Paige and the Broken Arm

Yep you read the title of this blog right, Paige broke her arm.  I told you this month has been busy.  I received a phone call Monday afternoon that said Paige needed medical attention while at after school care.  I had to basically pull from them what part of her needed medical attention.  They told me they thought she did something to her arm or wrist.  Once I got to the school I found her sitting in a chair with a splint on and ice on it.  She didn't have a single tear on her face, just looked like she was in trouble.  I took her to urgent care which the amazing nurse saw her and rushed us through as radiology was leaving for the evening in 15 mins.  We did some xrays, they poked around on it and figured out it was fractured.  Tuesday we went to get her cast put on.  She has what is called a buckle fracture in her left arm.  Basically she fell off the monkey bars and while trying to catch herself fractured her arm.  Did I mention she was on monkey bars for 2nd grade and above?  Yeah we've had some conversations about why there are rules in the world.  Getting her cast put on was a cool experience.  The nurse turned it into crafting and science with Paige which are two of her favorite things.  Paige was really into it.  I took some pictures while they were putting it on.  So it's a cast for 3 weeks and then we'll find out what the plan is from there.

Just us girls in the waiting room.  Sent this to Daddy to let him know she was being brave.

The start of the process.  Paige was leary at this point as she had been poked a lot that day and couldn't take much more.

Nothing like using your nice new shirt as a kleenex

All in all we ended up with a nice red cast.  It's pretty low on her hand so she can almost use all of her fingers normally.  It's now full of signatures from Kindergarten.

Of course last but not least, GO CARDS!!  Nice to win game 1 last night and we'll see what happens from here.  I've sworn to not put anything on social media as our friends are split between Cubs and Cards.  But my blog is fair game!!  Here are my little Cardinal fans watching the game last night, or Toy Story, but who's counting.  That's what's going on with us.  September was nuts, and October doesn't look like it's slowing down much.  Soon enough the holidays will be here.  Today we're off to buy our new car!  My Honda I bought in college will be leaving our family and joining a new family for a 17 year old who is getting his license.  We're super excited!!

Pumpkin Patch With The Hiatt Family

After a soccer game one Saturday my sister and her kids were in town so we decided to meet at a pumpkin patch close to Ankeny.  Man did these kids have a blast.  We jumped on a big jump pad, drove trikes, went down the big slide, played in the corn pool, etc.  It's always great to get these kids together as we don't always get to see each other as much as we want.  It's fun to watch them all now they they are getting so much older.  Colin, my sisters youngest is just my little buddy and has been since the day he got here.  Aunt Nik and Colin did a lot of trike racing that afternoon.  Sometimes we let him win, sometimes he cheats to win, and sometimes you just have to beat him haha.  Love getting to see them when we can.

Carly (Heather's oldest) driving Colin (Heather's youngest)

Going down the big slide

Elise (Heather's middle child)  and Paige racing

This was the most fun thing.  It was like a giant hamster wheel.  Elise and Paige went on this so many times but were just giggling like crazy.  Colin and I even went for a ride a few times.

This is one of the many races Colin and I had.  This is me having to go off road because he kept blocking me so I couldn't pass him.

This is after he beat my mom and I

duck races

Corn Pool

Paige and Soccer

Where do I even start with Paige and soccer.  Paige started learning about soccer at daycare.  I signed her up for the 2 free soccer classes that they did at daycare, well they just kept taking her and she loved it.  So she became old enough to play through Ankeny's Parks and Rec department.  At her age level they play indoor soccer.  Paige had a blast!  She is out front leading the pack and in there fighting to get the ball.  She doesn't really slow down and stays in it.  I'm wondering if this is the sport that she's going to play when she's older, funny because Rob and I both didn't want our kids on a soccer field just because we don't understand soccer.  Her team was not very good at the start but week in and week out they are learning to play together, passing the ball to each other and communicating while out there.  I think that is HUGE for 4-5 year olds.  Her coach is in there and helping all of them.  We've played a ton of teams where the girls are either crying to their parents or saying they just don't want to play.  Paige's team gets up and runs out there the minute the coach tells them it's their turn.  Proud of those girls.  Paige's season was cut short but we'll get to that in another blog.

Paige's face after she scored her first goal

Fun Day At The Park

I realized today that I am behind on blogging.  September has been CRAZY for us.  Over Labor Day weekend we went to Omaha just our little family and stayed at a hotel.  We had a blast!  I didn't take a lot of photos as I tried to just enjoy the weekend.  We went to the zoo, did a TON of swimming in the hotel pool and enjoyed watching football and movies.

