Driving to Minnesota

We had wanted to leave town around 3pm to pick up the kids and get on the road, but that didn't happen.  Work got in the way for both of us, so we didn't get going with kids strapped in until shortly after 5pm.  The drive out of Georgia was nice.  Sunny and no rush hour traffic.  The drive into Tennessee was nice, but not so nice driving out.  We had a good hour of rain.

Kentucky rewarded us with a stellar sky.  Owen even spoke up from the back seat to tell us the sunset was beautiful.

After six hours of driving, we called it a night and found a hotel room in Paducah, Kentucky.  We were lucky to get a room.  There was an archery tournament in town filling up all the hotels.  In years past, we have elbowed against Kentucky Derby goers, softball championships, Nascar, you name it and had to drive another 30-50 hours.  This year we got the last room available with one bed and one pull-out sofa.  Todd crawled into bed with the kids the next morning and they were in heaven.

Chloe got ready quickly and quietly waited in the window while we showered and re-packed before heading out.

Both of the kids ate a waffle for breakfast, but Chloe was more fascinated with looking at the ceiling while eating.

Once into Illinois, we stopped at a fun rest stop that has a see-saw in their playground.  We have stopped here before and the kids love it.

I still had to stand on Chloe's side to help push the see-saw back down.  Owen accused Chloe of playing unfairly on the see-saw and intentionally mucking up the way of the world in see-saw rules.  Poor girl didn't stop getting the Evil Eye for being a light weight.  I was surprised that at two pounds less than her brother it made such a difference in their teetering.

I was surprised the boy asked me to take pictures of him and that he was smiling so nice.  I suppose he was able to keep his evil sister separate from posing for the camera.

Chloe never really stopped giggling the whole time she was on the teeter totter.  Every time she hit the ground with a thud or bumped up hard into the air when Owen touched down just sent her into fits.  I love that girl's giggle!

Once Todd started helping with the equality of teeters, I snuck off to take squirrel pics.  There were dozens of squirrels running around the park and playing with each other.  This one felt comfortable enough to lay down flat while I snapped away.

The kids could have done this all day!

But after 20 minutes of playing and posing, we got back on the road.

We drove through a lot of farm country in Illinois and enjoyed the clear skies.

I took quite a few pictures of the arch as we were driving over the bridge, but then handed the camera over to Todd so I could pay attention to driving (smart, huh?).  Todd did a good job taking pics, especially considering he was on his phone with a work conference call at the time. :)

I love these two side-by-side bridges that cross the Mississippi River into St. Charles.

We stopped at my Aunt Gloria's and Uncle Marvin's home and hung out for about 30-45 minutes before going out to lunch together at the Pasta House.  Chloe had fun sitting on the rocking bench with my Aunt Gloria.

I love the Pasta House.  They have THE best salad (I love when my Uncle Mike comes to town because he makes the salad...he got the recipe from the owners of the Rich & Charlie's restaurant before they got in a snit and broke up and one started the Pasta House).  They also have THE best cavatelli with a creamy white sauce.  I ate enough that after my next turn of driving, I passed out and took a two hour nap while Todd drove.

The kids had fun making silly faces while I was adjusting the settings on my camera.

Then my Uncle Marvin told everyone to "Look Up!" and they did.  Interesting tactic that made it into my Notes-to-Self list to try.  :)

I have missed my Uncle Marvin and Aunt Gloria and really enjoyed getting to see them again.

Throughout Missouri, we saw tons of fireworks stores.  There was much begging from the kids to stop and shop since fireworks are illegal in Georgia and hard to come by.  Between being in a hurry to get to Minnesota and the kids not having any of their own money to spend, we just drove past places like this.

I am fascinated by old barns, storage sheds and anything else that is weathered or large.

Chloe spent much of her time in Iowa coloring.

Owen mostly listened to his music, although his headphones were pulled off for this picture.

More barns, silos and farms :)

Look at my bizarre little Bean and what she started doing with her headphones.

As we neared Northern Iowa, we headed into some nasty storm clouds.  The last hour of driving was like this and with mucho amounts of lightning.

The nasty weather didn't bother Owen much.  He fell asleep, probably from pure exhaustion since we were up early and he had stayed awake the whole time we drove the day before.  This boy is not at all accustomed to being up past 11pm when his bedtime is normally 8.  It took its toll on him.

Most of Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa were under Severe Thunderstorm warnings or Tornado Watch/Warnings.  It was very unsettling driving in because the sky looked so nasty and the lightning was everywhere.  We were thankful we arrived safely in Rochester at Todd's Mom's house before it started raining much.

Friends

We were invited over to a friend's house for dinner.  Owen is friends with Evan and Chloe is friends with his sister Bridget.  They have shared classes and after-school together AND we only live a couple of blocks away from their house!

They made home-made pizza and it was absolutely delicious!

The boys ran around playing soccer in the backyard while the girls played dress up.  

We had a really fun evening and didn't get home until after 10pm.  The kids had a blast and really enjoyed the extra special treat of staying up super late past their bedtime. 

My Boy

I wonder what life holds in store for my boy.  Will he grow up to be a fair sport like his Dad?  Will he keep this cute little nose?

Will he keep these kind, blue eyes?  Will he still love sports and spend much of his free time playing tennis or soccer?  Will he pass that on to his children when he becomes a father?  Will he ever be an uncle?

