Dan't Benefit

This Saturday there is a benefit for my brother, Dan, and another member of the Hector community that has been affected by cancer.  I have been blown away by the generosity of people!  Here is the poster for the benefit.

There is a silent auction at Countrywide Lumber from 11-3, live auction at 2pm.  The American Bar and Grill (right across from the lumberyard) has a build-a-burger bar and icecream sundae bar during that time too.  The OP (Other Place Bar) is hosting a pool tournament, registration starts at noon, and then a DJ from 9pm-close.  And don't forget...vote if Luke Battes (good friend of Dan Berntson's) keeps the beard of shaves it!!  Jars at the OP!  Most money wins!  Vote wisely!!  :)



If anyone has any questions let me know!  It will be a good time for a good cause!!  Thanks so much to everyone who has donated items, money, time, talents to put this on and for Dan and Mike!

I'm BAAACK!

Ok, once again, after taking a MUCH longer break than I "planned", I am going to try one.more.time.  I think pretty much everyone who would read this knows life has thrown us a few curve balls lately.  In March my brother Dan was diagnosed with lymphoma.  If you haven't heard or want to follow his journey on caring bridge, HERE is the link.  I am so proud of him and things have been going pretty well.  He did have a little set back last night after being home for just a couple days.  So he is pretty bummed about that.  But hoping he will be back home soon.  We found out I am a match to be a stem cell donor for him, in fact we are a perfect 6/6 match, so that is SUPER awesome!!  Found that out last week right before my birthday.  We don't know when that will be or all the details, hoping to know more next week.

Obviously my kiddos have kept me on my toes.  Miss Allison just finished her second year at Just for Kix dance and LOVES it.  She is finishing up her second year of Preschool in May too and will go to Kindergarten in the fall.  She is soooo ready!  The other night at supper she asked to say another prayer and she prayed for President Obama!  That girl!  We also pray for Dan EVERY NIGHT!  Both girls do :).  She is begging to do gymnastics this summer and I found a few other activities in the Summer Rec book we might do, some for Miss Kara as well.  Oh, and Allison just finished swimming lessons.  Kara wants to do EVERYTHING Allison does.  She can't wait to be in dance, preschool and swimming lessons.  She is growing too fast too.  We are diaper free (except for a night time pull-up!).  So that is awesome.  Both girls LOVE being outside and this snow yesterday sure made them mad.  They are anxious to be going to the park, lake, pool (as is every other MN resident)! 

Work has been good for Jesse and I.  At Rice the nurses are union (MNA) and we are trying to negotiate our next contract (current one actually ended at the end of 2013).  I have been more involved with that this year.  It has been an interesting and eye opening experience.  I look forward to it being settled.  I took a new position on the same unit (Women's and Children's - OB, peds, and women's health) at Rice in January.  I am a "unit coordinator".  Basically the unit charge nurse on days and evenings.  So a perk is no more nights and I only have to work every 4th weekend now.  I am liking the role and the new challenges it has.  It isn't as much direct patient care, but I still get to do some, if there are more than 1 of us working (there are 4 unit coordinators on our unit).  Jesse and I are members of the Y and TRY to get there...he does better than me.  Ok, well that is enough rambling for this "catch-up" post/belated "christmas letter".  Ha!  Here's hoping we DON'T have a white Easter!  Next post will have pics too!

Fall Fun

Painting pumpkins and helping dad mow one more time!!  (before the snow flies too soon!!  Ugh!)

Concentration!!

Kara's masterpiece!

B is Three!

Briena turned 3 in October!  The girls had so much fun celebrating with her!! 

WOW!  That is a LOT of girls!!  The kids at the party!

Kara, she has my sweet tooth!

B got pickles from the Mages family!

Nelson Farm

In early October I got to help chaperone Allison's preschool class trip to Nelson Farm in Litchfield.  I'll be honest, I was a little nervous about being with a bunch of 3-5 year olds and being responsible for more than just mine!!  But it went well, despite not so wonderful weather.  The kids were good and everyone had fun!!

My group of girls!

Bus ride, one of the kids favorite parts!!

Lunch in the barn!  Another favorite!

Preschool class, morning and afternoon group.

 

Unfortunately because of the weather and such, I especially didn't want to carry my camera around, so I didn't get any pictures really of the kids doing things ON the farm, but they got to tour a silo (ECHO!!), a barn, see a calf (Charlie Brown), pick chicken eggs and weigh them, check their size, and put them in cartons, lunch in the barn, swing on a tire swing, pet a goat, go on a hay ride and pick pumpkins.  They also were lucky and got to hold baby chicks when a new shipment arrived while we were there!

My Baby is 5!!

So...it's been a month...BUT my baby girl turned 5!!!  How did that happen?  She is so sweet, kind, loving, and smart!!  She told my mom just the other day, "Grandma, I am not 4 anymore, I am 5!  And next year I get to go to school!!"  I am very glad she is so excited!  Here's a few pics:

Needless to say, she had a wonderful birthday WEEK!  First they sang to her at Sunday School, then treats and singing at preschool, lunch and more singing at Applebee's, her party, and treats and more singing at Tammy's (daycare).  And we were blessed witha  NICE day for her party!!  Happy 5th birthday sweetie!

1st day of Preschool Pictures

So, I am not sure what was wrong before, but now I got pics to work!  Go figure!!

A1l ready!

Sisterly love!

First things first, wash hands!  Kara ALWAYS has to do it too!

Mrs. Huisinga, Allie wasn't thrilled about a pic

Mrs. Watlund, starting to warm up.