Isaac the big one year old now 

new shades compliments of Grandma J, Aunt Lydia and Aunt Kendra 

Maddie's "boyfriend" Isaac pushing her around 

Just One More Week

Until what some of you ask? Until Maddie gets to make her first trip to Wisconsin, that's what. I am really looking forward to our trip coming up. I am trying not to think about the plane ride and just hope that she doesn't scream the whole time. Grandma and grandpa Heff will be here on Thursday and then on Sunday Maddie and I fly home with them. I am at least thankful that I don't have to fly by myself for the first time with her.

The dust seems to be settling around here. At school we have about 20 new students with the possibility of a few more from the New Orleans area. We have a new teacher that was a teacher at New Orleans Lutheran and we are still always trying to find ways to help those families.

Chad had freshmen retreat last night, so it was just Maddie and I. We did pretty good, we took a short trip to Target for a duffle bag for our trip home. Then it was just hanging out and doing laundry. Yesterday morning Chad had to sing at Living Word (one of the association churches) and they were honoring a pastor who was celebrating his 60th anniversary of the ministry and it was actually Mr. Dobberful's (M.O. principal) cousin and a classmate of grandpa Bickel's. Chad went up to ask him about grandpa and then I asked about Mt. Olive. So that was a little out of the ordinary, but cool.

This week there isn't too much going on, volleyball and football are away, so we don't have too many afterschool activities to attend.

Maddie has started to roll over, so that is always exciting. She gets mad though when her arm is stuck underneath her. She loves to talk and has also started squealing when she wants to be noticed. Well I am looking forward to seeing many of you in the next couple of weeks. We are looking forward to visiting with everyone. We'll see you soon.

We might have a career in modeling

Go Badgers 

Our little cowpoke just waiting to saddle up 

watching baseball (we think she likes the crowd noise) 

A Night Out With The Girls

So I got a night free of Maddie, well for about 5 hours. Last night we went over to Paul and Christa's for dinner (shrimp boil- I had a hamburger). Then Christa and I left Maddie and Isaac with Paul and Chad and headed out to pick up Kim and we went to this place called Papa's which is pretty much an old metal barn that has been turned into a bar. We just sat and talked and made fun of the other people there, especially the dancers, one guy even asked Kim to dance. I got home about 12:30 and had a fun time. It was nice to be out of the house not running errands and out with friends. Chad had an okay night, Maddie gave him a little trouble, but nothing he couldn't handle.

Friday was suppose to be football at Northland, but we ended up not going. We had gone over to Kim and Andrew's to cookout and by the time we were done with dinner and talking it was already 8:15 and the game started at 7:30, so we decided not to go and play cards instead. So we have had a pretty eventful weekend and are just grilling out with Pete and Luke today and probably just hanging out tomorrow. Chad got to watch football yesterday, so he was happy. Maddie watched the Wisconsin game and hung out with dad.

On the hurricane side of things, it has been a long week with all the news coverage and just all the people pouring into Houston. At school we are allowing students to come for no tuition and it looks like we might get one of the teachers too. We are helping them with clothes and just everyday things. One of the families have already said that they are probably just going to stay here. New Orleans Lutheran probably won't be able to get back into the building until 2nd semester and even that is wishful hoping. We are all trying to figure out ways to help.

This week looks pretty uneventful, 4 days of school, a few volleyball games, Isaac's 1st birthday party and then Chad has Freshmen Retreat, so that means I am home with Maddie for two days straight. Hope everyone is doing well and that with school starting has gotten back into the groove of things.

Shout Outs:

Isaac is turning one on Friday
Amy's birthday is also on Friday (I won't say how old)

Can't wait to see a lot of you in just about two weeks.

Here's where we start... 

...and 9 and a half hours later. 

just waiting to change into comfy sunday clothes

I love sundays 

mom, I can't take this much excitement 

how does this thing work?? 

More posts as promised

Well I did promise more posts and I am actually following through on it. I have Maddie sleeping on the boppy pillow in my lap right now, so I have figured out a way to do all of this with her and I have come to realize that I can do lots of things one handed now. This weekend hasn't been filled with too much excitement. There was no varsity football game, so we went to the JV game on Thursday night (Michael Wilke) plays JV. They won by a good handful. It was pretty hot, but Maddie liked being outside and all the parents gushing over her, students too. Friday night we invited Luke over (the student teacher who roomed with Chad's brother Josh at school) and we went out to eat and then came back and the boys played video games while Maddie and I went to sleep. Saturday brought laundry and grocery shopping and then Chad went over to school to do some work on the baseball field. We also watched lots of baseball this weekend, with the Braves at the Brewers, we were able to watch them on TBS all weekend long. I thought it was going to be an alright weekend with the way we played on Friday, but I was wrong and was disaapointed both yesterday and today. Today was church. Usually it is a circus trying to get all three of us out the door in time, but Maddie has been sleeping until about 7:30am (from 10pm) the last couple of nights and so I was able to get myself ready before she was even out of bed. I am praying that she keeps it up and continues to sleep through the nights. For the last couple of weeks she has been sleeping till abotu 6/6:30ish and now this weekend it has been 7:30. This week is a shortened week with Chad having a half day on Friday and then no school on Monday, so that makes life a little bit easier.

Maddie has been babbling for awhile, but loves to talk to her ceiling fan. It seems that she is a morning person, because that is when she talks the most. She was talking to grandma on the phone last night. We are getting into a routine and mom is really enjoying that. We can hardly believe that she is going to be 3 months old next week.

