Chugga Choo Choo!!!!!!!!!

Dear Deming Park,

I was nervous about the train this year...it's been a very cold Spring, not to even mention the rain, storms and the now Mother-Nature-Made POND that sits in the center of the circle turn of the train tracks. But you came through! Cary noticed the posting on the park sign a month ago and we've literally been counting down to today ever since. McKinley has mastered the calendar between school and counting down to Disney last year, and now the train, so he KNEW today was the day!

The beloved train is aging, the track has seen some challenges over the last few years, but somehow she keeps chuggin' along!

So, after McKinley's soccer game today we headed for the park. We purchased our tickets and McKinley chose our seat. We took a nice easy ride around the park, McKinley smiled the entire way. Once we were finished I offered to take a photo of McKinley in front of the train, as I was snapping away the girl running the train offered to let McKinley UP ON THE TRAIN for a photo op. He was so excited but so serious about his new little adventure. It was sweet...I appreciate the chance to let him do that!

So, thanks again...this will be the first on many train rides this summer for our family!

We are proud of a really unique Terre Haute tradition!

Lynn

Birthday party and a new friend for McKinley

We traveled to my Godparents home for Shelby's birthday party. I cannot believe she is really 14. Not cool. She is so not a little girl anymore, but a sweet young lady...but still, it makes me feel old.

Anyway, we had a lovely time with everyone. The food was great, the company wonderful as always, and the cake? Yum. But it was McKinley who really cut loose and had the time of his life...running after a long-legged girl.

Her name is Clara. She is the youngest daughter of good friends of Shelby's parents. Clara is 4, an older woman.

This was not the first meeting between McKinley and Clara, however it was the first time they took notice of each other.

McKinley had been standing in the kitchen of Honey's house, with his lame parents trying to figure out what he could do to liven up the joint. Then she walked in from the back yard. His eyes lit up. She stopped in her tracks with a stand-offish look on her face. He said:
"My name is McKinley. It starts with M-c-K-i-n-l-e-y"

Clara, still with that look: "My name is Clara, it's C-l-a-r-a"

He'd met his match!

McKinley: "I'm 3 and a half"

Clara: "I'm 4"

McKinley: "Let's go!"

Clara: "Okay!"

and that was the last I saw of my boy, except the occasional streak of two bodies blazing by.

They chased each other, they visited a nearby coy pond, they swung on a porch swing, the skipped rocks with Cary, they made new friends with the neighbors, they did it all.

McKinley was out of breath trying to keep up with Clara's really long legs, but he was a champ!

They ran and ran and ran until Cary and I were literally at our wits end ready to scream because McKinley wouldn't even listen and the kids were running through neighbor's yards (which was okay with the neighbors but not a common practice for the Vernon's...call us strict, I guess).

The evening ended with two very happy, very tired children.

We had a great time with Shelby and family, and really enjoyed watching McKinley make another new friend.

Lynn

BOWLING!

Wahooooo! We finally did it! The Vernon fam and the Semmler fam finally got together for BOWLING! It's kind of become a joke between us...wanna go bowling? Yeah and it doesn't happen! Various reasons occur (one time McKinley kind of got in trouble. That was NOT a quiet night. A tough lesson, but part of it...) sometimes the alley closes earlier than we anticipated. Sometimes there are leagues. Sometimes dinner runs late. Sometimes there are...well, anything can happen really. I truly think we have attempted this five times at least.

But THIS TIME! This time we made it happen and it was a BLAST! I had so much fun with my hubby and friends, but I must confess that my very favorite part was watching McKinley, Savannah and Austin on their own lane, screaming with delight and running around like our crazy kiddos do. The most adorable thing started...I do not know who's idea it was but so precious. McKinley or Savannah would make their shot then jump to their bellies to watch and wait patiently to see how many pins would be knocked down. They waited a while...occasionally I thought we could hear crickets and the theme to The Andy Griffith Show as the ball traveled ever so slowly down the lane, as if on a leisurely Sunday stroll. The kids didn't care how slow the ball was, they squealed with glee each and every time the ball reached the pins! Seriously, too cute for words.

