Kanakuk Visit

(Still posting for July)...As soon as we made it to the lake on Saturday evening, JBS, JLS and I loaded up and headed to Kanakuk the next morning with Vin and Paulie to get Go-Go and G2 at camp.  I wanted JBS, and JLS for that matter, to see camp so he would know what to look forward to...possibly next year.  I wanted him to know what fun it was and see all the exciting things to do while he was there.  I wanted him to have the Kanakuk vision.  After all, I was a camper for 9 years and worked there for 4 years.  I want my kiddos to love this place like I did.  The best part was that G2 was at KKountry...where I worked.  It felt really good to go back "home."

All I can say is that it was HOT.  Dripping wet kind of hot.  I am used to being on the kamper side and already being acclimated to the heat.  Middle of July kind of dripping off your face kind of hot.  Not to mention, I was barely out of my knee surgery.  So, I was hobbling along in a hot and sticky knee brace.  By golly, I wanted JBS to see camp! :)  I didn't crop out the picture of the man next to JBS and G2 so you could see just how wet with sweat we all were...

JBS didn't say much the whole time we were there.  JLS was in heaven.  It is likely JLS could go to camp now for 2 weeks and never look back.  He could already be having a high time.  Bottom line, they both loved it.  When, we finally got back to the lake house and Grammy asked JBS how he liked it, he said, "I loved it the minute I walked thru the gate."  Music to this momma's ears.  He's an observer and a man of few words.  But when JBS makes up his mind about something, his mind is made up.

Even though this is my camp and my heart is there, I still struggled with sending JBS for two weeks just after Kindergarten.  I know, he is a year older, but still.  I was a Barn One counselor and I loved those little girls, but they were little.  They were troopers!  So, the decision has been made that we are going to pass on JBS going to camp next year alone.  We are ALL going to Kanakuk Family Kamp together....down to baby WHS and we are so excited about it.  What a great transition it will be for JBS to start camp the next year!

On top of all that fun, a real highlight occurred.  I was able to go see an age-old friend and my K-Life leader, Amy Unruh.  I met her the summer I turned 13 and she was in my hometown until after I graduated from high school.  Her precious "babies" as I knew them are all grown up and beautiful kids inside and out.  I really can't recall when I last saw her, but sitting in her living room catching up was surreal.  I felt like I was in high school all over again.  Man, it was a great time.  They even welcomed my two toots into their home like their own. I also got to meet Casey's sweet angel, oh...and see Casey and Kimberly, too!  OF COURSE, it was good to see my high school friends, but that sweet baby girl as #4 with three older brothers was a pretty big deal, too!

What a fantastic trip!

Supa-Hewoes

JBS took three weeks of tennis camp in total this summer and loved every minute of it...even in the blazing heat.  Unfortunately, while JLS could easily keep up, he was not old enough to participate in the tennis camps this summer.  Next summer he will be FIVE and will knock the socks off those players!

The last week of tennis was the last week before school started and we were hot.  We were tired.  And the kids were bouncing off the walls.  Several of JBS' friends ended up taking at the same time which made it a lot more fun.  Two cutie little neighbor girls were there, which always brightens JBS' day.  And, JBS' tried and true pals from our old cul-de-sac were there as well.  His real motivation for going was to play with J and D. 

One morning, I was headed home with JLS and WHS and JLS desperately wanted a friend to come over.  So, we invited J and D's little brothers to come play with us while the big brothers were at tennis.  It was a last minute plan, but the boys were SO excited.  I loaded four boys in total in to the burb and we were off.  Before I even got WHS settled in the house all three little boys came down requesting help with their costumes.  Those boys have played at our house many times before and they always go directly to the costume box.  It was hilarious.  I don't think they ever played anything else in the two hours they were at my house.  They were having a high time.

The best part was this.  After the original, "Will you peez hep me's?" they came back a second time and a third.  With masks and costumes on and little boys that just giggled and ran I didn't realize they were playing musical costumes.  As soon as one had Batman on, the other would want it and they would switch to Spider man, then Superman.  I kid you not, I could not even be sure which little "Supa-Hewo" was mine.

Cutie little boys.  Who said boys don't like to play dress up?

Boat Jumping

While I have been negligent of reporting on my blog, we are certainly not without stories to tell.  I have to go back to my July pictures in order to get caught up on our summer fun.  We arrived at the lake on Saturday evening only for JBS, JLS and I to load up with Vin and Paulie and head to Kanakuk to pic up G2 and Go-Go. 

