Queen Ave Block Party

Karl here:  One of the great traditions that goes back as far as I can remember is the Queen Avenue Block Party.  Always held the first Saturday after Labor Day, the block party is a great even that brings people from the block, and now the surrounding blocks, out to have fun and enjoy the fall weather.

Thankfully, my parents still live on Queen Ave, and each year it is great to be able to take Nolan over and enjoy biking on the street, fun games, a very interesting talent show, and sometimes even food - okay, lots of food.

In previous years, it was a tough decision to either attend the Burnsville Fire Muster, which celebrates Burnsville and brings fire trucks from lots of neighboring cities, or go to the block party.  This year, the block party won.

Nolan had a great time decorating his bike, being in the bike parade, the water balloon toss competition, and playing with some of the kids in the neighborhood.  It was a perfect fall day, and we had a great time.

Nolan is in 2nd Grade

Hey everyone, Karl here!

Well, fall has arrived and with that, Nolan has started 2nd Grade!  Wow, time flies!  There have been a few changes:  Nolan started public school, and is taking the bus both to and from school each day.  Pretty cool!

There were a few kinks on Tuesday with the bus...it drove past us (along with the other kids in the cul-de-sac) going in the wrong direction.  Last year, it apparently turned around and then picked up the kids.  Well, we waited around for about 15 minutes and realized that we needed to hustle to get the kids to school on time!  We all walked back to our houses, and started to climb into our car, and of course, then the bus shows back up!  A new driver + a new route = a few missed pick ups.

The afternoon was about the same that first day...Nolan was about 30 minutes past his scheduled drop-off time.  Laura was waiting...and while I'd like to say patiently, it wouldn't be entirely accurate.  :)  Even I was a bit worried, and I was still at work.  Of course, it was just Laura and I that were in a panic...  Nolan had a great first day!  Made some new friends, and had a good time in class.

Today, Wednesday, was a bit better.  They still run about 15 minutes late at drop-off, but pickup was on time.  Another good day for Nolan as well.  He has been happy with the school lunches, which is a good thing.  I was stuck in a rut making his lunches each morning.

We've finally figured out this Blog thing, and will try to update it more often now that we can log in successfully.  Thanks for being patient!

We're Back!

So, long story short, I lost my username then I couldn't find my password.  It was quite the ordeal.  But we are back now and better than ever!!  SO much has happened since I last blogged.  I turned 40 :(  So did Karl and Nolan is now 7.  Seriously where does the time go???  We added to the family, I finally got my girl...Sunny Madsen.  A beautiful two-year old with strawberry blonde hair (fur) and big brown eyes.

I finally changed jobs, I am now at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.  That change happened in May.  It's a long drive, 25 miles straight up and down 35W.  But, I get to be home every night and that's been wonderful.  I finished my second book, Amazon says it will be out October 27, and they know more than I do (sad, I know).  Check it out here...order several copies.  I am glad its over, I will not be writing another one.  It was an incredibly challenging thing to do, much more difficult than the first one.  I am not even sure it's that good, but it's done and that's something.

I know there's so much more that's happened since I last wrote, but I just can't think of it right now.  My hair isn't pink anymore, it's currently purple.  Who knows what it will be next month.  I will write down the user name and password and keep it somewhere safe and  I will continue to update more frequently.

The Pink Hair Chronicles: The Fade

Wednesday was the first day that I washed my hair.  For those that are counting, yes, four full days.  That’s pretty typical for me, because after I bleach my hair I want to give my scalp time to recuperate before I add insult to injury.  This time there was the extra added fear of the fade.  I had been warned that everything from my pillow to my shower might be covered in some shade of pink. So far, all I’ve seen is a little pink in the lather of my shampoo.  I am still very worried about what time will bring for this color.  Pink is one thing, peach is a whole other story. 

Overall, people’s responses have been very positive.  As a matter of fact, I’ve heard a whole lot of “I love your hair!”  I tend to get that a lot, I’ve found since having my hair short that most women covet but always claim “I could never wear it”.  But, the pink has added a new dimension.  Getting stopped at dinner, at Chuck E Cheese, even the TSA agent said “nice breast cancer hair”.  I have to admit, that one was pretty unsettling.  Nice breast cancer hair. 

