The countdown has begun to the 54 mile relay that is next weekend, Saturday, August 2. It will start in Bloomington, at Bergners, and end in Peoria, at the Civic Center, during the telethon. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the reason behind this. For those that don't know the hospital is located in Memphis, TN and researches cancer, as well as treats children and aides the families. Treatment here is free. We first came to truly know what this amazing place was all about in college, when a good friend of ours had a brother who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was treated there. Unfortunately many people know at least one person who has had to fight this battle. The good news is places, like St. Jude, are trying to find a cure so that one day the fight won't be so hard. If you are like me all you have to do is go to the St. Jude homepage and you are affected as soon as it comes up. I have such respect and am in such of awe of people, especially children, that fight this disease everyday. Everyday I am reminded of how blessed I am to have such healthy kids. My heart goes out to families who aren't as blessed and Brad and I want to join them in their fight. So we have become involved in the St. Jude Relay.
You all know that I don't run, that is Brad's territory. While we did our own letter writing campaign to raise money (thank you so much to all who donated), we also participated in some other fundraisers around the community and on Saturday Brad will run and I will be riding in the catch van, while my mom drives. These vans are where runners can go in between the legs they run. We play music, carry supplies, and runners can keep their extra clothes and shoes that they change into throughout the run. The complete run, as stated above, is 54 miles. Brad is planning to do 13 miles. This isn't straight, there are different legs of the run and the are all around 2 miles. So runners pick the legs they want to run. We will start out at Bergner's, go towards IAA Drive-Vernon-Towanda Ave and then towards Ironwood and out of town toward Hudson, through Kappa, El Paso and then onto Peoria. They go through country roads for safety reasons. There are various stops along the way where people have generously opened their homes to provide runners refreshments and potty breaks.
My dad is going to have the girls in El Paso to see Brad. I'm excited for that and while it is suppose to be VERY warm on Saturday I think it will be a great day. I can't imagine a better cause and our hope is that as the girls get older they will get involved too! Thanks again for everyone's support, when all the final numbers are in I will let you know how successful our team was. Stay tuned...
Saturday, July 26, 2008
School Days!
Kaylee started Montessori last Monday, July 21. We had taken her "school shopping" after her pre-start day visit. She got to pick out a blanket and pillow to keep on her cot, and a backpack. We showed her the aisle that each item was in and stood back while she made her picks. She picked a basic blue fleece blanket, with circles of various shades of blue and green on it, an Ariel pillow and a Batman backpack. This was not surprising as we are told often that "Batman is my favorite superhero in the whole world!", or she is being Batman. I have to say I was nerveous for the first day as I didn't know what her reaction would be. She was very excited to go, however she kept asking if we would be staying with her. I said that Mommy and Daddy would make sure she was settled and then we would go to work and come get her after work, just as we did at Karen's.
The first day came and we got to Karen's, I took Ainsley inside and she and Brad sat in the van. We got to Montessori and we took her in and the teachers graciously met us and took her. She went right to them and we hung up her backpack and signed her in, I started to get teary eyed so we said a swift "I love you" and "Good-bye" and out we went. As I made it into the car I tried to collect myself between there and work. It is very surreal to be on the parent side. I so vividly remember working there and being pregnant with Kaylee. It just seems impossible that she's old enough to be there as a student.
Kaylee did great. Monday happened to also be her day for News of the Day, it's like show and tell but without showing anything, and she stood up and talked in front of everyone. The teachers have all been so great about texting me throughout the day and giving me updates. It pays to have those connections! I love being back there and getting a chance to see everyone. According to her teachers they couldn't ask for better. It's nice to know she saves her more "spirited" behavior for us.
Kaylee seems to enjoy it. She is a little shy when we pick her up in telling us about her day, but as the evening goes on she will start to open up. I am very excited for her and for all she will experience there. I really believe being in a "classroom" environment will really help her transition into Kindergarten. Not just with being in a structured environment but also, in that environment, with other children and the dynamics that come with that.
Kaylee even made it in time for the annual, summer, bowling trip. So she will get to go bowling for the first time and I am looking forward to signing up as volunteer to go along. This week really hit home that making the sacrifice to go back full-time so that opportunities, like Montessori, are easier achieved and for Kaylee and Ainsley it is worth it a million times over. I truly feel like we are investing in the best future(s) there could be.
