Mini Vacation

Motel Room $207
Meals $ 80
Gas $ 75
Shopping $400
Spending a fun weekend with the family: Priceless

We left Friday morning about 8:00 a.m. for our vacation in Owatonna, Minnesota.

First we went to the Medford Outlet Center about two miles north of our motel and did some shopping. We got some really great bargains. And also stopped at Cabela's, which is right next to the motel.

After a full afternoon of shopping, we checked into the motel. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in a "kid's suite". It had two connected rooms. One with a king-size bed and the other with 2 twin-size beds and a set of bunk beds. The kids had their own TV, VCR and Playstation. It was nice, although we didn't spend much time in our room. The motel has an indoor waterpark where we spent most of our time. We all had so much fun. The waterpark is all done in a jungle theme. There are 2 different water slides, a lazy river, a kiddie area with a slide and an elephant that sprayed water from it's trunk. There was also a spot with water basketball.

Josh and Paige at the pool


Kyle and Paige on the lazy river

When everyone was tired from swimming, we went rented some video games from the front desk and went back to our room for some snacks and "down-time" before bed.

We all got up early the next morning to go to the waterpark again before we had to check-out.

We stopped in Owatonna for Josh to do some shopping at Mills Fleet Farm. Then headed for home.

On the way home, we stopped by Blue Earth, MN to take pictures at the Green Giant Statue there. Since it wasn't too far out of the way, we ended up going to Okabena, MN to my parents house. We visited for awhile and had supper there. Thanks for supper Grandma and Grandpa!


Cameron and I at the Jolly Green Giant statue

We got home about 9:00 Saturday night. As much fun as vacations are, it's always nice to get home.

Kyle and Paige usually fall asleep when we are traveling

Could She Get Any Cuter?

The Cousins

This is a picture of all the Hohensee cousins together at Christmas. From left to right: Ella, Kyle, Paige, Dylan, Cameron and Logan

Ella is the daughter of Josh's sister, Alyse and her husband, Charles Anliker

Dylan and Logan are the sons of Josh's brother, Brian and his fiancee, Sarah Elder

They all live in the Des Moines area. With all our busy schedules, we have a hard time getting together, but always get together at the holidays.



Paige and Logan giving good-bye kisses

Paige's Buddies

Paige and Grandpa Roger making funny faces




Paige and my friend, Jill. Paige LOVES to talk to her on the phone.

My Little Becky Home-Ecky

Paige has developed a passion for cooking. Okay, maybe not a passion, but she really likes to "help". I usually let her use the measuring cups and dump the ingredients into the bowl. She thinks this is great fun. Today, we made banana bread.



Now I just need to teach her how to do the dishes!!

We're Boring!

I feel like the only time I have something interesting to blog about is when Paige is sick.



I took Paige to the doctor this morning because I thought she had pink eye. The good news is, she does not have pink eye. The bad news is, she has sinus infection, ear infection, infection in her tear duct and bronchitis. She is on antibiotics for another 2 weeks. I don't know what's going on with her this year, she is usually so healthy.

On a brighter note, on Saturday we enjoyed a get-together with the Hohensee family for Sister Aunt Renae's 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Nae!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!



Also, Congratulations to Josh's brother, Brian, and his fiancee, Sarah. They are getting married on October 7, 2006. We wish them all the best!

Pretty in Pink

Paige looked so cute in this outfit I just had to post it. She looks so sweet and innocent!

She had a check-up on Tuesday. All went well, she is completely healed from surgery.

*Star Patient*

Before

After

Paige had her tonsilectomy and adnoidectomy on Friday, January 27th. They had a little trouble getting an IV started in her hand, so had to put it in her foot. I think that was the worst part of the whole ordeal!

She came out of anesthesia great and wanted to start drinking water right away. That was a really good sign. By 4:00, she had 4 popsicles and some pudding. She was up and playing and was in a great mood. The nurse kept telling us she was the best T&A (tonsils and adnoids) patient she'd ever had.

Grandma Laurel brought Kyle and Cameron down after school. She was very happy to see her brothers and Grandma. And, of course, Grandma brought lots of stuff for Paige to play with.

She fell asleep about 4:30 and slept through her dose of pain medicine. When she woke up at 6:00 she was very crabby and running a fever. And her throat dried out while she was sleeping. Josh and the nurse got the meds in her with quite the fight from the little redhead. After her meds kicked in she was back to normal.

Josh and I both spent the night at the hospital with Paige. It was a very long night!! Grandma Laurel stayed at our house with the boys. Thanks, Grandma.

Paige was a real trooper and I am very proud of her. I know she's a tough little girl and she really proved it! Daddy did a good job, too. I think it was harder on him than on Paige.

She was discharged about 9:30 on Saturday morning and has been doing great since we got home. Grandpa Roger and Aunt Renae came over to visit this afternoon and Paige was very full of energy and happy to see them.

We go back for a check-up with Dr. Gonzales in two weeks.

