Taken Care of

"Mom, like maybe, someday, I mean, I will give you and Dad some of my cash because, you know, you don't have very much cash.  But, I will wait.  I mean, not right now I won't give it to you, but maybe later."  ~ Harrison

It's like he has been reading my diary and knows why I had kids!

We love Marc

There is a precious rope that you walk on when it comes to children's art work.  You don't want to say "Oh look!  I love the cute puppy that you drew!" only to be looked at with big puppy dog eyes and the response "But Mom.  It's a scary bear eating a wolf!  I can't believe you thought it was a puppy!"  (This exact story happened once to one of my families back at the Downtown School!)  So when Harrison brought this wonderful drawing home from Sunday School a couple of weeks ago, I said "Oh look!  You drew our family!" and then while speaking I did the math and realized I needed Harrison to tell me about the picture instead of me telling him about the picture.

I mean look!  Isn't it wonderful?  I was so proud.  Harrison is usually a scribbler and not very interested in drawing actual things.  And here he has drawn PEOPLE!  After my initial enthusiasm and joy, I tried to maintain excitement for his drawing and calmly asked him to tell me about it.  He said:

"This is me.  This is Daddy.  This is you.  This is Marc.  And this is Bennett.  Isn't it great?!?!"

So it was his family plus an extended family member.  It was great, but Marc?  I was pretty sure we only knew one Marc, but I had to tread lightly.  I didn't want to offend him by asking the wrong question and he can be very sensitive about things like this.  I asked what they learned in Sunday School today and sure enough he learned about families.  I said "Cool.  So you decided to draw a picture of your family?"  And then Chris asked the question I was dying to ask, but didn't want to: "Why did you draw Marc?"  At this point, as hard as I was trying for this not to happen, Harrison began to think that he had done something wrong.  He got a quizzical look on his face and looked at me like I should say something.  I didn't know what to say!  He was second guessing himself.  He finally said "Is Marc part of our family?"  I said "Of course he is, honey.  Isn't that why you drew him in your picture?"  This seemed to pacify Harrison and we proudly displayed his picture on the refrigerator.  

Anyway, we never really got an answer as to why Harrison decided to draw Marc in the picture.  I mean, he is family, but as family goes, we haven't seen Marc in a couple of months so I don't know what brought him to the fore-front of Harrison's mind.  Chris and I got a big kick out of it and I called Marc to fill him in and he also got a big kick out of being included.  The drawing and Chris' question about Marc have led to many other questions about family; what are cousins, uncles, aunts and other family members?  How are we related?  Why are Caden and I not releated?  Etc.  It has actually been a fun learning experience.

Harrison now wants to have a family picture taken.  And when I say family, I mean any one with DNA even closely resembling Harrison.  So beware family everywhere, Harrison is going to be calling.  No matter how distant the relation!

Light the Night 2009

Amazingly enough this was the 4th annual Night the Light for Team Klara.  Kara has been gone for 5 years, but never forgotten.  I can't believe how time moves so fast and how it even goes on at all.  And being there at Light the Night with her family and friends feels so good and so bad all at the same time.  It also gives me hope that we will do this walk forever.  For me it's not so much about raising money for blood cancer research (which is very important and I will be fundraising doubly hard in 2010!) but it is a great time to get together with people who were important in Kara's life.  I know that it is a year away, but if you can just take one Saturday next year to celebrate and remember Kara you won't regret it and we would LOVE to see you there.

Anyway, the walk was once again a success.  I did a bit of misjudging on when the walk was (date wise - I thought it was in October!) so I had to work the morning of the walk.  I didn't really want to drag the kids to Davenport (I drove there and back to Des Moines in the same afternoon/evening) because they have been going there quite a bit because of Hawkeye home games and my work schedule.  So I left the family at home this year and my mom came with instead.  We had a very nice time.  She got to catch up with Mary House and I got to fawn over baby Nora and talk with great friends. 

Here are some pictures from our evening:

Marcy (Kara's sister)

Jod, Scott, James, Ken (among others in the background!)

