Ten Years Ago- mom's note

Ten years ago- the unthinkable happened. Ten years ago, my world changed forever. And on September 11. 2011- one Little Man made everything right again (like he always does)

On Sunday, Chase woke up at his usual 6am (really? he only sleeps in when a) I have to work early. or b) he's at Dad's house. NOT COOL KID) Anyways, he wakes early and we're up, having breakfast, cuddling on the couch, and I realize it's 9/11 and 7:36AM. Nine years, 364 days and 23.50hrs from when the first plane hit. So I turned on the news. Much to Chase's dismay- we were watching "NINA!" But he had his game so he was all good after a second.

One minute later . . .
I'm bawling my eyes out (this is why I've avoided any anniversary coverages, movies, and specials about that day)

One minute and 30 secs later. . .
Chase turns his game off, climbs up on the couch and sits next to me. He asks me "What's wrong Mama"-- really, his vocab has just blossomed!
I tell him "I'm sad"-- not really the time for elaboration

"It's ok Mama, it's ok"

And suddenly- it is. One little guy makes it "ok" and while I wish I had that comfort ten years ago, I'm able to appreciate it so much more now.

It's CABIN TIME!

Check me out- swinging like it's my job!



So Gma was always feeling a little neglected. My "Gpa? Gpa?" over and over again. But now? I'm all about Gma! I am her shadow, I am right there where she is, and I LOVE IT! She does too, even when she gives Mom the "holy hell, how do you do it?" look :-) Careful what you wish for right?



Even Aunt Michelle got involved in sports that weekend :-) Yes, I am two and a half and I can knock it out of the park when the ball is pitched to me. Seriously, I can!



"Oh MAN!"

new favorite picture

June/July Updates

Man, is Mom slacking on the updates or what? Guess I've got to do it myself!

First group of pics- Mom and I hitting up the Zoo. Favorite pastime for sure. I like to point out EVERYTHING, and play on EVERYING, and growl ad EVERYTHING- you get the idea :-)

Ignore my wedgie in the next picture- sheesh Mom!

I'm SOOOOOOOOOO big, oh wait- maybe not. . .

Me and my buddy Uncle Tom, he thinks I'm the coolest & I love when he comes to visit!

Mom being a cheeser- shocking!

And another, you know, she is getting much better at the self-pictures, WAY better than the "here's the corner of our heads and the wall" pics we got from when I was a baby

Now, Rhythm and Booms was a few weeks ago & this year I got to hang out with Mom all day! This is the awesome day we had planned with my homie Will and his mom T:

9:00-10:00- Walk to the Rhythm- 2 mile walk to fundraise for R&B- with decorated strollers of course

10:30-12- hang out with Dora the Explorer down and Warner Park and check out the carnival

12:30-2:30ish- nap at Moms

3:30- on- hang out at G&G Lehman's for their awesome party and my trip to the hill for some fireworks.

Here's what really happened:

9:30- while walking down to Warner Park from Mom's house, Will's stroller hits a pothole in the middle of the intersection of Northport and Sherman (yeah, kinda large intersection, kinda busy) front wheel POPS OFF, Mom and T do emergency stroller repair on the grass BY Warner as the walkers from the 2 mile walk are finishing the event. But- we got the wheel on and I slept thru the whole thing.

10:15- after walking all over Warner- it's realized that Dora is at the "runner's village" and to hang out with her, we have to hang out with all the people who actually participated. Mom and T put on their "walker's bibs" (telling themselves, hey we paid for it) do not get their free drinks as you get the ticket when you ACTUALLY complete the walk. No free food/no free drinks and Dora is nowhere to be found.

10:45- go over to the carnival- I find this place AMAZING and after white knuckling my first ride, I demand to go on all the others. However, Mom is cheap this day and only springs for two more. I think I heard her mutter something about "deathtraps, set up in one day" - whatever.

11:00- I eat my first carnival corndog. My tiny arteries start a "Seriously Mom" petition. I however, love it & devour completely. Demands for more are promptly shut down by Mom.