Shout Outs:

Mom Heffelfinger Happy Birthday Wednesday( Hope dad at least takes you out for dinner) Sorry if the present is late we aren't going to get to the post office until tomorrow morning.

Congratulations to my cousin Eric on his engagement to Jackie(sorry if it is spelled wrong) we'll have to go out and celebrate when I am home

Have a great week

"Mom was right-Cubs Suck" 

Telling dad all about her day 

Ben always helping Maddie with her Nuk 

Ben and grandpa at Aquarium 

Ben taking in the Astros game  

I Promise to Blog More Often

Well it has been awhile and I could give excuses of why I don't blog as often as I should, but you have all heard them before. So all of you who do read my blog, I am vowing to you this 23rd day of August 2005 that I am going to begin blogging again on a regular basis.

Summer in Texas 2005: First off I have to say that I was very happy to know that we were not going to be moving this summer. I'm not sure what I would have done if we would have moved for the thrid summer in a row. This summer has seemed to fly by, I can't believe that this is already the third week of school. I have been going in again for Atheltic Period (8th hour) every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We have two girls from the 8th hour study hall who watch Maddie and they are all still getting used to each other. It helps that that time is just about nap time, so she usually ends up sleeping for some of the period. I have been trying to adjust to the life of a stay at home mom, but am still not used to it. Some days seem to fly by while others seem to go on forever. We have been keeping ourselves busy with volleyball games and other events going on at school. Football season has started, but there are only 4 home games this year and Chad is so lucky to be on supervision duty for all of them. The first home game isn't until the 23rd of Sept. which just happens to be the week that I am home in Wisconsin. What else has summer brought us? Baseball. We have been to a few games and are still planning a few more. Last week we went to two, the Cubs and the Brewers. We are planning on going to Miller Park when we are home too, so Maddie will get to go to a real Brewers game. The summer also brought lots of visitors. We enjoyed each visit, but must say that it has been nice getting into a routine and being able to just be the three of us. I'm sure I won't be saying that come November, but then it will be Christmas soon. Basketball is just around the corner and we are already in the planning stage. Paul Keiper (the A.D.) is actually going to be the Varsity coach and I will be the JV coach. We might still get an assistant Varsity coach, or it might just be the two of us. Chad is also coaching basketball this year, the freshmen boys, so we will see how the winter goes with the suffling of Maddie around. We have already had lots of volunteers for babysitting, so I don't think that will be a problem. Summer doesn't seem like it is over for most people, but for us it has been over for a couple of weeks now. We are looking forward to next summer when we can make a trip home and escape some of this heat.

Maddie update: We like to be in a sitting position, but don't know how to on our own. When we try, we end up folded in half with our face near our feet. We babble all the time and love to talk to the ceiling fan. We have a bouncy saucer with all sorts of lights and toys and love to stand in that and turn ourselves around in it. We like to watch and listen to our Praise Baby DVD that has cool colors and good songs on it. We love going to school and having all the girls gush all over us. We like when they take us in the student section and hold us. We are getting used to mom and so sometimes give dad a rough time when it comes to naptime or bedtime. But most of all, we miss everyone and can't wait to see them in September. We also found out yesterday that we are going to have another boy cousin. Cousin Ben is going to be a big brother to a baby brother in January and we have another cousin coming in December whose big sister will be cousin Kate. We are looking forward to meeting cousin Kate, uncle Alan and aunt Tracie in September.

That is all the new news from here in Tomball. I will try to be more consistent and pictures I put up will not be the same as Chad's (or at least I'll try). Have a great day.

Where has the blogging been?

Well for most of you, you know to look at Chad's blog to see what is going on in Maddie's life and that is pretty much what our life is right now, Maddie. If you don't have Chad's blog address here it is http://misterjntexas.blogspot.com He actually has been really good at updating especially with pictures of Maddie.

As for us, like I said our life is Maddie, so whatever she is doing, we are doing. Her and I have been practicing for the school year with being home by ourselves and it has been going rather well. Chad would go into work for a couple of hours here and there, but last week he had basketball camp that went from 8am-4pm, so it was kind of like a school day and so this week he has been at work by about 9am and home somewhere between 4 and 5. Maddie and I have been getting used to each other's schedule and actually this has helped her get into a little more predictable routine. Today we did walk to school and had lunch with him, so that always breaks up our day. Maddie and I like to take walks in the morning when it is cooler and she seems to enjoy them a lot by sleeping through all of them.

It really has been a long time since my last blog. We have had more visitors here since then and we also got to take a little road trip to Oklahoma City with a stop in Dallas. In Dallas we saw Chad's Aunt Kathy, Uncle Dave, cousins, Michael, Christina and Eric. We also got to hang out with Adam a little bit and then to OKC. There we met his parents, Kathy and Scott, Josh, Lydia and Kurt. They got to meet Maddie and see her before they all come next week. We also went to a wedding last week for one of the teachers at school.

