Amelia is 2 and a HALF!

Camping...brr!

We were actually supposed to go camping last weekend. But, the weather forecast was for wet, cold weather. So, we rescheduled!

Poor Amelia fell asleep on the way and slept for awhile while we set up our picnic lunch.

The kids always enjoy the small park in the campground

We squeezed in another family hike, this time with Amelia in the backpack.

In the evening, there was a special ranger presentation about SNAKES. William was totally enthralled. Amelia and I stepped out after 45 minutes. William was NOT ready to leave! At the very end, William decided he did want to touch the small snake the ranger brought in.


We hiked, we played at the park, we cooked, we played games, we listened to the ranger talk and slept all night long in the tent on the ground. What we didn't do is take pictures!

Goal accomplished: camping 2 times this year with the kids in a tent!

More catching up....

I've been working late night here trying to get everything tidied up. I just don't think I'll ever be caught up! Here are the handful of posts I finally finished!

Amelia is 2! Thank goodness completed before she turned 3

The Flintstone Event

Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa

Labor Day Weekend

First Day of School

Camping Churchy Style

Conversations with Kids

And, I've updated the Picture day

Picture day!

Today was picture day at the kids' school. I set out clothes last night and tried to make for a smooth morning.

After breakfast, I reminded William to get dressed before playing and indicated the pile of clothes in the living room for him to put on. He took one look and ran for his bedroom. With a sigh, I followed to find him digging in his dresser drawers.

Mama: What are you looking for?
William: My necktie shirt. I am the handsomest boy you know when I wear that shirt. It will be perfect.
Mama: Who can argue with that?

Balloon Glow

The St Louis Balloon Glow is one of our favorite events. When fall rolls around, we try to make sure it gets put on our calendar early so we don't book other, less fun things.

It was sprinkling on and off. William got inventive with his kids' meal bag and made a rain hat.

We weren't there too long, when the first balloon started filling up

Daddy and William with just a few balloons early on

Pretty balloons, all in a row!

Once it is totally dark, the balloons are very beautiful. I especially love the ones with geometric patterns.

Mama and William ( I promise Amelia was with us. She just wasn't being as...cooperative about taking pictures)

Pretty balloon

This one might be my favorite this year...gorgeous stripes. Makes me want to pull out my fabric and start sewing...hmm.....

In the same area as the balloon glow event was a Sept. 11th Memorial. None of our pictures really do it justice, but this was pretty amazing.

This hill was totally covered with flags. There is one flag for every person who died on September 11th during the terrorist attacks.

Blurry, but beautiful

So many flags. So many we couldn't make them fit in one picture.

September 11th changed so much for me. This was a defining moment for a lot of people and I'm not really any different than anyone else. However, that day I did a lot of growing up. I was student teaching that day. I was just starting to take over small responsibilities within the classroom. That day I was going to be leading the breakfast discussion. The students came back from the cafeteria with their trays and we watched the morning news together as usual. Together, we watched the second plane hit the towers live. It was that moment. That very moment that I grew and changed. All twenty six faces looked to me for an explanation and I didn't have an answer. Together, we all looked toward the lead teacher. He didn't have answers either. I will never forget the realization that students would daily looking to me for answers on all types of matters, including terrible and difficult things AND I WOULDN'T KNOW the answers.

There were so many other stressful pieces of that day. Immediately after we watched the plane hit the tower, we were told TV's had to stay off during the day. Students were not to receive information about this event from us. It left the adults starved for information and whispering updates to each other while passing in the hall. A student from war stricken Ghana asked if we were going to have fighting here now, too.

John was living across the county and unavailable to me. My parents, an hour away. At that moment, I wanted all my family in a room together so I could wrap myself up in their comforting presence. But, that was not possible. So I sat home alone in my little apartment and ate my frozen dinner while watching the horrifying images from earlier in the day.

Late that evening or early the next day, a list of passengers on the airplanes would reveal another piece: a high school classmate on the second plane. The one I watched with my students. I'm not going to make more of this than what it is. Someone, an acquittance more than a friend was on one of those planes.

