An Update on Jen

I know, I know, it's kind of strange to get an update on Jen and not just an update from Jen:)

This week I celebrate my 8th anniversary working for Mayo Clinic, and this week I also shared with my co-workers (many of whom I've worked with all 8 years) that I'll be transferring to a new job in July. 

I've accepted an Operations Associate position in the Travel Services department.  That sounds clear as mud right?;)  I'll be working with reimbursements to Mayo employees after they travel for business.  I'll still have the incredible blessing of working half time (20 hours a week) though the hours I work will change in the new department.  My last day in my current department will be June 26th and I'll begin working in my new department July 8th after a lovely week of vacation for the 4th:)

I'm really looking forward to the challenge of learning a new department and seeing how the travel reimbursements work from "the other side" (I've been on the travel arranging end in my current job).  I'm also excited to finally say I'm using my bachelors degree (which was required plus business experience)! 

Celebrating my 8th anniversary at Mayo makes me think of how much life has changed since I began in 2005...

• Brent and I were still a "fairly" newly wed couple back in June 2005:)  We were so excited I had gotten a job at Mayo and to have great benefits!
• During my first week at Mayo, I was horribly tired and thought it was just from the adjustment to a new job, etc, but it turned out I was pregnant!  We learned we were expecting Luke during the second week at my new job.
• Brent was working for Master Stone Masonry
• We were 23 years old!
• I was enrolled at Winona State to begin the Social Work program in Fall 2005.  Those plans changed when I was working full time, pregnant (and still worn out), attempting to take night classes, and fulfill out of class volunteer hours plus school work for the program.

My how life has changed these past 8 years:) 

High Five for Friday

So, I might go overboard on pics on this high five...there are just so many fun ones to choose from!

Luke's music concert at Gibbs
Can you spot his head in the top row?

#1

Garden shopping!  Got the vegetable garden supplies and started exploring perennial plants/flowers for the landscaping Brent created last summer.

The rain didn't stop us from an adventure at
Sargents Nursery for garden plants and seeds. 
Nora was already taste testing the seeds:)

Two peas in a pod at the
Med City Marathon Relay

#2

My dad had unexpected surgery last weekend on his elbow due to a staph infection.  We are so grateful it was discovered and that he was able to get all of the treatment he needed.

Visiting Papa in the hospital after surgery on his arm

The boys watching out Papa's hospital room
window for Mayo One 

Helping Papa get exercise

Enjoying the St Mary's strollers

Nora playing with Gma

Another shot of their game:)

#3

A long weekend home together.

Luke showing Daddy the inside of his fort

Big smile:)

Love baby feet

#4

A dear girl, Emily, who I used to babysit when she was young, was able to babysit for our kiddos this week.  It was so great to have her help:)

Emily and Nora

#5

To Be Announced, but the pic below is from our celebration dinner at BWW:)

Flexible baby...we need to work on her manners...
no feet on the table at  BWW:)

High Five for Friday

This week's high five has a different feel.  Instead of the highlights of the week, I am focusing on an attitude of gratitude.

#1
I sad goodbye to a very dear friend who is moving to Arizona.  We have known each other for six years and have shared so many sweet memories together and with our kids.  I have lived in Rochester all of my life, but never understood the transient city it is until recently.  Many lovely women I met in my twenties were temporary transplants to Rochester due to medical school, residency, and/or fellowship.  This year especially, I've known several families who are now moving on from Rochester and their time of training at Mayo.  I am forever grateful to have shared the last six years in Rochester with Krista, but I also know that a move to Arizona is not the end of the road for our friendship:)

Nora being moody with Krista

And, warming up to Krista:)

#2
I attended my final MOPS at Hope Summit meeting this week.  Seven years ago when I first became a mom, I knew I wanted to connect with other moms so we could learn and grow together through the experience of motherhood.  By the time Luke was 18 months old, our church started a MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) group.  I was blessed with the opportunity to be a leader for the first four years and have attended the past two years.  Similar to my sentiments above, I met so many wonderful women through MOPS and am so grateful for the opportunity to share our kids' preschool years with them.  Thankfully, our church is continuing a moms' ministry in the fall in a slightly different format so I am looking forward to connecting with both familiar and new faces. 

#3
I am so grateful that my kids stay in the "baby stage" for most of the first year.  Not sure what I mean???  Well, my kids are slow to crawl, slow to walk, slow to get teeth, slow to get hair, but they are certainly not lacking in personality:)  I always feel like babies who meet these milestones early in the first year grow up quicker than my bald headed, toothless grinned, stationary babies:)

#4
I am so very grateful to work half time.  I once nannied for a mom who said she was a better mom because she worked half time and a better nurse because she was home half time.  I concur (except I'm not a nurse;))  I am so grateful for the extra time at home with my family and also grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our family's physical needs by working.  I am so thankful for this balance.

#5
I have been, once again, reminded of the incredible blessing of living in the midst of "Mother Mayo."  It is easy to take Mayo Clinic for granted since I've lived in Rochester and had access to its care my entire life.  But, I am regularly reminded how unique our situation is and what a blessing it is.   