We are just waiting for all our visitors to come next week. It starts with my mom on Monday the 25th and ends with my Aunt Susie, Uncle Kip, and cousin Jared on Monday the 8th. There will be someone here for those two whole weeks. We are making another trip to Dallas, without Chad. Maddie, my sister Jana and I are going to drive up there with my mom, dad, sister Amy, brother-in-law Joel, and nephew Ben for the Rangers game on the 2nd. They are then flying out from Dallas and Jana will drive back with me to Tomball and stay until Friday. Maddie is having the reaffirmation of her baptism on July 31st, so that is why everyone will be here. She was baptized while she was in the hospital, but wanted to make sure that the families got to be around for her also. That is the last month in a nutshell. We are getting ready for school to start. Chad starts meetings on the 1st, classes on the 10th. It looks like I might be doing athletic period again, but we still aren't sure. Basketball starts in October, so it looks like Maddie and I are going to be taking a trip to Wisconsin in September for about a week. So if you are around, we hope to see you then.

Chad's first Father's Day 

We were a little shocked that mom was taking our picture 

Sleeping, that is what we do best 

Maddie and her friend Isaac  

Adjust Accordingly

And that is what we have just done. It has now been two weeks and 3 days and we are all surviving life here in Tomball. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind and they seem to have flown by. Each day starts and seems like it is going to be such a long day, but before I know it, I am in my pj's and getting some sleep for the night. Things are going good. Our nights are going great. We sleep for about 5 hours at night and so that is the time when mom gets her sleep, but during the day is a different story. We have been told it is a little bit of colic, but nothing like some of the stories I have heard. During the day we just like to be held and when we try to put her down in either the crib or bassinet, she wants nothing to do with it. So that makes it very hard for me to get any laundry or other chores done.

We did go to the doctor today and we have grown a bit in the last two weeks. We are now 8lbs 7.5 oz and 22 inches long. The doctor said that she is very healthy and she seems to be eating good. I would have to agree. Now we don't have to go back until her 2 month check and that is where she will have to get shots, so I need to make sure to schedule that before Chad starts school, so he can go with me.

We did have our first babysitter on Tuesday morning. We had a meeting at school both of us had to be at, so we left her with the office ladies and she was great for them. The meeting was with the Texas A & M strength and conditioning coach and it was a long 4 hours with a lot of information in a short amount of time.

Tonight we went to the summer league baseball game at school and she enjoyed being outside. It was nice to be outside for more than 10 minutes for me too. We will have to make sure that we try to get out more, but it will have to be in the evening when it isn't too hot out and the sun has gone down.

We have more visitors this weekend and can't wait for them to be here. This weekend my mom; sister, Amy; brother-in-law, Joel; and nephew, Ben will be here. Chad and Joel are going to the Astros game on Sunday, but other than that I don't think we have too much planned. Then it will be quiet around here until July, unless my mom finds a good deal that she can't resist and comes down in July before the 24th.

Well I better go get some sleep, she is down for her long stretch now and so this is my time to lay down and get a few hours of sleep.

Where have I been???

If you are looking for a new post or maybe you are just looking for more pictures of Maddie. I will start posting again soon, but things have been a little busy around here and so I am hoping to get settled and into a routine. If you do want to see more pictures of Maddie, Chad is always putting more on his blog and that address is http://misterjntexas.blogspot.com

He updates it a few times a week and so there will always be new Maddie pictures on there. I am sorry if anyone is missing my boring blogs of our everyday life, but those will just have to wait. We are doing good and still adjusting to having three in the house. Grandma and Grandpa Heff were here this weekend and Aunt Jana is coming tomorrow for a visit.

Just hanging out 

Trying to find my fingers 

The Wait Is Over

We can finally say that she is here. I know that most of you know that she is already here, but there are a few people who need to see what she looks like. Well Madeline Anne was born at 6:21am on Sunday June 5th. We have been waiting almost 9 months to know if it was going to be Madeline or a boy. We are home now and have even gotten through our first night at home all together. We spent two nights in the hospital and we were all ready to come home on Tuesday. We have had some ups and downs already, and we know that there will be a lot more to come. We are taking a nap right now and have been pretty good all day. We even ventured out this morning to Target to pick up a few things that we weren't sure if we needed, but when we got home yesterday, realized that we did. We did okay in the store and we really seem to like the carseat. Well I just wanted to let you know that Madeline is here and is waiting to meet all of you.

The Waiting Game

We are still playing the waiting game and hoping that it will be over soon. Everytime I move Chad asks if I am okay or if it is time to go to the hospital. He is getting a little anxious for the baby to be here. I think part of it is just wanting to know if it is a boy or girl. I am just getting anxious, so maybe I'll start feeling a little better. Chad is wanting to actually talk to a face instead of my stomach. So for now, it is just sit tight and wait. We did find out that we won't be going past the 14th. If we make it to our appointment on Thursday and no baby, then they are going to set us up to be induced on Tuesday the 14th (which is the actual due date). Both families are getting anxious and jump whenever the phone rings.

Other than the waiting game, not too much else going on here. We have survived our first week of summer. Chad was actually at school most days during the day and then he was there each night for baseball camp. Hopefully the next couple of weeks will be taken easy and then he will start going in on a regular basis. He is gone again today. He had to be at school at 8:45am to open up the baseball field, so the JV summer team could practice and then he is there until about 2pm for summer league basketball. The boys program runs a summer league on Saturdays in June from 10-2 and Chad is one of the refs for the league. So that will be for the next 4 Saturdays. Then he will have a couple of weeks off before basketball camp in July.

As for me I don't do too much these days. Most of my day is spent inside in the air conditioning. It is a little too hot for me to be running around outside. Hopefully we will have some good news in the next few days and will be able to adjust our lives accordingly. For now we will just continue to wait and watch the Brewers.