 

This is the current shade.  It's a pretty pastel so I'm thankful that the fade has been to the pink side and not to the peach side.  You can't see it here, but I still have parts that are really pink. It's twenty days in though, and I'm starting to get used to the look.  Make no mistake though, it will be coming out very soon.  It's been a great experience for me, but I'm ready to just be blonde again. 

 

 

 

The Pink Hair Chronicles: the first few days

Sunday I stayed pretty close to home.  The neighbors noticed and asked if I had pink eyebrows too (she was across the street).  No, I don’t.  That’s too much!  Nolan and I had a couple errands to run, but this being Halloween season I didn’t get too many weird looks.  One little boy did say to his mom “Mom, why is that ladies’ hair pink?”  I didn’t stay to hear her explanation.

Monday, I went to pick up Nolan at school.  I was able to explain it to a big bunch of parents, which reduced the number of times I had to repeat it.  The young girls were elated.  One proclaimed “I want pink hair, it’s my dream hair” emphasis on dream J

Tuesday was a big day for me. I had a very important introductory meeting with a leader at a healthcare organization and I was very nervous about the hair.  As it turns out, she didn’t care.  When I asked her if she wanted an explanation she said ‘it’s not necessary’.  Perhaps I just don’t give people enough credit.  I’ve hidden my tattoos for years thinking that people would look at them and make judgments about me; maybe it was my perception of myself that has been skewed all these years. 

During pick-up at Nolan’s school a woman that barely ever talks to me normally told me that not only was she a breast cancer survivor but a thyroid cancer survivor.  It occurred to me how deep some of the stories are that we carry.  I’m learning a lot about people as a result of this and I think that’s pretty cool.

Pink

As promised, yesterday I dyed my hair pink.  I'm not going to lie to you, I've always wanted pink hair.  But, like Botox (another story) wanting pink hair and actually having pink hair is a different thing.  I'm good for my word though.  So, my story in pictures:

Just getting ready in the morning.  Can you see the apprehension?  Yeah, I was a little nervous.  I spent a good chunk of the week searching make-up tips for pink hair. Turns out there aren't a lot that are appropriate for a (nearly 40-year old) professional.  That was my first clue.

This isn't apprehension.  It's terror, boredom, not sure.  The process started off as it normally does, with applying bleach to my hair.  My stylist (shout out to Michelle at JCP salon in Burnsville) was nervous because she had never used this hair color before and she wasn't sure how well it would work. 

First application. It seemed to be going really well, at first...

With a head of pink hair dye, this is where it goes a little off the rails.  When they went to rinse me my roots (the healthiest part of my head) were orange, like ORANGE.  Michelle got so nervous at one point she actually said that she was afraid she was going to throw up on my head.  (She didn't).  After a consult of what felt like at least half the stylists in the salon a second application was put on the roots and I was put in the dryer.  The result?

At home, after about an hour and some food.  It took four hours (yes, 4) to get my head pink.  It looks good in the picture.  In person, the hair that's white (about 25% of my hair is completely white) is magenta, my roots are light pink and the rest is sort of a rosy pink.  It actually looks like we did that on purpose.  Of course we did.  Totally.

 

It will be rinsed out on 10/30 in prep for my trip to Vegas.  I don't have enough balls to ACTUALLY be a 40-year old with pink hair.  I am no Gwen Stefani.  But, I'm proud I did it.  I will blog about the reactions I get as I travel around for work and tell my sister's story.  There's still time to donate, just go here. 

 

On that note...please think before you pink. I'm all for raising money and awareness for this disease, but buying plastic pink bracelets or using pink garbage cans does very little for a cause that you're concerned about.  Just donate to well-run, respected organizations, that's what will help win the fight.

 

A celebration of my sisters 5 years!

Few things mark milestones in your life more than your siblings.  I've been blessed with a crazy and diverse family.  Many of my childhood memories are sprinkled with laughter and sunshiny days, and my brother & sisters.
Together, we faced the loss of our mother.  It was as if someone sucked all the oxygen out of the room. In many ways, you are prepared to lose a parent.  But, I was never prepared to face the possibility with my sister, with someone that I grew up with and shared so much.

In 2008, on the heels of a shocking diagnosis of my nephew, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Breast cancer.  I doubt there are scarier words ever strung together.  I was there when the doctor said to her "we will do a biopsy, but I can tell you that you have breast cancer."  I was supposed to be there to listen and gather information, but in that second I recalled a warm summer day, driving the back country roads in one of Annie's Chevy Camaro's.  I had my hand out the window and the music was playing loud.  I remembered the smells and the warmth of that summer day.  I knew that no matter what, I was going to be where I was that summer day, right next to her.

