Family Reunion in OK

We went to Oklahoma this past weekend and spent time on the lake with the Lanning and Owen crews. Loads of cousins to play with and tons of food. I have a few pictures so far. I will post more when I can get them formatted correctly. Everyone had a terrific time and we all want to come back again.



We were on the lake and Calvin got up from his nap in time to catch a ride with Daddy on the lake.



They were heading back in and Calvin was happy to direct.



Not be out done, Meghan wanted her turn in the boat with her cousins Rebecca and Micheala. Aunt Tanya was on hand to make sure everyone was safe (after all this one was duct taped on one end).



Calvin loves the lake so much that when he got up the next morning he went out skip rocks (well throw rocks).



He stayed there long enough for the early morning fog to lift.

NO matter how tough the day

I had a routine checkup today and had to take the kids with me. We had a good time playing the no/yes game (Meghan is on a no streak these days and I just copy and she says the reverse...Calvin plays too). It took longer with all the paperwork to get things going and the kids were getting bored (too close to lunch time). I knew it was going to be a silly time when Calvin popped out of the large chair all smiles and said, " You think I'm silly?" with a huge grin. I said yes, but not right now please (yes I was a bit out of it). He sat back down only to have Meghan to repeat the same exact movement and phrase. How do you stay frustrated with two kids looking at you with huge silly grins? They tried everything they knew to make me laugh. Then we moved to the inner waiting room. Being more private, they took their boots off. When we made it to the exam room, there is a small changing area with a mirror. It is like a little dressing room complete with small bench and full length mirror. There is a curtain for privacy. Since the kids were not interested in watching the movie on the portable dvd, I showed them the lovely little room. I was entertained with peekaboo, flashes of smiles while sitting on the little cushioned bench, and silly faces in the mirror. Only kids can have hours of fun with a small curtained area and a mirror. When the PA came in for the check up they were still playing. All the way through to when I had to lay down. Calvin must have sensed when the lamp moved away from the curtain...I heard oh mommy owowowow....Not that he was in pain, but was sympathizing with me. He chose that moment to come around the curtain. After she left, he came to give me a hug and asked if I was all better. I said I wasn't hurt, but thank you for the hugs. Even in silliness we have moments of sincerity and pure love.

I was taken aback to have him come around the curtain at that moment, but was touched by his sincere concern and love when he gave me a hug.

Who needs a patch of green?

On the side of our new home there is a huge open patch of dry dirt. Calvin, Meghan and friends Zachary and Aris decided it was the best place to play. We nicknamed them all our mini crop dusters.





Calvin was a bit harder to catch on film, but quick as he was...I got him mid-run
Meghan is always happy to pose and being dirty provided an added bonus.

Meghan was the most gleeful. She loved chasing them and being dirty. Yet when it was done she really wanted to play bubbles.


She convinced Aris to play bubbles after all the running...bath time should be fun....
Outdoors... even when it seems like there is nothing to play ...with friends...there is ALWAYS SOME THING TO DO! :-)

Swimming...finally

We have met the neighbors twice, but they have been wonderfully friendly. Saturday, we all went swimming at the neighborhood pool. Calvin, Meghan, Zachary, Aris, Kayla, Mrs Vicki, and Mrs. Donna. oh and me too. Zachary (8), Aris (6), Kayla (16) are the wonderful kids from next door that play with Calvin and Meghan. Mrs. Donna's boys are all grown. None of the kids really know how to swim and Mrs. Donna used to teach swimming, sowe all went to learn. Meghan did ok as long as someone held her and she had the swimmer floats (chest and back vest). Calvin did not get in for the first 20 minutes. I thought much longer as he is very timid about larger pools. He's great in the tub and kiddie pools, but anything greater than a foot and he's all about staying away. I don't use floaties because I didn't want the kids to think they would always keep safe if they had them.

He tried arm movements in the baby pool to show he could swim. He walked and splashed a little in the baby pool. He was nervous, but he tried. WEll, Mrs. Donna had Calvin splashing and playing submarine for a good hour in the bigger pool after that. He surprised me because he crab crawled the whole length of the wall to 5ft. section and back. He let her lay him on his back to float a bit and kick! He was so comfortable, he played shark in the baby pool with friends during break. Head in the water and everything.

Meghan blew bubbles and tried kicking, but she comes to agree the floats are no fun. She had them on in the baby pool when we changed pools for break. It was for helping in the big pool, but in the baby pool she could not get up with the float because it is so ackward.

Hopefully, by the end of the summer Calvin and Meghan will have the basics of floating, holding breath, and first steps to swimming.

Enjoy the summer!!!

AH!The outdoors...again...

I know it has been forever since my last post. We've been gearing up for Ryan's new job as a pilot for PHI, packing stuff at the inlaws, finding a new place, and moving into the new home. Calvin was so excited...he kept asking...WE GOING CALVIN HOUSE?!?!?! When we spent two days getting stuff from our inlaws(how wonderfully patient they are) and our storage units, Calvin kept asking...TIME FOR CALVIN HOUSE NOW? I had to remind him to be patient until daddy came with the big truck to load our stuff.

Now the kids are out everyday. As soon as Meghan has changed for the day she says MOMMY, I GO OUTSIDE. BYE MOMMY. She has to be reminded to find shoes and pants before she can go. Calvin would be happy to go out in jammies. He's ready to just go out. They play great together. Some arguing when someone is tired, but otherwise it is pretty peaceful. The nice thing about our house is that it is near The Woodlands. So, we have tons of trees and lots of shade.

After two days of being in the new house and most of the toys unpacked, the kids played in the backyard with a little push car. Calvin running with all his might to push the car in the grass with Meghan sitting happily in the driver seat. After 20 minutes, you can see the toll of pushing car & sister at semi-high speed and all his strength was taking on Calvin. He finally stopped and went to push a toy truck around for a awhile. He went amazingly fast at first. I think he was still in heavy pushing mode. Sister watched for about 5 minutes before realizing brother was not coming back. She asked softly..."Bubbies?" to which Calvin responded, " I told you it was the last time. I tired." She huffed a little and said aww...she called him again "Bubbies!" and he said,"Nope I already said last time." For a little boy who barely spoke until he was three, that was quite the dialogue. He's had more and more these days. He still has his mumbled babble that we don't understand, but for the most part he is talking much more than I ever thought possible. It is amazing, some of the things that he says, but I love it all.

The outdoors have done some great wonders for us all. Dear Lord we thank you for the blessing of enjoying your creations every day.