Lanette’s Blog: School Supply Secret
Still being green in the world of school supply shopping, I wanted to get an idea of how much it was gonna cost for Everett’s kindergarten list. I went on Amazon and put everything in my cart. OK, not bad—$93. I left it there until the day I felt like spending almost $100 on glue sticks and folders and went on with my life.
But then, I talked to a girlfriend much savvier than I. She took her daughter’s list and started three online carts: Jet, Target, and Amazon. She realized that some had markers for 99 cents while the others were $5 for the exact same thing. So she ended up buying parts of her daughter’s list on all three websites. So I took a stab at it. Man, was she right! I saved about $40 by shopping around. We have Amazon Prime, so that was free shipping, and if you’re willing to stop by Target (gee darn, if I must!), you can get everything without having to pay any shipping.
If you’ve got the guts to shop the aisles at an actual store, they say that’s still the way to go to get the best prices. And if you can spare a couple of dollars to buy an extra item here and there, like a box of Kleenex or a pair of scissors, that will help your kid’s teacher help the kids who may not be able to afford everything, so they won’t feel left out.
So my school supply buying secret is now yours. Good luck with that!
Lanette’s Blog: Stories From the Family Reunion
It’s family reunion season, and mine was earlier this month. My family is from outside Dodgeville, in a place called Linden. We have a bunch of family farms in the area, and this year we had the reunion at my cousin Mike’s house. He and his family live in the house that belonged to my great-uncle Gordon and great-aunt Grace. I spent a lot of time at this farm growing up, and I was beyond thrilled to bring my husband and boys to this magical place. Mike gave us all a tractor ride through the different properties, and we went by the one-room schoolhouse that still stands in the same place it did when my grandpa, Everett, and his triplet brother and sister, Emmett and Edna, attended almost a century ago.
The best part about a family reunion is hearing the stories. My grandpa and his triplet siblings were the first surviving triplets in the state of Wisconsin. Apparently they were given little baby rings by the governor at the time, although no one is sure of their whereabouts now. The wood-burning stove that the triplets were kept warm on is still in the basement of Grace’s house. I found out that way back in 1915, my great-uncle Emmett was so little when he was born that to help him survive he needed the nature-made liquid gold that is breast milk. So my great-grandma gave him every ounce she had, and the other two babies got cow’s milk, straight from the cow so it still had some of those great nutrients in it. Great-Grandma did it right because all three of her triplets had long, beautiful lives. My great-aunt Edna turned 102 the day of the family reunion.
It’s so important to ask our grandparents and aunts and uncles questions, and to keep telling their stories, because otherwise they’re lost. Facebook wasn’t around to chronicle your great-grandpa’s dinner choice from his favorite restaurant. So tell your kids the stories, even if they don’t ask. Take out the old photo albums and tell everyone’s names and where they lived. Otherwise, lots of that stuff is sadly lost.
To watch my boys, like I’m sure my mom watched me, enjoying every second of the simple, magnificent life on the farm, was pretty cool. The only downside was that we’re probably going to get a cat now. Everett and Roman loved the farm cats. Dang it!
Lanette’s Blog: Capitol View Farmers Market
Wednesday nights are pretty special on the east side of Madison, where my family and I live. The Capitol View Farmers Market has morphed into this fantastic weekly community festival. It’s in the space across the street from the Great Dane on Cottage Grove Road. The MSCR Fit to Go van is there with tons of stuff to do with the kids, and they usually have a musician and sidewalk chalk. Of course there are the vendors, like Farmer John’s for cheese curds and others for cookies, veggies and meats. This year they added food carts to the mix, so you can snack your way down the road to dinner. It runs from 3 until 7 every Wednesday and I’ll see you there next week because we wouldn’t miss it!
Lanette’s Blog: 5K Accomplished
So . . . it happened. The Her Madison 5K was last weekend, and without a ton of training, I was happy to be reminded that my body could still run 3.1 miles pretty easily. I was honestly pretty worried. My running has been practically non-existent since becoming a mom, and the last thing I wanted to do was fail at a distance I never used to even bat an eye at.
