Reading is Magic

The kids and I generally prefer not to do many scheduled activities. I often say things to the kids like, "Let's go get some new books at half-price books!" and they will respond with "Or we could just stay home and play!" But, when I received an email for a "Reading is Magic" camp I knew it would be perfect for Cadie. It was from 9 - noon at the home of a young mom (who I think might be a creative genuis) and every day they read different books with a magic theme and then had crafts, playtime, snack, songs all centered around the theme. They each got a copy of each of the books and we have had so much fun reading Strega Nona, Harold's Fairy Tale and more.

Cadie LOVES to read and she LOVES imagination and magic. She was one of the youngest kids at the camp, but she did great and was so sad when it was over. They did the most creative activities including swimming in noodles (Cadie said it was too noodley), making 9 kinds of pie, painting magic rocks and making magic wands.

I also loved this camp because Miss Lowry wrote a summary email and sent a shutterfly picture album each day which made me feel connected to Cadie's experience even though I couldn't do drop-offs or pick-ups. I will definitely plan to attend again next year! Link to blog Miss Lowry wrote about the camp: Mommy Manders Reading is Magic Camp

Here are some of the pictures I borrowed from the daily albums Miss Lowry sent.

We love DD and Big John!

This blog is in honor of DD's 65th birthday last week. DD and Big John are incredible grandparents and the kids couldn't love them more. Cadie and Jack Ranger partially live at DD and Big John's and they rule the roost over there. DD and Big John have more toys that we do and DD goes to the goodwill every week and gets more! She goes on senior discount day and gets 15% off which I think is so funny.

Cadie and Jack Ranger are their only grandkids (so far) and DD and Big John invest so much love and time in them. They spend the night EVERY Sunday night and often 1 other night of the week. They read books, watch movies, go to Sam's Club, ride the bus, go to the park and basically do whatever adventures DD and Big John dream up. Big John recently fixed up their old conversion van and Cadie and Jack Ranger call it their bus. They both recognize the drive to DD and Big John's and they start to get excited as soon as they realize we are going there.

Here are a few DD and Big John related quotes from Cadie.

Erin: Jack Ranger, stop throwing a fit. You can't watch any more TV.
Cadie: Jack, it's ok. We are going to DD and Big John's tonight and you can watch anything you want.
*****
Big John: Cadie, want to go get donuts?
Cadie: You are the best Grandpa!
Big John: I bet you say that to Papa too.
Cadie: Yes I do.
*****
Cadie: I love my three houses.
Erin: What are your three houses?
Cadie: Nina and Papa's, DD and Big John's and my regular house.
Erin: Why do you think those are your houses?
Cadie: Because that is where everything is that I love.

DD and Big John with the kids at her birthday dinner at Mitzi's house.

DD with her 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

DD and Cadie. Cadie loves that DD plays imagination ALL the time with her.

Jack Ranger sleeps in a "tent bed" at DD and Big John's which is a pack and play with a tent installed over it. They put a blanket on top so it is nice and dark and he sleeps great it in and so did Cadie before him.

On top of the pool table is "Cadie World" and this is where Cadie plays dolls and all sorts of other games when she doesn't want Jack Ranger bothering her.

One corner of DD and Big John's house with the kids play kitchen setup.

DD and Big John keep the kids strollers behind their downstairs sofa.

Uncle Austin (Ace) is living with DD and Big John right now while he finishes college and he plays with the kids all the time.

Whitney (Winky) visits often from Austin, TX and is also so sweet with the kids. She is moving to California in Sept. and we are really going to miss her.

Turning 34

I turned 34 last week and I am viewing it as the start of my new year. Hopefully my 34th year will have hold health and peace for our family! The last 6 months have been a complete whirlwind with moving houses, remodeling, work travels for both Grant and I, my health issues, hail storms, etc. We have made it through together (with lots and lots of help) and I am praying that the rest of 2012 is a little less eventful.

Mary, Cadie and Jack Ranger helped make my birthday special with a delicious cake, flowers, a birthday crown and a lovely gift of wind chimes from Mary. My parents gave me new patio furniture for my birthday (It is so wonderful!) and so Mary gave me the wind chimes so I can sit in my comfy new furniture and listen to the wind. Dawna took me out for brunch at Crossroads on my birthday and I also received many cards and calls from sweet friends and family. Grant and I went to a birthday dinner this past Saturday night with our good friends Chad and Jaime. We had great food and conversation and it felt amazing to be out and feel happy and pain-free. That is the best birthday gift of all!

Then on Sunday Mimi and Bunky came to a special birthday lunch hosted by John and Dawna. They all gave thoughtful gifts and so now this week I have gift certificates for new shoes and a pedicure. Sounds good to me!

Thank you everyone for making me feel so special!

Setting a Record

How many trips can we make between Texas and Kansas in 15 days?

• 2 - June 28: Ron and Nicki, my parents, fly from Kansas City to Dallas
• 3 - July 2: My Mom, Dad and Jack Ranger fly from Dallas to Kansas City
• 2 - July 5: Cadence and I fly from Dallas to Kansas City
• 2 - July 6: My sister Courtney and her husband Ryan drive from Austin to Kansas City, they also drove with their 2 dogs but I am not going to include them in the count :)
• 6 - July 9: My Dad, Cadence, Jack Ranger and I all fly from Kansas City to Dallas and Courtney and Ryan start the drive from Kansas back to Austin
• 1 - July 11: My Dad flies back to Kansas City from Dallas
• TOTAL = 16 (not counting the 2 dogs or my brother flying to Kansas City from Seattle on Friday, July 6th!)

