Officer's worst nightmare....

Last Friday Brad called me at work with some horrible news. An officer that works for the Sheldon Police Department (Obrien County) 17 year old daughter was killed in an accident. It's a nightmare to lose your daughter but also a nightmare for a dad/officer to be on duty that day and be the first on the scene. Brad has always told me this is one of his worst fears about his job. It has happened to someone that Brad works with and we are very saddened of the tragic loss of this young girl. Please pray for Officer Woods and his family during this difficult time. Pray that God will give them strength as they lay their daughter to rest tomorrow.

The weather is warming up and we are loving it in our house!! My kids were starting to go crazy being couped up inside all day when the temps were very cold!! I checked the weather and it's supose to be a high in the 50's a couple days this week...YAY!!! I am so sick of winter! The snow is melting fast with the warmer temps. My driveway was pure ice from all of our wonderful storms we have had....pretty sure I almost fell a handful of times! Yesterday with the nice temps Brad, Oz, Calee, and Camden chipped/shoveled off all the melting ice!
Anyways Spring is near and we are excited!

It seems lately that is non-stop going in our house! We have been SO busy!! Here's what been going on with the Stevens'-

Camden-
*A couple weeks ago he had a two weekend camp for basketball. He had so much fun and learned alot! We were able to watch him play during half time at the HS game.
*His normal week is sooo busy...wrestling on Tuesday and Thursday night and church on Wednesday night. By the time Friday comes he is ready for a couple days off...me too!! He does really well with his busy schedule :) He is already asking when soccer is going to start.....he is always on the go! I know he is only 5 but I can't imagine what it's like when he gets older. And we don't push him to do these things, it's his choice if he wants to do wrestling or not! Church he doesn't have much of a choice....he loves it so I have no problem getting him to go on Wednesday nights. Sometimes I feel for a 5 year old this is to much during the week but he doesn't have a problem with it!
*Doing great in school! It's conference time this week at school and Mrs. Menke sent a letter home and talked to Brad that she does not have to meet with us because he is doing great and she has no concerns...oh one concern...to listen a little better :)
*Camden has been asking on and off for me to have another baby...but it has to be a boy!! He does not really understand that we don't have a choice if it's a boy or girl. I think he is getting bored with his sister! I am a 100% sure there won't be anymore babies in our house...ok maybe not a 100% , maybe 80% sure! I get that baby itch every once in a while!
*He can't wait to be 6...I swear ever since the day after Christmas that's all he has talked about! It has slowed down a little bit but give it a couple weeks and he will be constantly asking about his birthday! I guess birthdays are a big thing to little kids. Not sure what we are doing for his birthday but this year I am going to try and make his birthday cake...yikes...hope he doesn't pick anything to hard for me to make!!

Maeci-
* She is my.......naughty, little, cute, devil, blue eyed, stinker, baby girl! Awww this girl gives me a run for my money! She is so naughty at times...her newest thing is spitting at you...yes spitting...nothing comes out of her mouth but just the action of spitting! Yep probably learned that at daycare! She is going through a stage of hitting and throwing some major fits....wow! Oh well it's a stage and it will pass! I am just glad I didn't have 2 kids that had the terrible two's!
*Ok on to the good stuff..... She can be the sweetest little girl, likes to give lots of hugs and kisses! If someone gets hurt she is always there rubbing their head and saying " it k" (it's ok)
*Talking alot!
*Obsessed with babies!! She is always feeding and rocking her babies. When she is rocking her babies she always sings to them, more like hums some tune...it's so cute!!
*Potty time....about a week ago we introduced the potty to her. We are not pushing her but letting her get comfortable with knowing what it is, etc. If you push a kid it will be harder to get them trained! It's not an everyday thing we do right now but wanting her to get used to it. The other day she was standing in the front of the toilet trying to go potty like a boy...oh my..thinking she has watched Camden a time or two! She will say "potty, potty" and even though we are not really potty training we take her and sit her on the toilet!
*Toddler bed...yikes...yes we are going to be switching her over sometime soon! Camden was in a toddler bed at 20 months so we will be trying to see how Maec does! I told Brad I will be leaving the crib up just in case she doesn't do well in the bed! Not sure exactly when we will be doing it but sometime soon!

A couple weekends ago we celebrated Christmas with Brad's family in Des Moines at a hotel/waterpark. It was a great time and it was nice to see everyone!

This past weekend we celebrated Christmas at my house with my mom/family. The kids were excited to see everyone and we had a good time! The weekends go way to fast though!

Well that's about all for now.......Enjoy the warmer weather this week!! :)

The Lombardi trophy is coming home!!

