Monday, January 19, 2015
MoBot
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Eagles
Z is in a class about eagles at CCL, so I figured now was the year to go
check them out over the river. I have always wanted to go but I knew
it would probably be too hard when the kids were little (see, I do
choose my battles!!). But this year it was warm-ish and we had reason
to go and the kids were old enough and we had a free morning when they
were having Eagle Days so off we went.
It was on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River. We had the kids grab hoodies and I was SO GLAD I threw in coats as well. Because holy moly it was cold and windy over the river. We borrowed a pair of binoculars from Dad and we found a pair in the basement which thankfully gave us 2 pair. The guides had some scopes set up and we could see the eagles in nests really clearly with those. The boys (Z especially) were able to find them using the binoculars. Nate took N back into the tent in the middle of the bridge because he got too cold (the kid needs some body fat!) but I took the other 3 all the way across the river. We were watching one eagle in the tree, and right as we got over there it flew off and Z was able to watch in flying using his binoculars. They all really enjoyed it. We did too but it sure was cold (and it wasn't even actually cold for normal January temperatures!).
It was on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River. We had the kids grab hoodies and I was SO GLAD I threw in coats as well. Because holy moly it was cold and windy over the river. We borrowed a pair of binoculars from Dad and we found a pair in the basement which thankfully gave us 2 pair. The guides had some scopes set up and we could see the eagles in nests really clearly with those. The boys (Z especially) were able to find them using the binoculars. Nate took N back into the tent in the middle of the bridge because he got too cold (the kid needs some body fat!) but I took the other 3 all the way across the river. We were watching one eagle in the tree, and right as we got over there it flew off and Z was able to watch in flying using his binoculars. They all really enjoyed it. We did too but it sure was cold (and it wasn't even actually cold for normal January temperatures!).
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Aunt Jayne and the Arch
Nate has an aunt (one of Mike's sisters) that we love. They live in
Louisville, so we were able to stop thru once several years ago on our
way home from DC, but we hadn't seen them much. She found out before
Christmas that she has a rapidly growing tumor, and that she will not
live much more than 3 more months. Jayne loves Jesus with all her
heart, and she has been clinging to His promise for her and partying
like a rockstar in her last few months! She is still feeling good (but
is expected to go downhill rapidly when she does). In the meantime, her
kids and 2 small grandkids live in KC and Springfield, so she and Bruce
have relocated to KC for the next few months. On her way back through
from KY to KC, she planned on stopping here to hang with us a bit and to
go up in the Arch. And except for a puffy face because of the meds,
you would never know Jayne was sick. She talked a mile a minute (she
always has, but the steroids make her faster) and she laughed and joked
and talked with the kids and we had so much fun.
So all of our immediate family made plans to come down and hang out with us. On Wednesday Mike and Dorothy, and Mat, Marbree and Peter, and Andy and Emily came down. Around dinner time we were joined by Bruce and Jayne as well as Bruce and Marla (Marla is Mike's other sister; they both married a Bruce!). It was loud and full in my house but it was so awesome to hang out with everyone!
At one point the kids were playing on the Wii, the parents were in the kitchen, and the grandparents were in the dining room. It was so neat for me to see the interactions between everyone. Since my immediate family is so small (Mom was an only child and Maggie is our only aunt and we have no cousins), it is always fascinating for me to watch family interact. I loved watching Jayne and Marla and Dorothy talk and giggle and reminisce.
Jayne also got each of the boys a HUGE Lego set. Ridiculous huge. Her thoughts were that she wouldn't be able to buy older kid gifts for her grandkids so she would buy them for her great nieces and nephews. My kids were thrilled!
On Thursday morning Jayne came over early and wanted to watch the Lego Movie with the boys and have them explain it to her (she's amazing!). They happily obliged and worked on the sets she got them.
Then we all headed down to the Arch. It was freeeeezing cold outside so we had to book it and didn't get any outside time on the grounds. L was a little unsure about going up, but once we got going he was fine. The kids all enjoyed it, and gave Jayne fives as it was everyone's first time up ;)
We went to Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch and were there for close to 2 hours and the boys did AWESOME. I was so glad and proud ;)
Everyone headed home after that. We were so SO glad to have such a sweet time with Jayne and Bruce. What a blessing to know it is your time, and to be ok for a part of it to enjoy family and make things right, and to know that she will be partying with Jesus in a short time.