I was so impressed by every single woman who came out to run, not just for running, but also for figuring out time to train beforehand. I don’t think I’m alone when Iput most of my needs and wants way down on the list—so far that most of the time, when everyone else has been taken care of, my things don’t happen. It has gotten easier as the kids have gotten older, but now the chaos is for different reasons. What used to be last-minute diaper changes and unexpected naps has now become soccer camp, music class and T-ball practice.
My husband, Marc, brought the boys down to see me off before the race, and they were there waiting for me afterwards, too. (Let’s be honest, though: they were much more excited that the Culver’s ice-cream cone mascot dude was there handing out tokens for a free scoop. But still, they were there.)
My girlfriend, Krista, ran with me, and she gave me one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received: a Fellow Flower to wear in honor of the grit it takes to get there. You will love Fellow Flowers. Get yourself one and send one to someone you love, too.
Here’s to bringin’ it every dang day! Cheers, sisters!!
Lanette’s Blog: New Recipe for Fussy Eaters
If your family is anything like mine, you can start to feel like a short-order cook. And if you’re one of those people who is able to put her foot down and make your kids eat whatever you make for dinner, good on you.
I’m not.
I’ve got a two-year-old who will eat anything, so he’s good with whatever I make. But my five-year-old survives on pizza, mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and grilled cheese. Our latest breakthrough is that he’ll eat a few bites of a cheeseburger or a taco, but it’s really the bare minimum.
So when I made a meal that my entire family ate together, I just had to share it with you. It’s chicken parmesan, made in the crock pot, with chicken nuggets! To see it and try it for yourself, click here. Of course, you should try to get your kids to eat it with a vegetable, but we’re talkin’ baby steps, so whatever you can do. . . .
Lanette’s Blog: Hello Summer
The end of the school year is coming up, and I will be so sad to hug Everett’s teacher, Mrs. Lessner, goodbye for the last time—as will Everett. What an amazing woman! Her classroom aide, Miss Ellen, is equally wonderful. She and Everett have developed quite a sweet relationship, and he loves her very much.
What a year! I’m ready to take it easy on the scheduling for a little bit. During the summer everything slows down a little, and I’m really looking forward to it. We can let bedtime be a little later if Monona Bait and Ice Cream is calling to us for a visit. Baths can wait until tomorrow, even though the boys’ feet are full of dirt, and their faces are full of popsicles, and their hair is full of sand.
My boys are the loves of my life, but I’m sure that in three months, I’ll be very ready to get them out of my house and back to school! Roman will be in preschool in September, and boy, is he ready to ditch his mommy and start spreading his wings. I’m thrilled and I’m heartbroken, but I’m perfectly OK with both of those emotions existing at the same time.
But before that, it’s time for summer! Woo-hoo!!!!
Lanette’s Blog: Teachers I Appreciate
May 8 through May 12 is Teacher Appreciation Week! And although I appreciate teachers and the insanely important work they do every single day, I’ll be making an extra effort this coming week.
Personally, I remember so many of my teachers, and I loved most of them. My third-grade teacher, Mrs. Mary Franklin, made a huge impression on me. I remember wanting to do really well to make her proud, and I knew she wanted the best for me. I loved being in her classroom. We’re Facebook friends now, which tickles the heck out of me.
Middle school—that awkward, horrible, smelly time in your life when adults know nothing. However, there was one teacher I could’ve spent every single second with: Mrs. Judy Emmerich. She’s one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met. She pulled the best out of every single kid she taught by giving each student the utmost respect. She made me feel like I was capable of doing anything in her classroom, at exactly a time when confidence seems to lay roadside. My love of writing began in her classroom, and I still remember way too much about Greek mythology because of her.
Then in college I got the total and complete honor to take a broadcasting class from Mark Zoromski. This man put his heart and soul into his students and the careers he was helping them fall in love with. The love we all had and have (he’s still teaching, but at Marquette instead of UW-Milwaukee, where I went) for him was obvious in every single project and at a very personal level with every kid.
