Best Presents Ever

Happy Father's Day Though Our Eldest didn't spell the words, Mother did that, he wrote the card. Pretty Awesome! And Our Youngest made a brilliant glitter glue Rorschach test! Perhaps the best presents ever! P.S. That's My Starbucks sin, a Venti Iced Americano, sittin' on the desk. P.P.S. Nice hair huh? P.P.P.S. At least Google got Picasa and Blogger to play nice...

Conversation

"Daddy, I wann'a new cup... with milk in it... and a new bowl... with squares... and a new spoon (pause) with no milk on it." "Oh yeah?" "Yep, that's what I want." "And what else?" "With no milk on it." "No... You forgot the magic word?" "Pleasssssssssssssssssssse!" Pretty far removed from the kid who didn't start talking until 2. It's still hard to pick up a few words, unless like me, Ma and Our Eldest you are fluent in Dasherese. But, he sure can string the words together. The best part is when he is really trying to pronounce a word correctly. Though he's not quite got the annunciation down, his concentration causes the best emphases.

Cool

We stopped at a really nice big park on our way home from Iowa to let the boys stretch their legs. While at the park, a big diesel pickup came through the parking lot, its passengers donning dark sunglasses, swaying their heads to the beat of the music. They oozed coolness. Then they parked the truck, opened the doors and cranked the music- in order to bestow their coolness upon all of us at the park. Any guesses as to the song they blared? "Word Up" by Cameo. Remember that one? The one that never quite made it to the top of the list in the 80s?! I had to chuckle- cool, indeed.

Busy!

Oh, I am so busy and in need of some restful days.... It all started May 24th when we packed to go to the mountains for a four-day weekend. Then the following weekend was our youngest's birthday and party. The weekend after that we took a week long trip to Iowa. We got home from that trip to visiting family staying with us for a couple days. Yesterday, shortly after they left, I headed out of town for a garden tour. Today we're traveling to my sister's house (again, out of town) to celebrate Father's Day. I go back to work tomorrow for four days and then we're off again- on a 2 1/2 hour drive for a four day family reunion. Man, will I ever be happy to see July- a month where we have absolutely nothing planned at this point. And that sounds just great to me!

Just Sharin'

At the caves.

Mtn pics

Here are some of my favorite pics from our recent trip to the mountains... Here are the older of the younger cousins enjoying themselves. It was great to see just how well all these kids get along! Especially when their affinity for each other shows even after parting ways at the end of the trip- the other cousins' mom sent this e-mail to me the day after we got home: "Tonight when I was putting GR to bed I told him I loved him and he said Daddy too and then we started saying all the people who love him and he says "those two boys H and A love me too". I said yes they do." __________ Apparently, AW and his buddy GR got into a little pushing match and when GR's mom went up to look into the commotion, she was met with AW proclaiming "I don't like that guy!" The above picture is her rendition of the event. __________ HL saw a couple kids out in this beautiful lake in a kayak and exclaimed that he, too wanted to do that. This was a bit of a shocker- HL is an extremely cautious little boy, and it takes him quite some time to steel himself for new experiences. Or, rather, I guess I need to say he is usually this way. He followed daddy up to the boat and climbed in without hesitation. Hubby says that HL absolutely loved the kayak ride! Perhaps we will all be learning to kayak soon... AW, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to ride a paddle boat. We answered his wishes and went out to join his brother in the middle of the lake. Under the majestic mountains. Does it get any better?!? __________ This picture just speaks to my soul. I feel invincible when I look upon my beloved husband with my son upon his shoulders, topping a hill, the powerful mountain rising in the background...

Dropped Call Commercial

Has anyone seen those cell phone commercials where one person asks a crucial question and is met by silence- even though the cell phone talker is blabbing away? I personally got to experience one of those the other day. It went like this: My sister (cell phone) and I (home phone) were chatting away; discussing a recent trip, talking about Harry Potter, etc. We can hear each other just fine, there are no issues with reception at all. Then, I pose this to her: "Hubby and I are finally going to actually create a will. Because it's been so long since we originally asked you, we would like to ask again if you would be able to care for our boys in the event we both die." Silence. Not a word from my sister. "Oh man, my request is met by silence. Is it that bad? Have you been trying to find a way out of this? Are the kids that terrible when we're not around?!?" It's funny, because in my head I know full well that my sister would love to take my boys. But then this little voice could be heard in my head, speaking a trail of doubt. I started to feel the same twinge of panic that is experienced on the commercials. And, even though it only lasted a total of maybe a minute, the longer the silence persisted, the more worried I became! Of course, she called me right back from a different position and clarified that yes, indeed, she would love to care for my boys. Phew.

He's not a baby anymore

Sigh... My baby, AW, turned three today. It is such a bittersweet day for me. On the one hand, I am so happy to be watching him grow and learn. And yet, on the other, I hate to see him grow up. I think to myself "I hope he stays just as he is RIGHT NOW. This age is my absolute favorite!" But then, I think back and realize that I have thought this to myself 50 times before. And it seems to only increase in frequency. So, while I dread him (them) growing up, I simply can not wait to see what my next favorite age will be....

50 Years!!

Several of my family ventured up to the beautiful Rocky Mountains this past weekend to celebrate my parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary. Yes, I said 50th. It’s incredible to think about spending 50 years together, isn’t it? Everyone who was there gathered for a little party Sat evening and we were treated to a “show” by my mom’s sisters- they waltzed in the room humming the wedding processional song, holding up mom’s wedding dress and her sister’s Maid-of-Honor dress. Shortly thereafter, my parents cut the cake and fed each other, just as they did at their wedding 50 years ago. It was touching. It is just amazing to me to think about spending 50 years with someone, especially in this world of drive-through marriages and divorces. I can only hope to be as fortunate as they have been. Congratulations, Mom and Dad!! We love you!