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

Mini-Vacay to the Dunes

We've just returned from a really wonderful BEACH vacation...in Indiana. Yes, that's INDIANA. Who knew?!

Ahhh...just spent the last four days in a beach community among waves and sand and seagulls all in our own Hoosier state - and our stay was awesome.

Delayed due to construction, we were unable to get to our hotel in time to do what we had orginally planned (having dinner with our friends, The Joppek Family), so we had to rearrange. Once we finally arrived at our hotel we quickly loaded up again and headed out for a quick dinner (Noodles & Co - we HIGHLY recommend!) and tried to catch the double feature at the local drive-in movie theater, The 49'er. What a great atmosphere! We'd never been (at least, not that we can remember) and it was obviously McKinley's very first movie at a theater, so it made for some great memories. We popped the hatch in the Murano, plopped down, munched on some popcorn and watched the movie (G-Force - which, sorry Disney, we don't recommend). It was late, so we didn't make it through the second feature, but we didn't care...we had a wonderful time and the pics prove it.

The next day the three of us headed to a small town called Chesterton for their weekly European Market. Cary and I joked that we felt like Ina & Jeffrey from Barefoot Contessa as we strolled through the lot taking in the sights and sounds, sampling cheeses and smelling gorgeous flowers. We ended up with some delicious blueberries, crusty whole-grain bread, herb-infused monterey jack cheese and some freshly baked cookies for an impromtu beach picnic, plus we scored some HUGE zucchini and summer squash to take home and a very large beef chew for Luther. I was in awe, this open-air market was incredible!

We took our yummy treats and headed to the Indiana Dunes State Park. As we made our way from the parking lot to the beach I was completely gobstruck at the number of people. For a second I thought it was 1999 and I was back at South Padre! It was packed! We made our way down, McKinley holding down the sand toys and such while riding in his wagon, spread our blankets and prepared for some fun in the sun.

We didn't expect to have THAT much fun, but we did. So much fun, in fact that we stayed ALL day. We kept reloading on the sunscreen and seeking shade under our little fort in between trips to the water. McKinley really enjoyed his new sand toys - a bday gift from the Joppek's, and loved building sand castles and sifting for rocks with Mommy & Daddy.

As the crowd cleared a little the three of us went out into the water where McKinley could easily walk out about 10 or 15 feet. We splashed and jumped and threw rocks and just let the waves rush in on us.
I didn't want to leave, it was gorgeous and relaxing. The perfect break we needed.







That night it was pizza and a swim in the pool - then we all seriously dropped! SO FUN!

The next morning we headed out to go visit with the Joppek's. McKinley and Lila had fun in the backyard and Lila even thought to share her smarties with McKinley. It was a nice visit and we were so glad to get to spend some time with them!

The rest of the day we shopped, swam and enjoyed dinner at our favorite restaurant in Valparaiso, Pesto's. YUM!

I just can't say enough about how much we enjoyed ourselves. I'm ready to plan our next trip to the BEACH!

Lynn

P.S. In honor of our sweet Lincoln we took this picture for his Mommy & Daddy, BECAUSE........It's LINCOLN'S WAY or the HIGHWAY! ;-)

Sweet Little Moments

I'm posting much later than I'd like to be, however today was a very busy day - so fit it in where ya can!

Technically speaking this happened YESTERDAY, since YESTERDAY was like 50 minutes ago...but I'm calling it today since I'm still up. hahaha

TODAY McKinley had some seriously cute moments that I had to blog about. I have only been blogging about big things lately and not the small things that I love so much. Don't get me wrong - the big stuff is awesome, and GOD KNOWS I live for a party, but little moments like these - ahhh, the stuff life is made of;

While getting McKinley ready for bed, Cary was sitting on the recliner in McKinley's room while I did the pj's. Cary was playing with this pretty rosary someone gave me that I have hanging on the lamp. McKinley, Mr. Inquisitive said, 'What's that???!!!' I told him it was a rosary and could he say ROSARY?

He said, 'ROSIE!!!'

We laughed out loud.

Cary asked, 'McKinley, what is this again?'

'ROSIE!'

So, fellow Catholics, the new chic term for rosary is none other than...ROSIE! Consider it the short version.

I sat down to do bedtime stories tonight, after we were done McKinley jumped down from my lap and was gone. I called for Cary, 'Where is McKinley???'

'I don't know...'

uh huh.

I found McKinley tucked neatly under Daddy's arm...in our bed. CUTE!

We asked if McKinley wanted to lay with Daddy for a little while - why not??? It's Cary's much deserved vacation. He said, 'Lay down with Daddy!' So, Cary asked that McKinley tell me good night. Here's where the tears come...McKinley said, 'Mommy - kiss?' and he grabbed my face and pulled me down to kiss him, where he then held my face for a few more seconds and said, 'Good night, Mommy.'