Checking out some lost balloons

Jen, Nora (in stroller), Scott and Marcy

Mom chattin' it up with Danika Perron (classmate of Nathan's) - she volunteers her time and takes team pictures at the event.  

Mom, Marcy, Dayton (Marcy's oldest son)

James, Scott, Jod (notice the headphones on Jod - she couldn't miss the Hawkeye game!)

Our shirts this year had a phrase written from a birthday card that Kara had sent Jen one year.  They said "Hope you have an awesome day" and it was in Kara's handwriting.  Very cool!

Education

Caden:  "Harrison.  Harrison.  Harrison!  What's that?"

Harrison:  "What's what?"

Me:  silently giggling - I mean, 'What's what?'!  That is not a 4 year old phrase!

Caden:  "Those.  Up there.  Those."

Harrison:  "Oh.  That.  Those are wires.  And if you get a REALLY tall ladder you can climb up and touch those wires.  But (pause) then you die.  Do you want to die, Caden?"

Caden: "Oh.  Ummmmm.  No."

Harrison:  "Well, you could wear special gloves.  I mean there are guys that touch those wires all the time but they wear special gloves.  I'm not so sure why they touch the wires.  MOM!!!"

Me:  "Yes."

Harrison:  "You know those wires up in the sky?  Why do guys touch them?  I mean, why?"

Me:  "Sometimes they need fixed or tightened so they don't fall down."

Harrison:  "Oh.  See Caden?  Do you have any more questions?"

Caden:  "Oh.  No.  Thank you."

Bennett:  "PLANE!!!!!" (pointing up in the air)

This is about the exact conversation that was had in the van this morning on the way home from the library.  I hope that Caden's parents appreciate the education that he gets at my house.  It doesn't get any better than 'Do you want to die, Caden?'  I mean, really.  I love these kids!

Conversations

"I am sooo sick of Caden and Bennett!"

"I ok."

"Be right back."

"Good job, Mom."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Not in your mouth, Miles."

"Beth, I ask you question."

These are just a few of the phrases going around Camp Neipert these days.  It is amazing how many conversations I can carry on at once.  Caden and Bennett are in full swing with all of their talking and Miles is really starting to talk.  He is the one that said 'I ok."  He is not the most graceful toddler on the planet and he tripped in the living room the other day and he looked up at me and said "I ok" and went right back to playing!  This is not a normal response.  He often looks for the sympathy with a tear or two!  Not this time!

And poor Miles!  I must have said "Not in your mouth, Miles" a few too many times, because now Bennett feels the need to remind Miles that certain toys don't go in his mouth!  And Miles DOES NOT like being told what to do by Bennett!  (I can sympathize!)  

Harrison is kind of protective when it comes to the little Legos in the house.  Bennett was showing Caden a Lego alien and then they took turns chasing each other with it.  I was monitoring the situation, but a little piece must have fallen off.  A little while later I found it and set it on the table.  Harrison got home from school and saw it.  His response: "I am sooo sick of Caden and Bennett!"  We had a quick chat about that.  I continue to be dumbfounded by what comes out of his mouth.  Do I say that?  Do I use "I am so sick of..." in conversations with Chris and others?  I can't believe that I do but where else would he get it.  Probably watching the Cubs with his father!

Bennett is almost to the annoying 'Why' stage, but not quite.  He says 'Why' but not so much that he says it 7 times in one conversation.  He has started saying "Because."  This is something I think he picked up from Caden although I can't be positive.  It is just really funny to hear either of them say it.  Bennett does love his manners.  He is a constant, please and thank you man, and he has recently added your welcome into the mix.  He also loves to give others praise.  I made a letter 'F' today and cut it out of the construction paper and I received a "Aww, good job, Mom" and a nice old pat on the back.  What a sweetie!  It's nice to be appreciated!  

Bennett is also at an early procrastination stage.  Depending on the time of day, I am ready to strangle him once the 'Be right back's" start coming out of his mouth.  "Be right back.  Need water."  "Be right back.  I need a truck."  "Be right back, I go use the potty!" (still not really using the potty, just lifting his shirt to expose his belly button!)