These pictures are from a Sunday we spent with our neighbors Brittany and Claire.  Britt moved in next to us when we were in the duplex when Paige was 4 months old.  We've hung out ever since.  Now Claire is here and goes to the same daycare, our kids are basically cousins.  We had a blast on the swings, slides, and Paige climbing everything she can find.

Paige took this picture of us

They left the house matching and didn't even realize it

Claire and Paige going down the slide

We've got to work on Claire's selfie skills, Henry's got it down

Paige Goes To Kindergarten

Wow, what a day today and what a week. (I should probably warn all that is is a super sappy blog) I'll start from the beginning.  Monday we did meet the teacher and supply drop off night.  Her teacher did a great job of having them put all their supplies away so that they would learn where things are around the room.  Tuesday Rob and I went to the school to meeting with all the parents of her class to learn about the curriculum that they would go through this year and where the expect them all to end up at the end of the year.  Last night it all set in to me.  I realized that our life was about to change drastically.  Sure we've gone to an organized daycare center for a long time but this is school.  This is the start of a big chapter of her life.

This is her teacher Mrs. Meyer.  Mrs. Meyer seems like an amazing teacher.  She did home visits a few weeks ago where she actually came to our house and spent 10 mins just talking with Paige.  She didn't really talk to Rob and I, it was nice to see Paige just getting 1 on 1 attention.  She told Paige this morning before the day started that she just knew she was going to get her mixed up with another girl in her class named Emma.  I asked Paige tonight if Mrs. Meyer called her Emma she told me only once.

Today was a day I thought I could handle with no problem at all, I mean how much harder could it be then taking your brand new baby and handing them to a stranger at daycare.  I'll tell you it was equally as hard.  We took Henry to daycare around the same time as usual.  He knew something was up when Paige didn't go with him.  Then Rob and I took Paige out to Dunkin Donuts just us three.

After we took pictures at home (when did she become so grown up).  The three of us walked over the her school.  We've learned after all of these meetings and how close the school is there is no reason for us to try and park over there.

We waited in the hallway for the bell to ring so that we could walk her down to her room.  She saw a lot of her friends from daycare and passed out a lot of hugs to those friends.  It was real interesting to watch how she handles the anxiety of starting something new and the fear of the unknown.  I'll tell you she handles it exactly like I do.  I knew exactly where she was in her head while we were waiting.  I just wanted to tell her it's not worth all of the worry.  So the bell rang and Rob and I walked her down to her room.  We gave our hugs and kisses and she was ready to go.  We told her have a great day and we'll see you tonight.  I took the below picture and was feeling great about it all.  Then she turned around looked me square in the eye with a look I will never forget, a look that told me Mom are you sure I can do this.  I held back my tears and told her she would kill it.  I told her she would do great today and she turned back around and walked into her room.  I then grabbed Rob's hand and said yeah I need to leave now.  I tried to keep the tears back as I walked down the hall and the minute we made it outside I was done.  I'm not much of a crier but man that little girl knows how to get me.  Every time someone asked me today how it went or how I was doing I just smiled and said maybe I'll talk about it tomorrow.  But considering I'm sitting her crying while typing this I doubt I'll talk about it tomorrow.  

I am happy to report she had an AMAZING day.  She said she made new friends, she learned how to work the school lunch process, went to her new after school care, and got to hang out with some old friends as well.  The first question I asked her was are you going to go back tomorrow.  She looked at me smiled and said YEP!

We started a new tradition of going out for Mexican to celebrate.

We then came home to relax and prepare for tomorrow.  Paige fell asleep on the floor before 7:15 tonight and we took her to bed.  Henry is still yelling from his room trying to stay awake.

All in all we survived the first day of Kindergarten.  I can't wait to watch her grow and change.  I can't wait to hear all about the new things that she's learning.  My baby has grown up and I couldn't be more excited for her.

Hartz Family Trip To Galena

Well the Hartz family took an impromptu long weekend to Galena, IL!  We rented a house and went swimming all weekend!!  I took as many pictures as 4 crazy kids would allow.  We had a great weekend.  

Paige and Sophie getting ready to go swimming

Most of my pictures are of Henry because I wasn't allowed to go swimming and spent most of my time with Henry over by the baby pool.

Rob and Kristin were in the pool catching all of the kids coming off of the slides

Sophie

Paigey

These two were together all weekend (Thanks Rick!)

The boys got to do a little golfing Saturday morning bright and early.  Us ladies were also up bright and early as all the kids were up and ready to go!

So the older ones swam in the hot top

Henry thought it was too hot

There was an arcade in the basement.  This is apparently how Henry thought you played.

Oh these girls are crazy!