It's Volleyball Time!

I can't wait for Volleyball to start.  No, I don't play, but I enjoy watching my niece Kasidie play.  She started playing in 7th grade and has done J.O. along with that.  It's amazing how far they have come in such a few short years.  And yes, I sometimes wish I was out there playing, but this old body wouldn't move as quickly and I'd probably end up in a body cast. 

Remember what I was saying about football.........

Well, it's happened.  The thing I feared most.   Yep, he's gone and done it. 

Tyler managed to separate his growth plate in his heel/ankle area.  He has been limping on his foot for about a week, and we just thought he maybe rolled his ankle.  After watching him struggle so badly, we took him in and we ended up with a beauty like this!  Hopefully it's only the 3 weeks they say it should heal in.  He really really really wants to play in a game this year.  He goes back to the doctor Oct 8, and he said if he got the ok to play, it would be the best birthday present ever! (His birthday is Oct 11 and they have a game that day).  And, if you happen to see Tyler, don't tell him you saw a picture of his toes....he's grossly annoyed that I even took this picture showing his toes!

1st day of School 2012-2013

Another school year has arrived!  Wow, I just can't believe how quickly my boys are growing!  Part of me wants to stunt them to stay small, but yet, I want them to grow up!  I love how I can interact with them.  Although, Tyler is the age where everything I do or say is dumb.  Hopefully that phase will disappear rather quickly.  Evan still thinks his Mom is the bomb! 

Evan is in 4th grade this year at Madison Elementary.  His teachers name is Mrs. Nett.  She is the same teacher that Tyler had for 4th grade.  We really like her and she will be a good fit for Evan. 

He is starting the year with glasses!  Last year at the end of the year, he started to complain about seeing the board and having little headaches here and there.  Well, I procrastinated long enough and we took him into get his eyes examined.  Turns out, he needed glasses!  So far so good.  They've only been lost twice, and we've replaced them once in the month we've had them.   This could get expensive.

Tyler is in 8th grade this year at North Junior High.  He's the BMOC! (Big Man on Campus)  Once again, he has all honors classes and seems to be doing ok with the workload.  He continues to play the trumpet, although once the braces come off, he'll be a rockstar!  He is very enthusiastic about playing football this year.  I'm nervous, but I need to let it go.  GO BULLDOGS!  I am so proud of Tyler for pushing himself and challenge himself in tougher classes.  He'll appreciate this when he will be able to take college classes in 9th and 10th grade.  Post secondary is definitely on his radar.  He has wanted to become a vet, but of lately, he's leaning more towards an engineer.  Whatever will take care of his Mama is fine with me!

Here's to a great year! 

Bouncing Baby Boy!

Where do I begin?  Really....one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed! (well, besides having my own children, I was actually on the other side of this one!)  I'm so fortunate to my Sister and Don for letting me be a part of it all!

Friday, August 31:  Ang had a doctor appointment and it was the magical day!  An appointment that she was not going home from.....off to the hospital to get this little tyke out.  It was his time!  I had the day off of work, and the boys and I had plans to go to Mall of America to spend the day together while Dad was in Colorado elk hunting.  I had a horrendous headache, but I marched on for my boys.  This was their day to have fun.  We received a call around 4 pmish (not real sure but I'm thinking that's when it was) saying that they were sending her to the hospital to start the process of inducing her.  YIPPEE!!  It's really happening!  The boys were so excited, so we stayed a little longer at MOA and finished dinner and headed home for what we thought would be a marathon night.  We got home around 9pm, and I told the boys that we had to get to bed right away as we didn't know what time Auntie would call for us to get up there.  Thankfully I live 5 minutes from the hospital.  We had our clothes laid out, our bags were ready, and the camera battery charged. We managed to sleep until 6:30 a.m. when I woke up to light in my room.   Really?  It was morning and no call?  I was totally ok with that as that rest gave my headache a chance to leave.  Shortly after, around 7, I got the call.  "They are going to start my pitocin around 8, break my water around noon."
We scurried to get ready, this was the day we were meeting the Baby!  We made a stop at the grocery store for a few things and ok, a lot of things....you know.....essentials for a possible all day affair.
 
Saturday, Septermber 1: We arrived at the hospital and headed up to the room.  This is what I walked into:

Ang, putting on her make-up!  Of course she has to look beautiful!  She's getting ready to meet the little man in her life!

The hospital recently re-did the family birthing center.  The rooms are huge, and perhaps a big plus, is the view that we had on the sunny day!

