Fiedler Family Reunion

Over the Labor Day weekend we were able to do something we haven't done since 1991 and that was having a Fiedler family reunion!  The reason we haven't done it is because the family is just too big.  It is hard to coordinate dates, a place to meet and of course food to feed all of the family.  My mom was gracious enough to offer up her house, as a place to meet, her kitchen as the food prep place, and her time to set up all that is needed to house so many people.  I was a tad skeptical about it all working out, but it turned out to be a great get-together.  It was really fun to see some of my cousins that I haven't seen in a while and meet some of my second cousins that I have never seen.  It also got me thinking about the importance of family and that if it weren't for my grandparents, there would be a lot of us not here.  There are 93 people in the Fiedler family. Eight of the nine siblings were there. (12 out of 14 if you include the spouses) Eighteen of the 30 first cousins were there. (26 of 42 if you include the spouses) Last but not least 20 of the 35 second cousins were in attendance.  Plus on Sunday night two of my cousins, their spouses, and their 5 children combined came over.
Here is how it all started.

Patricia and Don Fiedler

With all of the kids...(except mary who wasn't born)

back row L-R: John, Bob, Don(my grandpa) holding Lucy, Trish holding Jim, and Ann

front row L-R: Carol, Nancy, Margaret, Ellen

a few years older

back row L-R: Margaret, Bob, Ann, Ellen, John

front row L-R: Lucy, Jim, Mary, Nancy

Our first family reunion circa 1986

back row L-R: Jim, Kelly, Rick, Lucy, Bob, Jim, Ann, Gary, Dale, John, Kevin

middle back row L-R: Mary, Ann, Doug, David, Tom, Nancy, Nancy

middle front row L-R: Margaret holding Alex, Paul, Rachael, Riley, Adam, Lisa, Brian, Ryan, Ellen holding Danny

front row L-R: Shelly, Grandpa, Grandma, Jenny

We braved it one more time in 1991

Back row: Bob, Rick, Dale

Next row: Jim, Doug, John, Tom, Gary, Ellen, Jim

Next row: Ann, Ryan, Kevin

Next row: Julie, Liz, Jen, Shelly, Nancy, Nancy Grandma, Ann, Grandpa

Next row: Lucy holding Lacey, Adam, Riley, Paul, Lisa, Rachael, Brian, Margaret holding Ricky, mary

Front row: Patrick, Alex, Danny, David, Tammy holding Thomas, Megan, Joey

This past labor day weekend

Bob, Ann, Ellen, Margaret, Lucy, Grandma, Grandpa, Nancy, Jim and John

Cousins

Ryan, Paul, Danny, Riley, Brian, David, Joesph, Jack, Liz, Adam

Lacey, Lisa

Jillian, Kate, Rachael, Emily, Franny

All of the cousins and their kids

2nd cousins

Camden, Carter holding Liam and Callan

Liam, Liz, Lisa, Lacey and Frannie

Grandma, Theresa, baby Lucy and Nancy

Lucy, Liz and Ann

Grandpa and my Mom

Brian, Riley and Lori

Tammy, Lacey, Lisa, Jim

Melanie, Paul, Carrie, Lisa and Ryan

Grandma and I

my mom, me and Maggie

Chad and I

Lucy, Lacy, Lisa, Ellen, Grace, Rachael, Austin

Carter and his new love Jillian.  He followed her around and absolutely adored her.

Thank you Jilly for playing with him. It made his whole night!

part of the crazy scene (58 people were there total)

these two were thick as thieves. Callan and Austin born 6 weeks apart

Margaret, David, and Lacey

Me with my grandparents

This weekend, although busy and tiring was really nice.  We spent Saturday night as a big family but I also got to spend time with two of my cousins and their families that I haven't seen in a while.  Both Liz and Rachael stayed at our place which meant lots of late night talks, watching our kids play and tons of laughs.  It makes me miss the carefree days of being a kid and not having to worry about anything.  I am so happy that my grandparents met, and that they were crazy enough to have 10 kids!  

A reunion would not be the same without also remembering those we have loved and lost.  Their smiles and laughter are always missed.  