It has been hard on this end, though. Z has had a hard time dealing with it. It is his first true understanding of death, and of someone relatively young. He talks about Grandma Lora and missing her occasionally. And it has been hard on me (I have put myself in Jayne's kids shoes) and it has taken me back to mom a lot. We will see how it all goes when we inevitably go to her memorial service.
So all of our immediate family made plans to come down and hang out with us. On Wednesday Mike and Dorothy, and Mat, Marbree and Peter, and Andy and Emily came down. Around dinner time we were joined by Bruce and Jayne as well as Bruce and Marla (Marla is Mike's other sister; they both married a Bruce!). It was loud and full in my house but it was so awesome to hang out with everyone!
At one point the kids were playing on the Wii, the parents were in the kitchen, and the grandparents were in the dining room. It was so neat for me to see the interactions between everyone. Since my immediate family is so small (Mom was an only child and Maggie is our only aunt and we have no cousins), it is always fascinating for me to watch family interact. I loved watching Jayne and Marla and Dorothy talk and giggle and reminisce.
Jayne also got each of the boys a HUGE Lego set. Ridiculous huge. Her thoughts were that she wouldn't be able to buy older kid gifts for her grandkids so she would buy them for her great nieces and nephews. My kids were thrilled!
On Thursday morning Jayne came over early and wanted to watch the Lego Movie with the boys and have them explain it to her (she's amazing!). They happily obliged and worked on the sets she got them.
Then we all headed down to the Arch. It was freeeeezing cold outside so we had to book it and didn't get any outside time on the grounds. L was a little unsure about going up, but once we got going he was fine. The kids all enjoyed it, and gave Jayne fives as it was everyone's first time up ;)
We went to Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch and were there for close to 2 hours and the boys did AWESOME. I was so glad and proud ;)
Everyone headed home after that. We were so SO glad to have such a sweet time with Jayne and Bruce. What a blessing to know it is your time, and to be ok for a part of it to enjoy family and make things right, and to know that she will be partying with Jesus in a short time.
It has been hard on this end, though. Z has had a hard time dealing with it. It is his first true understanding of death, and of someone relatively young. He talks about Grandma Lora and missing her occasionally. And it has been hard on me (I have put myself in Jayne's kids shoes) and it has taken me back to mom a lot. We will see how it all goes when we inevitably go to her memorial service.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
NYE 2014
This year we went to Shogun for a hibachi dinner with our neighbors. It was so much fun! (And we were so glad that we were the PERFECT size for a table!) Their girls had gone before but it was a first for our boys. They loved the "show" the chef did for us, and 3 of the 4 loved eating at least parts of the food (guess who didn't eat anything?). They cracked up when he threw broccoli for us to catch but most would agree that the flaming onion volcano was their favorite. Although L wasn't the biggest fan...I think because he was closest to the center of the grill and every time there was fire he was a little unsure. Note: we also have taken to strategically placing our kids whenever possible. Best case: N, Nate, C, Z, me, L. Z and C are most likely to be ok next to each other. N wants to be by Nate, and L wants to be by me. Put L or N together or even with C or Z and it can be a ruckus. Oh, the things I didn't realize I would have to think about...seating charts for my family ;)
After dinner we went home and had treats at our house. The kids played and we played a board game for a bit. We counted down a bit after 9 and the way they were acting (craaaazy) you would have thought there was something besides sparkling grape juice in their glasses!
They left and we got the littles down, and Z had decided that he wanted to stay up until midnight. We had the first part of The Hobbit so decided to let him watch it. He and Nate watched it while I snuggled with Z. I fell asleep the first time Nate and I watched it, but I figured I would be more interested now since I had just read it to Z. Nope. I passed out too. Z was so excited to see midnight!!!
After dinner we went home and had treats at our house. The kids played and we played a board game for a bit. We counted down a bit after 9 and the way they were acting (craaaazy) you would have thought there was something besides sparkling grape juice in their glasses!
They left and we got the littles down, and Z had decided that he wanted to stay up until midnight. We had the first part of The Hobbit so decided to let him watch it. He and Nate watched it while I snuggled with Z. I fell asleep the first time Nate and I watched it, but I figured I would be more interested now since I had just read it to Z. Nope. I passed out too. Z was so excited to see midnight!!!
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