Goodbye, Jake! Hello, Daisy Lou!

Dear Joshua and Luke,
 

Saying goodbye to Jake the turtle

A few weeks ago we said goodbye to Jake the turtle.  Jake was brought into our home a few months ago, and warmly embraced by all of the boys in the family.  Daddy and Luke built a deluxe two story home for Jake, complete with a white picket fence, trees, stones, a swimming pool, and a ramp.  This was one fancy vacation home!   Jake lived on daily feasts of crickets, meal worms, and various vegetables.  Recently Jake had been escaping from his home, so we knew it was time to return him to his family at the park.  We wold wake up in the morning and find Jake in the living room, next to Onyx, or in the kitchen.  Jake and Onyx shared a special bond.  The goodbye was only a little sad.  We all knew that Jake wanted to find his parents and siblings in the park again.  We do have a turtle vacation home for rent now.  Keep that in mind.

Happy family!

A significant part of the easy transition for Jake was that Daisy Lou came into our lives.  Daisy Lou is a beautiful blue Beta fish.  I also happen to think that Daisy Lou is the best pet the boys have ever had.  daisy eats six small pieces of food every day, has a small tank that needs cleaned every six months, and she is happy as can be swimming all over the tank.  She is happy with the glow-in-the-dark moon rock in her tank and the small clumps of green grass sprouting up in the tank.  We are very happy to have Daisy Lou in our house. 

Luke the Ninja

Luke loves playing dress up.  He loves to dress up.  Here is Luke the Ninja.  I often tell Luke that he is so cute that he would look great in a paper bag.  He can also wear his underwear on his head and look quite adorable, but I would not dare tell him that because he might try to do it at school or somewhere else (See the previous blog entry.).  Speaking of school, my sweet young son is starting kindergarten later this week.  Wow!  Where has the time gone?  More on that later.

I love you both more today than I did yesterday.

Love,
Mama

Branson or Bust!

Swimming fun!

Dear Joshua and Luke,

For some, a Branson vacation may conjure up thoughts of hill billies, Bald Knobbers, or possibly a vacation long ago when you were a child.  For both of you, Branson brings up your short term memories of swimming pools, hot tubs, go carts, Dixie Stampede, time with family, rainbow trout fish, and even the vomit-free Branson potatoes!  That is why we usually visit Branson about two times a year!




First of all, Branson is a short 4  1/2 hour drive for us.  We can get there in one morning or afternoon.  The road there and back is usually filled with counting road signs, a short nap for all (except the driver!), "I Spy with My Little Eye games," and now time with the DS.The pool and hot tub draw us back each and every time.  While Joshua is considered the Hot Tub Connoisseur, we all enjoy time spent in the hot tub, even when it is freezing outside!  We have been to Branson on New Years Eve when it was 75 degrees and when it was 2 degrees.  The hot tub is always a hit!  Both of you love to swim, too.  Luckily, there are lots of pool opportunities regardless of the season!

This year's vacation to Branson was much like the previous ones, but this time you both felt like it was one big play date for the week because our friends came with us.  It was a blast!

Yes, that is underwear on his head!

We started with shopping at the outlets (for moms and dads) and Silver Dollar City.  We went last year and had a fabulous time.  While Luke and I were not quite as excited about going back this year, Joshua and Daddy went with the other family!  They had a blast!  It is always fun to experience it again with friends!  Luke's comment was, "Why do they want to go out in the heat anyway?"  So Luke and I planned a visit to the Titanic Museum, extra swim time, and time with just us.  This worked out well for me because unfortunately my knee is not fully healed from a previous injury.  The thought of walking around Silver Dollar City with my knee healing and the heat did not sound ideal to me (although it would have been fun to experience it all again with our friends), so it worked out well for Luke and me. 

Who's having more fun?

 Luke and Joshua have both been fascinated with the Titanic.  While I did not expect to take Luke to the Titanic Museum for a few more years, it was a great way to spend the afternoon, and he had really been wanting to go!  It was interesting to say the least.  Luke loved listening to the audio tour with his own device.  The interactive parts were most meaningful to Luke - feeling the 28 degree water, walking up the ship deck at almost a 90 degree angle, sitting in a life boat, and touching a "real" iceberg.  Luke was also fascinated with the map of the Titanic's route.  When he got home, we made a map of the route ourselves and a short book with Titanic facts in it to share with the others. 

