Life with Will & Quinn

clinging to these words right now . . .

2012-01-27T09:32:00.003-06:00

from Glennon at Momastery: " . . . the Greek root of the word crisis is “to sift.” As in to shake out the excesses and leave only what’s important. That’s what crises do. They shake things up until we are forced to decide and hold onto what matters most."

from Rebecca at Rar Rar Press: "Everything is going to be alright. Maybe not today but eventually."

2012-01-25T22:43:00.002-06:00

countless tic tac toe games played in the dirt currently caked on my van
the homeschool bowling league
an outpouring of love and support from friends and family during this time

2011-12-06T01:06:00.002-06:00

Legos
Christmas light tours through nearby neighborhoods
family dinner with all 6 of us around the table

{this moment}

2011-11-11T22:58:00.001-06:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

2011-11-04T00:24:00.000-05:00

2011-10-28T22:27:00.000-05:00

Capturing this boy's natural smile always feels like a small victory to me. It is no easy task, but so worth the effort. Those deep brown eyes just melt this mama's heart!

2011-09-18T20:59:00.002-05:00

sleeping in until 7:45!
a break in the rain just long enough for us to pick apples
taco soup on a rainy day

2011-09-17T20:21:00.003-05:00

Daddy off from work on a Saturday - a rarity!
enjoying the backyard once again now that the cicadas, intense heat, and mosquitoes are gone
popcorn for dinner served fireside

2011-08-31T22:48:00.001-05:00

Daddy on vacation
kickball
coming home to Grandma cooking at the stove - slow & steady wins the race

2011-08-14T22:15:00.000-05:00

PEACHES!
bike riding with the boys
an afternoon nap

{this moment}

2011-08-12T23:56:00.003-05:00

2011-08-10T22:28:00.003-05:00

incredible weather - 80 degrees and breezy!
an awesome morning spent along the Meramec River
chocolate fudge brownie ice cream

{this moment}

2011-08-05T22:45:00.002-05:00

2011-08-03T23:07:00.003-05:00

breakfast date with my husband
grocery shopping in the evening while the boys were snoozing at home
the impending birthday celebration with family

2011-07-30T21:15:00.001-05:00

a bit of rain and cooler temperatures
lunch at the farmer's market
Cardinals 13, Cubs 5

{this moment}

2011-07-29T10:07:00.003-05:00

Quinnie Blue at 5 . . .

2011-07-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

cheers for the Cubs and the Cardinals
wears his baseball glove and rubber rain boots

has lost his first tooth
wears pajamas during the day

coaches Will - "Throw your catcher's mask down." "Keep your eye on the ball and smack it out of the park."
does slow motion instant replays in the family room during Cardinals games
adores his Nana
pretends to be a zookeeper and holds a variety of (plastic) animals for the visitors to touch
will be celebrating his birthday on the train for the second year

loves his Grandma
often roots for the other team
lives up to his nickname "Contrary Quinn"
usually spends his money, but is saving his birthday money for Mizzou wear
loves grilled cheese, bagels with cream cheese, ham on dollar rolls, italian chicken, and chili
watches "scary PG movies"
snuggles with his Daddy
speaks much clearer thanks to hard work with Miss Dawn
likes the numbers eighty-nine and one thousand five hundred
says "I'm serious!", "Oh, brother!", and "God blessed."
draws pictures of monsters
talks about Africa
showers independently
favors blue and yellow, and more recently pink has become a favorite color
cheers quietly "Let's Go Cubs!" to strangers
studies animals specifically big cats, horses, and birds of prey

collects bird feathers
prefers songs performed by "a girl and a boy"
chooses Poppleton, Frog & Toad, and The Berenstain Bears for bedtime stories
checks out non-fiction animal books at the library
counts backwards
enjoys the occasional afternoon bath
weighs 66 pounds
measures 44 inches
chooses to wear the old frog boots with holes rather than the new monster boots
pushes trains around the house
fears Fredbird or any other large costumed character
swims like a fish
roots for Mizzou
plays endless games of UNO
wakes before everyone else and immediately wakes Grandma so they can "chat"
needs lots of time to unwind before falling asleep at night
cooks himself an "egg burrito supreme" for breakfast
still squeezes into his beloved 4T/5T monkey costume
buys bouncy balls at Dierbergs and and hard plastic Schleich animals at Target
rhymes words
counts everything: shadows on the wall, cars in the parking lot, fish in the creek . . .

wants to fly like an owl
asks to have a horse

plays his "violin"
builds animal habitats with tinkertoys, legos, and lincoln logs
can be super silly and quite entertaining
performs original songs such as "My Horses Got in Trouble"
loves fun socks
switches between his bug hat and Cubs' "Luck of the Irish" hat
has his own sense of fashion and tie dye paired with plaid is in style

is such a blessing.

