whoa.

How ridiculous it's been that I have been so busy with going back to work and everything in between that I've just left this blog at the wayside. Well no more!

Here's what's happened in the last 3 months.

Sick, sick and sick some more. We we're all sick, Jacob's 6th birthday party, throw in my 40th birthday, plus a 40th birthday car accident, 10 or more ear infections, snowstorms, sun, rain, 60 degree day, 20 degree days, a few more bad colds and sinuitis, a five day run of a stomach virus for each kid and lastly, working like dogs here at home and at the office. Yep, that pretty much sums up the last 3 months. I wish I could say I was on an a beautiful exotic island with a Mai Tai in my hand and a good book in the other all this time. But sadly, no.

I did get 30% off coupon from Kohl's the other day which made the last 3 months wash away!
Here are a few picks of the last couple months. One of my demolished van ($6200 damage) which I get back on the 7th of April. yippee!

Merry Christmas 2008

We have officially decided to post our letter this year on our blog. It is the way of the world it seems and we like to be on the cutting edge. Okay, so we’ve had to make some cut backs and advertising is always the first to go so those of you who are expecting to see the latest and greatest models for this past year on paper – too bad. It has been a very quick 2008 and more changes have been made to the employees and the general corporation. Taking our concessions to the people is the trend for this year.

Our employees are potentially on the brink of new achievements and NOT bankruptcy – they don’t have any money anyways. Vice President of Management, Jake, will be six on Jan. 5th and has been enjoying his term in kindergarten. He is excelling in all things pre-first grade and still thinks he’s going to be a huge rock star. He’s practiced, defined and nailed the “rock star pose with guitar” so he should do well if anyone is need of an air guitar player. He played baseball this past summer and really enjoyed inspecting the dirt, grass and all passing airplanes before the ball so maybe music will be a better fit. He still has close ties with Spongebob Squarepants, John Deere and Ryan Braun. He has found his groove being a big brother and catching the co-workers not following suit – well, Jake is the first to notify the higher ups. The VP’s of HR and Operations never knew what hit them – yet.

Nick officially become 2 on December 15th and quickly moved up to the VP of HR. A huge achievement for someone so young and in a short time but it really doesn’t mean Human Resources – more like Hungry and Ready! That boy can eat and we still can’t keep his pants up! Nick has positively secured an obsession of wearing his John Deere baseball hat 24/7. We’ve taught him to take it off when eating and sleeping otherwise it’s on his head all the time. Anything John Deere or truck related will score you major points. He also loves to read, laugh and dance but mostly loves to push the lawnmower around the office. It's an obsession but great practice for relieving the COO of having to do it down the road. For now, batteries instead of gas - it's cheaper!

Our Vice President of Operations is well suited being last and the only girl. Abby, also officially two on December 15th, has informed everyone that it’s her way or the highway. She is good at her job and raises the bar when it comes to excelling in dominance and independence. If you have it and she wants its – look out. Abby also loves to dance, sing and read. Puzzles seem to be the trend of the moment and cookies as well. She is a wonderful hugger and kisser so be prepared for a warm, sloppy greeting.

Our COO John is still busy full-time with Quick Cable and other household projects. He built a beautiful shed this summer and also re-cooped from a shed-related injury but has continued to maintain other small projects around the Leto household. Most of his time is consumed with making sure his employees are clean, fed, injury-free and happy as well as making the company run smoothly with his “tight ship” mentality. OSHA would be so proud. He loves to support the Brewers and goes into withdrawal when the season is done. The Packers just haven’t been the same without the legend #4. Go Jets!


Jennifer has decided to step down as COO to take on an outside position as SSS-SS (Sales Support Specialist-SignScape) full-time. Although she remains a top executive for 2nd shift and weekends, her time is now spent at Inpro Corporation from 8:30 - 5. Getting to work, on time, is the first challenge. As well as making sure the Leto (three-foot and under) employees are bathed, dressed, fed and happy as well. She still continues with her "desperate measures" escape plan by keeping in shape teaching Stability Ball and Pilate's two nights a week. Lately she has gotten back into reading and staying up past 8:00. Don’t laugh, it’s important to have goals.

We continue to really enjoy life here in Wisconsin and hope that the winter isn’t a record breaker or back breaker for that matter. Check in frequently at our blog to see what positions have been created, moved and open for those of you wanting to be apart of the Leto force that it is. We can always use babysitters!

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
God Bless – John, Jennifer, Jake, Nick and Abby

flu...

WOW, we got hit hard by the flu this past weekend. It's the first time the whole family went down at once and it moved quickly. Odd though, Nicky got it first on Sat. and it took 36 hours for it to make it to the rest of us. We wanted to go see the holiday lights and had everyone in the van and nothing out of the normal with Nicky whining about something. 15 minutes into it, Jake yelled from the back seat "Nick's puking!" Great! What parent is ever prepared for that one? It was nasty but thankfully we had old towels under the car seats and wipes. We did a u-banger (yes, legally) and headed home. Jake had to ride in the front seat and thought that was the coolest thing ever. Don't get used to it kid for at least 6 more years! We did see some holiday decorations that houses had up already on the way home.

Jake went to school, Dad went to work & I watched the twins and Logan (my girlfriend's 3 year old) when the call came in from school around 1:30 p.m. - "Jake's been in the health room twice complaining of a stomach ache, can you come and pick him up?" As it would be - no. They we're suppose to be released early around 1:45 from school, I had Logan and the twins we're napping I told them to try and put him on the bus if he hasn't gotten sick. By the time I got everyone up, dressed and in the car, Jake would be home of the bus anyways.

