pinterest, facebook, road trips, and school

More of our sensory boxes.  This time we played with Easter grass.  :)  It is so much messy fun. 

Even Kevin got in on the decorator hair fad.  I think the orange and purple hair looks good. 

 

Here is one of three storage stools I made for the kids' room.  They are perfect size seating for kids, plus storage for dress up/costume clothes.  They only took about 10 minutes each to make.  And the cost was minimal (I already had the crates and the fabric).  

 Zoe and Wyatt coloring on the Aquadoodle. 

 Zoe went to the "drive-in" movies.  She loved her car.  She decorated the side herself.  I wrote her name out and she painted it with dot art.  And then added a dot border.

Baking cookies with Zoe's neighborhood friend.

Then we made some fun milk glasses and sat down for a cookie snack...unfortunately it was too dark and the snack pictures didn't turn out.

Our trip to Charleston

There is an alligator on that little island in front of the kids.  We sat there and watched it for a while.  We went to two different parks on our long walk.  (Frank actually asked if we made it back to Spartanburg yet).

We went to the Children's Museum of the Low Country.  Unlike the one in Greenville, it is smaller and with a focus more on the younger kids.  Completely manageable with four kids.   All four kids painted.  Zoe missed the paper at one point.  Frank helped Wyatt wash his hands.

This was the Physics Room.  Or as the kids called it, the Golf Ball Room.  

 In the Water Play Room, Zoe and Wyatt enjoyed the chalkboard painting.  Zoe has her smock on. 

I am very thankful for kids who travel well.  We certainly have racked up a lot of miles so far this year.  So far, there is only one big trip left on the calendar...Michigan for Christmas.  I really can't wait to see my Michigan family.  I have not been able to go the last several years as we have sorted out other plans.  This trip has been on the calendar for almost two years now.  Maybe next year we will make a trip back up to New York to see Pauline (or get her to come down this way).  I am also hoping we have another big trip or two next year.

We are all back home now.  Kevin had yet another schedule change.  We are working to adjust to that as a family.  The kids are pretty sure daddy is supposed to be home for story time before bed.  Hopefully, in a few more days they will get used to our new routine. 

Zoe started preschool a few weeks ago.  For now, she goes one day a week.  When Wyatt starts they will go between one and three days a week depending on the schedule Kevin and I have for the week.  Yes, unfortunately, our schedules are such a mess at the moment, that everything changes from one week to the next. 

Wyatt seems to be enjoying speech.  He hasn't made a lot of verbal progress, but the therapist is working on signing (and we are reinforcing it at home).  I still intend to write a separate post about this...and it might happen eventually.

I head back to school the 16th.  Can't believe it is coming up this fast.  I will be full time, so we will see how that works for us as a family.

Kevin is working on his certification class for work right now.  He will finish that course and certification test sometime this fall.  Then we will decide what class or program he would like to start next.

Since we have a new schedule, speech, early intervention, Kevin's class, school starting, and preschool, I have taken a break from Facebook.  I will be gone for a minimum of 30 days while I focus on getting our family adjusted to the new schedule.  If you need to get a hold of me, I would prefer text or a phone call.  And you can always leave a comment on the blog.

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

Our crazy trip to Kansas City (both MO and KS) and back

15 hours in the car with Elizabeth, Kevin and Wyatt

         Stop in Nashville for t-shirt

         Stop in Metropolis to sleep

         Stop in St. Louis for t-shirt

         Arrive in Kansas City

Zoe and Karen arrive from Utah

BigDog arrives from Atlanta

Trip to the Kansas City Zoo

Dinner at Gates

Visit with Great Grandma Baker

Trip to Lee's Summit to see Lorna and her kids

Great Wolf Lodge

Kevin and BigDog to watch the TBones (minor league baseball)

         Kevin flies home to Greenville

More visits with Great Grandma Baker 

Arthur Bryants (by far the best BBQ....don't let anyone tell you otherwise)

