SAD NEWS

Today was a rough day at work. I have my students on "Lock Down." This means that they are not allowed to leave the classroom for any circumstances except for their therapies and to go to the bathroom. They have had a hard time adjusting to the rules in the classroom and have chosen not to follow them... So until they do, they will have no priveleges, not even gym class until they start respecting the rules and the staff.

So, after a day of some defiant teeenagers, I finally get to look at my phone. There is a message from my brother. I listen to the message to find out that my Grandma (My Dad's Mom. She lives in Chicago) is in the hospital. I guess she has been having some pain in her stomach and has had no appetite. Well, after some tests they found out that she has cancer cells on her liver. They think that it may have come from somewhere else because it is rare that cancer starts in the liver. This is odd because my Grandma is fairly good about going to the doctor, but at the same time was often resistant to any sort of tests. So, I have no idea really what stage she is in or what her prognosis is.. but I am asking for you to keep my Grandma in your thoughts.

When I told Benjamin about his Great-Grandma he started to cry. It of course brought tears to my eyes. I assured him that the doctors would do everything they could for her. I don't 'mask' any situation for Benjamin. I believe in telling him the truth and not hiding that a family member could pass away some day. He was in tears and scared. I just kept reassuring him that everyone will be okay and the best he could do is to keep her in his thoughts. After a little while, Benjamin said, "I want to donate money. That's how I can help right? I can donate money to cancer research." It was the sweetest thing my little guy has ever said. When Cade found out what was going on, he also donated some of his money to give to cancer research. I'm so proud of my boys!!! I called my Grandma and told her what the kids did and she was so proud of them too!

Just PLAIN exhausted

So... had a good weekend so far. I didn't do a whole lot so a whole lot couldn't go wrong ;)-!!

Ryan was able to make it home tonight. That was nice but he is a bit cranky ;). I don't know why??!! He's only been working like 12-15 hour days all week long!! Seriously though, it is good to have him at home. I missed him.

Cade's mom picked him up this weekend, Benjamin's Dad did not come and get him. BUT.. they are at Ryan's neice's birthday party tonight for a few hours. I had to meet Ryan in a town close by to pick him up and we just decided we would spend some time by ourselves for a few hours. I asked Ryan's mom if she would mind driving the boys back home since I had to leave early and she kindly complied.

I'm tired and will just keep rambling.. so I'm going to call it today... Hope everyone else is having a good weekend!!

HOMEWORK ALREADY?

The Building Ryan's Staying in

Trump Tower.. To Be Completed in 2009, but it is topped off

View of the Sears Tower

Ryan's Condo Building, Again

View of the Lake from his Balcony

Another View from the balcony

Yet.. another view :)

I have to laugh at Benjamin. The boys do not start school until tomorrow because they are building new schools in Woodstock, so the opening of School has been delayed until the day after Labor Day. Benjamin got a letter the other day... He was so excited....

It turns out it was a letter from his teacher for the year. We have heard through the neighborhood that his teacher likes to give homework. Well, in that envelopoe was a letter asking Benjamin to fill out an 'autobiographical' worksheet about himself to help him with his first written assignment at school... "If they had time to do it..." I was going to tell Benjamin he didn't have to, but he chose to do it. He just couldn't believe he had homework already!! It was funny.. he had mixed feelings. It's probably good he did it though because writing is his weakest subject and he needs lots of planning and thought time!! I am really proud of him for doing it.. and doing it on his own without me asking!!!

I dropped Ryan off downtown last night. He has a really nice condo near Hard Rock Cafe and McDonalds....I spent the night down there to say 'goodbye' for a couple of weeks... and again, didn't sleep...... there is a firestation right down the road. Despite being 49 floors up.... you still hear the sirens every 30 minutes!! I feel bad for Ryan and will probably send him some ear plugs!!! There is a really cool view of the new Trump tower being built. It looks taller than the Sears Tower, but it is actually 200 feet short of it. I guess Trump was going to make it the second tallest building in the world, but after 9/11 they decided just to leave it where it is at. It is a pretty interesting building though!!

Today I'm off (I think) to spend the day in a boat on Fox Lake... as long as Benjamin's Dad gets his butt here soon. Of course he told me he would be here between 10 and 11, and now he just called at 10 saying he would be like an hour and a half..... Oh well!!! What else is new??!!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Hello Everyone!! Just hanging out at home tonight. Went to the 105th Harley Birthday Celebration up in Milwaukee last night. That was fun.... It was just Ray, Marco, Ryan, and me.. but we had a good time. I got a new Harley Hoody.. :)

The picture that I put up in my profile is a pic of Benjamin and my friend Geoff's son, Matthew!! They are cuties!! It was an adorable picture moment!! Thanks for all your support on Benjamin's great accomplishments in karate .. he's loving it!!

My brother and his wife go in next Thursday for their next ultrasound and doctors appointment!! I can't wait to hear how well they are doing!! Andrea is half way there! Benjamin is so excited that the baby is due in early January.. He thinks it is cool that the baby will be born just about 10 years after him (I think it is neat too!)...

