Turning 7 - A week long process

On June 27th, 2009 ... Karah turned 7.

The day was reserved for our immediate family due to her having hand, foot, and mouth. We didn't want to send "that" little treat home in the goodie bags.

She started the morning off with breakfast in bed...delivered by Dad.

Breakfast in bed - Take 1:

Breakfast in bed - Take 2:

She didn't have much energy and spent much of the time during the day lounging around. Tommy T read her stories out of "The Friend" magazine. She was a little cuddle bug.

She had her favorite dinner of roast and mashed potatoes...and topped it off with a Coldstone cake and gifts. For not feeling well - she was in heaven.

Bradley was SO excited to give Karah his gift he picked out all by himself. It was the sweetest thing watching him - as he was so proud of what he had chosen for her.

He got her a horse music box. Instead of a ballerina, it has a little horsey that spins around.

Bryce was gave her the puppy dog purse...and got loves too.

We then took her outside for a couple of surprises....

A new bike and helmet...so her knees no longer have to knock her chin when she pedals.



Bryce decided he didn't like being left behind...so he tore out after them....

Tommy T got her a new driver...

Oh...and I got her a kitten.
Another blog...another day.

Later in the week we had an extended family gathering for her...
a brief photo recap...

Typical party....



Adorable cousins..


Threatening guns in the face...


"Group efforts" in unwrapping gifts...


Babies hypnotized by my beauty....


An eerily quiet toddler sitting in the corner..refusing sugar and requesting bread and water...


Siblings wondering when "their" birthday was coming...


Serving pie...expensive pie...only to have the following happen:

"What kind of pie is this?", a cousin asked.
"The gross kind.", the birthday girl replied.

Bryce didn't seem to mind.



And unexpected sweet moments...


Her uncle Bart knows she loves horses so he put this puzzle together and glued it for her so she could hang it on her wall. Sweet, sweet, Bart.

Aunt Josie didn't get her anything. And she didn't help with the puzzle, either. (wink, wink)


Many other thoughtful gifts were given...
A springer spaniel webkinz...cutest I've ever seen...from Grandma and Grandpa
A canvas with brushes and paint...from Ethan, Maff, Megs and Lainey
A horse bead kit and horsey from John, Naynay, and Addibell.

Everyone went out and took a turn taking the Ruckuses for a spin.
Even Grandma.

Pics coming soon.

Aunt Jen and cousin Chels came by later in the week and delivered a barbie with a horse and a snow-cone machine (which I LOVE). They then hijacked the ruckuses and cruised.
They were NOT going to be left out of the high speed thrill of it all.


And last but not least- and I will keep this brief...
she took some friends to a bowling/pizza party.
Dirty combo.

This was not my favorite event.
I will not expound in an interest of not embarrassing the birthday girl...but lets just say...
no more parties where the kids can compare scores.


Typical bowling party.

Body contortions when bowling.

Nearly splitting the wood by dropping the ball instead of rolling it.


Praying for the pins to fall.


The dance of joy when they DID fall.


Funny...this was all done by the same little boy....hmmmm......
Gang signs by 8 year olds.


A jealous brother.


Pizza with bowling infested fingers.


Great Friends.

Horses knee deep in frosting.
Do horses have knees?


And an outfit I let the birthday girl pick out...

All.On.Her.Own.
Could you have EVER guessed?

I love you Karbear...you are everything to me.
I am so proud of the young lady you are becoming.

Happy 7th.

Too Much of a Good Thing

I dream....vividly.
Okay, I actually act out my dreams....with my sleeping body.

Some of the favorites have been:

• Coal Miner. Standing in the corner - mining coal with a pick Axe...trying to save my comrades. (Cause: Miners trapped in coal mine on Fox News before bed)

• Speed Skater. Hunching down and speed skating like Apolo Anton - on the way to the bathroom (cause: Winter Olympic overdose)

• The assault. Let me set the backdrop for this one: I was a young teenager...sleeping in a hotel room with my family...I have a nightmare of an intruder and lay screaming in bed. My brother John stands over me - shaking me - trying to wake me up from my (typical) night terror. My Dad wakes up to find John shaking me while I scream...thinking he is attacking me. He comes from behind to pull John off of me. John thinks that the movement behind him is an intruder in the room - and that is why I'm screaming...so he turns around and punches my dad directly in the chest - knocking him on his bed and leaving him in a heap of wheezing goo. (Cause: The therapist hasn't gotten back to me on this one - but I suspect it has something to do with the unhealthy amount of fear my mother instilled in me as a child.)

A brief sampling: "Don't stick your hand out of the car window like that! A man could be hiding in the bushes with a knife and cut it off!" or another favorite, "A man in our neighborhood dressed up like a UPS man and came after a girl with a knife! Don't answer the door if the UPS man comes!" (I still grab the butcher knife before I answer the door to sign for a package).

Tom once said, "I used to try to wake you up when you would have a night terror...now, I just duck and roll."

• Verbal Abuse. I lose all control over what I say when I am sleeping. Many a night Tom has witnessed me chiding him like a schoolyard bully ..telling him to wipe himself....or accusing him of lying about shutting the garage door, calling him a "lying bastard". (Cause: I'm just TOO nice during the day...)
  

• Lifeguard. I have tried to dive into imaginary pools to save my drowning children. Those pools are always VERY shallow. (Cause: Fox News Drowning story)
  

The list goes on and on.
And last night I added a new one.

