Memorial Day Weekend Wrap-Up

We had an amazing LONG Memorial Day weekend...the weather wasn't perfect, but everyone was happy and healthy and we welcomed the Holiday with open arms.

A few pictures taken of last weeks swimming lesson. I got to start working on some arm strokes in the water, and was rewarded with a little bit of play time on the floatie tiger.

Ms. Christiana warned me she was going to flip me off the float, and told me what I would need to do. 1st, let go of the float, and 2nd...come right up and go to my starfish position (on my back). And I did just that! It makes Mom and Dad very happy I'm also learning what to do if I find myself in a situation.

Mom and Dad took Alex and I to school on Friday, and they enjoyed an entire day to themselves! An amazing breakfast at King's Chef diner, and a trip to Castle Rock for some shopping...followed by a quick brewery stop at Pikes Peak Brewing in Monument. It was a perfect day!
Dad posing outside of King's Chef:

Brewery tasting at Pikes Peak Brewing:

AND! Our buddy Cooper and his folks came over Friday night for a visit!

On Saturday, we visited the Loomis' at their new house along with the Andrews family. The kids played and destroyed the new house (ha), and we grilled out and enjoyed a lovely afternoon and evening together.

On Sunday, we decided to attempt our first trip to the North Pole. Now, the weather was supposed to be fine up until the later part of the afternoon...but the weather predictions were not accurate. Shortly after we arrived, the clouds opened up and we got rained and hailed on! We still managed to make a fun trip out of it...despite it being COLD and WET. Alex was pretty timid this trip, and didn't want to ride on ANY of the rides. I imagine it might take her a couple trips to get warmed up to the idea. She did ride on the carousel ride with Mom and Dad, and really enjoyed that.

Mmmmmm...popcorn!

And we managed to find a dry spot to eat lunch. The one indoor restaurant was PACKED with people trying to get out of the rain and hail:


Alex borrowing Mommy's jacket so she could warm up. The sun came out right as we were about to leave, around 1:00. Figures!!! We got stuck in some major traffic heading back home. Boo!


Skyride selfie on our way out of the park:

Our official NP season pass cards!

Monday was Memorial Day, and Alex decided to get off our day together with sunglasses, shoes, and No pants!

We put the flag out, and posed for a quick picture:

After naptime, we went to Auntie K's and Trent's for a BBQ. They had Dickey's BBQ catered and Alex went to TOWN on some Mac and Cheese. I ate...watermelon! Mom and Dad had a good time visiting with their friends, and Dad got to meet Mr. Trent's family who went to the wedding in the DR.


Cortland and I were inside when this picture was taken...looks like we missed out!


Auntie K is 26 weeks already! Can't wait for Baby Deppermann to be here soon!

Alex making friends with Tucker:

Pretty Mama Auntie K. Nobody knows if the baby is a boy or girl...we have to wait until Labor Day weekend to find out!


Tomorrow, is the Air Force Graduation. Mom is going to pick Alex and I up before lunch so that we can come and watch the Thunderbirds perform their show for the ceremony. I think this will be my 4th year attending, and Alex's FIRST! Can't wait.

Sickly Week!

Well. Last week definitely was NOT the greatest. It started out okay...but things went downhill pretty quickly for Alex on Wednesday afternoon. Mom thought she was being a little more whiny than usual on Wednesday morning, and she did have a low-grade fever. So, Mom went to lunch with Grandma and as they were wrapping up, Ms. Sue called to explain that Alex's fever went up quite a bit and that she had a really swollen lymph node on her right side. Mom and Dad met at the Quick Care, and they PA there refused to see Alex (maybe because she is younger and her fever was almost 104). So, they decided to take her to the private Emergency Room down the road. Turns out she tested positive for Strep. They prescribed some amoxicillin and gave her some Motrin while they waited, and that was that. Alex was of course NOT very happy with the whole experience...Mom and Dad had to pin her down so that they could do the throat culture. They decided to give her an RSV test also, again...NOT happy about that either! Poor thing.
Miserable Alex

Once her fever started to come down she perked up a birt.

But her right lymph node under her neck! OMG! It was red and hot and all sorts of swollen. Yuck.

So, Alex stayed home with Mommy on Wednesday. Alex was feeling well enough that they went to the mall to get her some new kicks, exchange a few summer shirts, and stop by and see the puppies in the pet store:

She also got a pair of sunglasses that she is OBSESSED with. Wears them...EVERYWHERE we go!

