Great work, honey!

As promised, here are some pictures from the weekend--worm hunting, helping dad, and the beginnings of our new lanDscaping (yes, I can spell).

Landscaping

is hard work. Not that I did any of that work this weekend; I didn't. But Kris took out all the overgrown plants, dug out old stone and weakening brick, and place three layers of new landscaping stone around the front of our house. It looks great! I'll take a pic when it's all finished. He even had to ask our neighbor to come over with his 4wheeler, tie a chain around a bush root, and use the 4wheeler to yank the dang thing out of the ground!

The boys loved "helping" dad, which for Ross meant flinging shovel-fulls of dirt across the front yard. I think Grant carried about 4 stones before deciding they were too heavy. They also collected about 30 worms from the wet dirt Kris was hauling in from the back yard.

I love my big, strong, ambitious man!

Our last lazy summer weekend...

has been great so far. Today was humid and rainy, so we did stuff like dance to music, watch movies, and play with playdoh. I even made a new dish for dinner that everyone liked. It's called summer saute and it's super easy. Just saute some kielbasa sausage (sliced), set aside, saute chopped zucchini in the juices w/oregano, diced onions, and garlic salt, add the sausage back in, brown for a while, and top off with 3 chopped roma tomatoes Great flavor! Kris built a fire on the fire pit tonight and we hung out with the neighbors. The boys ran around like crazy, Hope drove her truck back and forth on the driveway, and we all relaxed and enjoyed each other's company.

To top off the day, Grant lost his very first tooth! He pulled it out himself and was so excited. The tooth fair is on her way now. Check out the pics and the mini video of Hope dancing to Funkytown.

Hangover...

is just about the funniest movie EVER!!!! Kris and I went last night with another couple (yes, a date AND a social evening with another couple we enjoy). I haven't laughed that hard at a movie since Dumb and Dumber. Kris went to it while he was in Mississippi, and he loves it so much that last night was his fourth time seeing it. If you haven't seen it, you should go!

A Valuable Reminder

I'm on a mailing list called Early Childhood Newslink. Every month or so I get an email with a link to new articles and info. One of the links this time was to a blog written by John Funk, an adjunct EC professor and Manager of Educational Programs. His post, There's Always Ice Cream, really made me pause--he reminded me that although we adults often live through experiences with the end in mind (When Christmas vacation comes, I can..., When she sleeps through the night, then I will...), children don't think this way. They live in the moment. Mr. Funk reflected on how this perspective on life must make a child feel when he is stuck in a classroom with a negative, unwelcoming teacher all.year.long. He suspects it feels like being trapped in a cage every day.

While I have often felt sad for children who have to suffer through an entire school year in that environment, what really got to me--convicted me, perhaps--was wondering how often my children have felt like that in their own home. How many times a day do I say, "In a minute," or "Just a SECOND!"? Why do I so often place a higher priority on loading the dishwasher, cleaning up the kitchen, or vacuuming when my kids ask me to play or go outside or whatever? I think, for me, it's because I feel very unsettled when there are messes around me or tasks to complete. But you know what? I have to remember that there will always be laundry, and dirty dishes, and crumb-covered counters, and dog hair all over the carpet, and on and on and on. However, my children will not always be 7, 3, and 1. They won't always want to build legos, or play Wii, or play catch, or go to the park with me. Unfortunately, it's much easier to write this than it is to make myself set the tasks aside and live in the moment. Hopefully, blogging about it will make me a little more accountable.

Please take one minute to read Mr. Funk's post. It was a valuable reminder for this busy mom; maybe it will touch you, too.

http://eceducation.blogspot.com/2009/07/theres-always-ice-cream.html

VEGAS, BABY!

Last Friday night my sister, Bonnie, my mom, and I flew out of Fargo to Las Vegas for a long weekend (came back Monday night). Bonnie's been to Vegas 4 times and loves to travel and arrange trips, so she led the way. Mom, who paid the way (THANK YOU, MOM!),hadn't been there since 1972 (while I was in utero, no less), so I guess you could say that she and I were "Vegas Virgins." Well, I was totally won over. I didn't understand why Bonnie and Thad kept going back every year, but now I get it. It's such a fun, relaxing, busy, exciting place. I am definitely going back, and taking Kris with me next time!

We had a total blast. We stayed at The Wynn. I've been spoiled by the lush digs. I think my favorite part was lounging by the beautiful pool for 3 hours every morning. I actually have a bit of a tan now. A close second was seeing the musical Jersey Boys. Wow. Absolutely outstanding. Wait. I take that back. The best part was spending so much time laughing with Bonnie and Mom. I laughed so hard I actually started crying at one point! Yes, Bonnie can still get ready in record time while I seem to take forever. Bonnie calls me the turtle of the family. I'm pretty sure I embarassed her more than once--like when I started dancing to the music playing outside the Bellagio as we waited for the water fountain show, and I KNOW I ticked her off when I made the fake puke sound after my whopping three glasses of wine. Those of you who know my sister are well aware that she has a total vomit phobia. She kept asking me if I was going to throw up, telling me not to go to bed yet or I'd get "the spins" (huh?), so I finally walked over to her bed and "bleahhch"ed right in her face. Even mom laughed! I know mom had a great time with her girls, too--and we loved spending the weekend with her.

Since I forgot my camera, Bonnie has all the pics. You can see some of them on her blog: http://tbrko.blogspot.com/. Maybe I'll post a few when I get copies.

I love you, girls! Thanks for the amazing trip!

DADDY'S HOME!!!!

Kris made it home safe and sound today at noon. After we had our own reunion, we went to Joyce's to pick up the kids. The boys ran to him and welcomed him home with bear hugs. Ross in particular leaped into Kris's arms and held on tight for several minutes. You can see the emotion in the pictures. Hope was a little nervous at first, but she never cried, and she's been smiling and saying, "Daddy daddy!" ever since. Thank you to Mom and Bonnie for helping me hang on to a few shreds of sanity these last two weeks--they've been the toughest. You took on so much, and I can never thank you enough.

Kris, I love you so much. We are all thrilled to have you home again!