• The water slide. Reports are that Tom received an unexpected double handed shove that was forceful enough to leave him hanging off the edge of the bed. A visit to the chiropractor is now in order. I dreamt that I was pushing him down a water slide and he was too big for "the hole" and was wedged. He was heavy and wasn't moving - so I gave him an extra hard push to send him on his way. Apparently, I did. (Cause: Greatwolf Lodge....Too Much of A Good Thing)
  

Greatwolf Violated

Bryce has Hand, Foot, and Mouth....not just the body parts...the "virus".


He came down with it the day before we were supposed to leave for Kansas City to visit the "Greatwolf Lodge" with the kids. Everything had been paid for in advance - so we were locked in.

Tom volunteered to stay home with Bryce while I took Karah and Bradley on the trip...so they wouldn't have to miss out. Tom suggested we invite some friends to go with us...so we chose my friend Anne and her twin daughters, Mary and Rebecca.

Tom was already in K.C. on business - so we decided to meet halfway and switch off Bryce. He picked Bryce up and drove him back home...while the rest of us headed to Greatwolf.
It was sad driving away in different directions.
I so wanted them to be there with us.

We arrived at the Lodge and the kids were in awe of everything there was to explore.

I must admit I was a little disturbed by the wolves on the fireplace.
Were they bolted down or balancing?
How could they ever dust them?
The thought of the "taxidermied" dust mites was more than I could handle.

I refocused my mental energy and we headed to our Kid Cabin room.
It was a hotel room with a cabin within it...just for the kids...complete with their own TV that only plays kid approved channels!

After they had "moved in" they were quick to suit up so we could hit the slides.

The kids had a blast on the slides...some were pretty intense - but they hung in there!
(water pictures to follow...I have to actually develop the film from the water camera)



The general public received a free "goodie" when the 1000 gallon bucket of water dumped on me and ripped my bathing suit from my left breast.
Sadly, nobody threw me any beads.
Got a few smiles though ;)

They swam.. and slid...and floated until they were completely pruned.

A nasty thunderstorm came through - so we decided to order take-out.

The kids jammied up

.
..enjoyed dinner...and explored the hotel.




We even found a private area designated for wrestling.



A treat from the hotel's sweet shoppe and they were finally ready for bed.



The next morning we enjoyed breakfast at the "Camp Critter Grille" .

After that we headed to our spa appointments.
Yes, our.
The Lodge has a kiddie spa, too.

They took us into the relaxation room for a little cucumber water.
It was their first time...but somehow they knew they should be crossing their legs.


We decided to get pedicures.
Bradley practiced being a "husband" and patiently watched until they were finished.

I went to the "grown up" room for mine...


While they went to the "Scoops Spa" in the other room.

They were too cute.


So big.


So...So...Big.


And evidently....comfortable.

...DEFINITELY proud of their new toes.


The kids and I took a lunch break at Grandma's.
She had a sweet birthday celebration for us since she had missed our birthday's due to recent health issues.


The kids loved it.


We opened gifts and visited and played...topping it off with hugs and kisses goodbye.

We headed back to the Lodge for several more hours of water fun.
They then spent their final hour exploring with their magic wands...


It sadly came to an end...and we had to say "goodbye".


p.s.
The sadness soon transformed into guilt the next morning when I woke up at home.
Karah and Bradley had sore throats and blisters on their hands.
We had just unknowingly violated the Greatwolf Lodge with Hand, Foot, and Mouth.

Sorry about dat, Mr. Wolf, really.

**Stay away...for at least a couple of weeks ...'til the virus has been filtered out :)**

Little Men

The Marker Beard.

He was disappointed when he found out he doesn't get to shave it off.

The Guardsman

Protecting and Defending my posterity since he could reach.

Thrice Blessed

Fathers Day 2009

Unfortunately, the memories of my Father are limited.He passed away when I was 8 years old.
However, it seems the more I "let" my mind go back to him...the more I recall. It's amazing to me the things that have remained indelible in my mind.

The smell of his big, puffy winter coat...and the way the fur hood felt against my face as he hugged me when he returned home from work. The feel of his whiskers at the end of the day.
Sometimes I touch Tom's just to "go back"- if only for a moment.
His "silly" faces...as seen above :)

I don't remember the sound of his voice...but I do remember how I felt when he spoke to me... important, treasured, and loved. Sometimes I am content with limited memories of him...
considering how painful it can be, as it is. I miss him terribly - but catch glimpses of him from time to time...

My children's sense of humor.
The sound of the instrumental "Music Box Dancer" on the radio.
Charleston Chews or the smell of popcorn.
Tom watching M.A.S.H late at night.
The sound of a train.
Looking in the mirror - and seeing his nose...and crooked smile.
Watching Tom play with our kids... and knowing that my Dad loved us -
the way Tom loves them.


I am blessed with abundant memories of my other Dad, "Joe"....
or as I love to call him, "Pappy".
For 25 years he has been in our life.
Quiet, reserved, with a fabulous sense of humor.
He sacrificed so much in order to raise us.
We were a handful...but he still chose us...
and I am so glad that he did. I love him.

Sometimes I think that I married a combination of my two Dads.
The best of both of them.
I seriously question how I could have been so blessed with such a great father to my children. They know him.
They treasure every second they have with him.
Everything he does - is for them....us.
Selfless, playful, hardworking, and a powerful example to my children...
of what men can and should be.
We gave him a photo book for Father's Day with a quote on the front:

"He didn't tell me how to live...he lived and let me watch him do it."

I am so grateful for the "Fathers" in my life...

Thrice Loved.
Thrice Blessed.