Happy holidays!

I sometimes procrastinate on getting to the blog because there is so much I could write about. Should I blog on what is going on lately with parenting? Kids? Marriage? Recipes for winter grilling? Renovating our old house? Our pets? I find our lives interesting enough to blog endlessly on any of these topics, choosing one area at a time is hard! I'd like to write like I talk! But the writing requires me to sit down for a while and that can be more difficult than settling on a topic.

This time it's easy, Christmas.


We tell ourselves we have a tradition of putting up our artificial tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. Whether that has ever really happened, I can't recall. This year we were a week late. Since we moved to this house in June, many things are still boxed in the basement; kids toys, kitchen stuff and seasonal stuff. We found the tree easily, and some of our holiday decor, but the box with the lights took us awhile. By the time we were ready to string the lights and add the ornaments, our three cats had removed about a third of the limbs. We put the tree back together and finished the decorating. Since then our wild cats have been playing and sleeping in the tree. Now we enjoy the family fun of decorating our tree almost everyday.

With the tree up and over a foot of snow on the ground, "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". The hill that wasn't much fun for Dad to mow has turned out to be so much fun to sled down. It is a good thing that we live where we do, the sledding season is much longer than the mowing season! The first week of good snow the Freund kids went sledding everyday, for hours. We have had a friend or two over and we look forward to sledding parties in the future.



We have a family tradition of going to Mall of America to see Santa. For the last 5 years the photo with Santa has been our Christmas card. I did not get cards out this year but our 2008 photo is the one that you used to see at the top. We now live an extra hour away from MOA. Despite that and the the cold weather we made the trip. I was a little afraid of going on the weekend or an evening. MOA at Christmas time can be so crazy. Two years ago we had a two hours wait to see Santa. So, shhhhh. . . I took the kids out of school on a Friday on which they had only a half day anyhow (teacher in service).



Because our trip was on a Friday, Dad was working but we took some good friends, Vera and Christina. We met Vera, Michal, and their daughter Christina through soccer last fall. Christina and #1 were on the same team. Our girls became friends and so did we. In the last few months we have spent a lot of time together and had lots of fun. Their family is here for just one year, from The Czech Republic, for Michal's job, and sadly they will be leaving this spring. Michal is a doctor of veterinary medicine. Vera is a experienced dog trainer. It is so cool to be friends with a vet and a trainer and get all kinds of pet advice! We also were very lucky to have had their family watch our animals while we were gone. Who wouldn't be comfortable with that?! Now we just need to find that pediatrician baby sitter . . .




Back to MOA. We got there early and only had a 10 minute wait for Santa. We were there for 12 hours and only went into a few stores (LEGOland, American Girl, Disney and Nickelodeon). Of course we did some window shopping and people watching, ate at the Rainforest Cafe and the kids went on rides all day. It was so fun! For the grownups, too! We practically had the place to ourselves. I can guess it's the economy. We had no waiting at the restaurant and the kids would get off a ride, come out the exit and run right back to the front of the line to ride again. On a Friday night two weeks before Christmas! Very sad. I have never seen the MOA so quiet.

Here are some more photos

makes you smile (rated G)

We're back!

October and November in photos, I will try to get regular again this month. GP and kids

RS's favorite gloves

these two are such a pair

getting ready to go

Sam the sunbather

Fall- soup, snuggling

our tree climber

Baby

still barefoot!

Baby likes the pet games

homework time

RS, friend, #1, Baby show candy

RS-school project he loved

Baby costume parade at nursing home

It's not too dark to bike, Mom!

let's play!

I'll be back

I have missed a couple of weeks. But, I'll be back with lots of photos as soon as I can.
It has come to my attention that family and friends on my "list" are getting multiple emails when I post. I found out that each time I make changes, I guess even add a photo, blogspot is notifying you of a new post. When you get several of the same emails, my blog announcement may go into your junk mail, being blocked by a spam blocker. I will try to hold my posts until they are truly finished so that you don't miss or overlook any of the exciting Freund Family moments!