Of course, we all know that Annie conquered.  This year marks her 5th year since official remission.  I've always known that my siblings, all of them, are incredible survivors each with their own strengths and weaknesses.  Annie survived with such grace and fortitude that I have carried a deep sense of love and admiration for her.  So, this year I want to mark this fantastic milestone by giving back in her honor.  I've started a fundraising campaign with the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  They provide education and mammograms to women in all sorts of different situations.  I can't imagine a better way to honor a woman that takes brownies to her local police department just to say thanks.

If you would like to join me in honoring her, and so many like her, you can donate here. And, if I raise some money (preferably my goal of $2000 but any amount will work) I will spend the month of October with pink hair, and sharing her story to anyone that asks why I'm walking around with pink hair :)

Carpe Diem!

You may recall from a previous post that I wanted to do a bunch of stuff that is outside of my comfort zone.  Much of that is prompted my 40th birthday this year and my entry into the statistical middle-age (technically that happened last year, but nobody likes a know-it-all).  Ugh.  I wish I were like many of my friends that say they don't feel 40.  I feel forty, in my back, feet, shoulders, legs...

This has prompted some rather rash decisions on my part.  Like the decision to participate in a mud run.  I don't run and I sure as hell wouldn't do it in mud.  The only mud that touches this skin (usually) is the European kind that is painted on by the delicate hand of a well-trained masseuse. But, here is the proof to the contrary: 

I blame my sisters; I will also never forgive them :)  Just in case you were wondering, this is a one and done experience. 

Second, and probably more shocking if you know my overwhelming need to analyze any financial decision against a myriad of factors, was this: 

Yes, I bought a brand-fricking-new BMW.  I call her Sydney.  Immediately following the paperwork signing I drove home in my old car (for sale if you are interested) and had a major meltdown.  Major. Meltdown.  Couldn't breathe, sobbing gag-fest.  Arm-chair psychologists would likely attribute it my feelings of self-worth, nope, it's all about the money.  I'm cheap.  I enjoy being frugal and very thoughtful and analytical in all financial decisions. I am very conservative.  Then I go buy a performance/luxury car.  But, man, she goes.  Don't piss her off, she'll kick your ass--just like her namesake.  I love her like Don Draper loves his liquor.  To hell with the consequences.

Finally, (yes there is more evidence of questionable decision making!), I'm heading to Vegas with some of my best gal pals to celebrate the actual event.  Some of you may be saying to yourself "but you hate Vegas", and you would be correct.  But, after much consideration I deemed it to be the best place to get 1.  a variety of things to do, 2. not freezing/snowy weather and 3. cheap (you thought I was a lost cause there for a minute, didn't you?)

So, here's to Carpe Diem.  Life is too damn short to not run in the mud (once) buy a car you love and celebrate a milestone with friends. 

Better Late than Never?!

Okay, so that is the name of my friend's blog (see right) but I guess it applies in this case since it's been since March (March, really?) since I've blogged.  My apologies.  We've been busy (blah, blah, who isn't). 
So, here's what we've been up to.
The snow is a distant memory.  It's hot in the great north and we've been enjoying our summer.  We spent July 4th week in Door County and Nolan stayed for a few extra days with Grandma & Grandpa Madsen.  Karl and I enjoyed the quiet, but it was weird.  It's been nearly six years since the both of us have been at home without Nolan for more than a 24-hour period.  I was happy to have him home.

I spent much of April - June traveling back and forth to San Francisco.  A city I'd never been to prior to January and now I feel like I know very well (just don't ask me directions, but that's true for Minnesota :).  Karl joined me for one weekend and we visited Half Moon Bay, driving down the Pacific Coast Highway to get there.  Spectacular. 

Other than that, not much new.  I've been trying my hand at gardening.  I'm fighting the good fight against Crown Vetch, Buckthorn, deer, rabbits and random vandals.  The hill in our backyard looks anemic but it's getting there.  My hope is that over the next few years it's transformed into a hill all the neighbors envy. 