On Friday, she was still running a 102 fever on her right side. So, Dad stayed home with Alex in the morning and Mom went to work SUPER early so that she could work a half-day. Mom called and talked to Dr. Reich's office, and they decided they wanted to see her for a follow-up. Dr. Reich looked at her throat and ears again, and felt her swollen node. Dr. Reich went ahead and diagnosed with her Lymphangitis on top of the strep throat, and prescribed some stronger antibiotics. Hopefully these knock out the infection her in lymph node.

Late Friday evening, I woke Mom and Dad up shortly after they went to bed...as I had thrown up in my bed and right near their bedroom door! Dad changed my sheets and Mom got me all cleaned up, and it wasn't long after that, I did it again. Mom was shocked about how cool and calm I was. Like it was really NO BIG DEAL. I ended up staying the rest of the night on a mattress in Mom and Dad's room, and didn't get sick again. Saturday morning...I woke up feeling pretty normal! Must have been something I ate that didn't settle with my tummy.

Saturday morning walk to the park!



We ran some errands on Saturday afternoon, and grabbed dinner at Panera. Everybody seemed to be acting pretty normal!

On Sunday, Mom did her first "Dry Tri" at the gym she goes to. She did a 2000 meter row in 8 mins, 36 seconds, 360 weight exercises, and she ran a 5K in 34 minutes and 40 seconds. Not bad, Mom!

The "after" pic while she was all hot and sweaty.

We spent the rest of the afternoon getting cleaned up and doing a little bit of yardwork:


And...decided to go to Old Chicago's for dinner!




It turned out to be a nice weekend minus the rough Friday night. Memorial Day Weekend up ahead! Mom and Dad are taking Friday off to have the day to themselves, and then we will have 3 days together! We are doing a BBQ at Auntie K's on Monday, and not much planned other than that. Maybe a trip to Santa's Workshop is in order!

Mother's Day Weekend Wrap-Up

We all had a great end to our week, and a wonderful weekend (minus the snow--YES, SNOW). Last Wednesday, Alex spiked another random fever on Wednesday...so she stayed home with Mom all day. She was fine again (low grade) on Thursday. So weird that she keeps doing this! I had my 4th swimming lesson on Thursday night. You guys...I did...AMAZING. I was floating and learning my turns from my back to the front, so that I could swim and then flip again to my back. I have the floating on my back thing down pretty good with no assistance...and I have learned how to relax. Mom and Ms. Christiana were very impressed that I was practicing my swim, and became short on air...so I automatically came up and went to my back. I'm doing all the skills that are guaranteed by the 10th lesson, when attending classes twice a week! Mom and Dad are super proud of me, and I'm gaining my confidence and trust and starting to enjoy swimming lessons. What a difference just two weeks makes! Ms. Christiana was able to snap a few pictures of me in the water up close and personal. Clearly, you can see that I'm not sad at all!

This position is called "Streamline."

They call the position on your back when you are floating "Starfish."

Mom is super excited to see how the next few lessons progress.

Since yesterday was Mother's Day, Alex and I did "Muffins with Mom" on Thursday afternoon. My class sang a sweet little song, and Alex joined us for the muffins. A friend snapped this picture of the 3 of us.

After Muffins with Mom, Daddy came home with these beautiful flowers for Mom. They make the entire house smell like a florist! So beautiful.


On Friday evening, we went to Panera for dinner...and then walked over to Best Buy and Whole Foods for some window shopping. Alex and I both enjoyed watching the latest and greatest TV that was sitting out for demo.

Yep...this is how Alex "rolls" at Best Buy!


On Saturday, I got my haircut and we went out to lunch. We asked Alex if she was interested in a haircut and she said "NOOOOO!!" She might be 6 until she finally gets a trim. On Saturday afternoon, Auntie K came over to visit. We had dinner, and later...Mr. Trent joined us.

Sunday was Mother's Day! Mom didn't capture ANY pictures! Alex, myself, AND Moses slept in until 7:30 am! Best Mother's Day gift EVER. We had breakfast, and then Mom met Auntie K for coffee and a treat at Panera. Mom did some shopping on her own, and we spent the afternoon together. Alex and I got Mom a Starbucks Gift Card...he FAV! Ms. Nikki came over around 5, and Mom and Dad went to Texas Roadhouse for a quiet dinner. Texas Roadhouse was PACKED, and Mom and Dad got lucky when a bartender found them and recruited them to come sit at the bar. They shared some prime rib and thoroughly enjoyed their dinner, and were home in time to put Alex and I to bed. Mom claims she had a wonderful day, minus the Spring snow storm that came through yesterday and is still hanging around today. We all knew we jinxed it by taking out the patio furniture! Hopefully this really is the end of it.