When we returned from our quick trip to Missouri, it was "Lake time!"  and we assumed the "Lake time" schedule.  Wake-up, eat, lake, eat, sleep, pool, eat, sleep...it was fabulous.  Grammy graciously stayed home a couple times to watch a sleeping WHS so the rest of us could go out on the lake.  I will admit that staying inside the lake house with total peace was kind of where I wanted to be.  I think Grammy did, too.  Although it was recognized as the ultimate sacrifice to stay home while everyone else went on the boat to play.

Big Daddy, the boys and I loaded up on the boat and headed for a cove to anchor and swim.  Once again, you would think my boys had never seen water.  They loved jumping off the back of the boat yelling, "Cannonball!" every time they jumped whether it was truly a cannonball or not.  I got in awhile and floated with them while Big Daddy piddled under the shade of the Bimini.  The boys begged BD to come jump and play, but he was busy.  Busy on the boat for BD means, cleaning, organizing, or trying to push play on the CD player.  Then, it happened.  The process began.  Big Daddy stood up on the boat and took off his glasses.  (Imagine this in slow motion.)  The boys even sat up and took notice from the water.  Then, he stretched his shirt over his head and it was off.  Then, the lathering began.  BD began to apply sunscreen to his "best-tan-he's-ever-had-but-still-very-white-body".  The boys knew the moment was close, "Are you getting in BD?"  And the crowd went nuts.  He swigged his drink and he started his ascent up the boat to make his descent into the water.  At this point, all I can hear are giggles.  "Jump with us, Big Daddy!"  "Oh my gosh! Big Daddy is getting in the water!"  "Yeah!" "Yeah!" 

So, Big Daddy grabbed their hands and together three of the most important boys in my life walked the plank and jumped....two feet down into the murky waters of Grand Lake. 

And it was the highlight of the day for the little boys.  For Dad, one jump'll do ya and he proceeded to float behind the boat.

Does my Dad know that we can all read the signs of when he is getting in the water?  He does now if he reads my blog like he says he does.  Big Daddy is a man of routine, a man of lists, a man of order and a man with more predictability than he will ever admit.

One Year-Old

Today, my WHS turned ONE!  How did that happen already?  The last year has unfortunately been consumed with my "bouncing back" from one thing and another, it was great to celebrate our sweet WHS and his fabulous first year.  He is everything you could want in a third baby.  He goes to sleep easily, he sleeps a lot, he eats a lot, he hangs out a lot and he adores his big brothers as much as they adore him.  He is strapped in the car to take the boys to their activities and to pick them up, to run to the store, to go to the next activity.  WHS is the most easy going baby I know and he has been put to the test.  He only complains when he feels bad...new teeth, stomach bug (uhmmmm...just recovering from that awful thing), etc.  Otherwise, he is just happy as a clam.  WHS is the perfect addition (and completion) to our family.

As I was trying to figure out what to do for his birthday theme, I landed on monkeys.  As I scanned the Internet, it hit me to have a sock monkey party.  Babe's favorite animal as a child was his sock monkey, Monkmey.  I am told he would carry it over his shoulder by the tail, which would explain why the poor monkey's tail is two feet long.  I thought that Babe would get a kick out of a Monkmey party for WHS.  I found the cutest invitations on line and started my search for a sock monkey cake.  Ugh.  The things I do to myself.  I didn't make JLS' last cake, a Transformer cake, and I still have regrets.  So I had to figure this one out.  I found a bear mold, moved the ears and free-handed the face.  I know my limits.  I do not have a good hand, so this was at the top of my artistic limitations.  In the end, it was a little rough, but I think I got the point across.

WHS opening his Duck Feet...

With his big bro, JBS...

One of his few chances to open his own gifts...

The big boys were so excited to open WHS' presents for him and blow out his candle.  The boys were much more in to the party than WHS.  God bless him, he was tired.  We gave him his cake that he proceeded to squish in his fingers and he was done.  The tired tears started to come and Gambo swooped him off to the tub for a head to toe scrub down...his 20th, it seems, in the past week of overcoming a stomach bug.  Playing with all his fun new toys was scrapped until tomorrow so the overwhelmed one-year-old could go to bed.  Of course, the big boys broke the good ones in for him.  They thought that was the nice thing to do...