I was sad about her death in the days that followed September 11th. Every year since, I've taken small moments to remember her and say a prayer for her. This year it feels particularly unfair as I look around at what my life has been filled with: love, husband, children, home, and a job I love. All these are things my friend will never experience because she didn't have the opportunity. And that just doesn't seem fair. Visiting this memorial on the 10 year anniversary felt like an appropriate memorial to her.

Conversations v?

In the car after meeting Baby Hank for the first time

William: When I grow up, I want to be a babysitter
Mama: (giggling) You do? You would be GREAT at that job!
William: I would hold the babies all day long. I would pat them when they cried and hug them.
Mama: That sounds great!
William: I would buy a little crib to keep for when the babies get tired. I could put them to sleep.
Mama: You have lots of great ideas!
William: Yeah. I do.

(confidence is obviously not a problem)

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In the car on the way home for preschool on 9/13/11 (note: 3rd day of preschool)

William: I played with a girl today at school
Mama: Oh? Was it fun? What was her name?
William: Yes. I am going to marry her someday.
Mama: (startled) Really?
William: Yes. I don't know her name.
Mama: ????????????? (what on earth am I supposed to say to that?)



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I am in the bathroom getting ready for work. The kids are playing in the other room. I use the word playing here very loosely because they are out of my hair and together. Today this is more along the lines of fighting and screaming about....something. However, they are leaving me alone, for now at least. This is helpful in ensuring I do things like apply deodorant and matching socks. I will not admit how many times in the recent months I have left our house without.....necessary items.

On this particular day I overheard the following conversation on the baby monitor:

William: Stop! You are not doing it right!
Amelia : [indistinct], clearly along the lines of Uh uh. I'm doing it my way.
William: Your wrecking EVERYTHING in here. STOP!

(At this point, I hurry up because someone is going to get hurt soon)
Amelia: [indistinct but I'd put money on na nana a boo boo or similar]
William: That's IT! I'm telling YOUR MOM!

Weekend Camping Retreat

This weekend was the annual camping retreat with our church. We rent out a group camp site at a state park nearby and enjoy the outdoors and each others company. It has become a family tradition we all look forward to!

We drove out Friday evening and took the Golden Eagle Ferry (as the Grafton Ferry is not operating). We dropped off our stuff and then joined a few others for dinner at a restaurant on the river (the Fin Inn) with huge aquariums full of fish at each table. The food was only so-so, but the kids were very well behaved as the fish were so entertaining!

Saturday morning we were up early. Very, very early. We all shared a small cabin and basically all slept in one bed made from many twin sized cots pushed together. The minute one little voice piped up with "Is it morning?" the other little head was awake for the day too. We were awake at roughly 5:30ish. We laid low for a while so we didn't wake anyone else before getting up. The kids were eager to explore as it was dark when we arrived.

Here is William checking out an old tree stump

Amelia refuses to be left out!

Saturday morning we were signed up to do some invasive plant removal as a service project to the park. John took on this impressive thorn tree (honey locust tree). It doesn't look very big, but there are so many huge thorns all over it - even the thorns had thorns!William desperately wanted to help. He was a great helper to many people this day.

After an hour of pulling weeds, it was time for apple picking! Amelia fell asleep almost immediately after getting in the car and stayed asleep for a few precious minutes after arriving.

She was charmed by this teeny tiny little leaf!

Yet, she was suspicious of the apples....really both kids enjoyed picking apples. They ran from tree to tree picking apples and calling to each other. It was all John and I could do to keep up with their running.Here is the best Mama and kids apple picking shot - nice, isn't it?

When we got back, we did some more weed pulling and then William was overjoyed to help build the campfire for later in the evening. He carried sticks and was very proud.

Then he needed a snack. How many cheese balls can YOU fit in your mouth before your mama catches you?

Amelia had her first french braid. Bless our patient babysitter Angi for getting this in her hair! Amelia doesn't like to sit!

Angi, the magnificent babysitter and her daughter hold Amelia

We ate a huge dinner Saturday night and then had campfire treats well into the night. Sunday morning started with a HUGE breakfast before we departed for home. Tired, dirty and happy we arrived home!