Mommy Likey

Mommy REALLY, REALLY likey.
I'm posting this link to a really cool website because I want to win this bike! Seriously, how cool is this?
I can totally see myself pedaling along to Baesler's or the P.A.R.K. with McKinley while the leaves fall all around us...ahhhh...too much? lol I know. The real picture will be me huffing it to get to the freaking park as fast as I can before my two year old decides to jump out of the thing and flee. I like the real picture better...but a girl can dream.
Anyway, please, please, please, please, please click the darn link. The more traffic I bring in the more I will be entered.
I love this thing.
Lynn

Bonding over mad monkeys and birthing seahorses

That's exactly what McKinley and Savannah did yesterday...and Robin & me too!

Clearly, we have become zoo people - this being our 3rd trip in a month, but that's just fine with McKinley. You really don't need to twist his arm to ride the train or carousel or visit the dragons or seals. We were doubly excited this trip because we brought Robin & Savannah with us! It was so fun to see the kids together in the back seat, and quite a site when they got quiet and decided to dump their waters onto themselves. Ahhh, TWO two year olds! Just kidding, they were awesome.

I must say, they started out the trip well because as we were loading up I noticed a twinkle in McKinley's eye and a second later the two toddlers gave each other a little friendly kiss. OMG, it was the cutest thing EVER! Totally random and unprompted - and stinking adorable. Soon we were on the road and pondering lunch. We ended up at Culver's in Plainfield where the kids barely ate a bite (though McKinley stole his fair share of Savannah's fries...sorry, Savannah) and instead bounced simultaneously in the booth. Did I mention they didn't stop?

When we finally arrived at the zoo, we were so anxious (as were the kids) that we just went straight to the gate, membership card in hand. We unintentionally lead the attendant to believe we were indeed a married couple. It wasn't until we were loading the stroller did we really realize what she was asking. Oops! So, Robin is my wifey, sorry Cary and Ricky. Though, Robin and I have decided we would rather enjoy the two of you doing the same trick next time...as husband and...well, husband. We would both pay full admission price to the zoo for that sight.

Once the wife and I (HAAAA!) gathered our thoughts about that debacle we started with the sea lions and seals - who were rather chill and obviously giving us a taste of our own medicine by staring right back at us. Very funny! The kids loved the sea exhibits, sharks and all...but Robin and I were captivated by the birthing seahorses. Never in my life...wow. Robin is a nurse in the nursery at our local hospital, so she's seen this a few times...well, not THIS exactly, but close. If I'm not mistaken, I think male seahorses carry the children and give birth. Nice.

We visited some more sights then it was on to the monkeys! We strolled up, placed our kids on the railing FAR away from the actual monkey cages and all hell broke loose - LITERALLY. Evidently we were a threatening sight to the monkeys and every one of them let us know. They were all crazed looking and making these, well, monkey sounds - screeching and screaming. FREAKED.US.OUT. Hordes of zoo visitors came RUNNING to see what the fuss was about...it was humbling to tell them it was all directed at US. It was not a pleasant experience, but one to write down for sure!

Next we headed for a quieter beast...the Elephant show, then it was decided we would ride ponies, then the train and the carousel. The plan went over very well, and I'm pleased to announce that McKinley LOVED his pony ride as much as Savannah. McKinley and Chet, the pony had something in common...a mohawk! Okay, well McKinley's is a FAUX-hawk, but whatever!

Later, we visited some more animals then finished up the day in the splash park where McKinley attempted to douse Robin with cold water and we all tried to convince Savannah to run through the sprinklers. It was so much fun, the perfect end to the day.

On the way home, Savannah was out like a light, but McKinley fought sleep and watched Nemo on the dual DVD players we set up for the kids. We had a wonderful time with Robin & Savannah and can't wait to do it again!

Lynn

P.S. I'm hoping to snatch some pics from Robin's blog...my camera battery died as soon as we got to the zoo!!!

