The Camper is Here

Our new camper made it home Sunday. It is even better than I remember it in January. We are trying to get it filled up and ready to roll. Conner loves going in and playing around in it. He sees something new every time he goes in. It is like a new home to explore for him. We can't wait to plan our first trip and try it out.

What's New?

Well, it has been over a month since I have updated this blog. We haven't done anything as a family that is picture worthy or blog worthy. We are staying busy as usual. That happens when you own a business, both work outside the home, and have a 10 month old on the move.

Steve has been busy working outside getting everything spruced up for spring. It looks so nice and fresh. He has been working hard. Our next step is planting some potted plants and doing some landscaping around the back patio. Our old swing/ glider bit the dust at the end of the summer last year so it retired to the landfill. We have since replaced it with a new one. That is very exciting. Conner and I spent many hours in our swing last summer over our 3 month maternity leave. It could calm him in an instant and put him right to sleep. I am looking forward to many summer nights on our swing together.

I have been spending many hours planning Conner's 1st Birthday bash which is right around the corner. In seven weeks, the boy will be ONE. I can't believe it. I am making his invitations and getting a jump start on shopping for the big day. I am really excited. That is my project at hand. Although, I always have a few on the back burner.

Steve is in Chicago right now picking up our camper. If your remember, we went there in the beginning of January to look at one. We bought it that day, but had to leave it because the roads were ice covered. We told them we would be back in the spring when Chicago thawed out. We have been itching to get it home and hit the woods where we like to spend our summers. We have several trips planned and one maybe as early as April 9th. We'll see.

Camping is going to be fun but challenging this summer. Conner is into everything and starting to walk. So, campfires and things on the ground that look YUMMY are going to be a challenge for us. We may be more exhausted than rested when we get home from our weekends. He does love to be outside and that will be fun for him. When we walk out to the garage. We ask him what he wants and he points to his Red Wagon and grunts until he gets put in it. He would ride in that thing for hours if you would pull him. The whole time making the motor noises.

Conner is enjoying more overnights with his grandparents which I have found are getting easier on me. I now look forward to my time off and get excited for him to spend one on one time with his grandparents. He does so well, or so they all tell me. He knows his grandparents and gets excited when he sees them. I love the looks on all of their faces when they greet each other. It is like new life has been brought to mine and Steve's parents. Grandparents were a very important part of my childhood and Steve's too. I am so glad that Conner has his 4 grandparents close by to spoil him.

So, that is what we are doing here at the Elfreich house. Getting ready for spring, camping, and a birthday party. The winter was way too cold and way too long. We all have cabin fever. If it is nice outside, you won't find us in the house. We are usually on a walk, in a swing, or on a stroll.

I hope everyone has a great spring.

A Surprise Engagement Party

On Saturday night, one of Andrea's friends threw her a surprise engagement party. It was at the Miller House in Owensboro. It was a great night. Great food, Great company, Great Fun. Afterwards, we went to the firehouse to see Byron. We got a tour of the house and got to see what he does every day. It was the highlight of my evening. It was like a field trip for old people. I won't bore you with the pictures. My dad, Steve, and Conner hung out at Mom and Dad's house for a boy's night.

Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day was extra special. I had not one, but two valentines to share it with. My sweet boys. Conner made a gift for each of us. He made his daddy a finger painting and he made me a collage of pictures of him or him and I. It was the best gift ever. He did such a great job and put a lot of thought into it. Thanks Conner. His painting for daddy. His gift to his mommy.

Meeting Baby Abigail

Tonight, Steve, Conner, and I went to Santa Claus, so the boys could meet their new cousin/niece. We ate dinner and visited with everyone. Conner and Sophie had fun playing together as usual. Conner stared at the baby a lot and wanted to touch her. He is pretty rough right now not knowing how soft to touch, so he just got to look at her. I think he liked her.

Everyone is doing great and adjusting well. Conner and Sophie sitting in the Rockers. Abigail, Sophie, and Conner

Those two know how to cheese for a Camera.

