2018: A Year In Review
Last year I logged into the blog and didn't remember what to do.
This year I logged into the blog and all of my settings and formatting had changed - or disappeared - or whatever!
I guess you just can't expect something to be exactly the same as it was one year ago.
And the Bach Family is no different! (See what I did there?)
OLIVER WALTER - 4 Years Old
Where to begin with this little man of mine? This little heart stealer, story teller, jokester man of mine. We are happy to report that Oliver has not met his medical deductible this year! We went through a pretty rough patch of ear infections - including a trip to urgent care on the 4th of July - but he seems to be back on the up and up again. We are only using one of his inhalers as needed, so hopefully we even have his asthma under control! Last year we were very excited to suspect that he did NOT inherit the color blind gene. This year, I am confident to tell you he DID inherit said gene. I'll never understand biology, but I guess this is why his doctor told us we shouldn't evaluate him until around 5. Oliver cried when we gave him the orange cup that he asked for, only because he thought it was green - and that's just one example of many. And it's just one of the many things that makes Oliver so endearing. Oliver has worked REALLY hard this year on overcoming some intense, super-charged toddler emotions. Thanks to a trusted pediatrician and some amazing staff at his daycare, we have all worked on helping Oliver to use his words and help communicate his frustration to us. For some of the reasons above, we have made the official decision to not send Oliver to 5K until 2020. Still, Oliver loves learning and is having so much fun recognizing letters for us - his favorite letters by far are O-L-I-V-E-R. Oliver started soccer this summer and really seemed to enjoy it. He already told us he's going to play again next year. He's still in swim lessons and has made tremendous progress - no fear of getting his ears or eyes wet anymore! We are never really sure what is going to come out of Oliver's mouth next, but we are guaranteed to be entertained.
ELEANOR FRANCES - 10 Years Old
In 2018 Eleanor finished 3rd grade and eagerly started 4th grade. She loves school, loves learning, and is discovering the social part is just as much fun! Eleanor continues to be our book worm. I can't get her enough books and don't know what to give her to read that will challenge her, but still be age appropriate content. She gets lost in her books and can spend hours reading and tuning out the world. Eleanor joined the school choir this year and is still involved in Girl Scouts! By far our biggest Eleanor news is her involvement in the New Berlin Swim Club. By Spring she had progressed through all swim lesson options and either had to join club or stop swimming weekly. She made the decision to join swim club. She had her first meet in July and not only did she do great, but she LOVED it! She may have shed a few tears over DQing her first Breast Stroke, but it didn't stop her from getting right back in the pool for the next event. I cried when I found out we were officially trading in ballet shoes for swim flippers, but I LOVE being a swim parent. Watching Eleanor swim is better than any dance recital because you can just see how happy she is. I truly think she might be a fish and feel bad when she's not in the water. Swim meets are hot and long and she swims for about 4 minutes, but man are they great! Andy and I are learning a lot about swim and I'm appreciative for the many friends who are willing to teach us! Watching Eleanor grow up is so bittersweet. I love seeing pictures of 2 year old Eleanor, but 9 year old Eleanor is so much fun to be around. She's her own little person, with her own big personality.
ELIVER- Eleanor and Oliver
Eleanor and Oliver. Brother and Sister. Greatest friends. Eleanor - Oliver's second mom. Maybe even first mom, because there are times that Eleanor can get Oliver to do something that I can't get him to do. Oliver adores his older sister. He wants to do everything she does and be every where she is. Eleanor puts up with a lot from Oliver - usually letting him tag along. But at the end of the day, they are siblings. Oliver gets so frustrated with Eleanor and pushes her buttons. Eleanor can be quick tempered with Oliver and can be easily annoyed by him. Watching these two grow up together and rely on each other is my greatest life blessing. (Despite how many times a week/day/hour I may be screaming their names!)
#DABACHERY - 5 Years Old
Andy and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary this year - Where did the last 5 years go? I love this man more today than I did 5 years ago! We are still having a blast and acting like 2 kids dating. Thank goodness for amazing Grandparents that support and encourage our DABACHERY!
