Weekly Update

It's been a good week here (in Lake Woebegone, my home town). Sorry about the parenthetical comment. I grew up on A Prairie Home Companion and it runs in my blood. Tangent.
Erik took both Monday and Tuesday off so that we could recover from our vacation. Seriously. We were all in one hotel room Friday night and the boys didn't fall asleep until after 10:30 pm when Erik took Luke for a drive in the car so that Paul could pass out. Saturday night we ousted Luke to Grandma and Grandpa's room. Sunday we changed our plane tickets and flew home early. But we survived and it was such fun to be there for Bestefar's 90th birthday party.
Anyway, we spent Monday and Tuesday unpacking and reclaiming our house after my week of complete laziness (a.k.a. back injury). Wednesday Erik went back to work and so did I. Overall it was a pretty good day. The boys have been enjoying lots of time outside. The weather hasn't actually been sunny, but they really don't care. They put on sandals and socks, because that's the way they roll, and spend the better part of the morning out there.
This morning Erik and I signed the papers for our re-financing of the house. We went from 6.5% to 4.75%, effectively reducing our mortgage payment by $300 a month. Sah-weet. We feel beyond blessed to be debt-free except the house and moving toward having a fully funded emergency fund. The Dave Ramsey stuff really does work.
Tomorrow night we are going to a Portland Timbers game with Erik's team from work. It will be my first time attending a professional soccer game. We will be there with Erik's manager, who is a true fan (read absolute nut for the game). I'm excited to see it through his eyes.
And now the pics!

Don't be fooled. The children in this picture are not actually asleep.

Time with Bestefar and Aunt Krista. Pretty special.

Nice weather Monday allowed for the complete soaking of our children. Long sleeves with shorts. Awesome. Less sunscreen required.

Paul is sopping wet in this picture. Short sleeves with long pants. Who dresses these kids?

Not the Week I Planned

On Monday morning the boys and I dropped Erik off at the airport for his flight to the National Sales Meeting in Las Vegas. I was ready for a busy week of packing Luke to fly to San Diego with Grandma and Grandpa on Wednesday, while also preparing Paul and I to fly there on Friday. Directly from the airport, we drove to meet a friend at a park. While at the park I made the mistake of lifting Paul down from the play structure and twisting my body at the same time. My back said, "Silly Amy." And then it stopped working and started emanating pain instead. I knew instantly that my week was not going to be what I had planned. Becky, my friend and the woman to whom I owe my life, managed to get me and the kids to the car. She followed us home and facilitated lunch and nap. I started popping ibuprofen like candy while alternating between ice and heat on my back. And I started making phone calls. I had somebody recently tell me how much they admired my ability to ask for help. It's actually something that I really struggle with, so it was sweet to hear that God has grown me in this area.
The week has been filled with helping hands. My neighbor Taryn came and helped facilitate dinner. Another neighbor, Jodi has helped put the boys to bed twice now. Liza came from the north and cleaned my kitchen. Lynne, my fabulous mother-in-love, came and did laundry and packed Luke's bag. Yet another neighbor, Mary, came Tuesday to watch the boys so that I could go to my last Life Group meeting across the street. (Have I mentioned that I love our neighborhood?) Julie, a BSF buddy, has spent afternoons with Paul so that I can get some much needed, drug-induced sleep. God has provided through the hands and feet and strong backs of my friends and neighbors.
I was able to get to the doctor Tuesday morning. The report is irritated ligaments in my back. The prescriptions were for an anti-inflammatory (Super Advil) and a muscle relaxant (happy drug). He also gave me some exercises that will help and told me if things aren't 100% in two weeks I should probably get some physical therapy.
The grandparents and Luke have made it safely to Southern California. Paul has spent two mornings touching every single toy normally horded by his big brother. Trains. Matchbox cars. Crayons. I don't think Paul misses Luke yet.
Here are some pictures taken last week, primarily for Oma, who is still far away.

Luke in Daddy's shoes.

Happy Paul in the playroom.

Luke at the park.

Paul at the park minutes before Mommy hurt her back.

Breakfast at the little table this morning. It's amazing the creative solutions one devises when lifting the toddler is no longer an option. My favorite so far has been the step stool in his crib to help him climb out. That was Oma's idea. It worked beautifully!

Welcome Cousin Rory!

My sister gave birth to her second son, Rory Michael, yesterday morning at 10:51am EST. I am so in love with the pictures that her husband Ed sent me via email. Here is my favorite one of the precious-head boy.

Rory Michael - 7 pounds, 6 ounces - 20 inches - Adorable

I also acknowledge that I need to post some pictures of my boys for Oma, who is helping out back east. So here they are!

Paul plus sunblock plus dirt equals really dirty Paul. He doesn't seem too upset about it.

Erik came up with this game the other morning while I was in the shower. The boys are reading to their "pets" who are located inside their "cage" aka the upside down laundry basket.

Here are the pets. They are called Chuzzles and have their origin in a video game, naturally. Erik got six of them for free and they serve a variety of purposes in our house. Sometimes pets, sometimes weapons, sometimes little fuzzy things to be kicked when Mommy needs to let off steam. They also squeak when you squeeze them, another feature that I actually find relieves stress.

So cute!