1st Day of School

The hype behind the first day of school here is just over the top.  The week before school starts, the kids' teacher calls the parents to introduce herself via the phone.  I guess being an "S" we were closer to the end of the list.  At least 2 hours before I heard from JBS' teacher, I had 5 friends calling to see who JBS got as his Kindergarten teacher.  The pressure immediately set in.  Is that phone call really that big of a deal?  I quickly succumbed to the pressure and became "one of them"  asking my other friends, "Who'd _____ get?"  This wasn't even the first day of school...

So, the questions and anticipation of how I felt and how I was doing were far worse than how I actually felt about JBS entering Kindergarten.  I felt my nerves coming on last night as I started to really think about it, but quickly put them to rest.  JBS is a rock star.  He is confident, fun, friendly and had not a worry in the world about going to a new school...at least as far as he let me know.  He was so excited to be the big brother going to the "Big" school.  He was so caught up in being the big man on campus it didn't occur to him that he would, in fact, be the little man on our K-6th grade campus. 

Our awesome neighbors organized  a pancake breakfast in the cul-de-sac this morning at 7am.  It was so great and a wonderful way to kick off the first day of school...playing with the neighbors.  Everyone had new backpacks, new clothes and a lot of excitement surrounding Day One.  For the record, this morning was the first time I have set an alarm since JBS was born.  We actually had to rise and shine earlier than the toots are used to waking up.  When I woke the boys up this morning at 6:30am, JLS looked at me with squinty eyes and said, "I no like you waking me up.  I like to wake up on my own."  Sorry, pal.  Life is changing in our house.

Once the pancakes were consumed, the entire neighborhood jumped on our bikes (parents and kids) and paraded to school.  When I say parade, I mean at least 30 of us caravaned to school together.  It was such a great neighborhood feel.  As we passed each neighborhood on the short ride (less than a mile) to our school, we saw friends pull out of their neighborhoods and join the trek to school.  The boys loved it.  JLS, of course, wanted to miss nothing, including wearing his backpack even though we weren't headed to his school yet.

This rookie family followed the seasoned neighbors to the proper entrance for bike riders and for the first and last time, we were allowed to walk JBS to his classroom.  JBS, however, had other plans.  "Bye, Mom!"  To which I said, "Oh, no.  Today is the only day they let the parents walk you to class.  I am walking you to class."  The little toot.  I took a quick pic with his teacher, said, "Good-bye" and "I love you" and he said, "Bye Mom" and settled in perfectly.  His sweet teacher looked at me and said, "Wow.  That was easy!"  I am grateful for confident kids.  What a huge relief to know I left JBS at school with no tears, no worries and a desire to be there.

So, JLS was just as excited, dressed to the nine's when he came downstairs.  He wants nothing more than to be at school with JBS.  He is tough, but I can see it in his eyes...a little sadness, a little fear that he and JBS no longer have each other's backs at school.  He was excited, however, to go back to his old school and have JBS' old teachers as his own.  They even assigned JLS to the same seat where JBS used to sit.  JLS thought that was cool.  Once again, JLS dropped his backpack and disappeared into the sea of kids in his room...but not before saying, "Hi!" to Wodweego, his best pal. (I tried to take his pic and I didn't have my memory card..ugh!) He, of course, never said, "Bye" to me.  He is a toughie, too cool, but I still know my little JLS is tucked inside that growing boy.  He will still "Nuggle wif me" anytime.  Both my "cool" boys will.  My confident and strong boys are fabulous at school, but between you and me, they still love to snuggle with their momma.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Hou-Grand Lake!

We made it back to Houston with ease on Friday only to unload and repack Big Daddy's car with all our things to head to the lake with them.  It wasn't a bad drive to OK and the boys did so well, considering we had driven quite a bit in the previous week.  We did, however, stop....a lot. 

The boys were constant entertainment for each other. WHS was enamored with the boys, as he was still facing backwards in his car seat and had a front row seat to their comedy show.  I spent the whole time reading up on my clean eating...a new chapter in my life.  I will post on this later.

Babe had the weekend to himself and he seemed so glum.  I have a list of one hundred things I would do should the opportunity ever arise for Momma to be alone...for an entire weekend!  He watched as the workmen continued to work on our back patio...that was supposed to be complete by July 4th.  Ha.