A couple photos of Kaylee before we left for her first big day. I tried to get her to stand-up with her back pack on but she would only pose in the chair. Sometimes you have to take what you can get!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A new addition to the family....
As most of you know we had decided that after Ainsley we wouldn't be having anymore additions to our family. Well to our surprise we were wrong. So we are excited to announce a new addition to the Busing family.....
Toulie the cat! Did I make anyone think the addition was going to be something different? That type of addition would definitely be a surprise as there have been certain measures taken to prohibit that. After Hunter we really thought we wouldn't get anymore cats. Last Saturday I was playing outside with the girls and here came the kitten from the neighbors yard. I assumed it was our neighbors, as they have many outdoor cats, however our neighbor came over to ask if it was ours or if we knew of anyone who lost one. Apparently the kitty came to their house one day and hasn't been claimed. So long story short the kitty had been sticking around our house and Kaylee got attached. We'd been feeding her, but keeping her outside. So yesterday, Friday, Brad took Abby to the vet for her annual check-up and took the kitty with him. The vet estimated her to be about 11 weeks old and said she was in great shape. No fleas, no worms, no ear mites, and no other type of infection. So we have opted to keep her. She gets along with everyone and is pretty fun to watch.
Toulie the cat! Did I make anyone think the addition was going to be something different? That type of addition would definitely be a surprise as there have been certain measures taken to prohibit that. After Hunter we really thought we wouldn't get anymore cats. Last Saturday I was playing outside with the girls and here came the kitten from the neighbors yard. I assumed it was our neighbors, as they have many outdoor cats, however our neighbor came over to ask if it was ours or if we knew of anyone who lost one. Apparently the kitty came to their house one day and hasn't been claimed. So long story short the kitty had been sticking around our house and Kaylee got attached. We'd been feeding her, but keeping her outside. So yesterday, Friday, Brad took Abby to the vet for her annual check-up and took the kitty with him. The vet estimated her to be about 11 weeks old and said she was in great shape. No fleas, no worms, no ear mites, and no other type of infection. So we have opted to keep her. She gets along with everyone and is pretty fun to watch.
Happy 4th of July!
Happy belated 4th! Hope everyone had a safe holiday! I'm sure most of you had just of busy a day as we did. It started with the annual parade and festivities in Towanda. They are one of the only towns around that have a 4th of July parade so it's usually pretty decent and has a good turn out. Ainsley stayed her usual mellow self. She mostly wanted to run around in the park in between all of the sale booths. Kaylee was a little shy at first but in no time got into getting all of the candy. We saw a couple people we knew in the parade and scored hand-fulls of candy from them. An added benefit to a small town parade.
After the parade we hung out in the park for a bit and got some lunch and then it was home for naps. After naps we went up to my Dad and Sallie's for Skyeler's 7th and Koen's 5th birthday parties. The girls had lots of fun swimming and playing on the swingset.
We had decided to actually attempt fireworks this year. Yes I know I'm a terrible parent as I've never let my children go to fireworks before. This was really the first year I thought it would be worth it with Kaylee, and Ainsley is pretty mellow so I knew the change in routine wouldn't throw her. Kaylee's pretty routine oriented and until recently sometimes would have difficulties in the change. So I really thought it not worth fighting that battle the last couple of years when she was really too little to know she was missing something. We had talked about taking our boat out on the lake and watching them, but not having done it before we didn't know how the girls would react and didn't want to be stuck out there. So we stopped at Lake Bloomington on the way home and sat on a sleeping bag. Kaylee loved the fireworks and after each one would yell "SCORE" and throw her arm up as to give a big thumbs-up, and often a high-five to Daddy. A little over half way through Kaylee laid down and soon after said she was ready to go. So we left and it worked out well because we weren't stuck trying to leave with all of the other cars. Overall it was a fun, and busy, day and the girls really did a great job!
Here we are at the fireworks. The girls are more focused on the fireworks, which is the direction they are both looking.
After the parade we hung out in the park for a bit and got some lunch and then it was home for naps. After naps we went up to my Dad and Sallie's for Skyeler's 7th and Koen's 5th birthday parties. The girls had lots of fun swimming and playing on the swingset.
