So proud of my 8 year old

Luke has been counting down the days until his birthday.  He asked for a larger backpack with more pockets.  He was upgraded from the backpack I used in college to a professional travel backpack.  He loves it just as much as he dreamed about.  The other present he received is pictured below.  He loves sleeping on the top and bottom bunk.  He loves reading up on the bed. 

Every year he helps make his cake.  So sweet.

Here are some questions I asked Luke...
What do you want to be when you grow up?  A scientist
What is your favorite sport?  Soccer
What is your favorite thing at school?  Recess
Who is your favorite stuffed animal? Lewis
What is your favorite thing to read? Super Sonic Airplanes
What is your favorite place to go?  To my bunk beds
What is your favorite thing to do with each person in the family?  Hudson play balls, Eva build forts, Mommy do special time, Daddy watch Nova videos.

We love you Luke, 8 more years until you can drive.

Hudson 15 and 16 months

It is so fun to hold and cuddle Hudson.  He is talking very well and kicking a ball very well.  He loves books.  He has been riding his scooter around the house.  He has also been very helpful.  We all love Hudson very much.

28 Degree Spring

Not only has it been a very cold winter, but the spring has been much below average.  We didn't let the weather stop us from enjoying the skate park.  Luke and Eva had a great time with their cousins.

Check out those twins!

Going to the well

Most books for Christian women recommend that you should not work as a mother.  I have been a working mother for 8 years and I am so thankful for my profession.  I can serve others in a deep and meaningful way every day.  The significance of this goes beyond what I could do as a volunteer.  In the olden days women with children had to walk to a well to get water to provide for their family.  We are lucky to have many modern conveniences however I am thankful I can provide money for water, heat, and shelter.

I love my patients.  I get to see them more than my best friends.  I get to impact their life in a way no one else can.  I love working with my patient who can not walk after an aggressive cancer treatment to her leg.  We laugh and cry together.  I push her to try things she does not think are possible.  We shoe shop together for a shoe that can accommodate her 25 degree dorsiflexion loss. 

I love helping the 71 year old ultra marathoner who is still working in New York every week despite living in Oconomowoc.  His passion for life overflows to all of his therapy. 

I love working with business owners who will talk politics with me. 

I love working with my patient who sells supplies for nuclear defense who I can help get back to water skiing and riding his motorcycle.

I love helping a garbage man who works two jobs and comes in with blood shot eyes right after his third shift job.  He was skeptical at first but after three visits he was 90 percent better even though he still had his labral tear.  I love learning about how his family is involved in the military while we are doing his therapy.

I love helping a state patrol worker who had almost no range of motion at his hip when I first saw him.  We have worked hard and he is back to doing the job he desires to do.

I love working with a woman who was battered and was afraid to trust anyone.  With myself along with her psychologist she was able to trust me to help her to do things she never thought was possible.

I love working with my patients in high school and my teachers, the list could go on.  I am so thankful that I get paid to do something that I love.

Never missing a beat

Eva has always danced around the house while singing songs to go with the movement.  I didn't think she could increase her dancing nature.  She now can be found dancing in her room for over one hour.  Typically she will have on a number of different costumes and use a number of different songs.  I love when we dance in the grocery store as well as into and out of the grocery store.  My favorite was when we were in the grocery store and she had to go to the bathroom.  She couldn't even stop dancing while she was going to the bathroom and she had both arms up in perfect time to the beat.  Then she asked if we could get that very song to play at home.  I also love it when she dances in the van while we are waiting for the bus.  She brings joy to everything.  She does have a hard time making it through a meal without doing some dancing.  I have given up on trying to enforce the rule that she would has to sit through dinner.

She feels like my best friend.  I love how much fun we have together and how we are always thinking the same thing.  In college you get to have a great time with your room mates.  I will never have room mates again but I love having my daughter.

Cascade Weekend

Luke has been studying the map of the runs at Cascade.  He has been planning which chairlift he will take to what run.  He has been comparing Wisconsin hills to the highest chairlift in Europe and the longest run in Europe.  Eva was excited to finally ski for the first time.  She did great and went all the way to the top of the hill on the chairlift.  She had great balance and made it through varying snow conditions really well.  She did cry when she lost her ski on the chair lift.  Everyone watching raced to her rescue and handed her ski up to the next person in line.  Luke was so happy after skiing all the runs he had planned.  He said it was the best day ever.

 We stayed at the Wilderness with all the cousins.  We were able to swim twice a day in addition to the skiing.  The kids favorite part was the outdoor hot tub.  The would run from the 104 degree water to the 3 degree air and watch the seam roll off their body.  Papa called it the Eva Steamer, Luke Steamer, and Boden Steamer.  Eva of course added a twirl and leap every time.

Racing Raptor Wins!

Luke has enjoyed his first year in boy scouts.  He has some really good friends in his den and they have a great time.  Luke helped sand and prepare the car.  He choose the blue paint and helped get it ready.  Dave positioned the wheels and added the weight.  Dave and Luke must have a natural affinity for winning.  Dave was not trying to have Luke win.  In fact he got in car accident and was driving in freezing temperatures with a broken out window and smashed rear door.  He was trying to coordinate repairs and just happened to get the Luke's car done as well.  Luke's car won by a large margin.  He didn't even have anyone come with in 4 miles per hour of his time.  It was like watching the 2014 Superbowl.  Great job daddy and Luke!

Luke's numerical conquest

Luke's ability to concentrate and focus on dot to dots is way above mine.  So far he has completed over 3,000 dots in two posters.  Luke is still always calculating and planning.  He is so thoughtful.  He has also become such a great big brother over the past few months.

Eva's love

Eva is constantly telling us how much she loves us, Luke and Husdson.  She draws this every time she has a blank page.  These pictures are just a small representation of her work.  When I take a shower she will be working on a card and then she gives it to me as soon as I step out of the shower.  She always talks about how much she loves me.  She has a stack of Valentines for everyone that she has been working on the past month.  She puts notes in Daddy's lunch.  She wraps gifts for Dave, Luke and myself.  Below is an example of the notes she put on the garage door while I was at work.  She drew pictures of us so I would be welcomed the first time that I got home.  

This is a note that she puts in her time out space to remind her of everyone she loves.

 She is constantly giving me flowers on my nightstand.

When I put the magnadoodle away it always has a note on it about who she loves.

She is also places pictures on my pillow so I will see them before bed.

This does not include all the notes on Luke's door and all the things she hangs on our kitchen window.  I love her love.

Ice Fishing and Tubing

Luke and Eva loved walking on the ice and wondering what was beneath the ice.  They each caught a fish with Daves help.

Luke and Eva also love their new snow tubes.  They try to break the record for distance every time they go down the hill.  Hudson had a great time watching too.