Just Another Weekend in Southern Indiana

 

We went south this weekend for a visit with the grandparents. All four.

We visited the celebrity in Madison…

That, of course was cause for Thomas to request a photoshoot.

We got some extra-lovin’ on Mama,

and some playtime with Daddy Gayle.

Back and Grandma and Pa Struck’s, Veronica was very comfortable and please that Grandma let her live out her daily role play… as a puppy.

Of course, the trip would not be complete without beating up on devoting special attention to Pa.

 

Afterall, he is the Boogie Man. The kids had the following decree posted to his refrigerator. (Thomas started it, then dictated the rest to Grandma.)

Quiet… Artists Hard at Work

The kids are usually busy once we put the “down” for the night. We figure we usually chat in bed before we go to sleep, they probably need to do that, too. So as long as it doesn’t sound like they are reflooring their bedroom, we usually don’t put up much of a fight about it.

Tonight’s activity must have been creating works of art and hanging them with the vinyl cling decorations on their walls. I got a sneak preview of the exhibit when I checked on them later in the evening.

We’ve Come A Long Way

We’ve come a long way. Made a lot of friends. Learned a lot.

We’ve enjoyed new friends like, “Misses Shell” (as Veronica says Miss Michelle).

We LOVE our amazing teacher Mrs. Gilpin. (We even play school at night when we are supposed to be going to bed. Veronica is always Mrs. Gilpin. Thomas can be heard screaming,

“WE LOVE YOU MRS. GILPIN!”)

Now that we are at our last day of pre-3, we can look back and see how far we’ve come from day one.

Wordful Wednesday

Veronica

• “Airports are airplane cities.”
• Veronica is quite interested in bras. She doesn’t quite know the difference in the names of the braziers and the “equipment” that goes in them. Excited to see some spaghetti-strapped tops in her summer wardrobe, she held one up, “Mom, are these my breasts?!?!?”
• At Costco for lunch one day we sat at a table next to 4 business men working on a crossword puzzle over pizza. “They’re having a boy day!”
• “Will we be able to go to Target in Heaven?”
• It’s hard to remember all the funny little things she’s said lately. It goes along with her conversations and actions. In the drug store, she showed Thomas “her work”, taking objects off the shelf and explaining the products to him. The has been giving tours of the library as if she is the librarian. She is quite the disciplined teacher. Almost everything can be sung about now.
• While watching the royal wedding, I asked Veronica who she wanted to marry. She replied, “Daddy.” I said, “He’s my Prince Charming.” She smiled at me and said, “Mine, too.”

Thomas

• While reading the “list” he wrote about what he wants to be when he grows up: “All this writing here is a list of what I want to be when I grow up. (Nose wrinkles) I was going to be a rock star, but… now I don’t think so. Maybe I can be an astronaut.” Today he decided he wanted to be a writer.
• Thomas used the word “scurry” when telling me what they did. I told him that was a great word and asked where he learned it. His reply, “It’s mechanical. I just knew it.”
• “I’ve been digging in the dirt so Veronica can build an ant house.”
• About the thorns on Rosebushes: “They’re spikey, like Uncle Danny’s hair.”
• An angry Thomas, “You’re not my grandson anymore!” My calm reply, “That’s ok, Thomas, you were never my grandson. I will always love you.” His rebuttal, “Oh, well… I’m not your cousin anymore!” I replied, “That’s fine, you never will be my cousin.” He looked a little defeated and baffled and said, “What am I?”
• “Holy Galaxies! Is that a beanstalk?”

Speaker of the House

We popped in for a little picnic at “Daddy’s State House,” as they both say. Always a Leader, Veronica was running the session…

The Start of Summer

Summer days are meant to be shared with friends, like the 321 Family.

Having ice cream cone(s) on the deck.

Playing in water outside: watering plants, using water guns, running through sprinklers, and of course…

 

making muddy water “hot chocolate.”

Today

Today was another special day in the life of a child.

First trip to Disney World? Meeting Santa Claus? Loosing your first tooth? Getting a pony?

No.

Better.

Today, we had another play date with a celebrity.

Today, Marek came to our house.

Marek – the kid both my kids talk about constantly. The kid of which Veronica randomly asks what he would be doing at that moment. The family we have to pretend to be when we play. The kid who comes to our house in his Robin Costume.

Thanks for the fun. Thanks for the aftermath, too, Marek. I was in the middle of this, relishing every breath with two heads on my chest for over an hour. Felt as sweet as it did four years ago.