More water park fun

         Move to a new hotel near Crown Center

Sushi for lunch 

Crown Center

Dino Exhibit

         Josh flies in from El Paso

         Earl flies in from Atlanta

         Karen and  Gerald fly home to Atlanta

         Kirsten flies from Shanghai to Chicago and gets stuck

Arthur Bryant's for dinner (did I mention you can just buy meat by the pound)

         Kirsten flies from Chicago to Manhattan, KS where her knight in shining armor picks her up

Back to Great Wolf Lodge

Out for a steak dinner with the boys (my dad, Josh, and Wyatt...and of course me)

          Josh flies back to El Paso

         My parents, my kids and I make the long drive home (from Kansas City to Greenville with a pit stop in Atlanta to drop them off).  

            From Kansas City to St. Louis for lunch/breakfast...the sketchier the diner, the better the food

            St. Louis to Nashville to sleep

           Nashville to Atlanta to drop off my parents

            Atlanta to Home.....

I slept well

 Hard Rock Nashville.  Our first real stop at the beginning of our 15 hour road trip.  With Kevin and I driving, Wyatt watched Snow White while we made our way to Kansas City.  We planned to stop in Nashville for dinner the first night and St. Louis for lunch the second day to collect our t-shirts. 

Most of you know I have been to Nashville a few times, but the rule is that we both must go to the Hard Rock together and eat something in order to add a t-shirt to our collection.

So our super awesome plan of stopping in Padukah, KY for the night was derailed.  No hotel rooms available.  So we drove on.  Getting off at the exit for Metropolis because we thought of Superman and laughed.  After checking into our hotel, we found out that indeed there was a statue of Superman in this town.

Metropolis, IL:  Yes, that is a 15 foot tall Superman statue (with my two supermen in the foreground).  You should totally stop if you are driving through. 

Hard Rock St. Louis.  We have nine shirts now, so I can complete one wall in the guest room.  I will put pictures of the room up when I get the last shirts up.  

 Almost done with our drive.  Wyatt was being a trooper, so he free roamed through our little area. 

Zoe giving Great Grandma Baker a hug.

Kevin and I started talking in April about planning a trip out to Kansas City to see Great Grandma Baker this summer.  Somehow the trip morphed into ten days involving most of Kevin's family and most of my family as well.  The kids had two visits with Great Grandma Baker.  Kevin got to spend several mornings with his grandma.  We also enjoyed two separate trips to Great Wolf Lodge...one with Kevin's parents and one with my parents and my brother.

The Polar Bear at the Kansas City Zoo.  I was so excited.  Not only did they take our Greenville Zoo passes so we could get 50% off, they gave everyone in our group the 50% off rate even though it is just our family of four on the membership.  

 We got to see all sorts of animals in Kansas City Zoo.  They had polar bears, rhinos, and hippos.  The kids love the zoo.

The polar bear according to Zoe, "He used his paws to push off the wall and swim swim.  Let's go back tomorrow."  Umm...mommy thinks 15 hours one way is a long drive to visit the polar bears at the zoo. 

It is now on our must stop list for visiting Kansas City.

Had a good visit with my friend Lorna and her kids.  Zoe and Wyatt were amazed by all of the toys.  Their newly refinished basement was amazing.  It was nice to be able to spend time with friends while I was in town.

 With all the kids moving around I didn't get any good pictures of all six kids together. 

Wyatt at Arthur Bryants. 

 Half of my beef brisket sandwich....so amazing.  I ate there more than once.

Zoe at Story Time at Great Wolf.  They read How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight.  One of our favorite books.

Violet the wolf.  Zoe loved her (not so much the other costumed characters).   Zoe:  "Violet has purple shoes and I have pink shoes"

BigDog, Wyatt, Zoe, and Great Grandma Baker.

Zoe reflects on this picture.  "That is my Grandma Baker and my Papa and they love each other."

Zoe digging for dinosaur bones.  Miss Safety has on her vest and safety goggles.

