Perspective

This morning was crazy!  But, the craziness got me thinking...it's all about perspective...

 

(Reality vs. Perspective) 

Brent and I raced off in separate directions:  he with Nora and I with Luke.

We have two beautiful children who are full of life.

Luke was headed to his first day of basketball camp.

We have a fun-loving, healthy seven year old who is able to play sports.

Nora was headed to the backup daycare center provided by my employer because my dad, our regular daycare provider, is recovering from surgery.

We have a long awaited bouncing baby girl.  I have an awesome employer with wonderful benefits like backup childcare.  My dad is recovering wonderfully and will be back to 100% in a couple weeks.

Brent and I were both running late getting to work after dropping the kids off at new places (extra forms to fill out, check in time, etc).  Brent forgot the papers he needed for his meeting in his car, which I was driving.

We both have jobs that provide for our family.  We have two vehicles that get us all over town.

I was overwhelmed at work this morning thinking of all I have to accomplish before I transfer to a new position in July and a little saddened as reality set in that I'd actually be leaving my office of eight years. 

I work for a great employer who is large enough to offer a variety of jobs.  Transferring does not impact my pay, benefits, tenure, or FTE and I get to learn and experience a new department.  I have learned so much in the eight years with my department and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to work with my co-workers.

The day turned around, my adrenaline from the morning calmed, and I got a lot accomplished this afternoon at work.  I came home to my husband and kiddos, shared dinner together, Brent and Luke headed to baseball pictures, and Nora and I headed out for a walk on this beautiful evening.

 

It was a good day. 

 

It's all a matter of perspective.

11 Months

We took Nora's 11 month pics outside on this beautiful June day:)  

Luke and Ethan were playing in the water, hence the wet concrete.  

I didn't get many smiles out of Nora because she was so intently studying the boys.
 







 

This is what happens to head bands these days...
they become collars

At 11 months you are...

• Crawling, crawling, crawling all over!  You're also experimenting with getting on your knees and pulling yourself up (like in the bathtub last night).  If we put you in a standing position, you typically just stay there and don't try to sit or crawl around.  
• Pointing.  It's very cute to see your little pointer finger sticking out:)
• A teether.  Your two bottom front teeth poked through this past month:  one on Memorial Weekend and the other yesterday.  Your teething included some moodiness, some squawks in the night, lots of chewing, and lots of sticking your tongue out:)  

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can!

This weekend Luke and I ran in a community run together.  The Go for the Gold run is a fundraiser to fight childhood cancer and we will certainly be participating again next year.  It was a great event and supported a great cause!  The events included a 5K run, a 3K walk, kids sprints (50, 100, 200, 400 meters) and other fun events like a dunk tank and testimonials from families fighting childhood cancer.  It was a beautiful day and lots of fun for all ages!

After my run and before Luke's
P.S. I don't run as fast as I can, my goal is
simply to keep running till the finish line:)

Runner and Cheerleader

Papa and Gma came out to watch Luke

Lined up for the 50 meter race (Luke's on the right end)

100 Meter Race

Trust me, turn down the volume, I was cheering and recording:) 

Luke ran the 50 and 100 meter races
and got second place in both!

She's On The Move!

Eleven months this week...let the fun begin!

First Grade Graduate

Looking back on my blog post from the beginning of the school year, it's hard to believe it was nine months ago!  I noticed a few major differences since September:

• Luke's smile has changed after losing three teeth this year (easiest to see in the pics with Nora)
• Our boy has grown!  He's complained about growing pains on and off this year, so I knew it was happening but hard to tell until I compared pictures. 
• Our boy adjusted beautifully to all day school and loved his year with Mrs. Parker:)  He also loved the experience of all of his "special" classes (art, gym, music, etc) and having lunch at school. 

Love having the opportunity to take sibling pictures this year:) 

 

Looking forward to extra time with both kiddos this summer!

 

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:)