Will he lose his sensitivity to the hurts of others?  Will he still cry at the thought there are people in this world who don't want their children and give them up for adoption?  Will he have his father's compassion and give to others in need or charities for a cure of multiple sclerosis, cancer, poverty or any other charity that helps people.

Will he be good friends with his sister?  Will he be friends with us?  Will he have a lot of pets of his own?  Will he still hold doors open for strangers to let them through?  Will he love to read even more when he is older?

Will he still let me hug him and kiss him in public?  Will he so willingly say in return, "I love you, too"? 

My Girl

She makes me wonder.

Who will she be when she grows up?  Will she maintain her strongwill and confidence?  Will she outgrow the hard pats on the back because she has so much love that she has difficulty loving gently?  Will she always say no in protest, yet make it sound like a question?

When will hair blowing in her face bother her or make her pause?  How long will she let me cut her hair and will she ever attempt to cut her own hair again?  If she does, will it be another perfectly symmetrical mullet?

Will she have children of her own and will she hug them more gently than her babydolls or our cats?  Will she find fulfillment in her days and peace in her prayers?  Will she try to transform herself into another with make up and clothes and hair or will she be content in her own skin?

Will she be good friends with her brother when they are both grown up?  Will they call each other to talk about their day at work or with their own families?  Will they tease each other about who will care for Mom or Dad when we get old?  Will she remember how she and her brother could spend hours playing games on the stairs with blankets or working on art projects together?

Will she remember a fun childhood?  That her parents told her they loved her dozens of times each day?

I can only hope.

And pray.

Father's Day

We had a lazy day today, doing what we wanted and enjoying each other's company.  We slept in a little.  The kids helped me make breakfast for Todd to eat in bed.  They each gave him cards and special art project presents they made in summer camp for Father's Day.  Cartoons might have been enjoyed.  Over nap time, Todd took off to play tennis with one of his friends and Papa Ford arrived.  When Chloe woke up, the four of us went to the big pool in our neighborhood.  The kids had fun going down the slide and getting tossed around by Papa in the water.  The Grandmas came over to share our Father's Day dinner before we went out to the backyard to light sparklers and watch the kids spin around.

Owen was sweet one moment....

and silly the next...

Chloe has been talking about not nibbling on her fingernails anymore, but she forgets.

LOVE this boy.  He is always dancing!

Yes, that IS her Santa Claus dress from Christmas.  It is her favorite and she will wear it year round if she so chooses.  Which she does.  Even in June.

While Owen spun and ran with reckless abandon around the backyard with his sparklers, Chloe was more reserved and kept a hand on the hip and more balanced while holding the sparkler as far away as possible.

This was a fun day for celebrating the men in our lives who make such special dads and grandpas.  Who give kisses and hugs without even realizing they stopped what they were doing and without a second thought.  Who tickle and wrestle and make silly faces.  Who say "I love you" every chance they get.

We wished Todd's Dad could have been with us, but got to video chat with him after the kids had gone to bed.  It was a nice way to end the day, catching up with family too far from home but being able to see their faces.  And of course, we ended the video chat with "Love you."

Happy Father's Day to Todd and my two Dads!

Jumping

Chloe had a field trip to the Chattahoochee Nature Center today at school.  It was Owen's first day back to school after missing several last week from fevers and sore throats and he felt great all day.  We finished dinner early and headed up to the swimming pool.

It's the first time in over a month since the kids have been swimming.  Last time, the water was very cold.  Today was in the 90s and the water was very warm.  I enjoyed sitting in the shade watching them have fun, but Todd thought it was too warm.  Shocker, I know. :D

Chloe started off with an inner tube. 

Then she switched to a dog paddle.  We need to work on that.  I asked her if she wanted to swim faster, but she wasn't interested once I suggested putting her head under water.

Owen found a bug and tried blowing it around until he realized it wasn't alive anymore.

How cute is my Bean?

Then. 

The jumping started.

Love the splashes, although there were a few reminders to not jump in and splash the adults in the pool.

We did a fifteen minute and then a five minute warning before it was time to go.  The boy child got out of the pool immediately.  We talked about that on the way home and let him know that because he listened, it made us want to take him back to the pool another night soon or do other things he might want to do.

Owen is definitely growing up and learning more quickly now that to get what he wants, he needs to listen and behave better.  When I picked the kids up from camp, he was running to me yelling and asking if we could go to the pool.  I wasn't able to finish reminding him that I don't like be lambasted with requests to do things the rest of our evening before having discussed our day or cooked dinner before he was saying "Oh yeah, oh yeah. How was your day Mommy?"  He spent the drive home hissing at Chloe to hush, moving his finger sideways in front of his throat and putting his hands over his ears as she proceeded to push those buttons and ask about going to the pool.  It was hard not to smile.

Dinner with the Grandmas

We went out to dinner at Red Lobster.  It has been many moons since we have eaten there, so my snow crab legs were extra tasty.  Chloe had fun playing tic-tac-toe with Grandma Suzanney.

She also ate up the extra attention and kisses.

Owen colored quietly next to me, but I think he was paying more attention to that wiggly, bottom tooth.  Do you see it sticking out a little?  It is to the left of his middle teeth.  He's been working that non-stop, but it is a stubborn tooth and won't come out.