It's September?

I think I start every blog with some comment about how quickly time flies. And this one is no exception.

First, welcome to the world baby Kylie. We can't wait to meet you! Kylie was born on Friday, August 26th, to my brother Chris and his wife Amanda. We couldn't be happier for all of you.

Since I last posted we have been very busy packing up our house in preparation to more at the end of this month. I'm feeling as though we have made some progress with the trouble areas. You know the ones; the very little used spaces in your house, only visited to store things. I cannot believe how much stuff we kept all these years and never used. But enough about the move.

Rowan has been feeling much better this weekend than last. She has seasonal allergies, and they turned into a nasty sinus infection. Poor girl. She finally went back to school on Friday, but I was not convinced she was up to it. It turned out that she was fine, and I just worry too much.

And she is doing so well in school right now. There are only 3 children in her classroom, and she is getting lots of extra lessons and therapy. She is making great strides at recovering the skills she lost this summer. We are very proud of her. Make sure you check out how nice and tall she's sitting with her piano in the pictures on our website. She has lengthed out a lot this summer, but she is also getting much stronger.

Bryan is doing well, but he is really affected by the seasonal allergies as well. And not much seams to really help his symtoms. We're hoping for an early frost.

His work is keeping him busy, with a new project gearing up later this year. Challenges and opportunities.

Work has begun to get back into swing at the radio station as well. Our fall membership campaign is just around the corner, along with the production of our fininacials. We had another good year last year. Balanced the budget, and kept our programming in tact. The radio station celebrated 25 years of Public Radio in the Quad Cities on August 25th. Your can hear more about it at www.wvik.org. Our local historian, Dr. Roald Tweet, did a lovely vignette on the history of the station.

That's all there is to report for now. We'll keep you posted at the month goes on with any new and exciting new from the Sibthorp Daily.

So much has happened...

When I last posted, we were just about to go on a weeklong vacation to Traverse City, MI. We had a great time. The weather was not quite as cooperative as it had been last year when we visited. But friends, food and some good wine made up for it. We spent our time at the Bosch's cottage on Lake Leelanau. Traveled up to Harbor Springs to visit Tom & Kumi's house (its lovely-by the way), visited a couple of winerys on the Old Mission Peninsula, and of course relaxed lakeside. We got home on July 24th.

I spent most of the next week catching up around the house and at work. On July 31st, we went to a couple of open houses - because we're just checking out what our options are in the housing market-not ready to buy. We saw a house on Sunday, made an offer on Tuesday, and on the 8th of August, we signed the contract. All we have to do now is sell our house. Right? Bryan said to me after we made the offer, "Now which one of us was supposed to have ice water running in our veins?"

So far the prospective market for our house looks good. On Tuesday, in the evening (the 8th) we put a sign in our front yard. So far, we've seen lots of cars slowing down to check it out, had two showings, and scheduled two more. We aren't even listed in the MLS yet. Its a good sign.

I know your wondering, so what did Colleen, Bryan & Rowan do last weekend? Home improvement. You know the 10% that never quite gets finished in any project you have. Well, here's my advise. Turn the computer off now and go and finish it. Do it. Don't wait.

We did get to visit with some family last weekend at my parents. Our southern cousins we up visiting -"Howdy Y'all" - and my parents hosted a small reunion of sorts at their house. The food, weather and company was great. My father's cousins, Phyllis & Norb were there (whom I've never met), as well as lots o' Donovans from Dubuque. It was fun.

August is a big month for birthdays in my family (and friends) so here's to you August babies - Happy, Happy Birthday from the Sibthorps. Jennifer, Connie, Crystal, Chris & Amanda (2nd wedding aniversary), of course we are anxiously awaiting baby Donovan with Chris & Amanda due later this month, Jill, my Mom, Nathan and Debbie. A couple more anniversaries to mention, Bill and Pat, and my parents will be celebrating 49 years.

I can't believe I forgot that in the mist of all this activity, Rowan started her last year at SKIP. Right now there are only 3 children in her class, and she is getting lots of attention from her teachers. She is happy to be back, and slipped right back into the swing of things. Miss Sue, her teacher, told me today, that she can be naughty (that cracks me up), and will pretend to be asleep during snack time. Naughty. Yeah right.