11:15-12:30- walk back to the house- seems to take longer this time, even though there's no stroller drama.

12:45- time for nap, I am so NOT TIRED that I am granted my nuk (which is very rare) as Mom knows this will please me.

12:46- I am asleep.

3:45- Mom wakes me- there is a party to go to afterall and Will was not napping as he is a "Big Boy"- (pffffft)

4- Arrive at Lehmans where my fans await. I spend the day frolicking in the pool with Mom/Gpa/Cousin Travis/Will & every pretty blonde that comes within three feet of me.

Will and I also run the bumper pool table- even though we can't see over it.

Ok- Will can. And he's got good form!

After a small "rest and relaxation" time where we watched Toy Story - while all the super happy fun loud people parade in and out of the house- we head to the hill for fireworks. Mom got us awesome glow sticks- which occupied me for 10 mins.

This is the only time I sat in Mom's lap- so I humored her for a picture. The rest of the time (fireworks included) I spent lap-leaping between everyone we knew. It was great, I think Mom was bummed though. I think she wanted to cuddle.

All in all- it's been a good summer so far, I'll work on Mom for those picture updates, I know you're looking for them (I'M TALKING TO YOU AUNT LINDA :) )

Father's Day- June 2011

After some breakfast with Dad and the Klett's, Chase had a very busy day! We spent most of the day playing with all of his cousins, running around at Uncle Mark's and Aunt Rhonda's. He had a blast.

Then, even though it was WAYYYYYYYYYYY past bedtime, we stopped at Poppa's so that Chase could visit him and GG Marie. A nice little surprise for sure!




And Poppa put Chase right to work!



Not quite understanding the game, but having fun anyways.

Chase and his cousin AJ- big buddies! MAJOR CHEESERS!

Helping Uncle Matt mow the lawn?

Doing some arts and crafts for Daddy's gift. I think he ate more paint than what went on the ornament, but it's edible, non-toxic- right???

Cabin - May 2011

Family trip to the Cabin.

Wonder what he's digging for in there. . .


He's such a cheeseball- I love it!!!

Easter- April Cont

Easter Brunch with the Kessenich's in Waunakee--- the Bloody in the background is mine, not Chase's :)



Easter Egg Hunt in Cherokee with Dad & Gma & Gpa Klett



Dad is smiling because he has no idea how messy Chase is right now!

She's a crafty one- April Stuff

Trying to instill some home-ec-ness into Little Man so he makes a nice hubby someday. He really just wanted to eat the cake balls, but had fun getting messy too!

In my sparetime (yes, I have a little)- I've decided to age 50 yrs and take up crocheting. The above is a wall hang I made for Sadie's little boy Ashden, the bottom picture is a blanket I made for my cousin Lena's new baby Liliana.

Chase's First Concert---- "NINA!!!!!"

Last Friday Mom and I had a date night in Milwaukee! We got some awesome food from Bennos (their motz sticks are to DIE for!) and then we took in a show. Not just any show- but NINA'S SHOW!

For those of you not in the know- Nina is the starring character in my favorite show the "Immagination Movers." If you ever want to check them out - and you'd be silly not to- come on over, we have them ALL on DVR.

At first I wasn't too sure what I was getting myself into. Mom kept saying we're going to "see Nina" but that's no biggie, I mean, I see Nina everyday on tv. Once the opening act came out though- I realized I was actually going to SEE NINA- in PERSON!!!! Woah!!!



Choo Choo Soul- I had no idea these were actually a "thing" just thought it was a commercial on the Disney Channel.

This dude is DC- he is the best breakdancer I have ever seen. In fact, I've been trying to do my own moves ever since. It's pretty comical.

This is my "holy crap, I'm figuring it out" face!

OMG! Nina is coming!!!!

NINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a "stop whatever I was doing and stare" kind of moment.

But she wasn't on much so I went back to playing in the aisle