Crown Center had a dinosaur exhibit on loan from the Minnesota Children's Museum.  It was fabulous.  It had a pit to "dig" for dinosaur bones, a bridge that represented a bog (uneven and squishy).

Just so you don't think I am making up what Zoe says..."Mommy, my ears look beautiful in this picture"  At least I have raised a girl with some confidence, even if it shows in random ways.

Wyatt opted for glasses only.  

 Both kids went back to this exhibit several times. 

Why just dig up bones when you can sit on a dinosaur?

Fritz's Restaurant at Crown Center.  The kids thought it was the coolest with the engineer hats, the trains on display and the train that delivered our food.  (Josh and I thought it was pretty cool too.)

 The food was good.  I don't think the UrbanSpoon reviews were fair.  It was greasy, but the onion rings were totally worth it.

The KC Rail Experience at Union Station.  Maybe I forgot to mention it, but Wyatt LOVES trains.  And this exhibit is awesome.

We enjoyed the fabulous architecture (well the adults did).  











My mom flew into Kansas City to surprise us.  Unfortunately, it took longer than planned (delays, no plane, missed connections, and lost luggage), but she eventually arrived.  Josh and I had been telling Zoe that a special friend was coming to see her.  So we chilled at McDonalds while my dad drove her in from the airport.  Zoe was in the play area and she turned around to see my mom.  She covered her mouth with two hands, shocked and surprised.  "It's you, Grandma.  You are my surprise."  She was so happy.  It was amazing.  (for any pictures after my mom arrived, you would need to pester Josh or my mom on Facebook...I have none).


We treated mom to a massage and a few well deserved naps.

Josh playing with the kids at a train table.

Josh and the Lego statue. 
Legoland will have to wait for another trip.  Wyatt is happy to wait until it is more fun for him.













Zoe went on the slides at Great Wolf Lodge.  "It went faster and faster." (while twirling her hands around)

 "What else happened?"

"I went again.  It only got water on my bathing suit.  I can't ride on the blue slide it was too scary, because I wanted to ride on the yellow slide, I think.  It started off really fast...the blue slide was too faster.  We were going up the stairs before we are going wwwweeeeewooooo.  I was very very busy.  I was taking care of my mom and my uncle joshie on the slide. (Kevin and I start to giggle)  Don't laugh at me."

"How many stairs did you climb up?" - Kevin

Zoe:
"2

It takes me a long a bit a time to get up the stairs."

"Who carried you up the stairs?" - Elizabeth

"You did.  And Josh.  But I am big enough to climb up. 

All the peoples have to get up in front of us.

I still like the big ole slides but I don't like the buckets of water....just the little buckets.

And I play in the baby pools when I was standing up and then I swim swimmed in the big pool to my mommy and then up up the stairs."


The End of the Longest Post Ever!

End of June

 Zoe's first day of camp

Wyatt and Mommy went on a date to the dollar movie.  Yogi Bear was a hit.  And Wyatt LOVED the popcorn.

Second Date:  McDonalds.  

Putt-Putt celebrating Kevin's birthday and the twins birthday.

Zoe in a go-kart at Frankies.  She won both races.  

We found a broken skee-ball machine, so the kids could throw the balls as much as they wanted to (most of the time, the balls came back down without reaching their destination anyway.

Wyatt loved to play skee-ball.

Wyatt at Piasanos. 

Reflections on Competitive Motherhood

(Note:  I wrote this about a month ago.  I am posting it today.  Our church has been studying through Second Corinthians...we talked about boasting in weakness this morning.)


So, I am dragging my soap box out of the corner.  I try not to use it.  Really.  But sometimes, it is necessary.  So on a frustrating day, I opened up Facebook looking for happy people.  You know, the pictures of you at the beach, park, with your kids, grand kids, whatever.  Just something fun and cute.  Not what I found.  Instead I found a link to a blog post.  Since so many people I know had "liked" it or re-posted I decided to click it.  Bad idea.  And then I read it.  If you want to read it, I will include a link.