We had decided to actually attempt fireworks this year. Yes I know I'm a terrible parent as I've never let my children go to fireworks before. This was really the first year I thought it would be worth it with Kaylee, and Ainsley is pretty mellow so I knew the change in routine wouldn't throw her. Kaylee's pretty routine oriented and until recently sometimes would have difficulties in the change. So I really thought it not worth fighting that battle the last couple of years when she was really too little to know she was missing something. We had talked about taking our boat out on the lake and watching them, but not having done it before we didn't know how the girls would react and didn't want to be stuck out there. So we stopped at Lake Bloomington on the way home and sat on a sleeping bag. Kaylee loved the fireworks and after each one would yell "SCORE" and throw her arm up as to give a big thumbs-up, and often a high-five to Daddy. A little over half way through Kaylee laid down and soon after said she was ready to go. So we left and it worked out well because we weren't stuck trying to leave with all of the other cars. Overall it was a fun, and busy, day and the girls really did a great job!
Here we are at the fireworks. The girls are more focused on the fireworks, which is the direction they are both looking.
Busing Family Photos
The year Kaylee turned one (2006) we, Brad's sister and us, got his mom a gift certificate to Portrait Innovations to get updated family photos. The last time they had photos done I think is sister was 5 or 6 and Brad was 10 or 11. Needless to say this needed to be done. So time came and went and then I became pregnant with Ainsley so we decided to wait. The some more time came and went and finally 2 years later we got the photos taken. Better late than never and I think it worked out for the best! So here are some of the photos we had taken:
Here is Bentley and Virginia (A.K.A. Ginny), who married on August 21, 1971 and started it all!
Brad's Dad requested all the "girls" to get a photo together. I thought it turned out to be a great idea. It was a very sweet thought on his part.
Here is Brad, I and the girls.
Last, but certainly not least, K and A. Since I put all the other birthdays here are their official dates: Kaylee McKenna born May 17, 2005 and Ainsley Isabella born May 1, 2007.
Here is Bentley and Virginia (A.K.A. Ginny), who married on August 21, 1971 and started it all!
They had 2 children, Bradley Michael who was born October 9, 1976 and Kristin Suzanne who was born May 27th (3 days before her mom's birthday), 1982
Here is Kristin. She had to do a solo shot. She was soooo excited about that....not really! Although I think she secretly wanted a poster size to put in the window of her apartment (just kidding Kristin). She lives on the 35th floor of her building, downtown Chicago, and you see people with binoculars looking at other buildings. I had to post it because I thought it was pretty funny. She is single so please feel free to submit potential bachelor names. We'll see how long this is on here until I get a call asking me to take it down.
Brad's Dad requested all the "girls" to get a photo together. I thought it turned out to be a great idea. It was a very sweet thought on his part.
Here is Brad, I and the girls.Last, but certainly not least, K and A. Since I put all the other birthdays here are their official dates: Kaylee McKenna born May 17, 2005 and Ainsley Isabella born May 1, 2007.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Duffy Family Party 2008
For those who don't know my Dad's side of the family, The Duffy's, are notorious for their summer parties. When I was little they started as 1/2 Christmas parties. My Grams and Grandpa would get the tree out and put it on the deck and decorate for Christmas. Yes, we would even have gifts, smaller scale than actual Christmas, but still there would be gifts.As the years past we started doing different themed parties. Some to name a few were: Circus (we had games, face painting, etc), Olympics (each immediate family was a country and we paraded through the small town of Secor, to various relatives house, with our Country flags in tow and participated in events, Hawaiian Luau, Safari, and many others. This year was a 60's themed party. My Grams had 8 kids, so there are a few of us to say the least, thankfully we also have many teachers and the family as a whole is very "kid friendly", so there are always many activities planned for the little ones, and of course there is always a pinata! We had so much fun and I am so glad that my children have been able to experience these parties as well! I have posted some photos below that capture the day we had:
Playing in the backyard. One of the games was the "Duckie Game". Always a popular one!
Ainsley playing her own version of the "Duckie Game".
Of course a family gathering would never be complete without a pinata!
An added activity this year. My Uncle Bobby decided to climb in one of my Grams' trees and each kid got to get hoisted up and sit for awhile. It is a good climbing tree. Thankfully everyone got down safely. Truthfully I think the only person anyone was worried about was Bobby.
Lastly the oldest and one of the youngest trying to solve all of the world's problems! This is one of my new favorite photos and definitely one to cherish.