When Babe got home from work on Monday, he sent a picture of Toley enjoying his new "dog house." Probably the most expensive dog house Toley will ever see.  I am sure the bricks were nice and cool.  He continues to enjoy this perch where he can see in our house and have his backside safe and out of the sun.  Someday soon, that fireplace might not be so "cool" for sweet Toley.

As I type, the landscapers are replacing the grass that was killed in the process and on Thursday, the painters are coming to seal the pergola.  I might give you a sneak peek then, but I do have new furniture to buy!  This came as somewhat of a surprise to Babe.  After all, it is a new room in the house and a new room needs to be decorated, of course!

Good-bye Beach

Unfortunately, there came a time that we had to say, "Good-bye" to the beautiful peaceful beach life.  It was a wonderful, oil-free beach trip with lots of much-needed family time.  One thing I will say is that I look forward to another beach trip in a few years when WHS can keep up with the big boys.  Less work for us and more beach enjoyment for sure!

We loaded up and started our trek to Houston, to Grand Lake and on to Missouri...all in 3 days time.  We braced ourselves for the worst and every body was fantastic, including little WHS.  What troopers they were!  The boys are so "coot" as they prepare for a roadtrip.  It never fails that they come to the car fully equipped with a backpack full of toys in their back, a blanket (Daddy likes it cold), and their baseball caps. 

They were ready...

We were on the road by 7am and rolling down I-10 to Houston.  Farewell, Florida!  We will miss you!

Photo Op

Doesn't everyone have to take pictures on the beach?  I refused to let this be forgotten.  Of course, no one was excited about it on our last evening there, but I enforced the family picture policy.  And, I think it paid off.  Mom was gratefully there and got some cute shots.  If for some reason, we don't reconvene for a family shot before Christmastime, you just might be seeing this picture again...

And these cuties.  I love this picture of the brudders on the boardwalk...

As for Babe and I.  I cannot remember the last time we had a snapshot taken of us together.  It seems we are always in a rush.  So drumroll please, it might be the last one you see for awhile, as well!

 All photography by Suzanne Warren.  You may call her anytime to support her travel fund... :)

More Watercolor Beach

What more is there to say about a beach trip.  We loved it.  Beach to pool to nap to beach to pool to bed.  Of course, we ate a few meals in there as well...

My guess is that they are either having a discussion related to oil...buying and selling it, on the beach, in the water, etc or Big Daddy is teaching Babe something.  Not sure what, but it looks as though Big Daddy is in his teaching mode...and Babe looks to be in his Big Daddy Listening Mode.  That is a notch up from his Penny Listening Mode.

While we never saw oil on the beach, we saw very small tarballs at times.  I am not convinced those tiny things haven't always been there.  We are just so "on alert" for tarballs these days.  We did, however, have a continuous presence of these folks walking up and down the beach hoping to catch a glimpse of a tiny tarball...and save us all!

We went over to Seaside a few times...a mere block or two away from our house. 

This is WHS holding down the fort.  Our clip-on highchair didn't fit our table, so WHS was a mobile eater.  That is NOT a good thing...

Our last afternoon, Big Daddy went to our umbrella's to retrieve all our beach items.  When he didn't come back, Grammy and I went on a Big Daddy hunt.  This is the scene we saw from the top of the boardwalk...

Everyday, these kind boys that worked on the beach schlepped our things for us to our umbrella.  When they saw us gathering our things to go in, they always offered to help us.  They were so nice.  As it turns out, they were two college boys from Russia in The States for the summer.  That is all Dad had to hear.  Have I ever told you Mom and Dad went to Russia?  They talked forever and, of course, the young man was thrilled to meet someone who had been to his home before.  Before we left, they exchanged emails and addresses...they are now pen pals.  He asked for Dad to send him this picture and send him this picture he did.  He was thrilled to get it...

So, here are my crazy toots on their final day at the beach...

Too cool and too cute!

On the Beach

The boys had a blast on the beach.  Not for one minute in the day were they lacking for entertainment.  They built sand castles and tunnel cities, they ran and played in the water, looked for shells and crabs and especially enjoyed crashing waves with Daddy.

Here's a sand crab that JBS found...

Grammy and Big Daddy enjoyed the sun a little, too.

Daddy introduced JLS to wave crashing and he was smitten.  Steady and Cautious, JBS, preferred to engineer the sand castles on the shark-safe beach and dig for crabs.

Unfortunately, my children have already seen Jaws.  It made a much bigger impression upon JBS than I thought...