Memorial Day

Well it is Memorial Day today, but it isn't like it used to be. Usually this day meant a day off of school, but school is over now, so it doesn't really seem like a day off. It is important to remember those who did/do serve our country, so that is what we do.

This week has been a long and very full week. This week was meetings for Chad at school. I attended the Tuesday meetings, because they were for the Athletic Department. We talked about all the issues and items that have come up in the past year and how to resolve them. Not too much got resolved, but a lot of concerns were aired. Wednesday was out shower at Diane's. It was a good time. There were about 35 people there and it wasn't a girly shower (meaning there were no games or prizes to be won). We just got to hang out with the staff and get together. We ended up staying until about 11. We were the last ones to leave, but we were just talking with Diane and so it didn't even seem like it was 11pm. Then Thursday was a doctors appointment. He told me that I have begun to dialate and so the process is starting and we made an appointment for this week, but we are hoping to not have to get to it. I'm sure that I will, because it seems like this kid is never going to come. The weekend brought another movie night on Friday. We went and saw Madacascar. It was cute. It wasn't the best we've seen, so we recommend to wait until it comes out on video. The nice this is that the cinema in Tomball runs first rate movies, but it is always only $3.50 to see them, so it isn't like we are spending the $8 a person for the movies. Then Saturday was suppose to be a graduation party, but I fell asleep and Chad didn't want to wake me up, so we didn't go, but it was still quite hot out, so I don't know how long we would have lasted anyways. Sunday was church and I actually got Chad to go to early church, so we were home a whole lot earlier than normal. We also got to watch the Brewers all weekend on TV, instead of the computer, since they were playing the Astros. Today we went to Kim and Andrew's new house to grill out and hang out. It is a very nice house, it is one of the only one's done in the new subdivision and so it is a little weird having half done houses around them. It is nice and makes Chad want to move into a house tomorrow.

Chad has baseball camp this week during the evenings and then it is just playing the waiting for the baby game. This week for me is just grin and bear it for a little bit longer. It still is hot, so not too much activity outside. Just keeping up with the laundry and cleaning and grocery shopping. That way Chad won't have to take on too much in the next couple of weeks.

Here is an interesting fact for some of you, who think we live in a small town. This just proves the point. Next Saturday, June 11th, there is a Ku Klux Klan meeting being held at the community center. It isn't a rally, because they are not here to recruit members, but it is more of a informational meeting and exhibit all about what they are about. There is going to be some major protesting and so we are hoping not to have to go out of the house that day. It says that the city is not promoting it, but they have the right to free speech. There was a big article in the paper last week. They keep saying that is just for information and they are not trying to rectruit members, they won't even be handing out applications, but you can only attend if you are caucasian. It is pretty freaky to think that that is going to be going on.

Well with that in mind, we are hoping to be at the hospital or home from the hospital when all of that is happening. We are just getting anxious for the baby to get here and are hoping that everything goes well. We can't wait to tell you about it and post some pictures on here.

Another Year Done

Well school is over for Chad. He had finals this week and now just has graduation tomorrow afternoon. He does have meetings next week, but all you teachers know how those go. He did manage to get his finals written. I did tell him I would help type them if he gave me enough time, so he stayed up too late on Tuesday finishing the Junior class final, so I could type it the next day. He then wrote the Senior final on Wednesday at school. We even went up to school in the evening and got all his copying done and keys (scantron test) done, so all he would have to do is go to school on Thursday for his final. He got his finals done and seemed pretty happy. Thursday night he went to the Astros game. The Diamondback pitcher was a friend of the student teacher/assistant baseball coach from high school. So they went with him and some of his friends. He said he had a good time, but felt a little old, since most of the people in the group with them were still in college or just graduating. (Phil went with him, so at least he had someone to talk to) Friday he still had to be at school even though there weren't any finals, it is kind of like a make-up day, but he did manage to get his grades done and even before they were due. So to end the year, we went out for dinner and then to a movie. No we did not go see Star Wars. I haven't seen the first two, so I told Chad he will have to find someone to go to the movie with. It seemed we weren't the only ones who had the idea to go out last night, while driving through the parking lot looking for a spot to park, the car coming toward us was the Keiper's. They were going to see Star Wars and I told Chad he should just go with them. We went to see Guess Who with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac, it was pretty funny. The only problem was that it must have been middle-school night at the movies, because there were about 30 middle-schoolers in the movie and I don't think one of them sat for the entire show or could keep their mouths shut through the entire show.

This week was not much going on, just trying to get through the last week of school. Monday was the Faculty get together at the Greene's we went for about 2 hours and ate some dinner and just hung out. Tuesday we met the pediatrician and then had to get back to school for physicals. I never have heard of doing it this way, but the athletes get their physicals done at school with coaches and then doctors. I was taking height and weight, while Chad did blood pressure and pulse. It actually is a good idea, but just a little odd. Then on Tuesday night, we went to the hospital to tour the maternity ward. It was nice to know where to go and proceedures. There was actually no one in the labor ward, but about 5 in the post pardum(sp.) wing. There were just a couple babies in the nursery. Not too much else going on here. We have a couple graduation parties we were invited to today, but it is suppose to be in the middle 90's, so I don't know how long I'll last at them. Next Wednesday we were having a get together/shower at Diane's house with the staff. Christa and Diane and throwing it for us. Then it is just get through the next three weeks.

Hope that the end of the year for many of you teachers is going okay and that you will make it until the end. Just a few couple more weeks left.