 

Finally, Karl & I went to the Kenny Chesney concert on Friday.  He loves Zac Brown, and I have a very odd fondness for Kenny Chesney.  I don't listen to a ton of country, but he's right up there for me.  We had a great time.  The only down-side was the massive amount of drinking that occurred.  By the end of the evening we were surrounded by seriously (SERIOUSLY) drunk people (and no, we weren't one of them).  Karl actually had to intervene between this drunk guy and some girls sitting next to us.  My hero.

I can't forget a picture of Nolan. Here's one of him feeding the giraffe today.  I hear they eat box elder trees, if I'd only known this sooner. 

Oh, and one more thing...(no offense to Steve Jobs).  I'm writing another book.  Due out next summer:  "Data Driven Healthcare:  How BI and Analytics are changing the industry" it promises to be a page-turner full of mystery and intrigue. 

In like a Lion...

Another major snowstorm resulted in a first for the Madsen household, a snow day!  Well, I remembered how great snow days were so I was excited to tell Nolan.  He was very excited to hear the news.  That's the end of the fun stuff.  The rest of the day was him either complaining he was bored, tired or hungry.  We are certain that he's grown about 2 inches in the last month.

The new snow did provide for some fun recreation.  While I tried to work from home Nolan tried to play outside.  Then play inside, then eat, then play outside, then eat, then play inside, well you get the picture.  Anyway, the first snow day is over and Karl and I are excited (and Nolan can't stop talking). 

Other than that all is well here.  We've had a nice winter but it needs to stop now:)  I am very excited about gardening this year and I have a lot of plans for the yard.  After the frost is out we will have our new patio installed and I will be planting some peonies and lilacs, just for a start.  Can't wait to get my hands in the dirt and Karl is very excited to use his new truck to haul stuff. 
Some pictures of our recent activities:

The new truck...my only request was heated seats.  They work great!

Nolan on honor roll, twenty weeks in a row!  We're super proud. 

This is the great neighborhood we live in.  Karl got a little help from the neighbors clearing the driveway this morning. 

 

Not just gun control, please

I recently sent a letter to the my US Senators, I encourage everyone to do the same. 

December 21, 2012

Senators Klobuchar & Franken,

I have contacted you in past on issues I feel are critically important, but don’t receive enough support.  I have been very grateful and encouraged to have received your attention and support on prior occasions (specifically, the legislation that requires drug companies to continue to make life-saving drugs like methotrexate regardless to profits). 

Today, I write you as a parent and citizen of this nation in mourning.  I don’t know anyone in Newtown, CT personally, yet my heart aches, as we all do for those children lost in this senseless tragedy.  It seems as if our nation is no longer safe.  Churches, malls, movie theatres, schools are all targets.  It’s an important time to discuss assault weapons, and gun control.  I support these efforts and it’s an important step.  But, I believe that we are not looking at the whole picture.  The danger exists when we continue to ignore that the combination of guns and mental illness don’t have disastrous consequences. 

When we chalk up violent behavior to a single event (i.e. ‘they just snapped’) that caused an individual to murder innocent children we are all giving ourselves the excuse to not address the real problem.  We, as a nation of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends, must recognize that mental illness exists, just as heart disease.  We must ask for, and back, funding for programs that allow these individuals to be treated with dignity and respect.  Gun control is an important part of the problem, but only part of it.  Happy, healthy individuals don’t pick up automatic weapons and walk into crowded movie theaters, malls and elementary schools. 

I ask you in the coming weeks and months to consider the state of mental health in our country and in our state.  Minnesota has in the past been more aggressive in proactive with delivering good mental health care, yet even we are considering cutting back on programs like the Minnesota Extended Treatment Outcomes (METO) program.  Lack of funding for staff training led to many giving up on the program, a program that many felt years ago the answer to our concerns around mental health care. 

I am not so idealistic that I think that this will solve the problem.  But, these 20 children and 6 adults deserve to not die in vain.  An open dialogue about difficult topics removes the power it has over us.

Thank you,

Laura Madsen

 

 

I found a hobby!

I have been seeking a hobby for years.  I always got hung up on the idea that if you spend time on something you should get paid for it?!  Of course, recently I have been very busy.  It's hard for me when I travel to even think about taking time away from my family.  But, what I found is that I like to write while I'm on the road. 

I have a million stories in my head.  Characters or storylines that develop as a result of something I see or do.  So, I have added here a short-story I wrote a while ago.  It's a long post, but I would like you to comment.  I have another story I have written that is much longer, but if there's a good response then I might consider posting chapters for your 'enjoyment'.