2011-07-26T00:25:00.002-05:00

happy hour at Steak-n-Shake - 1/2 price milkshakes!
a lazy morning spent lounging on the couch reading today's newspaper
Quinn's first lost tooth

{this moment}

2011-07-15T06:46:00.002-05:00

{this moment}

2011-07-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

2011-07-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

brotherly love
"Mommy, Bennett did not want to put his head in the water, so I put my head in to 'courage him."
fireworks with Cousin Tony followed by games of UNO in the Kohl's parking lot while waiting for the crowd to clear

2011-07-01T01:16:00.001-05:00

Tower Grove Wading Pool
a stocked pantry and full fridge
baseball - both little league and major league

2011-06-29T22:28:00.002-05:00

a sweet newborn baby . . . Welcome to the World, Jack Joseph!
a photo shoot of the boys, Grandma, and Nana by JJ's high school prom date - gotta love the connections created by Facebook!
simple summer dinners

2011-06-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

blueberry picking
Circus Flora
a post-circus trip to the Del Taco proposed to be demolished

2011-06-25T23:18:00.000-05:00

watching Grandma and Quinn paint side-by-side just outside The Ottoman Garden at Missouri Botanical Gardens
water fountains
an upcoming photo shoot at a beautiful location

2011-06-24T20:03:00.003-05:00

staying up late to catch fireflies
a morning "date" at the zoo with my Mom while the boys were in class
remembering and honoring Grandpa on the 9th anniversary of his death

2011-06-11T22:52:00.001-05:00

birthday parties
cooler temperatures
the boys' first "Father-Son Special" at Hair Saloon

2011-06-10T23:30:00.001-05:00

spraygrounds
watermelon
endless games of UNO

{this moment}

2011-06-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

My Horses Got Away -an original song by Quinn

2011-05-30T07:37:00.003-05:00

My horses got in trouble.

They were in the barn stomping hay.

I tried to stop them, but they got away.

CHORUS

My horses got in trouble. (x3)

I was in the desert.

I saw some scorpions in the sand.

They were snipping at my horses.

CHORUS

I was in the ocean sea.

I saw some crabs in the water.

They were pinching my horses.

CHORUS

A man came with a buffalo.

The buffalo tail scraped off the crabs.

He put harnesses on my horses.

CHORUS

Now they are safe in the barn.

{this moment}

2011-05-27T06:30:00.001-05:00

{this moment}

2011-05-20T06:05:00.000-05:00

2011-05-20T00:24:00.003-05:00

a day of rain the day after we put the tomatoes, zuchinni, and wildflowers in the ground
a trip to the grocery store resulting in a full pantry and a packed fridge
watching the boys play UNO on their own

2011-05-17T23:22:00.002-05:00

perfect weather for a picnic lunch under the weeping willows with my boys
tadpoles!
date night with Quinnie Blue

{this moment}

2011-05-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

2011-05-05T23:50:00.002-05:00

"Daddy, my favorite part was when you were pitcher, and I was catcher."
"Well, I liked when I was pitching and you were batting."
"Yeah, me too! Your balls are really great, Daddy!"

2011-05-01T15:23:00.002-05:00

Will picking the second strawberry of the season and cutting it into 5 slices to share.
a beautiful morning for the first "worship" of 2011 at the WF&P Railroad
snakes, lizards & frogs!