Oh my heavens.

In that moment my heart melted.

I have the most cuddly, sweet-hearted lover boy ever. I swear I do.

When he requests, 'Mommy, cuddle?' some mornings I could just cry...and sometimes I do! lol

I love little moments like these that make everything happy and good in the world.

Sweet, sweet little moments.

Lynn

Little Getaways and Big Milestones

Just got back from those monthly trips to Indy that we've been doing for over a year now. We're close to being done...two more months and Cary's juror days are o.v.e.r.

This time, while Cary worked McKinley and Mommy played! We had so much fun in the pool at the hotel - the first day that is all we did all day long! McKinley loves to be in the water, so we swam and kicked on his little aligator kick board, then he jumped into my arms from the side of the pool - he loved it. Every few minutes we would watch a big airplane coming in for a landing - seriously a close up view. McKinley was obsessed. He's say, 'Here comes, Mommy!!!' when we'd hear the engine roar.

The best part of THAT day happened while we watched for one of these planes to come in. McKinley and I were counting down until we'd see another plane when out of no where he started counting to 10...on his own...unprompted by me. I nearly swallowed the pool. Yuck, but worth it.

On our last day it rained...and rained...and rained. So, we packed up where Cary dropped us off at Chase Tower to eat at the Bistro -it was VERY cool and McKinley really enjoyed watching all the buses. There were a LOT of buses.

Later we headed off for the Children's Museum where we stood in lines all day long. Never have I seen this place so flipping packed! The construction is done and it's unreal. The convenience is outstanding, I'm seriously impressed. Doctors offices should be run like this. Oh wait...my Mom's is! lol

Anyway, we rounded the corner and McKinley let out this loud giggle - he knew exactly where he was. Unfortunately, once again we had to wait in line to go into the playscape, but when we did McKinley went into action. He was everywhere, but he did spent a lot of time at this giant wooden box that has doors (surprise --- doors!) and gobs of foam blocks to shove inside. So that's what he did...in and out with the blocks. Until this precious Brittish Boy came up to McKinley and took a block. The Dad was not happy and immediately insisted he return the block. I told him it was okay and that McKinley was just throwing them. The young boy came right up to me and said *insert cute, thick Brittish accent* "Excuuuse me, might I play with your son's blooocks as well? We'd like to put them on the traaaaain."
I melted.

At that moment if there'd been a block on the ceiling I would have gotten it for this sweet, polite child with the darling accent.

He kept it up too...he interacted with McKinley, crawling in and out of the giant box, swapping blooocks and telling me stories of his train loading adventures. He's say, 'Ohhh! This would fit lovely on the traaaain.' I was mezmerized. This sweet family, oh, they were so polite and had the best accents! I wanted to invite them to dinner with my family but thought it perhaps a bit stalker-ish.

I'll never forget that little Brittish boy and his blooocks. Cute.

So, on with the play! McKinley, who had been equally as entranced with the Brittish boy, eventually moved on to other great places; the water table (where he only wanted to dunk his hands and then go hit the button on the hand dryer), the sand table (where he thought it might be fun to jam his rake into the sand and then stick it in his mouth real fast - ugh), the lawnmower (where I served as guardian of the public's feet - you are all very welcome), coloring (where we made rubbings of a carousel horse) and loads of sliding, climbing, scooting and rolling.

I finally persueded McKinley away from the playscape - reluctantly, of course - to come with me to see those pretty horsies again. I even promised an elevator ride - so much for trying to fit in extra walking, my kid LOVES the elevator, especially those big, bright buttons.

We got up to the carousel and my heart sank...we had to pick up Cary soon and the LINE was FIFTEEN minutes long. I didn't care, we have to do this, it's OUR tradition! So, I got a token and prayed the line would move quickly...and it did! We were on there in no time! McKinley picked out his own horse this time, I strapped him in and off we went! He was even bold enough to gently push my protective arm away as if to say, "I got it Mom. I'm a big boy now." Little did he know, my arm was still there, grazing his back. hee hee hee

We had a great time on this trip, those Children's Museum visits are so much fun. Can't say enough about it!

Good times!

Lynn

How about a Handy Manny Party?

Today was McKinley's 2nd birthday party - it is completely nuts to try to come to grips with the fact that our precious baby pictured all the way over there on the left is a full blown two year old...baby no more. So, before I get into all the party festivities Cary and I had planned I've got some deep thinking I have to add.
There are times in my life where I have to practically step back out of a moment to take a breath. It catches me completely off guard when it happens. God has truly blessed us with some amazing people and equally amazing moments - all who have made me appreciate life in a way I never thought possible. Today I had a lot of those moments:
*People who will, in friendship drop everything they are doing to help a girl out who just went into full crisis mode because of some ground beef and balloons.
*The beautiful children who surround us in our daily lives.
*Seeing my friends' families grow and expand and watching all these people interact and interconnect.
*People who will take time out of their busy lives just to be with our son and watch him blow out candles on his Handy Manny Toolbox cake.
*Grandparents who will risk embarassment by wearing a retro Chi-Chi's host/hostess costume for their Grandchild's Fiesta just to see him smile.
*A husband who jumps at the chance to pull around a bunch of kids in a wagon - all while donning a sombrero and laughing the whole time.