A Short Story

Alyssa dressed quickly and ran downstairs.  Todd handed her Grace “I gotta go, I’m late.”

“I’m always late, why shouldn’t you be?” Alyssa quipped sarcastically.  Todd passed her a sideways eye-roll and left without a kiss goodbye or an ‘I love you’.  She wasn’t sure why she did that.  He was a good man, a great dad and she loved him a great deal.  But the pressure she felt to keep up her work and be the perfect mom was more overwhelming than she ever imagined.  They had tried for Grace for 2 ½ years.  She had two miscarriages and was about to give up.  Those nine months were on eggshells and she never took one second for granted.  When Grace was born 9 months ago the joy wore off quickly.  She was tired, more than tired.  She couldn’t think straight, everything felt fuzzy all the time.  Her memory was worse than Swiss cheese.  The ladies at the office joked that it was ‘mom-nesia’ but Alyssa felt that perhaps it was something more insidious.  But she shoved that in the back of her head in favor of the daily insanity that her life had turned into. 

She and Todd had met seven years ago.   At 29 Alyssa had a series of serious and not-so-serious boyfriends.  She had focused much of her attention the last nine years of her life on school and career.  They felt like a more solid investment that ‘waiting for the right guy’ as many of her friends did.  Her career had taken her to far-away places, beautiful locations and the busyness made it easy to isolate herself from the dating scene.  At this point in her life men felt like a pointless distraction, and then she met Todd.

Todd had all of the attributes Alyssa wanted and very few of the things she didn’t.  They fell in love quickly, but not madly.  He was fun and funny and stable.  Todd was an all-around good guy and that was more appealing to her than just about any of his other wonderful qualities.  They traveled to Hawaii for the wedding with just a few family and friends.  They had settled easily into a nice quiet routine. 

They had assumed getting pregnant would be easy.  They were very wrong.  It was a heart-breaking two years, and every day they felt that it may be the last day they would try.  They joked that they would have lots of cats and just be that couple that did crazy things like jump out of airplanes and climb mountains.  But at night, when Todd was sleeping, Alyssa would cry herself to sleep.  She felt an over-whelming sense of failure.  Until that day when she woke sick to her stomach.  Her other miscarriages she barely knew she was pregnant, but this time was different.  She was afflicted with a terrible case of morning sickness and as perverse as it sounds she loved every minute of it, because she knew that meant the baby had taken over.  She never complained once about the incessant nausea and vomiting and by the fourth month she just felt wonderful. 

Grace was born on a rainy August day.  Even though the last nine months had been hell, Alyssa would watch her daughter sleep and praise God for the incredible gift.  She wasn’t a particularly religious person, but she knew that as she looked at her sleeping child she was looking right into the face of God.  The impact to their lives, that nice quiet routine that they had settled into, was one that neither of them really saw coming.  Their long talks & cuddle sessions had disappeared and in its place were too-long silences and in-different conversations.  Alyssa was worried about the state of their marriage but could hardly think about that now as she strapped Grace into her car seat in the back of her Camry.  Her commute was a short one but still took too long. 

“Shit” she muttered as she got stuck in a long line of traffic stopping for a temporary stoplight.  She complained how stupid it was to place a stoplight at the bottom of a hill.  Alyssa turned the radio up and spoke quietly to Grace.  “Just a few minutes baby and we’ll go see grandma.”  She took a sip of coffee and looked blankly at the mini-van in front of her.  It had those stickers on the back window that had stick people showing you their family structure: a mom, dad, three daughters and a dog.  Alyssa thought about how expensive the prom years would be.  She could see the three girls bobbing their heads in the back seat.  She looked down at the radio and glanced in the mirror to look at Grace when flashing lights caught her eye in the rearview mirror.  It was a semi barreling towards her. There were no other cars behind her and instantly the choice was there and just as quickly it was gone.   

Alyssa pulled into oncoming traffic. 

The sound that followed was deafening.  It was like the whole world imploded, glass flew into her mouth as she silently screamed.  Then suddenly, total silence.  She could smell gas and burning plastic; then the shriek of Grace in the back seat.  She tried to look in the rearview mirror but it was gone. She tried to turn and felt a shock of pain in her back.  She reached her right arm around the back and touched one of Grace’s feet. 

“It’s okay baby, it’s okay” she kept saying. 

Someone came to her window. 

“Please, my daughter, please, please” she begged.