2011-04-29T21:35:00.003-05:00

watching Will love on those sweet baby chicks
a full day of SUNSHINE!
ceiling fans

{this moment}

2011-04-29T06:30:00.000-05:00

2011-04-28T23:38:00.002-05:00

a clean bedroom, my bedroom, where I can close the door and pretend that the piles of laundry really do not exist
cricket frogs
"penny" candy at Ben Franklin

{this moment}

2011-04-22T06:24:00.000-05:00

2011-04-21T22:47:00.003-05:00

a spontaneous outing to the Cardinals game with my boys (27 rows from the field, a Cardinals win, and fireworks - thanks, Coca Cola!) followed by a stop at Ted Drewe's
Will hitting 9/10 pitches at batting practice
a bouquet of egg carton flowers made by Quinn in Art and presented to Ms. Sherry at the end of class

2011-04-19T20:41:00.003-05:00

the boys sharing the first strawberry of the season
a quiet afternoon to myself
the explanation as to why there is marker on the walls . . . something about the letters C,B & Z, a hunt, and a map

2011-04-17T21:05:00.002-05:00

leaving the wheelchair at home for our dogwood blossoms tour, and when stopping to get ice cream for lunch (yes, you read that correctly: ice cream for lunch.) Grandma using her walker.
late afternoon naps for Mama
throwing rocks into the creek

2011-04-15T22:00:00.004-05:00

$2 solar lights for the garden paths - score!
blooming azaleas
taking the training wheels off Quinn's bike

2011-04-10T22:13:00.002-05:00

the look on the boys' faces when the surprise was revealed: an overnight road trip with Daddy and Cousin Tony to see the Cardinals play the Cubs at Wrigley Field!
noticeable progress in the garden: 2nd raised bed filled with soil, lettuce growing, strawberries planted, mulch spread, and the creation of the boys' "secret laboratory" where they "turn people into frogs."
ice cream

{this moment}

2011-04-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

2011-04-06T21:29:00.003-05:00

breaking in the new baseball bat
ice cream cones
a vase of dandelions picked by Will and gifted to me

Out of the Mouth of Quinn . . .

2011-04-06T21:20:00.003-05:00

"Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Nana, and Henry are going to move to Africa. Me and Will are going to stay home. We are going to go to the store and buy sugary stuff and junk food. If the police try to stop us, then we will hit them on the head with a bat and throw the sugary foods at them."

"Is it going to be warm today? Can we wear short sleeves? How about short pants?"

"You are under arrest thief! I am going to put these hand clutchers on you and take you to the dungeon."

"Can I have Ranch Up on my salad?"

2011-04-04T20:52:00.003-05:00

my 6am wake-up: Will pulling the covers over me, kissing my cheek, and saying, "I am going to have breakfast. You keep sleeping, Mommy."
a quiet day at home after a fun filled weekend outdoors (Wetlands for Kids & The Children's Garden)
a bedtime backrub for Mommy by Quinn

{this moment}

2011-04-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

2011-03-30T21:56:00.002-05:00

impromptu playdates with the neighbors
the last words spoken to me each night: "Thank you for everything you did for me today."
planning our fall activities

2011-03-29T00:21:00.002-05:00

chocolate chip banana bread
resilient blooms after the snowfall
anticipation of the start of baseball season - Will's and the St. Louis Cardinals

{this moment}

2011-03-25T06:30:00.002-05:00

2011-03-18T21:44:00.000-05:00

We took Grandma to Morpho Mania at The Butterfly House where more than 3,000 Blue Morpho butterflies are released into the conservatory for the month of March. This was Grandma's first time visiting The Butterfly House, and she could not stop commenting on the wonder and beauty of the butterflies and all of the flowers. As we followed the pathway, Grandma asked to stop near a bench to take in the sights. Immediately she was greeted by several butterflies (all the same species, but not blue morphos) who landed on her hair and the wheels of her wheelchair. Grandma was laughing, and the boys were so excited. It was truly awesome, and I am thrilled to have captured the moment. Getting this shot meant overcoming some challenges, and I feel triumphant. I love that I was able to capture Grandma's true smile which is too often hidden behind the "Parkinson Mask." I also love that despite cloudy skies the lighting is almost perfect (in my own humble amateur photographer opinion). Even more so, this shot is not blurred by a fogged lens like so many other shots I have taken in the humid conservatory. It was as if all of the stars aligned, and I am so grateful. Just as the memory of the day will be cherished, so too will this picture.