I'm sorry I don't have any new pictures of Rowan to share. We have been so busy around here lately, I haven't taken any pictures.

Hi to Katie in Roanoke. Please tell Anne Marie that I've updated the website.

Until next time, all our love,

Bryan, Colleen & Rowan

The birthday party is over, all the guest have gone home, and we have almost finished cleaning up. If you haven't already done so, check out the new photos on our website of Rowan's 5th birthday party. We sure had a good time.

The weather had cooled here last weekend, and we even had few drops of rain on Monday, July 4th, but not enough to help anything. Yesterday, the heat came back, and the temps were back in the mid 90's. Yup, it's July. And our grass has pretty much gone dormant. Yeah for Bryan, no more mowing (at least until after it rains again)!

Not much new to report this past week. Rowan went back to summer school on Tuesday, and I went back to work after most of a week of vacation. Bryan did a little traveling to Waterloo.

Rowan has just one more week of summer school, and then on Saturday we head off to Traverse City, MI for some R&R.

Until next the post,
Colleen

Rowan is 5 years old...

Rowan is officially not a baby any more. Sigh. Over the last few weeks I have been reflecting a lot about the last 5 years. And it all seems a blur. I always tell people that when they ask me how we have gotten through all this, but really I think its just sleep deprivation, killing brain cells that is preventing me from remembering some of the really difficult times.

I remember a theory that was popular when I was in physiological psycology in college about how when women are giving birth, we release a lot of endorphins, you know those crazy hormones in our brains that make us feel good after working out. Anyway, the theory was that during childbirth we release this happy hormone, which also interferes with our ability to remember things. It can prevent you from making a long term memory. The idea was that if we remembered all these painfull/difficult times, we would never dare repeat them (on purpose). And then the population would decrease dramatically. I think there is something to this theory...

Anyway, the reality is that Rowan has given us so much, that we can easily forget the YEARS of sleepless nights, and serious illinesses. It's just a blurr now. Time/poor memory heals everything.

We have been working hard to get ready for the birthday party on Saturday. Yesterday at school, we had a small party with her class. And then we went out for dinner. But home early for bedtime, because it's a school night. We find ourselves paying more and more attention to things like school nights, and bedtimes than ever before. Parenthood comes in wierd doses to us.

The weather has finally given us a break here. The grass is really brown, and all the communities around us have water usage restrictions. We did finally get some rain this morning, but it was the first in over 2 weeks. The weather has been 95+ for nearly as long.

I've taken some time off of work this week, and have been doing lots of odd jobs around the house. Bryan is going to take off on Friday. He really needs some time off. His job has been very stressful for the last 2 weeks, and he has put in extra hours to keep up. We both will go back after the 4th.

I'll write more after Rowan's birthday party. So look for pictures and the play-by-play. I know your all dying to hear about the 5 year old party (AKA social event of the season).

'Til then,
Colleen

The sounds from Rowan's room...

I wish you could hear the singing that is coming from Rowan's room right now. Bedtime. Its that blasted time of the evening again. By the time bedtime comes around, Rowan is so wound up, she does everything in her power to fend off sleep. And right now she is singing her heart out. Bryan and I are down stairs in the family room, working on our computers, and listening to her over the monitor. Sing, Sing, sing...

Rowan's (first) summer break is nearly over (yes Greg). On Monday she will go back to school for a shortened school day until the middle of July, then she will have a 2nd summer break (and we'll take a family vacation). She and Nanny have a had a nice time together and on special days, she gets to spend some time with Nanny's grandson Connor. Connor has just learned to crawl (and Rowan's house is not very baby proofed).

Since last weekend Rowan has been suffering with a head cold that we keep passing around. On Saturday, we went to a birthday party for Emma, who is 2, at local playground. On Sunday, Rowan seemed out of sorts, but I blamed it on the excessiveley hot weather we had. But by Monday, it was clear she had a cold. Monday and Tuesday weren't too bad. But by Wednesday she wasn't too good. She can get dehydrated so quickly. Fortunately today, she started eating and drinking again, and hence...the singing. She's back to her old self.

