Czech Days June 17, 2011

Being that the local population is somewhere around 90% Czech (and proud of it!) They have annual celebrations that allow everyone to celebrate their heritage and get together and eat Czech food! It seems like every town here has some form of festivities that they put on to spread the "Czech Love". We went to the one in Tabor this last weekend and it was fun! It's much smaller that Fall City Days, but it was something to do and there was a parade. We got there about halfway through the parade, but in enough time to see some fun things! Cache had a lot of fun sitting in the stroller and watching all the cool things roll by. There were a few unique things that you wouldn't expect to see pretty much anywhere else! However, I kept expecting to see a group of unicyclers come rolling around the corner!

Thought this was funny...notice the sign on the back. This is a "poop spreader"

Part of the Shriner's train

Watching from the shadows of the fire house! He's holding  fireworks poppers that the local fireworks seller was passing out instead of candy.

Front of the Shriners train

HUGE tractor! There was a little girl waving like a pageant queen in the window :)

Mommy and Cache

This is the Oriental Band....though no one was oriental. :) They sang funny songs

Oriental Band

Our friend Major is riding on this float in the far back

After the parade we headed to get some food, which wasn't hard to find. At the firehouse they had pork sandwhiches with BBQ sauce, water and vanilla shakes! There were also other establishments with different Czech food being served, but we liked supporting the firehouse. There were rides and bumper cars and all kinds of crafts, just like any other festival. We walked up and down a few times, but Cache was too small for the rides and it was HOT outside (80's) so we only stayed a little while. But we did run into a few people we knew so it was nice to get out and see people.

Eating lunch in the shade

This was the national anthem...followed by the Czech national anthem. Notice the outfits. It was not uncommon to see people dressed up like that just for fun!

For example...her :)

Well, it was a day of fun and I'm glad we went. Even though it was hot, it was good to get out and do something fun! They sure do take their celebrations seriously around here, especially when it comes to their heritage! I'm glad we could enjoy it. :) I kinda wish Cache could have worn some cute Czech outfit...:) Or possibly lederhosen! :)

Hot Dog Days and Rummage Sale Saturday

Apparently out here in these small towns in South Dakota, there is this occasion called "Hot Dog Days". Tyndall has one every year, along with most of the other towns around here. It's advertised on the radio, people spread the word, and it's considered the preliminary to the ultimate Czech Days which will be held next weekend in the next town over (Tabor). So, at these Hot Dog Days they close down Main Street and all the businesses grill hot dogs and hand out beer or cool aid for free! Each business tries to "out-do" the other by having the better dogs or toppings. They take their hot dogs very seriously here. There weren't ANY store bought hot dogs in sight. Everything was homemade from the butcher. Different flavors, different colors and different toppings. It was certainly the most unique celebration I have seen yet! Of course, there were bands playing, I believe there were three. ALL of them were polka bands and ALL of them had fairly old members. I'm guessing a lot of them were in their 70's. You could tell who had been raised all their lives with things like this because there were old couples sitting on the side of the road in lawn chairs just watching the festivities. They seemed to be in their element. :)

Fire Truck! I have my scrubs on because I worked that day and they picked me up and we walked down town.

Cache trying to put my sunglasses on his head

A sample of the cars at the car show section

One of the Polka bands

Cache loved the hot dogs! Mustard face!

Also, the day after Hot Dog Days is the city wide Rummage Sale here in Tyndall. Apparently they take their rummage sales very seriously too because when we went walking at 9 am there were plenty of people out with their cars trying to hit the sales early so they can get the "good stuff". I was told that most of the sellers pack up shop at noon, so we thought we'd look while we were out. We didn't find a whole lot, but Cache did get a few books and some toy tanks. But he did find something that he seems to love for only $3!

Swim little fishy!

So for Cache's birthday I thought it would be a good idea to do something fun since it was a Monday and I wanted to mark the occasion. Both thankfully and not thankfully it was 99 degrees that day so I ended up taking him to the local kiddie pool/fountain to play around. Of course because it was a hot day, there were TONS of kids playing in the big pool and also in the kiddie pool. We lucked out and were able to invite a friend and her kids along to play with us. When we first got there, Cache did not appreciate me putting him in the cold water after being in the hot weather. I have to admit that it was a little shocking for me too, but after I got used to it, it was lovely! Jenna and I sat in the shallow end of the kiddie pool with our little ones on our laps while Jenna's daughter Taycee (almost 4) ran around with the bigger kids. It probably took about 10 minutes, but the more we sat there, the more brave the kids got so we took them further in. It wasn't long before Cache was walking in the water while holding onto my fingers and he loved it! He can walk all the way to the other end of the kiddie pool and the water is up to his shoulders. At this end there are little jets that shoot a little arch of water into the pool. Cache thought it was hilarious to stick his finger in it and in doing so, increasing the pressure and causing a mini geyser! It sprays every where and he giggles! I think he'd spend forever in there if I'd let him. He was having fun sharing toys with Taycee and Tytan (10 months) (Jenna's kids) in the water. At one point Taycee was playing with Cache and she leaned in close and all of a sudden I hear, "He kissed me!" from Taycee. Cache has officially shared he lovely open mouth, slobbery kisses with another girl. :) UPDATE: Here are the pictures from my camera!

view of the kiddie pool./fountain

Getting used to the bubbles!

