I AM ROBOT

Our friend, Cohen, turned 3 and he hosted a robot party. (He upgraded to a genration 3 humanoid). beep beep boop bop boop. Jack's favorite word is now......BOT.

Fort

The Future is Bright

Back to school hasn't meant much to me until this year. We get to take Greta to preschool in a week. I have relished our time together knowing that soon we will have a schedule to follow. Until this point, it has always been up to us. We get to decide how our week takes shape and if we want to wear pajamas, underwear, nothing or princess gowns. We get to decide if we want to play inside and pretend we are somewhere thrilling or go outside and take on the city. Now we get to dip our toes into "the real world" and be somewhere...On time...And dressed...Not in tutus and diamond earrings.

Until next week, though, we still get to fly by the seat of our pants. We have been enjoying the farmstead more than ever. The big kids are definitely gone and the playground is only buzzing with preschool sized playmates. They love it. We have been bolting out the door to make it there just in time to milk the cow and hear the roosters crow. And, just as the sun starts to climb high in the sky, we head indoors and play school. There is an old school house that was moved to the farmstead from 135th and Quivera. It is gorgeous and totally authentic. It makes me smile to see the kids in the little desks drawing on slates and swinging their legs back and forth. Greta and her braids....she is a natural.

Then we stroll down to the dairy barn to get cartons of cold chocolate milk and animal crackers. Greta always thanks the cows there for her milk, sweet girl. I am so glad there is a little bit of country down the street for my kids and me. (I grew up with pet chickens and ducks and even befriended a calf from the pasture behind our house.) One day I hid it in the bushes up by our house and fed it clover until we were found out. And, I still get tickled to see a rooster crow up close with their crazy neck and waddles. Jack loves them. LOVES them. We feed them corn from our hands. We watch them strut around with no schedule to keep, just like us.

We finish our morning with a walk down the trail - the enchanted forest, as Greta has named it. And, we play "Hansel and Gretel" and look for the candy house. I get to be the witch...lucky me. This vivid imagination will soon be in a real classroom. I hope she finds her creative outlet. I hope she learns about other places she wants to visit, and I hope she is excited about it all. Jack and I are planning adventures of our own during the three hours Greta is at class. I wonder what monkey business we can find!

On the Farm

She tells me, "This is not actually a horse."

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Somebody is ready to celebrate Halloween this year.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

To see the kids in such a lovely place, full of sunlight and gardens and fragrant flowers is perfection. We took the kids to Powell Gardens this past Sunday to see the butterflies and moths, caterpillars and chrysalis. It is about 45 minutes away, and right on the way to see Papa, so we made a day of it. It was also supposed to be about 108 degrees, so we went early.

The butterflies were magnificent and the caterpillars tickled. And, of course, they loved it all, and so did I. There is so much love put into this beautiful place, it is hard not to leave with a lighter step and free of all cares.

But, what goes up, must come down. We went to Papa's for a visit and a Dairy Queen treat and Greta took a tumble in the hallway on the way to the big cafeteria there. She landed on her face without even catching herself, so her mouth took the hit. There was blood. There was a lot of blood. A nurse came to us and rushed Greta to look at her and asses the situation. I can't even explain the fear. I thought she might have knocked teeth out of her pretty smile. I couldn't tell and was absolutely afraid to look.

To make the story even better and a little more exciting. The nurse just so happened to take Greta into the big cafeteria where Papa was eating lunch along with about 50 or so others. So, in we ran, with a terrified and screaming Greta, covered in blood and all I could think was that Papa would panic not knowing what had happened. I tried to calm Greta, listen to the nurses and search the giant room for Papa's face. I think I was in shock, because all of the little old men there looked alike and I couldn't recognize anyone. And, finally I saw Papa raise his hand to wave. I felt better already and knew he would make Greta calm, too. I ran to help him wheel over (not run over anyone in his electric wheels) to Greta and Derek and Jack and whispered in his ear what happened and that she would be ok, but needed to see him. And, I was right. Papa's calming brown eyes helped. Especially me.

Her face was washed and ice was on her lip that had 2 big booboos. There were tear streaks, but no broken teeth or bones. She will be just fine and has a reason to sip a teaspoon of Tylenol (she loves medicine). Oh! And brother Jack was so concerned with his quiet alertness, just waiting and watching with worry on his face. He wiped her face with his blanket and tried to wipe my shirt clean, too.

Papa enjoyed his Blizzard and took a chocolate milkshake back to the freezer for a treat after dinner. We went on our way, fat lip and all and have been on the ice cream recovery diet ever since. It helps with the swelling and it makes the memory of this a little sweeter. Greta said, I will hold your hand, mamma. And, I won't let go.

Self Portrait

Medium: magnadoodle

Not pictured: Blue Penis
Artist: Jack
Medium: sidewalk chalk

When It's Hot

Derek has been burning the candle at both ends with work. He travels to Austin and now, San Francisco every week to meet with Dell. We are getting along good, but we miss him when he is gone. I decided that we needed something to help us keep busy and meet new playmates. I needed some playmates too. I found a group of stay at home moms in Overland Park that keep a rockin' calendar full of awesome play dates and educational activities. We meet at a great little coffee shop that has a room specially designed for kids to run and play. We sit and chug chai and laugh at our crazy children at least once a week. We meet at different parks in the Kanas City area bi weekly, we host teddy bear picnics, ice cream socials, and get crazy at kid concerts and roller rinks. Last week we met at a fire station in Lenexa to meet some heros. Our own hero, Derek, got to come along and then treat us to lunch at good old Mc Donald's.

The firemen were so great with the kids. I melted as they taught Greta and Jack how to "stop drop and roll". Jack already knew how because he learned from our neighbor's trained dog. When the dog is told to roll over....Jack does, too. (for a Scooby Snack). We saw where the firemen sleep, live and eat. (I already know where they grocery shop.) (not because I am a stalker.) We saw the trucks and the equipment and even got to see them run out on an emergency call! I had never thought about how helpful this visit would be for our kids. I had never thought that Greta and Jack might be scared to see a fireman all dressed with helmet and mask, and that they might hesitate to go to them if our home was ever on fire. Greta and Jack approached cautiously and touched his hand. Derek and I had such a great time doing this for the kids. They can never know to many good guys in life.