Caden continues to amaze me with his language skills.  Yesterday, instead of just asking me like most normal kids, he told me he had a question!  "Beth, I ask you a question.  Can we go outside?"  Too cute!  And he is always very curious as to what I am doing and what we are going to be doing.  "What are you doing?"  "What are you making?"  "Are we going to have yogurt?"  "Can we play with the trains and then watch Dinosaur Train?"

Nap time is a treasured time around here.  I am a little worried that a little girl is about to disrupt all that!!!  :)

Summer fun at Drake

I have taken the kids over to Drake several times this summer.  It is a short walk from here and it has great open spaces to run, kick the ball and just hang out.  Their favorite place, though is the fountain/pool.  I think both Harrison and Bennett could spend hours there.  The day that I took Miles, he was interested for a while, but then he found a hill and there was no looking back.  That boy loves a rush!  Free falling down the hill with no way to effectively stop.  What a thrill!  He are some pics!

This awesome!  I asked Harrison to put his arms around Miles and instead Miles grabbed both Harrison and Bennett.  What a fun shot!!!

"You are so funny, Harrison!"

This was a tad scary to watch!  Graceful, isn't he!

(These pics are from 2 different visits.  It is just a coincidence that Bennett is wearing  the same outfit!)

Party issues

I love to share about my kids and most of my life on my blog, but there are some things I like to keep hidden.  Not everyone has to know about everything, right?!?!  Anyway, I am beginning to realize that Harrison is a lot more like me than I first suspected or want to admit.  I am starting to get nervous...  He doesn't like to miss things, he is sensitive about getting yelled at or disappointing people, and he has some anger issues, but of course those aren't like me at all.  There are several other things, but some things I will keep to myself! :)

Harrison received his first birthday invitation in the mail this week.  We have gone to other kids birthday parties (Brody's!) but this will be the first where we drop him off and leave and then come back to get him after the festivities are over.  Now, that being said, we haven't exactly told him this, but he has already decided he doesn't want to go.  I am beyond confused.  He says that he won't know anyone there (it is a boy from his class that he has known for 2 years AND there will be other kids from his class), he won't have any fun, he will miss out on what is going on at home and he wants to watch cartoons.  WHAT?  Cartoons instead of cake?  Priorities Harrison!  This isn't like me at all!  We have DVR!  You can do both!  We have  talked and talked about this and I am still unsure of the right way to go.  Do I make him go even though he doesn't want to?  It's not like he doesn't like the child.  He and his mom take him to and from school everyday and they have Sunday School together.  They are really good friends.  I hate the thought of making him do something that he doesn't want to do.  This isn't like getting a flu shot (which he was none to excited about a couple weeks ago!).  But at the same time, I don't want him to become so much of a homebody that he never leaves the house, doesn't get a job and ends up living with me until I force him to the curb at age 50!  These are extreme situations!  What to do!!!!  So at dinner a couple of nights ago, I suggested that maybe we wouldn't go to the party but we would still buy Johnny a birthday present.  That was a huge no.  How could he pick something when he wanted all the toys for himself?  I realize this is slightly age appropriate to have such selfish feelings, but still, this almost put me over the edge.  In a moment of semi-poor judgement I threw up my hands and said "Fine, you won't go the the party, you won't get cake and ice cream and you won't play games with friends!"  Like it had been rehearsed, Bennett pipes up "I go to birt-day party!"  I had to leave the table.  

Still no real concrete decision has been made on the party, but I am leaning toward going.  We are going shopping for a present on Sunday and hopefully that will get him excited.  I told him that he could bring his birthday list along and we could jot down notes of things he likes (he already has a birthday list!!!).  And then we will try the party and I will hang out of a little while before I leave.  I am not making him, just pushing him gently.  Of all the dumb parent decisions to obsess over!  Geez!

Maquoketa Caves

A few weekends ago (July some time) we went back to Davenport for a visit.  First on the agenda was watching my brother-in-law race.  He participates on off road bike racing (FORC) and really does well in the races that he enters.  This particular race was held at Scott County Park so we drove out to watch the excitement.  Not really that exciting!  Since it's an off road course you don't get to see the racers very often.  In this case I think it was about 7 laps and so we got to see Ryan seven times!  He was in second place for about three laps and then he creamed the field!   I think he won by almost 45 seconds.  It was very cool!

