Road Trip

Last weekend we went to visit the Hilla's in Michigan on Harsen's Island. Near the "thumb" of the State shapped "Mitten". Road Trip! It took us 8 hours to get there. Along the way there were plenty of stops. Bathroom breaks mainly, but we did spend about an hour at some sand dunes in Indiana. Trent wanted to climb "Devil's Hill". Do that twice a day and you'd be fit! We had to take a short little ferry to the island. When I told the kids we were putting our car on a boat, there was dead silence. I expected them to be excited. I don't think they believed me. It was a different story when they actually saw what I was talking about.

Marshall made his famous Swedish Pancakes for breakfast and we spent the next day fishing and relaxing at the cottage until the storms set in right after we uncovered the boat for a ride.

Callie spent most of her weekend playing hide and seek with the dog Boccee. I think she felt a sort of clone connection.

Sunday was clear and sunny. We took that boat ride around. Hopped the border to Canada, without our passports! Built a sand castle on a sand bar, stopped for lunch at the boat in Ice Cream Shop. Superman ice cream - Yum!

It was a short weekend, but we really enjoyed ourselves. Marshall grew up with Mr. and Mrs. Hilla. They consider him family. They were so welcoming and treated the kids and I the same. We had good conversations and memorable experiences. Thank You!

The Robot

Something to remember:
Trent doing the robot all around the kitchen in his cars underoos'.
Sorry, no pictures.

Proud Mommy

I am so proud of the people my children are. They are so kind and generous to others.
This morning I noticed a SOLD sign on a house in our neighborhood that had been for sale for almost 2 years. I don't know them, but I know the family had moved out and were living somewhere else. I said "hooray for them" out loud. The kids asked why and I explained I felt bad for those people because it was costing them a lot of money to have two houses. Callie said, they "could have some of her money." (All 50 cents worth. She earned it cleaning her room and making her bed with daddy.)
I told her she was very nice, but they needed a lot more than that. Trent suggested Callie "convince" him to give her one of his dollars, so she could give them that. He proceded to explain to her "convince" meant to "talk him into it."
Later today we were at the park and Trent went home. It was taking him a while to come back so I went to go check on him. Here he comes with his arms full. 3 cups full of Kool Aid and 6 pieces of licorice. One for him, Callie and the neighbor girl. He had spilled some on the way out the door and even took the time to clean it up.
Prior to leaving for hockey, Trent wanted to make sure he had 4 quarters for the Candy Crane because he wanted to win some crazy teeth for he and Callie. Guess what he came home with.
I done good.

Sailing on a Different Tack

Trent had his first day of sailing school. It almost wasn't meant to be because of scheduling but we ended up getting it to work, somewhat. The original day was the same as one of the two hockey practices. My mom of course suggested we just skip the hockey. What she doesn't realize is, for Trent - Hockey is it! Nothing better. Of course he's only 6, short attention span. Sailing is pretty cool too. Being outside, wrestling with your friends and a teenage instructor and especially, getting candy during class are all pretty great.

I taught sailing for 6 years. I've taught Trent's class. It is so weird for me to be there sitting on the parents side. A whole new perspective. What I didn't know then, is kids are smart and capable. They can be expected to learn and will. I was happy to see Trent having fun, but after seeing him in the classroom at school, I had high expectations for sailing school. I should have known better. At this age it's all about the fun. You know me. I'm not one for negativity! What's wrong with a little fun. It's summer. That's the name of the game. I was never the best sailor, but I could teach and I know above all, I wanted my students to have fun.

Happy Father's Day Cone Dad

Like my Mom, my friends also had a nickname for my Dad. Basically they were all scared of him. His nickname was Cone Dad, from Conan the Barbarian with Arnold Schwartznegger. Now he's just a big softy, I think becoming a grampy does that to a man. Don't tell him I said so. He has a reputation to uphold!
We can always count on my Dad. Everyone knows, that if something brakes, "Grampy can fix it." And he will, and he will probably be whisling while he does it. Whistling is a happy sound. I picked it up from my dad, and so did the kids. Callie is still learning, but getting so close.
He loves to sail, and go on fishing trips with the boys. He showers his girls with gifts of jewelry in surprise boxes. He used to give us practical gifts as well as the lovely's, but now he has son-in-laws to give tools to.
If you don't have your own, you can borrow his, but be sure to return it. And "don't go wacky!"
I Love You Dad. Happy Father's Day.