In case you don't want to read it, I will hit the main points. 
Motherhood is the most competitive thing ever
Social media makes the competition worse and places unfair standards
Motherhood is full of guilt
Definition of "good mom" from another blogger
Answer: boast in weakness instead of strength

Men shouldn't blog about mothers.  They just shouldn't.  I might cut a little slack for men who are the sole provider of care for their children 30+ waking hours a week.  I know a few dads in this category, but not many of them.  I don't think the author of this article falls into that set.  Even if he does, I said I would cut slack, not give a free pass.  I clicked through to the article by "Julian" and couldn't even finish reading it.  The good mom definition is wrong. 

"And whatever you do, if you are a good mom, you must make sure you get it all on camera so you can post the pictures on Facebook and the ideas on Pinterest to let everyone know you’re keeping up. Plus, you should probably earn some income (at the very least, open an Etsy shop) to prove you’re not inferior to the women around you who hold down jobs." - Julian

It might define some moms but it is narrow.  And I could define any vocation in a way that would offend and divide.  A narrow, petty view of motherhood doesn't do much to advance the Kingdom of God. 

I tried rereading the article.  Thinking about it as though a woman wrote it.  No dice.  Still don't agree.  I tried thinking through the first quote (see above) in the article, which takes the idea of motherhood on display and vilifies it.  Seriously, the first time I read it I thought, that has to be sarcasm.  Nope.  Even if mothers are using blogs, Facebook, and other social media to proclaim what their family is doing, it isn't necessarily wrong.  The author assigns motive.  The standards aren't from the internet only.  They are in every persons' head.  Even if you were the best, you wouldn't think you were.  He either doesn't understand internet or is incredibly naive.  Most women know that the "Facebook" front is not where they air their dirty laundry, so likely other women aren't as perfect as they look either.  If you post about your clean house, that means you are excited it is clean (read between the lines, "the house is never this clean").  There are many women who use social media to keep up long distance relationships with family and friends.  Others use it to glean or share ideas.  Not with spite or trying to show how great they are, but genuine excitement about their own family and love for others. 

Families in the United States don't operate the way of the past or other parts of the world.  There aren't multiple generations of woman to learn directly from through close communities.  Most families move on a regular basis.  There aren't quilting bees and knitting circles (I am like the least crafty person ever, so I don't even know if that is what you call them).  We live several hours from family.  Currently, my mom is on the other side of the world (12 hours difference).  You can't say that what we have in the internet is bad.  It is just different.  And it is all in how each individual uses it. 

Mommy Guilt:  Buying the "I'm not a good mommy" line is the same as buying the "I'm not a good  Christian" line.  It is a fallacy of false choice.  The guilt exudes from the thought that if you aren't a good mommy, then you are a bad mommy.  But it isn't either/or.  Motherhood is a vocation.  There are good days, bad days, and mediocre days.  Watching my Facebook feed after this article came out, there were many moms who started posting "weaknesses."  It is in quotes for a reason.  Weaknesses as stated in the article do not include what you feed your kids, not taking them for ice cream or to the zoo, not what brand of clothes they do or don't wear, not the type of music you play, or whether you drank coffee while pregnant. 

The weakness that should be pointed out in our lives is our dependence on God.  

That weakness is a good thing.  It isn't about the stuff, activities, blogs, and Facebook.  I think the author may have had good intentions when he sat down to write (most people do), but it seems that too many readers missed the point about weakness (both in their comments below his post and their opinions on Facebook).