Through a very difficult time I went through a few years ago, I've learned that life, for me is all about making the most out of this short time we are given on Earth. I think there are about 30 or 40 people who did that today right along with me! What an amazing day to spend with friends and family.

So, the party...
Put behind immediately due to the caterers not having our food ready, then not having given us the right amount of MEAT for TACOS (uh meat for 6 instead of SIXTY). Kylie came to the rescue and we had meat! All the phone calls I had to make left me with no time to prep the taco bar, in step Mary and Barb and everyone else who helped dice tomatoes, avacados and onions, run cheese, sour cream and other fixings to the food table and so many other wonderful helpers who fixed the mishap. Whew. Insane.

Finally, bellies were full and it was time to party! All the kids gathered around the giant freezer box sketched with Handy Manny's storefront (courtesy of Nonna). Each child wore an over-sized t-shirt with McKinley's 2nd Birthday screen printed on the front (I made them - I'm so proud!!!) then grabbed a set of paints (washable...) and an array of brushes and off they went! It was so cute to watch and the kids were well occupied for a long time. Savannah painted her toes (and foot...) purple, Lila only wanted pink, Lincoln wanted to taste the paint (non toxic...), Reagan stayed in the lines, McKinley used his fingers and the Gatrell kids tried splatter art, added words and even some blotting. The end result is pretty sweet, Manny would be proud.
Moving on...PINATA TIME! We hung the giant "2", filled with 4 pounds of candy from a tree and let each child take a whack. Mary delivered the pinata-busting blow then her big brother, Forrest sent candy flying - EVERYWHERE. I'm proud to say McKinley displayed some excellent technique with the Pinata Stick. That is clearly inherited from Daddy...not me. Like I had to tell anyone that.
On to the cake! All the grandparents and Cary and I climbed into my old Chi-Chi's uniforms (yes, we STILL have them...) and paraded outside with the tool box cake. McKinley did a pretty good job with his candles and LOVED us singing the Happy Birthday song. It was so cute.
McKinley had a fantastic time and we hope everyone else did too.
We had so much to do that we barely opened 5 of McKinley's gifts! We're adding that to the to-do list tomorrow on McKinley's official birthday. We were just too wiped!
Check out all the pics on the slide show. WHAT A GREAT DAY!

To Mother Nature - we will resume full-on recycling since you held up your end of the bargain...no rain. Can we do this EVERY YEAR???
:-)
Lynn

4th of July; Takes 1 & 2

Happy WET 4th of July!
Oh well, we made the most of it, indoors. It.Rained.All.Dang.Day.

I can hear the conversation between me and my mother-in-law now..."Remember the 4th of July where we stood in the rain to watch the fireworks?" We trekked through the CONSTANT rain to Bloomington to spend the weekend with Cary's parents. Our plans were to have a nice meal together and send all the boys outside to play! Wrong. No outdoor play today. Next, we planned to pile into the car and go watch the fireworks at IU. We did that...under umbrellas. We could barely see what was supposed to be a gorgeous display, but it was fun all the same! Seeing how happy McKinley was in his Grandpa's arms and announcing, "Done with fireworks!" several times as he became unsure of the big booms made it even better!

Of course, it cleared up today and the Terre Haute fireworks were rescheduled for this evening...thus, Take 2:

We made last minute plans with Kylie, Ben & Lincoln and Rick, Robin and Savannah to meet at the top of the old T.H. parking garage and watch our city's fireworks all together. This time it was much warmer and drier and man, did we have a view! You can't tell that in my pictures because I forgot to set the camera on 'fireworks'....duh.

McKinley kept ooohing and ahhhing and saying, 'Oh! Pretty fireworks!' and laughing hysterically. He was wound up with his little friends there!

I can't even explain how cool it was for me to step back and watch my son and husband with our friends together for something so fun and meaningful for our country. And had it not been for Kylie & Ben's GIANT CAN OF CHEESY POPCORN I have no idea how three toddlers would have so easily made it through an entire hour and a half of waiting and watching. Whew! I've already signed them up to bring the popcorn next year...what a lifesaver!

We had a wonderful holiday weekend -- me especially! What a treat to have my husband home on a SATURDAY! Yay for no mail! I didn't even care that it rained, it was just great to be together with everyone.

Happy Birthday, America!

Lynn