WEll, I'm beat.. so I think I"m going to head to bed!! I hope you all have a good Labor Day (or if you are in Finland, a good Monday.. ).. :)

BENJAMIN BREAKS HIS FIRST BOARD

Benjamin had his 'last' karate class of this session and he did an amazing thing!! He broke his first board!!! Benjamin is so excited. A week ago he told me he didn't want to continue with karate.. now that he did this.. he says, "Can I PLEEEEEEASE take the next class :)!! I said, "Of Course!!" He is so proud of himself!! :)

Hmph

I'm struggling with members of my family and I just really and truly don't understand. My parents taught me since I was young that no matter if your blood or not.. you are family. Your friends are family.... that everyone you care about is family. My Grandfather is not my biological grandfather, but he is the only grandfather I've ever known and I couldn't imagine having a better one. Does that mean because he is not blood that I should not consider him family? Sometimes I get the feeling that some people believe and work that way. I have been teaching my boys that yes, they are step-brothers and they are not blood, but we are a family and they are brothers, full, half, step.. whatever.. we are family. Benjamin even considers his half-brother's brother as his brother!! :) I just hope that they take that part with them as they get older. I know I may not be making a lot of sense to people right now, but maybe some of you know the situation and do understand. So, I just wanted to say thanks to all those who truly have loved and cared about Benjamin, Caden, Ryan and I our whole lives whether you are a step, half, or a non-blood-related family or friend. I really truly think of all of you as family and a very close family at that....

I haven't blogged in a while and well, that's because not much has gone on and Ryan finally came home:).. It's been nice to have him home but he is again leaving to go live downtown Chicago for 3 weeks for the IMTS show down there. I will probably see him somewhere in between those 3 weeks, but maybe not?? It truly depends on how busy he is. Ryan and I are doing great and we actually purchased a Harley Davidson recently. He is learning to ride at a school this weekend. He is excited about getting his license next week and being able to ride on his own, get good at it, and then take me for a ride on it too :).... It's something we both wanted and are looking forward to using together....

Benjamin is doing great. Cade and Ben do not start school until September 2 so he is still enjoying his summer. He has been at Kids Club this summer and has made a new best friend. He has been enjoying a karate class although he says he does not want to continue it in the fall. He wants to play basketball ;) .... He will be in fourth grade!! ahhhhhhhhhhh!!! He's getting older!! He is excited because he will be in middle school in two years. I try to teach him to not want to grow up so fast... but he really wants to see what middle school is like!!

Caden is also doing really well. Caden took swimming lessons this summer and made it through Level 4!! He is a great swimmer and loves the water. Cade is going into Third Grade and has the same teacher Benjamin had the last two years.. so that is nice for me.. His teacher is also an old friend of Ryan's mom's.. so we know her pretty well. Cade said he wished he got the other teacher.. but you can't have your choice all the time!! :)

I'm doing well.. I started the regular school year on Wednesday.. I actually get to teach a classroom of 9th graders this year. This means I will actually get to teach!! :) I am excited because the kids are pretty decent and most of them enjoy school for now!! :) (They are still young).. I have been itching to get on our motorcycle which I hope to do soon, but I really want Ryan to be comfortable with it before I get on there. He is practicing though. I have been working out a lot lately and trying to keep myself in better shape. I have joined my sister's workout club online and that keeps me kicking!! :) I also am enjoying road riding on my bike. I haven't done any mountain biking since my tree incident in May. I just have not been motivated for that since then. I will still do it.. I just need to work up the nerve again......

I hope everyone else is doing well and I will try to do better about posting more often.. I have just been enjoying my summer!!

The Aunt Chronicles

My brother and his wife finally went to the Doctor today!! They found out that she is 13 weeks and 3 days along!! They had a little scare at first with the heartbeat, but after the ultrasound.. the baby moved around .. and apparently likes to move A LOT..maybe that's what is causing Andrea's nausea??!! The baby is Healthy and Happy!! I tried to post the ultrasound here.. but it did not go so well...I will see what I can do!! There is no official due date yet, but if you count up to 40 weeks... that is the end of December or the beginning of January!! I can't wait!!

Went to Eau Claire this weekend with Ryan to a bike race. He was home for a short weekend, and returned to MN for this week. I think I have seen him a total of about 6 days over the last 6 weeks... wow.. impressive!! He just told me as well, that he will be home next week, but then has to go to KY for a few days after that!!! At some point, he will get to be at home, and stay home.. for a while anyway :).....

Benjamin and Cade are doing wonderful. They both love riding their bikes! They rode around the block today by themselves.. They were very excited!! :) Cade has been in swimming lessons and doing a wonderful job, and Benjamin has been in karate. Benjamin loves karate and he likes to show me all his 'new moves'.... I don't know if he'll continue with it because it was really just a 'filler' for the summer since he couldn't do anything else.. but we'll see.. I guess we never know!


Work for me has been extremely stress free, but almost to the point where it is boring. I am not complaining, but when you only have 2-3 kids show up every day it gets extremely frustrating to complete lesson plans and things like that. ... oh well.. I am definitely going to eat it up after this year!!!!

Anyway.. I hope everyone had a good 4th.. and I'll try to keep this updated more often!!!