Raking with Poppa

 This post might be more appropriately titled “Playing with Poppa!”  They had so much fun and I have so many pictures, and I just couldn’t bring myself to leave any out.  These were on Oct 19 when it was a little warmer and before the grass had turned brown.

First you must prepare the pile. 

Poppa bought Gunnar his own rake.  Poppa’s intention was to get a kid rake but Gunnar made it clear he would like a big rake like Poppa’s, so Gunnar’s is an adult rake just a bit shorter than Poppa’s.

Leaf pile is now ready.  (I love this picture of my dad.  Living each moment and enjoying it fully.)

Notice Gunnar’s foot is all you can see of him as he went sliding through the pile.

Being covered up in a leaf pile = every kids dream on a fall day.

 The jumping in process from another angle.

 

Halloween 2009

I’m having a hard time keeping my blog updated and unfortunately I don’t see that getting better until after Gunnar’s birthday.  But, I really wanted to get these pictures up with them in their costumes.  They were so cute.

Spiderman and Sweet Pumpkin

Huh.  What’s this hat on Sister’s head?  I think I will bite it.

Graceanna says, “Grandma, what are you doing with my costume?”  While Gunnar checks out the scarecrow.

“Fine.  I will look at you.”

“That’s it.  I’m done.”  Spiderman, then, spits his web at us.  I’m not sure when Gunnar will realize spiders don’t spit their webs or rev their engines like race cars.

On the afternoon of Halloween we went to a little festival at Gunnar’s “school.”  They had fun games that were so great for kids their age.

Then, we went Trick-or-Treating with Kennedy and Caleb and their mom and dad who dressed up as characters from Wizard of Oz at Kennedy’s request.  Gabe & Sam and their parents were there too.  The kids had so much fun.  They ran up to the doors and tried to remember to say “thank you” when they got candy.  Gunnar didn’t think it was time to go home because his pumpkin was only 90% full of candy.  I’m sure he thought the goal was to fill it up.  What a super fun night!  We’re all already talking about next year.

Safari and Friends

A few weekends ago, we took a little trip to see the changing Fall colors and also to visit my roommate from college.  Carla and her family live about 4 hours away and I did my best to prepare for the hours in the car, but I have to say my nerves were shot by the time we arrived.  Graceanna doesn’t love her car seat and it was difficult for her to take a nap, so by the time we arrived she was not in the best of moods.  Much to my surprise we immediately sat down at their table and Graceanna feasted.  I really expected to put her in bed as soon as we arrived, but with a full tummy and some new friends, she was a happy girl!

On Saturday, Carla and I took the kids on a Safari while our husbands sacrificed their spot in the car so we could all ride together in their van.  I know watching hours of football was really hard on the guys.    First, we drove through the animal park where many of the animals are roaming free.  Then, after the Safari you could get out and pet the little ones.  By the time we made it through the drive, we were ready for lunch and naps. 

My favorite animal was the camel.  Gunnar liked the lion, but his favorite is the animal that bumped the van with his horn.  I think it was a yak but can’t remember.  As you know, I’m still learning my way around the camera.  It was so bright that day and I over exposed almost every single shot.  But, I learned a lot!  Keep in mind that my lens does not zoom.  These animal were so close!  The camel’s used Carla’s side view mirrors as scratching posts!

Have you ever seen the cuteness of a camel’s mouth?  Now you have!

I LOVE this brown camel.  I couldn’t get enough of him or was it a her?  Whatever.  I liked it!

I think they were shedding their fur.  But, that doesn’t make sense to me because winter is approaching.  Do they get rid of a summer fur for special winter fur?  I don’t know.  Unlike so many other animals, the camel’s coats looked so clean and soft except for that molting area.

Lots of Zebra.  Even some with brown stripes too.

The lions and tigers and other creatures of similar danger were locked up tight.  I didn’t like seeing them like that, but I knew G would want a picture of the lion, so here it is.

