How "Callahan" got his name

At the birth of our second child, our first son, Mark and I finally decided on a name that was special to both of us.  I always had difficulty chosing names because of my teaching background; "No, that one reminds me of a bully!  No, that one is too popular!  No, that one has a million nick-names!"  My favorite movie is "While you were sleeping" with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.  Bill Pullman's family name is "Callahan" and I just loved it.  Then Mark told me his little league team was sponsered by "Callahan Insurance" so we both had a connection!  Thus, Callahan Henry Wieland was born! 


BTW, Mark is #15 in the picture above...he thinks it was 7th or 8th grade!

I'm done!

I have been collecting fabric for a "kids" quilt for some time now...shopping on ebay, making Mark browse through the fabric stores and I finally finished!  First, I got to set up my own sewing corner up in the loft and block it off with a kids gate so I could come and go as I found a few quiet minutes to sew.  Then we got a full sized bed from my grandparents which needed bedding for Tanner's room.  I ended up making it a duevet cover for a feather bed we also got from my grandparents.  But, I may have to convert it back to a quilt...Mark says it almost suffocated him last night! 

Cow poop...Last year vs. this year....

2009 ... rolling in the cow poop...

2010...pointing to the cow poop

Spring Break...Sun and Snow-Part 3

What is Spring Break without... SNOW?



We went for a weekend trip up to Mark's Parents house in West Point and then drove 45 minutes up the mountain to 5000 feet and into the snow!


Mommy pulling Tanner on a "snow saucer"


Courtney


Tanner


Mackenzie and Callahan had fun building a snow fort...


Mark was the adventurous one...taking a ride down the hill in the snow saucer!

Callahan's 9th Birthday

April 5, 2010...Happy Birthday to my Callahan! We were fortunate to have the day off from school...travel day for after Easter...and we had lots of fun. Callahan picked sausages and eggs for breakfast...which he cooked himself...



...and then for lunch, Grandmother came and took us all out to eat at Straw Hat Pizza...Callahan's choice! Afterwards, we went to get dollar scoops of ice cream and Callahan got a special sprinkled cone!



When Dad got home, we opened presents...and decided to wait to go out to dinner since we were all still pretty full from lunch.



Dad picked out this special present for Callahan all by himself! It has 35 darts! Watch out!



We made homemade vanilla cupcakes with fudge frosting for Callahan to take to school on Tuesday...so we made one extra for the birthday wish!

Spring Break...Sun and Snow-Part 2

After hiking and a nice picnic lunch...we settle down by the stream and let the kids play in the ICY water! They always have a blast!


"Mommy, this looks like a piece of pizza!"


Callahan


Tanner


Courtney


Mackenzie

Spring Break...Sun and Snow-Part 1

Our annual hiking trip at Round Valley...about 10 miles from our house. It's a regional preserve with trails for hiking and horse back riding. This year we had
16 kids and 4 adults...Happy Birthday Christie! Tanner was being camera shy and hiding in the red bike trailer.


The day was beautiful...even had a chance to check messages from another family wanting to join us!


The kids love running ahead...watch out for cow patties!


This was in honor of my horrific cow patty event last year. THIS YEAR I managed to walk AROUND the cow poop!

Spring break is over?

I LOVE having my kids home for any breaks from school. It might mean lots of arguments, taking trips to the park, NOT taking trips to the store (4 is way too many to referee and try to shop!) BUT we all get to sleep in, snuggle on the couch, and make lots of messes in the house! So on Monday, the kids started back to school and I started back babysitting 2 toddlers (plus Tanner...we're never bored!) and Mark was sick...Friday he'd had the stomach flu and by Monday he still couldn't get past the dizziness so he was in bed. I just wasn't ready for the kids to go back to school! Okay, maybe a half day so I could get some errands done, but that's it! Tuesday, I picked the kids up early from school for their dentist appointments...and because of their lunch-time schedules, I got them at 11, then took them to McDonalds and then on to our appointments. It was Courtney's first time...3 surface cavities and then Callahan's turn...1 filling needed repaired. But all in all, a good appointment.






By 4:00pm it was a whole different world. I wanted to go back to school! Tanner started complaining his stomach hurt. He threw up, drank water, and threw up some more. Loved seeing that McDonalds again. It'll be, like FOREVER, before we go back there again. By 7:00pm, Courtney had HER head in the toilet. And continued until midnight. Meanwhile, I'm fighting a stomachache, cleaning "just in case bowls" and switching out clean towels. By 10:00pm, I succumbed to the porcelain queen. At midnight, I was at it again. Picture, Me, Tanner, and Courtney layed out in my bed...we banished Mark to upstairs with the "healthy" kids. At 11:00pm, one of my toddler's families was texting me that the little one was throwing up too...and at 5:00 am the next morning...their "Papa" had it worse. Wednesday comes none too fast...and the little ones and myself napped all day while Mackenzie slept off a headache and Callahan was our "go-between" for water and crackers. By 2:00pm, Mackenzie join us in the "sickie room". Thursday was a recovery day...trying to gain a little strength, get a little "restful" sleep until Callahan woke me at 2:00am...the last of our family to get the stomach flu. Now today, Friday, has been the day to make sure EVERYONE makes it to the potty on time!

Guess I should be thankful...I got another week at home with my kids!