Finals Week

Well it is the last week of school for Chad and let's just say that he is pretty excited. This week are finals. There is a half day today, which basically is a review day for all classes and then the next 4 days are finals. In Chad fashion, he hasn't written his final yet, but I know that it will get done in time like he always does. Next week he will have meetings, but those are usually only for half days and not usually until the afternoons. He will have graduation this weekend on Sunday and there have been a few parties that we have been invited too, so we will see where those take us.

This weekend, mom and dad came down and we enjoyed the warm weather and just hanging out. They got here on Thursday afternoon. After Chad and I walked almost the entire Bush Intercontinenal Airport looking for them, we did finally find them. Friday Chad had school, so dad took him there and then went for his morning coffee. Mom, dad, and I ventured out to Garden Ridge (a home store-mom's idea) and then ate lunch. After school, Chad and dad got in a round of golf and I helped mom put her digital pictures onto her laptop. Saturday we went to breakfast and then a little bit of running around, but mom did manage to get in some sun. We weren't sure what we were going to do, but then we ended up at the Astros game, since Clemens was pitching. It was pretty packed and hot, especially since we were sitting up pretty high, but at least it was on an aisle. Sunday was church and listening to the Brewer's game. During church Chad got the idea of how to listen to the Brewer's game downstairs when the computer is upstairs, use the baby monitor. That is what he did and it actually worked pretty good. We dropped our guests off at the airport around 4pm and headed home to do some grocery shopping. Chad isn't sure if mom is going to make it through the next month until she comes back, but we figure it will be all good. She's got things to keep her busy.

No doctor's appointments this week, but we are meeting with the pediatrician and going on the hospital tour of the birthing center. We have just 4 weeks to go and have a feeling that they may be some of the longest four weeks there are. We are already looking forward to our visitors in June.

The days are getting hotter here, so any visitors be ready for the heat. We have 4 steps to our humidity, from top to bottom: Super, Stuffy, Sticky, and Stiffling. Last week is was just stuffy, but this week it is suppose to raise up to Sticky. The air was turned on last week Tuesday and I'm sure it won't be turned off until the fall.

We are looking forward to the summer, I think Chad will just be happy that he doesn't have to go to school everyday. I'm sure that he will be up there his fair share of the time, but at least it won't be everyday all day. It is also nice to not have to move this summer. A first in three years.

One Week Down...

Well it has been a whole week since I have been at work and I am still wondering where the better part of the week went. I know that Chad was worried that I was going to be bored, or have nothing to do, but I don't think that will be a problem. Monday was spent doing laundry and cleaning up a bit, but as Chad thinks, it really isn't cleaning, because this place is clean enough for his standard. Let's just say that I tackled the bathroom good. Tuesday was Athletic Period, which I only had two girls for, so you can imagine how much fun that was. It isn't that it is just 2 girls, they are the two girls who are the quietest on both teams. Wednesday brought a day of Isaac and athletic period. Isaac and I hung out for a bit, we ran a couple errands and then he got to hang out with the office ladies while I went to athletic period. In which I was informed that that was the last one I would need to be at, since next week they are testing. Thursday brought another day of Isaac, this time I met at Keiper's house and Isaac seemed to be in a better mood, since he got to sleep until his normal time. Jen dropped Shelby off for an hour while she had a doctor's appointment. Shelby wasn't too keen on the idea of having Isaac there. They played, well Shelby played and Isaac watched her. Then that brings us to today, Friday and the week is over.

This weekend I think is bringing rest for Chad, he had another game in Waco last night, got home about 12:15am. They lost, so no baseball next week when mom and dad are here. As he left this morning I asked him what time he would be home and he said 3:05, I think that those late nights of games and practice were really getting to him.

Next week will bring two days of Issac, a doctor's appointment, and mom and dad coming. Then the following week is finals, and school is over. Chad will have meetings the week of the 23rd-27th, but those aren't as bad as having class. Then June 1st-4th he is having the baseball camp for the grade school kids in the evenings. I told him that the baby better not come that week, but he figured that it would be okay. This coming Tuesday will be just 5 more weeks. Mom said it would be okay to be just 3 more weeks. I would be okay with that too. The heat hasn't been too bad, but I know that it is just going to keep getting hotter and hotter. We still haven't turned on the air, because at night it is getting down to about 65 and with the windows open and the fan going, it is actually very comfortable. I promise Joel, that when you are here, we will have the air on, I don't want you getting heatstroke or anything. Other than just doing a lot of waiting for school, for baby, for visitors everything here is good.

I don't want to jinx it, but we love the fact that the Brewers are in 2nd place. All I care is that they are above the Astros. We have been watching the games a lot and doing a lot of yelling, but then it seems to always turn out alright. I was just happy that we swept the Cubs. The Tigers are struggling, but we still watch them too. I guess we are just suckers for "bad" teams or maybe it is just that we are real fans.

Last Day of Work

Well today was the last day of work for me. It was a relief, but at the same time, it is weird to think about not having to go. Fridays are always an easy day anyways, with usually only 3 kids there, but today was extra easy, because there were only two. One of the boys in on vacation in Oregon. Well now it is try to get as much rest as possible before the baby comes, because we all know there won't be much gotten after.

Other news; Chad left this morning at 5:50am to drive to Austin for a meeting at Concordia for his intern that is coming in June. He had to attend a meeting to tell all the details and things like how to evaluate the intern and what their duties are. Then that was to be over at about 3, then it was a 90 mile drive to Waco for baseball. The first play-off game is tonight. It is win or go home, so we will see if they play next week or not. So that means he will be getting home about midnight tonight. So I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a sleeping in day.