The race begins......

In addition, we spent time at the go carts and fish hatchery with both families!  Neither of you ever tire from watching the 12 minute film on raising rainbow trout fish, feeding the fish, and seeing the multitude of taxidermied animals and live animals found throughout Missouri.  The go carts was fun as usual.  I never know who has more fun, Daddy or you two.  I always have fun taking pictures!  And it would not be a true Branson vacation on the go carts if I was not embarrassed at least half a dozen times by Daddy's aggressive and competitive behavior on the go carts! While driving the bumper boats was new this year, I am pleased to report that Daddy did not fire the water gun one time, but instead taught Luke how to be relentless with it!



  
We spent one day Riding the Ducks on a tour to Lake Taneycomo.  This was the first time for the ride into Lake Taneycomo.  You both love driving the duck in the water!  Daddy did an outstanding job as usual preparing grilled dinners for us almost every night.  Luke complains about eating potatoes by claiming that they "make him vomit", but we have always gotten him to eat "Branson vomit-free potatoes" in the past.  (We peel and cut potatoes into small pieces, BUTTER them, and microwave them - very yummy, but something we usually do just in Branson.)  Somehow I think Luke has started to figure out that the Branson potatoes are not too much different than our regular potatoes.  That the potatoes in Branson do not really come "vomit-free."

Joshua had a great strategy on the bumper boats!

Another highlight of the trip is crafts and activities at the Resort Club House.  We made tie-dyed t-shirts.  You both felt like specialists after making them last year!  You also made sand art sculptures with beautiful, amazing colors!  Wii Sports was a hit, too!  You both love crafts!  And I really enjoy doing them with you!

Love family time!

Something might be wrong with me if I did not mention Daddy's Big Branson adventure skycoasting!  While we were all surprised that Daddy was even interested in skycoasting, he had so much fun and is very proud to show off his two minute video adventure ~ another Branson treasure!

Thanks for a super fun vacation once again this year.  I love you both more today than I did yesterday!

Love,
Mama

When You Were Babies



Joshua & Luke outside Dairy King.



Dearest Joshua and Luke,

I am not sure if it is due to the birthdays this week or exactly why this has been conversation, but you have both been asking a lot of questions about when you were babies.  I wish I could tell you it was about the little sister you have both always wanted, but that is not the case either.  So......this week we were telling you stories about when you were babies.  I remember when we first brought Joshua home, we were surprised at how little we actually knew about taking care of a baby.   I had been a teacher for ten years. We had taken care of your niece and nephews while their parents were on vacation.  We took "How To Take Care of a Baby" classes, but none of that actually prepared us for bringing you home.

Luke is right in the middle, thinking about the next move.

 One of our biggest challenges, as it was with most parents, was getting you both on a schedule. I nursed you both for almost fifteen months each, and we believed in feeding you on demand, not on a schedule set up by us.  So that made the task of figuring out some sort of schedule even more challenging.  We found our way, but it was a lot of trial and error.  You both learned to fall asleep while nursing so that made the bedtime routine very easy (as long as you were nursing).  Nurse you.  Fall asleep.  Nurse you.  Fall asleep.

VBS performance starring Joshua!

During the first few weeks of having Joshua at home, we had to drive around town to get you to fall asleep.  And that worked for a few weeks until you figured out what Daddy was doing.  Or until we pulled into the driveway and tried to get your carrier out of the car.  I remember many times that Daddy would drive you around.  Luke fell asleep easier, and I do not remember having to drive him around near as much as we did with Joshua.  Other tricks we used were singing lullabies or other soft songs.....Jesus Loves Me,  Rock A Bye Baby, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Hush Little Baby Don't Say A Word.........over and over and over again.

Luke carrying a baby on his back in the Discovery Room.

