Baptism, Blockhouses

After a busy start to my new job, we held Ainsley's baptism on Saturday. Michele had stayed with Matt and the kids while I was in Fargo and helped out a ton prepping the house so all I needed to do on Friday was to prep the brunch food and bake the cake. The weather rained a majority of Friday so I was a bit nervous but it turned out beautifully on Saturday. We started with brunch. Pastor Wolfgram officiated just as he did the past two - Ainsley's godparents are Wes and Kristi with Kim and Jon.. Finished with cake. It was a very nice morning. It was fun to visit and catch up with everyone but also watch Wes and Krisit's kids play with E and G - made me chuckle as they pushed each other around the yard.

The rest of the weekend was pretty laid back. We did some family things including walks and even a trip to Fort Lincoln blockhouses. That was a bit of a chitshow as halfway through the walk Ainsley got hungry and cried and E decided that she needed to go to the potty, making G want to sit on the potty chair too - the one in the back of the tahoe. After having some "listening' hiccups - we decided to go home. It was a good thing we had low expectations of the trip!

EER: I have teeth.
ALR: Yes, you do.
EER: And Grady and Dad.
ALR: Yes, Mom too.
EER: And Ainsley.
ALR: No, Ainsley doesn't have teeth.
EER: Yes, her does. 
ALR: No, Ainsley is a baby, she doesn't have them yet.
EER: She told me she does.

Father's Pizza, Work, Work

We celebrated Matt this past week... which for Eleanor it's really confusing - she had a hard time understanding that it was Father's Day and not Matt's birthday. He went to donuts for dad at daycare on Thursday and then on Sunday, we ensured that he had meals that he liked - lox with bagels, tunafish sandwiches, and then for supper we made pizza on the grill - E was excited to make her own complete with peppers and pineapple, G had one version with maple syrup but I helped with the concoction, Matt's best had clams, and I made a jalapeno popper mix - I also vote the caprese in the running for the best.

This was also a bittersweet week for me - After 5 years, I said goodbye to Commerce. It was hard to say good bye to some amazing people that I've worked with, that have helped me be successful, and that have helped raise my babies. Pam has held, rocked, and sang to all three of my babies. E and G took their first rolls on the floor of my first office there. I've made some great relationships and met some amazing people who were all about doing a great job. As I took down things off my bulletin board I was reminded about some of the amazing work that I've been apart of but this past year has been hard there. It felt a little surreal to leave for the last time knowing that I won't go back there to sit at my desk or continue with some of the projects that I've been a part of.


I am excited about the new opportunity that lays ahead of me - I accepted the Director of Communications position at the Greater ND Chamber. The three main aspects of the jobs are ones that I've done in my role in Commerce and have been the pieces that I've enjoyed - marketing/communications, events, and legislative support. The team at the Chamber has been amazing - from the interview all the way to my first day. I can't wait to get started and looking forward to the planning, strategy, and talks coming my way. They have even agreed to let Ainsley come along for the first month and a half! I did laugh as I brought my computer up for the first time and their faces greeted me. I quit Commerce on Tuesday and then got in a car and headed off for an event on Wednesday (CEO Roundtable) and a board meeting on Thursday - they even held a social for members and board members Wednesday night at the Redhawks game. I finished the week off in the office and left feeling excited and overwhelmed - but the good kind - the I've got a lot to do and want to start delivering right away.

ALR: Eleanor - did you go to the zoo today?
EER: Yes!
ALR: What animals did you see?
EER: All of them!

My children's Father.

To my children on father's day.

You guys have no idea how lucky you are to have the father you do - you have no clue how much he thinks of you, worries about you, and works to make you happy. He is the glue that holds the family together and keep some sort of offcentered harmony. My goal as a mother is to not raise jerks - your father's goal from my perspective is for you to know that you are wholly loved as individuals. While he does challenge you guys, like insisting that you take off and put on your own shoes, Grady. He also loves to spoil you and has a hard time saying no. I give him crap for that and love him for it at the same time. I've seen the man build a playhouse, a play kitchen, a work bench, a couple cribs, paint a bedroom, paint a wall, repaint the same wall three times, and so many more things just to see you how you guys respond. I laugh at the people that are intimidated by him - because everything he does is centered around three people all under three feet tall. Afterall not every man would give up their hunting licenses in order to go to Peppa Pig. When I asked if he enjoyed it, he honestly answered, yes, because it brought E joy. He can't wait to share the things that bring him joy with you - hunting, golfing, cooking, eating, memories - I'm excited to watch you all experience it together.