{this moment}

2011-03-18T06:30:00.002-05:00

2011-03-17T21:21:00.003-05:00

yummy dinner complete with dessert delivered by a dear friend
sunny skies and warm temperatures forcing 2011's Inaugural Swim to be one month early this year
Mr. Kevin who is retiring and will deliver our mail for the last time tomorrow

2011-03-16T21:44:00.003-05:00

multi-generational co-sleeping
a fenced in backyard
open lines of communication between all parties regarding the "9 year old towering bully"

2011-03-11T22:05:00.003-06:00

reconnecting with friends
dinner prepared by my 2 favorite boys
a hot shower

{this moment}

2011-03-10T06:09:00.000-06:00

2011-03-09T17:20:00.003-06:00

taco soup on a cold grey day
JJ's irregular work schedule
the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Sweet Boy

2011-03-09T00:43:00.003-06:00

"Daddy, you may have the first piece because you brought home this beautiful cake for me."

The Silver Lining

2011-03-09T00:09:00.003-06:00

Life is full right now, and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. While I want to continue to visit this space, post pictures, share stories, and record those special moments, I also think I need to simplify. "Thankful Three" has been brewing in my mind for quite awhile, and I think this is the perfect time to make the change. I hope to post daily (probably not realistic, but it is good to have goals, right?) simply listing 3 "things" for which I am feeling grateful. I am hoping this new "format" will encourage me to reflect on the day and look for the silver lining.

the walker getting more mileage than the wheelchair
Daddy's After Dinner Dance Party
cozy flannel pajama pants and layers of blankets

Six is a Serious Number!

2011-03-08T06:00:00.010-06:00

Will at age 6:

looks forward to playing coach pitch baseball on a "real field" this Spring.
gently cares for his Grandma.
weighs about 70 pounds and measures 51" tall.
gets lost in books.
has favorite read-alouds: Magic Tree House, Nate the Great, The Little House Series, Geronimo Stilton, Poppleton, Frog and Toad, Amelia Bedelia.
counts to 20 in Spanish.
makes a variety of loud sound effects at all times.
favors the color pink.
takes steaming hot showers.
pulls out the Sports section of the paper every morning, and asks to "take a little tour of the scores."
wears size 8-10 clothing and size 3 shoes.
falls asleep within minutes each night.
loves his Nana.
draws people with increasingly greater details . . . ears, torso, hair, glasses, etc.
operates the DVD player.
plans to marry "Little Maddie with a ponytail."
wears button down shirts so he can "be just like Daddy."
finds flannel sheets to be "itchy" and "too fluffy."
explores the Meramec River.
is willing to try any sport. Most recently he has been learning lacrosse from a neighbor.
plays card games: UNO, Skip-Bo, Crazy 8s, Go Fish! . . .
saves his money.
has grocery in his blood: faces the shelves as we shop & helps stock, scan, and bag.
has lost two teeth.
builds with Legos, Tinkertoys, and Lincoln Logs.
stops to watch any sport or sporting event.
loves bunnies and mice.
studies his Weather book.
cannot smile on command stating, "I don't know how to smile."
strips down to his underwear upon arriving home.
plans to take Circus Arts at Homeschool Enrichment in the Fall.
counts by 2s, 5s, and 10s.
has a loose tooth - #3!
bought a snowboard with the money he saved.
digs in the sand, dirt, and mud.
catches frogs, caterpillars, worms, and other creatures to study.
wants to attend Tennis Camp this Summer.
reads random words such as "Italian."
chooses his movies carefully - only G rated.
steals his Mama's "fancy socks."
likes to do word searches.
sings both songs from his CD collection and songs of his own creation.
says, "That's ridiculous!"
studies his globe.
will be celebrating his birthday at the St. Louis Bandits Hockey Game.
draws clocks.
has medical anxiety.
hooks his own bait for fishing and throws the fish back in the water.
has greatly slowed down his eating.
is best friends with "Quinnie."
is growing too quickly for this Mama's liking. 5 has been an awesome year, and I look forward to 6!

{this moment}

2011-03-04T06:16:00.002-06:00

{this moment}

2011-02-25T06:30:00.000-06:00

A New Rhythm

2011-02-23T23:30:00.004-06:00

Tomorrow Grandma will come home, and no longer will we be "living" between the hospital and home. No longer will we pass time in her room building Legos, coloring with Color Wonder, observing the geese and traffic out the window, playing "Hide the Boot," watching PBS Kids, or enjoying special treats from the nurses. No longer will we attend her therapy sessions learning the safe way to get in and out of a chair or bed, nor will we walk the halls with her slow and steady. And while we are super excited to have her home once again and return to some sense of normalcy, there is a bit of anxiety. We have been apart for 3 weeks, and things have changed. I look forward to a smooth transition, and hope we quickly settle into our new rhythm.