Welcome Baby Wollenmann

My sister, Stephanie and Brother- in- law, Tim welcomed a little girl into the world today. Abigail Rose Wollenmann was born at 4:24 p.m.. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. She is absolutely beautiful. She seems so tiny. They called and told Sophie and Tim's sister said her eyes got really big. She was excited. She wanted a sister. Congratulations to everyone.

Andrea and Abby Byron, Andrea, and Abby

G-Daddy and his new granddaughter

Abby

Fuzzy hair

Mommy, Daddy, and Abby

Granddaddy and 2 of his 6 girls

Mommy and Abigail

Sledding

Sophie, Conner, Aunt Andi, and I went sledding today. There aren't any hills at mom and dad's house. so we got a work out pulling the kids. We had a lot of fun.

Aunt Andi and Sophie

Tammy and Conner

Big Sister Party

Today, we went to Rockport. My dad, Steve, Tim, and Byron went to a "Guys Party." The girls and Conner had a "Big Sister Party." Sophie was supposed to go to a "Big Sister Class" today but it was cancelled due to the weather. She was very upset, so we had a "Big Sister Party."

Mom took all the girls and Conner to lunch at the Mexican Restaurant. They brought Sophie a special fried Ice cream and a Sombrero. She didn't want anything to do with the attention from strangers. We all wore out party hats and leis through lunch. Yes, everyone stared. How many times have you gone out for lunch and seen grown adults wearing giant cheeseburgers on their heads??????????????? My point taken.

We then went back to mom's house for cake. Then, Sophie got to open her "I'm gonna be a big sister" gifts. Steph is being induced on Wed. Feb 3rd. They do not know what they are having. Sophie says "a Sister." then she says "a Brother." We will have to wait and see.

Loving her baby sibling.

This is a test to see how closely Andrea follows our blog. I will mention something and say "didn't you see it in our Blog?" She always has an excuse why she hasn't checked it. I think this picture should show up again at her wedding. Did you see this, Andrea?????????

The Big Sister

Conner wishing he was old enough to go to the "GUY Party."

Sophie, Conner, and the Baby all got matching P.J. 's for a slumber party at MeMaw and G-daddy's house.

She also got coloring books, markers, an Elmo movie, and a book of Handy Manny about the "New Kid." She also got a book about being a Big Sister.

Happy Birthday Brady

Today is Brady's 1st Birthday. We hope you have a great day filled with lots of fun. Love you.

Camper

On Friday morning, at 6 a.m., we headed to Lake Zurich, Illinois. Which is basically north of Chicago. We were headed to Camping World to look at a camper we found online. The trip would take the average family 7 and a half hours. Well, we are no longer the average family. It took us 10 and a half hours. Not to mention, most of the country had been hit by snow on Thursday, so the roads were not great. We saw about 100 cars, trucks, and semis off the road, in ditches, down hills, or head on into trees from the snow and ice on Thursday between Evansville and Lake Zurich .

On Saturday morning, we headed to Camping world to meet with our salesman. They knew we were coming so our camper was indoors in the showroom and thawed out. Thank God. I wasn't going to stand outside, in Chicago, in January, to look at a camper. It was exactly what we had been looking for. It was everything we wanted and the right price. So, we bought it. It is a Laredo 5th Wheel. This took way longer than we ever anticipated. We had to look it over, get a walk through with a man to tell us about it, then go in and negotiate things, and buy it. We thought we would go there, buy it, and head home. We were expecting to get home around 8 pm.. We didn't even leave the dealer until 3 pm. Things don't always go as expected. We drove about 3 hours and it got dark and Conner got grouchy and hungry. So, we are at another hotel, looking for another place to eat. Oh Well. It is just another chapter in our adventure book. We will get up and travel the other 7 hours tomorrow. It was the safest thing to do. It is 0 degrees outside and I am terrified of black ice.

We will leave the camper there until spring and Steve will go back and pick it up.

On Sunday, when we left for home, the temperature was -14 degrees and the wind chill was -30 degrees. Yikes. It was cold.

Two Happy Campers