5 minutes later the school nurse calls back - "Jake's puked twice but your neighbor Sue can bring him home for you - is that okay?" I said "YES, she is helping me out huge!" Just as Jake gets home, into the garage comes John - home from work sick. That's 2 now. I had that queasiness all day so I expected I was next. My girlfriend's husband came and got their boys at 3, I continued to nurse the sick, care for the twins and do laundry. Thanks to Delee for saving me by lending me detergent and Gatorade! Abby started to go downhill after dinner and by 6 she was falling asleep in the tub and in her bed by 6:30. Then, it was just me and Nick (who by the way was just fine by this time) and around 8 I melted into bed. I fought that gross, crampy feeling all night and the next day we all stayed home, slept most of the day and hung out on the couches while sipping white soda, Gatorade and trying to eat crackers. That was the worst 4 days in a LONG TIME. Strange that Abby & I never got throw up sick - only the boys. I was the only one too who didn't have a flu shot yet. GIRLS RULE!

We are up and at em' now and I hope you all don't get it - it was really bad and sorry to share TMI, but it was a whirlwind! Wash your hands and get the antibacterial stuff out - keep yourself healthy this year!

We love hats!

My hat-loving kids... Nicky sleeps with his on. Funny since I couldn't get a hat on him 3 weeks ago without screaming. Whatever - now he wears one. :)

Dance to the music...

I can only say one thing, my kids love music and when we want to burn some energy, this works wonders! Enjoy. Try not to look to closely at my two-tone living room - it is waiting for some paint after ripping the wall paper down - there is always a project to be done and never enough time when you're playing.

Also, Abby goes kind of ballistic towards the middle when she can't touch, climb, chew, throw, climb, tinker (did I mention climb?) with things she's not suppose too.

Sorry for the screaming but that's my life. :)

Halloween 08

It was a very busy Halloween this year. Jake was very excited to get out there in his construction worker costume and gather candy and to see the neighbor kids. The weather was wonderful and we had planned to have our friends hang out around the fire pit to enjoy all the trick-or-treaters. But, in the morning I had to take Nicky to the doctor because he was wheezing and grunting, having a hard time breathing generally with a bad cold. So, after our visit, poor Nicky had Amoxicillian for a double ear infection as well as a nebeulizer with Albuterol to help him breath and Prednisolone to open his airways. Holy cow - he was really sick so he did not trick-or-treat. But John took Abby around with the kids to get some candy and Abby loved her costume and a red sucker. It was not a relaxed evening as I had hoped but I did get to visit with our friends and have some tasty home-made chili. Okay and a few beers!

We are keeping busy this fall...

I can't believe that September came and went but October has been BEAUTIFUL! The colors of the trees are wonderful but lots of leaves to rake. The kids enjoyed jumping in a big pile of leaves a couple of weeks ago but man, my arms we're sore. We have been trying to get outside as much as we can knowing that the winter is just around the corner. The Farmer's Almanac predicted that this winter is going to be like last year - lots of snow. I think we had a total of like 109 inched of snow for the whole winter or close to that.

Jake is loving school and doing very well. His teacher has asked us to have a challenge packet sent home for him to work on because he is doing so well. We knew that Jake would do well but we we're pleasantly surprised that he was exceeding. What reminds us he's still 5, his listening is a skill that he has to work on. It takes about 7 times to get through to him at home and it is now something he has to work on at school too. He also has to keep learning how to tie his shoes. I've been teaching him and I have to say - MAN - when you have to slow down and go through the steps of actually tying - I am caught off guard. Honestly, it is something that I had to think harder on after doing it for 35 years. So, hopefully Jake will catch on before too long. Viva la Velcro!



Nicky & Abby have been keeping me on my toes but mostly Abby. She has just recently figured out how to scale the gates that have been keeping them caged for the past 1 1/2 years. I guess thinking we could keep them in for 4 years was a bit of a stretch. So, we tried putting the spring gate on the stairs, she scaled that and fell off. She won't stop. Now, we have bungee corded a headboard (yes, a headboard) to the bottom of the steps and banister. Thinking we had them beat...I snuck upstairs to take a quick shower and 2 minutes into it, there was Nicky in the bathroom talking to me. I couldn't believe it - how did those little stinkers get through that? All it took was Abby (our pudgy pie) to squeeze through the bottom banister and 1st rung and Nicky followed right after. Unbelievable! So, now John is going to shrink wrap the banister all the way up and hopefully Abby won't chew on the plastic like a dog. They are 22 months and we hope that they will be stable enough on the stairs by summer. But for now, we are trying this. Next up, leashes! You think I'm kidding? Just when we think we have won, they find a way to "one-up" us and frankly, John & I are completely frazzled. Each day, I think "what will they get into today" and just go moment by moment. We laugh a lot and why wouldn't you when you literally have the circus in your house. I need to buy one of those smart cars to put in my family room. I don't need it to drive, just to see how smart they really are. For all I know, they may figure out how to drive it through the bay window. :D I will cherish these days when they are older but GOOD GOD - they are making my hair turn gray before it should!

When John shrink wraps the banister, I will post a picture. Maybe we should just shrink wrap everything? How could they get to anything then? I kid, I kid.