CHAMPS!!!!

Wow, what a game last night!! We have a very happy house right now! I was SOOOOO nervous in the 2nd half when the Steelers were making a run and came within 3 points....pretty sure I couldn't quit shaking! I guess I would rather have a close/exciting game then a blowout game. Ok maybe a blowout(Packers being on top:) ) wouldn't have been so bad for my nerves...lol!!

I am already excited for next season! I think my husband is hoping he gets his season tickets this year...oh wait I should say my season ticket since it's in MY name!! We are on the list for one season ticket and also for 2 season tickets. His name is on for the 2 tickets and we might not get those til we are 60 yrs old.(the list is very long) As for the one season ticket we should either get that this year or next.(Although it may be longer now that they have won the super bowl...who would want to give up their tickets after just winning the super bowl!?! I sure wouldn't!) We actually got offered it this past season but turned it down because they were only offering the package for half the games and we wanted the full season! We will have to wait and see! GO PACK GO!!!!

So I am just a little annoyed and going to vent just a little.......
This morning I was on my way to work and I could see flashing cop lights about a mile up the road. As I got closer I realized a deputy had someone pulled over on the opposite side of the road. Of course I slowed down as I was getting closer because I could see 2-3 cars coming toward me. I didn't think I would have to come to almost a complete stop since I was on the opposite side of the cars and the deputy, etc. The truck (coming toward me) that was the first in line did NOT SLOW down a bit and maybe moved over 5 inches as he passed the deputy. I ended up coming to an almost complete stop thinking I would just stop so the truck could come into my lane a little to pass the deputy/stopped vehicle! Oh no he did not and probably didn't even take off his cruise control. Being a cops wife that stuff freaks me out....that deputy could easily get hit by someone that is careless and not slowing down. I know this is probably on the bottom of my list of stuff that freaks me out being a cops wife....cuz I know there is alot worse things that these deputies/officers deal with! I have seen on cop shows before where an officer gets hit because of careless drivers! Maybe I freaked out a little much on the whole thing this morning but that deputy was my husband! Even if it wasn't my husband I still would of been annoyed with the whole thing.
Also, once last thing and then I will be done.
People PULL OVER for an Ambulance with flashing lights! It doesn't matter what side of the road you are on....slow down and get over! Had an experience with that a couple weeks ago. Not going to get into the story but you get my point!
Ok I am done....sorry if that annoyed you but I had to vent!
Have a good day!

Winter

I am soooooo sick of winter! Today I drove to work on icy roads and it sucked! I am thinking maybe I should of waited a couple hours before I came in. I don't mind having a drive to work but when the weather is crappy I don't care for it. Camden had 2 days last week off of school due to the foot of snow we received.....I guess I had two days off too! Last night there was sleet and the wind was blowing...once again 2 hour late start for the school kids today. I think they will have school but who knows! Oh how I want some warm weather right now. If I wouldn't of just started this job I would be flying somewhere warm right now for a vacation!! I am thinking SPRING right now!!!

This is a conversation Camden and I had yesterday driving to Sheldon...(it fits in with the warm weather/crappy winter)

Camden(as many birds were flying right at my windshield)- Mom, ya know some birds fly south to have warm weather since it's so cold here.
Me-Yep Cam you are right. Maybe we should fly south to have warm weather?
Camden-Well then why don't we?....I like the snow for awhile but I am ready for summer.
Me-Me too....It would be nice to go somewhere warm right now!
Camden-(thinking about it) But mom we can't fly south we don't have wings.....(he is laughing)
Me-Very true Camden....A plane has wings and we can go that way! lol

He is so funny somedays! He is getting sick of the snow and cold too. He loves the snow for a couple months and usually about this time he is wanting it to be summer!

