One Crazy Week!

Abree jumped in with Gunnar just after blowing out the candles! What a night they both had!

This past week was one of the busiest on record for the Aune family...and we survived! Every Sunday night I sit down and fill in our weekly schedule for the fridge, so we can keep track of everything, not miss activities, and remind Leonard where we are when he comes home to an empty house. Not much room was left on the schedule this week. For some reason, this week every year is just jam packed. Leonard was in the field most of the week, but finally they finished the big spring push just before another big rain! I just love spring on the farm, it is so beautiful!

Mondy found me starting the crazy week with a much needed massage I'd received for my birthday (thanks Kim!). It was amazing! As the week went by, I realized how great of an idea this truly was. Then Abree started her dance recital rehearsals from 3-6 pm in Colfax. So two trips to Colfax today.

Tuesday found at Abree's 1st t-ball game. She's waited so long for her first game. The little sweetie has sat through so many of her sister and brother's games and events, that she was thrilled that it was finally her turn. As we loaded up (we had to travel 1 hour to Rosalia for the game) she asked her dad, "If I try my best but lose, is that ok?!" Oh my goodness, it just melted my heart! What has she heard us say to have her say that? Unfortunately, the weather wasn't very cooperative and we sat in the car for the first 15 minutes waiting for a big black cloud to dump on us. Then we got out and those tough little kid played their first game in 46 degree weather with an amazingly strong wind. We were still cold when we got home. Gunnar had baseball practice in LaCrosse. Thank you Jamie for getting him there.

Running to 3rd!

Wednesday found Abree in Colfax at dance recital rehearsal again from 3-6. She just loved seeing all the other little girls' costumes and watching them practice. I hired a babysitter to stay with Abree after I dropped her off and got her dressed (the babysitter brought her home, too) so I could race home for Ashtyn's DARE graduation. They served us pizza dinner and then had a wonderful graduation. Ashtyn wrote a great speech about what she had learned during her DARE training. We are so proud of her! Sadly, I teared up as she is growing way too fast and I realized that this is the first of a few graduation/promotion experiences to come in the next 7 years! (Oh, and as I was loading the kids up to head for recital rehearsal, got in the suburban to find the battery dead. Think our littlest daughter may have been playing in the car! Thank goodness the pick-up was here, after a quick dance with a few carseats and other necessities, we were able to get off in time not to be too late or lectured by the instructor...oh, but we got 10 miles down the road and I was going through everything we needed and we forgot the tap shoes...had to turn around and head back home to get those. Thank goodness all the state patrolmen were off duty after the big WSU graduation weekend they had last week which filled their quotas!)

Giving her DARE speech!

Her class

Thursday found me loading up the crew and heading to Spokane for dentist appoinments. Got a little shopping done while we were there, too. We had GREAT dentist appointments. NO CAVITIES x 3!!!! That never happens in our family. I walked out of the office in shock that I didn't have an appointment slip in my hand for next week. We are so lucky, our dentists' office is great and filled with awesome hygenists. They are so good with my kids. My kids get excited to visit them. We've been going there for years and they've watched our family grow. One gal even remembered Gage's name from our last visit when he was a few months old. She came over and commented on the "Aune cheeks" he inherited and squeezed them. We found ourselves quickly loading up and heading home on a mission. T-ball game at 5:15 and baseball practice at 5:00. Had to dress, get gear and get to the fields...yeah, this time in the same locations!

In ready position, the one with the pink mitt. Yes, she is either in ready position or sitting down because her little legs are tired of ready position.

Friday found us celebrating Gunnar's 8th birthday. How is it possible he is 8 already!??! I headed into the school at 10 to put Abree's hair in curlers for her recital (not the event of choice for Gunnar to celebrate his 8th birthday, but he survived), did my weekly volunteering at school 1st and 2nd grade spelling tests, picked Abree up from preschool, had Gunnar's birthday party at school, came home and put the kidlets down for a nap, prepared for the evening's events, mowed my very tall, out of control lawn, dressed Abree up with curls and a little make up to make her sparkle, watched a great recital (Ash really misses it this year. But with jr high sports there was no way!), came home and celebrated an 8th birthday with grandparents, aunts and cousins. The final guest left about 10:30 pm. Whew! What a day! But everything about it was great!

Abree did a great job tap dancing to the "Yetti Stomp" (from the Backyardigans). She has been waiting so long to dance in her first recital. She patiently watched all of her big sister's dance practices and recitals for years, always to ask, "When can I dance like that?" And, FINALLY it was her turn. She knew her steps and had a great crowd of supporters. When tucking her in I asked what she liked best, and her reply was "the flowers!" Thank you McKays and Flemings.

At his class party

Got the dancin' shoes on!


Waiting for the music to start.

Today the kids are branding calves with their dad and our dear friends on the last day of their branding season. Tonight they'll host a large branding party to celebrate the end. We will have a smorgasboard of authentic Mexican cuisine, a pinata (thanks Aunt Sara for visiting East Pasco for us, the kids had a great time stuffing it this moring), live music, a bon fire, and about 100 of our closest friends. It is a great gathering every year! Watch the blog for pictures...no guarantee when!

We found ourselves saying lots of prayers this week as our 11 year old cousin underwent a biopsy on his femur. The surgeons felt good about what they found, hoping it is just a stress fracture. The lab results will come soon. YEAH! We continue to pray that the results will be positive. You are so brave, Tyler!

Whew! What a week! Today I'm finding myself not motivated to do much but relax and enjoy Gage. Poor guy didn't get much mom time this week. Thank goodness WSU is out, and I was able to get a great babysitter to stay with him. And, thank you to G'ma Lola for keeping him a couple times this week to avoid the cold, icky weather. He is so lucky to have people who love him so much.