Aunt Carol

Even though we never met, I have often wondered what you would have been like, who you would have looked like, and how many "fiedlerisms" you would have had. 

Uncle Gary

He was the sweetest man I had ever met. He always had a contagious smile and the patience of a saint. He welcomed anyone with open arms, and would give the shirt off his back to help. I have so many great memories on the farm with him.  My most favorite was the Thanksgiving that he took all the cousins out in the snow and pulled us in sleds behind the tractor.

Aunt Nancy

Nancy was also such a sweet and gentle person.  She always wanted to know what was new in your life and  made an effort to talk to everyone.  She and I shared a love for nursing, and I will always cherish that. I know she would have loved to see all the kids playing this weekend, especially all her beautiful grandchildren 

baby Thomas

(and baby Aaron)

Sweet baby Thomas.  He gave a lot to this world in such a short time.  I can still remember his smile. He would have been a great big brother to all his siblings.  

Thank you to all the families that came this weekend.  I am so glad we got the chance to catch up and hang out again.  I am blessed to have such a wonderful family and I am glad we got to share a little more time again. Also a big thanks to my mom and dad who hosted the big event and got everything ready!  Next time I am making shirts, so we need a little more time to plan. :)

New Normal

We have made it past the first week of preschool and the second week of kindergarten!  It has taken some adjustment on everyone's part but I think we have found a new normal over here.  I think it will take a bit longer to for everyone to know what to expect from our new school schedule, but we are headed in the right direction.  Next week we are going to add swimming lessons back in on Monday's and Wednesday's and Carter is going to start piano lessons the first week of September.  There will be some small adjustments to the schedule with those things, but I think the kids will be ok with them.  They just might be long days for Carter.

imaginary play during quiet time

finger painting hands

The book grandma Karen got for Carter for a back to school gift

This week started off a bit rough for Carter, or maybe just for me.  Monday morning Carter was a little hesitant to go back to school and just wanted us to keep up with our summer routine.  It wasn't that he didn't like school, he just missed being around his brothers and me, and it was familiar.  There were a few quick tears on Monday and Tuesday but has been confident the rest of week.  On Monday night we had a quick parent meeting with the teacher to see how we thought the first week went and to see if we had any questions.  I asked the teacher how things were going for him and she said he is doing great.  She said he has made friends, is a great listener and he participates in class.  She even said she has used him as an example for using good manners or following the class rules for the other kids in class.  It makes me feel good as a parent to know that when I am not around, he listens and behaves appropriately.  He has come home every day with lots of stories and new information he has learned.  The big thing he has talked about is art, and how much he loves it.  He loves art day, and when it is time to choose something for "free play" in the room he always chooses the art station.  This enthusiasm continues at home and he often asks for the art supplies.  The first day he drew a picture of his class and the other night he made a book.  It was pretty cute all the things he wanted us to help him with.  He made a 6 page book that was titled "Super Carter Saves the day!" I told him how to spell super and he wrote the "Super Carter" on the front and Chad and I wrote all the other  things he wanted the book to say.  The funny thing with that was when I told him to write a *u* he accidently made it upside down so it looked like an *n*.  I told him is was no big deal but showed him what it should look like, and tried to move on, but he firmly told me that he needed to fix it because no one would know what it was saying, and he wanted it fixed (that is not my typical Carter)  But he illustrated the whole book and had us write things like "Super Carter saves the kids from the gorilla" or "Super Carter saves the radishes"  He drew all the pictures and was very proud of what he had made and showed the neighbor kids later that night.  Then when we were reading last night he told Chad that he forgot to read the *title page*.  I also think the independence is growing on him and he is enjoying that as well.  When he took cold lunch the first day he came home and told me that he ate his pudding first.  He followed it by saying that he ate everything though, and that I didn't tell him what he needed to eat first.  I could just imagine the joy he had eating his pudding first without anyone there to tell him not too.  I told him it was his choice what he ate first but that we wanted him to try and eat most of his lunch.  Another thing with lunch is that they serve chocolate milk every day. :\ I am not a fan of that and told Carter he needed to choose white milk on hot lunch days unless I told him otherwise.  The next day he came home and told me he drank white milk because it was a healthier choice.  The last thing about lunch that I thought was kind of funny was one day I asked him what he had for a fruit.  He said he didn't know what it was but it was sitting in juice and he didn't want to eat it.  I looked on the menu and it was diced pears.  Welcome to the world of canned fruit my son! Chad asked him on Wednesday if he wanted ham and cheese, roastbeef or chicken tenders from Arby's and his response was "I don't care for any of those choices."  He definitely likes his new found independence.  Today my once apprehensive little man gave me a hug and a kiss outside the van, waved goodbye in the rain, and walked across the cross walk and into the school (they usually meet outside the doors, but today it was raining) all by himself.