Please check in soon, I will have something for you!

Have you heard of this one? and Field Trips

Have you heard of this one?

Someone in Baby's preschool has hand, foot and mouth disease. I guess it's a different virus than livestock gets. It's not dangerous, just gross and miserable while you've got it. We have gotten off okay so far this school year as far as illness goes. Only one stomach virus and one doozy of a cold virus. We've been in more than a month! Not bad since before we received the hand, foot and mouth notice we had already three slips announcing strep, one from each Freund kid's class. Chances are we won't get this disease, but maybe the next one. Will it be lice this year? Oh, I hope not pin worms, again. . . We will certainly make sure to all get flu shots this year. These typical childhood illnesses aren't so bad. Measles, mumps, and chicken pox, for the most part, are just memories to those in my generation. Those were all certainly more dangerous than what goes around nowadays. Thank goodness TB and polio aren't likely. I'd just like to not have any parasites or vomiting this year, PLEASE!

Field Trips

This week Rock Star had a field trip to an apple orchard. It was hilarious! The kindergartners swarming, running, laughing, pushing and poking each other. Not to be sexist, but he boys were completely physical and wild. We were to stay together in small groups as we passed through the corn maze. Yeah, right. It was barely managed chaos. Later, the orchard tour guide tried to give all kinds of great info about bees, apples, chickens and the kids just couldn't be still or listen. By that time they were so excited to be free in the wide open rows of trees and just run! The guide invited them to each pick just one apple. You can imagine how well that went, but I think overall the field trip was a success.

#1 had a field trip, too, to City Hall. Her class toured the beautiful new building downtown and got to meet the mayor in his office, sit in a police car, and go to the library. Mr. Mayor took questions for a long while. Here is a sampling of the kinds of questions the kids asked, "When is your birthday?", "Do you have a dog?", "What's your favorite animal?", "What countries have you traveled to?". It was very cute and very interesting. These kids were only a little less wiggly than the kindergarten kids. And ,in the case of the 3rd graders, it was the girls who most couldn't "keep hands" to their selves. Girls were messing around with each others backpacks, hair, strings on each others hooded sweatshirts. Another age related difference is that there was a lot of polite whispering where as the K kids would just shout out their thoughts. I think everyone had a good time.

The first field trip I ever chaperoned was during my student teaching practicum. During the practicum we had to teach for two weeks in K, elementary, middle and high school levels. My two week K assignment was at small school in a really small town. During my placement, a walking field trip to a bakery and a auto repair shop was scheduled. I was very nervous. In our small group, several kids were allergic to bee stings and this was fall! I had to carry a back pack with a couple inhalers and this bunch of epi-pens that I prayed I wouldn't have to use. The bakery was super, smelled fabulous and everyone got a goody, even chaperons. We watched how they decorated cakes, made the donuts, and we got to see, and feel the heat of, the giant ovens. But the bakery was not nearly as fun as the garage. At the garage we were greeted by the owner, a jolly, bottle, black-haired, old guy in a tie who smelled of spicy mouth wash, and astringent hair gel and aftershave. The owner showed us his office and told us about the garage from his desk, topless model on a car on the 1993 pin up calender behind him. He showed us a massive book, which he called his "Bible". He told us, "Forget about computers," that book and the telephone could help him fix any car. I think it was a parts book. The kids got to take turns looking at this most impressive book. A couple times it fell open to a marked page that was held by naked lady postcard, no kidding! He then introduced us to his head mechanic. Rusty's name was embroidered in cursive on his blue-gray mechanic's coverall. I noticed his curly red hair and red stubble as he lead us out to where the dirty work was done. The kids were impressed to see a few cars lifted high on hydraulic jacks being serviced. As he spoke to us, Rusty actually lit up a cigarette, despite several red "no smoking" signs being posted through out the space and his little visitors. With his cigarette held tight between his lips, he talked us through your basic oil change as he preformed it. I'm pretty sure I remember at some point he actually cussed during the procedure. MANY times during our visit to the garage I tried to make some kind of eye contact with my supervising teacher because I couldn't believe my eyes and ears . We never met eyes and afterwards she never spoke to me about the details of our trip.