To Swim or Not to Swim
Just a quick post about swimming as many have asked how it's going. Ainsley loves to swim! She is always trying to throw herself out of my arms and just swim away by herself, however she would sink, so we move around fast!
Kaylee, who has always enjoyed the water, does not love lessons. I think part of it is the kids in her class jump in, on their own, to one of the instructors but she doesn't like this part. The second half of swimming the kids sit on the steps, in the water, and play with water toys while waiting a turn to work with an instructor. The last couple classes she has done this. She knows a some of the other girls in her class and we usually all go to supper after class which as been fun.
The hard part is when we get there Kaylee will usually start getting upset and while we say she doesn't have to get in she is expected to sit with us and watch quietly. She will on and off in between tears. Hopefully the more we go the more use to it she will get. But we will see. At this rate if Kaylee falls in Ainsley will be more than happy to jump in and get her. I guess that's what little sisters are for!
Kaylee, who has always enjoyed the water, does not love lessons. I think part of it is the kids in her class jump in, on their own, to one of the instructors but she doesn't like this part. The second half of swimming the kids sit on the steps, in the water, and play with water toys while waiting a turn to work with an instructor. The last couple classes she has done this. She knows a some of the other girls in her class and we usually all go to supper after class which as been fun.
The hard part is when we get there Kaylee will usually start getting upset and while we say she doesn't have to get in she is expected to sit with us and watch quietly. She will on and off in between tears. Hopefully the more we go the more use to it she will get. But we will see. At this rate if Kaylee falls in Ainsley will be more than happy to jump in and get her. I guess that's what little sisters are for!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
To come....
A couple posts I need to get done:
1. Duffy Family Party 2008
2. Swim Lessons "Sink or Swim"
Hopefully these will get posted soon!
1. Duffy Family Party 2008
2. Swim Lessons "Sink or Swim"
Hopefully these will get posted soon!
We got the call....
As most of you know Kaylee will be starting at Montessori Children's Centre this year. This was one of the considerations when looking at going back to work full-time. Having seen first-hand all of the wonderful things the program has to offer for almost 4 years I knew it would be a great fit for Kaylee. While I always did well in school it was a struggle for me to do so, let's just say I'm not the brightest star in the sky. Kaylee seems to have Brad's memory and intelligence and I know this program will develop that. I could continue to go on about how wonderful the program is however I know I will not be able to do it justice.
Yesterday while I was at work Barb called to tell me Kaylee could start July 21. So after talking to Brad, and Karen our sitter, I called back to say we would accept the earlier spot. We had anticipated mid-late August, which is why I wanted to talk to Karen before accepting. I'm very excited because I know she will love it and I am happy that she will start earlier so she will be able to become acclimated to the new school and schedule before the academic portion starts back-up in September. Kaylee has anxiety when she is in new environments with new people, she will eventually warm-up and then be extremely social...it just takes awhile.
She will be in classroom 3 with Miss Gettle and Miss Michaels. Both of whom I worked with and know well. Kaylee has always taken to Miss Gettle very easily and if talk of Montessori came-up so did Miss Gettle, so it was definitely an added bonus that Kaylee will be in that room. Barb was very sweet and new about how much Kaylee likes Miss Gettle and really went out of her way to try and get Kaylee in that room.
I am very excited but a little sad. I knew we would be off to pre-school this year but I still can't believe it's time for this! Stay tuned for our pre-school adventures!
Yesterday while I was at work Barb called to tell me Kaylee could start July 21. So after talking to Brad, and Karen our sitter, I called back to say we would accept the earlier spot. We had anticipated mid-late August, which is why I wanted to talk to Karen before accepting. I'm very excited because I know she will love it and I am happy that she will start earlier so she will be able to become acclimated to the new school and schedule before the academic portion starts back-up in September. Kaylee has anxiety when she is in new environments with new people, she will eventually warm-up and then be extremely social...it just takes awhile.
She will be in classroom 3 with Miss Gettle and Miss Michaels. Both of whom I worked with and know well. Kaylee has always taken to Miss Gettle very easily and if talk of Montessori came-up so did Miss Gettle, so it was definitely an added bonus that Kaylee will be in that room. Barb was very sweet and new about how much Kaylee likes Miss Gettle and really went out of her way to try and get Kaylee in that room.
I am very excited but a little sad. I knew we would be off to pre-school this year but I still can't believe it's time for this! Stay tuned for our pre-school adventures!
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