We would walk around the upstairs singing and pacing.  Singing and pacing.  While at the moment, it seemed challenging, I would not trade any of those moments for anything.  And once in a while, you will still ask me to sing a lullaby to you, and I love doing it.  I have added a few to my repertoire - a favorite being.....La La Lu, La La Lu, La La Lu Little Lukie.....(from Lady and the Tramp). 

Joshua & Luke placed dinosaur bones in the right order!

Joshua celebrated his 7th birthday this week.  Wow!  That is hard to believe!  Seven years old seems like a kid, not a little boy anymore.  Joshua got a day to do whatever he wanted.  So we started the day at the Science Center.  We watched the IMAX movie, Space Junk, and Daddy and Joshua visited the Nanoworlds exhibit.  Joshua also asked for white cupcakes with sprinkle frosting.  For dinner, we ate at Dairy King, a new favorite place of Joshua's.  I think he really likes the root beer floats there, but that was his choice.  It was a great day!  Joshua got some games to play on the Wii. And Joshua and Luke got a Wii!  He also got lots of phone calls and messages to wish him well throughout the day. 

Later this month, he will have a birthday party at the bowling alley with lots of school friends.

I love you both more today than I did yesterday.

Love,
Mama

Random Run Ons..........

Dearest Joshua & Luke,

Father's Day 2012 - you both made very special Father's Day cards for Daddy. We also gave him some new clothes, things he never buys for himself. We took daddy out for breakfast, then Dad spent the rest of the day getting the camper in working order. More on the camper later. While that may not sound like a fabulous Father's Day for some, Dad said he spent it just the way he wanted to - with his family. You both tell Dad all the time that he is the best dad in the world for many reasons.

The winning red team!

Close of the Baseball Season - The last couple of weeks brought Joshua's baseball season to a close.  It was a great season this year mostly because of the team.  Joshua had some great coaches to work with, and some awesome teammates.  They all worked well together, and there were only two rain outs so all of the games were played this season.  The whole team grew so much in their baseball skills.  Joshua is so fast when he runs the bases, and he can hit a ball very far.  His biggest trick of the season was bunting.  He tricked the other team several times with this move.  He was so proud of himself!

Playing DS's in the camper.  Now that is roughing it!

First Campout - Daddy finally got the camper ready for camping action.  You were both thrilled to say the least!  You both stayed in the camper with daddy.  You both slept on the pull out bed, and Daddy slept on the kitchen table pull out.  You roasted marshmallows and fell fast asleep.   Daddy cooked pork steaks and some veggies on the grill for dinner.  Luke decided to sleep at the house with me.  My best guess is that he missed the TV and seeing a show.  The ironic part is that he fell asleep on the couch about twenty minutes into the show, so he did not get to watch it all anyway.  The third night was the most exciting because two friends stayed with you both in the camper.  After making smores and trying to get everyone in their pajamas, I headed home to stay with Onyx and Jake.  You were all giggling and joking non-stop when I left.  Daddy said the last person fell asleep about 11:30 pm.  Luke and a friend were up at 5 am, so Daddy took them fishing.  A couple friends caught a fish.  It was lots of fun, and a sleep over that you will remember for a long time.

Peasant #1 a.k.a.. Joshua

Georgina & The Dragon - Starring Joshua!  Yes, Joshua played Peasant #1 in Georgina and the Dragon.  Joshua attended a two week drama camp that culminated in a performance for all of the families.  Joshua had a great time attending the camp.  He met new friends from all grades, and had his second acting role.  (In case you forgot, Joshua's debut was a surfer in the Underwater Adventure in Mrs. H's kindergarten class.) Joshua was so lucky to have two friends come and see him in the show.   You were so lucky to have your friends to come and support you!

Luke's first bean crop!

Luke the Farmer, Luke the Last Airbender  - Things have been equally exciting for Luke!  Luke grew a bean from seed that he planted in preschool.  His bean plant is healthy and growing each day.  We harvested the first crop, two beans.  Daddy steamed them and we all shared a piece of the bean!  It was so yummy.  Also, Luke got a haircut this week, and talked Daddy into painting a blue arrow on his head to look like Aang, the last Airbender.