Mom and dad are getting ready to come down here. Mom is ready, because it is hot here and the sun is out, so she can get a tan. The pool has been filled with kids all week. Today was the hottest yet. It was a hot 90 degrees. There is suppose to be a cool front coming in tonight and it should only be about 79 tomorrow. I love when the weathermen use the term cool/cold front.

Then we will be having visitors on June 25-27. Amy, Joel, Ben, and mom are coming for a quick weekend visit. I have already warned Joel that it is going to be hot, so he will just have to grin and bear it. The Astros are in town that weekend against the Rangers, so Joel and Chad can head out to that sometime.

Concordia has called a vice-principal and he accepted, so that is a load off Paul's shoulders, because now he can focus on being athletic director. We are still waiting to see what happens with basketball, we still need a varsity coach. There is also a call out for Executive Director and they were here this week visiting from Indiana. They have a daughter who would be a sophomore and so she was shadowing yesterday and was in athletic period with me.

One of the moms from work, whose sister teaches with Chad and CLHS, and I were talking for a bit on Wednesday morning and got to figure that she might have had Jana in class while she was student teaching at Martin Luther in the fall of 1990. She was student teaching with Mr. Riegles and had sophomore English. It was kind of weird how we figured it out, but there is that small Lutheran world again.

Well not too much else, just going to be hanging out this weekend. It is Confirmation here, so on Sunday we will head over to the Wilke's since Michael is being confirmed. Other than that, just looking forward to the month of May going quickly, I know that Chad is too. I do get to babysit Isaac a couple of times each week for the next two weeks and Christa is filling in as a sub at CLHS. Well I hope that everything is going well. We will talk to you soon.

A Random Day Off of School

Well that is what today is, a random day off of school. Well for Chad it is because this past weekend was Prom and so I think that they have learned to just take the day off, instead of having kids just not show up to school. I have off too, but that is because I believe today is a Staff Development day, but since I don't have to go to those, it is just a day off. It makes a nice break for Chad, because now it is like, okay just 4 weeks of classes and then finals. It is kind of like a little go get em' kind of day. It should gear you up for the rest of the year. The past weeks have gone by quickly, but not too much exciting has gone on. We have had the usual of baseball, doctor appointments, babysitting Isaac, and relaxing.

Baseball's regular season is done this week and then the playoffs begin next weekend. They are suppose to play on Saturday for the first playoff game, but they are trying to get it moved to Friday. They then will play until they lose. Baseball has been interesting and a learning experience for both Chad and I. It was kind of like football season. They take this very seriously and if anyone messes with it, they are in for big trouble.

Doctor appointments are now coming every two weeks, instead of four. It is almost more of a hassle, because now it is a 5 minute appointment every two weeks. Everything is good, we are getting closer and have just 8 weeks to go. I keep saying that it would be nice to only have 6 or 7 weeks to go.

This weekend we spent a lot of time not at home, which is a little unusual. Friday Chad went golfing in the afternoon, well 4pm and then when he got home, we went over to the Wilke's house for dinner. We hung out there until about 11:00 and then headed home. Saturday brought a little cleaning and then some errand running. We have been looking for a bassinet, but then realized that it would be easier to just get one of the pack n' plays with the bassinets in them, it will be more convienent and cheaper. Then we watched the Brewers lose and the Tigers lose. We then headed over to the Keiper's house for some bbq. We ended up staying there until about 11:30, I don't think Paul wanted us to leave until him and Chad had finished all the beer. Sunday was church and then Pete and the Schlicker's came over for dinner. We just grilled hamburgers. We got to play some cards, while Shelby watched Finding Nemo 3 times. Today is going to be laundry and grocery shopping. Chad has practice this afternoon.

I think that this is the longest since the baseball season starts that I haven't been at a baseball game, but the Brewers are in town on Wednesday and Thursday and so we are planning on going to the game on Wednesday night. We have been watching them, but the last few games there hasn't been anything to watch. Chad has also been watching his Tigers faithfully.

Work is going well, it has to when you only have 5 more days of it. I am looking forward to not having to chase the kids around, but I am and I know that Chad is hoping I just don't get to bored. I figure I won't, because I will still have Athletic Period twice a week and baseball might still be going on.

Well hope that everyone is enjoying spring weather, it has looked like it has been nice up north. Here it is usually about 80 degress during the day and then about 60 at night. Haven't had to turn the air on yet, but I have a feeling some May it might be needed. Well, Ben Janetzke, happy birthday this week, we have card sitting on the counter, but am waiting for your address from your parents, so it will get there sometime this week. Ben Chapman, there is a package being mailed to you this week, I am going to the post office today with it. Hope you all have a great week.

