Keep the Good Times Rollin'

We have had a beautiful summer and the kids have thrived in the sun.  Carson's hair is incredibly blonde and is growing what was affectionately referred to as a curl-hawk.  He only has hair at the crown of his head and it refuses to lay flat.  He is a camera hog and is ready for his picture to be taken at any moment.  He has also become obsessed with the planes that fly overhead and trains thus one of his favorite words is: Choo-choo!  Did I mention that we have a new driver in the family?  A power wheels driver, that is, but this little man is ALL about it!

Siena is sounding out every letter she sees which is fantastic.  I can tell she will be able to read very soon.  Her prayer life is growing as well and her tender heart cares for so many, including our cancer friends, Jon and Jennifer.  We attended a fundraiser for Jon and had so much getting our faces painted and both kids rode a horse for the first time.  

 

Our front door has opened to so many this summer so we have had some great times this summer with our young friends.  We have blown bubbles with Garrison and played dress up with Lacie.  We have gone swimming whenever we could and that is always an activity for more than one. 

 

 

Carson had his 1st dentist appointment this month and both he and Siena were great patients and have good strong teeth!

Simple Summers

What happened to the lazy days of summer?  This family has chosen to embrace the slower paced lifestyle, and we hope that it will follow us as our children grow.  We are all given 24 hours in a day; how we use that time is up to each one of us.  So if you ask us what we have been up to, we are so blessed to not have much to share but the daily adventures of our time together.  We spent last night dining alfresco (per Siena's request) and going for a bike ride afterwards.   Some of our other fun summer activities included a trip to the blueberry farm in Wartrace.  Carson did the picking and Siena sampled the ice cream. 

We took our kids to a minor league baseball game.  I think our family provided more entertainment than the game itself of the mascot with their constant motion, checking to make sure the stairs would hold them, and their balancing techniques.  They may be daring, but they can truly hold their own.  

We have been to several swimming pools but never the same one twice this year.  We are so fortunate to have friends who love us enough to invite us to enjoy the day with them and their kids.  Not only are they acrobats, but our kids are also fish and take to water quite well.  Siena has enjoyed her swim lessons this week and Carson has been envious that he couldn't participate.  I am sure his time will come next year.  Until then, he knows how to play the part. 

Siena and Carson are growing together and learning together.  Siena is teaching him all that she knows and so often we have to remind her that she is influencing her little brother.  Siblings are the best and toughest friends we will ever have. 

We have spent the summer playing with sweet friends, who are typically in Mother's Day Out or school.  Before Carson came along, Siena's friends were the ones who showed Siena how to share and be kind to others.  They have given Siena plenty of outlets to learn so many fundamental rules like sharing, taking turns and patience.  How rich is a man who is blessed with friends.  

Family Moments

We traveled home recently to fields of golden wheat, ripe for harvest.  Kansas is at it's best in the summer, and it felt like everyone was in a restful state, enjoying the moment.  So we joined the crowd. 

Things were so relaxful that we came up with our own entertainment; eating outdoors (this is quite rare in Kansas) and playing music for the throngs of onlookers.  

 We took a morning trip to the lake and taught the boys to be boys, throwing rocks into Waconda Lake.  

We have created a list of things to do in Kansas and we were able to cross off 

"Visit the World's Largest Ball of Twine" in Cawker City.  I know that's on everyone's to do list. 

 Kurt got the chance to reunite with most of his cousins that were more like brothers during childhood.  They are no longer wrestling but giving the next generation a chance while they catch up on the good ole days.  

And we played with our cousins, big and small.  It doesn't matter if they are 13 or 13 weeks, we are so fortunate that these kids adore one another. 

But seriously, no trip to Osborne in the summer is complete until you visit the pool, which was the primary child care provider for all kids in the '80s.

And as you can see, we have a long way to go ourselves, before we are grown up. 

Activities

After hibernating all winter, it felt soooo good to get out into the sunshine.  I feel like our neighborhood has come alive as well with people.  We were incredibly eager to  use our green thumb and plant a few days prior to Earth Day.  It was a fun afternoon to include the kids.  Siena is even sporting her gardening gloves.  We now have a peach tree and a dogwood tree, as well as some vegetables we hope to harvest in summer. 

 Siena got a big treat when her Prince Charming took her to a princess ball.  Siena dressed up as Belle and the two went dancing, waited for a carriage ride and enjoyed each other's company.  Kurt commented on how grown up Siena has become, but I think she just loves her Daddy.

 Siena has always had great balance but here she is using stilts in her Tumbleweeds class that many kids struggled with.  She has really excelled in this class. 

We had a fun filled Easter weekend with a trip to Lucky Ladd farm with an Easter egg hunt and a petting zoo.  Siena loved the colorful eggs and Carson loved the miniature pony.  He had to drag him away to see the other animals.   

We spent another special holiday with our extended family, the Hamricks.  Once upon a time, there was two couples who would get together for dinner while in college.  Ten years later, we still get together for dinner to celebrate the important things in life and our 6 children.  