Gma entertaining the boys while we couldn't see Ryan.

Nice face, Harrison!

Too cute!!!!

Sweet picture of Aunt Kaylee and Bennett at dinner!  Great ribs in East Moline!

The next day we were off to the Maquoketa Caves.  I have been wanting to go to the Caves all summer.  Bennett is finally old enough to not be carried and I knew Harrison would have a great time.  And it was a great time (except I forgot my shoes in Des Moines so I had to wear flip flops!  Luckily they are like an extension of my feet!!!).  Anyway, it was fun.  We went through almost all of the caves, climbed up non-steep cliffs, waded through VERY cold water, climbed on fallen trees and then feasted on smore's after a very nice picnic.  And the weather was fall like considering it was July.  

Me, Harrison and Kaylee in a VERY tiny cave. 

The only bat we saw all day!

Mountain goats!  (Gpa and Harrison)

I should have zoomed out.  They were on a ledge that was pretty cool.  Bennett was thinking maybe this wasn't the place to be!

Great views everywhere!

Nice face, Bennett!!!

After that we had some time to catch the end of Ryan's second race so back to Scott County Park we went.  This was a much longer race and Ryan was actually in a tight race with 2 other guys.  He ended up 3rd but we were all very proud of him!  

Life's Horrible

"Life's horrible!" said Harrison.  "I thought he was going to live forever."

Life cycles have been a big topic at our house as of late.  Specifically cicada life cycles.  We hear them in the trees and we see them all over the yard and tree.  Even on our walks around the neighborhood we seem to come home with 3 or 4 more shells each time.  We went online and learned that in their shells, cicada nymphs can live in the ground under the tree for up to 17 years.  We think the ones at our house live under the tree for 13 years.  Anyway, the boys are fascinated with them.  On more than one occasion we have sat outside and watch as the cicadas are 'born' out of their shells.  It is quite an amazing process.  This was happening a couple of weeks ago and we were messing around with the cicada a little too much and he fell off the tree.  I brought him up to the house to finish molting and then I took him back to the tree and set him up in the high crook I could reach.  We went about playing and then something caught both Harrison and my eye.  A robin.  At first I was too stunned to speak.  I mean, I realize it's natures way, but we had literally just watched the thing for almost an hour.  It was like part of the family!  Harrison was the first to speak.

"What happened?"  He was near tears.

"A robin just came and took the cicada away.  I think he is going to eat it or give it to it's babies to eat."  Honesty is the best policy.

"Life's horrible.  I thought he was going to live forever!"

Long silence...

"Is this a good word?"  said Harrison.  "Stinkin' robins!  Sometimes Daddy says 'Stinkin' Cubbies' so I thought it would be ok.  Is it ok?"

"Yes, Harrison.  It's ok."  I almost couldn't control myself.  What a kid!

Seriously, I love my life!

Shoes

Harrison got new school shoes last night.  This shouldn't be that big of a deal, but Harrison and shoes are something out of horror film.  He is so picky and he is neurotic about how they feel.  His socks have to be just perfect and everything about the shoes has to be just right.  Mostly he goes around saying "They're not comfortable.  They're not comfortable."  I mostly want to strangle him when it comes to shoes. 

So we found a pair and today he is trying them out around the house.  This morning went fine and then he took the shoes and his socks off for quiet time.  I asked him why and his response was "Would YOU want to wear socks for the rest of YOUR life?!?!"  Seriously. strangling is an option for me.

We were ready to go outside this afternoon and we were getting his shoes and socks back on.  I put his shoe back on and one of the laces was stuck under his foot and as I was reaching down to get it, this is the conversation that followed:

"I was going to tell you my sock was bothering me."  said Harrison

"Everything bothers you.  I am learning to ignore it."  I said

"NOT everything bothers me!  You don't bother me!"  said Harrison

"Oh, well thank you."  I said but I was thinking, 'Give it more time!'