Fun-filled Weekend: May 18-19

 

Transportation Fair on the Bucket Truck

Nora's first Transportation Fair
She enjoyed the people watching:)

Oxbow Spring Fest

Nora was pretty beat by the end of our busy morning
(she's actually awake in this pic, but very relaxed:))

Silly face

Nora vegged out in her stroller

Dinner at Victoria's

Attempting a pic with little lady

Now with both kids...
 

It's a little tricky when Nora wants to grab
Luke's glasses anytime he's within reach

Sweet girl playing ball at church

 

Luke checking out his shadow on the neighbor's
garage during sunset

Taking in the spring scents:)

"Never Gonna Feel That Way Again"

I recently heard the Kenny Chesney song Never Gonna Feel That Way Again (click link to hear/read lyrics).  It really got me thinking about how very fast the current stage we're in is flying by us.  Brent and I love raising our kiddos and we are especially fond of the young ages.  We don't know what the future holds for our family (if we'll have more kids, etc), so I really want to soak in the moments we share.  The chorus goes:

It was my life and it was fun
Another season of my life is done
Another race I'm glad I got to run
Another chapter in my life its over
No I'm never gonna feel like that again
Times rushin by me like the wind
Never be as young as I was then
No I'm never gonna feel like that again

I know this year of having a baby and first grader is quickly coming to an end.  We'll shortly enter the season of having a toddler/preschooler and grade-schooler, which will bring it's own joys and trials.  But for today, I want to soak in the moments that fill my heart to overflowing.  Like coming home for lunch to Nora who is ecstatic to see us and saying good bye in the morning to Luke who still wants a hug and kiss before we leave. 

Andy Bernard said it well on The Office series finale last week:

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've left them"

High Five for Friday

Bridge enjoying her huge sandwich from
Cheesecake Factory

Mom with the biggest veggie burger known to man

I should have known the grande burrito
 would be a lot to handle!

Mmmm, Cracker Barrel:)

Luke snuggling Mumbles the night I brought him home

Thursday was Luau Day in first grade. 
Luke and I both dressed for the occasion
since I was volunteering in his class.

1. Trip to Chicago with my mom and sis.  I'll post separately about it soon once I get the pics compiled from multiple cameras.  It was a great get away and lots of fun exploring, and mostly shopping, together:) 
2. Mother's Day was a great day. I spent the day traveling back from Chicago with my mom and sis, eating at Cracker Barrel (one of my favs), and doing some outlet shopping in Wisconsin Dells. I've also already posted about Luke's special gift to me, which made it an extra special day:)
3. After a trip, it always takes time to catch back up on life.  Even though it was only four days, I felt horribly behind at home.  So, this week, as lame as it is, one of my high fives is that I'm caught up on laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning as of today!  It's the little things people;)
4. I ran the Stay Out of the Sun Run 5K tonight.  My second 5K since Nora was born last summer and it went WAY better than the first run (last October).  Interestingly enough it was even the same route:)  I felt good running, we didn't get rained on, and the proceeds went to the wonderful cause of melanoma research. 
5. I think it's safe to say it's finally spring and I'm getting excited to get planting started in the garden (veggies) and in the landscaping that Brent created last year.  We've got some hostas ready plant.  Hopefully we can get started tomorrow!

10 Months!

I'm finally getting around to Nora's 10 Month Update since I was out of town on the "official day" last Saturday. 

At 10 Months, you are...

• Still using the same mode of transportation: rolling, reaching, and scooting backward.  Here we thought you'd be crawling before your brother since you're so squirmy, but you've now surpassed his 9.5 month age of starting to crawl.
• Starting to find your groove-thang:)  While sitting on the floor or in your high chair, you'll bounce up and down to music from toys or from the radio.  So stinkin cute!
• In love with books.  You love sitting on the floor playing with your bucket of toys, which includes several board books.  Almost every time I look at you, you're paging through a book. 
• Very affectionate with your stuffed animals.  You still sleep with taggy bear, but you also love to snuggle any stuffed animal.  Your other favorites include Mumbles the Penguin and a pink teddy bear with a fleece outfit.  Both are very soft to snuggle. 
• A very content baby, but you are especially happy in your stroller, in your swing under the deck, or in your high chair with finger foods. 
• Now a bike-trailer rider.  Papa got us a bike trailer so he can pull you behind the bike on the days he babysits.  He said you like it just as much as riding in the stroller. 
• A great eater.  I think the only thing you have turned your nose at has been plain black beans, otherwise you have eaten everything we've given you.  You especially love yogurt, cottage cheese, baked beans, pasta, vanilla wafers, and puffs.  (You're also still nursing 4 times a day.)
• Very chatty.  You have a lot to say and are even starting to show inflection in your tone so we feel like you're sassing us sometimes.  We love to hear your commentaries on life as you play, eat, ride in the stroller, etc.
• Still obsessed with your brother.  He can make you giggle by doing the littlest thing and you love when he plays with you.
• Quite the social butterfly.  We've been in Culver's a couple times recently and you are very interested in the people sitting near us and all of the activity happening around you.  You draw many admirers with your sweet demeanor:)

Being silly

Overflowing the hamper

And...we're done with the sticker...

Precious moment

Priceless:)

Finally getting a grin,
for brother of course

Busy tongue, she's working on cutting her first tooth

Photo credits to Luke catching this smirk:)