Inside Information

Andrew: When I go to Heaven, I think I'll bring God a present. That'll make him really happy.
Mommy: What will you bring?
Andrew: Well, I KNOW He likes chocolate cake!

Babymoon

Darren & I enjoyed a short babymoon this weekend . . . it was marvelous! Enormous thanks to Darren's parents who made it possible by watching the kids. (They had quite a good time, too!) We didn't venture to any amazingly far-off destination; we went to Omaha. =] Who needs the Bahamas when you have the slides at Gene Leahy Park?

In case you are looking for some ideas for your own babymoon, here's a rundown of what we did. We strolled through the Old Market, attempted to go to the Greek festival on the Riverfront, took in the free outdoor tunes at Village Point Mall & toured Lauritzen Gardens. Who knew Macchu Picchu was both in Peru AND Omaha?

Good food, eaten slowly, & amid pleasant conversation none-the-less was enjoyed at Cheesecake Factory, Johnny's Cafe, & Wheatfields. Sunday morning Mass was at the beautiful St. Cecilia's Cathedral. It's just so much easier to pray when you feel inspired by the gorgeous architecture & the swell of a pipe organ well-played. (Oh yeah, & not having two goofy kiddos to wrestle.) We finished off the adventure with a matinee showing of G.I. Joe. The baby was not a big fan . . . crazy loud & constant action make for a tense Mommy. I think that Sprinkle has forgiven me already, though. : )

Overall, it was just fun to be together & realize we still know how to talk to each other without the kiddos in-tow. It's crazy to imagine our newest little one will be here in 6 weeks or so . . . impossible to imagine without my best friend at my side. Thank you for a wonderful weekend, Darren!

***I just noticed that unfortunately none of our pictures included . . . us! Oh, well. There is a half cut-off picture of us on the tram at the Gardens & one of me going down the slides that is the epitome of unflattering. If you're in need of a really good laugh, let me know & I may share it with you . . . it had me crying through my giggles . . . but there's no way I'm putting it here for all to see!***

Treasured Babies

My treasured baby with her treasured babies

Rebecca has always been a lover of babies . . . real & toy. She always sleeps with this adorable little yellow one: Love Bug. We usually read a book or two before naptime together. Then she makes this little voice & says, "Mommy, read me a story!" She scurries over to her bed & snuggles in to read to Love Bug. When I found her holding it's hand, I couldn't resist a picture. Her other favorite is Big Purple Baby. Here they are dancing. I took a bunch of shots but everyone is blurry . . . she never slows down enough to get a clear one!

Biking with Daddy

Look out world...

here he comes!Today was Andrew's first day at preschool. He leapt out of bed in excitement this morning & I could barely hold him off until after lunch. What a thrill! It sounds like he had fun & made a few new buddies. It's just amazing to know he's big enough for school . . . my babies are growing up!

***

And YES I was one of the moms who walked their child in, took pictures, & probably lingered a few minutes longer than intended. But I did NOT cry . . . he helped with that by being such a booger this morning . . . Hasta la vista, bebe . . . we'll see how I hold up on Wednesday! Rebecca was a little concerned on the way home, "Where's Andrew? Where's Andrew's bookbag? Where's his shoes? Where's his preschool? Andrew eat lunch?". For the most part she was oblivious, though. By the time we got home, put her down for a nap, & let her sleep a while, it was time to wake up to go pick him up! It went so fast! Of course I couldn't nap just thinking about how grown-up he looked as he shook his teacher's hand . . . wow . . . what a gift to be a mom! Have any first day stories to share?

Just for Mommy

Sidewalk chalk . . . the unexpected art. We love to draw on the back patio. Rebecca mainly just scribbles but makes some fun requests like "angel", "hairplane", & "Goopenberk". Andrew made this cool tractor the other day. (He's supposed to be driving it.) My favorite part is the wheels.

I wish I had a picture of his earlier creation. I asked him to draw a picture just for me & put my name under it. He drew a gun. Not just any gun . . . some mega machine gun with lots of handles, buttons, levers, etc. BUT it shot out hearts & butterflies. I guess that's what made it mine! Ahhh, boys.

Rainbow Onion Rings?

Rebecca has been taking quite the interest in coloring as of late. She's especially been getting better at "free form drawing". Here's one that she did without any interference from me when we stopped over at a friends' on Tuesday. I think it looks like onion rings. When I asked her what it was she gave me two of her favorite standard answers put together, "Green babies". ; )

Bill me later...

This morning we had a LOT of chores to do. Rebecca is occasionally helpful, Andrew often. Yesterday was NOT a good day for him obedience-wise so I was a little leary of asking for so much help today. In a bit of genius I asked him if he wanted to play "butler" for me . . . & he agreed! We clipped on his tie, put on his Church shoes, & set him to work. When we were done, I asked him to sit down & write a list of all that he helped me with . . . so I could pay the butler. Here's his list below. Can you translate? I'll put it in the comments. My favorite part is the total: 5 pennies. "I'm too tired to write the word pennies, so I'll just draw one with Abraham on it."

Summer Reading Fun

The library is a favorite stop for me & the kids. We usually try to go for "Toddler Time", get some books & movies, color a picture, & enjoy our library buddies. Our hometown has an excellent summer reading program. There are lots of special activities & presentations throughout the summer. If the kids complete 10 hours of reading/listening, 10 related activities, & 4 library visits, they earn some awesome prizes! I'm not talking hippo shaped erasers & stale bubble gum . . . these are free train rides at the zoo, admission to the fair & children's museum, meals from local restaurants . . . awesome stuff. One perk is a free ticket to a Saltdogs baseball game. We're not huge baseball fans, so this is usually our one game of the season. It's a great time!
We've shied away from the bounce houses & games in the past thinking they would be expensive, but found out they are just a quarter! So, this year they were able to enjoy a little extra fun.
Lots of friends were at the game as well, some who joined us for a tasty pre-game potluck, too. Here's Andrew enjoying a little game of tag with one of his best buddies.