The Perfect Mantra for Today

Ahhh, yet another one of those 'today' posts that was technically yesterday. I'm good at that. It's late and I'm exhausted and desperately need to go to bed, but with Cary & McKinley tucked into bed it's the perfect opportunity to share my thoughts about today.

It was awesome.

Cary had his second to last jury duty in Indy today, so I planned to hit the zoo with McKinley - now that we're members and all - heh heh. We invited Mom, who was thrilled to share the day with McKinley (and MAYBE us too...) and it worked out even more perfectly than I could ever have planned. For some very odd reason Cary and the other jurors were released HOURS early - we hadn't even entered the zoo yet! So, we swung by and picked Cary up and headed off for a fun-filled day!

This zoo visit was thankfully sans rain so there was only one train ride, but we saw many animals and the sweet dolphin show. McKinley had another jaunt in the awesome splash park and he LOVED it. He had us all laughing so hard at some of his silly antics, what a ham.

To end the trip, we visited the gardens and butterfly complex - both were equally beautiful. The gardens reminded me a lot of the Biltmore...on a smaller scale, but just as calming. I even captured a fun pic of these fountain frogs that cracked us all up - aren't they cute??? And while walking the garden grounds, we happened upon this beautiful planter. I love the quote, it was the perfect mantra for today.

Finally, the zoo closed and we headed home - sort of. Tonight was the final night practice for the Colts here at training camp. McKinley was all set to go in his Colts jersey and off we went where we bumped into Lincoln! The boys had fun throwing their footballs for a while and Cary and I plotted our autograph-getting manuevers (we scored a few, but alas, Payton was too busy to stop for our cute boy. Whatever, Payton, whatever). We had such a busy day, but it was a total blast! McKinley even saved his one big fit of the day for the very end...perfect timing. Hey, at least he stops for a great photo op! Too bad the blog won't let me flip the pic the right way...silly thing.

Lynn

Hey Linc! Go long!

