Mom's at Meetings

The boys love it when Mom has meetings
because that means Dad's in charge; and when Dad's in charge that means 3 things...

1. Movies
2. Popcorn and
3. Black cookies (Oreos).

I'd love my Dad too.

Soggy Britches

Fall is rainy in Iowa. The past few weeks have been warm, but wet. Consequently, the boys outside play time has been curbed a bit by the wet weather. We decided not to let it get in the way this time. I tossed the boys out onto the deck so I could wash dishes. I left to go to the bathroom and returned to find Matthew neked' on the bottom half. I went out to ask him where his pants were and he looked around and finding them lying on the corner of the deck returned saying, "Here it is!" My poor skinny kid can't keep pants on in the rain. Some one tell me how to fatten this child up.

Maquoketa Caves

There's a lot to see in Iowa. We found a new favorite camping spot - Maquoketa Caves. There are at least 16 caves that you can go exploring in. Some are only large enough to fit a skinny in, others are large enough that they have been the venue for wedding receptions and dances. We hiked, chased frogs, smored, explored and my favorite, made popcorn on the campstove. Mmmm, mmmm, yummy.

I don't say "shut-up." I just don't. Jonathan and I had wedged down into a cave and had our lights on. We had gone as far as we could squeeze with the boys and decided to turn around to head back. Jonathan was furthest in the cave and turned around first to return to the mouth of the cave. When he turned around he shined his light on the cave ceiling just above my head. Then as quiet as can be he says, "Amber, there's a bat right above head." Frozen and petrified I said it... "Shut-up." It was one one of those 'ugh' moments when you think it might be cool, are too scared to look, have flashes in your mind of your children: 1)thinking it is cool and looking calmly at the bat OR 2)freaking about the bat, disturbing it to the point that it releases it's up-side-down self from the rocks and you find yourself wedged in a cave with two screaming children and a flailing bat trying to not permanently disfigure any member of the family on the jagged rocks. I took a deep breath, turned so I could take a quick bat peek and then left with Matthew. Adam and Dad took a longer look and snapped a few pictures. There was no freaking out, the bat didn't move, and now I think it was pretty cool.

Row, row, row

Adam loves to play boat. He piles as many things as humanly possible onto the couch. With spatula in hand, he begins rowing. "I'm headed to the Promised Land," he tells me. He took Dad and Matthew along this time.

"It's not on sale!"

A few days ago I fixed beef stroganoff for dinner. Not a regular in our house, but one that I have fixed before and we have all eaten. Adam was completely resistant this time. He wanted nothing to do it. I was chatting on the phone with my sister Wendy and trying to convince Adam to take a bite. He remained firm that he was not eating it and finally adamantly said, "I can't eat it, it's not on sale!" Wendy confused by what he said asked what that had to do with anything. I told her that every time we are shopping and he wants something he can't have, my response is that it can't be had because it's not on sale. So likewise, Adam could not eat his dinner because it was not on sale!

This reminds me of another classic Adam. Several months ago Adam came into my bedroom early in the morning and laid by me in bed. I had my arms behind my head and was chatting with him when he rolled over and looked strangely at me. Upon noticing dark hair in my armpit (I shave daily, but of course the one day I don't...) he looks with worried eyes toward me and says, "Oh no Mom, you're turning into a Daddy!"

Matthew learned to pray

This past week I was headed out with the boys in the morning and we had forgotten to say morning time prayers. We were sitting in the car and I said that I would say the prayer. The boys were both quiet and as I began... "Heavenly Father," Matthew piped up with his precious little voice, "Heavenly Father." He proceeded to say each word that I said with a resounding "Amen!" at the end. It was a motherhood moment when you realize they see and hear far more than we will ever realize. They are capable of great things while yet so small. I was so grateful for my daily dose of a motherhood tender mercy. He has now become a regular in our prayer rotation. This is why I'm a mom.

Iowa State Fair

Since moving to Iowa, humidity has taken on a very tangible, sticky meaning. Our trip to the State Fair this year can be summed up as follows: hot, sticky, sweaty, stinky, animal smell, people watching, family... FUN!

We had a ball at the fair this year. For the second year in a row our Aunt Becky has gone with us to the fair. Anything that "Aunt Bepee" goes to is twice the rootin', tootin', jolly good time it ought to be. We sure love our Aunt Becky!

This year at the fair the boys loved seeing all the animals. We petted nearly every critter we could get our hands on. Adam especially enjoyed watching the baby chicks hatch out of their eggs and then being able to hold the chicks. That was "amazing!" We got our hands on a little deep fried food, watched people... lots of interesting people, bought some car wax, and spent some time at "Helping Hands on the Farm." That is where most of the pictures were taken.

Before we journeyed home we dropped by the Swine Barn to see the world's largest boar. Talk about a whonkin' lot of pork. I noticed two friendly looking old farmers sitting next to the pen that held the grand champ and asked if they were the proud owners. Not this year, they replied. They had come in second by a few pounds and their fine porker was in the pen right next to the biggest boar. The sign above their boar said it was a crossbreed and upon correctly identifying it as a York/Hamp cross these old farm gentlemen decided I was quite a gal! (I lucked out, that was the kind I raised growing up). After a lengthy chat, they invited me out to their farm in North English about 30 miles from here. They said my little family was welcome there anytime... classic Iowa hospitality... for a gal that knows her hogs.

Another favorite for me at the fair was getting a strong whiff of cow's breath. It sent me into a nostalgic whirl. I was homesick for childhood days of sitting in the front of the beat up old farm truck driving through the pasture while Dad would throw hay off to the cows. While he was pitching hay, the cows would try to stick their heads in the truck window. On cold mornings the warm cow's breath was visible in the truck. I miss those days of driving truck, warm cow's breath, and if we were really lucky... Doublemint gum in the ashtray.

Ah, good memories! . . . I hope the fair becomes good memories for my kids. It's the best they are gonna get for now. Cows and chickens at our place are going to have to wait until after grad school.