This week...

It's been a busy week.  School was tiring.... and the worst part was I had many kids who were sick. Every day there were at least 3 kids gone (and when there are only 15 total, that makes for a small group- not as small as your group, Tiff!).  We had strep, bronchitis, and the flu going around.  Luckily I have been healthy~ and hope to stay like that.  I hope that this week my class will be back to their spunky selves.

The fun part of our week was going to our ultrasound appt.  We got a few good pictures of our little one- and even a little video!  It's been fun to look at them and even show them off a bit.  The nurse asked if we wanted to know whether it's a boy or a girl, but we had decided we want a surprise.  But... I do have a feeling what it is.  I'll let you know if my inklings are correct in a few months. :)    Either way, the baby is growing and healthy and was moving around like crazy. We are anxious to meet him/her.  

Last night we took it easy at home.  We got up early this morning to go and visit Jesse's parents, and then we came out to my dad's.  Jesse and dad are snowmobiling, Erin and Bill are busy working on house projects, and I'm just relaxing on the couch flipping through the channels.  

Happy February!

my truck

Here is my dad and my hubby in my new truck.

So.

Ok- so yes, last week my car was having some issues-- it was 'jerking' whenever it decelerated and got to about 30 mph.... my first thought was that it was the transmission-- and I know that is never good.  So- we had it towed to the nearest Chrysler dealer and they ended up fixing it for about 100 bucks.... wayyy less than a new transmission would have cost!  That was some welcome news.  Of course I haven't driven my car yet, but apparently Jesse thinks it's working fine.  (and Jesse took the fuse out so the random honking has stopped)

So as my car was sitting in the shop, we contemplated and contemplated buying a new vehicle-- or maybe buying Jesse's brother's truck.  After hours of thinking, we decided to bite the bullet and buy Luke's truck.  We got a great deal- it's a very nice truck- and something I feel safe in.  It's full size so it will have room for a carseat and more in the back.  I drove it home last night and loved it and have now made it "my truck".  Our plan is to keep all 3 vehicles for now, so we can use the truck in bad weather, or to haul things when needed.  Our cars will be used for regular-every-day use-- at least for the time being.   (any of you reading this probably know the car troubles that the Aune family has endured over the years...always good to have a spare!)

Anyways- I had a good week (despite not having a car) at school.  It felt a bit long- for only having kids for 4 days.  Part of that is probably due to the fact that I had a mess of kids who were sick.... flu....strep throat....bronchitis.  I spent all of Friday morning sanitizing my room heavily before the kids got there.  Hopefully that will help things out a bit (and hopefully i will stay healthy!).  At any rate, Friday night came and I was sleeping by 9:00.   We got up early Saturday, took a QUICK trip to Bemidji to get the truck and were back by 8:30 last night.  This morning we got up, headed to church, and then  I came home with Erin to spend the day with her.  Jesse ran to Virginia while Bill went to watch the start of the Beargrease.  Dad's still at church and Erin and I are just spending some QT with Uncle Pa.  Happy last-week-of-January!

PS~ for those of you who just started facebook.... that doesn't get you off the hook from updating your blog!  xoxo

CARS.

They're the pits.

more hockey

We had a GREAT time in Duluth this weekend.  We went down Saturday afternoon and spent the afternoon catching some sweet deals at the mall.  After that, we drove over to the MARS Arena to watch St. Scholastica (ranked #4) and UWS (#2) play hockey.  It was a HUGE game-- with over 1600 screaming fans.  Of course the biggest reason we went was because Brenn plays for St Scholastica.  Anyways- the underdogs (CSS) won 7-2 and we were THRILLED throughout the whole game.  We were cheering and dancing and screaming (ok, Tina and I were dancing) and just had a blast.  Another highlight was the throughout the game people would come by and throw CSS t-shirts in the crowd.  SOMEHOW, we ended up catching 4 shirts.  Here are a few pics of Brennan in the goal during warm-ups, excited fans and then Tina, Brenn and I at Applebees celebrating Brenn's bday after the game.  We can't wait to go back and cheer them on again.  