{this moment}

2011-01-28T09:56:00.002-06:00

Snowy Sherman Beach

2011-01-17T20:30:00.005-06:00

We continued our exploration of the wintry Meramec River with a visit to Sherman Beach this morning. Although Sherman Beach is just upstream from Castlewood, the two beaches vary a bit. Sherman Beach is rocky rather than sandy, and it is littered with large mussel shells perfect for collecting. The boys like that the trains cross the river right over the beach rather than in the distance. There was less snow at Sherman than Castlewood, and the ice is considerably thicker. Will and Quinn made attempts to break the ice by throwing large rocks. They also brushed up on their ice skating skills a bit.

Icy River

2011-01-16T20:19:00.004-06:00

While I love spending time at the beach during the warmer months, there is something about exploring the river during the winter. Today the sand was covered with snow, the edge of the river was frozen, and the river was low enough to allow us to walk upstream a bit further. The boys passed the time breaking the ice with large sticks. They said they were "icebergers who chop up the ice for the men." We also visited the tree swing we discovered last weekend, and Will practiced "ice skating."

Out of the Mouths of Will & Quinn . . .

2011-01-14T21:32:00.002-06:00

Will asked, "Mommy, do pirates like Jesus?"
"No, pirates like gold." replied Grandma.

"What are you doing, Quinn?"
"Trying to drive you crazy!"

"Quinnie, if you want to play real baseball like me, then you have to wear real clothes. Baseball players don't wear pajamas."
"That's okay, Will."

Quinn announced, "When I die, they are going to put oil on me. Then they are going to sprinkle me with salt and pepper. They will place me in a box, and I will be a real mummy."

Far Too Long

2011-01-14T21:20:00.000-06:00

I hate that I have been away from this space for so long. I have a lot going on right now, and sadly posting here has just not been a priority. I look forward to things settling down over the next month or so, and I plan to be spend more time here. For now I ask for your thoughts and prayers, as my Mom is having surgery. May the surgery be successful and the recovery go quickly!

{these moments}

2011-01-14T21:14:00.000-06:00

{these moments} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama. Two photos - no words - capturing moments from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments. Moments I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

2010-11-05T06:30:00.001-05:00

{this moment}

2010-10-08T21:30:00.002-05:00

{this moment}

2010-10-01T06:30:00.002-05:00

Those Important Details

2010-09-28T09:09:00.002-05:00

Will was drawing a family portrait this morning. After giving each family member the appropriate hair and eye color, he remembered he needed to add ears.
Quinn asked, "Will, could you please draw fluid in my ears? I used to have fluid in my ears."

Prairie Day at Shaw Nature Reserve

2010-09-26T20:37:00.005-05:00

Mills Apple Farm

2010-09-24T18:54:00.006-05:00

{this moment}

2010-09-24T06:30:00.001-05:00

Lock Up the Scissors!

2010-09-21T20:38:00.002-05:00

Just last week I asked Quinn if he wanted me to trim his bangs, as they seemed to be in his eyes. As he swept his bangs to the side he responded, "No, thanks!"

A few days later he found a plastic shirt clip and asked me to put in his hair. He proudly announced, "Now my hair won't be in my eyes."

Today he came running into the kitchen with a big grin. "Don't I look great, Mom?" He had cut at least two inches from the front of his hair. I was shocked, and I did not do a good job of hiding it. He quickly apologized. "I am sorry, Mommy. You were making dinner, and I know how to cut hair now!" "Yes, Quinn, you do know how to cut your hair."

When his hair is wet and neatly combed the fresh cut is not as obvious, but once it dries . . .

OH MY! I could just take him to have it trimmed up a bit (make the lack of bangs less obvious), but Quinn is terrified of getting a haircut, so instead I am crossing my fingers that it grows quickly. We have some family photos in the near future!

Great Forest Park Balloon Race

2010-09-19T18:56:00.003-05:00

{this moment}

2010-09-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

An Art Space

2010-09-16T20:51:00.002-05:00

We used to keep the scissors, markers, glue, paints, and crayons on a high shelf in a hall closet, as my two curious and creative boys needed adult supervision with such supplies. Feeling like the boys were ready for a little more artistic freedom, I recently set up my old computer desk as the boys' new "Art Space." I decorated the wall above the desk with their framed artwork, some of my own childhood artwork, and a few other pieces of inspiration.