Now, for his subject matter.  Competition.  Maybe I am alone on this one.  (Probably not, there are a lot of people in the world.)  I don't view motherhood as a competition.  I don't view being a spouse as a competition.  I don't care if your house is clean, although I will "like" it if you post pictures because you should be proud of your accomplishments.  When your kid says their first word, I will gladly comment.  It doesn't matter if it is at nine months or three years.  First steps, first words, pregnancy, loss, love, marriage, hurt, pain, heartache, they are all things we want to share.  We (or maybe just me) have a tendency to share the happy in public and the difficult in private, but we all share in our own way and own time.  It is just that instead of sitting around a table with my friends, I can share with my Maid of Honor who is in Indonesia, my mom in China, my friends from college spread throughout Macedonia, Germany, Japan, Albania, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the United States (and a few other countries I can't recall at the moment).  I love them all.  Hearing what they are doing brings me great joy.  I want to encourage them and share special moments.  Remind them I am praying for them.  Ship care packages.  But without things like Facebook, I would never keep up with address, moves, new babies, and friends from long ago.

So don't get mad when I post pictures or status updates.  It is an outlet to let you know what is going on.  An opportunity for you to participate in our lives.  So come take an active role.  Comment, post, "like".  Call us up, talk to us, invite us along on your journey, spend time with us, text us.

Life is meant to be lived out loud.

Traveling toddler

Zoe left this morning to go to Utah with Kevin's mom for a week. Kevin's mom is watching Paton and Charlotte for a week and wanted Zoe to tag along so Paton would have someone to play with. I have been getting ready for the trip all week. Talking to Zoe about flying (she flies a lot so at least that isn't new) and about being with Nana. Then there is packing for a 3 year old to be away for a week. It is one thing when I travel with her. I think I have family packing down to a science. But solo packing for a child...harder than I thought it would be. First there was the easy stuff. Clothes packed in daily pouches. A bag of extra socks, panties, and hair bows. And Pullups for overnight.

Then comes the tougher stuff. Personal things to make the trip easier. Of course Charly Bear had to make the trip. Her blanket to keep her warm on the flight. Then came a few of her items from ot that help her self calm if she needs them. Her camera, some toys, snacks, suckers, and a sippy cup. We also had a notarized medical release form, insurance cards, and identification paperwork. All things I think are essential when having someone else watch your child. Everything fit in her child size roller bag and child size backpack (except her pediasure which had to be checked...so it went in Nana's bag). Those bags are small. But I got it all to fit. And got them to the airport and stayed until they went through security.

Then tonight I put Wyatt in his room. And he cried. Not a Little. And not his normal bedtime fuss. So I went back in to check on him. He was standing in his crib pointing to Zoe's bed and crying. They are the best of buds. And his partner in crime was missing. I cuddled with him awhile. But he just wanted to point at her bed. So we went and played with puzzles, had a glass of milk, sang a few songs, and read a few books. Bedtime was hours late tonight. But who cares? Not me. Wyatt misses Zoe. A few extra kisses and some more time with mommy...it didn't hurt him. He doesn't understand why she is gone or when she is coming back. He has been looking for her all day.


I started this yesterday and am not going back to change it...so...she left on Saturday.


Today (Sunday), Wyatt continued to look for Zoe, but he is having great fun playing with some of her favorite toys and getting extra attention. 

We went to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese today.  Consider this notice:  Zoe and Wyatt are not allowed to go to Chuck E. Cheese ever.  That was terrible.  I mean, the kids all had fun.  But the adults all looked like they needed to get a babysitter for the kids and leave for the night.  Frankie's Fun Park, the Aquarium, the Zoo, the park....anything is better than Chuck E. Cheese.


My packing list for future reference
The Panda Suitcase and Backpack

Here is a list of things I packed in the Backpack:
Comfort Items:
Charly Bear
Pullups for nap time on the plane

Food:
Dried Fruit
Cereal Bars
Empty Sippy Cup
Straws
Lollipops

Toys:
Colorforms
Lacing Cards Just a few with one lace
Magnetic Chutes and Ladders - I don't know where I found this, but it is awesome
Crayola Color Wonder Markers and Paper
Elmo Alphabet Cards
Headphones for the DVD player/music (packed in Nana's bag)
Camera

Important Papers:
(an absolute must, packed in a plastic bag just in case something spills or the bag gets wet)
Notarized Medical Release Form
Insurance Cards
Passport (or birth certificate)

The suitcase:
Pink blanket
8 outfits including panties, socks and hair bows
3 pairs of pjs
flip flops
Swimsuit
Pullups for a week
two sweaters and one sweatshirt
Toothbrush, hairbrush, ect

June

 Zoe loves to help in the kitchen.  Here she is making chocolate pudding.  A special treat for daddy.