There were also weiner dog races, a playground, free prizes, & oh yeah . . . a baseball game to watch. ; ) Are you a baseball fan? What's your favorite part?

Look Alikes

August 8th we had a fun adventure to Columbus for the second annual reunion on my Dad's side. It was a rather toasty but beautiful summer day.

There were aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins, new spouses, guitar playing, fishing, card games, & lots of old memories to enjoy. We don't go crazy with organized games, t-shirts, or any of that jazz yet, but we'll see what the future holds!

Andrew & Rebecca especially liked chasing around the ducks, playing on TWO playgrounds, & eating way too many potluck desserts.

I love seeing my family . . . and this is only a small fraction of them! It means so much to me to stay connected & it has been so much harder without Grandma & Grandpa around. But, I could feel them there with us as we all enjoyed each other. I know that they are smiling down on us all from heaven. May they rest in peace!

H2O Fun

Just a couple of years ago, one of our public pools added a super-fun spraypark. We've only been there a few times, but every time we go the kids LOVE it! Our Bible Study got a big group together to enjoy it recently. As expected they had a blast! Andrew is especially fond of the waterslides . . . even made up a new game sliding down alongside his buddy Max. Rebecca was mainly amused by all the friends that joined us, though she also loved to splash in the pool & attempt to drink the water. Mmm . . . tasty. I like to go best in the morning when we generally make any of our outings, & the only way to make that happen is renting it out. So, if anyone else wants to give it another go . . . we're in!

~ Thanks for organizing such a fun time, Jen! ~

8 years...

Today I made a discovery. The spice rack we received 8 years ago for our wedding has a little jar of "pizza seasoning" in it. I opened it today for the first time! (I have to admit this is the first time in those 8 years I have attempted to make pizza sauce, though.) The seal was tight & the fresh smell of spices wafted up to me as I peeled it away. Along with a bunch of our red roma tomatoes from the garden, it made some easily awesome homemade pizza sauce.

It just got me thinking. How can something sit right there in front of me for EIGHT YEARS without me noticing? I can't wait to find out what little things about Darren have been hiding from me all this time, too. Just when I think that I must have learned everything . . . well, I love surprises.

Joe

Happy 16th, Joseph!

I can't believe how...HUGE you are. ; ) Much older than the tiny baby I remember holding on my way home from World Youth Day. It's been so fun to watch you grow up into such a cool guy. You're a fantastic big brother to your little sibs & such a fun cousin to Andrew & Rebecca. We'll be praying for you in a special way today.

Woah, what a beautiful morning!

Early morning quotables...

Rebecca: "Hug! Hi, Mommy. Baby sleeping? Shh... Baby wants balloon."
Andrew: "Good morning! (hug) I have a couple questions, Mom. How does Santa give us presents? How does Father know everybody's name? How did God make the whole world with no eyes? How big does a flower get?"
Rebecca: (attempting to push her doll in the stroller through the already accumulating pile on the floor) "Scoot. Scoot, paper. Scoot, pillow."
Andrew: "Hard days, good days."

Alaina

Happy Birthday, Alaina!

You're such a sweet niece & fun cousin.

Know we are praying for you!

Simple Joys

1. drinking icy cold, clean water
2. snuggling with my comfy body pillow
3. Rebecca staying in her bed to nap the FIRST TIME
4. picking fresh vegetables from our garden
5. enjoying low-maitenence, high-support friends

Thank you, God, for such simple joys!

A Masterpiece Described

"This is a new barn because it's very fancy & colorful. This is a tree. This is a very hot sun. This is the sky where it's nice outside. And this is a scarecrow that scares away crows. He has poky hair, a stick-out tongue, & legs. And these are grass. And this is a horse and a cow, a new one. Those are horseprints...horseshoes. He has a tail like your hair! Because I love it! Oh, & Mommy these are the planets: Jupiter biggest, Pluto littlest, Saturn with the rings, Mercury because it's yellow, & the Earth. This is me, a red Andrew. I'm wearing a hat, the shirt with the dinosaurs, & the world because I'm going to be walking on the world...or the sidewalk or whatever."

~Andrew Joseph, 4 1/2 years old

Parade Logic

We ventured up to Wahoo for the parade on Thursday night & met up with Darren's parents. The weather was gorgeous, food tasty, company pleasant, & candy ridiculously abundant. I've never seen such a haul as the kids made that night. It helped that one of my old students tossed his entire remaining bag of goodies onto our blanket & that Darren's dad is buddies with EVERYONE in at least a four county radius. ; )

After enjoying a box of gum drops, Andrew then held up a box of Nerds.
"I guess I better eat THESE now to get all of that chewy candy out of my teeth. Gosh, I don't want to get a cavity!"

Joyful Promise

Happy 1st Anniversary of your final vows,

Sr. Edith Marie & Sr. Mary Catherine!
It's hard to believe this crazy group all lived together . . . what a blessing to all of our vocations. I am so grateful for your continued prayers, support, & love.
God bless you both!

***

*Happy Birthday, Nikki!*

But of course!

For breakfast Rebecca just ate a scrambled egg, a piece of ham, half a bowl of fruit, & pancakes. As she was anxiously requesting for her third pancake I couldn't help but ask,

"Where do you put it all little girl?"

She replied, "In my mouth!"