As soon as we were home from the Safari, Gunnar went to take a nap.  He skipped lunch, even chips.  That’s when we suspected H1N1 might be with us.  He slept several hours but woke up ready to play.  He had a fever from about 12:00 pm until about 9:00 am.  It didn’t keep him down, but unfortunately we did leave Hog Fever, as it’s called in these parts, with our friends.

Gunnar (almost 4), Dorothy (5), Violet (2)

Dorothy and Gunnar on their “hike” through the wooded are by the house.

Graceanna and Carla

Graceanna dazzled and amazed Brent and Carla with her ability to shovel away the food.  It really can be amazing.  One night at dinner, Brent noticed it looked like Graceanna had swiped Violet’s cup.  Sure enough.  Graceanna was guzzling the apple juice.  As this was her first experience with juice, she did not put down that liquid gold until every drop was drained.

After our 48 hour excursion, Steve and I both felt like we’d been hit by a bus.  Within a couple days we both had H1N1.  We don’t know for sure if Graceanna has had it or not.  If she has, it was a much milder case than ours.  I called Carla later in the week to see if they were sick yet.  The girls were sick but the biggest news was that the night we left their septic tank caused a flood in their super nice, just like staying at hotel, basement.  She assures me we didn’t do anything to cause it, but oh my.  Not only a mess, but a very expensive mess which may not be covered by insurance thanks to their insurance sales person.  I wonder when we will be invited back.  Maybe the next time some world-wide-crazy-flu comes to the US or maybe the will invite us the next time we have torrential rains sure to explode their septic system.

Smiley Girl

Graceanna’s top left tooth broke through this past weekend.  I could see the top it for about a week before it came through.  It didn’t seem to bother her much, but she’s still drooling a lot.

Graceanna is riding my mom’s rocking horse.  As you can tell by her smile, she loves it.  And, she’s so proud of herself.  She can rock it back and forth on her own power.  Her legs are just long enough that if she leans to one side, she reach the bottom which helps her to keep her balance.  I don’t remember Gunnar really knowing how to rock the horse until he was several months older.  I also don’t remember him liking the horse as much as she does.

She’s smiling in anticipation of the lunch Grandma put together for her.  She’d had a really good nap that morning, so she was really happy – and hungry!  She loves Poppa’s pork cutlet, as does Gunnar.

The Middle Mom – Book Reccomendation

The Middle Mom is an easy read that tugged at my heart-strings and made me think about my priorities at every page turn.  It’s written by a woman I have met a few times and she warmed my heart and ministered to me during our journey to Graceanna.  She is as sweet as she sounds.  In her book, she tells about her experience loving many children in her home as a foster mom and also an adoptive mom.

On page one Christie reminisces about being a child and wanting to be a black singer.  I don’t know if Christie is a singer or not, but she is most definitely not black.  After completing the book, I was still thinking about this inconsequential story and something was resonating with me.  Finally, I reached into the recesses of my memory and I realized I had the same dream minus the singing.

To find my story believable at all, you need to know I can walk outside and come back in with a tan.  And who doesn’t love a good tan!  Even though I like that deep golden glow of summer, I lather on the sunscreen these days.  However, this story occurred before the skin cancer awareness days.

So, my great tanning, lead to a conversation with my dad.  Our conversation went something like this, “Dad, you know how I get really dark in the summer?”  “Yes…”  “You know, in the summer when I’m really dark… do you think people might think I am part African-American?”  “Well, sure.  I think that’s possible.  You do get really dark.”  Yes!  And, off to school I went.

I was in about first or second grade.  It was a crisp, cool, fall day.  Several of us were on the monkey bars and I had an announcement I couldn’t wait to make!    I made sure I was in good position for maximum ears and I blurted out, “I’m probably part black.  One of my biologic parents must have been African American.”

