I'm baaaack!!

Yes I am still alive almost a year later I am posting again thanks to my uncle Curt reminding me that I have not updated my blog!!

Since my last post we have had a baby!!! we welcomed Brady David Kruchowski to our family on July 14, 2011. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 21 1/4 inches long. For those who say being induced is awful I thought it was amazing!!! the whole story to come at a later date!

Natalie is really enjoying kindergarten and we could not be more proud at how well she is doing!! Cora is in preschool and is also doing very well she loves it!! She fell down our stairs on Christmas day and broke her arm and was in a cast for three weeks but is back to her normal self!! Brendan started middle school this year he is very busy with hockey- they have only lost two games and he continues to be the goalie!! Brady is already six months old!! The day he turned six months old he rolled over and cut his first toot, he now has two teeth, rolls all over the place and says mama and baba!!

Dan took on another canine officer position...we welcomed Oakle, his new partner to our family the day after Brady was born! I am still in my same job with the county and I still love it. As a mother for busy active children it seems like we are always on the go, there is never a doll moment and they always keep Dan and I on the go!!

Pictures to come soon I promise...,but that's it for tonight!! in six hours we're heading to a hockey tournament so I am heading to bed - good night

Natti makes the front page!!

Little Natalie Kruchowski, 4, takes the Heartland Express bus to preschool twice a week. She anxiously awaits the bus at daycare, excited to see her bus driver, Roger, who she says is her favorite.


She is just one of the many people who use the Hubbard County Heartland Express for public transportation. “It’s not just for the elderly or disabled, it’s for everyone,” said Linda Bair, Heartland Express transit coordinator.
Heidi Kruchowski said her daughter, Natalie, started riding the bus from daycare to preschool out of necessity.  “If we didn’t have this available she probably wouldn’t be able to go,” Heidi said. She would have to leave work to transport her daughter.

At first, Heidi admits she was apprehensive about letting her 4-year-old ride the bus by herself. But she did a practice run and saw that the bus drivers pull up to the door of her daycare and make sure her daughter can’t get off the bus until someone is outside and waves.

“I’ve been so impressed and Natalie loves to ride the bus,” Heidi said.

http://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/event/article/id/28402/

The Preschool Graduate!



Lots to update you on:

So- today marks 32 weeks! Only 8 weeks until “D” day! I can hardly believe it!! This pregnancy is going so fast, in part because life is BUSY BUSY BUSY lately! I am getting very excited to meet this baby- and really think it is going to be a BOY…. But since we did not find out- we will all just have to wait and see!!
Dan started a new job the first part of May- he now works for the county as well! He is enjoying the change!

Natalie has 3 days left of preschool! Her graduation ceremony is this Wednesday and I will try to post pictures on Thursday! We had kindergarten round up 2 weeks ago- she is so excited to start school at the “big” school!!
Kora starts pre-school next year- I know, I can not believe it either!! There is never a day that goes by that she doesn’t crack us up! She has the greatest personality!

Brendan is busy with baseball season, Dan is coaching this year! I can’t wait to watch his games! Less than a couple weeks of school left!

My big girl!

Kora is potty trained!!! Yahoo! We are in week #2 of big girl undies :) she has been such a trooper. It sure will be nice having a break from diapers/pullups for a few months!

Yay me!

We have looked at getting a new vehicle a few times- and yesterday Dan surprised me with this!  He is going to pick it up on Thursday!  I am such a spoiled girl!  We are getting the one with front end damage- Dan and his Dad will fix it up for me in no time :)

Busy as always!

I have decided that I will make an "appointment" each week to work on my blog.  So many friends and so much family check my blog to keep up with our lives craziness.... and I am failing at keeping it current!  I apologize- again!

So whats new since November- In a nutshell....

Jackie & Brad had a baby Boy on December 21- Bentley Mason

I had my first ultrasound and OB appointment- Due July 12

Dan started day shift after 10 years of nights!

Pax retired- Dan is adjusting well, as is Pax

Brendan's hockey team scored 1st place in their home tournament!!