And we had out of town guests with us this Easter; what a treat!  We did our best to show Aunt Cathy and Cousin Megan the sights of our wonderful Nashville including downtown, the Hermitage and the zoo.  I am sure they were tired on their return trip but we packed their trip full of memories.

And the kids were so sad to see them go.  But with the weather continuing to stay nice, I believe this is only the start to another exciting year of activities. 

Chaos

Our family is fairly normal like every other family you have met until...we leave our home.  Seriously, my kids are easy to control, listen to instructions and are fairly well-behaved.  I even hear "Yes ma'am" for the smallest things and 85% of my instructions are followed.  Until.....we are in (cue the scary music) PUBLIC!

From the sounds of it, this seems to be typical with other families, but nothing will make a parent doubt their skills and tactics than a test with other people watching.  Fortunately, we are a very social family and we get the opportunity to display these skills several times a week.  And that's when we look flustered, confused, bewildered and at the end of our rope when the kids run away, put gross objects in their mouths, stamp their feet, use that awful word "No" and refuse to play nicely.  Mind you, my oldest knows what she is doing, because she comes to me later to say, "Mommy, I am sorry," with the sweetest face.  So you are probably use to seeing our family like this:

But truly we have good children who are working continuously on their manner, respect for authority and their abundance of energy.  What about you?  Is our family normal or is this just something our children alone struggle with; the pressure to perform to the heightened expectations of the public eye?

In actuality, you will most likely find my little ones, doing something mundane and laid back when no one is around.  

This is the picture that no one ever sees because in public, my children are incredibly excited to be around people (Siena has yet to meet a stranger), do and climb on new things and learn from all the experiences around them.  Although they can leap over any object in a single bound, they are not Super Toddlers.  They are just learning how to channel their God given enthusiasm and zest for life. 

Winter Hibernation

What a cold and frosty winter we have had!  No snow to speak of here in Tennessee, but we have been housebound all the same with extremely low temperatures and few places to take two energy-filled kids.  We have filled our days with play dates and dinners with friends to break up the mundane of frigid mornings and early afternoon sunsets.

Siena has been enjoying her Rudolph, in case she hasn't told you.  Christmas has not ended for her so she can still be found singing Christmas carols and watching Christmas movies.  It just seems too harsh to tell these bright eyed little ones that it's only appropriate one month a year, especially when we want them to take the spirit of Christmas into the rest of the year.  

Siena can accurately identify all of her letters and has recently started writing her name.  She has been a big help in the kitchen during these colder months and has helped rolling out homemade noodles and with several meals. 

Carson has changed so much in just a few months.  He puts his hands behind his head like a big kid who is contemplating something.  He thoroughly enjoys playing hide-and-seek, although he does more giggling and giving away of hiding spots.  When he can't play with a group, he will play by himself to create a smile from anybody who will pay attention.  

 

It appears Carson will have excellent teeth, like his sister, with his current enthusiasm for teeth brushing.  He plays well by himself and he too enjoys puzzles and building blocks, just like Sissy.  I am sure he will become his own person one day but right now, he enjoys being Siena's shadow.  And they get along splendidly! 

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

I think every day with family is a wonderful time.  We have taken this season captive and squeezed in as much family fun as possible.  We have been the Griswolds this year, without the tacky sweaters or intrusive cousin Eddy.  We have incorporated many Christmas traditions that were age appropriate, including Christmas caroling in our neighborhood.  The kids loved it!!!  It was very similar to trick-or-treating; run to the house, ring the bell and shout out "Jesus Loves You."  And then we would sing!  We were out about an hour, just long enough to get cold and need some hot cocoa to warm us up afterwards and what a great way to spend the last night with our dear neighbors before they moved out.  

Christmas eve was the first time in 12 years we were not with my parents, so there was an adjustment for us.  With fewer people to open gifts, we had the kids to bed only a little bit off schedule. 

  But we were able to squeeze in "The Night Before Christmas" and putting out reindeer feed for Rudolph and cookies for the Big Man.  It must have worked because he came to visit us!!

Siena has been talking about a "bigger deer" for nearly two months and Santa heard her plea because he delivered.  Tears of joy filled her eyes when she saw him and hauled him off to her bedroom.  In her mind, Christmas was done because the best gift had come. So far, Rudolph continues to follow Siena EVERYWHERE and rides in the car with us.  He is a larger than life friend that makes our little girl grin. 

We stayed in our pjs as long as possible on Christmas morning playing with toys, drinking coffee and listening to Christmas music.  Carson was very thrilled to have things with four wheels and "borrow" anything his sister received.  What fun to see them interact!

The other present that Siena truly enjoyed was her doctor kit.  Everyone that possibly could got a physical from Dr. Siena.  I think everyone is healthy according to her records but she is on call if that ever changes. 

 We had a very festive and fun Christmas evening with Uncle Dave and Lashon and the Hamricks.  What a fun family tradition that was started when we were two young married couples with family in different states.  Together we now have 6 children who cherish time together both on Christmas and throughout the year.  

We have enjoyed a magnificent year full of firsts and agains.  Raising children doesn't call for many exciting stories to share with those we meet, but their little lives make up our own and bring us joy we never thought possible.  Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!!!