It's Been Awhile

I'm surprised that I haven't gotten a call from my brother-in-law telling me that I need to update my blog. He is usually good for that. Maybe he is trying to be a little bit nicer. Well it has been awhile and it is no excuse for not writing. I last wrote during spring break right when we got home from San Antonio. Our company arrived on Friday evening, just in time to see the end of the Michigan State game. Saturday was a nice day to just sleep in for a little bit and then we went to school to take the grand tour. This visit was more about relaxing and actually visiting than going and doing things. Sunday was Easter, we went to 8am service, we just didn't think we would make it to sunrise. Plus we didn't want to take the chance of the same thing happening that happened last year at Trinity. We drove around downtown after church and saw the sights of Houston. We were planning on going out to dinner, but instead decided to order in pizza and watch basketball.
Monday took Chad, his dad, and Kurt to the golf course. They ended up playing 18 holes. Then it was off to practice for Chad. We took his dad, Kendra, and Kurt over a little later to watch the end of practice and then to play out on the field. His mom and I went on a furniture hunt for a glider. It was our wedding present. We found one at USA Baby and the boys put it together that night. They then went on the nightly run to Wal-Mart and got our crib set. Chad's dad spent most of Tuesday morning/early afternoon putting it together. He got it all together and I spent the rest of the week putting the room together. We went to Chad's baseball game down at North and they left for Dallas from there.
The rest of the week was "normal" as usual. Work and games and babysitting for me. I had a doctor's appointment on Thursday and then I had Isaac for just a couple of hours after school. Since it was for a short time, he came over here and played with a lot of the toys that we have gotten. He even caught a short nap in the crib. The weekend brought a game on Friday for Chad, but it was just one, so he was actually home before 8pm. Saturday was some errand running and watching the final four. Let's just say that Chad was pretty upset after the State loss. While I was running errands at Wal-Mart, the power went out in the store, but I found it odd that the check-outs still were up and running. Sunday was church and correcting papers for Chad. We then went to the Wilke's for dinner and to watch the baseball game. We also watched the Brewers game live on Saturday on the computer. Today it was back to work and another week. Chad has just 5 weeks of classes and then a week of finals left. I am going to be done working at the end of April and so I have just a few more weeks.
We are having visitors in May and then the summer will be here and our lives will be turned upside down. Hope that spring has gotten to you in the north. We are enjoying the warm here, but not looking forward to the hot hot summer.

Ben (wienerhead) with Kate's hat on 

Snow, a baby shower, a wienerhead, and San Antonio

Well it has been a while since the last time I had written. Well actually it hasn't been that long, but we have just done a lot in that week's time. We flew home on Saturday morning and got to Milwaukee at about 2:00 in the 30 degree weather after leaving from Houston and it being 75. We got a chance to relax for a bit and then I headed out to the mall with Jana and Amy. Chad and Joel went down to Miller Park to get something to eat. Elsa and Jill met us at my parent's house and then it was off to Kendra's play at Trinity for Youth. We headed home and the day was done. So there is the snow that I mentioned.

Next is the baby shower. My mom planned one for us and it was mostly family and card club and a few friends. We had it at Mount Olive and just hung out, talked, and ate. It wasn't anything too formal. There were no games played, which is just fine by me. Sunday night we got a chance to hang out with Elsa and Jill and just relax. Monday, mom took off work and so it was running around with her before we had to catch our flight. We headed out to Best Buy to get her laptop all hooked up wirelessly. We also headed to Wal-Mart, so I could get some Brewer's clothes for peanut, since here we just have Astros stuff. It was a good time. Jana came with us and we ended up eating lunch at Fuddruckers and then we headed back to my parent's, so Chad could hook mom up with her new internet connections.

The wienerhead part comes in from Chad. So being home, meant we got to see both Ben and Kate. And all of you who have ever spent time with Ben will agree that he is a ham. I bet that he will end up being the class clown. He is always performing for whatever audience will watch him. Chad started calling him wienerhead just for the fun of it, but then it just kind of was funny, because of all the things that he does. It orignated from some of the guys on the baseball team. That is what they say when they get mad at another player on the team and so one of the kids has been using it a lot and so it has crept into Chad's vocabulary. You can check out the picture of Ben above.

Last but not least was San Antonio. We headed there on Tuesday night and got back today, Thursday. It took us about 3 and a half hours to get there. We spent the majority of Wednesday down at the Riverwalk and the rest of downtown. We didn't head to the Alamo, since both of us have been there before. We rode the trolley, went to the Market Square, walked along the riverwalk and just enjoyed the day. I will have to say that it was a beautiful day. I even got sunburned as we were eating lunch outside. We stayed on the Riverwalk, but it was a little bit aways from right downtown. It was a lot of walking, but it was nice to not have a plan and just be enjoying our break. We got home today and did a little cleaning. We then headed to target to spend our gift cards. We got lots of stuff and had some fun shopping. Tomorrow is church, grocery shopping and awaiting our visitors. Chad's parents, and three youngest siblings are on their way down here now and will be arriving later in the day tomorrow.

If anyone has been trying to call us, mom, our phone has been acting up and just call the cell phones. It has been really weird, so don't freak, we are fine, but it is the phone line. Well I better get going, I have some laundry to finish and some sleep to get. I hope that everyone has a happy easter and if you are starting your break this week have a good one.

Not Much New

Well there hasn't been that much going on this past week. Maybe I should say that it hasn't been that exciting of a week. Well I left you with playing baseball on Thursday. Well we never made it to baseball. I went to school for 8th hour and I was told by Rita, the secretary, that Chad was not feeling well and was in the clinic laying down. I went back to see what was going on and he said that he had not been feeling well all day. So after school, we went home and Chad slept for a good 5 hours. He wasn't feeling a whole lot better on Friday, so he stayed home from school. I had to work and then babysit for Isaac. By the time I got home on Friday he was feeling better and so we just relaxed on Friday night. We got some food and a movie.