Fall in Duluth

Sorry I didn't post on time last week. We were out of town for a wedding and although the hotel boasted of wireless from every room I couldn't seem to make it work. Dad's childhood friend, Jason, was married just south of Duluth.





Friday, while Dad attended to the responsibilities of being a groomsman (which in this case included a little golfing!), the kids and I checked out Cloquet and Duluth. We stopped at several parks before ending up at Canal Park, Duluth's harbor. There, we toured a retired iron ore ship and a couple of candy stores while walking along the shore of Lake Superior. Later in the afternoon, as it became chilly, we hopped in the van and continued our tour of the city across the cool lift bridge and out Park Pointe.







The wedding was outdoors at Jay Cooke State Park and very beautiful. The kids, especially Baby were thrilled that wedding guests were shuttled to and from hotel to ceremony in a school bus. The kids were well behaved and Dad looked handsome in his tux.






























The reception was great! Food was yummy and we were able to visit with Dad's old friends and their lovely wives. The dance was fun and kid friendly. They had a craft table set up and the DJ did so many kid interactive things. We danced and danced. #1 and I closed the place down, dancing right up to the very last dance!


On Sunday we returned to Jay Cooke State Park for some hiking and exploring. Photos cannot do justice! The fall color!!!! The rock!!!!! The icy water!!!!! Everyone got a little wet and a little hurt at some point. The kids are such nature lovers and #1, in particular, is very daring and adventurous in her hiking. By the end Dad had to carry Baby out as she was exhausted.


Please enjoy the photos and I will be back to my regular blogging schedule the end of this week, I think. . .

Ladies and germs . . .

The kids are bringing all kinds of things home from school. Homework, art, fundraiser kits, telephone numbers of their new little friends, and germs. We have enjoyed a particularly yucky cold virus this week.

So . . .

Sniffle. Sneeze. Cough. Cough. I'm taking this week off!

Wednesdays are tough.

We have used silly nick names in our blog not just to be funny. I was advised to not use our whole names or to refer to our city, the names of schools, teams, etc. for safety and privacy. I feel especially silly about the names, so sorry about those. I am disabling open viewing of comments at this time. Please make comments! We will be able to read them, just others won't, for now.



Our Schedule

Disclaimer: by no means am I complaining about our schedule ! We make choices!
Please try to get through the boring, first paragraph as it will lead to a little bit of funny stuff further down.

School has continued to go well for the Freund kids. They are learning, having fun and we are finding our schedule groove. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Baby is buckled up in the van as we watch #1 and Rock Star get on the bus. Then, we drive straight to preschool. Tuesday, Baby and I are home all day. Thursday, same routine as MWF except it's dance class, for Baby, instead of preschool. When I have kid free mornings I have time to do a quick grocery shop, or shower and load of laundry. I hope to use that time someday for parts of bigger projects, like painting the bathrooms. Jobs that are easiest done without little helpers! When I pick Baby up from preschool we have just enough time to get home to see Rock Star get off the bus. Then it's lunch. Sometimes we pack a picnic lunch and go to a park. After lunch clean up, it's time to do homework with Rock Star. Yes, kindergartners have homework! Usually it is to practice writing and identifying letters or basic math concepts. For example, one day we had to count how many steps it took to get from our door to the bus stop. First with normal steps, then tiny steps, then giant steps. (of course Baby wants to participate and compare- and include the dog. "How about the cats now?" she asks.) Next, time to think about dinner and more laundry. When #1 gets off the bus it's snack time. #1 does her math and spelling before she can have "Choice Time" which can be a TV show and/or playing outside. Then surprise, surprise it's mealtime again. After dinner, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we are off to #1's soccer practice. Dad is one of her coaches. It's fun for everyone. Soccer practice is at the school. We all climb into the van for one of those noisy rides. Baby and Rock Star play at the playground while I divide my attention between watching them, the practice, and if I get lucky, talking with a grown-up for a while! Later in the fall, #1's soccer will be replaced by hockey and Rock Star is thrown into the mix with practice and game times of his own. I have joked that I believe in polygamy if it means another grown up to talk to and help with the driving and laundry.