We planned on celebrating our 5 year anniversary in New York, where we honeymooned...but one night, celebrating the opening of the New Berlin Beer Garden, we decided to celebrate our anniversary in Las Vegas, running the Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon, along with a great group of friends. Training for a 1/2 with this guy was SO much fun - so much fun that maybe we can do it again! Or maybe we'll just stick to 5Ks!
THE ANDY BACH - 40 +
Well, when he isn't 1/2 marathon training or having his life run by the schedules of 2 little children...
Andy continues to work from home for Direct Supply. We continue to be thankful for his work from home arrangement - although I still get jealous that he gets to spend time alone with Eleanor each morning before she gets on the bus. He assures me it's not amazing quality time as they both are getting ready for the day. His annual baseball trip took him to Washington, D.C. this past summer, but of course his heart is with the home team. He was really saving his money for a World Series Ticket, but when we fell into some playoff tickets, he couldn't pass them up. I think the greatest highlight of 2018 for Andy was watching baseball with his family and having his two favorite ladies genuinely asking questions and learning more about the sport. The Brewers may not have made the series, but they sure roused the interest of the Bach family and Andy is already planning games for us to attend next year!
DANA LYNN - Still not 40
I'm still counting down the days until I get to be 40. I sure hope it's as amazing as I want it to be! I'm still at LPi, heading up their Human Resources Department. I sure can't complain about working 3 miles from home, although I could do without the work travel. I completed my 5th 1/2 Marathon in August (Madison) and then #6 in Vegas. I also did my 3rd 200 mile relay from Chicago to Madison. I recruited Andy to run a 1/2 marathon, I'm hoping in 2019 I can convince him to run Ragnar! Between training for crazy running events and shuttling a child back and forth to two hour swim practices 3 - 4 times a week, I'm learning there isn't time for much else. Swim ends for Eleanor at 8 PM and by the time she showers, comes home, and winds down, I'm finding that we go to bed at the same time most nights. I don't understand how families with more than 2 kiddos can do it all!
It's always fun reflecting back on the year! We've created so many wonderful new memories - from spring breaking in a blizzard in Minnesota, to checking off home projects like a new chimney. From family bike rides to relaxing in a new hammock in the backyard. We've laughed together and we've cried together. We've been up and we've been down. But we've been together! We continue to be blessed with happiness, health, and opportunity and wish the same blessings for you and yours in the upcoming year.
This year I logged into the blog and all of my settings and formatting had changed - or disappeared - or whatever!
I guess you just can't expect something to be exactly the same as it was one year ago.
And the Bach Family is no different! (See what I did there?)
OLIVER WALTER - 4 Years Old
Where to begin with this little man of mine? This little heart stealer, story teller, jokester man of mine. We are happy to report that Oliver has not met his medical deductible this year! We went through a pretty rough patch of ear infections - including a trip to urgent care on the 4th of July - but he seems to be back on the up and up again. We are only using one of his inhalers as needed, so hopefully we even have his asthma under control! Last year we were very excited to suspect that he did NOT inherit the color blind gene. This year, I am confident to tell you he DID inherit said gene. I'll never understand biology, but I guess this is why his doctor told us we shouldn't evaluate him until around 5. Oliver cried when we gave him the orange cup that he asked for, only because he thought it was green - and that's just one example of many. And it's just one of the many things that makes Oliver so endearing. Oliver has worked REALLY hard this year on overcoming some intense, super-charged toddler emotions. Thanks to a trusted pediatrician and some amazing staff at his daycare, we have all worked on helping Oliver to use his words and help communicate his frustration to us. For some of the reasons above, we have made the official decision to not send Oliver to 5K until 2020. Still, Oliver loves learning and is having so much fun recognizing letters for us - his favorite letters by far are O-L-I-V-E-R. Oliver started soccer this summer and really seemed to enjoy it. He already told us he's going to play again next year. He's still in swim lessons and has made tremendous progress - no fear of getting his ears or eyes wet anymore! We are never really sure what is going to come out of Oliver's mouth next, but we are guaranteed to be entertained.
