Day 1: Seven-Day Cruise to Bermuda!!!

We just returned from a fabulous seven-day cruise to Bermuda with my brother and his lovely wife Charity.  When I say 'we' I mean 'Matt and I'.  Yes, no chitlins.  We love those babies so much and it was so hard to leave them behind but we adjusted, had a grand time, and loved them even more when we got home.

We flew into New York Saturday afternoon, took a bus/train combo to Times Square, then found Sven and Charity at the Crowne Plaza.  After a quick greeting and freshening we toured Times Square then found dinner at an Irish Pub.  The fish and chips and beer were fantastic but they didn't compare to the company.  It was so great to see Sven and Charity and we were all pumped for the next seven days together.

 View from Crowne Plaza

Times Square!

 Sven & Matt

Tara & Charity Take 1

Tara & Charity Take 2

In the morning we noticed a large ship a dozen blocks or so behind our hotel.  Holy Hanna!  That's not just any ship, that's our ship! Let's go!

Norwegian Cruise Line's Gem

 Welcome to your cruise!!!

 Deck 12 Mid

 Deck 13 Front

Deck 10 room 10657

 The first of (too) many buckets of beer

The New York City Freedom Tower, which will stand 1,776 feet tall on the site of the former World Trade Center, is the work of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. It will serve as a beacon of freedom, and demonstrate the resolve of the United States, and the people of New York City.

Lady Liberty

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge: a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City

Dinner Day 1 @ Grand Pacific

Entertainment Day 1

Comedian Richie Minervini

 Current Conditions - Wave Height: 11.5 feet

Hank's 12 Month Well Baby

Hank saw Dr Hudson today for his scheduled well-baby visit.  He was cracking me up with all the shy smiles he sent to the nurse.  Unfortunately that love didn't last because that mean ol' nurse came back with 4 vaccinations for Hank.  She wasn't the fastest moving poker so the process was drawn out beyond this mom's liking.  But once it was all said and done he didn't cry too much and was very brave.

Stats:
Weight: 19 pounds 11 ounces (5-10th percentile)
Height: 31 1/4 inches (95th percentile)

Happy Birthday to our Buddy Boy!

Our handsome little guy is a year old today. If I had to describe him using only two words I'd have to say sweet and easy-going (is that one or two?). I am often asked "Is he always like this?" Meaning is he always happy and laid-back. Yep, from day one we knew he was just a go-with-the-flow kind of guy.

So yesterday we prayed for nice weather and invited over the entire family - that would be 62 adults and children. When the birthday boy has 15 cousins just on his dad's side family-only parties tend to be big. We had a great turn-out with awesome people and lovely weather. Not to mention delicious food.

A few picture highlights of the day:

My cake creation!

Grandma and Russ
Nora & Joy
Hank and Grandma Young

The best $8 I spent - Hank couldn't take his eyes off the balloons

He had a confused look during "Happy Birthday" - or he thought we all needed singing lessons

He didn't give us much of a show

A short-lived cry (he didn't like the frosting on his arm)

Some of the crew

Eleanor & Brody (and the fuzzy caterpillar)

Jennifer & Tom

Hank loved chilling in the Lego wagon getting pulled through the yard

We didn't get a chance to open presents at the party. So as soon as Hank woke up the girls were ready to help open the gifts.

Hank and his birthday wake-up call

Hank's Haul

Whoever got Hank the yellow tissue paper - thank you! It was his favorite gift.

He loves Chuck the Truck and his Pals

But then he got down to business and tried reading his new book - hey, he's one now

Still loving the balloons

Happy Birthday little buddy. We love you like mad! Thank you for being such a sweet little guy.

Love, Mommy, Daddy, Eleanor and Carolyn

1st Day of Kindergarten!

Eleanor's first day of school was more of a parent/teacher meeting while the kids played in the cafeteria. So today we her first 'real' day of school. I watched her run to the bus this morning then waiting all day to hear how she liked it. Basically, this is her story:

"School is awesome! You were right Mom. I thought I would like preschool best but I like preschool and kindergarten the same. There was a little problem this morning and I got lost. I ate breakfast then I didn't know where to go. Grant's teacher came looking for someone and I told her I needed to find Mrs. Duthler. I know what to do tomorrow. I ate cereal for breakfast. I couldn't open the box. Maybe I'll just get eggs tomorrow. You have to get eggs or you have to get cereal. Emma and A.J. are in my class. We learned a song: 'open and shut (hands opening and shutting), open and shut, uh, I forgot'. Last year we had marshmallows in our mouth (blows cheeks out) but this year we have marshmallow toes. Etc. etc."

This group picture didn't exactly turn out as I had hoped

Eleanor in front of Mrs. Duthlers classroom

Tiny girl, big school

Eleanor and the boys!

Sweet Eleanor

Eleanor went to work on a secret project the other morning. Finally she called me into Hank's room. Here is what she made for him:

And with a little rearranging it said 'HANK' :)

Hank 11 months

Hank is continuing to make strides walking and is close to being more of a walker than a crawler. He also has his bottom two molars breaking through. Still happy and cute! (and a little scabby from his recent tumble)

Fall(s) of 2011

The lesser of the two falls our family experienced just days apart: Hank took a header out of the wagon at daycare.

And far more serious was the fall my dad took from his 3rd floor balcony. Here's the article from the Herald Argus:

Area business owner injured in fall from balcony

By Stan Maddux
For The Herald-Argus

Published: Friday, August 12, 2011 5:06 PM CDT

The owner of a well-known area restaurant was seriously injured in a fall at his northern La Porte County residence.

Tim Ohlund, 61, was air-lifted to a hospital in Indiana on Wednesday morning with wounds that included, two punctured lungs, 10 broken ribs, an arm broken in two places, a possible fractured eye socket, lacerated liver and a head injury, according to officials with the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department.

Police said he also had air around his heart and blood in his abdomen.

’’He’s going to be fine. He’s just got to heal,’’ said his sister Sandy Ohlund, who lives in the Rolling Prairie area. About 3 a.m. Wednesday, police were called to the Ohlund residence in the 7800 block of North Fail Road.

Tim’s wife Jackie told investigators she was in bed and Tim Ohlund was getting ready to use the hot tub.

Jackie Ohlund said she fell asleep then about 3 a.m heard her husband screaming and found him laying near the hot tub.

According to police, Tim Ohlund was on a second-floor balcony overlooking the hot tub when a dry rotted wooden railing broke, sending him plummeting down below.

Sandy Ohlund said her brother landed on a concrete pad next to the outdoor hot tub.

Despite his serious injuries, she said Tim Ohlund is lucky to have survived. ’’It’s a good thing he didn’t hit his head,’’ she said.

Tim Ohlund is owner of Heston Supper Club and Heston Hills, a convention and conference center in Galena Township which hosts gatherings such as weddings and receptions.

Sandy Ohlund said her brother has owned the restaurant at 2003 E. 1000 North for about 25 years.

He later converted the old Galena School into Heston Hills at 1933 E. 800 North.





By the time we got to the hospital Thursday night, my dad was already doing much better. He had just hours early had his breathing tube removed and was now talking. By Friday morning the catheter was removed and he walked around a bit. The improvements continued and he was released from critical care on Sunday and out of the hospital Tuesday.