Zoo, bikes, and "Pink Sparkley Kittens"...

Madeline's soccer team: 'The Pink Sparkley Kittens'

Take just a minute. Re-read that. Yep. It's true. These 5 & 6 year old girls threw out a few of their favorite things...and before we knew it, the team name was simply, "The Pink Sparkley Kittens".  Hey, they love pink, sparkley things, and kittens of course!

We had a great weekend! Hard to believe though that I took this picture today/May 16th...the kids had to have jackets on?! Crazy Show-Me-State weather.  I'm not complaining though, it will be humid and miserable soon enough!

Last but not least....the ZOO trip! We had beautiful weather, and with 86 Kindergarten kiddos they all did great, the day was a huge success.  These little monkeys did NOT want to go home...

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Sam-8.5

Madeline (almost 6!)

Noah Baker 3.5

Gee-whiz, I feel pooped!

Upper GI Endoscopy and Lower GI Colonoscopy-Sigmoidoscopy=FUN!

If given the choice between this...

and this...well clearly, who wouldn't have chosen this?!

Clear liquids, and lots and lots of time...

Sooooo excited, I kept saying-let's DO THIS!
My nurses were all really great, loving, full of smiles even as the day wore on and things weren't going as smoothly as planned. My main RN today was the lovely RN that sat with me last year (room 11, same day surgery, she remembered me right away) when we lost the baby, it was nice to see her again-this time when I was more 'myself'.

Next thing I knew, the Upper GI was done.  Just waiting to do the Lower GI...then there was a really fun hour with FOUR enemas....ewwwwwww.

Alas when all was said and done, my fabulous nurse gave me my very own crown-sticker...for having the cleanest looking 'stuff' in all the land (she made one for herself as well, after all she is the enema queen).

The Dr. came over and said, "Hey guess what? No CX!" I smiled, and then gave him two thumbs up.

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AZ weekend get-away

My amazing Arizona mom...oh how I miss YOU!

I love you, and love our late-night giggles that turn into tears... with laughing punchy midnight hysteria. I miss your smile and hugs. It makes me sad to think of all the every day things that you miss out on. Or that Sam can't ride his bike over to your house, or drop by your school to see you on a random Thursday. Aunt Susan, Grma/Grpa, Uncle Matthew, Aunt Stephanie, and Jackson Dean are all but pictures and a short lived memory from months ago.  You are loved and appreciated...thank you so much for cherishing every moment that you have with them while you are here; and all of the effort you put into your long-distance grandparenting!

 dbp + alf

 Schau Haus oasis...a perfect place to drink the morning coffee!

 ladies night!

 Diana, Matthew & I

 Gaslight was SUCH fun Diana, thank you!

 Jackson Dean Cutie Pants Lewis

 Jackson & Matthew :)

 Stephanie (and Karter Grace in the making) mixing up the best coffee in the world!

 I'm baaaaaack!

$2,100 WOWZA!

The MS walk is on Saturday....my team is AMAZING! We have raised a little over $2,100 so far!

WOWZA!!!

Saturday or bust!

Sunday adventure here we come!

Anniversary weekend! What a great way to spend our weekend! Picnic, exploring (or trespassing haunted abandoned barns by the Iowa border, depending on who you talk to), soccer, friends over, phew! It was fantastic and FULL!

Madeline & Rob

And we are off!

Amy & Rob April 11, 1998

Sam-8, Madeline-5, Noah Baker-4

My favorite part of this picture is Noah's standard one pant leg up above his boot.  He wears these boots EVERY DAY!

Picnic by the creek...

My dare-devil girl...

Go PINK! Number 15 after her first game!

Madeline AKA Super Soccer Star!

warming up....

Noah painting with the porch with sidewalk chalk/paint. Rob was super excited we decided to paint the porch instead of the sidewalk....hey, it's washable Bob-I mean Rob :) :) :) :) :) :)

Sam & his buddy Tyler recreating Diary of a Wimpy Kid...it was AWESOME!