Saturday we were back to our normal selves and Chad had to be at school at 8am to help with Market Day. He then had to have a kid make up a test, but he was at least home by 11:30. We then were off for the day. We went a few places, like Best Buy (Chad got a new video game) and then a few other places. Chad actually got down to work on Saturday night and graded papers that needed to get done, so he wouldn't have to do it on Sunday. The rest of the week has been just normal things; work, baseball, athletic period, and waiting for Spring Break. We did head out and celebrate St. Patrick's Day for a little while. We met some people at Molly's, an Irish Pub, and hung out for about an hour and a half. It was crowded, but not unbearable crowded. Tonight was me trying to get some laundry done so I would have clothes to wear this weekend and now I am waiting for Chad to get back from his baseball game. They played a doubleheader in Navasota. He should be home by 10:45. We can't wait to go home tomorrow and hang out for a few days. Then we are heading to San Antonio for a couple of days, just to take a little side trip during break. Chad's parents and some of the kids are coming on Friday. so we will have visitors for a few days. I hope that everyone enjoys their break, if it is this week. Many of you we will see you on Sunday, but for those who we won't, I hope that you have a Happy Easter.

Nice Weather and Baseball

Well another week has passed and I am again trying to figure out where all the time has gone. I shouldn't be complaining that the time goes fast, but there are some days where I just need to stop and try to remember what I did the day before. I'll chalk that one up to mom and her forgetfulness. I left you last Thursday with the doctor and people are still making jokes about the bigger kid we have. I am not allowed to call it the "fat kid" because it offends it's grandma Heffelfinger. Friday was work, which is three one year olds and then it was straight to babysitting for a 6 month old. I had Isaac after school on Friday. We just hung out at the Keiper's house and Chad met us there. Paul got home around 8:30 and then the three of us just hung out and talked about school and sports. Christa finally made it home by about 10pm.

Saturday was another day of baseball for Chad. He was up and at school by 6:45am. He played at 10am and then again at 1:15, in Cleveland, which is about an hour and a half away. The 1:15 game was a surprise, because they weren't suppose to play until 4pm. So he got home at about 5:30, which was a lot earlier than thought. We headed out for some dinner and then for the fun of the evening was grocery shopping.

This week has just gone by and it seems like I sometimes forget what day it is. It has been work and baseball. I am just happy that the weather has been nice and so I am not sitting watching baseball freezing. Baseball was on Tuesday and then again today. I had Isaac again on Tuesday and we watched some softball and baseball. Tuesday was not a good game. They ended up losing 14-2, the team was a very well coached team and had some good talent on it. I had the luxury of sitting next to some parents who I no longer wonder why their children have the attitudes they do. I'll just sum it up, that as soon as their sons were taken out of the game, they all left. So then I had the luxury of sitting by some girls from Tomball High School, who one is the girlfriend of one of the players. I'll sum that one up by saying, I think my IQ went down 10 points for having to listen to them talk. Today's game is at 4:30, so that might mean will be home before 8pm.

This weekend is actually a weekend where there isn't too much going on. No baseball tournaments. Chad does have to be at school on Saturday morning for Market Day Delivery, but that is only for about 2 hours. I think that it will just a be a weekend for catching up on sleep for Chad and trying to get school work done before Spring Break.

We are looking forward to the short trip home, it will be a nice change of scenery for 2 days. We have also been thinking about maybe taking a road trip during the week over to San Antonio. We will see how the weather is and how much stuff we have to get done around here.

We Let Our Kid Be The Fat Kid

The kid isn't even born yet, and it already has been labeled the fat kid. So I went for a follow-up ultrasound with the long wait doctor. The good news is that I didn't have to go downtown and I didn't have to wait for 2.5 hours. I waited for only about 5 minutes. So here it goes. Note: Chad didn't go with me, because he is missing school today and tomorrow because of baseball, so I exempted him from going.

The doctor was in a much better mood than last time, she asked how I was doing and how things were going. I told her good. So she was about to get started and she made the comment of, "Wow, you are a lot bigger than the last time I saw you, what have you been eating?". In my mind I was thinking, well you saw me 5 weeks ago, of course I'm bigger. So I told her that actually in the last few weeks my appetite has gone down. So she did her magic and the cysts that were there, are now gone and the baby is all nice and healthy. She again asked if I knew what I was having and I responded with "a baby". She actually laughed and then made a joke about carrying a kangaroo in that pouch. So she was finished taking all the measurements and asked if I had any questions. So I proceeded to ask her about the decreased appetite. She told me that it is because with the baby growing it puts pressure on the stomach and so I feel full faster. Makes sesnse to me and I would have been fine with that answer. She continues on, to let me know that this isn't going to harm the baby at all, because it is already 2 lbs. 11 oz. So at this point I am laughing to myself and wish Chad was there to hear that. So she showed me the graph of "normal" growth and our kid was on the upswing of the graph. So once I finally got to the car, I was able to have a good laugh to myself.

After the appointment, I ran by school, to take care of a few things. Suzanne, the Spanish teacher, was in the office and I was talking to her and had to tell her, how we have a fat kid. So we all had a few laughs and I went home. Suzanne, not being able to keep the fat kid jokes away, yells down the hall to Chad after school about having the "fat kid". Chad has no idea what she is talking about and so when I picked him up, we had a good laugh about it. So even before your kid is born, it is already labeled.

If the baby keeps growing at the rate it is, that means it could come a little early. I go to my regular doctor this morning and I'm sure that he will have a good laugh with me too. So don't think that you kid isn't already being labeled, even in the womb.