The Pre-Op Party

We went to the hospital tonight for a "Pre-Op Party". It's set up by the Volunteer Services at the hospital. They gave us a tour of all the parts of the hospital Paige will be in. She saw the Operating and Recovery Rooms, the Waiting Rooms where Mom and Dad will be, the Pediatric Unit and, of course, the Toy Room.

We watched a video all about being in the hospital. And then had juice and cookies.

Paige really seemed to enjoy going to all the different places in the hospital and I thought it was very informative. It makes me feel a little less nervous. Kyle and Cameron came along to support their baby sister. I was really impressed with the way they were there for her. Even though they don't TELL anyone how much they love her, they really showed it tonight.

The Tonsils Are Coming Out

Today Paige went for another visit with Dr. Gonzales, the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. The steroids are not shrinking her tonsils at all. She has been taken off all her medications.

She is scheduled for a tonsilectomy on January 27th. Since she is so young, she will be spending the night in the hospital.

When Dr. Gonzales told Paige she'd be able to eat all the ice cream she wanted after the surgery, she replied to him (with typical Paige attitude), "I already get all the ice cream I want, my dad's an ice cream man, duh". I'm sure that's usually a big deal to all the kids getting their tonsils out. But most kids don't have an "ice cream man" for a daddy!

Jinkies

Paige said the funniest thing today. We were looking at a photo album and we came across this picture. It's my mom's graduation picture. Paige got very excited when she saw the picture. Then I found out why....she said "Look, it's Velma from Scooby Doo!" How cute is she? I'm sure her grandma thinks she's "real cute"!!

Paige and Heather at age 3

These are photos of Paige and I taken when we are about the same age.

Iowa Weather

Only in Iowa can it be Sunny and 65 on Sunday and then snow on Monday. Gotta Love It!!!

Family Time

We had a wonderful family weekend. Saturday morning Cam went to help Josh at the shop while Kyle and I picked up the house with Paige's "help". We all went to church together and then ordered pizza and rented movies. On Sunday Josh and Kyle fixed the washing machine and then we watched the new Star Wars movie. We actually ate EVERY meal together this weekend!

It may not sound too exciting, but it was so much fun just being together. We don't get to do things like that very often since everyone's schedules are so crazy. In only 2 years Kyle will be graduating from high school.

Paige News

I took Paige to the specialist today for her tonsils. She is now on steroids for the next 3 weeks, as well as another antibiotic since she has ear infection to go with her tonsillitis. Hopefully, these "drugs" will shrink the tonsils and clear the ear infection. We go back on January 26th for a check-up.

Christmas Break Update

We had a great holiday at the Hohensee house. We ran too much, ate too much and spent too much. But isn't that what the holidays are all about.

On December 24th, we went to Newell to Josh's Grandpa's house. We had lunch over there and spent the afternoon with family.

We always do Christmas morning at our house. It's the only tradition we really stick by. We actually had to wake Paige up at 8:15 or so. Opening the presents always seems to go by too quickly. But that was ok this year, we went to Ayrshire to the Hohensee Family Christmas. We had dinner, played Bingo and visited with everyone. We always have so much fun up there. After Ayrshire, we went to Josh's mom and dad's to celebrate Christmas over there. That sounds like a full day, but being the troopers we are, we took Paige and the boys to the movie to see Chicken Little. Paige enjoyed it a little more than the boys, but we rarely get a chance to go to a movie as a family. Since the movie theater here only has one screen, sometimes it takes awhile for a family friendly movie to come to town. We all slept well Christmas Night!!

We accomplished a few projects over the break.

Kyle got his driver's license and his first car last week. He's very excited about having a car, but now he'll get to learn all about car payments, insurance payments, gas money and maintenance. We'll see how long he stays excited about his car.

Paige has tonsillitis. She went to the doctor for antibiotics last Friday. They are not working so now she needs to see the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist on Thursday. I really hope she doesn't need to get her tonsils out. But if it's for the best, we'll deal with it then.

I am ready to get back to school and get back into a routine. The boys say they are not ready to go back, but I'm sure they are too. Paige is definitely ready to go back to daycare. She misses all her "best friends".

I think that's about it for our holiday update.

Have a great 2006!!!!

Merry Christmas

Instead of doing a holiday letter this year or filling pages and pages of Christmas cards, I have decided to create a Hohensee Family webpage. I wanted to name it Ho-Ho-Hohensee, but thought that may be too cheesy! This will get you up-to-date on all the happenings of the family and I hope to update it regularly throughout the year, so check back often.

Kyle

Kyle is 16 and in 10th grade at Pocahontas Area High School. He keeps busy with his job at The Pizza Ranch and like any typical 16-year-old is trying to save money for a car. He is active in FFA and really seems to enjoy it.

Cameron

Cameron is 12 and in 6th grade at Pocahontas Area Middle School.

He loves sports. He played baseball last summer in Pocahontas. Last fall he played football in the Midwest Youth Football League for the Chargers. Both teams did really well. His baseball team was the only team undefeated for the season and his football team finished 1st in their playoff bracket.