play dough fun!

Camden has also enjoyed his first week of preschool.  He has met a few new friends and of course his favorite part is snack and recess!  He has had no hesitation at all and enjoys his time to just be Camden and not someones brother.  He has also adjusted to life without Carter pretty well.  I am amazed at his ability to be quiet during quiet time. This kid is the king of quiet time!  He always finds something quiet to do, and plays really nice. He does get lonely and comes in to my room sometimes but he doesn't bother me.  It has been heaven!  He has been more tired on school days but I think not taking a nap is helping his night time sleep.  I think Camden has missed Carter some, but staying busy with school is helping.

finger paint fingers

don't let this face fool you, he is not innocent! :)

Callan.  I am not even sure where to start.  My pediatrician once told me that your third child is the one you deserve.  I used to think that was great because I thought I would deserve a pretty nice kid.  I was wrong, dead wrong.  I think I must be going to hell because this kid has tested every boundary known to man in the last few weeks.  He has done things that none of the other two dared to do, and it has really thrown me for a loop.  Let me give a few examples.  One day while showering Callan took out the egg carton and dropped several of them on the kitchen floor (which he was proud of helping me).  He got the stool out of the bathroom and turned all the ceiling fans on and off, on and off. He also used the stool to get things off the of the counter, including knives, kitchen utensils and electronics.  He frequently spills water from the older boys cups, and makes a mess with whatever non toy item he can find.  He likes to take the filter out of the swiffer vac and put it in the dogs water, or hide his shoes or ours all over the house.  He knows when you are at your wits end and pushes it just a tad further.  I know he has a touch of the third child syndrome due to my lack of energy to discipline him the same as the other boys.  I try really hard, so that he will turn into a well mannered respectful young man, but I fear every day that I have ruined him.  He is loving and sweet, but man does that little man have a loud scream and a short temper ( I have no idea where he would get that) :)  I am hoping that as his verbal skills get better, it will help us all understand what he needs and wants so we can eliminate some of the bad behavior.  He has taken the new school schedule the hardest.  He had to take late naps last week, during early dismissal. Now this week he has to take early naps to we can get to Carter by 2:53.  On Monday he did not nap at all and on Tuesday he had a 30-45 minute nap.  Luckily today and yesterday he did pretty well.  He misses having his brothers around I think he fills that time by getting into anything and everything.  I just pray this phase is over soon.

Camden's first day of preschool

Today was Camden's big day!  I got to send him off to his first day of preschool.  He walked right in and started to play.  He put on his name tag, gave me a quick hug and he was off.  He looked so big.  I couldn't believe I was leaving the building with only one child in tow.  We took snack the first day and when I picked Camden up he said that snack was his favorite part!  He was all smiles and is ready to go back.  He told me a decent amount about his day, but the snack and playing outside were the highlights.  Here are a few pictures of our middle child all grown up and officially a preschooler!

all the boys on the Camden's first day

outside the preschool

hanging up his bag

he put his name tag on, and was ready to start his day!

Preschool Open House

On Monday we went to Camden's preschool open house to meet his teacher and see his new room.  He was a tiny bit apprehensive when we first got there but warmed up really fast.  He played with all the toys, did a scavenger hunt and talked with Mrs. McClintock.  Here are some pictures of him checking out his new school.

checking out the tool bench

playing at the doll house

standing by his coat hook

meeting Mrs. McClintock

his new cubby

enjoying the snack of goldfish and lemonade