"Quinn" by Will 2009

While I have not been brave enough to break out the paints or glue just yet, the desk houses crayons, markers, scissors, paper, colored masking tape, shape templates, and a collection of Ed Emberley drawing books; and at the easel the boys have chalk and dry erase markers. Lots of creating is happening in their new space, and this mama feels happy!

{this moment}

2010-09-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

{this moment}

2010-09-03T06:30:00.002-05:00

{this moment}

2010-08-27T06:15:00.000-05:00

Away

2010-08-13T23:13:00.002-05:00

Hard to believe that I have not posted in two weeks! My motherboard got zapped during a thunderstorm, so I was without my computer for almost a week. I now have a new faster computer with quadruple the memory custom built just for me! Thanks, Jeff Computers!

This past week the boys have been spending their mornings at Camp Little Bit at The Magic House. This was their first experience away from home without me, and they had a wonderful time. In their absence, I did a lot of shopping.

Sadly I have just a handful of photographs from this week that I have yet to load onto the computer. I hope to return next week with lots of pictures and stories of our adventures.

A Tribute to My Art Teachers

2010-08-02T20:42:00.001-05:00

In elementary school, Ms. Trieschman was my Art teacher. She was a talented painter. She also had a love for ceramics, and creating with clay was part of the curriculum. I recall there was a special room behind her desk specifically for the kiln. I vividly remember making a pinch pot in Ms. Trieschman's class. Once my pot was formed, I used the tines of a fork to decorate the outside, and I chose a red glaze for my pot.

Years later during my senior year of high school, I took a Ceramics class with Ms. Kroeck. She was a quiet woman who smelled of patchouli and was quite gifted in ceramics. This class was more advanced than pinch pots, and I learned to coil and slab build. I remember making a vase and a teapot.

I am grateful for Ms. Trieschmann and Ms. Kroeck for fostering a love of ceramics. A love I shared with my boys during a recent visit to the creek.

After our weekly worship at the WF&P Sunday morning, we headed to Castlewood for a bit of creek exploration. The boys discovered a large area of clay along the edge, and after grabbing a handful they began to create. They sculpted airplanes, pirates ships, and plates filled with pebble "cookies." I watched for awhile, and then decided I too wanted to get my hands dirty. I went to work on a pinch pot, and Will immediately took interest. While Quinn concentrated on his work, I showed Will how to make a pinch pot.

"Papa, Mama & Baby Pinch Pot" by Will

Pinch Pot by Me

The memories of this afternoon will be forever cherished . . . the feel of the clay between my fingers, the gentle sound of the flowing water, the calm of my boys concentrating. Years from now, I hope the memories of this day are just as vivid for Will and Quinn.

{this moment}

2010-07-30T06:30:00.001-05:00

Ripe & Red

2010-07-29T22:20:00.003-05:00

We are finally enjoying tomatoes from our own garden.

They are delicious!

Millions of Peaches

2010-07-29T22:03:00.004-05:00

We headed to Wind Ridge Farm to pick our own peaches. The temperature was in the 90s, the air was think with humidity, and sweat dripped down our foreheads, but it was all worth it. The peaches are luscious!

So sweet - the juice ran down Will's leg as he enjoyed this peach.

And although Quinn enjoyed a peach or two while in the orchard, the tractor ride was the real highlight for him.

Quinnie Blue at 4 . . .

2010-07-28T06:30:00.006-05:00

wears Grandma's old floral silk scarves tied around his neck and/or waist transforming him into a superhero, a princess, or a "knight in shining river."
is often mistaken as shy and quiet, but is really quite the clown.
has an infectious belly laugh.
adores Baby Henry.
can pump his legs when swinging.
people watches.
plans to marry Laine.
has an affection for the numbers 18 & 1800 and the colors blue & yellow.
LOVES animals . . . particularly horses and giraffes, but also "bad animals like killer whales, crocodiles, and stingrazors."
is best friends with his big brother.
must have been a fish in his former life.

