Cabin Fever

We have not gone up to Grandpa and Grandma's cottage in Briggsville at all yet this summer because RyAnne has been sick. However, she begged us to go up there this 4th of July weekend because she knew her two friends (the grandchildren of the neighbors) were going to be there. We caved as long as she promised us that she would take it easy.

Take it easy? Okay, so we caved and let her go tubing - in the sit down you don't get wet in tube because everyone else was "doing it". SHe had a blast!

Yummmmm smores!

Messy smores!

We couldn't miss the annual Lake Mason boat parade. Yes, about 20 boats all decked out in their 4th of July gear parading around the lake blowing their horns and blasting music! Above is a picture of RyAnne watching it with her two friends.

Dad teaching Dakota and Bailey the proper parade wave!

On Saturday, July 3rd, we went out on the pier to watch the fireworks show - which this year could be seen in two directions. The twins were inside sleeping with Grandpa and Grandma and in not too long RyAnne asked to go inside too. She was too tired to even watch the fireworks!

This picture was taken back at home on the 4th. Too much excitement (and the forecast for rain) sent us back to Madison for a nice relaxing "early" 4th of July at home.

Go Brewers Go!

The kids had a lot of fun at the Brewers game. RyAnne still wasn't feeling too well, however, we had bought the tickets awhile ago and she was a real trooper and went with us.

The twins enjoyed playing catch with their "bro" before the game!

A picture with #1 Bratwurst - who by the way won the race that night! Where's Dakota? He is hanging onto the camera man's leg!

Such a silly boy!

The Brewers #1 fans!

Go Brewers Go! The Brewers beat the Astros 7 to 5! They had 4 homeruns - Dakota and Bailey loved the fireworks and seeing Bernie go down the slide. We had to leave early because RyAnne was really tired, however, it was a fun time for all!

Bad Beginning

So..... the summer hasn't started out so good for us. First, we noticed that Dakota had a lump in his scrotum. Okay, so we thought maybe he bumped it and it would go away in a few days. Then, RyAnne just wasn't feeling good for a few days - and couldn't really tell us why. Of course, on a Saturday she tells us her throat hurts. Dad took her to urgent care and they said she had a double ear infection and gave her amoxicillan. Pete asked the doctor there about Dakota's lump and he suggested to make an appointment with his pediatrician on Monday. By Monday RyAnne needed to go back in. Their doctor checked out RyAnne and did a blood test and said she had mono. He was very concerned about her...her glands were huge, she had a terrible sore throat, ruuny nose,and she had an enlarged spleen (it was outside of her rib cage). He took her off the amoxocillan and said she would need a lot of rest, to stay hydrated, and NO activity because of her spleen. He ordered an ultrasound on Dakota and made him an appointment with an urologist. Two days later, Dakota had his appointment and we found out he has a hydrocele (fluid filled sac) on his epdidymis (thank goodness that was it - we were so afraid it was the "c" word). He will have surgery on it later in July. Meanwhile, RyAnne was SO sick!! For a week she just cried and laid around. Finally, after 9 days, she was feeling better. She had an appointment today and her doctor said she looked much better.

RyAnne now takes daily naps. Here she is sound asleep (and snoring loudly) in Mom and Dad's bed. It is really hard to sleep at night with her like this!

Kinderfari

RyAnne took a class at Henry Vilas Zoo this summer called "Kinderfari". One of the days we took Zachary, Dakota, and Bailey to the zoo and got to snap some pictures of her in class.

She got to ride the carousel and train.

Dad got a picture of her and her classmates feeding the goats.

Bailey fed the goats too - Dakota preferred to look on.

In this class, RyAnne learned about animals, fed them, made animal crafts, and sang animal songs. One song she liked was:

Mammals are the animals

Animals

Animals

Mammals are the animals

That have hair or fur!

Here she is singing another song.

Dance Recital

RyAnne performed in her first dance recital! It was Ms. Donna Davis's 55th Annual recital. The theme this year was "Icons" so she danced to Sesame Street for tap and the Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" for ballet.

Here she is bonding with all her friends before the recital.

The first performance was tap. RyAnne knew her dances by heart - practicing without music at home! She was awesome!

Tear jerker! The music really got to Mom! She had such beautiful moves!

Dad was SO proud!

Our beautiful ballerina! We couldn't have been any prouder!

The Madison Mallards Bat Kid of the Game

RyAnne was selected to be the Culver's Bat Kid of the game for the Madison Mallards on Sunday, June 13th! She won four tickets (Dad, Mom, Zachary, and Grandpa Carter attended the game with her), a shirt, and a hat.

Here she is warming up with the players before the game. They let Zachary go with her because she was a little shy at first.

Playing catch with one of the Mallards' pitchers.

She was announced and shown on the scoreboard throughout.

One of the Mallard's workers commented how she made herself at home in the dugout.

Lastly, she delivered the Mallards starting lineup to the umpires with Coach Thieleke!

Playing with the Mallards

When we were walking into the Madison Mallards game on Sunday, another Mallards worker approached RyAnne and asked if she would like to bat against the Mallards team.

Between the 3rd and 4th inning she went on the field. She hit the ball on the first swing!

The Mallards were trying really hard to get her out, however, they kept on over-throwing the ball and tripping and they couldn't catch her.

The crowd was chanting, "GO RYANNE! GO RYANNE!" RyAnne ran her little heart out around the bases and got a HOMERUN!" She also got another free Mallards t-shirt - which Zachary was excited about because this one was big enough to fit him.

In front of the dugout with the Mallards mascot. The Mallards photographer took this picture and it is on the Mallards home site:

http://www.mallardsbaseball.com/

Horizon Family Picnic

We attended Horizon Elementary School end of the year picnic.

We sat around with friends enjoying the picnic.

RyAnne getting a star painted on her face.

RyAnne with a few of her good friends showing off their face paintings.

RyAnne and her best friend really got down on the dance floor! Here is video of them doing the chicken dance!

Henry Vilas Zoo Trip

Mom chaperoned a kindergarten class trip to the Henry Vilas Zoo.

RyAnne's class photo. It was a beautiful day. The zoo was VERY crowded but the kids had a nice time.

Birthday Treat

Today RyAnne is going to celebrate her July birthday at school. We made dirt dessert for her friends in her classroom!