mom-n-kids roadtrip 2013

I think this was the third mom-n-kids roadtrip we have done, with our destination always being Grandpa's farm.  We missed last summer, so the kids didn't remember our previous trips.

 

The day before we left, the kids and I went to a feed store to buy a bale of straw to use as mulch in our garden.  You know you live in the city when you pay $7.45 for one bale of straw!  And you know you have city kids when you go into the store and they are all covering their noses and gagging from the smell!  Smelled good to me - smelled like childhood.  It was definitely time for a trip to the farm.

 

Here they are ready to go!  I packed a lunch, two sacks of snacks, seven screens, and of course all their cuddlies.

Picnic lunch in the truck stop.  I think we've had rain almost every day of June.

We spent the first night at the campground my parents manage.  I failed to take any pictures.  But the kids had fun riding in the golf cart, helping in the office, and having a campfire.

The next day, we arrived at Grandpa's farm.  The kids dove right in to farm-living.  Who needs toys when you have a horse to feed grass out of your hand to?

Who needs a playground when you have bales of hay to climb?

And who needs a swimming pool when you have a sea of tall grass to get lost in?

 

And who needs a TV when you have old buildings to explore?

 

 

And who needs a port-a-potty when there's...noone for miles and miles?!

Grandpa hitched up the buggy and gave us rides.  Can you believe this man is 90 years old?



 

I really wanted a picture of Grandpa and I on the buggy, so I showed Brett how to point-and-shoot...

 

I always appreciate how quiet it is when we are on the farm.  Even in the suburbs it is never completely quiet.

The "thrills" of the farm were a delight, and I'm thankful the kids got to create some memories that they can look back on. 

The following night, we stayed at a hotel, which, of course, the kids loved, too.  Here is a nice action shot of Brett pushing Reggie head-first down the water slide!  Fortunately, Reggie loves it.   These boys are going to keep me on my toes this summer!

goodbye, preschool

Three schools, two-and-a-half years, and two districts.  Brett's preschool days are complete.  He has had wonderful teachers and specialists, made good friends, and, overall, loved preschool.  He's learned and grown and worked hard.  It was Pizza Ranch worthy - which doesn't take much on a Tuesday when Mom works and kids eat free.

Brett receiving his "diploma" from his teacher.

Brett on his last day of school

Getting on the bus on his last day

Brett chose to be a monkey in the preschool program - Noah's Zoo.

We're proud of you, Brett!  Now, onto the next big challenge.

trees trees trees

Trees have been central to our activities lately.  First, we had all our trees get a good professional trim a couple weeks ago.  The kids enjoyed watching the gentlemen climbing the trees.  Which I'm sure has something to do with their new favorite activity.

 Last week, we had three apple trees planted in our backyard.  I'm giddy with excitement over picking apples in our own yard!

And while I'm in the backyard, I have to show you my garden.  New this year is the chicken wire to keep out the rabbits.  It's working so far!  Also, I'm experimenting with the square foot gardening method.

Ah, I'm so glad it is finally spring!



fairy tales really do come true

A letter to my daughter on our 10th wedding anniversary:

Dear Lydia,

You are the most amazing four-year-old princess I've ever met.  I love your curiosity, your quick-whit, your intuitiveness, and you are absolutely beautiful.  I love how you love ruffly dresses and curls and pink and glitter.  That was never me, but to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoy experiencing your pure girly-ness with you.

Like most girls your age, you love fairy tales.  I have a confession.  I don't.  I worry about the "message" you get from them.  You know - that you fall in love at a ball, you dance the night away, staring into each others' eyes, and, once you learn each others' names and get past the evil step-mother, there is fabulous wedding and a happily-ever-after.

I've evolved in my thinking, though.  I want you to believe in fairy tales.  Not Disney's interpretation of happily-ever-after.  If you want to see a real happily-ever-after, look at your great-grandparents who have been married nearly seventy years.  Their love has survived a war, the Depression, four boys, and the hard life of farming.  Or your grandparents who have been married over forty years.  They have gone through more life changes than I can count, but their commitment to each other has never wavered.

And by comparison, your parents have barely started this journey of happily-ever-after.  In story books, all the passion happens in the falling-in-love part of the story, and only the last page of the story is reserved for the "happily-ever-after".  Your daddy and I have not spent the last ten years gazing into each others' eyes twirling around the dance floor.  Your dad doesn't even like to dance.

Happily-ever-after can be a beautiful wedding, seeing the world together, buying your first house, and then your dream house, still having money at the end of the month, and having time to do things you enjoy.  We've done all that and more. Happily-ever-after can be struggling through grad school and infertility and having babies when you're not ready and not-selling the house you thought was great and attending IEP meetings and worrying about your kids.  It is experiencing a hundred ordinary things in life that are better because it is with the person you love.

Tonight, when I tuck you in, you will probably ask me to read that other fairy tale.  Please look at your mom and dad and believe that fairy tales really do come true.

Love,
Mom