tells elaborate stories of going to "my horsey games."
says, "You gotta be kidding me!"
drives Grandpa's cast iron train around the house with a Playmobil man as the engineer.
sings Babaloo, "The Rain King," and "Ali Bali Bee/Coulter's Candy."
pretends to be performing in "Circus Florida."
tried riding his bike without training wheels for a few days. "I think I will take my training wheels off when I am 18."

wears his monkey costume.
refers to Daddy's co-workers as "friends."
pretends the couch is a boat using Daddy's ties as a fishing pole.
casts Will's fishing pole.
is starting to swing while the ball is still in the air.
helps our neighbor Corny water his plants and weed his garden.
wants to grow his hair long again, so he can wear a ponytail.
wears pajamas.
pretends to be Fred from Scooby Doo.
has his very own fashion sense.

chose a bug themed birthday party just so he could have a reason to buy gummy worms.
writes his name "Q, upside down arch, i, up-down-up, up-down-up."
draws out bedtime as long as possible.
wears size 5/6 clothing and size 11.5 shoes.
knows his phone number.
spends a quarter on a bouncy ball at the grocery store each week.
changes clothes at least two times a day.
pretends to be Albert Pujols.
likes to rhyme words.
helps scan the groceries at the checkout with Joe.
is always prepared for rain.

likes the temperature of his shower to be "just right like Baby Bear's porridge."
might be growing older, but he will always be my baby.

Nearly a Decade

2010-07-28T06:30:00.005-05:00

Nine years ago today I stood on the steps of The Hawken House and exchanged vows with my best friend. Every year since we have returned to those same steps, the place where our story began, to take a family picture and remember that special day.

Horse Heaven

2010-07-24T18:16:00.003-05:00

The other night as we laid in bed Quinn asked, "What are we doing tomorrow?"
"I am not sure. We do not have any plans. It is going to be really hot tomorrow."
"How about we go to my horsey games? I can tell you how to get there."
"Okay," I agreed thinking this could get rather interesting.

The next morning Quinn told Will, "We are going to my horsey games today."
"Are we really going to your horsey games? Your horsey games are just in your imagination just like my bunny games so how can we go there?" Will wondered.

Although Quinn assured me he could direct me to his horsey games, I followed my own directions and headed to Longview Farm Park. I assured the boys I had a wonderful surprise.

As we pulled into the parking lot, Will immediately noticed the big white barn. "Quinn, this really is your horsey games!"

We played on the playground a bit before heading out for a walk along the trails. We walked behind the barn toward the pasture. Quinn was beside himself when we happened upon two horses grazing in the field. The boys watched for awhile, as the horses snacked on grass.

I made kissing sounds, and the "chocolate brown" horse walked up to us at the fence.

"He likes me!" Quinn announced proudly.

Snores & S'Mores 2010

2010-07-24T17:46:00.005-05:00

Manchester hosted a camp out in the park yesterday, and it was a great night! The Parks & Recreation Department provided the meals and activities. We brought our tent (thanks, Mannions!) and snacks for the movie.

The Evening Activities:

set up our tent on the soccer field
cooled off at the pool
ate a hot dog dinner
went on a s'mores scavenger hunt throughout the park
roasted marshmallows
ate s'mores
created a bubble maker
watched The Sandlot on the big inflatable screen
fell alseep under the full moon

The Morning Activities:

awaken to a flock of geese loudly flying overhead at 5:50am
played on the playground
ate doughnuts
washed down the doughnuts with OJ
packed up the tent
headed home

Despite the heat (100 degrees) and little sleep (thank you, geese!), we had a wonderful time on our first family camp out; and we are looking forward to the Second Annual Snores & S'Mores next summer!

{this moment}

2010-07-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Fried Green Tomatoes

2010-07-22T21:19:00.003-05:00

For the last few days, Will has been updating me on a particular tomato's changes. On Wednesday he reported, "It is a little bit orange." Yesterday he said, "Now it is starting to be red."

This morning he headed outside and soon returned carrying the partially ripened tomato. He immediately said, "I am sorry I picked it, Mom. I was just so excited, and I wanted you to see the first tomato harvest."

Understanding his excitement, I placed the tomato on the windowsill in hopes it will ripen a bit more over the next few days.

A few hours later, Quinn quietly disappeared outside. From the kitchen window, I could see him in the garden. He returned carrying a arm full of small green tomatoes. "I wanted to pick some harvest from the garden. Look! Here is Papa Tomato, and Mama Tomato, and these are the baby tomatoes."

