Goodbye Green Bay

This will probably be the last blog from Green Bay. We are packing up today, which also means the computer gets packed up. So here is our goodbye to Green Bay.
We'll miss you for your memories Green Bay. We were pregnant here... sheesh! We had Danica here... double sheesh!! We watched her grow up in this wonderful house. She learned to sit, to crawl, to walk, and quickly to run. We'll miss the large space to chase her around the house and giggle as we go. She said her first words here, "Mama, Dada!" She had her tough first months here and taught us that we can get through anything together if we just lean on each other. She made us laugh here more than we've ever laughed in our lives! We'll miss you Green Bay - mostly for our memories of these first wonderful years of Danica's life.
We'll also miss the friends we've made here. We had some very good times getting to know a whole new group of people. We'll miss our babysitter!! There's nothing as comforting as knowing your prize possession is in good hands. We'll miss the milder winters... ND here we come!
We'll miss so much about you Green Bay, and look forward to coming back to visit some day. In the meantime, here are a couple things we (I) will NOT miss. I will not miss seeing green and gold everywhere I go. I will not miss having every conversation be about football and the Packers. And I will not miss the whiny nasally accent... although mine probably isn't that much better.
GOODBYE GREEN BAY!! HELLO MINOT!! (Hmmm, are we sure about this?)

Warning

This is your friendly reminder to drive carefully and look both ways at intersections, even if you have a green light. We were at a stop light yesterday getting ready to turn left, when suddenly right in front of us was a very serious accident. The person coming up to the right of us was running the red light and going very fast. The one coming through with the green light ran right into her and totalled her car. We pulled over to help and she was hurt and very shaken up. So even at lower in-town speeds, there can be serious damage... thankfully there were no kids in her car. I stayed with her until the fire department and police came, and hopefully she'll be fine. But it's a good lesson to us all to be defensive drivers! Be safe everyone... we love you!

Mommy's broken heart

I picked Duane up from work last night since it was his last day (no more truck). We were almost home - just two houses away from home - when a dear ran out in front of the car. I SLIGHTLY overreacted... I gasped and slammed on the brakes. And of course Duane yelled, "What are you doing!" Then we heard a shaky little broken up voice in the back say, "What's going on?" We looked back and Dani's eyes were full of tears and she was just shaking. The poor little thing was terrified. When we got home and I got her out of the car she was still trembling and asking what happened. So we told her it was a dear and everything was okay. For another half hour all she wanted to talk about was "da dear" and "scawy" and "it's okay." MY POOR GIRL!

A favorite moment

One of the best times of day is story time. Before every nap and bedtime we read stories in Dani's room together. She sits on my (or Daddy's) lap on the floor, cuddles her blankie, hugs my arm, and snuggles in while I read. Warm fuzzies all over!!!!

The newest Klabunde!

Here is our new neice, Brenna Lynn (or Baby Sister Brenna, as Dani is calling her)!! She was born on Sunday... what a great day to be born! We are so excited to meet her - she's getting rave reviews from all the critics!! ;) What a beautiful baby, and Mama's looking good too!!
"Where's my thumb!!??"

The joys of being a stay-at-home mom

We just got done eating our yummy lunch - tomato soup and grilled cheese. During lunch Dani got down to the bottom of her bowl, so she lifted it up and drank right from it (like any good toddler does). When done, she put the bowl down and with a face COVERED in tomato soup says, "Oh, dat's weawy good soup, Mama!" (Sigh) Then she points to her elbows and says, "Mama, I got two elbows." Okey-dokey!! You can't get that kind of satisfaction at just any old job!

We had our house inspector come this morning. The poor man had to deal with both Emma and Dani thinking he was here just for them. The whole time he was here Danica followed him around asking, "What doing? What doing? I watching Chi Bon (for definition, see previous blog). Wanna watch Chi Bon?" This went on for a good two hours. Thanks goodness he was a very nice and patient man. He answered all her questions very politely and let Emma climb all over him. Sheesh!!!

Itsy spider

Paying bocks

Fun pics

Love reunions!

Dani's watching Chi Bon (Charlie Brown, for those of you who don't speak Two), so I'll take this opportunity to change her blog into my blog and share some pictures with you from my wonderful weekend.

Kirten, me, Mel, and Karli
We did this a LOT over the weekend.

HAD to share this picture... how great is her kitchen??

Melonie and Karli

Amber and Kirsten

Kirsten, Karli, Mel, Britt (Kirsten's sister), and me.

Side note on Britt. She was 10 years old when we were all Freshman at UND. She'd come visit in the dorms and we'd leave her with a girl named Robin (not the go-out kinda gal) while we went out to party. It's amazing she'll still speak to all of us.

Dancing (after a LOT of wine) to our old party songs. Her neighbors across the street had a party and it was letting out just as we were dancing. Can't imagine what they think was going on!

Again... LOTS of wine.

There's no place like home

It's great to be home!!
Danica and Daddy had a great time together while I was gone this weekend. Dani got to rent a movie for the first time - something Veggie Tales about pirates. Although I don't think he wanted to admit to it, I think Duane realized what it's like to be the one taking care of Dani all day and night for a couple days. Definitely not as easy as it would seem. But he did a great job!!

While they were watching Veggie Tales, I was having a fabulous time with my girlfriends! What a great idea for an annual reunion - we're all kicking ourselves that we didn't think of doing it earlier. There was a lot of wine, laughter, silliness, stories and nostalgic love. We were quite distracting for Kirsten, which she needed. I miss my dear friends already, but we're already planning our next trip! ;)

Obama

Danica's thrilled that Obama won. Although, I think she only likes him because Oprah endorsed him. She's pretty obsessed with Oprah lately... asks to watch her all day. If she's not asking for Oprah, she's asking to watch football.

In case some of you readers didn't get an e-mail from me, I'll ask on the blog too:
If you know of anyone in the Minot area who moves south for the winter and would let us rent their place, please let me know.

YAY FOR IMPORTANT HISTORY BEING MADE!!!!!

I DID IT!

Dressing herself

Danica's been wanting to dress herself lately. She's doing pretty good, but she forgets about the back.
She was VERY proud of herself! Yelling, "I DID IT!"

Vikings fan already

Halloween

Here's our little princess! She wasn't too fond of wearing the costume... itchy maybe? The hat came off after about a minute and stayed off.
She was pretty confused about the whole Halloween thing. She thought the kids coming to the door were here to play with her. She wanted her shoes on to go out and play. She was pretty ticked when they just took their candy and walked away!

There's nothing like a good hug.