 Zoe thinks whistles are the greatest toy ever.  I do my best to hide them (and anything that makes a high pitch screeching noise).  Somehow, she always finds them again. 

 4 kids at the zoo by myself, and I forgot the stroller.  For the record, we all made it home safely and had a good time.  The kids were all super obedient and awesome. 

 An early anniversary gift from my dad.  I love them.

 Wyatt finally figured out how to sit down on the slide by himself so I no longer have to stop him from going head first.

 Zoe and Wyatt love the swings at the neighborhood park. 

Zoe and her Chia pet.  This was when it first sprouted.  We talked about roots and shoots.  She is patiently waiting for her tomatoes to turn red.  There are 15 tomatoes on the plant. She has already promised to share with Wyatt. 


I threw Kevin a surprise birthday party this week.  First time I have been able to surprise him in 14 years.  I have tried before and always been caught.  We grilled out, then played bocce ball and Halo Reach. 

Today we wished Kevin a Happy Father's Day by going out to lunch with friends after church. Before the service started this morning, several of the pastors and other men at church did an awesome Father's Day Tribute.  We stayed for the beginning of third service to watch it again. 

My nephew's had birthdays this week.  Jakob turned one and Kaleb turned three.  We couldn't make it down for the party, but they look like they had fun.

Zoe is going to camp this week.  It is just 9-12 every day, but she is so excited.  Wyatt and I are hoping to fit in library story time at least once. 





We are adjusting to Kevin's new work schedule.  He went from 2:45pm - 11:15pm to 9am - 6pm to 6am - 2:45pm over 15 days.  In addition to the hours change, the days he has off changed.  Now he will stay early shift for 8 weeks before returning to his late nights.  It has thrown everyone's schedule into a blender.  I interviewed new babysitters to try and cover appts and scheduled events that have been scheduled before we knew about the change.  I registered both kids for the daycare they will attend in the fall.  Zoe will start one day a week in July while I take Wyatt to speech appts.  I am very thankful to be out of school for the summer.  The transition would have been much more difficult on the kids without me being home.  We normally change schedule 4 times a year.  This year, we have already had four changes and we have a minimum of three more coming.  It means we are less flexible with vacation and fun time, but we always manage to make the necessary changes for work and school.  I am extremely thankful that God arranged for my schedule in the fall to already be arranged. God also provided a speech appt for Wyatt that falls into an open slot on my calendar so he can continue uninterrupted until at least Christmas. 

I haven't posted in awhile.  I wrote a few posts but they are still sitting on my computer.  There is a lot on my mind, but the more thought-filled posts require some time.  And a lot of times they never get posted.  They end up being just my way of thinking though things. 

One of those posts is related to all of the competitive mothering posts, facebook comments, ect that have been out the last month or so.  I disagree with the premise, the process, and the suggestions made in most of the posts.  But I think maybe instead of writing why I disagree, I might write a post on my personal views of motherhood and why I do things the way I do.  (Hint:  I don't do things so other people think one way or another about me.  And just because I do things differently doesn't mean I think anyone else is specifically wrong.  I don't have time to sit and compare.)

The other two posts rattling around in my head are about making decisions for your child and how to support your friends in their decision making even when you might disagree with them.  That has been weighing heavy on my heart recently.  And thoughts on this world not being my home and how that plays out in my everyday life. 


Now, I am on to celebrate the week of Kevin.  I started off the morning with a cupcake for breakfast before church.  Hopefully, I will remember to take some pictures while we are out celebrating.