Inspired by his "harvest," I quickly decided to make fried green tomatoes - something I have always wanted to try. I pulled out a super simple recipe from our Better Homes and Gardens' cookbook. Will and I sliced the tomatoes. Quinn seasoned the slices, and both boys dipped them into milk, flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. I fried them in a bit of oil for a few minutes on each side.

They were delicious!

Horsey Games

2010-07-19T18:34:00.003-05:00

Out of the blue some time ago Quinn began talking about going to "my horsey games." At first, he would just casually mention that he was going or had gone to his horsey games. Over time the stories have become more elaborate about the details of these games. These are some of the recent conversations Quinn has had regarding his horsey games:

Daddy asked, "How do you get to your horsey games?"
"I drive."
"Where is your horsey games?"
"Right by our house."
"What do you do at your horsey games?"
"We play!"

While driving through Illinois Quinn points to a large field and announces, "That's my horsey games! Hi Papa Horse!"
I say, "I remember you told me that your horsey game was right by our house."
"It is! I have eighteen hundred horsey games."

"I cannot go to the birthday party because I have to go to my horsey game."
"Oh, that's too bad, Quinn. When is your horsey game?" asked Will.
"Two o'clock."
"Well, you are going to miss the pinata, and our friends will be sad."
"That's okay. At my horsey games we have a pinata. And we are going to eat cake and sing Happy Birthday. Baby Horse is turning 4."

Will asked, "Are unicorns extinct?"
Grandma answered, "No, unicorns are not extinct. They are not real. Unicorns have never existed, so they cannot be extinct.
Quinn interrupts, "Unicorns are real. At my horsey games, we have a unicorn."

"Quinn, I am sorry you are not doing swimming lessons," apologized Will.
"That's okay, Will. At my horsey games, we have swimming lessons. We have a huge mud puddle to go swimming. Papa Horse loves to splash me," replies Quinn.

"I took mashed potatoes to my horsey games, but Papa Horse ate all of the mashed potatoes. I went to Eat-n-Park, and got 101 more mashed potatoes. There was enough for everyone to share for dinner."

Driving by a large "SALE" balloon along the side of the highway Quinn pointed out the window, "That's where my horsey games are!"
I asked, "Cool! What does that sign on the balloon say?"
"Don't eat all the mashed potatoes. They are for our dinner."

"Mom, I cannot go to bed because I have to go to my horsey game."
"I am sorry you will miss your horsey game. It is time for bed, and you need your sleep."
"Mom, can you call Papa Horse and tell him I cannot come this night? The number is 891."

"I need to go to my horsey game. Don't turn right here, Mom! Drive straight. This is not the way to my horsey game. DRIVE STRAIGHT, MOM!"
"We can drop you off at your horsey game after Will's swimming lesson."
"But I am going to be late. DRIVE TO MY HORSEY GAME, MOM!"

"It is too wet and slippery, so my horses are in the barn eating hay right now. Can we go have lunch with them?"

"Papa Horse was drinking my beerd [sic]. I put tape on his mouth, so he could not drink it. Baby Horse's mom and dad let her drink beerd [sic]."

"Baby Horse, he, is a girl."
Will corrects, "She is a girl, Quinn."
"No, he is a girl. I call him Girly."

"Harvest"

2010-07-16T20:57:00.005-05:00

Will's garden is becoming quite overgrown, and unless you count green tomatoes, beautiful orange zucchini blooms, and nibbled strawberries, it has been virtually fruitless. The pepper plants withered away, the zucchini has been hit hard by striped yellow cucumber beetles, nearly 30 unripened tomatoes hang on the vine, and some backyard critter finds the pumpkins to be tasty.

While I find it frustrating, Will has not lost hope. Each morning he heads out to check on the garden. This morning he came running into the house, "Look, Grandma! Mom, come see what I can find in the garden!" He held out his hand, and there sat a tiny red strawberry.

"It's our first harvest! I cannot believe we have our first harvest!" He tossed the small berry into his mouth (once I snapped a picture), and ran back out to the garden once again returning with one more tiny red strawberry. "Here, Quinn. You can eat our second harvest."

If these two strawberries are the only fruits our garden yields, then I am satisfied. While I really have a hankering for some homegrown tomatoes, seeing the joy in Will's eyes this morning makes it all worth it.