A long list of memories

On Thursday I came head-on, face to face, mano a mano with a big dose of reality that I've avoided for 3 and a half years...selling my Dad's beloved truck. I had decided early in the summer that this would be one of my personal goals (like those mentioned in a post below about big decisions), but classically avoided it...until now.
There was this man who appeared on my back doorstep the week of McKinley's birthday party. He was hell bent on convincing me to sell Dad's truck rather than donate it as I had his convertible. I explained that the truck was packed full of memories and was perhaps too painful for me to see on the road. He pushed on, maybe someone could get some good use out of it...someone like him. He made me think (yikes!). So, I told him now was not the time and to give me a few weeks, I promised to consider it...that was all.
Thursday was the day that God sent this man again to my back door. I knew it was time and I instantly was teary-eyed. I felt more comfortable talking with this gentleman about Dad's truck than I had any other hoodlum who'd stopped and asked before - one who even cussed me out, no less. Thankfully, Cary was home on lunch so I wasn't totally alone with this landmark decision. He looked at the truck and made an offer. I cried...stupid, I know...but it's the reality of it. I went inside to think clearly - and cry some more, and came out with a strange determination. Okay, sold.
OMG.
I asked that he give me until 5pm so I could clean it out ... and wrap my head around the fact that this piece of metal would now leave my life forever. It had been in my life almost as long as my Dad.
The afternoon was tough, but not as tough as those final moments as the man pulled my Dad's truck - now his - out of our driveway and onto its new home. My heart broke a little more then...not from the loss of a material item, but it further confirmed that my Dad really is gone. I've lived with those simple words everyday since December 1, 2005 - Dad is gone - but it is no easier today than it was then. I miss him with all my heart, there isn't a day that goes by without the thought of a phone call or a funny life moment he would appreciate, a great photo I happen to shoot of McKinley...and McKinley himself, oh how he has missed out on having this man as his Grandpa.
As I cried, I very quickly settled this new fact of life in...the truck is gone, but those memories are always there! I know with as much certainty as I can muster that
#1 This was the right time for ME to let go
#2 That this was indeed the man who should have this classic truck
#3 That life would go on without that truck sitting unused in my driveway and it would be a better truck for having run as it was intended to.
I also know that God and my Dad had a hand in this. The man's name is Mike. He was even a little taken aback when he saw my Dad's floor mats - Tazmanian Devil with MIKE imprinted beneath. He'd had those for a long time and it was only fitting that our Mike (Dad) should pass on his funny little floor mats to the new Mike.
The new Mike promised, without my even asking, that he would take excellent care of this truck and that he would bring it by again when he had it fixed up and looking like a million bucks. That made me feel so good.
I never thought I could do this, I mean I know it's metal...but it personified my Dad. EVERYBODY knew Dad in his truck. He loved that thing and took excellent care of it from day one. I remember how he proudly informed me a few months before he died that he'd rolled a quarter of a million miles on that thing. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
Finally, the hardest part of watching the truck go - this long list of memories that has been constantly running through my mind;
The cold, wintry day that Dad fooled me into taking a drive (me driving at the age of about 12 - eager to jump behind the wheel as he always let me). He drove me to the coal mine near our home, shut down for the winter, pulled up this HUGE hill, parked and instructed me to get out, switch to 4WD and move us up the hill...in snow...old fashioned snow, lots of it! I think I peed my pants a little that day, but I never forgot laughing nervously as I tried so hard to do everything the way he'd taught me.
Then there's that time, after the divorce of my parents, that he spotted me cruising Wabash with my girlfriends. He pulled over, as did I and we chatted - which back then was about as much talking as we were 'allowed' to do because of his girlfriend. It was a fun opportunity to share my weekend events with Dad.
I remember driving to Southern Indiana to get tires for the truck with Mom and Dad. We stayed in a hotel that night and left the next day to get the tires, on our way home Mom and Dad surprised me with a special stop to pick up my beloved dog, Mac (weird to think we now have McKinley...another Mac!). I had no idea we were getting a dog and I was so excited!
I laugh out loud when I think of riding in the truck as a family...we would hit a bump and Mom would giggle and complain about the truck being so bouncy...it wasn't good on the boobs. She's going to kill me when she reads this.
That was the truck he took me to my Grandparents' house to see my Grandpa just after Dad had found my Grandmother - who had passed away in her sleep. That was a quiet drive.
We took that truck shooting together, we took that truck to dance class together, we took that truck sledding in Deming Park together. We loaded up gobs of wedding gifts in that truck together...me in a beautiful wedding gown, him looking dapper and so happy in a tuxedo.
Then, there was that time that we committed to repairing our injured relationship - post divorce, post girlfriend, post bitterness and anger...in that truck at L.S. Ayres on Christmas Eve, 1998. Thank God I have a picture of that day.
I miss my Dad so very badly, and I have hated having to do these things at such a relatively young age. But I am evermore thankful every day to have been given all of these beautiful memories, especially those in a red and white Chevy with a quarter of a million miles logged.
This truly is the end of an era.
Lynn

Pasting 101

Since our big decision to wait another 6 months to begin McKinley's preschool (see post below), I have made a commitment to myself to give McKinley the opportunity to have some play and learn sessions with me that might prep him for what is to come. McKinley is such a curious child, eager to do any and everything - this was a must! ***plus I am hoping it'll be a great thing to transition inside to keep our boy pleasantly occupied and away from too much television when the weather turns cold***

Today was our first lesson! My lesson plan is pretty tough; it consists of a lot of free play to promote McKinley's creativity and an endless array of projects and learning moments. Pretty tough, huh? I'm no home-schooler, so I'm winging it...we'll see what happens.

