on the nightstand making noise. I quickly woke Brent up thinking it was a mouse and made him turn the light on. I was going to make him kill it. Being out in the woods, it is hard to keep critters out. Well, no mouse and it got quiet again so back to sleep we went. Well, a few hours later the same noises. This time it woke Brent up and he quickly jumped on top of me because it scared him half to death. We believe it was a opossum in the wall trying to get in. But we do not know for sure. The dogs had captured a opossum that morning and it had babies with it and took it under the trailer, so who knows.

Overall, we had a wonderful weekend and got a lot of sun. Here are a few photos from our trip.

Brent and Josie - What good is it being in the woods if you do not have on camo...

Josie fell in love with the golf cart. She loved to steer it and go on rides.

Aunt Lori and Josie

Grandma Debbie spoiling Josie driving her around.

Grandma Bevo, Aunt Peggy, and Aunt Lori after a fun filled afternoon.