Luke - the Last Airbender

So much more has been happening.....More to come soon.   I do love you both  more today than I did yesterday.

Love, Mama

Life Lesson #453 - Attend Life Events for Others

Luke is lovin' the ball game!

Dear Joshua and Luke,

This time of year always brings up retirement celebrations for me.  It must be partly my profession, but I know that this life lesson applies to you no matter which profession you choose some day.  Life events are important to celebrate.  You have had some already, and there will be many more to come.  Life events include retirements, baptisms, baby showers, wedding showers, weddings, graduations, promotion parties, funerals..... just to name a few.

I can not tell you how important it is to attend these events for families, friends, and colleagues.  First of all, let's talk about retirement parties since this is the most recent event on my mind.  You  should not have to think twice about whether or not to attend a colleague's retirement party.  Of course, you should!  Whichever profession you choose in life, you should always pay your respect to a colleague by celebrating their years of service with them.  This is important in being a good person, but it also shows your respect for your profession as well as the person who has worked in your profession for a number of years.    Please don't use the excuses that you did not know the person very well, or you did not work directly with them.  If they work in your profession, honor them, celebrate with them. 

Joshua havin' fun at the game, too.

This same advice applies to attending baby showers, weddings, graduations, etc. for your co-workers and friends.  Your coworkers are people that you spend time with every day. Again, show them respect by being there to celebrate these most important life events.  Remember the excuses thing.  Those apply here, too.  Please do not use them.

Taking this one step further......your dad has reminded me of this one over the years.  As much as you possibly can, please be there for colleagues and friends when someone close to them has passed away.  Just being there, a few kind words, or a hug mean so much during this time.  Someday you will face the idea that no one really likes to attend visitations and funerals, but it is important to let friends and colleagues know that you care.  Your compassion will not be forgotten.  Whenever in doubt or you are not sure if you should reach out to a colleague or friend, just do it.


 A big thanks to my dear friend and mentor, Susy, who taught me this most important lesson among many other important life things. Too many to mention here, but I am sure you will hear all of these some day.   I hope that your dad and I are good examples for you as you watch us be compassionate to our friends and colleagues.

 I love you both more today than I did yesterday.

Love,
Mama

Life Lesson #452 - Leave the World A Better Place

Making the World a Better Place

Dear Joshua and Luke,

We have been doing so many fun things as a family as summer has approached us, but I really want to take a few minutes to focus on some life lessons that I want you to remember when you are grown up.  Life lesson #452 - Leave the World a Better Place comes from a story that I used to read to my first graders many years ago.  The message was so important that I knew I wanted to pass it on to my children some day...so here you are.

Let me briefly introduce you to Miss Rumphius (story by Barbara Cooney)...Alice is a little girl that tells her grandfather that she wants to travel to far away places and live by the sea when she grows up.  Her grandfather tells her that there is a third thing that she must do - DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THE WORLD A MORE BEAUTIFUL PLACE.  So Alice  also known as Miss Rumphius as she gets older does just that.  She traveled to many far away places and lived by the sea.    I hope that both of you travel a lot to far away places.  Daddy and I like to travel a lot so I have a feeling that you will both enjoy it so much, too.  We make it a point to take you to many diverse places and we will continue to do that.  And you both already love vacations so much! 

Rock Star Joshua

I have already told you many times to always think about how to make our world more beautiful.  Each spring we plant many flowers, usually the types of flowers that will come back year after year.  I have also taught you to respect the beauty that is already here.  Some day when you have children you will find yourself saying, "Stop pulling leaves off that tree." "Don't take any branches off there."  "Let's leave that flower, rock, piece of grass, etc. here so that others can enjoy it." 

Other things.......be thinking about the environment and the beauty of our world as you think about recycling, being green, reducing waste....I often think about how important it is to leave the world better than when I was young so that you can enjoy it and your grandchildren and their grandchildren for many generations to come.  Finally, learn all that you can about taking care of our earth.  Work hard to protect it and keep it a place of beauty.

I love you both more today than I did yesterday.

Love,
Mama