This morning we got up, made a quick trip to Starbucks, then Jesse told me he had to go get a book from Barnes and Noble, so we stopped briefly at the mall.... only long enough for him to run in, run to the store that had the perfume i wanted, buy it secretly, and come back to the car with my new gift (a sweet surprise)! Then, we headed back out to dad's to watch some football with him, Uncle Pa and Erin/Bill.   It's been a busy weekend..... good thing it's teacher inservice tomorrow!  :)  

Snow days.....cold days.....

Well, since the weather decided to be 40 (+) below zero, we lucked out and didn't have school on Thursday. To make things even better, we had a late start yesterday! I guess I did decide that a late start just screws up routines and makes my kids a little silly, but it was a Friday- so we made it.
Thursday (despite cold temps) Trisha and I headed to Virginia for dr appts, shopping and meeting up with Stacy and Dylan. I found a few good treasures along the way and had a great time bumming around.
Today we are headed to Duluth for the night to watch Brennan (happy bday!) play hockey, walk around the mall, hopefully catch up with Kerrisa and Joel, and just goof around. We're trying to convince Erin and Bill to come with us but so far we've been unsuccessful.
And one more story- since it's been freezing cold, the horn on my car has been going off nonstop. It's ridiculous-- and before I used to get embarrassed, but now i just get the giggles.... esp when it goes off 3 times in front of the dr's office, once at herbergers, 2x at home, and once at grandma Katie's..... hopefully it's fixed now as Jesse went and took out a fuse this morning. Geesh!
enough babbling.... happy weekend everyone!

CONGRATULATIONS STEPECS!!!!

I got a phone call Friday night at 10:30 that the newest Stepec was on the way. What a great surprise! Henry Richard Stepec was born yesterday (the 10th) around 1:30 in the afternoon. You can check him out here.

So- being that he was born at 1:30, it would make sense that my crazy friend Amy would call me at 5:00 to find out how my day was! Ummmm- HELLO AMY~ You just gave birth!!? Anyways- she sounded perfect- wide awake and awaiting her other sweet little Jack to come and visit. It was great getting to talk to her and hear about Henry's arrival. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Hockey weekend

I forget how much I love watching hockey.  It started years ago with my cousin Brennan playing as a little guy (he is now nearly 22)..... then I went through high school watching good friends play and loving it.... then I got into the MN Wild after going to a couple of their games.  I've missed it since Brennan was playing in Canada, high school is over, and Jesse is no longer in MPLS so we can't just go to a game on the weekend.  BUT- this weekend I got my fill as our friend Paul and his son Alex were up in Chisholm for a hockey tournament. Alex is a goalie and we watched him tear it up on the ice Friday night- winning 10-0.  I actually got a little teary for the other goalie- he was so little and he and his team got their butts kicked.  At any rate- Alex and his team did awesome and it was so fun watching them play together.  We headed back to Chisholm Saturday to watch them win again making them in the championship game today.  Due to bad weather (and an evening vikings party at erin's) we didn't go to the last game but are anxious to hear the results.  It was SO GREAT to see you, Paul and Alex- and we look forward to seeing you (and the rest of your family) again soon!

Happy New Year!

First off- we had a great Christmas.... of course it went too fast, and here we are in 2009!
Highlights of Christmas:
*having lunch with g2 and spending some of Christmas Eve with them
* the Aune family Christmas out at Jimbo's... watching Ethan and Dylan be boys.
* Laura giving us the "surprise" visit on Christmas Eve (she was supposed to work, but ended up taking call!!)
*Awesome pink jammies from dad-- fleece and fuzzy, so warm and hand-picked by him with no clues given
*Christmas day with the Poderzays- playing musical catch phrase-- too fun (and quite hilarious)
*Listening to gramps P telling stories of L-O-N-G ago
*3 nights spent with the Glass family at Scott/Annie's.... playing games, eating too much, watching movies and relaxing

The downfall: We didn't have either camera with.... so no pictures. :( This makes me so sad.... but hopefully I've learned a good lesson here!

New Year's Eve was spent at Erin and Bill's playing games and eating too much (again!) and having Tawnya entertain us. I made it up until 11:15 or so- and had to call it quits. :( Maybe next year....

Happy 2009!!