Star Wars Math

Too much information is not a good thing. Trent has been spending a lot of time doing Blackle searches for Star Wars stuff, he has already picked out about 8 different toys.

He has been trying to decide what he wants for Christmas! Last I checked it wasn't even officially summer yet, but he is constantly asking how many days til Christmas, as if it might come too soon and he hadn't yet chosen what he wanted! He has everything written on his "Crismis" List.

These toys are between $40 and $100, you can even find new, not vintage toys, for $500! His latest is a lego star wars kick. Not only are they expensive, but they have over a 1000 pieces. They are rated for age 12 and up. Guess who gets to put these things together. And then every time they break apart because they really aren't meant for "battle" scenes. I can barely stand the ones we have with 100 pieces!

I told him he can only have a couple toys. He practically pulls his hair out trying to decide. "If the Lord Vader Imperial Star Ship costs $80, and the Hoth Rebel Base costs $120, can I still get the Obi Won vs. General Grevious battle recreation scene for $56?" "Ooooh, I can't decide I might want the Clone Wars MMT for $90 and the Gungan such-n-such for $50, do I have enough for the Wookie Catamaran too?" "If I get one big thing, how many smaller things can I get?" How about if you get to doing some chores so you can just buy yourself something and then go play with it, or better yet, go play with all the stuff you already have and get off the computer!

He's getting as bad as me!

Auntie Em, Auntie Em!

We've had tornado watches or warnings for the last three days now. Its been sunny, rainy, stormy, windy and calm. Typical WI weather. As I am writing this it is pitch black outside and the thunder is rolling.
Last summer Trent was very concerned about the possibility of a tornado. Anytime he would hear it mentioned it sent him into disaster mode. Two days ago he was playing at the park, sunny skies, not a care in the world, the wind picked up slightly and then the sirens went off, he comes running into the house, "there's going to be a tornado!" Grabs his piggy bank and heads for the basement.
When I was little I remember going to the basement one time. I brought my hamster. Even though we had lots of warnings, I only felt the need to go down once, because my Dad would always reassure us. "I built this house with my own hands. Its not going anywhere." I believed him.

Necessary Evils?

With the kids being sick, I have allowed a little bit more TV/Computer time. They need to chill for a little bit.

Callie chooses to watch the two disk Looney Tunes DVD Marshall picked up. Suddenly she is acting very violent? (Ha!) Maybe we should switch back to Barney. One good thing is she is suddenly fond of eating carrots just like Bugs Bunny.

I showed Trent how to do a Blackle search (the energy saving Google - I'm an energy nazi, more in a later blog.) He loves to look up Star Wars stuff. Somehow he found his way to YouTube. My computer is in the kitchen, so I monitor him closely. The craziest thing is he would even watch the foreign language ones. He spent better than 5 minutes watching a Star Wars video in German. I could translate some of it. At least those 4 years of German in H.S. with Frau Venne haven't been totally lost in my Mommy brain.

Driving me Mad - Cow Disease

Well, its not the same, cows get something similar. Callie has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. It hasn't been all fun and games around here lately. Callie is incorrigible. She wants to eat something and then I make it and she can't eat it, then asks for something else, I make it, and she can't eat that! She wakes up crying every morning. Today was actually the first day SHE slept in, but Trent woke up with a sore throat.
Carrier Monkey's strike again!

(Sing with me...)Burning Down the House

O.K. last sing along, it's getting old, I know. (That was Talking Heads by the way.)
Trent asked, "if lightning hit our house would it start on fire?" I told him it could, but I hoped it wouldn't. This promped a dicsussion about what we should do if there is a fire. He knew about the fire alarms going off, and told me he wouldn't try and save his toys. He was slightly worried about getting Remo out. We decided everyone would meet at the mail box.
It was a good discussion. I think as parents we sometimes forget about that type of stuff. I remember "picking a meeting spot" as something that was taught to me in grade school. I am happy we now have a spot. I hope I never have to use it.