I wish I had been more diligent about taking pictures during my kids' deliveries (or had someone do it rather).  I would love to remember all the little details of those days.  The best days of my life!

of course the gowns rock!

 Watching her labor was difficult.  She walked, rested in bed, talked with her "posse"(whom at times grew to 16 people) all anxious to meet the Baby.

Ang walking the halls to speed up the process.

 Claire giving Ang a little head massage. Who wouldn't love that, labor or no labor!

She's beautiful even during labor. 















Kasidie getting a little snuggle time in with Mom.

Waiting is a fun game and there was a lot of waiting.  Thank goodness for phones, and TV and magazines, and the cafeteria at the hospital.
At times, some posse members left the hospital and went shopping.  My brother, Doug, took Kas and Tyler to drive around a while.  They drove to our house to let the dog out.  I had no idea how long we would end up being at the hospital and I was not about to come home to a mess!
Kas managed to score the Justin Bieber case she wanted for her phone.  At least they came prepared. 

Blankets and pillows from home.  But the couches in the lounge?  They leave something to be desired.  Those could use some upgrading.

As night falls, we are anxious for the arrival of my sweet nephew.  The harvest moon is up and the time is near.  The contractions are now closer together.  The bottom picture was from earlier, but you can see the contractions on the bottom line.

Doctor Pinkerton says it's time!  This is the last picture of the family of Four!  Soon to be Party of Five!  Everyone in your spots!  The Doctor allowed for 5 people to be in the room for the delivery.  Don, Kelsie, Kasidie, Myself, Shannon (Ang's Best Friend) and Claire (Don's Sister) all got to witness the miracle! Nervous, anxious, exhausted and ready!

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                                              HE'S HERE!  Welcome to the world Bennett!  
                                              Bennett Roy David Donard Kunesh
                                              September 1, 2012
                                              6 pounds 14 ounces 
                                              20 1/2 inches long
                                              9:06 pm
                                              and Perfect!

Big Sisters checking him out!

Ang and Don's first chance to hold him! He's so precious, seems to love pouting and looks just like his Dad!

So much happens to these little ones in their first few minutes of life!

This picture kind of cracks me up.  Don is probably saying "We did it."  Ang is saying "WHO did it?"!

Don and his Mom, Mary.  Bennett is Mary's 1st Grandchild!

 When Ang was pregnant, she got a real bad cold and ended up with laryngitis for quite a while.  Anyway, Doug started calling the baby Larry if he thought it was a boy, or Larraine if he thought it was a girl.  When we found out it was a boy, his name was Larry.  So Doug went to the store before he came to the hospital to buy a white t-shirt and had a marker in his truck.  He made a shirt for Baby Larry and surprised Ang and Don with it after he was born.  He had it on under his other shirt.  Well, then he became real creative and coerced the nurses at the nurse station to get him one of the baby cards that go in the little bassinet thingamabobs.  He filled it out appropriately and put it in there!  My brother is quite the jokester, but we wouldn't trade him for anything.

Uncle Bud and Baby Bennett (PKA: Larry)

This picture is so precious.  Evan is a very sentimental sensitive kid.  He gave Auntie a big hug and told her "He was worth the wait."  Yes, Evan, he sure was!

Big Cousin Tyler

Pretty excited Auntie!

My little lover Evan and my other little lover, Bennett

Uncle Chad made it home at 5a.m. on Sunday, rested a few hours and we were up and back to the hospital!  He wanted to meet his new nephew!  Kelsie and Kasidie stayed the night at our house, so we let them sleep in a while as they had a long couple of days and could use the extra sleep.

3 monkeys in a bed

Evan, Morgan, Kelsie, Bennett, Kasidie, Tyler and Madison.  The cousins!  It's been almost 5 years since we had a baby in the family!

Don and Evan played tic-tac-toe.

Tyler being silly.

"Auntie, I've had enough of the flash.  I'm not even 24 hours old and my eyeballs are singed."  But seriously, check out all his hair!  Heartburn=hair.

Welcome to the world, Bennett!  Auntie loves! 

Dad's away, so we're heading to Grandma's!

Chad went elk hunting in Colorado and so the boys and I went to my Mom's for the weekend.  These are just a few sites and "sounds" of being up North in the quiet country!

yes, there are still Christmas lights up.

Her dog, Dufus, enjoying the pond.

and some people wonder why I have gray hair?