Kora got tubes put in both ears 3 days before Christmas and is doing well with them!

Natalie got married (at daycare) and is obsessed with Brendan's friend Nolan

Dan, Kora, Myself and then Natti all got the flu a few weeks ago (Brendan lucked out!)

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years

Dan turned 30!

I did not get Christmas cards mailed this year (so don't think since you didn't get one that I don't still love you!)

I Still LOVE my job!

Natti is signed up for Kindergarten screening (yikes!)

I won VIP meet and greet concert tickets to Clay Walker and Joe Nichols on the radio (I know- I'm awesome!)

I am loving my evenings with my whole family!

My belly is growing- and it is going to be a long 5 1/2 months explaining to the girls daily that baby isn't coming out yet!

My life is great- and I feel like we are on the up and up for once!  Things are going good  great!

It is true.....

We are expecting again- and we couldn't be happier!  I don't go to my first doctor appointment until December 20tlh but I think I am due around the first week of July!  Majority vote in the house is for a boy!  But as long as baby Kruchowski is health- I am happy!  As of right now- we will NOT find out the gender of the baby before his/her birthday.  We never found out with the girls and it is SO fun not knowing and anticipating the news on the big day.

It is nice that the girls have seen Auntie Jackie's belly grow (she is due Dec 15th) so they have a pretty good understanding of what is happening.

Babies are in great abundance on my mom's side of the family.  There are now 13 great grand babies, and 2 on the way yet with the oldest being 9 (Brendan) and the youngest being 10 days.  A few of the babies were at my aunts house this weekend so we stopped by for a visit..... Natalie will be a wonderful big sister.  She sat for an hour holding babies, content as ever!  I can't wait!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE it has been 2 months since I last posted- I'm sorry!  :Life is very busy- hockey, school, work, family stuff, hunting, conferences... you name it!  I will try to do a better job posting- especially now that I can keep you all posted on baby news!

My camera is at my parents house, so as soon as I get it back I will post some new, updated pictures!

Another August Birthday! Natti is 4!

Happy Birthday to you.....!!!

Kora Grace is 2! Can you believe it? I can't! She had a wonderful family birthday a few days after her real birthday- and she had a blast! She got so many wonderful gifts- she is a little spoiled!

She also had her 2 year Dr appointment last week- 38lbs and 37" tall! WOW! She is over 100% in both height and weight but Dr. Kaster said she is very proportional! Her and Natti are wearing most of the same size clothes which is kind of nice!

Monday we are going to see a specialist about her ear. Her ear drum ruptured 3 weeks ago and isn't healing so we are getting it checked out- will keep you posted!

Checking in

Here I am again- finally!

Being at work on a computer all day makes it hard for me to want to jump on my own computer at home in the evening, but I am TRYING to keep up with the blogging world!

Brendan's baseball tournament was a lot of fun- they did a great job and ended up loosing by 1 point in the final game putting them into 3rd place for the season- not too shabby!

Natti already is asking when T ball will start again as her season is over as well! She is also very excited for school to start!

Kora is growing up way too fast as next week she will be turning 2! I am working on her birthday plans and am excited for her party!

I had an eye exam last week and found the culprit to my daily headaches... I needed glasses! I am sporting a cute new pair of eyes and have already seen a huge improvement at work! It is taking some getting used to, but I am happy that they are helping!

Did I mention that I am going to be an Auntie again??!! Jackie and Brad are expecting again on December 15th (2 days before my birthday!!) Next Friday they are finding out if it is a boy or girl- I am so excited and hope it is a girl so Natti & Kora will finally have a girl cousin here! I will keep you posted!

I am also very excited as a high school friend is moving back to Park Rapids with her family! I am so excited to reconnect with Hannah and hope our girls will enjoy playing together!

This weekends weekend we are headed to Cotton for another camping adventure at Grandma Beth's cabin- it will be nice to get away again and they kids really enjoy the camper!

I have a cazillion pictures I need to upload and hope to post some new ones as soon as I do!