ELEANOR FRANCES - 10 Years Old
In 2018 Eleanor finished 3rd grade and eagerly started 4th grade. She loves school, loves learning, and is discovering the social part is just as much fun! Eleanor continues to be our book worm. I can't get her enough books and don't know what to give her to read that will challenge her, but still be age appropriate content. She gets lost in her books and can spend hours reading and tuning out the world. Eleanor joined the school choir this year and is still involved in Girl Scouts! By far our biggest Eleanor news is her involvement in the New Berlin Swim Club. By Spring she had progressed through all swim lesson options and either had to join club or stop swimming weekly. She made the decision to join swim club. She had her first meet in July and not only did she do great, but she LOVED it! She may have shed a few tears over DQing her first Breast Stroke, but it didn't stop her from getting right back in the pool for the next event. I cried when I found out we were officially trading in ballet shoes for swim flippers, but I LOVE being a swim parent. Watching Eleanor swim is better than any dance recital because you can just see how happy she is. I truly think she might be a fish and feel bad when she's not in the water. Swim meets are hot and long and she swims for about 4 minutes, but man are they great! Andy and I are learning a lot about swim and I'm appreciative for the many friends who are willing to teach us! Watching Eleanor grow up is so bittersweet. I love seeing pictures of 2 year old Eleanor, but 9 year old Eleanor is so much fun to be around. She's her own little person, with her own big personality.
ELIVER- Eleanor and Oliver
Eleanor and Oliver. Brother and Sister. Greatest friends. Eleanor - Oliver's second mom. Maybe even first mom, because there are times that Eleanor can get Oliver to do something that I can't get him to do. Oliver adores his older sister. He wants to do everything she does and be every where she is. Eleanor puts up with a lot from Oliver - usually letting him tag along. But at the end of the day, they are siblings. Oliver gets so frustrated with Eleanor and pushes her buttons. Eleanor can be quick tempered with Oliver and can be easily annoyed by him. Watching these two grow up together and rely on each other is my greatest life blessing. (Despite how many times a week/day/hour I may be screaming their names!)
#DABACHERY - 5 Years Old
Andy and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary this year - Where did the last 5 years go? I love this man more today than I did 5 years ago! We are still having a blast and acting like 2 kids dating. Thank goodness for amazing Grandparents that support and encourage our DABACHERY!
We planned on celebrating our 5 year anniversary in New York, where we honeymooned...but one night, celebrating the opening of the New Berlin Beer Garden, we decided to celebrate our anniversary in Las Vegas, running the Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon, along with a great group of friends. Training for a 1/2 with this guy was SO much fun - so much fun that maybe we can do it again! Or maybe we'll just stick to 5Ks!
THE ANDY BACH - 40 +
Well, when he isn't 1/2 marathon training or having his life run by the schedules of 2 little children...
Andy continues to work from home for Direct Supply. We continue to be thankful for his work from home arrangement - although I still get jealous that he gets to spend time alone with Eleanor each morning before she gets on the bus. He assures me it's not amazing quality time as they both are getting ready for the day. His annual baseball trip took him to Washington, D.C. this past summer, but of course his heart is with the home team. He was really saving his money for a World Series Ticket, but when we fell into some playoff tickets, he couldn't pass them up. I think the greatest highlight of 2018 for Andy was watching baseball with his family and having his two favorite ladies genuinely asking questions and learning more about the sport. The Brewers may not have made the series, but they sure roused the interest of the Bach family and Andy is already planning games for us to attend next year!
DANA LYNN - Still not 40
I'm still counting down the days until I get to be 40. I sure hope it's as amazing as I want it to be! I'm still at LPi, heading up their Human Resources Department. I sure can't complain about working 3 miles from home, although I could do without the work travel. I completed my 5th 1/2 Marathon in August (Madison) and then #6 in Vegas. I also did my 3rd 200 mile relay from Chicago to Madison. I recruited Andy to run a 1/2 marathon, I'm hoping in 2019 I can convince him to run Ragnar! Between training for crazy running events and shuttling a child back and forth to two hour swim practices 3 - 4 times a week, I'm learning there isn't time for much else. Swim ends for Eleanor at 8 PM and by the time she showers, comes home, and winds down, I'm finding that we go to bed at the same time most nights. I don't understand how families with more than 2 kiddos can do it all!
Hope to see you in the new year!
The Bach Family - aka Bacherrones
For people with COPD, asthma, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and other conditions, pulse oximetry is a technology used to measure the oxygen level in your blood and your heart rate. A finger pulse oximeter is equipped with technology to rapidly detect changes in your blood oxygen level.
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