Where was the excitement?  Why are they looking at me with blank faces?  You don’t think so?  I hurried to add my proof.  “I’m very, very dark in the summer.”

The moment passed.  We all resumed trying to cross the bars without falling to the sand.  I was very disappointed.  No one seemed to agree that my conclusion was likely.  Actually, I think they thought I was crazy.

Twenty-five (or so) years later, this desire still rings true for me and while I’ll never be black, I enjoyed this memory and the emotions The Middle Mom stirred in me.   Even my mom, who doesn’t like to read too much, read it in one day.  Now, that’s an endorsement!

I just included my little story to bring you a little humor and to share a little bit more of my craziness.  I want to be clear, children in foster care are ALL colors.  And, Christie’s book is not about fostering or adopting “outside your race.” Her book is about her heart which has been broken as she grieves the babies she’s loved deeply and then lost.  It’s also about her heart which continues to grow in capacity to love even more and show others that it’s possible for us too.  We can make a difference.  Even if you have no intention of ever fostering or adopting, I hope you will read this book.  Maybe it will stir memories of a childhood dream or stir your heart into action by finding a way to care for the truly innocent ones.  If nothing else, it will open your eyes to the real experiences in a world you may not know exists.

To buy her book and find out more, click here.    She also has a blog I have enjoyed.

Feet

I love my kids’ feet!  I even love sweaty little boy feet.  I’m pretty sure I only love one set of sweaty little boy feet, but those particular ones have a way of finding the tender spots in heart (and sometimes my kidneys but that’s for a different post).  I remember Gunnar’s feet were shaped like blocks about 3 inches long and 2 inches tall.  At six months old I realized his feet were stinky!  That was something my inexperienced brain wasn’t expecting for many months or even years. 

I love baby feet too.  I love kissing the sole of her feet and her curling her toes around my nose and the wiggling away.  Baby feet are quickly leaving our house and leaving little girl feet in their place.  I love jeans meeting barefeet too.  There’s something irresistible about the ruggedness of jeans and the tenderness of toes.

Don’t Touch the Hair!

I’ve started a new category on my blog for hair.  My intention is to include all the things I have learned so that others can benefit and also to help remind myself in case I ever have another curly headed baby.  But, today, I begin this new category with a rant. 

Graceanna’s hair was lookin’ cute today!  We went to our regularly scheduled outing and I dropped her off in the nursery.  Now, her hair style was a couple days old, so it wasn’t perfect, but it was still well across the acceptable-hair-do line.  In fact when I dropped her off  Miss J complimented her style.  (Miss J is not normally in Graceanna’s nursery class, but today she was their volunteer.)  I really appreciated that, because two weeks ago Miss J saw me in the parking lot and asked if I knew how to do her hair as it was not pulled back but instead curly and full.  I assured her I did and continued a great conversation about all sorts of things.

Two hours later, I pick up my daughter.  Miss J decided to twist each of her 5 puffs.  She had nothing to secure the twists with so they were all fuzzy and not very twisted, and they were sticking out everywhere.  I was TICKED!  Miss J had already left, which was probably a good thing or I fear my mouth would have gotten me in trouble, but she left a message for me with the regular nursery lady (who is wonderful!).  My message included things about her hair needing to be twisted for this reason or that and of course, needs moisture and oil.

I will not defend my care of Graceanna’s hair other than to say hair STYLES are OPINIONS.  I will fix her hair how I like it until Graceanna can tell me otherwise.  And, I know how to care for her hair and I do it well.  Her hair is not dry and it has plenty of moisture and oil.  Her hair is very curly and curly hair will NEVER shine like straight hair.  More on all of this later in future posts about the way hair works.

For your enjoyment I’m including a few picks of Pippy Longstocking.  Ok.  It’s not Pippy Longstocking.  It’s Graceanna after Miss J got ahold of her head.

I have decided that Miss J was probably just trying to help me.  It felt like an insult but I believe it was well intentioned advice.  I have to remember this experience when I want to “help” someone who doesn’t think they need help.

