Armpit, Wisconsin

Tee hee! Well we made it and we only saw one deer the entire ride. We are not really in Armpit but we are in Pittsville, close enough. My family lives in the dead center of the state and that is a fact that they are proud of. There is a church and a bar on every corner and the grocery store is also the bait shop is also the movie rental. Everybody has a camper parked next to the garage and for a number of weeks out every year the town turns orange. Hunting is a big part of the culture up here.

This is one of my favorite places in the entire world. Armpit, WI, Boulder, CO and anywhere in the Caribbean. When I was young I would cry so hard when I had to leave and head back home to Illinois. Truthfully, I still choke back tears as we drive back down the red gravel road on our way back to reality. This place is my safe place. Anytime I am sad or overwhelmed or I feel like I need to run away, this is where I long to come. Funny, this was once used as a threat (as in "you better shape up or I'm sending you to grandmas") some punishment.

It is just so peaceful here, so far away from the stresses of everyday life, so close to the family where I can just be me. Plus, no matter how poorly I dress, there is still someone who looks worse. I don't think I could top fanny packs, Packer green and gold and tapered jeans no matter how hard I tried!

Ah, Armpit... the best place on Earth filled with fields and deer, farmers and dirt roads. For a time I consider moving here but I quickly remember all my conveniences that I would have to leave behind. I just don't think that I could part from my Target and my DSW. It would just be too much to bear!

It's Past my Bedtime

Okay, so it is 11:00 at night and I don't have anything witty to talk about but I promised pictures when I fixed my blog so here they are. There is a hodgepodge (?!) of events included but I will try to explain them as I go along. Basically, just look at my cute kid and my cute family and think about how much you want to be me (minus the double chin I am sporting in these pics, nobody wants that!!).



Potty training, yipee!! I cannot wait to be done with diapers!



Where is Jackson playing? you ask...



Umm, yeah... that would be the cat gym. And no he doesn't really fit. I think that we have to take it apart because he will not stop going in it but he can't get back out! Really, he's smart, I swear!



But look at how cute he is... He was saying "CHEEEEESE" for the camera.



And now he is swimming, I don't remember to where but it was somewhere adventurous!




And now he is going to work, at the job site, with the DIGGERS OF COURSE!!

Oh and we went to Colorado recently to visit with Jen & Howard & Owen. Here is a recap of that interesting trip...



He was helping to pack, next he put the cat in one and shut the top.




Heaven on Earth! The first day in Colorado and Jack is already sold! All Howard had to do was let him drive the BOBCAT!!!! and they were buddies for the rest of the trip.




And then we went to a Cubs game at Coors Field for like $9! The weather was beautiful and we were ready for a great game!




Daddy and Jack are watching basebawls... you know where you frow the bawl and run crazy!! I think Jacks game sound much more fun.





And then the meltdowns began, luckily the game was pretty much over. As soon as we started towards the car and Jack saw the HUGE tower crane the world was a better place again.


The boys got a big kick out of bathtime! I really need to get that Octopus, the colored water comes out of his tenticals.

So the boys really played nicely the entire trip. Here they were being babies, Jack did have a paci in his mouth but once he realized it would be documented he spit it out.

Look at my super cute hubster! The Colorado sun really suits him.

Oh and yes were were up on a mountain, how high? you ask... very high!

Aren't we so cute? I am not sure what is going on with my neck though. I think it is because I am holding the camera up to take the picture... I am using the Gazelle I swear!

Before we came home we got to play at the local rec center pool. They even have a huge water slide that Josh, Howard and I really loved. We had a blast and the boys liked playing with the noodles. Jack is really getting better in the water. He held on to us for dear life except when he was "learning to swim" with the noodle!

O on the other hand is happy anywhere! I swear you could put that kid in a drawer and he would just blabber on and play with his toes or something! I miss them already!

Well I am sure that you have seen enough of us for a while. I will post something funny next time!

*Update*

Okay, so I still cannot do much blogging because I am at work and I am swamped. But my computer is going to the doctor today so I should be able to resume my witty posting next week. I will keep you all (all 10 of you if I am lucky) posted as to my return! Oh and the entire Allen clan is sick (allergies, stomach bugs, colds, pnuemonia- we have it all) so we have been keeping our germy selves in bed as much as possible. Last night Josh, Jack and I spent the night in bed reading books and watching tv. It was really nice. Dani is also home for the summer with her crazy dog (who has fleas, ack!). And we finally take Smokey to the vet tomorrow morning to get spayed and declawed, yipee!! I feel so bad that he will be in pain but I cannot wait for a clawless cat! Anywho, gotta go tend to my piles that are threatening to collapse in on my and bury me alive at my desk. At least my barking cough would alert people to my location. Talk to you soon!

Baby Steps

So having Owen in town seems to be really good for Jack. Last night he ate dinner at my moms before I picked him up and then he ate a ton of food at Lynn and Jims also! He had a huge piece of sausage pizza (yummy!!), a chocolate covered brownie and half an eclaire. Plus he has not drank out of a regular bottle in over a week, it has been sippy cups and big boy cups. Granted the sippy cups he uses most often are very bottle-like but it is an improvement none the less. Plus last night he used a big boy sippy cup that does not have a rubber bottle like nipple. We are really moving. It is like he turned two and suddenly it was time to progress. I'm liking it!

He was also so energetic last night. It was so funny, he was bouncing off the walls. It was really nice because he took to Howard right away. Last time he never really warmed up to him, so I was so happy to see him excited to see him. They had a blast playing with the dump truck. I love having our family here, we all really miss them when they go back to Colorado. It is hard not having the boys together all the time. Owen is so cute, I wish they lived closer. I am excited to move to Colorado in the future but I know that it will be really hard for me to leave my family.