Growing Everyday

The Westbergs spent New Year’s Eve hiking at Potter’s Bridge. The kids really needed to get out of the house and this was a great place to just let them roam in the woods for awhile. They had a lot of fun. It was a bit chilly but well worth it. The highlight was finding a dead possum…well at least from Jared’s perspective. We also went out for Mexican and played Apples to Apples and Would you Rather. It was a great way to end the year.

Tuesday, we received a very wet snow. That afternoon was the perfect time to make a snowman. The kids and I had a wonderful time.

Life has been pretty hectic around here and I say that with a grain of salt. Compared to friends we have our life is very very tame, but to me and the kids it has been a bit chaotic. Andrew had two business trips back-to-back that took a toll on everyone. Plus, school and extracurricular activities started. It took us a month or two to really find our groove this year.

In light of all of this, I promised Beka and Jared a family getaway during Fall Break. After some research, budgeting, and discussion, it was decided we would go to Great Wolf Lodge in Cincinnati. It was a great, wonderful, awesome decision. We only went for one night but it was worth it. You know it was worth it when your children spontaneously (under no coercion) thank you.

We left on Thursday around ten and were in the waterpark by 2. (You can start enjoying the waterpark anytime after 1 on the day you check in but you have to be an overnight guest to use the waterpark.) We spent 6 hours in the the water. There was a water coaster that Jared absolutely loved. It was his favorite ride and he rode it at least 6 times. There were five other slides you could go on plus a wave pool, lazy river, and a play fort. And I am sure I am forgetting some things. Beka loved the lazy river and the Alberta Falls slide.

we spent 2 more hours in the water before we left on Friday. It was so wonderful to just get away and focus on the each other. We had so much fun that I didn’t take any pictures. I think I have one on my phone of right before we left. If I can figure out how to get it on here I will. I would recommend this place to anyone!!!!

The kids started school today. I miss them. I know I am weird but I not only love my kids I actually like them too. I miss them when they are gone for 7 hours a day. Don’t get me wrong. I am looking forward to shopping without them and having some “me time”. But I really do like having them around and just spending time with them. I know going to school is good for them and I know it is the best place for them right now. I will just be anxiously awaiting their arrival back home too.

Jared and Beka have both gotten new things lately. Beka went to Claires and had her ears pierced. She is doing really well with them. They haven’t bothered her and she has been keeping them clean. She loves having them. Jared had money saved still from Christmas and spent it on golf clubs. He LOVES them. Andrew has taken him to the driving range and a friend gave him some birdie balls. He takes the birdie balls out to the playground where there is open space every chance he gets. He is really proud that he bought them too.

I haven’t been blogging much because I don’t want to take the time to get the pictures off the camera, onto the computer, resized, and then onto the blog. So I have decided forget it. If I get a picture up great if not, oh well. At least everyone will know what is going on in the Westberg Household.

So first, Summer is here!!! Yay!!!! Jared passed and will be a third-grader and Beka will be a fourth-grader. They are excited but they are really enjoying their summer and time off.

Summer started a little late around here though. Beka caught a really nasty virus the last couple of days of school. She was running 104 fever for 8 days and being very lethargic. Well, that virus settled in her lungs and caused a bacterial infection to form causing walking pneumonia. So on the antibiotics we go. Ooopppsss, problem. I have another child allergic to penicillin apparently. She kept running a low grade fever with the antibiotic and broke out with hives. We finally got all that straightened out and started our summer about a week after everyone else.

It hasn’t been warm enough here to really go swimming yet but we have been visiting a lot of parks and having a lot of fun. Hopefully, soon I will have a post of just a bunch of pictures of the kids.

Beka has started a book review blog. She is writing a little bit about a book she has read and then she scores with 0-5 worms because she is a book worm.

Here is the link if you want to check it out: Beka the Bookworm

Winter has been hectic here in Indiana especially the last week or so. It has been a very snowy and cold winter. But last week Tuesday, we experienced something I have never ever experienced before. We received 3-4 inches of ice and sleet. It was a mess. It took 3 days to get all the ice off the driveway. Andrew and I took a spade to the driveway to break the ice up in order to get it off. I have fallen no less than five times. I must learn how to walk in the ice.

The kids of course were out of school. There was no way to get them there safely with the roads and sidewalks covered in inches of ice. We played outside a little bit during the week. But it wasn’t much fun when you were just falling over all the time. Saturday, it snowed about 4 inches. We took advantage of the extra traction to get out and play. Andrew build the kids a bobsled track. He scooped snow off the ice in the backyard. Then Beka and Jared took their sleds down the run. The had a blast. Even Andrew got in on the fun. I was sidelined because no one trusted me not to fall.

Here are some pictures of the fun:

Wednesday, our day started early. Well not too early, I think we walked out of the hotel at 8, so not too bad. Anyway, we arrived at Magic Kingdom and took the Monorail over. We had to stand outside for awhile which was good because they searched everyone’s bags and it took a little bit to get through that line.

Once Magic Kingdom opened we headed to Tomorrowland. Beka and Jared both wanted to ride Space Mountain and I kinda wanted to get that one out of the way. It is not my favorite ride.

We hit almost all of the rides. Jared really like the Thunder Mountain Railroad. We did that one twice. I think Beka’s favorite was the Peter Pan ride, but she changes her mind often. Both kids liked Splash Mountain. We went to the Hall of Presidents for Andrew.
I have to add here that we did make the kids go on the It’s A Small World Ride. Beka loved it and took many pictures of all the dolls. Jared…well I will let this picture tell you want Jared thought.

We left the park at about 4. We had ridden all the rides we wanted too and everyone was tired, hungry, and grouchy. We rode the ferry back across. It really was a wonderful time. The lines were fairly short. The longest we waited was 30 minutes for Peter Pan. Otherwise, the average was 20 minutes; some being a lot shorter.