So, Welcome to Pasting 101! I've done a little research on age appropriate crafts and basic skills, the easiest place for us to start was Pasting 101! Thanks to my scrapbooking obsession we have an ample (and near endless) supply of paper, glue, cards, boards and lots of paste-able stuff to work with. So, I set off to cut out some shapes and squiggles with solid and patterned paper and set it up on the patio (pasting with a 2 year old inside...not good) and off we went on a new adventure!

At first I guided McKinley on what to do but gave him complete creative license on where to paste his glued goods. Pretty soon he had the whole thing down pat and was off to pasting and patting down the papers. It was darling to watch because he was really enjoying himself and his new craft and the finished product is the perfect little treat to stick in the mail for those grandparents he loves so much!

Can't wait for next week and a new lesson!

Lynn

Big Decisions

This summer has been chock full of many decisions for our family...big, milestone decisions. I'm so pleased with the outcome, but most pleased with today's BIG decision.

At the end of June we were finally at the top of the list for a wonderful preschool/day care facility we've been on the waiting list for since I was SIX months PREGNANT. We took the tour, went through the interviews and paid our registration fee intending McKinley to start preschool two weeks from now.

As the days and weeks passed, Cary and I were both apprehensive about putting McKinley in preschool too quickly. We know the facility is the right one for us, we also know that McKinley would easily adjust to the children, the socialization and the new routine...but would we?

Tomorrow is the final day to turn in our registration paperwork and the crazy stack of stuff...and today is the day I called the preschool to tell them we wanted to wait until next semester.

We're not prolonging the inevitable here, just buying a little more time of pure enjoyment with McKinley before he starts that long and seemingly never-ending (just ask me, the life time learner) task of getting an education. I am happy to wait a little longer. Matter of fact, I am thrilled; absolutely thrilled.

Another headline decision we've made this summer is stopping the paci (conquered one week ago, thank you very much!). I am a proud, proud paci-giving mama who felt very good about sticking that thing in my son's mouth at two days old. No regrets, especially when I found that new research encourages a pacifier and promises it does more good than harm. But it was time. I'm proud of McKinley for taking it like a 2 year old and giving it up. He asks about it now and then, but no fits, no nothin'.

Mama Bear (and maybe Papa Bear too???) might be having a hard time facing facts that the baby is now a kiddo - full on, opinionated, temper tantrum throwing, loving and super-cuddly kiddo. I'm glad there will be no more paci and no preschool for a few more months. Now I've got to get busy cookin' up some fall fun for the family to enjoy!

Lynn

(Above: photo taken in our hotel room on Dunes vacation. McKinley tried on my 'fip fops'.)

Bittersweet End to a Busy Vacation

Ahhh, it's so nice to be home! But it stinks that Cary has to go back to work tomorrow...blah.

What a wonderful two weeks we all had together, we did so many things! Last week we did a little resting, a little zoo exploration, a little paci weaning, a little golf (well...not me, Cary), a little family visiting and a little bit of nothing. It was great.

The zoo was super fun for all of us. Despite the fact that it started raining...and raining...and raining just twenty minutes after we arrived, we made the best of it by taking little breaks beneath a shelter or just sucking it up and getting a little wet - or in McKinley's case absolutely soaked. It seems our boy has it ingrained in his head to jump into every puddle he can find - and on lookers took notice too! Two guys even rooted him on! Very funny to see. I'm not surprised he loved the puddles, I loved a good afternoon of rainy-day play when I was a kid. No, really...I did! It was probably that frilly purple and white heart umbrella, huh?

We rode the train over and over (when it rained) and almost got dizzy from riding the carousel so many times. We saw bears and eagles and Nemo's and sharks (UGH!) and a woman with horns on her head. No kidding. As in, she OPTED to have them surgically placed there. Seriously. We really knew we were at the zoo then!

We stayed after the park closed to the public for the members-only jazz in the park where McKinley splashed in the splash park for an hour. It was such a great trip! McKinley even found a strange surprise in the sewer drain on our way out - look closely!

So much we didn't get to see! So, we're going back!

Lynn