Little Miss Maeci

My precious little daughter is going to give me gray hair sooner that I would like! She is going through the terrible two's early...or I guess I think that's what it is! I also think she is going through a seperation from mommy stage. Gosh I am sooooo glad I never really had this with Camden!! It's funny too because she really only acts like this when I am home or around. She does wonderful when Brad is home with her and is very good at daycare! The minute I get home from work/pick her up from daycare she is attached to my leg and crabby!! I walk in the door at home and she gives me an awful look and hits the closest thing to her. I was talking to my friend about this and her son did this when she picked him up from daycare. She told me it means it's a sign that she missed me. When I switched jobs and went back to work full time she actually adjusted very well. So now I am not really understanding why she is doing this. I know it's just a stage but it drives me crazy! I thought maybe she wasn't feeling good or she was in pain. She doesn't have a cold, her ears were just checked last week (which they look great and the tubes are actually still in..which I thought they were coming out) so I would say she is just being a little stinker! The ENT did say that her tonsils are huge and she will def need those out eventually. She doesn't wake at night but she is sure a restless sleeper. That is probably being caused from her mouth breathing which can be caused by large tonsils. He said if we have to put tubes in again he would take the tonsils out. Normally he don't do it til they are 3 or older but he said she is a big girl and she would do just fine! I am hoping we can hold off at least til she is over 2 years old. When Camden had his tonsils and adenoids out at 3 it helped ALOT!! I swear it's always something with my kids. I think they pick up every bug that goes around the daycare or at school!! Oh well it will get better and I know I am not the only one that has sick kiddos all the time! I look back to when I was a younger and would get sick. They didn't do half the procedures they do now with kids.
Maeci is also going through a stage of hitting. She gets mad she hits. She doesn't hit at daycare but at home she does. She even has tried to bite her brother twice! Oh gosh I really hope she doesn't start doing that all the time. I remember working in daycares and dealing with kids that would bite. Some kids just go through the biting stage but I am really hoping it doesn't get worse! I just have to keep telling myself this will all pass and it's just a stage they go through!!

Graduating.....

Yep my baby girl is graduating to the big room at daycare next week. This weekend she turns 18 months old and I can't believe it! Before I know it she will be graduating from preschool, high school, etc. Time goes way to fast! She transitions in the big room a few days a week now and she is so little with all the bigger kids! Daycare said she will do fine because she can hold her own when it comes to bigger kids. There are right because she usually doesn't back down when it comes to getting a toy taken away, getting hit, etc!
So here is what my monkey has been up too....

*She is a momma's girl lately. The past couple days she has started a stage again of mommy has to hold her all the time and I can't walk out of her sight! Frustrating for me at times but oh well it will pass! I think her ears have been been bothering her the last few days so that could be the reason behind her being so attached to me. We have an appointment on Monday with the ENT and I have a feeling a new set of tubes is what he is going to say. Her last set are in the processing of coming out!

*Adjusting really well to me going back to work full-time. When Brad is on dayshift and she is at daycare all day can make her a little overtired but not to bad.

*Starting to adjust better to the time change. Before the time change she slept from 7:30-7:00/7:30. Since the time change she started off sleeping from 7:30-5:00/5:30. With her getting up so early her whole daytime schedule was messed up. She used to take one nap in the afternoon but with her getting up so early she wants a nap by 10:00 and maybe another one late in the afternoon. Now that she is adjusting she is sleeping from 7:30-6:00/7:00. Most mornings when she gets up and we don't have to be anywhere she will lay on the couch and go back to sleep for another hour or so.

*Starting to say alot of words. Here are just a few....Mommy, Dada, Hi, Bye, Night, Melmo(Elmo), Papa, Tanku(thank you),baby, bottle(for her baby),wa-er(water),ball. Everytime she drops something she will say, uh oh. The other night she got a hold of the tv remote and took off running with it. Brad went to get it from her and she kept running and saying uh-uhhh! It was pretty funny! Seems like everyday she is learning new things to say. She doesn't say words all day long and if you want her to say something to show someone else she will NOT do it! Although she did say "papa" so my dad could hear it. Most of the time it's still alot of babbling that comes out of her mouth that I have no idea what she is saying. She tries to carry on a conversation with you and pretty much all it is a bunch of "baby talk" But it's funny because it's like she is trying really hard to tell you something. Soon she will be talking like crazy!

*She can point to all her body parts.

*She can tell you how old she is.

*Loves to sing songs!

*Books!! Wow the kid could read books all day long! I love it! I just put in my order for Usborne books and got her a lot of books for xmas!

*Has a mind of her own! If she doesn't like something she will let you know. Her new thing is giving you a dirty look. Such a little stinker.

*Tough little girl when it comes to her brother picking on her. She doesn't really back down to often and fights back!

*Hitting....if she's mad she hits! Grrr!

*OBSESSED with Elmo! She loves Sesame Street! Next to Elmo she loves Cookie Monster.

*About a month or so ago she got her last eye(I call it eye tooth but I think it's canine) tooth in. She now only has her 2 year molars left to get.

*Loves going to WWW(wild worship wednesday) on Wednesday nights with me. She loves being with all the kids and her favorite part is the singing and dancing at the end of the night.

Well that's about all with Maec. There is something new with her everyday. She is so much fun to be around and I love the age she is at! It's just so hard when they grow up so fast. Just got to thinking that soon Camden will be 6! Oh my!!