And now the world has come full circle as my son has started school. Marc and I joked about who learned more from Cori, Everett‘s Toddler Time teacher: our kid or us as parents. Cori is amazing, and I’m lucky to have her not just as my son’s teacher but as a friend. This year Everett is in 4K, and if tears of gratefulness could fall onto a computer screen, you’d see mine. Mrs. Lessner has such obvious and unconditional love for every single one of her students. She’s a miracle worker and Everett loves her so ridiculously much.
The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see. I’ve been blessed to have my share of life-changing teachers along the way. I’m grateful that my son can learn about the world and about himself from talented people who show him where to look. Teachers, you are appreciated every single day, but this week most especially. Thank you for allowing this career to choose you. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
Lanette’s Blog: Make Old Friends New Again
When you’re in the middle of your crazy life, it gets hard to reconnect with friends. In the last week, I’ve had the opportunity to catch up with a couple lifelong friends.
The first was someone who has known me since we were in kindergarten. He’s going back to school and really wants to make a difference in the mental health world—and will he ever! It was so much fun to listen to him, with such passion and concern for humankind. Just like his dad, whom we lost 15 years ago, he’s already making an impact. His ripple of kindness will continue, and people’s lives will change because he’s in this world. I’m so proud to know him.
Then I got to meet some girlfriends for dinner. We got to know each other as a group in high school, but many of us knew each other even earlier than that, through sports and ballet. I could’ve sat and talked with them for hours. I just can’t say enough how blessed I feel to have these amazing, strong, beautiful women in my life who are walkin’ the walk, raising families and working hard.
I believe the song goes, “So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must’ve done something good.” I am one lucky person to be surrounded by people with so much unconditional love. Let this be a reminder to set up a couple hours with a friend or two and catch up. You won’t regret it.
Lanette’s Blog: On the Run Again
After being a pretty great runner in my prime (pre-kids), I haven’t run any real distance in quite a while. And now with my new “dark-and-early” work schedule, it’s really hard to find the time. But I signed up for a 5K that’s up in June. It’s the Her Madison 5K, and I’m really looking forward to it. So far my training has consisted of writing down in my phone that I need a new pair of running shoes. (Hey, it made the list, and that’s a big deal.) Running will mean so much more to me at this point of my life, which is why the Her Madison 5K made so much sense for me right now.
It’s the second year for this race, and the entire premise of it is that women need to do this kind of thing. We need to find the time and do this for ourselves. We’re so good at losing ourselves in the schedules and the routines, and lots of us wouldn’t have it any other way. But if we do this, in addition to being everything we can for everyone we love, then it just seems to complete the circle. It’s important to be in a place with other women who are also struggling to find themselves—and who have guilt when they leave their crying babies just to get out for a 30-minute run.
If this sounds all too real to you, I hope to see you at the Her Madison 5K. I hope I’ll have found time to get some new running shoes by then.
Lanette’s Blog: From the Heart
Eight years ago, I became an auntie for the first time. Carter Everett Kolman was born and became the love of my life even before he took his first breath. At 20 weeks along, my sister and brother-in-law found out that Carter had a very serious heart defect along with a couple other complications. In the 20-week ultrasound, the baby’s heart is minuscule, but they found the defect, and by the time Carter was born, there were no surprises.
Carter recently had his second open-heart surgery, and on St. Patrick’s Day, he turned eight. He’s had amazing care all along the way. In addition to my sister and her husband being the most amazing, pro-active, advocating parents for Carter, there is his outstanding team of doctors. One of those people is Dr. Larry Weinhaus. He’s Carter’s cardiologist. This fantastic man is retiring shortly. There are many families who owe their children’s lives to Dr. Weinhaus, and although it’s well-earned, his retirement will leave a huge hole in pediatric cardiology in the area. So, to a man who, in my opinion, walks on water, thank you. It’s not much, but appropriately, it comes from my heart.