Wednesdays are tough.

If you are reading this you know me well enough to know that on one end of the continuum of organization and coordination there are the air traffic controllers, my good friends, my husband, and on the other end, there is me. (I am drawn to clever, organized people, you know why!) Anyhow, Wednesday is garbage and recycling pick up. The addition of this alone can push me over the edge of despair into hysteria and our whole team into the throws of a ragging cyclone. Guess who's the cyclone?! It's a small thing but, I have turned it into a scene from a natural disaster movie from the 1970's. Imagine "Towering Inferno" or "Earthquake". You know, running, screaming, crying, bad hair, ill fitting clothes, melodrama. Kids need to get dressed, have breakfast, brush hair, brush teeth, pack a snack, check backpacks for necessities, homework, etc. , Dad needs black socks. Who's turn is it to feed the dog? Everyone needs to get out to the pick up, the van and bus stop. But we must get the garbage/recycling to the curb! So, somewhere in there I'm freaking out and taking it out on everyone. I never remember the garbage! I never remember how stressful I make garbage day until it happens again. Most people would think "I'm not going through that again" and plan ahead, take care of it the night before or get up earlier. Maybe next week will be different. Probably not.

This past Wednesday was extra fun. No one was crying and everyone got to school and work on time. We'd missed something though. I had forgotten that #1, who needed coins for a math project, was 3 quarters short. Dad had some quarters in his pick up but we'd forgotten to get them. Dad called me on my cell to say he could arrange getting those to #1 if she needed them immediately. So, Dad called me and was surprised to hear the phone answered by someone other than me. Here's the conversation,

Someone who is not me: Hello?

Dad: Hello. Who is this?

Someone who is not me: Rock Star.


In the background Dad can hear the kindergarten teacher saying something about what they should do with their snacks. Dad figures out that the boy has my cell phone at school and tells him to put it away. They hang up. Dad tries to reach me unsuccessfully on the land line. In the mean time he worries that that phone will be ringing at kindergarten all day. Maybe friends calling Mom! Oh , no. Dad calls the cell back. Dad had told Rock Star to put the phone away and leave it, but of course the boy answers.

Rock Star: Hello?

Dad: Can I talk to your teacher?

Rock Star: Okay.

Dad apologizes to Mrs. B for the phone calls and asks her to turn it off.

What kind of people provide a kindergartner with a cell phone? Not us! What's even funnier is that the phone is pink and when it rings, it rings loud and to the tune of "The Imperial March" from STARWARS. You know, the dark music each time Darth Vader is on screen?! Dand, dant dant-dant, da, da!

I had used Rock Star's back pack for our picnic lunch the day before and had slipped my cell phone into the outside pocket for safe keeping . . .

The Tooth Fairy

On Wednesday, #1 lost a tooth waiting at the school bus stop to return home. She was very excited and shared with each of us the gory details of how wiggly it was and how she had to "twist and twist". EEEW! It is especially fun to lose a tooth in the company of your peers. Her bus friends congratulated her and took turns carefully inspecting the tiny tooth. After our bedtime routine it was placed under her pillow.

The nights of Tooth Fairy visits can be challenging. It is typically hard for the child who's lost the tooth to settle down. All the excitement and anticipation of the visit! At our house it's also Baby who sometimes has trouble, and she hasn't lost a single tooth yet.

When #1 lost her first tooth it was an education into the customs and traditions of this fun, growing up stuff for Rock Star and Baby. But Baby was young, and misunderstood what was to happen. The first time we put a tooth under a pillow in our family, Baby was hysterical. She thought the Tooth Fairy would be coming for a tooth from her, too. None of them were even loose and that would hurt! Baby understands now but still is uneasy on the nights the Tooth Fairy visits.

