Daddy even has cups here!

After a healthy week at my mom & dad's house, we met Jer in Steven's Point yesterday and spent the night with him. The boys were beyond excited to spend a night at Daddy's corporate apartment, so excited, it was a bit hard to fall asleep. I ended up trying to encourage Walter to stay in bed by laying with him, which didn't work so well as he continually found excuses to get up and see Jer, including the obvious "I need a drink". After getting a drink he came running into his room to tell me "Daddy even has cups here!" That Accenture knows how to treat their employee's well.

We had an absolutely fabulous time at my parents' house. The weather was warm so we enjoyed all the perks of their house: fishing, swimming, tubing, saunaing, fort building, bonfires, archery, swinging and alot of whatever else the boys wanted to do. Walter even got to go on his first tube ride, which he laughed and gave the thumbs up (which means 'go faster') through nearly the entire ride. Owen got some of his carpentry wishes fulfilled with my dad as they built a fort, a huge car ramp, and an enormous sling shot. Jer and I both agree the sauna followed by a jump into the water was our favorite...that and watching Owen become more and more comfortable in the water. By the second day of swimming, we was running off the dock at full speed and leaping into the water. He loved it!

Mama, watch this, watch this!

Walter is full of new tricks and stunts these days, which he loves to show me. It is usually some jump, twirl or fast run. He will say this to me over and over until I stop what I'm doing and watch. He watches me the entire time to ensure my eyes have not left him.

We have had a great week getting back to normal here! Yesterday we spent the day at the beach with some friends. Walter is not hesitant in the least in the water, he was up to his lower lip hanging with the big kids. Owen is becoming increasingly more comfortable in the water, too. We are heading to my parents house next week so I imagine both boys will be part fish by the end of our time there.

On Thursday, we took a day trip with Lindsay and Lydia to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and to Lark Toys in Kellogg. We stopped along the way for a picnic by the river and enjoyed every minute of our time together. I feel so lucky to be able to spend a whole day with them. Fun, fun, fun!

I wish you was a boy.

Jer is the new hero in the house. He has turned the boys on to the wii, particularly some Mario Bros. game. They are only allowed to play this for their screen time when Jer is home as I tell them I don't know how to set it up. Well, tonight Walter told me this wish. When I asked him why, he told me so "you could set up and like playing Mario with us." He is all truth.

This is my first normal week since our vacation and my surgery. I went to the doctor today and he said all is looking well. My only orders are not to run, jump or lift anything substantial for two more weeks. Thankfully the boys have been quite understanding. They have asked when I'll be able to again frequently, though. I do miss picking them up and twirling them around, etc.

If nothing else, this whole incident has reminded me of what an amazing family and group of friends I have. I have received phone calls, flowers, meals, cleaning services and help with the kids left and right. I certainly feel loved. Thank you all.

We've been fortunate to have Jer around a bit more than normal with all this, too. The only stinky thing about it is that reality is now here and he is back to Steven's Point...Monday through Friday this week! Argh! I don't think I can compete with his level of energy and fun, but for these two angels, I will try.

60 years and counting!

My Grandma and Grandpa have been married for 60 years today. Pretty awesome, huh?!

Happy Anniversary Grandma & Grandpa! Love, your favorite granddaughter, Tricia

Time for the football!

Owen got a new airplane that we've been enjoying watching fly. We've made many trips to the big triangle to pilot and chase the plane. Sometimes it gets so high and runs into a tree, where it gets stuck. When it gets stuck, the boys yell "Time for the football!" and run to get it for Jer or my mom. They then have to toss the football up the tree to try and get the plane free. This afternoon it got stuck so high and tight that at one point there was a plane, a football and two soccer balls stuck up there! Jer ended up getting a ladder, climbing the tree a bit and shaking it like crazy until the stuff came falling down.I am recovering nicely thanks to the help of my mom and Jer. It has been nice to have one person to look after me and the other to look after the boys!

Yes, it could have been.

Music to my ears...I spoke with my surgeon this morning, Dr. Laguna, and asked him if by chance my Lutsen hospital experience and this experience could have been correlated and he said YES! I told him I didn't come in for so long this time as I was feeling the same way in Lutsen and had very little results come from that hospital experience and the many other doctors visits there after. He explained that my appendix could have been blocked and fixed itself back in February (and that often times that happens in children, but less often in adults) and then got blocked once again recently! Oh big sigh of relief. Here's to no appendix!

Here are a few more photos from SD.

Ole Sling Shot Hipps

We have been out in the Black Hills with my family for the past week, doing the great American road trip. On our first evening of driving, Owen lost his 2nd tooth and the tooth fairy paid him a visit in Mitchell, SD...just in time for Wall Drug the next day. He was excited to add to his Wall Drug spending cash and picked out what proved to provide hours and hours of entertainment, a sling shot, as well as a new nickname, Ole Sling Shot Hipps. He (& Daddy) loved setting up targets in the yard, on hikes, and even while driving slowly at signs out the window. (nice, I know.)It was a beautiful trip and tons of fun. My parents spoiled us with a beautiful cabin, great food, fun activities and all sorts of wonderful memories. A few highlights included caving in Wind Cave National Park, seeing buffalo charge in Custer State Park, getting close to the Presidents at Mount Rushmore, and hiking around the amazing Badlands.As it seems to go, no trip for me is quite done unless there is a trip to the hospital involved. This time I made it back to Minneapolis Thursday night and quickly went to the hospital Friday morning. I had an emergency appendectomy as my appendix had burst and I am still here as I type. The worst is over.

Oscar Alan Hipps

There is a new member in the Hipps family. Jon and Rachel had Oscar Alan last week, I think it was 7.7, and he is just beautiful. They are home, happy and all healthy...and we are anxious to meet the little man. Isabelle is a proud big sister and it sounds like she is very ready to help whenever needed! Congrats Rachel, Jon & Isabelle!

You, in the brown dress.

I realized I missed posting while my mom was here a couple weeks ago. It could have been that we were without power for nearly 3 days...but anyway I needed to share a few photos from our trip to the zoo. We went to the bird show, which we've seen a few times before, and we decided we were going to try get chosen during the two crowd participation pieces. Unfortunately, Owen was too young for the child participation part, but I was not for the adult part and was chosen to have a red bellied parakeet fly to me and take a dollar from my hand. (Owen still thought that was quite cool.)

My mom spoiled us as usual, with many delightful meals (its hard to cook without power and no kitchen sink!), lots of silliness and a very exciting trip to Alegria, the cirque du soleil that was in town. Owen was completely mesmerized throughout the performance. He still talks about the different acrobatics and stunts they did.

'Because' is not an answer.

I've said it before, but Owen often asks some difficult questions that often make me think. I guess sometimes I will say 'because' before I start a reply as I'm trying to think through how to explain things. The other day as I had given this answer with a pause, Owen quickly told me this.

Owen had Young Architect camp this past week at MCAD. Everyday, Walter & I wanted to stay as it looked like such fun. On Friday we were invited to their art exhibition and finally got to see the tree houses and the low-reliefs. Owen's tree house was inspired by nature and his favorite color, while his low-relief was inspired by urban Japanese architecture. My heart is beaming.

On Saturday we hit up Canterbury Park to watch a few horse races. Walter picked the 3 horse to win every race and was pretty sad when it never did. The horses made up for it though by letting him and his brother pet them.

We had a wonderful, warm 4th of July. We went to the Richfield parade and loaded up on tootsie rolls then went to Grandma Donna's for a delicious barbeque and lots of fireworks. Unfortunately my camera battery was dead, so I missed some great shots of two excited boys enjoying the show their dad put on for us all.