Storytime

A friend of mine told me I was crazy for packing up the family SUV at 4 in the morning and taking the kiddos, mom and grandma on a Kansas road trip. Ok, lots of people told me I was crazy. But I remember doing the exact same thing when I was a kid. Packing up the car, waking up at 8 a.m. already half-way to our destination and changing out of my jammies at a highway truck stop. It's exciting and totally worth it in the end. I'm still recovering, but I'm sure it will feel worth it in a few more days. I'm sure of it.

We drove out to Wichita, KS for my great-aunt Margie's 90th Birthday. We got time with family and friends, went to church, and had adventures. (Who needs gasoline, anyway?) But my favorite part of the whole trip was sitting with Margie as she told me the ins and the outs, the ups and the downs of 90 years on this planet. It was beautiful and sad and funny and touching. She shared openly and honestly with a greater sense of self-reflection than most people ever acquire. We cried when the story was sad and at the end of every "era" she asked if I wanted her to go on. It was a special little moment that made me hug Parker closer as I realized my children wouldn't have made it if I'd been born when Margie was, they would have been too small and weak. It made me grateful for the good fortune and true blessings that have fallen on Derrick and myself. It made me love my mom. Even more than usual.

It made me wonder what my story will be in 2070.
I hope it's as good as Margie's.

Love Letters

Life is in the little things. Ellie is talking more and more everyday and I'm beside myself to learn what goes on in that little head. She stayed home with Dad while Parker and I went to Aspen for the weekend for my Aunt Robi's 50th birthday. She had SO much fun at Cole's 5th birthday party, it was obviously the right decision to have her stay and enjoy her much adored older cousin, but it was hard to leave her.

And when I put her to bed on the night I came back she spent five minutes talking about the party, her day with daddy, grandma's dog...and how mommy "went bye." She was scared that I'd leave again and gave me the biggest, longest hug. She's a sweet girl with a sweet heart and I've remembered that hug all week....especially when she's driving me crazy. She doesn't have all of her words yet, and most are still pretty sketchy, but she gives really good hugs and makes me feel like she might actually love me back.

It reminds me of something I read, a piece of advice, suggesting that you keep a list of the top five things you want to write down before you die. Might be your life story, a love letter to your spouse, a thank you to your parents....but I fell in love with the idea of keeping a journal for each of the kids. More than a cheesy, pre-fabricated baby book, but a real journal full of real memories that they can have when they are grown. If you know me you probably know that I don't really do any one thing well; I do lots and lots of things with average ability. But I can write, and that's something I'm going to give to my babies. Now I just have to get started.

More adventures to come as we road trip to Kansas this weekend. We'll be missing Derrick all the way there and all the way back.

Papa Pope

So we talked to "Papa Jack" last night and got the update on his ankle surgery. Derrick said he is doing well due to lots of pain medication and some good caretakers. Thanks Carol & Emma!!

Wishing you a quick recovery, JP! We love you!

Summer Field Trip

We braved the crowds for today's "Free Day" at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. It was exciting! And crowded! Eliana liked the pterodactyls, or "old quackies" as she called them.
What a great Monday-Funday!

Eliana protesting having her picture taken with me.
Oh, special moments caught on film.

Ashleigh and Dominic

Proof that Parker takes part in our adventures, too.
(Here, he burps. Amazing!!)
He's three months. No cute stories on his museum enjoyment.
He slept. But he sure is cute!

It's Hard to Go Home.....

Maybe Sarah Palin had to resign because it was just too much work looking after Alaska AND Russia!! Ha!

Interesting article politically, socially, and feministly (that's not a real word, but it should be.)

Check it out:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009442072_egoodman10.html

Hot Cookies

Eliana calls all cookie-like-products "cookies." This goes for cookies, crackers, pretzels, rice cakes. You get the idea. So when I tried to explain that the firecrackers going off outside her bedroom window for the days leading up to the 4th weren't actually "pops" as she'd been calling them, but firecrackers, she looked at me quite puzzled and asked, "Hot cookies?!?"
Yes, bug. Hot cookies.

We had a great time with great friends up in Steamboat Springs for the holiday weekend. Lots of fun, lots of food, a good parade (prizes being examined closely in the above picture), some swimming and lots-o-laughs. Man, I love summer.

Hot cookies are loud!! Ellie-Belle liked the purple ones.
And put on quite the dance show.

Hold on to your handle, Uncle Gabe!!

All Systems Are Go!

Aye, it's been busy around here. We've been doing so much stuff that I've forgotten to keep up with my little blog experiment. So, I guess we'll have a "update" post as I can't come up with something clever to seamlessly tie all of our adventures together.

First, Jim's surgery went really well. He's home recovering after about 4 days in the hospital and actually goes back to work next week. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. It made a difference and we're pleased as punch that he has to put up with us for decades to come.

Second, Eliana and Parker are having an excellent summer, me thinks. Ellie has gotten lots of quality time in Mama & Papa's "pool" (hot tub) and Parker is growing like mad. The surgeon decided no surgery for our little man, which we are now fine with. No need for superfluous surgery. We'll just call his little umbilical hernia his "safety button" and move on. Eliana is convinced that the little bubble on his belly means the baby is going to pop but I think I have lots to time to prove that's probably not likely.

Third, I've decided that this is the summer of babies!!! We've had, and will have, lots of baby birthday parties, we have friends who just found out they are expecting, and friends that just had their babies (Welcome Matthew & Angie!!) We're also eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first niece in September. We're super-excited to have so much new company for our little ones. We got a head start on our group of friends but soon enough it will all even out.

Fourth, we've been very busy with little household projects that we finally have energy to tackle. We've got a basement bedroom to paint, organize and actually put to good use, some ceiling fans to get up, a swamp cooler to fix, and some new furniture to purchase. But we did put in a play area for the kids. Derrick did the whole thing in a few hours and Eliana has used it everyday since. Awesome!!

More to come as summer wears on. Happy Fourth to everyone!!