Off to school!

Well, so far, so good.

Number #1

Our first born, who is shy and sensitive but also smart and intuitive, has made a nice transition to her new school. Her teacher seems great. Her third grade teacher has been teaching for more than two decades and has awesomely, honed powers of order, structure and routine. This is ideal as my girl thrives in this sort of environment and gets none of it at home. She is an amazing reader and retains everything. She is witty and clever and makes the kind of jokes that are so smart that I don't always get them right away. Who would be expecting this from an eight year old! She loves animals, her music, and sports. #1 is very hard working! She is excited about school and making new friends. Her third grade classroom is cool and full of great stuff. Wait, it's "cool" and welcoming, but it's HOT. There is something wrong with the air conditioning and there are more than 30 active, little bodies in that tiny, crowded room.


We have had no school related crisis with #1. All is good, despite my fears and my innate ability to almost always say the wrong thing or to just plain say something those moments that I shouldn't say anything at all (you will see a lot of run on sentences and other grammatical errors on this blog). She was nervous and excited the first day as she waited for the bus but did not miss any sleep the night previous. She left for school with a smile and returned home with a smile. Wearing a smile and clothes she chose herself, not forced upon her by a loving, but critical, controlling mom. I am very proud of her. I underestimated her and boy did she put me in my place.


Our Middle Child, the Rock Star


Day one of Kindergarten for our boy was easy. He casually waited for the bus with #1, who had already been to school for two days and was casual herself. When the bus arrived he grabbed her hand, crossed the street, climbed on the bus and rode off into the unknown, joyfully. With him almost everything is joyful. All things start and end with giggles and little hops, skips and arm swings of happiness. I'm not sure if he always understands what's going on around him but whatever it is, he's okay with it. Before you are too charmed by this description note that he is a six year old boy who loves bodily emissions humor, weapons (although we don't allow them, with the exception of swords and light sabres), gore-y action and sci-fi.


When our middle child got off the bus, Baby and I were waiting. He hit the ground running (which is one nickname we have for him!) and was followed by shouting and the sound of little hands banging on the windows. We watched the bus drive off with boys and girls, their noses pressed against the windows, waving and shouting, "Bye, (his name)". Was this happening at each bus stop? We'll never know, but I will refer to him in our blog as Rock Star.

Baby is the Boss


Our baby has been ready for school always. She couldn't stand it that the others started before she did and that they got to ride a bus. I checked her in at her preschool classroom and kissed her goodbye. She grabbed her name tag from her teacher with authority and never looked back. For her, school provides a whole new audience for her jokes, stories, songs and dances. And 20 new people, 22 if you count the teachers, to tell what to do and how.


This one loves to perform and be the center of attention almost as much as mom and maternal grandpa. A van ride with our whole team can be crazy, all of us talking, except for Dad. We try to take turns, directed by Dad. He is best at that since I'm one of "them" that wants to be heard. Inevitably, Baby interrupts with screams and shouts of, "That's enough!" and "My turn!". Her life is an operetta. To compare it with a musical is too tame, she has more darkness and drama than that. She walks around singing her conversations and sings descriptions of objects and her feelings. On the spot she can create a song to honor you, if you are on her good side, or a song to let you know how you have betrayed her. She is so loud and intense that it's always been easiest to just give her what she wants. Her own siblings cater to her a lot of the time!

Birth order psych has our kids pegged.

our first day blogging!

Hello from the Freunds!

We look forward to keeping our friends and family around the state, the country, and the world up to date with our adventures!

We may be among the rare, few who sincerely enjoy receiving those traditional holiday letters in which everyone brags up their darling children and their family's joys and successes. This blog will be something along those lines with the hope of also doing something a little different . . . we will also let you in on our calamities, disasters and disgraces.

Something new will be posted each Friday. We will be checking comments regularly but if you need to reach us immediately use our email or give us a call.