Now I will spend the next 30 minutes fixing her hair.

Carter’s Birthday

Saturday we were able to celebrate our nephew’s 8th birthday!  Carter’s mom had planned and prepared a a great party!  I was amazed at all the games and all tied in to the Star Wars theme.  Including Yoda Juice she concocted!

Light Saber Cake

Sutton (left) and Carter (right)

Gunnar on a Mission to find Princes Leia (Natalie filled lots of balloons and one had the kidnapped Princess.  All the boys loved popping these!)

The Pod Races were so fun, but I’ll tell you these boys couldn’t do the wheel barrow like we could!

Then, my camera ran out of batteries so I have no pictures of the rest of the games or the presents.  Bummer.  Good thing there where other cameras around.

Earlier in the day we had some fun with my camera!  Or at least I had some fun!
You may notice all the red.  We also enjoyed our favorite college team hold their own when everyone said it couldn’t be done.  No “W” for the books, but not the painful afternoon some were forecasting.  Gunnar was also in his red wind suit but at the last minute opted for his new black Lightening McQueen shirt.  It’s special.  McQueen says, “Boo!”

Carter on his new bike!

Sutton

Myers (he’s one month older than Graceanna and always smiling)

I stole this idea from a friend and my lens was not quite wide enough, but I still love it!

And lastly, there’s this beautiful baby girl.  Or rather, little girl.

I Wish I had an Award

This week has been most unusual.  I have had the flu.  I’m not talking just feeling a little under the weather.  I’m talking sick.  Very, very sick.  I was in bed for nearly 48 hours straight.  This flu brought with it terrible body aches.  It brought a severe headache and 103+ temperature.  It brought near unconsciousness at least once and even some nausea and now a sore throat.  So, I was sick.  People go through this every day and I was nowhere near needing to be in the hospital or anything scary at all.  We all knew I would be better in a few days.

The remarkable thing here is that I have a husband who worked his day job from home, made sure I took medicine, fed the kids, cleaned up their messes, and kept them from sure self destruction all while nursing his own terrible sore throat and low fever.  He’s done this day in and day out since Tuesday afternoon when I disappeared to my room only emerging briefly to go to the doctor.  So, that’s a pretty fantastic guy I’m sure you agree.  As much as I’m thankful for all his hard work and it has been hard.

You know what really blows my mind?  He did all this with JOY!

JOY!

JOY to serve Me!  JOY to serve his family!

I wish I had an award to offer.

Instead I’ll just share with you one of my favorite pictures ever.  To me this captures the essence of my Steve: fun, happy, in love with his family, and darn handsome!

I’m definitely on the mend.  We’re not sure if anyone else in the family has had it or not.  If they did, they had a MUCH milder case than mine.  So, we’re monitoring the kids closely for fevers but everyone seems well for now.

She walked!

I’ve found myself super busy this week, so no blog posts so far.  But, I had to drop in to tell you Graceanna took her first steps today!

This morning as I was getting ready for Bible Study, I saw Graceanna stand up unassisted in her play pen.  I couldn’t tell whether or not she was getting some slight help with balance from the edges, but I knew she was not using her hands to pull herself up.  

Off to Bible Study we went.

When I picked her up, I casually asked the really sweet lady if Graceanna walked at all.  She said, “Oh yes.  Several times.  She only took a few steps before she would reach out for something, but she did it several times.” 

I don’t even know why I asked.  I kind of thought she would take her first steps soon, but I never considered it might be today! 

Just the other day I was remembering that Gunnar’s first steps were on a Saturday morning and Steve & I both witnessed it.  I was feeling kind of sad for Steve since he would probably be at work when Graceanna walked.  I never thought we’d both might miss it!   

Even though I wanted to see her first steps, I’m more excited about witnessing what is hopefully a long and full lifetime of her steps.