At Ease

So- I apologize, again! I am getting so terrible at keeping up with my blog- but believe it or not I am finally at ease with everything....

Meaning- as busy and as hectic as out life seems to be right now- it is just part of our everyday routine! The kids, Dan and I, are all on such a routine that the constant running and activities along with work, daycare and family time just..... works!

Brendan's baseball season is slowly coming to a halt. Tomorrow night is his last game, aside from the 3 day tournament next week.

Natti has 1 more night of T-ball- which she loves!

Kora is SUCH a big girl! Thanks to Jackie's consistency with Kora not having her nummy (paci) during the day except for naps and bedtime- we are now done COMPLETELY with the nummy! We are on day 2 and it is going very well! Stickers, praise, hugs, lots of clapping and reassuring has paid off!

Dan is busy as ever with work and working on re builder cars and I am busy working and playing taxi to evening activities!

We had to say good bye to our amazing friends Craig & Amanda. They moved down by St Cloud to be closer to their family. It really stinks but we are making huge efforts to stay in touch and keep up with each other!

Getting excited for the 4th... parade, fireworks, camp fire.... can't wait!

Recent pictures to come!

My My My....

I know, I am sorry! I have been so incredibly busy lately that blogging has been low on the priority list:

Family, work, daycare, Dan's terrible sprained ankle, friends moving, Dan's new work schedule, Brendan finishing 3rd grade, Kora moved to a bunk bed, Natti finished preschool, Vacation bible school, Businesses, baseball, T ball, summer trip planning..... it doesn't end!

Did I mention that I still LOVE my job! I wanted this job so badly, and I am SO SO SO glad that I worked SO SO SO hard to get it! There are very challenging days but I really appreciate all that I have after seeing how bag some people have it! I work with families that need assistance: whether it be with food, medical coverage, cash, transportation.... the works. It feels so good when we can help someone that we know really needs the help and support.

Dan is recouping from a severe ankle sprain.... don't ask!

I will try to get some pictures up once my camera finishes uploading!

Natti Graduated from Preschool 1 !

Natti finished her first year of preschool and they had a little program- it was so cute, they sang some really cute songs!!

Daddy bought her a dozen tiny pink roses.... she thought she was pretty special! We also got her a charm bracelet. Grammie got her a little jewelry box and Auntie Kimmy gave her $10 to go to the candy store! SPOILED!!

Gloomy weather can still be fun!

Went private!

So- as you have seen, I went private with my blog. I kept getting a blog stalker that kept posting comments in a different language that were crazy weird, then my computer got hacked into and I ended up getting 29 virus warnings- so I did it, I went private! I am going to give it a try and see how it goes!

I hope I can keep up with my blog now and post more often! I have gotten a pretty good new routine down with work and the kids and life in general! I still really LOVE my new job and think it was a great step in the right direction for my family!

I go to a 3 day training in the cities the first week in May so it will be interesting being 100% alone in the cities! No husband, no kids, no chores, no clue where I am going! I will let you know how that goes!

Take care for now!

FYI

So- I know I am slacking in the blogging world- but our computer was attacked by viruses and is getting repaired, and blogging from my iPhone is well.... Challenging! Bear with me! I hope to be back soon!!!

My little Brendan Michael..............

is not so little any more!

For Brendan's Birthday Dan and I took him and his friend Nolan to the WILD hockey game on his birthday in the cities. It was a blast! Here are some pictures from the game! (The date stamp on the pictures is wrong- we went on March 21st)

I can NOT believe that he turned 9 (YES 9) on Sunday! the past 6/7 years has FLOWN by! Brendan is turning into such a sweet young boy! He amazes me with his overflowing heart! He is such a wonderful helper and loves helping his little sisters (usually!) and his dad and I! He loves school and is doing AWESOME, at the top of all of his classes! He is no longer a little boy pushing cars around and digging in the dirt- now we are on to hockey and hunting. We are truly blessed to have such an amazing son!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDAN!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!