“I’m a nurse, my name is Maggie.  What is your daughter’s name?” 

“Grace.”

The nurse disappeared out of sight and came back to her.  “Grace looks okay, just scared.  She was buckled in tight.  What’s your name?”

Alyssa couldn’t respond.  She felt darkness envelop her and a weight come to her body.  The last thing Alyssa remembered was: mom, dad, three daughters & a dog.

Alyssa’s mother heard the crash.  The intersection was less than a mile from her house.  She was out for a walk waiting for Alyssa & Grace to pull in frantically, as they did every morning.  The second she heard the air brakes her stomach clenched.  She got in her car and drove upon the most horrific site.  She was so focused on the accident with the semi that she nearly missed the crumpled silver Camry.  Then she heard the familiar cry and ran to the car.  The fire department was already there working on the car and as she got closer she realized that Grace was out of the car, the back half of it barely touched.  The front of the car had been demolished by the on-coming Ford F-150. 

“That’s my granddaughter” Yvonne yelled.  The paramedic handed the shaken girl to Yvonne and Grace nuzzled into her neck and wept.  “My daughter?”  She asked tentatively.

“She’s trapped in the car.  They are using the Jaws of Life.  She’s still breathing but unconscious. 

“What happened?” Yvonne asked; she couldn’t quite make out the reason why it looked like there were two accidents.

“Near as we can tell.  The semi couldn’t stop in time and your daughter pulled into on-coming traffic, probably to save her daughter.”

Yvonne glanced over to the other accident that had originally grabbed her attention.  The mini-van was crumpled, with a blue tarp draped morbidly over the right side.  She saw a woman being loaded onto the other ambulance, she was screaming.  She noticed a truck-driver sitting in the ditch; the police were asking him questions.  He was ashen and shaking.  He stood up and vomited, then fell to his knees. 

“Is your daughter married?” the Fire Chief broke Yvonne out of her stupor.

“Yes, why?”

“He’ll be the next of kin; you’ll need to call him.  We are taking her by life-flight to HCMC.  You should meet us there.”

“Is she out, can I see her?”

“Not yet, but just about.  We don’t want to delay her care, ma’am.  It’s best if you wait at the hospital.  We’ll take good care of her.”

She woke slowly; the brightness of the room startled her.  Todd came into her view and was saying something.  Then she saw her mom.  She tried to speak but couldn’t.  Then she realized she had a tube in her mouth.  She wanted to scream ‘where’s Grace?’ when her mom came to her and whispered in her ear.

“Grace is with Lara.  She’s fine, not a scratch on her.”

Alyssa fell back into the darkness. 

Our Disney Adventure

We spent Halloween at Disney World.  It's really the best time to be there because it's not super crowded and the weather is pretty good.  Although this year we had the remnants of Superstorm Sandy so it was much cooler than normal, but other than that (and the fact that Delta lost one of our bags) the trip was so much fun!  I could tell you all the details, such as Nolan's love of rollercoasters and Pirates of the Caribbean, but I figured you rather see a couple of pictures. 

Mickey took a break from meal prep to see his pal Nolan

 

Minnie couldn't resist a spin around the dance floor

 

Nolan listening to Buzz

Donald & Daisy made a surprise visit to our hotel.

He's a natural

 

Too loud, but loved the car show (Lights, Camera, Action!)

 

Indiana Jones Show

 

Pirate, matey

 

One of three (or was it four) runs on Big Thunder Mountain

 

The castle lit the night of the not-so-scary Halloween party.  We had a Ghoulish good time.

 

Then it was time to go.  We had an early morning flight (awards tickets:), so we didn't bother to try to dress him.  He was ready to go home (and so were we, to get some rest!)

The Importance of Oral Hygiene and other "Mother of the Year" stories

I have a confession to make.  Nolan had not visited a dentist until last week.  Part of this was the "I'm too busy" epidemic, some of it was "I didn't see a dentist when I was a kid" (I think most of us know how that turned out) and some of it was old-fashioned denial.  Then a few weeks ago I noticed a dark spot on one of his teeth. Then, seriously, within a week that brown spot went from small to large. 
Our first visit to (what might be the BEST child dentist in the country) the dentist went really well. 

Until I heard this:  "Nolan needs a crown"

Oh my gosh.  The bottom of my stomach fell out.  I felt a deep sense of guilt.  The type of guilt that forces you to tell strangers on the street and wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat (both happened to me). 