Bryan has been busy with work this week. I'm not totally clear about what is going on (not that I would understand it, but I try), and he's been working a little later in the evenings. We have also been cleaning out our desks and reorganizing our home office. Its been a pretty daunting task. It doesn't take long for a desk drawer to get completely out of control, and fill with useless stuff. Bryan has also downsized from a large desk to a medium sized desk. That was hard.

I have been busy taking care of Rowan this week and doing odd errands that I have a little more time to do, now that she's home from school. It's almost like a mini vacation - except I go to work.

Mark your calendars for July 2nd, 4-8 pm, for a backyard bar-be-que to celebrate Rowan's 5th Birthday. Invitations will be coming to a mailbox near you soon.

Until next time, all our love,
Colleen, Bryan & Rowan

Since my last post, we have kept pretty busy with work and home life. Rowan finished the school year on Thursday, and today was her first day home for her two week summer break. On June 20th, she starts summer school, or extended school year (ESY) as they call it in education-ese; it's only a four week session, followed by another 2 week break, and then back to school the first week in August. Viola. Summer is over just like that. It sure wasn't that short when I was a kid.

During the break between summer school and the start of the next school year, we are going to try to squeeze in a vacation in Traverse City, MI. We stayed there last summer, and had a mahhhhhhhhrvulouuuuus time doing nothing. We are once again, being graciously hosted by our friends Tom & Kumi Bosch at their parents cottage on Lake Leelanau. We are really looking forward to it again this year.

Yesterday (Thursday), Rowan and I went on a field trip to our local zoo, Niabi Zoo. Its really a nice zoo and has many improvements in just one year. The pictures on our website are of this trip. The highlight, as usual, is feeding the ducks & koi. When we petted the goats, we didn't feed them (they are part of the petting zoo exhibit) because they are so fat; I just couldn't feed them anymore.

On Memorial Day, we drove up to the Mississippi Pallasaides State Park near Savannah, IL. We packed a picnic lunch and found many handicapped-accessible trails. It was a really lovely day here, and it was nice to get away. If we would have stayed home, I would have just worked in the garden some more.

My garden is finally shaping up, but it is so dry here, that I am watering nearly everyday. Let's home for rain next week.

Bryan is doing well. Nothing much to report from him. Work keeps him out of trouble. I try to come up with more about him in my next post.

Until then, all our love,
Colleen

Catching up...

It's been a while since I posted last. I am always amazed how my time slips away from me. I can't remember the last time I was bored...

Here's a recap of the last few weeks. In early May, I saw a motivational speaker, Amanda Gore , sponsored by the Women's Connection, who was quite funny and gave me much to think about: 1. Get over it, 2. Take care of me. Check out her website. I went to this with my Book Group, and we had a great time.

At work I have been working hard to make sure we don't run a deficit. This will be our second year breaking even (assuming no unforseen disasters), and we are quite proud of this accomplishment. Its hard to run a full service (24/7/365) on the resources we do.

On the weekend of May 15, we all trekked down to Bloomington to celebrate the college graduation of Bryan's cousins Nikki & Lori. Nikki just finish law school at U of I, and Lori is going into teaching (grad of ISU). We are very proud of them.

Late last week, Rowan woke with a cold, much to our surprise (does anyone have a cold right now?), and we spent last weekend at home recovering. Bryan has not been feeling very well either, and the seasonal allergies are definately getting to both Bryan and Rowan.

We were planning on wishing my niece, Sara, congrats at her graduation party on Saturday, but Rowan was not up to it. We are very sad to miss her party. Sara finished high school a semester early and has been working on her gen ed requirements at Kirkwood Community College. Way to go Sara!

Back to work today. Sigh. It has been such pleasant weather here the last 3 days. Good for working in the garden, albeit a little windy. I have my vegetables in, but a lot of weeding to do in other parts of the garden. If the veggies only did as well as the weeds...

More about my garden later. But for now, this is my first post to our weblog. It's a new addition to our website. Please post your comments/discussion items. We'd love to hear from you.

PS. I can't believe I almost forgot. Rowan has been imitating sounds that we make. Last Sun