Yay! :)

Also, here is a picture of Cache, Taycee, and Tytan in the pool. Tytan is in the background between Cache and Taycee.

I can't believe it has already been a year!

I am just amazed at how fast time can fly by when you're older. It's even faster when you are taking care of children! They grow unbelievably fast and they just don't slow down!

I remember this time last year being a huge as a house and camping on memorial day weekend and people thinking that it was crazy that I was doing so. I was scheduled to go on maternity leave after my shift on June 5, 2010 with just enough time for things to get situated before I was due to have my baby on June 15. After a long shift that seemed to last forever on June 4, I just decided that it couldn't be avoided and I called in sick to work for the next day. After a very sweet conversation with the nursing supervisor I relaxed and went the bed. The next day was pretty low-key and nice. That night we were watching a movie on netflix and right there in the middle of it I felt a pop. Not thinking too much of it, I sat there for a few more minutes. Beginning to wonder and get more curious, I got up to go to the bathroom. You would think that when your water breaks, this would be an obvious thing (which really it is). But as a medical professional, the last thing you want to do is go into the hospital and it be false. Aren't we supposed to know everything? lol Well it took about 3 confirmations of my water breaking for me to start kind of freaking out and telling Jared we probably needed to go to the hospital. This was about 9:45 at night and what was Jared's response? "Are you sure? Can't we finish the movie?" Of course he was joking. Thankfully. After calling the midwife and a few more things were packed we were off.


Now I'm not completely sure why the universe likes to play jokes on you, especially at the most inconvenient times, but we hit EVERY red light on our way to Ogden Regional. With no one else on the road (a usually busy road during the day) this just seems ridiculous.  A few, "Are you kidding me?"'s and "Don't you know we're in a hurry?"'s later and we were there. Now, being a nurse I know the look they can  get when they don't believe you because they have seen "claims" so many times. (Whether it be pain or labor) So, after just mild cramping  all the way there, I was just glad that they didn't send us back home. Sure enough we were admitted and by now it was around 11:30 pm. Having already been dilated to 4 cm upon arrival they told me that the slowest part was most likely over. Sadly, none of the mother's were able to be there due to distance and early delivery, but our amazing friend Stefanie was able to come and step in. After a long night of trying to sleep (thank you epidural!) and excitement and anxiety.
We had our little boy! And we couldn't be more happy and proud of our little man. He is such a joy with his smiles and giggles. He loves to play hide and seek,  fruit, snuggling with his bear and mommy or daddy on the couch, taking lids on and off of things, and going on walks outside. He's walking short distances across rooms and to people. He says "mama" and makes all kinds of funny sounds. He likes to splash in water and pretend he's a big boy. He's growing up so fast, and I can't wait to see him learn! So tomorrow it will be happy birthday to my little 1 year old!

This is actually at 34 weeks, but you get the picture

This was 3 days before I went into labor. 39 weeks

Waiting for baby!

Jared and his goatee...

Waaaaaah! He's here!

Love at first sight

Stefanie and Cache

New little family addition

Jared's first poopy diaper!

Coming home!

 Now he is just so huge looking back at all of these pictures!

Nap times are good for our snuggle bug

bathtime!

All smiles!

They both had their phones in their hands before I took this...

A birthday present from Sister Palumbo! It's full of nursery rhymes for Cache!

A birthday present from Brother and Sister Bradley! It's full of different textures to feel.

Mommy and Cache.

So here's to you my little man! Your first year was full of firsts and changes and growing for all of us! Let's hope that the next year is just as much fun! Mommy and Daddy love you very much and we can't wait to see what you do next!

From Spring to SUMMER!

Well things are all in bloom here and the trees are all green, and the lawn-mowing has begun! I have never lived in a town where so many people drive there lawn mowers around town. It's a little strange, and they might even be driving to work for all I know. I  do know that there is a couple down the street with a golf cart that they use to trek kids around to school and such, so who knows! Well the weather has decided that it is officially summer. It's been in the 80's-90's this last week or so and you can always hear somebody out on their lawn mower. It's great to walk around town and smell the freshly cut grass or someone cooking on the barbeque. I love those smells of summer. There are other aspects of summer that I'm not a fan of, especially here. Apparently South Dakota is the home of a TON of bugs!! I've always been a mosquito magnet, but here I am a buffet! I took Cache out for a walk to the park (with a pond of course) and my legs and ankles are covered in bites! Cache would seem to have Jared's knack for avoiding these critters as he seems to be untouched. We did get some sun though (no allergic reaction for me yet!) as we walked around to the softball tournament that was going on and past the swimming pool. They are currently getting the new playground equipment put in and I think it will be ready by next week! (I think someone needs to kick Clinton City in the bum and get them moving! If a small town like Tyndall can do it so fast, so can they!)
Anyway, I thought a few pictures would be nice to share as the weather is allowing. :)

Cache passed out at a friend's house. It was so hot that he was stripped to his shorts!

I know the picture is hard to tell, but we have corn in the far back on the left, and zucchini (I think) in the middle. We do have cilantro growing I think but we will just have to see!

The little pond and flowers out back. That pond needs help though....I keep finding dead birds in it..

Gardening is still proving to be a work in progress, but Brother and Sister Bradley were giving away tomato plants today, so I took a couple home and we will be planting them tomorrow! So anyway, that's this post's message! :)