Today Karl took Nolan in to the dentist for the crowning.  He was a trooper (as always) and although he wasn't thrilled about being at school he told all of his friends that he had a new "silver tooth". 

I know there are bigger issues that kids have to deal with as a result of poor parenting.  Like my deeply embedded distain for anything resembling Christmas.  Or my bad sleeping habits and stress management skills that have rubbed off on him.  But, there's something more concerning to me than the oral hygiene issue. It's the idea that I could use my 'busy-ness' to rationalize not being proactive with my child's care.  Perhaps that sounds like I am being too hard on myself, and for just a big cavity, perhaps I am.  But, I know first hand, too close, that you should never take your child's (or your own) health for granted. 

There is an important lesson in here for me, and Nolan.  For me: I have to get my schedule under control.  For Nolan: he has to "floss his face off"  (quoting the oral hygienist). 
 

First Day of School

This might be the biggest milestone we have experienced as a family.  On Tuesday, Nolan joined the ranks as a student.  He goes to full-day Kindergarten (8:15-3:00) and seems to be really enjoying himself.  As I compared stories with other parents of Kindergartners I learned that it is very common for them to demonstrate unusual bravery in the face of a new challenge, and Nolan was no exception.  He woke up on time, ate breakfast and got dressed like a trooper.  Both Karl and I dropped him off, and he walked right in, sat right down and waved goodbye.  Just like that.  I made it to the car, and then I sobbed.  I was so proud.  I was so sad. 

He has not complained a bit about school, having to get up early, any of it.  The first few days I asked him what he learned and his response was "I learned how to drive a monster truck and a motorcycle".  I was starting to wonder what school we sent him to when I got the 'Friday folder', a detailed itinerary of all the things that he learned that week.  Apparently, he learned about math, science, english, and history (about India no less).  No word on monster trucks or motorcycles. 

In a flash

Summer is almost over, I just don't know where the time went.  I promised updates and we haven't even done that. 

Door County was a lovely time.  One week of vacation and three weeks of wishing we were on vacation.  Nolan loves it there, but by the end of it he was very excited to be home to see his friends and be back with Dad. 

I can't believe all this stuff fits in our cars!

He loves the jelly beans at Wilson's!

Look familiar?  We had dinner at Landmark.  The place looks the same.

The next event was Nolan's Birthday.  His actual birthday was on Wednesday. 

Kooky faces for breakfast, and a regular day otherwise.

 The bouncy house mid blow-up.  It tooks the guys about 5 minutes to drop the thing off.

The cake was a big hit, you can't tell by this pic, but the Hulk's hands are on the left, Thor's hammer is in the middle and Iron Man's mask is on the right.  Capt America's shield is on top.  Check out this:

www.jessicascakes.com

Here's the bouncy house all blown up.  It was also a big hit.  Hours of bouncing fun. 

Now the next big event for us is Nolan's first day of school.  We have recently had a change of heart regarding public school.  He will attend school in the fall, but we are considering other options.

On another note, Karl likes his new job.  It's taken some adjusting but he's settled in.  We have enjoyed having more time together as his commute is much shorter.  My book comes out in a couple of weeks.  It's available for eReaders (Kindle & iPad) at Amazon and iTunes. Surreal feeling.   

Summer's Here

So many updates so little time!  The weather has been lovely here in Minnesota, for the most part.  We've had a lot of rain which makes up for the complete lack of snow this winter.  That has spelled plenty of grass mowing and weed pulling in our new yard. 
We bought Nolan a little playset for the backyard a few weeks ago.  I believed it has sealed our reputation of being the house to play at (a goal we had, but in hindsight I am not sure what we were thinking). 
We have a countdown on Nolan's calendar for our Door County trip.  We are all looking very forward to it, I can't believe we only have two weekends before we are on our way.  Karl started his new job a few weeks ago.  It was a big adjustment to go from an office to a cube but the work sounds interesting and he's got plenty to offer them. 
The book is done and in final stages of production.  I think overall it's a good product, but I still and will probably always see the weak points.  It reminds me of the saying that's written on the whiteboard at work:  "Good is the enemy of excellence;  excellence is the enemy of free time"

We will do our best to keep you up-to-speed over our Door County adventures.  Big summer, and bigger fall, Nolan turns 5, starts Kindergarten and goes to Disney!