The "adults" had their own lane...yours truly really blew it. Oh my gosh, no one tell my Mom just how poorly I bowled (she was a big bowler before I was born...I mean trophies, people). I've never been GREAT at bowling (well, except on the Wii...I rock on the Wii) but tonight I STUNK. BAD.

However, Cary and Rick had a nice little rivalry happening. I was cheering on my sweet hubby and he was doing so well! He's such a natural at every sport he touches. Rick won. Not by much though.

Pretty soon we realized we had again closed the place down. Time to head home! The kids were all exhausted but we all had the best time! So excited we finally got to play. Better start planning the next time now....ha!

Lynn

Sweet, Heartfelt & Handmade

It's Mother's Day and this morning I was greeted by a grinning boy who was so eager to deliver, open and present my very first handmade Mother's Day gift. I practically melted right into the sheets (did I mention I was still in bed???) when a little brown bag decorated with glued-on construction paper flowers and a construction paper card (with matching flowers) was given to me. McKinley handed me the card, inside was a little 5 line story about me, as translated by Miss Kymberli. It read:
My Mom is 6 years old... (I guess this is what 6 looks like. Better than 32.)

Inside the brown paper, flower-adorned bag was the most precious recycled bottle I have ever laid eyes on. It was covered in colorful tissue paper, resembling stained glass. It is my very first handmade gift from my son. I love it. I adore it.
McKinley immediately explained that it is to hold a candle and that we should use our Halloween ones that you switch on (battery operated votives in orange and black), so he ran to get one. Then he further explained that the bottle looks like the windows in the church, and he is right, it is so beautiful. I was so touched. The sweet gift is going on our dresser in our bedroom. I will look at it every day.
My sweet boy...he is precious!

After that sweet exchange we started getting ready for Mother's Day Brunch at Claddaugh in Plainfield. We picked Mom up and were on our way to the yummiest brunch I have EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. OH MY GOODNESS that Shepard's Pie was incredible. McKinley, fellow non-meat eater, could NOT get enough of the ham, which did smell amazing. Everything was insanely delicious, the desserts were crazy-good. McKinley enjoyed the chocolate fondue and we all sampled this double chocolate cake. Oh gosh, my mouth is watering. We WILL be back for their brunches. DELICIOUS.

Once that to-die-for brunch was over we did some shopping at Metropolis and headed home. McKinley and Cary gave me an iPhone for Mother's Day, which is a lot of fun...and addicting...and the apps! OH THE APPS! Good times!

What a special, special Mother's Day for me...and it all began with a sweet little surprise just two days before.
Life is good.
I am beyond blessed and thankful more than words can express.
Being a mother is the craziest, most difficult, trying, and emotionally challenging (in good ways and in bad) job but there is absolutely none more rewarding. I love being McKinley Shane's Mommy and look forward to the future of our wonderful family.
Thank you, Cary and McKinley for the best Mother's Day yet!
I love you both so very, very much,
Lynn

Poignant...

I was literally standing in the exact same spot where I watched that plane burst into the tower. This time, nearly 10 years later, I read that the creator (I simply CANNOT use the term 'mastermind') of that tragic madness that seemed beyond any reality I could have ever known was dead. Finally.
Admittedly, I am not all that comfortable with the idea to 'celebrate' someone's death in the sense of being GLAD they are no longer on this Earth...but at the same time, this man equals destruction, hurt, pain, fear, anguish and so much more...just evil. I pray for those he terrorized. I pray for those lost on 9/11/01. I pray for every single family member who has been victimized by his actions - around the world.
I am not here to judge, only to say that it is honestly a triumph for humankind.
Humankind.

He certainly lacked Human Kindness.

Praying for Peace,
Lynn

FIESTA! ...and EASTER Stuff!!!

What a week!!!!!!!!

Thursday was McKinley's Easter Party at school. It was a small little party, just the three year olds, and it was first thing in the morning, so when I signed up to bring the treats Miss Kymberli and I agreed it shouldn't be cupcakes at 8a.m.! So, instead I made strawberry shortcake kabobs...oh my goodness were they yummy! They are pictured just below McKinley and I. Miss Kymberli gave me the recipe and I must say I banked it for future occasions. Delish!