As we continue to find a rhythm in our family - be aware that your father is probably responsible for that. I have a feeling as you continue to grow he will be the one you turn to when you are in trouble, the one you talk things through to determine a decision, the one that you will ask finance questions of, and the one that will remind you of your retirement... and all of this is okay - afterall that's what he does for your mom too.

Love you all, mom.

Work, Dentist, Planes, Golf

Here's the breakdown of the week: Matt was in Nashville and I relied on Mom to save my sanity.

Matt left Sunday afternoon. I'll admit the week went along better than I thought and the times I was alone with all three went better than I expected. Mom helped out two of the mornings and two of the evenings - was nice to have some relief. We even helped her pick out flowers one night!

The kicker was it was my first week back fulltime - we need to get better at meal planning and not having meltdowns if we aren't eating at 5:30. Eleanor had her first dental appointment - it went much better than I thought. I'd been prepping her all week with Peppa's dental trip and there was very little squabbling. She did get to come to my work before hand and get her "work" done. Translation to using the date stamper and spreading my business cards throughout the office. To kick off the weekend, we had cones in the park before playing. The weather has really turned and it's been wonderful and warm. The kids love wearing shorts each day. Matt hasn't had nearly the same amount of wardrobe disputes as he normally does. 

We also got A's saucer out - I had to wait until Matt came home. Putting her at "their" level is a bit dangerous. We had to let them know that it's her toy, that you can't hug her head so tight, and you can't shake the chair so much. So far so good - we figure her days laying on the floor may be numbered - Grady grazed her with a chair the other night. There were a lot of tears from everybody. 

The other highlight of the weekend was our trip out to the Mandan Airport to see the planes and then during afternoon naps - Matt finally got out to the range, he took E with. Was kinda his father's day trip. The goal is eventually to take them all but we haftah go with the ones that listen for now!

ALR: How was the range?

MJR: Pretty good

EER drags her clubs into the room.

ALR: Ohhh! You took your own clubs.

MJR: Yeah, once I loaded mine into the pickup, she tore off to the backyard to get hers. 

Family, Photos

Was a crazy week and a busy weekend....I had a huge project at work that got dropped into my lap that I pushed through. Matt's in full construction mode at the airport, E comments about all the "big trucks" digging up the airport and he's also prepping to go to Nashville for a conference next week. I'll admit, I'm scared for him to go. I'm a little nervous handling this trainwreck on my own! I've asked for some help from mom for back support and reinforcements.

Ainsley and I had lunch with Great Grandma Elaine and Wendy while they were up for the day. Was fun to see Grandma hold Ainsley as she hadn't had a chance at E's birthday. Ainsley also spent some time with Great Aunt Grace - while Matt was getting his hair cut, Ainsley and her hung out and watched.

We did have Ainsley's three month pics this past weekend. I was really hoping I could coax some smiles out but I didn't have very good luck. I also took on the task of attempting to get all three kids in one shot. I think my blood pressure is starting to come down now. Was very stressful. I got some after photos but I usually can only get two kids together at a time.

We set the hammock up this past weekend too. Grady LOVED it...thought
it was so fun to swing/rock-a-bye in it.

Randy, Michele, Eric, and Amanda spent time too with us. They all came to our picnic and the park afterwards and then on Sunday, R & M stopped by before heading out of town and Eric and Amanda gave E her birthday present of a zoo visit.

ALR: Grady, what does a bear say?
GRR: Rahhh!
ALR: That's a good bear! What does a dinosaur say?
GRR: Rahhh!
ALR: Very good!
ALR: What does a chicken say?
GRR: Rahhh!
ALR: No, a chicken goes cluck cluck cluck! What does a horse say?
GRR: Rahhh!
ALR: Hmmm, I'm noticing a trend.