Thank goodness for Southwest!! We all had a great time together and my Mom and Dad enjoyed a little alone time with Jack Ranger and I loved getting to see my family in Kansas City. During our trip we enjoyed dinner with the Kellers, breakfast with my Grandma Jack, church at OBC and lots of time with my folks and sister Courtney and brother Eric.

Caption by Ron Gullickson, "This is Cadie after a hot trip to the Farmstead - she DID NOT want totake a nap, but instead wanted to watch Mulan in the basement with me while her Mom and Jack napped. She didn't last very long!"

Jack Ranger, Nina and Cadence

My Grandma Jack and Jack Ranger. This is a great pic because it is nearly impossible to get my grandmother to smile in pictures. The kids and I had a nice breakfast with her.

Papa escorting us back to Dallas. He was managing both kids riding their horse-suitcases. What an awesome grandpa!!

Uncle Eric got to play buses more than he probably wanted to, but he was a sport about it.

Happy Birthday America!

Cadie and I spent the 4th in Dallas attending the annual Walsh party and Highland Park parade viewing, swimming at the Gray's with our Club Meadows crew and then watching a few fireworks from our front yard. It was a full day and Cadie and I were both worn out.

Jack Ranger chilled with Nina and Papa in Kansas City. He rode in the neighborhood parade and then went swimming at our community pool. Nina and Papa said they all had a great time and Jack Ranger didn't seem to miss us a bit. I think he enjoyed being the center of attention for once. Cadence tends to steal the spotlight.

Getting ready for the parade with Nina.

Jack Ranger loved the goats at the always fun Deana Rose Farmstead.

Cadie watching the parade with the Riley kiddos: Jacob, Ella Bray, Eli and baby Wren is in the green stroller at the back.

BFsF Ella Bray and Cadie

Big John was trying to get a hug after Cadie had been gorging on sugar for about 2 hours. I was worried she was going to hurt him.

Sharing some candy with Uncle Ace.

One of my BFFs Emmy Harmon Riley.

So much silliness

Cadence will be 4 in October and Jack Ranger will be 2 and they absolutely adore silliness. They are either making each other cry or laugh at any given moment of the day. They love each other so much and Cadence won't let Jack Ranger go to bed or nap without hugging and kissing him and Jack Ranger runs around the house yelling "Yo Yo!" (that is what he calls Cadie) all the time. Just this morning Cadence made up a game where Jack Ranger was a pirate and she taught him to say "Arggg" and then she was a wolf that came to chase the pirate away and they ran in circles around the house for the majority of the morning. No wonder it is difficult for Dad to sleep in on a Sunday morning.

Jack Ranger has decided that my bag from a recent Clinique Bonus Time purchase makes a very nice hat.



During our recent trip to Kansas City Cadence, Nina and I went to a local production of the ballet Swan Lake. I tried to take a picture of Cadie and Nina but Cadie only wanted her bottom photographed on this particular day. Lovely.



Swinging, with goggles, of course.



Cadie dressed us up as "fairies" -  hmmm kinda looks like scary 70s fairies, but whatever, we had fun.



Making a snow angel in the grass.



During bathtime, Cadie said very seriously, "Mom, this shampoo doesn't smell at all like lizard."



We sure miss the pool at the old house, but we still have fun in this little one. JR prefers his birthday suit.




Jack Ranger with 3 out of his 5 favorite things in the world, and he prefer to play in at few clothes as possible. The five favorite things are: Dog (his lovely), buses, cars, tractors, and balls.

A little story: About two weeks ago the kids were snorting like crazy and I said, "Are you two little piggies?" Cadie responded, "We are magic pigs!" So, naturally, I ask "What makes you magic?" Cadie, without skipping a beat, "We poo jewels!" Hmm, wasn't expecting that and ever since we find little jewels placed all over the house. These used to be in the bottom of her fish bowel. Sadly, the fish is no longer with us.



Where does all this silliness come from? There is no way to know. However, here is a pic from our Mother's Day trip to Kansas City. My Mom and I are trying on hats at Nordstroms.

 

Happy Fathers Day!

This Father's Day I am especially thankful for my amazing husband. He takes such amazing care of me and our family:
- In the hospital I had so many wires and tubes coming out of me that I couldn't shower on my own. Grant would shower me every other day and he even shaved my legs! He was gentle, loving and patient.
- Cadie sleeps so deep that she doesn't wake up to go to the restroom in the night. Every night at about midnight Grant carries her to the restroom and holds her while she goes potty and then he carries her back to bed so she won't have an accident.
- Grant is so kind when he interacts with the kids during the day. He loves to take Cadie along with him on errands to the bank, checking on rental properties, etc. We have had a number of nannies that have told me he is one of the most engaged Dad's they have ever worked with. Even though he works most of the day in his office, he is here if the kids need him and he plays with them and takes them along with him whenever he can.
- After almost 12 years of marriage Grant still does sweet thing for me all the time. Just yesterday he hung a clock in our dining room that I recently bought; and I never even asked him to do it! He often does bath and bedtime with the kids so I can rest or take a bath. He hugs and kisses me every day and tells me he loves me. I love you too Grant! So very much.

We had Father's Day lunch at DD and Big John's house and the most special gift of the day was a pair of little boots that DD gave to Grant. They were boots that Grant wore as a little boy and they fit Jack Ranger perfectly!! Jack Ranger wore them all afternoon. He was absolutely adorable!