The party was a lot of fun, with two activities (foam egg decorating and cross bracelet making) before the treat. But the best part was the egg hunt for the kiddos. McKinley had so much fun! He found his 12 eggs very quickly and set out to make sure his peeps got all of theirs too, showing Dominic and Eleanor where to grab the last of theirs. All the kids looked so sweet with their coke-bottle baskets (that's a keeper!) and dressed up so sweetly. I love having the opportunity to go to McKinley's events...even when I've had to wake up at 5am and pick up fresh donut holes from Baesler's with no make up and a wet head before Cary leaves for work. So worth it...and yes, I totally ducked in the back door and didn't see a soul. However, the bakery folks did give me some funny looks when they saw my wet hair...and me without make up. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday evening we attended McKinley's very first Spring Concert at school. This year's theme was a Fiesta, and what fun it was! Every class sang a song in Spanish, including McKinley's preschool! All the performances we watched were so impressive...but our favorite was the preschool. Their performance of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" stole the show. They sang a verse in Spanish, a verse in English and ended with another verse in Spanish...with the hand motions! Awesome!

McKinley rocked it...his little fingers were a-walking just like a spider. He was in the front row, looking so handsome. It was precious. And yes...I totally cried. Can't help it people....

Sunday, of course, was Easter. I probably say this every year, but this one was my favorite so far. McKinley was so into the Easter Bunny, but more so into the 'real story of Easter'. We've always incorporated the real story (in a very simplified version), but in school it was even more detailed and complex and the children totally got it and enjoyed their lessons. It was so special to see McKinley randomly select a person to tell about the story of Easter. For instance, on a whim last Monday we drove to Plainfield to eat at Claddaugh (a favorite of ours) and do a little shopping (Dick's for the boys, Ulta and Target for Mommy). At Claddaugh our server was really taken by McKinley and kept going on and on about him...so he just kept chatting away and then launched into this: "I've got to tell you something. I have to tell you about the Story of Easter" and he gave her a shortened version (Jesus was on a cross, they nailed him up there. Bad people put him there because they didn't like him, and he died. But he came back! They rolled away the stone and he was gone! ). I was a little nervous - I mean, religion and politics, right??? Social faux pas, but in the eyes of a child it is so very special to hear this come out in such a heartfelt way, so we were not about to stop him...quite proud actually. But seriously, you never know who you could offend. Our server was so nice, she played along with him and thanked him for sharing that beautiful story. It was so sweet.

So, back to Easter...McKinley was tickled to see the Easter Bunny had arrived and left some fun goodies...and he had hidden eggs! I started our holiday brunch and we got ready for church, Mom stopped by for a few minutes and soon we were off for Easter Mass. It was a packed house so we sat way up by the confessionals which are now padlocked and rarely used. I noticed McKinley was trying so hard to concentrate on the beautiful music, the choir and everything going on but he could not stop looking at the confessional.

In a moment of sheer childhood innocence he leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Mommy? What's that right there?" pointing to the confessional.

Me: "It's a confessional. It's the place where we go talk to the priest if we need to."
McKinley: "Mommy? Is that where Jesus is going to come out?"

Me, biting my lip very, very hard: "Ummmm, no, McKinley he won't come out of there, it's locked and no one uses anymore."

McKinley: "Okay, but Jesus isn't going to come out of there?"

Me: "No. He won't actually be HERE today"

McKinley: "Where is he? Is he coming or not?"

Me: "Uhhhhhh...." blank...

Cary: "Yes, he will be here someday."
Thank goodness that did pacify McKinley's inquisitive mind for the time being...thank you to Cary for picking up on that.

Regardless, it was the funniest thing that McKinley was sure Jesus would come flying out of the confessional right next to us. Ahhh, the innocence of a child.

After church we went home for brunch, an egg hunt and to get ready to venture to Bloomington for Easter dinner at Grandma Vernon's.

We had a great time there with Cary's family, and Nana (Grandma Vernon) couldn't get enough of McKinley, who - by request - performed The Itsy Bitsy Spider, in Spanish for the whole family.

McKinley had the best time playing with his cousins in the rain (which is all it ever does anymore....) and 'bumping' down the stairs on their bums. It was a great holiday!

We have had a really crazy week, but all the activities have been so fun and so special.

Happy Easter!

Lynn